Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Huck shrugged. “This is more your purview than mine, but maybe it just doesn’t matter to him.”
“That remains a possibility.”
He looked at the list of suspects that she had kindly labeled “persons of interest,” probably because his picture was there. “You think Jason Abbott would do this?”
“I don’t think there’s a limit to Jason Abbott’s need to kill,” she mused.
Huck studied the pictures of the crime scene, which included the bodies. “Would he change his MO like that?”
“Yes,” Laurel said. “It’s not unusual for a serial killer to change their MO for various reasons. They adapt to avoid detection, or their fantasies evolve.”
“Huh,” Huck said. “I didn’t know that.”
“Sure,” she said, her voice quiet. “Ted Bundy initially lured female victims with charm, but later changed his approach to breaking into victims’ homes. He evolved as he experimented with different ways to gain control.”
Sometimes it shocked him, the knowledge that Laurel possessed. He had difficulty sleeping at night because of some of his cases. He couldn’t imagine dealing with the images she’d witnessed in her young life.
She patted his hand. “There are several other serial killers who changed, so it’s entirely possible that Jason Abbott is another one.”
“I thought cutting off the hands was a big deal to him.”
“It was and might still be,” Laurel said, “but he’s been locked up for months. There’s something about the cold water and the drowning that I can see appealing to him, the absolute control over a victim while she sucks in frigid water and tries to breathe.”
“In which case, my mother would be, what? Just an opportunistic killing?”
Laurel put her hands on Huck’s thighs. “Yes. We have two women right now—both blondes, but that might be a coincidence. Maybe Delta was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Why would she be here at all?” Huck asked.
Laurel shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m hoping Nester can figure that out. She flew in by herself from Santa Fe.”
“Really?” Her palms were warm against his legs.
“Yes. I need to ask you—we keep calling her your mother. Do you want me to call her Delta or Ms. Rivers or Delta Rivers?”
He thought about it. “I know it bothers you when anybody refers to Pastor Caine as your father, but honestly, I don’t really care.” It surprised him that he meant it. He felt curiosity about Delta Rivers, and he would find the person who’d killed her. He owed her that much. She was who she was, and technically, she had been his mother. Even if he’d never met her. “Do you think Abbott would’ve needed to kill as soon as he had the chance?”
“I don’t know,” Laurel said. “He was locked up for a few months building fantasies in his head. Frankly, I’m surprised he stayed in this location. The smart move would’ve been to head to Seattle or any big city with a large homeless population where it would be easy to hide.”
“The fact that he called you concerns me,” Huck said. “I think he stayed here to deal with you and probably Abigail.” Laurel’s stomach audibly growled. Huck chuckled and lifted her up to stand. “I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”
“I have time for sustenance since we haven’t found Saul Bearing yet.”
Huck stood and slung an arm over her shoulders. “We have to get some protein in you. We can talk about whichever case you want.”
She surprisingly let him take some of her weight. “How about we refrain from talking about cases tonight? Let’s enjoy our dinner and engage in normal conversation.”
“Huh,” he said. He wasn’t entirely sure either one of them knew how to do that.
* * *
Laurel followed the hostess, winding around tables toward a two-top by the window at Alberto’s on the River with Huck’s hand at her lower back. He felt like a solid and sure presence behind her, which she needed right now.
“Laurel?”
She stopped cold and turned to see Abigail sitting across from Special Agent Wayne Norrs. “Abigail, hello.”
Huck stepped up beside her. “Hey, Norrs.”
Agent Norrs placed his crystal glass on the table. “Hi, Huck. Sorry about the interview on Saturday. I didn’t intend for it to go that long.”
“Not a problem. You have to do your job,” Huck said.
“I’m glad you stayed on the case, Laurel,” Norrs said.
She noticed a small smile playing on Abigail’s face. Obviously Norrs remained unaware of Laurel’s pregnancy, or he would’ve insisted she recuse herself. Why hadn’t Abigail told Norrs about the pregnancy? If she thought it was something to hold over Laurel’s head, she was misinterpreting the situation entirely. Yet, it was none of the special agent’s business, so Laurel felt no need to enlighten him, especially since she wanted to remain on the case and discover who had killed both Huck’s mother and Teri Bearing. Nobody deserved to die like that.
“You must join us,” Abigail said.