Page 82 of Rules

As the forensics team and Dr. Renfield did their work, I noticed a small crowd gathering at the edge of the property. News traveled fast in Whispering Pines, especially bad news.Several people held up phones, trying to capture images of the scene.

"Let's get those people back," I called my deputies. "Tell them to go home, they aren't going to see anything."

The next hour passed in a blur of activity—evidence collected, photographs taken, statements recorded. Through it all, the woman remained posed against the door, those red roses still lying across her lap like some macabre valentine.

"The bullet," Dr. Renfield reported after his preliminary examination, "appears to be a 9mm, clean through-and-through. Entered the forehead, exited through a small spot in the back of the skull. Death would have been instantaneous."

"That's the same caliber we found this morning," Erin added.

"We'll need ballistics to confirm if it's from the same weapon," I said, "but I'm not one to believe in coincidences."

"I'll see to it personally," Erin told me. "We're done here, the rest is the funeral home's. I'm going to the lab to work on the bullet." Slapping me on the shoulder as she passed. "Let's not have anything else today, okay?"

"I'm all for that," I said watching them carry their equipment to their truck. Ferris stepped over and caught Erin before she got in. He took out his phone and typed something before smiling and opening Erin's door. I elbowed Law who was standing next to me. We watched Ferris shut the door, and give her a wave.

"That's a smooth operator that can pick up a woman mere feet from a dead body," I shook my head.

"Right? I'm kind of shocked. Usually he's not so forward."

I surveyed the growing crowd beyond the perimeter Sang had established. I saw news people with cameramen.

"What the fuck is happening in this town?" I muttered.

"Everyone's got a scanner," Law said, surveying the crowd.

"Not that," I spun around, "that." I pointed to the dead woman.

"War," Law replied simply. "Someone's declaring war."

I turned to face him. "Then we need to be ready."

Chapter 29

Tobias

I'd taken the morning patrol shift driving through the areas we'd identified as potential targets for the next break-in, looking for anything suspicious. The streets were quiet, with only a few delivery trucks and early-rising joggers moving about. Nothing out of place, no suspicious vehicles or loiterers. I allowed myself one slow pass by the flower shop before Ruth opened. Even though it's in an already marked territory. I justified this by convincing myself the coffee shop on that side of town had better coffee. Did it? Not necessarily, I just felt like I needed an excuse.

Two murders and six break-ins in under two weeks. Nothing like this had ever happened in Whispering Pines, not even close. Somewhere deep in my bones, I felt worse was coming.

The station was bustling when I headed back, switching with Sang who came on shift at eleven. I planned on heading back out around closing time just to offer some extra officer presence on the streets.

I stopped by Holly's desk. She was typing furiously, phone cradled between her ear and shoulder.

"Yes, that's right. We're requesting priority processing," she was saying. "Thank you." She hung up and sighed. "Erin couldn't get a hundred percent match so she sent it to the state lab. But," Holly sighed, "they're backed up. Might be three days on the ballistics from yesterday."

"I'll call Clark," I suggested. "He owes me." I growled. "Speaking of, I have to go to the capital on Friday."

"I know, I got a reminder email with the address and your hotel information. Psychiatrist huh?"

"Not by my choosing. Clarky boy thinks I need someone to talk to."

Holly raised her eyebrows, "well, it couldn't hurt."

"Wanna bet?"

"Change of subject," Holly motioned her head towards my office. "If we get any more flowers in here, we can start our own flower shop."

I looked at her quizzically, not understanding.

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