by A P Morgan
“Sure, I’ve got one I’m doing now. I can do your request next since this is top priority. It may take a while, though, so I’ll email it to you and the other primary on the case. That okay?” Ted hardly even glanced up at me from the counter where you had to sign in.
“If I haven’t heard from you when I get to work in the morning, I’ll come check on it.” There wasn’t much else I could do tonight, and Joe would have to file his reports when he got in since he’d been first on scene. I’d already put together the reports on my interviews, and I was almost dead on my feet.
I shot Joe a quick text. “Hey, IT is working on trace. I’m going home. Will work on it if they haven’t reported back in the morning. Night.”
Joe’s response was almost immediate. “Go ahead. I may not get out of here before morning. One of us should get some sleep.”
I was almost too numb to care about the bodies that were continuing to pile up. I could only hope that this was going to be the break we needed to find the killer before he murdered again.
Chapter 12
My alarm rang and I groggily rubbed my eyes, trying to get them open. The calendar on the wall mocked me as I began to clear the fog from my head.
February nineteenth. The last day of the Aquarius sign, and we had thirty murdered women.
Was the end of the cycle a signal that the murders would stop?
Brushing my teeth, I contemplated my weary face in the mirror. There were circles under my eyes, and my new detective glow had faded. When lives were taken and you hadn’t caught the killer, it was hard not to take it personally. I was going to have to learn a better way to cope with the new part of my job.
Dressing slowly, I finally made my way out the door as my phone dinged. It was a text from Joe to me and Ryan.
“Hey, the IT guys sent over the reports you were asking about. Get in here now. I’m only waiting on you and Ryan a short while.”
Suddenly, I had energy again. “I’m on my way. Wait for me .
I grabbed my keys and raced out the door, but I realized that I would need some caffeine as well.
A quick pit stop later, and I walked in just seconds before Ryan appeared in the conference room.
Joe grabbed the coffee I’d brought and started explaining without giving us a second to sit down.
“The IT guys sent this to us late last night. I slept here and got an early start. They found a van with a license plate number that has been in the area of several murders. We’re putting together a team, and I sent the warrant in to be approved for the house.”
“Does it lead back to Noah?” I asked hopefully.
“No, it doesn’t.” Joe frowned.
“Then who does the plate trace back to?” Ryan asked, just as puzzled as the rest of us.
“It’s a work vehicle registered to Urban Energy, but when I checked with them, they said it was last checked out from the warehouse by Ron Black.” Joe let the name drop. Everyone went silent.
“Ron Black? We sat there and held his hand while his wife died. How could he be the driver?” My system wanted to go into shock. “We could have prevented all of these other ladies from dying!”
“Is there a warrant on his home?” Ryan laid a hand on my shoulder as I tried to process the information.
“Yes, we were only waiting on both of you. They should have it sent to me by the time we get there.” Joe took his cup of coffee and moved to the door.
“Ryan, can you drive us?” He looked at me and I nodded.
I would be fine. It was just going to take a second to process.
By the time we pulled up to his door, I was angry and ready for some answers.
“We’re going to approach the door and see if he’ll just let us talk to him. Stand down unless I tell you,” Joe cautioned the other officers that had parked farther down the street and out of sight.
“How do we explain an extra officer?” I asked, taking a last gulp of coffee.
“You’re training me.” Ryan grinned. “You have to be plausible while giving yourself a way inside.”
We approached the house. Ron’s car was in the driveway still. I wasn’t sure if he’d returned to work after his wife’s death. Actually, there were a lot of missing pieces that Joe didn’t tell us before we all left, or I’d just zoned out when he said Ron’s name.
They let me do the knocking, because no matter how much the world wanted everyone to believe that sexism didn’t exist, people still felt less threatened by a woman cop than they did by a man.
Letting my anger build was only going to warn him if I knocked on the door as loud as I wanted to. Holding back was difficult, but I did it. When my knuckles touched the door, it swung open just a little bit.
Instinctively, all three of us were reaching for our weapons. “Police, is anyone here?” I called out loudly.
It irked me that I had to warn suspects that I was entering their homes and let them know where I was at.
The three of us started to spread out, but we only made it to the living room.
Hanging from the railing was a rope that was around Ron’s lifeless neck. His neck had snapped, and a note was pinned to his shirt.
“Crap!” I muttered. “I wanted answers.”
“We’re going to need the coroner.” Joe radioed those waiting.
“We’ll check the rest of the house.” Ryan took off up the stairs, and I swung around through the kitchen.
“Nobody’s here!” he called down.
“It’s all locked up.” I came back to where Joe was standing with the body.
“Ryan, can you reach that letter on his shirt if you stand on a chair?” Joe was looking up at the body that was still a good six feet off the ground.
“Yeah.” He pulled on some gloves before he moved a chair over to stand on, barely reaching the paper pinned to the body.
He carefully opened it and started reading out loud.
“I am the birthday killer that you’ve been looking for all month. There is no real reason except for the fact that my wife had to die, and what better way than on her birthday? Next, you’re wondering why did all those other women have to die? Well, Detective, it was all part of the grand design. It’s the cycle of life. The balance must be kept, and those who volunteer promise to follow the rules. The consequences are not good for those who don’t obey.
“My wife was cheating on me. Just not on the day I killed her. My tears were real, but it was that she had to die for her unfaithfulness. The universe sent out its own version of karma, and my death completes the cycle this month, for I must pay for all that I have done.
“Have fun next month, Detectives. Signed, Ron Black”
“Wow. So he planned all these murders to cover up his wife’s death? That was a bit overkill, don’t you think?” I shook my head in disbelief.
“He could have felt so guilty afterward that he just couldn’t handle it, so he killed himself. Many couples don’t survive the other’s death. He listed each death and its location. That’s a confession to me, and at least we can write up our reports and take a few days off.” Joe slid the note into an evidence bag.
“That’s it? We’re just going to take his word for it? It seems to be very convenient to me.”
“I sent a few officers out to work things from the warehouse side. I’m betting if we look around a little bit, we’ll find something that tells us where he parked the van. It should close things up nicely.”
“Why were there two sets of flowers when his wife died if he brought her one set?” I just couldn’t let it go. It wasn’t adding up in my head yet.
“He probably bought two sets and dropped one on the floor after he murdered her. Or he could have had one set delivered and swapped the cards out himself. I know it’s hard to let go, but this is pretty cut and dried. There are no signs of a struggle, so unless the M.E. finds something, then we’re stuck anyway. I’m pretty sure that there won’t be any more murders.”
Joe’s cell rang. “Yeah, you found it? We�
��ll be right there.”
“They tracked the van. It’s in a storage facility about five miles away.”
“All right. Do I need to stay here?” I motioned to the crime scene techs that were taking pictures and lowering the body.
“Not if you want a ride back to the station at some point. Hey, cheer up. It’s over,” Ryan answered for Joe.
“Great.” I pulled my gloves off and put them in the trash can.
Even an examination of the crime scene didn’t make me feel any better, so when Joe sent me home, I knew that I needed to make one more stop before I landed in my bed for the next few days.
Flora was waiting for me when I arrived at her doorstep.
“I’ve made breakfast. Anything you need to ask can be done over a nice meal, because I’m guessing that you haven’t eaten in quite a while.” She smiled at me, instantly putting me at ease.
“Thank you.” I sank into a chair and felt tears come to my eyes at her kindness. “You didn’t have to do all this.” The table was set with eggs, toast, jellies, and a steaming cup of chamomile tea.
“You need to be spoiled occasionally. I fear that this month you’ve been overworked by all that’s happened.” Flora took a seat across from me, holding out her hands for mine. As soon as they touched, she began, “Blessed be to the creator of our universe. We honor the fact that you have chosen us to stand against those who would bring evil into the world. Thanks for these provisions, and may we use them wisely. Grant us peace.” She squeezed my hands and let go.
“Um, Amen? My partners think we’ve found the killer. He’s dead, and a note was attached that told who he murdered each day, including his wife.” I took a bite of food, and a small moan slipped out. “This is delicious.”
She just smiled and sipped her cup of tea. “You’re not feeling that his death clears things up?”
“No. I hate to be beating a dead horse, but I’m certain that this one man had something to do with it. There’s no evidence of that, and at this point, everyone is so happy to have a closed case, that they aren’t going to look any further.”
“You think this man was murdered instead of committing evil against himself?”
“Um, if you’re saying that he killed himself and so he’s cursed, I would have to agree with the cursed part. Yet, it just seems too easy. The guys think it’s because I thought he was innocent of his wife’s death, and it’s my first detective case so I’m not able to let it go.” I sighed as my body gained some energy from the hot food.
“Is that what’s bothering you? It’s over, and you need something to keep you going?” she probed.
“No, yes. I don’t know.” I rubbed my temples. My mind was so wound up that it was starting to throb.
“May I make a suggestion?”
“Certainly.”
“If you feel comfortable with it, I think you should go lay down on the couch when you’re done eating and sleep. Once you’ve slept, then if you wake up and still feel this way, you’ll know that it’s not an emotional feeling. The case isn’t going to unclose itself while you rest and gain a clear head. What do you say?”
“I think you might be the best friend ever, but are you sure it’s not imposing upon you?” The thought of driving home now seemed like a huge problem and wouldn’t be wise.
“Absolutely. I have to go to class so you’ll have the house to yourself until this evening when my roommate gets home from work. I’ll text her so that she won’t be surprised when she comes in case your still here.”
“Oh, Flora, you are such an angel.”
“Let’s get you tucked in. That tea will help offset the coffee I’m sure that you’ve been drowning in for the past few weeks and relax your system.”
She guided me to the couch and left. I had barely unlaced my shoes when she came back with blankets and a pillow.
My eyes closed on her clearing away the food, and that was the last thing I remembered as I fell into a sleep coma.
I woke with a start and realized that I wasn’t at home. My eyes fell to a note on the coffee table. Leslie.
“I didn’t want to wake you when I left. Make yourself at home. I brought you the paper. Take a look at the front page.”
On the front in large letters, “Birthday Killer Commits Suicide, Story on Page Five.”
It gave an accurate portrayal of the events and the amount of people that were being attributed to this killer in both cities. There was his picture, and right beside it was his wife’s picture. “Man starts killing spree to cover his wife’s murder and then regrets it, taking his own life.”
February the twentieth would have a new horoscope.
“The eclipse during Aquarius will have drained your energy. It’s time to recover and be flirtatious.”
Whew! There wasn’t anything about death or dying in print, so maybe the others were correct that it was truly over.
I turned the card Flora had left me over and wrote: “You were right, sleep helped my perspective. I’m going to go home and shower. Maybe we can have lunch sometime next week. Thanks, Leslie.”
My boots didn’t take long to get on, and I opened the front door to step into the bright light. I’d slept for almost twenty-four hours. It was time to let the case be closed. If something happened in the future regarding Noah Preston, I would worry about it then.
With my step much lighter, I was ready to face the world again, and maybe take a shower. This had been the longest month on the job I’d ever had. Maybe it was time for a fresh start. Thank goodness Spring was right around the corner.
Want to read more?
Pisces—Book 2 in the Murder of the Zodiacs is available for pre-order.
Order Now
A Note from the Author
If you enjoyed this story, please leave a review even if it is one short sentence. Do you want to know when the next book comes out or to get to know me better? Feel free to stalk me on all the social media sites. (No real-life stalking because that’s just not cool.) Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from you.
-Alathia Paris Morgan
Author Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/apmorganbooks
Instagram:
http://www.instagram.com/alathiamg
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/alathiamg
Street Team:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1442476186066361/
Website:
http://www.alathiamg.wix.com/books
Newsletter signup:
http://eepurl.com/dlQYCH
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8611387.Alathia_Paris_Morgan
Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alathia-paris-morgan
