Murders of the Zodiac Boxed Set

by Paris Morgan

  “Okay, we’ve had cases like that before. One’s accidental, and the other isn’t something that could be planned. What else do we have?”

  Martha scrolled through the reports, naming each one that might have a connection.

  “This one is a little out there: man stung to death by bees. It says here that he wasn’t feeling good and received a delivery of flowers, but numerous bees were in the flowers, and he died of anaphylactic shock.”

  I gave a shudder. It was a horrible way to die, and would be something the ZM might try.

  “Let’s see that one, and I’ll make a few calls and see if it fits the profile.” I rose and put the chair back where I’d found it.

  “Sending the reports to your email. Please let me know if it’s what we’re looking for. I don’t want to miss anything, so I’ll keep looking. Mac and Barbie are trying to put together a few programs to help us out with this, but since they’re new, we won’t have a way to know if they work yet.”

  “Thanks, Martha. I just hope with all the exposure and people looking for him, the Zodiac Master won’t have a place to hide after this month. I’m ready to move on with my life.”

  A sudden jolt of pain hit me, and I put a hand out against the desk to steady myself.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, worried.

  “I’m not sure,” I replied, trying to stop the dizziness from overwhelming me. “Call Adam,” I managed to get out as the world turned black.

  ***

  I could hear voices surrounding me, but my eyes were still heavy. Instead of trying to force it, I relaxed when I heard Adam’s voice.

  “Just give her space. She’s breathing, and if she doesn’t respond shortly, we’ll call an ambulance. It’s happened before, and the doctor won’t be able to help.”

  What on earth happened to make me faint like that? I tried to analyze in my head.

  “You received a shock.” Mary Ann’s voice echoed in my head.

  I winced at the sound, feeling as if I’d spent the night drinking.

  “How? I didn’t touch anything.”

  “Not a physical shock, but a psychic one. I felt it too, but I’m a ghost, so it doesn’t have the same effect on me. Must have been something pretty horrible to have that type of psychic repercussions.”

  The avatar I imagined as myself shook her head. “I’m not sure I get it. Was there some huge psychic thing that happened and I’m missing it because I’m new?”

  Mary Ann’s laughter rang out loudly, making me cringe.

  “You really don’t know, do you? It’s your connection with Noah. He’s the one who sent out that that energy wave. No one else felt it but you.”

  “Crap!” The words erupted as my eyes opened to see Adam staring down at me.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, searching my face.

  “Yes and no. I’m going to be okay physically, but psychically, not so much. Why isn’t there a handbook for us to read so we’re not blindsided with all this information?” I sat up gingerly, despite declaring that I was okay.

  He chuckled. “No. Although, if you want to write one, it might turn up on the bestseller list.” His expression turned serious. “What caused your blackout?”

  “Mary Ann is certain that it’s connected to the person I came in contact with this morning. She thinks something happened, some sort of emotional meaning, and it sent a shock to me.” I looked around, noticing that I was in the sick room.

  “Martha called me, and I told them to bring you here. I figured it would give you a chance to recover without a hospital visit. Everyone’s out there waiting to find out if you’re okay.”

  I grimaced at the thought of talking to people. “I’m going to walk out of here and head home. There’s no reason for me to stay here just in case it happens again.”

  “Are you sure that you’re okay to drive? Do you want to come stay with me and Flora for the night so you’re not alone?”

  “No,” I replied firmly. “I’ve got this. Now that I know what it is, I’ll be fine.”

  “All right, if you’re sure. I’m going to walk you out to your car, though, and I’ll expect a text message saying you’re home safe.”

  “Yes, Dad,” I teased.

  “I’m just worried.” He frowned as I stood and moved toward the door.

  “I know, but I’m a big girl and can take care of myself.”

  Martha was hovering just outside the door. “Oh my, are you okay?”

  “Yes. Thank you for acting so quickly. I’m not sure what came over me.” I stretched the truth just a little bit, because I had the feeling this was just the first such instance of this happening.

  “I’m just glad I was able to sort of catch you before you hit the ground.”

  “Yeah, that’s the really un-fun part for me.” I smiled at her, hoping she didn’t pry too much for answers.

  “I’m walking her out so she can go home and get some rest,” Adam announced, moving us a little ways down the hall.

  “Oh, certainly. I’ll just keep looking at those few murders and see if we get any new hits in the morning. You just take it easy.”

  I gave a quick nod.

  Adam just continued on, and only paused once I was sitting in the driver’s seat.

  “Just a word of warning. He’s been through a lot, and if you can give him a chance to let it all out, you might find out that you’ve been on the same side all along. You were just working at it differently.”

  “W–What?” I sputtered, not expecting him to see through the walls I’d been putting up.

  “Noah.” He leaned in between the open door and the frame of the car. “I’m not stupid. He’s the only new person we’ve added to the mix. You two were certainly throwing up sparks at the beginning of the day.”

  “Look, I’m not trying to hide anything from you. It’s really complicated, and I’m not sure how I feel about things. This past year has been a rollercoaster of a ride, and I’m not ready to deal with this.”

  “I get that. Just don’t judge him without getting to know him more. That’s all I’m asking.”

  My head was starting to pound. “I’ll promise to give him a chance. That’s about all I’ve got left today.”

  “Okay. Don’t forget to let me know that you’re safe.”

  I gave him a quick nod, and couldn’t hide my relief when he closed the door for me to drive away.

  The emotions I’d felt from Noah earlier threatened to overwhelm me, and I just wanted to get somewhere, out of sight from my colleagues and the news crews, before I let myself fall apart.

  It wasn’t until I was turning onto the street where Noah lived that I realized I had a serious problem.

  He wasn’t home yet, and honestly, I didn’t know him well enough to find a way inside his house. I parked on the curb, feeling that I needed to wait for him. It wasn’t anything specific, but something was telling me I needed to be here.

  I leaned the seat back and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to be one of those girls that couldn’t live without a man.

  The phone rang, and I glanced at the name flashing at me. Jerome. I’d completely forgotten about him. Feeling slightly guilty, I answered.

  “Hey, how are things going?” I asked brightly.

  “Oh, so-so,” he replied. “How is the case going? Any sign of it ending?”

  “Not really. It’s been a long few months, but things have taken a few interesting turns. You’ve seen the news, haven’t you?” I responded, looking around the neighborhood, wondering if anyone would call the cops on me for sitting here.

  “Yeah. That’s crazy that you’ve been working with someone who was giving information to the very people you were trying so hard to arrest. He got what he deserved.” Jerome’s voice carried a venom that was hard to miss.

  “Agent Watson wasn’t as bad as that interview made him out to be. He took a wrong turn, and then there wasn’t really another way out of it,” I declared, finding myself defending him.

  “We all make
choices. Depending on the choice, it determines our futures. He might not have known his would lead to his death, but he certainly wasn’t an angel.”

  “No, he wasn’t,” I agreed. “But he did have his good moments.”

  “Sorry, I forgot you were friends,” he apologized. “I always let my mouth run away with my thoughts before I think about it.”

  “It’s okay.” I took his apology in stride. “You’re right in that we worked together, but calling us friends is a bit of a stretch.”

  “All right, let’s talk about something more pleasant, something other than criminals and murders for a change. Gone on any dates lately?”

  “No. I’ve been a little busy,” I deflected as I sat in front of Noah’s house like a stalker. I was such a hypocrite.

  “Well, if you ever want to just have a coffee and talk, I’m here for you.”

  “Thanks. It’s been a long day, and I really need to rest so this headache will go away.”

  “I get it. Just don’t forget that I’m a resource for you when you need it,” he offered.

  “You’re really sweet. I’ll keep it in mind, but these days, I go from working hard to exhausted, back to exhaustedly working hard. Not much room for other things.”

  “Well, the offer is on the table.”

  “I appreciate it. Night.” I gave one last look around before shutting my eyes for just a moment.

  I must have fallen asleep, because I gave a start when someone knocked on my window. Noah stood there, framed by the streetlight in the darkness.

  “Should I ask why you’re sitting in front of my house at…”—he glanced at his watch— “ten at night?”

  I hit the locks and opened the door before stepping into the chilly fall night.

  “When you ran off earlier, I thought something was wrong, and then I felt it. Adam sent me home, but …” I trailed off, shutting the car door.

  He leaned in and trailed a finger down my cheek, causing a small spark to glow in the semidarkness.

  “You were right. Something was wrong, but I had to work through it. I’m sorry you had to feel what I was going through.”

  Without thinking about the consequences, I slid a hand up around the back of his neck, bringing his lips closer to mine.

  “It’s okay,” I whispered, leaving only an inch of space between us as I waited for him to take the hint.

  If I thought there were sparks before, it was nothing like the fire that spread through me as our lips touched for the first time.

  Breaking away from each other, I reached up to touch my lips, feeling like they’d just been singed by a flame.

  “Wow! That was amazing!” Noah breathed as he leaned beside me against the car.

  “I certainly wasn’t expecting that to happen,” I agreed shakily.

  He slid his hand into mine, and we watched the electricity travel between our hands until the individual colors settled into one solid color.

  “Do you want to come in?” Those few words implied more than an invitation. It was a chance to see him for who he really was.

  “If I come in, I’m not sure we’ll be able to come back from this. Are you certain that this is what you want?” I looked over at him to make sure it wasn’t just a twist of fate, and something that he really wanted.

  “I’m sure.” He kept hold of my hand and began leading me toward his home.

  Instead of pulling away, I let myself give in to whatever the universe had decided to bring me. There had been so many disappointments lately, so maybe this was her way of letting me know it would be okay.

  The door closed behind us, and I followed Noah into the unknown. Wherever we ended up, at least we’d have this moment in time together.

  ***

  Chapter 5

  Leslie

  I opened my eyes, and for the first time in months, I felt refreshed. I rolled over and looked at Noah sleeping peacefully next to me. He hadn’t had an easy time of it either.

  Last night, we’d both managed to work out the months of pent-up anger and frustration as our psychic energies connected, becoming one.

  While I never imagined we’d get over our rocky start, last night had changed that picture.

  Before I could contemplate on life, Noah began to stir beside me, propping himself up on his elbow.

  “Hey, beautiful. I guess I didn’t run you off after all.”

  “Well, you certainly tried often enough over the past few months. I’m still not exactly sure how I ended up here in bed with you,” I teased.

  “I think you might need a reminder of how things progressed to this point.” He leaned over, just as our phones rang simultaneously.

  We scrambled to look for them in the trail of clothing we’d left strewn from the door to the bed.

  “Hello?” I answered, trying to find something to cover myself with as I looked for my underwear.

  “There’s been another development I think you’re going to want to see.” Adam’s voice echoed loudly in the silence.

  “I’ll shower and head right over.”

  “Are you feeling better?” He still sounded concerned.

  “I feel better than I’ve felt in months,” I replied, realizing it was the truth. It was like a weight had been lifted, and I knew things were going to be all right.

  “In that case, I’m glad you got some sense knocked into you,” he chuckled. “I’m going to call Noah and Ryan in so we can go over what’s come up.”

  “Couldn’t agree more. We’re going to need everyone on this if we’re going to make any progress.” I finally found my panties and bra, both of which had been kicked under the bed.

  “All right, we’ll see you shortly. I’ll have coffee ready for you.”

  Once Adam hung up, and while Noah was on his own phone call, I took advantage of the distraction and hopped into the shower so I’d be ready to leave. But I was going to have to swing by my house for another set of clothes if I wanted to keep Adam from finding out where I’d spent the night.

  When I finished and got dressed, Noah was nowhere in sight. I didn’t want to feel like I was sneaking out of his house, but I couldn’t hang around.

  It wasn’t until I was back in my car and headed to my house that I realized I could still sense Noah. It wasn’t like he was a presence in the same that Mary Ann was, but I knew what he was feeling. It was like there was a string connecting us, and if I followed it, it would lead me straight to Noah, no matter where he was at.

  Hopefully, we wouldn’t have any more learning curves thrown at us.

  ***

  Adam was gathering everyone as I entered the room, and I wasn’t surprised to see that Noah had beaten me. He dipped his head, acknowledgment me, but went back to his conversation with a fellow team member.

  I felt a little put out that he hadn’t come over to speak to me, but at the same time, it was probably best that we kept our personal lives separate from our professional ones.

  Ryan took a seat next to me, as Adam got up to quiet everyone down.

  “Thanks everyone for coming in. We’ve had a development that’s a little unsettling. Over the past three days, we’ve had a few more murders pop up in different places. At first, there didn’t seem to be a pattern of crime that we could attribute to our killer, but I now believe we’ve discovered how he’s killing people this month. He’s using contaminated lettuce and having it delivered to people’s homes in the food they order.”

  “How would they know they’re going to order food?” one of the other team members questioned.

  “Because it’s their birthday, and even if they didn’t order the food, no one is going to turn down a delivery of a free meal on their special day. They’ll assume that a friend or loved one sent it to surprise them.” I knew it was the right thing as I said it. My gut was starting to tell me now when I was on the right track.

  “Still, he’s taking an awful chance,” another guy argued.

  “The Zodiac Master has a sort of sixth sense when it comes to th
is kind of thing.”

  “But isn’t he having someone else do the killing for him?”

  “Yes, but he’s got a list of people that are potential targets for them to work from. If someone doesn’t work out that night, then they get to live while someone else on the list takes their place.”

  Ryan gave me a look of disbelief. He didn’t buy into the fact that I had a connection with the spirit world.

  “She’s right,” Adam agreed. “He has every possible outcome worked out. We’re not sure how he communicates with his chosen killer, but we know he can and will change things up if he thinks we’re too close to catching them. At first, he just let them do what they wanted, but the last few months he’s taken a more personal interest in what’s going on with each killer.”

  “So what course of action are we taking? You brought us all in, and I’m guessing there’s a reason.” Noah leaned casually against the wall as he questioned Adam’s motives.

  “Right you are, Noah. We’ve managed to accomplish quite a bit over the past few weeks, but this time, it’s not like we can just recall some lettuce and everything will be fixed. We’re going to have to track down our killer, just like we’ve been doing the past few months. I’ve divided us into teams, and we’re going to check all the security cameras until we find the person doing this. Assuming he’s following the pattern he set out, she’ll be someone he’s recruited to do his dirty work for him.”

  “So it’s the same old, same old of what we’ve already been doing,” someone grumbled. “Why did we have to get up so early?”

  “Because we all want to bring this guy to justice, and we’re starting to close in on him. Last month, we kept the murder count way down. Wouldn’t we want the same thing this month? I’d be thrilled if we could end a month with only three deaths.” Adam pinned the agent with a stern gaze.

  “You’re right,” the agent agreed. “I’m just not at my best without coffee.”