Page 71 of Skin and Bones

A collective gasp went around the table.

“Well, I’ll be,” Walt said, his expression grim. “Same killer.”

“Without a doubt,” Dottie nodded. “Both women scratched the same person while fighting for their lives.”

“Do we have a match to anyone in the system?” Deidre asked.

“Not yet,” Dottie said. “But we’ve got a DNA profile now. All we need is a sample from a suspect to compare it to.”

The hallway door opened and Dash returned, his expression serious. “Harris found something on the security footage— “He stopped, noticing our intense expressions. “What did I miss?”

“Evidence,” Dottie said with satisfaction. “Definitive evidence linking both murders to the same killer.” She filled him in quickly.

“We’re closing in,” Dash said. “That’s good work.”

Dottie beamed at the compliment.

“What did Harris want?” I asked.

“I need to get back to the station,” he said. “Harris discovered something on the security cameras I had installed last week. Cameras the rest of the department doesn’t know about.”

“What did he find?” Dottie asked.

“He wouldn’t say over the phone,” Dash replied, already heading for the door. “But it sounds like we might have caught our evidence room intruder on tape. I need to see the footage for myself.”

“I’ll go with you,” I said, starting to rise.

Dash shook his head. “Stay here where it’s safe. I’ve got half the department out looking for whoever left that watch. The Silver Sleuths will keep you company, and I’ll have a patrol car drive by every fifteen minutes.” He looked at Walt and Hank. “Don’t let anyone in you don’t know personally.”

“You got it, Sheriff,” Walt said, straightening to military attention. “We’ll keep her safe.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Dash promised, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he headed out the door.

We watched from the window as his SUV pulled away, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Well,” Bea said, breaking the silence, “That’s my cue to go home. I’m up past my bedtime and I’m going to have to give myself an eye treatment to get rid of the puffiness.”

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Walt said. “I’ve got to do another perimeter check anyway.”

We said our goodbyes and Bea promised to be back before lunchtime the next day. Bea didn’t really get going until around brunch time, and usually only if she had a mimosa. Bea had lived by her own set of rules for most of her life—she drank too much, smoked when she thought no one was looking, read sordid romance novels and lived on gossip and other people’s misfortune. But I figured once a person made it past their eightieth birthday, they weren’t too likely to take advice about anything having to do with living a healthy lifestyle.

“I’m tuckered out,” Dottie said. “If y’all don’t mind I’m going to head upstairs and get ready for bed. Especially if I’m taking the early morning shift to watch Mabel.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I reminded them. “I’m a grown woman who’s lived alone a long time.”

“Sheriff’s orders,” Dottie said, patting me on the shoulder. “It’s so attractive when a man takes charge, don’t you think?”

“He’s cut from a different cloth,” Deidre agreed. “They don’t make men like the sheriff much anymore. Did you see those muscles in his arms and shoulders? I’ve always been partial to shoulders.”

“You’ve always been partial to a man that breathes,” Dottie said. “But the sheriff does have that take-charge way about him. Very manly. I think he’s got a tattoo he hides under his sleeves. I’ve been trying to catch a glimpse ever since we started working on this case.”

“Why don’t you just ask him?” I asked.

“I’ll wait,” she said. “You’re bound to see him with his shirt off sooner or later.”

My mouth opened, but no words came out. I really wished Dottie hadn’t planted that seed in my head.

“Sweet dreams,” Dottie said, grinning, and then headed up the stairs.

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