Before the Dawn(63)

She wasn't looking away from him.

"He put his victims in the freezer. Not because that was another form of torture, but because he wanted to keep the victims with him. To stop time. No decomposition, no destruction. He would literally freeze the women when they were his. He meant for them to stay that way, forever." He pointed to the board, to the first victim, Heather Hartley. "This killer isn't focused on owning his victims. He's sending a message instead. I believe he called in the tip about the body because he didn't want time to be wasted. He wanted the cops to find the victim as soon as possible. He wanted us down here." No, that wasn't exactly true. His gaze slid to Samantha. "He wanted me down here. He wanted me here and he knew I'd come as soon as I heard about the type of kill that had been discovered."


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There had been no option for him.

"He approached his second victim, Jinx Donahue, because of her tie to Dawn. He wanted access to Dawn's home, and he wanted to learn as much information about her as he could." His gaze cut to Jinx's picture. "Then he eliminated her."

"I don't remember seeing any men with Jinx," Dawn said softly. "She never brought anyone home, not that I saw. She never introduced me to anyone-"

"That would have been deliberate," Macey cut in. "He would have made sure that you never crossed paths. Not until he was ready."

"It's a trap." Tucker hated saying the truth. "Everything he's done...it's been to close his web around you." He rubbed the back of his neck. "And me. I'm just as much a part of this as you are. The guy wants me involved. He wanted me here, and he has me." Now he moved toward the photo of Red. "Jason Frost would never have killed this way. Red wasn't his victim type. The perp we're after-he used a swift, brutal method to kill. He was eliminating a witness, nothing more, nothing less."

Bowen's fingers flattened on the tabletop. "In that case, we need to make sure our cop friends are keeping extra eyes on Rowan Jacobs. I would hate for another witness to vanish."

"It's doubtful Rowan will tell us anything," Samantha said as her stare drifted over the tactical board. "When the drugs are out of his system, odds are high the guy will remember nothing. And as far as the current information that kid gave us-" her gaze cut to Tucker "-the description fits you and it fits Jason Frost."

"And too many other people wandering the streets of New Orleans," Bowen groused. "Useless."

So far, yes, it was.

"Bowen." Samantha turned toward him. "I want you in Baton Rouge today. Meet with Heather's family. Her friends there. Learn everything that you possibly can about her."

He nodded.

"Macey..." Samantha's attention shifted to her. "You're still working with the coroner?"

Macey's gaze dipped toward Dawn. "It's...a slow process with Jinx."

He saw Dawn pale. Dammit.

"Keep us updated," Samantha ordered. "I'm also waiting to hear back on the analysis our unit is doing on the gloves Dawn recovered. Maybe the perp was sloppy. Maybe we'll get a hit from the DNA database-something that can tell us who this guy is." 

Then her attention shifted to Dawn.

"I can help," Dawn said as she stepped forward. "I need to help."

"I know you do." Samantha's voice was gentle. "But he tried to attack you today. He's gunning for you. Every moment that you are out in the open, that's a moment that you're at risk."

Dawn's chin lifted. "And every moment that I hide...that could be a moment when he's looking to make someone else a pawn in this sick game he's playing. You said he wanted me." She looked at Tucker. "You both said that. So what do you expect him to do? I'm not a profiler, but I'll tell you what I expect... I expect for him to keep hurting others as he tries to get to me." She exhaled on a ragged breath. "And I can't carry more guilt. I won't."

Samantha glanced at Tucker. Her eyes had gone dark and he knew she was pondering the situation. "I'd like a private word with you, Tucker," she murmured.

He nodded grimly. The others filed out, but Dawn lingered. Her gaze flickered between Samantha and Tucker. "As I've already told Tucker, I'm not going to be shoved to the side. I have contacts in this town-I'm the one who got you Red's location, remember that? Not using me would be a huge mistake, and I think you're both smarter than that." She turned on her heel and marched out.