Picture Perfect Murder

by Rachel Dylan

  “So what exactly do you have on Sean?” Rex asked. “Beyond conjecture. I’m talking about real, hard evidence.” It already sounded as if there were holes in Eliza’s theory from the first step, and Rex didn’t like holes.

  “An electronic trail for one. Our people at the FBI were finally able to discover some cracks in the system and trace the communications back to Sean.”

  “Can’t those be faked?” Lily asked. “Especially if the person has strong computer skills.”

  “Yes, but it’s not just the texts and email. His DNA was found at one of the murder scenes. And he didn’t work that scene. So there’s no other possible explanation for why his DNA would be there.”

  Rex shook his head, desperately trying to process this impossible development. Could it be conceivable that Sean was a serial killer who had been targeting Lily? Rex hadn’t known Sean that long, but he definitely didn’t fit his profile of what this killer would be like.

  “Are you sure?” Lily asked.

  “There are too many pieces of evidence against him. Not to mention that he was the one who picked up your pizza last night. Which means he had the opportunity to poison it after he left the restaurant. It all adds up once you look at everything and connect the dots.”

  Lily sucked in a breath. “This is too much. It just makes no sense. Why would Sean put himself in that type of position to pick up the pizza if he was the killer and trying to poison me?”

  Eliza took a few steps closer and touched Lily’s arm. “Lily, even the most skilled killers become emotional and make bad decisions. And you’ve been through a tremendous amount of trauma, and I understand that this must be very disconcerting for you. Someone you trusted with your security may very well be the actual threat. But this is a huge step. The only missing piece is the identity of Sean’s accomplice. Once that is revealed, you’ll be completely safe. And we have every reason to believe that Sean is the biggest threat. In my opinion, it’s likely that he may have hired someone to attack you in your home. We are executing a search warrant at Sean’s house right now. So hopefully we’ll know more soon. But this is exactly the break we needed.”

  Rex wasn’t just going to roll with Eliza’s theories. He had to protect Lily until he was certain that they had the right guy. “Eliza, you should understand one thing. Until I am satisfied that the threat is over, I’m not leaving Lily. All the evidence you speak of could still be manipulated. Even DNA. You know that as well as I do.”

  Eliza leaned up against the hospital wall, propping up one foot to balance herself. “I appreciate that you are being cautious. But I wanted to share my findings with you as soon as I could. I spoke to Derrick on the way over here. He’s understandably distressed, given that Sean is one of his direct reports. For the time being, we’re only going to use FBI for the majority of the security detail. Once everyone in the APD involved with the case has been thoroughly vetted, they will be rotated back in.”

  “I’m all for being thorough,” Rex said. He just hoped they weren’t looking for answers in the wrong place.

  Eliza’s phone rang, and she looked down. “It’s the prosecutor. I need to take this. I’ll check back in with you later.”

  Eliza walked out, leaving him alone with Lily.

  “When did the doctor say I could be discharged?” she asked.

  “Later today. Once you get all the fluids he ordered.”

  “I don’t like hospitals, and I’ve been in them twice lately. Two times too many.”

  He looked at her. She’d been through a lot. The poison and her resulting illness had left her skin pale. But there was still a spark in her blue eyes. A strength that drew him toward her. A feeling he was totally unable to explain. “Try to get some rest. You can’t speed up the fluid intake. I’ll be right here.”

  “Thank you for not leaving me,” Lily said. “I don’t care if they think they caught the guy. It’s going to take a lot more than what Eliza said for me to feel safe.”

  * * *

  As Lily sat in the living room of the new safe house that night, she fought back tears. She’d always considered herself a very strong, independent person. She’d been tested in the field as a CIA agent numerous times. But she’d never experienced anything like this before, and admittedly it was beginning to take its toll on her. She was physically and emotionally spent.

  She honestly didn’t know what else to do but pray. Granted, God might not want to hear from her, but she was close to rock bottom. And there was something telling her that it was time to really try to reach back out to God. Her faith path had been winding, with many hills and valleys, but all she could understand at this point in time was that she couldn’t keep going it alone. The big question was, how would God receive her prayers?

  Taking a deep breath, she prayed. Lord, please help me get through this ordeal, which seems like an insurmountable task. I’m no longer able to do this on my own. I need You back in my life because I’m not strong enough. Keep me safe and forgive me for all of my sins. I know that I’m a mess, and that I’ve made so many mistakes, but I also think that You will forgive me.

  It wasn’t a fancy prayer, but it was all she had at the moment. She put her head in her hands, closed her eyes and continued to ask God to help her.

  When a hand landed on her shoulder, she jumped, then relaxed when she saw it was Rex. “Hi,” she said softly. The truth was, she hadn’t been completely alone. Rex had been here through it all. And thinking about what he meant to her made her afraid of feelings she didn’t know if she could handle.

  He took a seat beside her on the couch. “You look as if you could use a friend.”

  She blew out a breath. “That’s an understatement.”

  “Anything you want to talk about?”

  As she looked into his eyes, she felt safe. As if he was really on her side. “I was actually just praying. Can you believe that?”

  “I can. God is waiting for you, Lily. He hasn’t gone anywhere. Even when you may think you’re all alone, drifting, He’s right there. He’s never left your side.”

  “I never thought I’d have a relationship with Him again.” She honestly wasn’t convinced He would accept her again after she’d turned her back on her faith. “Have you heard anything else from Eliza?”

  He nodded. “I have. And it’s really unbelievable. The story only gets stranger with each piece of information I get.”

  That piqued her interest. “What did she say?”

  “They finished the initial search of Sean’s apartment.” He paused and took a breath. “Are you sure you want to hear this now? We can talk later, once you get more rest.”

  “Absolutely. I may be having a weak moment, but knowledge is always better than being in the dark. I can’t fight what I don’t know.”

  Rex made direct eye contact with her. “Sean basically had a shrine to all of the victims in his apartment, including you.”

  A wave of apprehension washed over her. But she needed details to be able to assess the legitimacy of the threat. “Like what? What type of shrine?”

  “Pictures. A lot of pictures all displayed on the wall. A wall completely devoted to all of the women he has killed, plus you. There were photos taken in a variety of situations. Some outside your house, some near that farmhouse you photographed, others at random stores or parks. He had pictures of the other victims, as well, going about their daily routines in various settings. The evidence strongly suggests that Sean Bishop is the serial killer we’ve be looking for.”

  “I never got even one inkling of that from any of my interactions with him. Not a single time did I feel that his interest was anything other than professional. If he really was the killer, wouldn’t he have slipped up at some point? A weird reaction or an interest that seemed to be too much? There was none of that.” Something felt so wrong about all of this to her.


  “It does seem surprising. But I’ve had to keep reminding myself that sometimes the most skilled serial killers are able to compartmentalize so that he could act completely normal around you. It’s one of the characteristics that separate serial killers from your run-of-the-mill murderers, and it’s what makes them so dangerous.”

  “That still doesn’t explain who attacked me at my house at the beginning of this nightmare. Sean was with you when you responded to the 911 call during the attack. Doesn’t that loose end bother you?”

  “It does concern me, but Eliza is focused like a laser beam on the accomplice-slash-hired-hand theory. And once Eliza has her mind set on something, there’s no letting up until she gets where she wants to go. And she truly believes Sean is at the center of all of this.”

  “And what about Sean? Is he talking?”

  “Nope. He’s a police officer. He knows his rights. And he definitely understands the stakes of this are unbelievably high—being charged with six murders plus several counts of attempted murder. He immediately asked for an attorney, and I can’t blame him. I’d do the exact same thing if I were arrested. I haven’t heard what happened after he asked for a lawyer. Once lawyers get involved, it always gets complicated.”

  “My gut is just screaming at me that this is all wrong, Rex. Nothing about it makes sense.”

  “I feel the same way,” he said. “But they are building a case with a lot of evidence against Sean. And I just don’t know how all of the physical evidence could be wrong.”

  “There’s such a thing as being framed.” She couldn’t hold back. She wanted to be able to talk openly with Rex. “I saw it happen multiple times while I was at the Agency.”

  “This would’ve had to have been a pretty elaborate setup. Not a simple feat.”

  “Well, we already know that our killer is highly skilled. I don’t think it’s outside the realm of possibility. I’m not planning to let my guard down.”

  “On that point we are in complete agreement. I’m not going to just leave you hanging until I’m completely satisfied this is over.”

  “What if the FBI has a different idea?”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Lily.” He paused. “And Grace, too, of course.”

  She looked into his dark eyes and felt a warming in her heart. This man was standing by her side, and she treasured his loyalty. After James’s betrayal, she never thought she’d trust again—herself or another man. While there would always be that bit of distrust that flowed through her because of what happened, deep in her heart she didn’t think Rex would ever betray her. A mix of fear and hope flowed through her as she felt torn about the possibility of opening up her heart again.

  “Sir.” One of the FBI agents on security detail walked into the room. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I thought you’d want to see this.” The short and stocky blond agent walked over to the coffee table and got the remote to turn on the TV.

  The Atlanta local evening news was on the screen. The agent turned up the volume. Lily watched as a gray-haired man in a dark, expensive-looking suit with a red-checkered tie was talking.

  “My client, Officer Bishop, is completely innocent. It’s ludicrous to accuse an Atlanta police officer with his impeccable record of committing these heinous crimes. I’m confident that once all the evidence is gathered, Sean Bishop will be fully exonerated.”

  “Thank you for that explanation, Mr. Webb,” the pretty brunette newscaster said. “But are you actually insinuating that the FBI and Atlanta Police Department have gotten the wrong man? That your client is actually being falsely accused?” The reporter eyed him with skepticism, waiting for his reply.

  “I’m not insinuating anything, ma’am. I’m straight out saying it.” Mr. Webb leaned toward her in his chair. “Officer Sean Bishop is innocent. In a rush to find a suspect for these murders and try to calm down the local community, the FBI has completely overstepped its reach and gone after what they perceive as an easy target. Because Officer Bishop was working this case, and because he’s only been on the Atlanta police force a relatively short amount of time, he made for a convenient suspect.”

  The anchor’s dark eyes widened. “If your client is innocent, do you have the ability to clear his name?” The reporter was obviously trying to make a big headline. That was her job after all. But Lily was curious as to what the lawyer’s response was going to be.

  “Well, the FBI is trying to find a so-called accomplice because it is impossible that my client was involved with one of the attacks. I think that right there should send up a big red flag to people.”

  “I can understand your point.”

  “And I have to say something else that’s very important for everyone out there watching tonight to understand.”

  “Sure, please go ahead,” the reporter said.

  “Since Officer Bishop is innocent, that means a serial killer is still out there in our community.”

  The reporter nodded. “I think we all need to remember that in our system one is innocent until proved guilty, and that it is always smart to be vigilant about one’s own personal security.” She looked back toward Mr. Webb. “Thank you for joining us tonight. We appreciate your time.”

  “Thanks for having me,” Mr. Webb said.

  The FBI agent turned down the volume on the TV and then looked at Rex. “Do you need anything, sir?”

  “No, thank you. We’re good.”

  The agent nodded and walked out of the living room.

  “So what did you think of that?” Lily asked.

  Rex rubbed his chin and sat in silence. After a long moment he responded, “I don’t think you can put too much stock in an attorney’s staunch defense of his client, but he raises the same concerns that you and I already had.”

  “But if they have the wrong man, that means the killer is out there, like Mr. Webb said. I’m not safe, and neither are the countless women he could target.”

  * * *

  Lily wasn’t exactly looking forward to meeting with Atlanta district attorney Steffie Hood, but she didn’t really have much of a choice. And this would give her a way to size up the case against Sean and see how this was all going to unfold. Because Lily knew enough about the criminal justice system to understand that she would be a witness. And not just any witness but probably the star witness for the prosecution. That was basically the last thing she wanted. Not only because she didn’t believe Sean was guilty, but she also didn’t need that type of publicity.

  She and Rex walked into the Fulton County district attorney’s office in downtown Atlanta. Rex pushed the up button on the elevator. They were going to the fourth floor to meet in Steffie’s office. From the limited intel gathering that Lily was able to do, it appeared that the district attorney had a reputation for being tough as nails.

  “All you have to do is tell her the facts as you know them,” Rex said. “You’re not obligated to do any more than that.”

  “I’m not worried about any obligations, but you know it’s going to be hard for me to not give my opinion. I’m going to be honest about how I feel.”

  The elevator bell rang, indicating they had reached the fourth floor.

  “After you,” he said.

  She walked toward the receptionist’s desk and asked for Steffie Hood. They were ushered into a small conference room with a round wooden table and told that Steffie would be in to see them soon.

  A few minutes later, the door opened and district attorney Steffie Hood walked in, looking every part the seasoned prosecutor with her black briefcase in hand. She wore her dark hair pulled back in a tight bun. Steffie’s black power suit was courtroom ready. This woman screamed confidence with every step she took.

  Steffie’s brown eyes were serious, and she immediately focused in on Lily.

  “Ms. Parker, I’m Steffie Hood.”
The prosecutor reached out her perfectly manicured hand and gave Lily a firm shake. Steffie towered over Lily and had to be at least five foot eight or nine. Lily couldn’t help but notice that Steffie also wore some serious black heels.

  “Nice to meet you,” Lily said. It was the polite thing to say even if Lily didn’t really want any part of this. She still refused to believe that Sean was the killer, but for now she had to try to keep an open mind about what the prosecutor had to say.

  “And I’m Rex Sullivan, FBI.” Rex offered his hand as Steffie sized him up.

  “Agent Sullivan, I think I’d prefer to speak with Ms. Parker alone.” Steffie eyed Rex warily.

  “I can speak completely freely in front of Rex,” Lily told Steffie. “Since he responded to the initial 911 call he’s been by my side every step of the way.” Lily refused to give Steffie the upper hand.

  “I understand that, but you are both going to be witnesses in this case against Officer Bishop, and I prefer to talk to my witnesses individually. Agent Sullivan, you are welcome to wait in the reception area and grab a cup of coffee while I talk to Ms. Parker.”

  Rex stood up and nodded. “Are you going to want to talk to me today, too?”

  Steffie looked down at her watch. “It depends on how long I go with Ms. Parker.”

  “Understood.” He looked toward Lily. “I’ll be outside if you need anything.”

  “Ms. Parker will be completely safe here,” Steffie said. “I can assure you of that.” It appeared she took offense that Rex would presume there could be a potential threat in her presence.

  Rex didn’t respond to the DA’s comment, but instead exited the room quietly, leaving Lily alone with her.

  “Please take a seat so we can get started,” Steffie said.

  The sooner Lily told her story, the sooner they could leave. “All right,” Lily said.