Page 69 of Dirty Valentine
“Or send a message,” Jack said.“Three hundred years of injustice, and they’re making sure everyone understands the connection.”
Doug’s fingers flew across the keyboard.“I’ve been analyzing the access logs for the courthouse database with Margot’s help.Someone’s been digging into these family records for six months.”
“The search patterns indicate obsessive behavior,” Margot added.“Always during off-hours, always from different terminals, but with consistent methodology and increasing frequency over time.”
“Inside access?”Jack asked.
“Definitely,” Doug said.“The queries were too specific, too sophisticated for a casual user.”
“I have identified forty-seven individuals with both the technical knowledge and system access to conduct such searches,” Margot said.“However, the behavioral patterns suggest someone with deep personal investment in the outcomes.”
“Six months,” I said.“That’s a lot of planning.”
“That’s obsession,” Jack corrected.“Someone who’s been thinking about this for a long time.”
Doug switched screens, showing a map of King George County with various locations marked.“Here’s what bothers me about the crime scenes.Each one was chosen for maximum symbolic impact, but they’re also practical.The cemetery—easy access after hours, secluded.The mill—isolated, historically significant.Dr.Mills dumped at the boat launch—convenient disposal, but also where she’d be found quickly.”
“Our killer wants the bodies discovered,” I said.“This isn’t about hiding the crimes, it’s about displaying them.”
“But they’re careful about evidence,” Jack pointed out.“No fingerprints, no DNA until Victoria fought back, no witnesses.”
“Professional,” Doug said.“Someone who understands crime-scene processing.”
That made me pause.“The herbs stolen from Evangeline’s greenhouse.Someone who knew exactly what they were taking and what it could be used for.”
“Medical knowledge,” Jack agreed.“Someone who understands how plant toxins work.”
“Or just someone who did their research,” I said.“It’s not exactly classified information.You can find anything online these days.”
Doug was pulling up incident reports now.“Let me check something.”His fingers flew across the keyboard.“The greenhouse break-in three weeks ago—Chen was the responding officer.”He paused, frowning at the screen.“But it says CSI was requested for processing.”
Jack leaned forward.“Who processed it?”
“Doesn’t say in the report.Just that evidence was collected.”Doug looked up.“But Chen would remember.”
Jack was already reaching for his phone.“Let me call her.”He dialed and put it on speaker.“Chen?It’s Jack.I’ve got you on speaker with Jaye and Doug.”
“Sheriff.”Chen’s voice filled the office.“What can I do for you?”
“That greenhouse break-in three weeks ago at Evangeline Toscano’s place—you responded to that, right?”
“Yeah, I remember.Weird one.Someone broke in but only took herbs and some dirt.Why?”
“We think those herbs might be connected to our current cases.Do you remember if CSI came out?”
“Oh sure, they processed it.Actually, Potts showed up pretty quick.I remember because she mentioned she’d been in the area finishing up another scene.”
Jack and I exchanged glances.“Did she find anything?”Jack asked.
“Some partial footprints, but she said they were too degraded to be useful.No fingerprints either.She was thorough though—spent over an hour processing everything.Even took samples of the remaining herbs for comparison.Said she wanted to catalog exactly what was taken.”
“That’s helpful, Chen.Thanks.”
“No problem, Sheriff.”
Jack ended the call and tossed his phone on Doug’s desk.“Chen said Potts processed the greenhouse scene.Thorough as always—spent over an hour cataloging everything, even took samples of what wasn’t stolen.”
“Professional,” I said, settling back on the couch with my tea.
