Page 78 of Counter Attack

“I don’t know, just a feeling. Have you gotten a preliminary report from Dylan or Taylor about the note?”

“No. Let me check with them.” She excused herself from the table as she took out her phone and punched in her CSI’s contact as she walked to the window. When Dylan answered, he said, “I was just going to call you. We used a metal detectorlooking for shell casings around the tree where your shooter stood. We didn’t find any. Evidently the shooter took them with him.”

One dead end. “How about the note at the Martin crime scene? Have you processed it yet?”

“Yes. The paper is similar but not an exact match to Gina Norman’s.”

“Okay.” That didn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t connected to the other murders. Alex had heard a “but” in his voice. “And?”

“While the handwriting does look to be the same, the ink doesn’t. I’d feel better sending it to an expert. That’s not to say Martin’s killer isn’t the Queen’s Gambit Killer—he could’ve purposely used a different pen and different paper to mess with our minds.”

If they were dealing with a copycat, it was someone who had access to the other notes.

41

Nathan tried to hear Alexis’s response as she talked to Dylan, but she’d kept her back to them and her voice low. When she turned around, her frown indicated she didn’t like whatever her CSI had to say. She pocketed her phone and walked back to the table.

“What time do you want to be at the high school?”

He checked his watch. Nine. “Anytime. Want to ride with me?”

“Sounds good.”

“But you haven’t had your dessert yet.” Judith pointed to the lemon Bundt cake on the table.

“Maybe when we come back.” Alexis kissed her grandmother on the cheek.

Nathan shook hands with Carson, then turned to Judith. “Thanks for dinner,” he said. “It was wonderful.”

“Anytime, son.”

Alexis worried her lip and didn’t seem to notice when he opened the passenger door for her. He kept quiet until they pulled out of the drive. “Okay, what did Dylan say?”

She related the details about the ink and paper on the short drive to the high school. Dylan’s observations strengthenedNathan’s belief that Martin’s shooter wasn’t the serial killer but someone familiar to the case.

He didn’t say anything until after he parked deep in the row of buses and far enough away from the overhead light to avoid detection. “What did he say about the handwriting?”

“That just looking at it, the note appeared to be written by the same person. He’s sending a copy to a handwriting expert.” Alexis pressed her fingertips against her closed eyes. “That wasn’t all his news. They didn’t find any shell casings when they used a metal detector outside my office.”

“I didn’t figure they would,” Nathan said. “You’re tired. You shouldn’t have come.”

“It gave me a chance to talk about the cases.” She opened her eyes and gave him a tired smile. “Not something I want to do in front of my grandparents, especially since it’s possible one of my grandfather’s deputies might be my shooter.”

“Do you have anyone in particular in mind?”

“Harvey ... or Mark ... or maybe they’re working together to get rid of me.”

“I have a hard time believing Mark is involved. From what I’ve gathered, Mark’s a straight arrow. All he ever wanted to be was a cop, so I can’t see him going against his values.”

“Jealousy can make people do strange things. He is really upset that my grandfather didn’t choose him to be chief deputy.”

“I still don’t believe he’d shoot at you.” Nathan killed the motor. “Let’s go see if our drug dealers come tonight.”

An hour and a half later they trudged back to the parking lot. “Why do you suppose they didn’t come?” Alexis said as they neared the pickup.

“Any number of reasons. Should’ve asked the boys to call us if the men from Memphis contacted then.”

“I know.” Her shoulders cracked as she rolled them.

---