Page 5 of Love Me Darkly
“A matchbook?” he muttered, going down on his haunches and squinting. The little square was covered with blood on one side, but on the other, he could make out some kind of print. Blinking, he growled his annoyance at the evidence that he would soon need reading glasses. It was never far from his mind that he was pushing forty-two, and his body never let him forget it. Mari had teased him over it, as well as the strands of silver that had begun appearing along his jaw.
Williams turned the matchbook over and studied it. “It’s for some kind of bar, I think. Solstice, New Orleans, Louisiana.”
The back of Mateo’s neck tingled as Williams slipped the matchbook into an evidence bag and handed it off to an officer. They were unlikely to gather much forensic evidence from it, but he wouldn’t disregard whatever clues could be found. The randomness of a matchbook from New Orleans turning up in Little Rock aside, this was one of the first pieces of new evidence they had found in months. There had been the customary coin left lying in the center of the victim’s chest and smudged with blood, but it wouldn’t tell them anything more than what the others had.
Moving toward the members of his team gathered nearby, he prepared to discuss their next move when his work phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he frowned. Carlisle never bothered him when he was in the field, trusting him to handle himself without being micromanaged.
“Garcia.”
Carlisle’s issued a sigh that was filled with foreboding. “I wouldn’t normally call when you’re in the field, but this is important. We just got a call … The Satanist struck again in another state.”
Mateo flinched as if he’d been slapped, shock jolting through him. “Not possible.”
“Whether or not it’s possible is what I need you to find out. When I get a call about a dead woman matching this UNSUB’s victimology and same cause of death, I don’t see how it could be anything else.”
Mateo pinched the bridge of his nose, his thoughts churning. “He never strikes again so soon. Not to mention, in a completely different state? No way can he move that fast.”
“He could be escalating,” she offered. “That wouldn’t be surprising given how long he’s been at it. It was only a matter of time.”
“We have the Arkansas crime scene to finish. The body is still lying where it was found.”
“Garcia, is there any new evidence at this crime scene that is worth remaining in Arkansas for, rather than getting to Louisiana to inspect this new scene? If he’s escalating, that means he’s making mistakes. This new scene?—”
“Wait, what did you say? Louisiana? As in, New Orleans?”
A beat of silence passed before Carlisle answered. “Yes, actually. You’re expected in New Orleans this evening. How did you know that?”
Mateo glanced toward his team and found them watching him expectantly. The fatigue that had begun to plague him after such a long day and a shitty night’s sleep was gone. In its place, resolve settled in. They had just been handed the first major lead in the case since they’d taken it on.
“We found something here pointing us right at New Orleans. We’ll leave as soon as it can be arranged.”
“I emailed the details of the case and flight itineraries to Williams. And, Garcia?”
“Ma’am?”
“Nail this bastard to the wall. Don’t come home until it’s done.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Approaching his team while killing the call, he folded his arms across his chest. “That was Carlisle. We have another victim in New Orleans matching our guy’s M.O.”
Williams’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “That can’t be a coincidence.”
“Also,” Smith offered, “he’s never struck so quickly after a fresh kill. He’s escalating.”
Mateo shrugged. “That’s what Carlisle thinks. Williams, travel itineraries are in your email.”
Williams was already scrolling her work phone. “Wheels up at six p.m., sir.”
“I’ll meet you at the airport. I have to run an errand.”
Getting the attention of the first officer who crossed his path, Mateo hoped the guy was feeling charitable.
“Is there a gas station or convenience store near here?”
The officer pointed at the road stretching out just beyond the trees. “A few miles east. Need a lift, Agent?”
Mateo was relieved when the guy inclined his head toward a squad car with a friendly smile. This would go easier than he’d expected, which was good. He needed to get this done so he could refocus on the case. If Carlisle could be believed, shit was about to get dicey, which meant he wouldn’t have another chance for a while.
