by K. J. Dahlen
“Do we have any of the autopsy reports yet?” Cade asked.
“Not yet,” Quinn said. “We’re still waiting on those.”
“From what India told me on our way down, the women are still alive when this butcher starts his ritual,” Briar added. “And the fact he beheads them is not within the Egyptian ritual of mummification. I think we’re dealing with one sick individual.”
“What do you suppose he’s doing with the heads?” T.K. asked.
“Killers like this guy often take something as a keepsake. This part of his ritual might be his keepsake of the murder,” Kanan told them.
T.K. shivered. “What a horrible thing to contemplate.”
“For some reason only he knows, he draws some kind of pleasure from his kills,” Quinn stated.
“I think I’ll have Captain Kingston pay a visit to this artist and see what she can tell us,” Cade stated.
“I don’t think it would be a good idea to mention the fact that we have two witnesses to the murder fifteen years ago,” Elliot said. “Until we know more, he can’t tell anyone about India and T.K.”
“I think you’re right about that,” Cade agreed. “But if we hide the fact we have witnesses what is Captain Kingston going to use as an excuse to talk to Ms. Hawks about?”
“Nothing at the moment but she’s a person of interest we’ll have to talk to at some point in the investigation.” Elliot concluded. “For now, we’ll have to wait until we get more information.” He looked over at Faith. “I need all the info you can get on Gretchen Hawks, personal and business info.” He then turned to Quinn and Jerah. “I want you two to find out all you can on the murders and how long afterward the bodies were discovered. Also find out what you can about the conditions of each body.” He turned to Kanan and said, “You keep on the police department and M.E.’s. We need those reports a.s.a.p.” Next, he gazed India and T.K. “I want you two to sit down with Faith and Fallon and tell them what you remember from the night of the murder you witnessed. Every detail no matter how slight, if you remember it we need to know it.”
“What are you and I going to do?” Cade asked his brother.
“You, I and Briar are going to dig into the information we have so far and see if we can find something useful.”
Everyone disappeared to do what they were told.
Faith took India and T.K. outside. The gentle breeze from the water sent shivers down T.K.’s arms. She crossed her arms over her chest and separated herself from the rest of the group. Looking out into the bay, she stood there for a long time.
~* * * *~
It was a somber group that met a few hours later. Several of the Medical Examiner’s reports had come in during the afternoon. Faith and Fallon had taken what India and T.K. told them and built a profile of their killer.
Claire took one look at the group and decided not to bother fixing anything for supper. Grabbing her husband, they disappeared into the kitchen while Elliot was pinning autopsy reports and newly gathered information on the bulletin board.
T.K. and India were still out in the back. T.K. was smoking a cigarette and India was talking to her. The others were looking over the paperwork.
Elliot turned and looked at the others, “Okay people, what did we learn this afternoon?”
“We got some of the autopsy reports in and this guy was meticulous about replicating the whole mummification process,” Quinn answered. “He didn’t have time to use the proper oils and herbs but he filled the body with whatever kind of salt he could get his hands on. The linen was bright orange because of the combinations of herbs and oils. The true combination is a deep dark secret but our killer was very close. As he wrapped the body, he placed jewelry and other stuff inside the linen, just like the priests used to do with the Pharaohs. The jewelry our killer used is common costume jewelry, except for one piece.” Quinn rolled over to the bulletin board and pins a photo of an Ankh. He pointed to the piece and said, “This piece was found in the three autopsy reports we have received so far. It’s a ceramic piece and the chain its hanging from is handmade silver links.”
“There’s that ceramic link again,” Cade noted. “I wonder if this piece is made by Gretchen Hawks as well?”
Briar glanced out to the backyard and saw the two women sitting out there. “I think we’re bringing memories up that one of our guests wants to leave buried. T.K. doesn’t seem to be doing very good.”
Just then, Claire and Levi came out of the kitchen carrying plates of sandwiches and bowls of potato chips. Claire put the sandwiches down on the table and announced, “I know you may not be very hungry but everyone has to eat something.”
Faith grabbed a half a sandwich and sat down next to Briar. “I agree with you. She’s teetering on a cliff and leaning very close to the edge. Your lady friend India seems to be doing much better.”
“She’s not my lady, although she is someone I see around the office a lot.” Briar looked at the window outside and sighed deeply. Then he looked at Faith. “When she came to me with this story, I didn’t know if I could believe what she was telling me.” He shifted in his seat. “This woman has gone through hell. Her grandparents didn’t want her, her mother struggled just to make ends meet then three days after they witnessed the murder, her mother is murdered in a robbery. Rather than take her in to live with them, her grandparents allowed the state to place her in foster care. The whole time her grandfather is collecting child support from the father while his daughter has to work two jobs to survive. When this is over I’m going after the bastard for what he did to them.”
“Good, no kid should have to live like that,” Faith told him as she took a bite of her sandwich.
Briar grinned at her. “When she was eighteen, her grandfather wanted her to live with them but she told him they hadn’t wanted her before, so now she didn’t want them.”
“She’s stronger than I would have been,” Faith said. “T.K. on the other hand isn’t very strong at all.”
Briar reached out and patted her leg. “Don’t you worry about T.K. India will take care of her. Those two have history together and India won’t let anything happen to her friend.”
Faith hesitated then asked, “How long are you and Cade going to be at each other’s throats?”
“Leave it alone Faith,” Briar warned.
“I can’t,” Faith whispered. “He won’t look at me when he still hurts for her.” She got up and left the room leaving a stunned Briar wondering if he’d heard her right.
Chapter Six
Hours later, the whole house was quiet. Moonlight lit up the night sky. India was sleeping lightly and uneasily. She knew this drill all too well. Ghosts from her past were trying to sneak into her subconscious but she had learn a long time ago how to wake herself up when this happened.
Opening her eyes, she laid there in the dark and stared at the ceiling. After a few minutes, she became aware of another sound in the room with her. Listening for a moment, she leaned over and turned on the lamp beside her bed. Sitting up, she looked around the room and found T.K. sitting on the floor in the far corner.
Pushing the covers off, India got out of bed and went over to her friend. She could see the tears on T.K. face and without a word, she pulled her into her arms.
T.K. wrapped her arms around India and cried for a few minutes. Then taking a deep breathe she leaned away from her friend. “I can’t do this. I can’t dig this up again.”
India reached up and tucked a strand of T.K.’s hair behind her ear. “Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”
T.K. shook her head. “How can you do this? How can you relive the terror of that night?”
“We didn’t do anything wrong,” India insisted.
“If he finds out about us, he will come after us and do to us what he did to those other women.”
“Maybe. But if we can stop him, he won’t be able to murder another woman or us.”
“You really aren’t afraid of him are you?”
“Ha! I’m t
errified of him. I’m just not going to let my fears let him get away with it. Don’t you see? I have to do whatever I can to stop this bastard.”
“I hope you don’t think I’m a coward for being scared.”
“No I don’t think you’re a coward. I’m scared too. We all have our own fears. I’ve learned over the years to hide mine better than most. It wasn’t easy growing up in foster care. Some of the people I lived with were okay and some of them shouldn’t take care of kids at all. I learned that the hard way.”
T.K. looked at her friend. “I’m sorry, I forgot about that. At least I had family around me. My mom just about killed me the night we were out so late. She grounded me for six months the night after I stayed in the warehouse all night. That was okay with me.”
“Let’s go outside, I really need a cigarette,” India told her.
“But you don’t smoke.”
“I might start. This is a very stressful time. It’s either that or a drink.”
A few minutes later, they slipped outside and sat down at one of the few tables spread out in the yard. T.K. brought out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and India reached for one.
When they both lit up India stared out at the water for a moment. “I think I could live here quite nicely.”
“Yeah, me too.” T.K. flicked her ashes and asked, “Do you really think these guys can find the killer?”
“I think they will try. Briar told me his brothers never give up and they usually get whoever they go after.”
“This case might be different. They have no way to track this guy.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” a voice from behind them said.
India gasped and turned.
Briar stood in the doorway. He was dressed in jeans and his shirt was open. She could see the muscles rippling on his abdomen and the light sheen of chest hair he had. She took a deep breath and tried to get a handle on her emotions. She could feel her blood getting warm. His feet were bare and he had a drink in his hand. T.K. nudged her slightly to get her attention and when India glanced her way, she noted T.K.’s knowing grin. India blushed in the darkness and hoped Briar wouldn’t notice.
He raised his glass and took a sip of the liquor as he made his way over to the table. When he sat down, he noticed the pack of cigarettes on the table. Looking at T.K. he cocked his head to the right. T.K. shrugged and Briar reached for a cigarette. After he lit it, he leaned back. “I couldn’t sleep either.”
“What did you mean we shouldn’t be too sure about finding this guy?” T.K. asked trying to turn the conversation away from India’s embarrassment.
“We don’t have a name yet, but I think we will before long. In fact, you’ve given us most of what we think we know already.”
T.K. sighed. “I have to admit something. I’m terrified clean down to my bones. I’m afraid if this guy finds out there was a witness to his crimes he might come after India and I.” She took another breath. “I’ve had nightmares about being laid out on that table and it’s my body he’s cutting into. It’s my screams filling the air and it’s my blood dripping into a hole in the ground.”
“He’s going to have to get through all of us before that would ever happen,” Briar told her quietly. “And we don’t go down that easily. You are safe here.”
India took her friend’s hand. “I’m here too.”
T.K. smiled. “I know but that still doesn’t chase the boogey man away. I’ve held this secret for so long, I don’t know if I can give it up.”
“We did find a link to our killer. When he wrapped his victims, he placed cheap jewelry in the linens. The jewelry could be bought in any dime store but there was always one piece that was different. In each case, we found an Egyptian Ankh made of ceramics. We think it’s from the same artist as the jars.”
“Do you have pictures? Maybe I can tell from that,” T.K. told him.
“Sure, we got some of the autopsy reports in this afternoon,” Briar said as he got up. Holding out his hand T.K. let him lead her back into the house. When they got into the living room, he flipped on a light.
India got up and followed them back inside.
While T.K. went over to the bulletin board, Briar went over to a side board and grabbed a bottle. Splashing some liquor into his glass and one for T.K. then he looked over at India. At her nod, he poured her a glass and brought it over to her. Handing her the glass he sat down next to her. “Is your friend okay?”
India took a sip of her drink and nodded. “I think she’ll be okay. She’s been living with this most of her life and she’s afraid but I’ve had those same nightmares. Maybe once this guy is caught, she’ll be able to let it go.” She leaned forward and picked up the jar she had buried so long ago. She stared at it as if she were trying to figure out something. “We know who made this jar but I think we’re missing something here.” She turned the jar around and tipped it upside down. There was something they were missing she could feel it, yet she couldn’t see it. She sat it back on the table and caught sight of something on the top of the jar. She picked it up again and stared at the top. The top was rounded and smooth except for a cartouche imprinted in the ceramic.
India put her glass down on the table and looked closer at the cartouche. She didn’t read hieroglyphics but she had seen them before.
“What is it?” Briar asked.
“It’s a cartouche, I think.”
“What is a cartouche?” he asked.
“It’s usually a name of some kind.”
“Hey, I think there’s one on the Ankh too,” T.K. told them. “But this one is too small to read.” She turned to Briar. “Is there any way we can enlarge the photo?”
“Yes we can. Our printer can enlarge it.”
“While you’re doing that, I’m going to look up the Egyptian alphabet. Maybe we can figure out whose name it is.” India to her room and brought back her laptop. Looking up what she needed, she figured out the name on the jar.
When Briar and T.K. came back, she had her answer. She left the alphabet up on the laptop. T.K. sat down and began looking up the letters. When she finished she handed the photo to Briar.
“Oh my god, this says Lynn. This has to be from Lynn Macken’s body. She was one of the victims,” Briar said.
“This cartouche is Jenna’s name,” India told them. “Do you know what this means?”
Briar stared at her. “He has these jars specially made for each of his victims. That means Gretchen Hawks is an accomplice to each of these murders.”
“I can’t believe that,” T.K. protested. “She wouldn’t be a willing partner in this. She couldn’t be.”
“Maybe we should have Cade check it out,” Briar said. “He can fly up to Boston in the morning.”
India nodded. “I want to scan the drawing into my computer. I have a facial recognition program that might help us find out who this guy is.”
“We’re running his photo through our recognition program,” Briar replied. “Ours are linked to the police and FBI recognition programs. Hopefully, we’ll have a name to go with the drawing by morning.”
“I hope so,” India said.
“Everything is beginning to fall into place.” He nodded. “Before long, we’ll know what we need to stop this guy.”
India grabbed her glass and refilled it. Then she grabbed T.K.’s pack of cigarettes and went back outside. She sat down in the dark and looked out across the water of the bay. Her hands shook as she lit the cigarette. Inhaling the smoke deep into her lungs, she held it there for a moment before she exhaled. She wasn’t used to smoking and her lungs hurt but she needed the momentary pain to make it real. Every time they uncovered something new, the whole situation became more real to her.
“Hey are you okay?” Briar asked as he sat down next to her.
“I’m still a little shaky,” India admitted. “I guess I didn’t realize when this started we might actually find him.”
“Isn’t that why you came to me? To help you find
this guy?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why the doubt now?”
“After fifteen years, I never thought you’d be able to I guess. I mean I know he has to be stopped, I guess I never knew how this worked that’s all. It’s horrifying, yet exhilarating all at the same time.”
“I told you that my brothers never give up on a case, not until the bad guy is in jail.”
India turned her head and stared at him. “Yes you did, and I for one will be very happy to see that day finally come. Like I said, I didn’t know how all of this would come out.” She chuckled slightly, “I’m beginning to find this part of it very interesting. One clue leads to another and another until the whole story plays out. It’s scary yet fascinating.”
“Don’t let my brothers hear you say that,” Briar warned.
“Why not?”
“They might recruit you to work for them and then I would never see you again.”.
“Why do you say that?” India asked.
“Because I can see you living here.”
“And would that bother you?” India stared at the tip of her cigarette. “I mean I’m nobody, maybe I wouldn’t fit in around here.”
Briar grabbed her shoulders and turned her to look at him. “You most certainly are not a nobody. You’re an intelligent young woman with a fire in your belly for making things right. You are exactly the kind of person that’s needed for a job like this.”
“She was always like that,” T.K. said as she joined them. “Even as a kid she would stand up for her friends. I remember one time in the fourth grade one of the bigger kids was picking on a second grader. India walked past him and tripped the bully. Everyone started laughing at him lying on the floor. She made the move seem so smooth, the bully never did figure out what happened.”
“That doesn’t make me to be some kind of hero,” India told them.
“No but it makes you the right kind of person to work here,” Briar stated.
“I haven’t been asked yet though and that may never come.”
