Into The Night. Cynthia Eden
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prick of a producer had even told her movies like that were called “unauthorized” for a reason. They hadn’t wanted her approval. They’d just wanted to share her horror with the world.
“Did you see the films?” Dr. Lopez pushed.
“Didn’t need to. I saw the actual attack.” She hadn’t needed some Hollywood remake of the worst night of her life. Macey sucked in a quick breath as she squared her shoulders. “I want to look at his eyes.”
Because it was bothering her, that swipe of blood that she could see right under each eye. It almost looked as if someone had tried to wipe away the blood.
“What do you think happened?” Dr. Lopez asked. “You think he killed Gale Collins?” She pointed to the cold storage lockers behind her. “You think he had a partner, someone who helped him kill Gale and then that person turned on the good doctor?”
“There was nothing good about him.” She reached for a light, and then, steeling herself, she began to reach for Daniel’s right eyelid.
Dear God.
She felt a punch right to her stomach. She shined the light into his eye, making sure she wasn’t mistaken. Then...then she lifted his left eyelid. “There’s something there.” Her voice sounded hoarse to her own ears.
Dr. Lopez crowded in close. She’d gone silent. She took the light from Macey, shone it into Daniel’s eyes. The left. The right.
Then she grabbed a pair of tweezers.
* * *
“WHAT IS HAPPENING in this town?” Sheriff Burt Morris demanded as he paced the small confines of his office. “First, that poor girl’s body turns up and now...now this? I thought you FBI agents were going to swarm in and catch the guy.”
“Someone else got to Haddox first.” Obviously. “Based on the way he was murdered, it’s apparent that the killer knew exactly who Daniel Haddox was...and what he’d done to his victims.”
Morris stopped pacing. He swung back toward Bowen. “Like...a partner? The guy had a partner? Is that what you mean?”
Macey had never said anyone helped Daniel Haddox when he attacked her. And no signs had ever pointed to the guy working with someone else. But... Haddox had been in hiding for a long time. Perhaps his MO had changed.
But the crime scene didn’t feel like some kind of partner-gone-wrong shit. It felt like a vengeance play. Payback.
“The cabin had been wiped clean,” Bowen continued. “Our perp made sure he didn’t leave any evidence behind.”
The sheriff’s shoulders sagged. “Is he going to kill again? That’s what I need to know, Agent. Are the people in my town safe—or is the killer going to strike again?”
Before he could answer, Bowen’s phone rang. “Excuse me.” He pulled out the phone and saw Samantha Dark’s name on the screen. “I need to take this call. Give me just a moment.” He strode into the hall and put the phone to his ear. “Tell me you’ve got some news we can use up here.” Because things took a serious right-hand turn straight to hell.
“I need you and Macey in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.” Her voice was brisk. “And I need you there now.”
“Uh, Samantha, we’ve got two bodies here. One of those bodies belongs to Daniel Haddox.” He knew she didn’t need the reminder. But... “And you just want us to pack up? In the middle of our investigation?” He marched down the hall, not wanting the sheriff to overhear. “The local sheriff is worried about another kill, and I have to agree with him. The Haddox scene was a freaking bloodbath, and things aren’t looking good—”
“Patrick Remus.”
At the name, ice tightened around his heart. “Patrick the Pyro? Shit, don’t tell me he’s in action again.” Because Patrick was a killer the FBI had been hunting for months. The guy was an ex-firefighter who liked the flames too much. He picked victims and trapped them in isolated locations. Then he set those poor souls on fire.
“He may not be in action very much longer.” Her voice was quiet. “A video went up on the internet one hour ago. A video that one of our techs picked up. In that video, Patrick Remus is tied to a chair and someone is pouring gasoline on him.”
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“No, I’m not.”
Shit.
“The FBI was able to track down the location of the person who posted that video. We traced the IP address and we know the individual is in Tennessee.” Her voice carried easily to him. “Local law enforcement is closing in, but you’re less than an hour and a half away from the scene at your current location. I need you to get your ass over there. Get to the scene. I need your eyes. I need you and Macey to see what’s happening there.” Her rough expulsion of breath crackled over the phone. “Two serial killers. Haddox and Remus. Two of the worst out there...both seemingly targeted. And both within such a close distance of one another? I do not like this.”
Someone was hunting serials? We’re the ones who hunt the serials. That was the whole purpose of their group. They were the ones who went in. They were the ones who got the job done.
“Check out the scene in Gatlinburg. Haddox is already dead,” Samantha continued grimly. “We don’t have to hunt him any longer.”
But they did need to hunt the bastard who’d killed him. Was he just supposed to walk away?
“I think the cases are connected,” she said. “My gut—every instinct I possess—tells me that two serial killers...both of them in such close proximity...both of them targeted...”
He knew where she was going. “You believe Haddox’s killer moved to Gatlinburg.”
“He finished his work in North Carolina, and yes, I think he could have moved on.”
Shit.
“I’m sending Tucker up to North Carolina so that we can keep a team member with the sheriff and his team there. It will take Tucker a few hours to arrive, but he’ll be there by nightfall. In the meantime, I need you and Macey in Gatlinburg. Right now, we have to operate under the assumption that Remus is still alive and that he is still in Gatlinburg.”
He understood. “We’ll be there,” he told her.
He ended the call and headed back in to see Sheriff Morris. “There’s...been a development,” he began quietly. “Another case nearby. Agent Night and I need to head out for the day, but the FBI will continue to provide you with backup on this case.”
“What?” The sheriff’s jaw dropped. “You’re leaving? With two bodies here?”
I may have another victim close by. Another killer turned victim. “We’re needed in Gatlinburg.”
Morris’s eyes widened. “Why? Is there another body there?”
A soft knock sounded behind Bowen. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Macey standing there. A Macey who looked too pale and wouldn’t quite meet his eyes. Had Samantha already called her? Was that why she’d come to the sheriff’s office?
“We found something. Dr. Lopez and I...” Macey cleared her throat. She had a manila file clasped in her hand. “I wanted you both to know about it. It’s...very distinct. Could be our killer’s signature.” She headed toward the sheriff’s desk. Her hands trembled a bit as she opened the file. Then she swallowed. “The killer...he put nails into Daniel Haddox’s eyes.”
What the actual fuck?
“Dr. Lopez made pictures for you.” Her fingers pushed the photos across the desk. “This is...this is not something that Daniel Haddox ever did to his own victims. And this did not happen with Gale Collins. Dr. Lopez and I checked. The nails...” She straightened her shoulders. “It’s specific to Daniel’s killer.”
“Why