Page 38 of Rules

I nod, my gaze drifting to the jewelry around Sophia's neck and wrist. "That necklace and bracelet tie it to the robbery. I'm certain they're the ones from the antique shop."

"Already on it. I sent your office the pictures." Erin hesitates. "Tobias, this looks like a message. Leaving her naked and putting the jewelry on her—that's symbolic."

"I agree." The words taste bitter. "This isn't random violence. It's calculated."

"You think it's the same guys from the warehouse?"

Erin asks me the question I have been asking myself since the call came in. Of all the questions I've been asked today, that's the one I wish I had a definite answer for.

"Your hesitation speaks for itself," Erin and I lock eyes.

"I have a group working on his location. They're the best in the business, if anyone can find him, they can." I tell them both believing exactly what I said. Law won't stop till he finds Michael.

Erin nods, "I've called in some of my team to work over the area."

"Thanks," I tell her, "we'll get some tape up. And keep the crowds back."

My radio crackles. "Sheriff?" It's Mark. "News van just pulled up. Reporter's asking for a statement."

Perfect. Just what we fucking need—media attention before we've even notified next of kin.

"Tell them no comment at this time." I stand a new urgency in my movements. "And keep them behind the tape."

Stepping back I call Holly. "We need the next of kin for Sofia Vasquez."

"Shit, the girl from the inn?"

"Yes."

Holly's shocked voice states, "She's young."

"I know."

"Tobias, I can tell by your tone it's bad, is it bad-bad?"

"Yes. Erin sent pictures. Can you verify we got them?"

"Hold on," I can hear Holly typing. "Oh fuck, she's naked. Wait, is that the set from the antique store?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, I'll find her next of kin. Maybe some people from the inn know if she was dating someone. Should talk to Cameron Whitaker, he managed the inn for a long time."

"You should've been a detective."

"So you've said. I'll call you back when I have the information." Holly disconnected the call.

Erin and Stu are loading the body into the ambulance.

I called over my radio. "Hey you two, come on down here with the tape. We're going to set up the tape in two circles."

A few minutes later Sang and Edwards stepped in next to me followed by people, one of whom is the news reporter. Seeing Stu he ran around us to the ambulance all while taking a video with his phone.

We set up a perimeter for Erin's team to work. Then another one to keep the looky-loos even farther away. When that was done Sang said he would take the first watch.

Chapter 15

Tobias

---