Maniacal: A Detective Jade Monroe Crime Thriller Book 1 by C.M. Sutter Page A
Authors: C.M. Sutter
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they need more names on Morris’s end. We can cross-reference the list I intend to get from Perry. We’ll see if anything shakes out. I’ll ask him to start on it while he’s waiting here anyway.”
“Good. Just think of every angle you can. We need Perry to give us a list of his own acquaintances too. What does he do for a living?”
Jack checked his notes. “He’s a CPA.”
Lieutenant Clark slapped his hand on the table. “Okay, follow that too. Maybe somebody didn’t like the way Perry prepared their taxes. I don’t care how stupid it sounds, check everything. Talk to the North Bend PD and see if they want to lend a hand. They can dig in deeper with the business owners from the strip mall. Maybe somebody there had a beef with Elise. I’ll have a few deputies pull extra shifts. We need videos from businesses along her route home. Just because nobody followed her out of the strip mall doesn’t mean they weren’t waiting somewhere else. Get some deputies out there collecting video feed from every business that has surveillance cameras. Get the tech guys on it. I don’t care if they have to pull double shifts. Let’s move.”
“Got it, boss,” Billings said as he scratched his goatee. “I’ll get more deputies in here.”
“Okay, get a plan under way. We need something solid. We have to apprehend this maniac before he becomes a serial killer.” Lieutenant Clark cracked his knuckles. “I’ll call downtown and see how much the city can pitch in. If this gets worse, we may have to call in help from the state patrol too.”
Chapter 15
Clayton and Billings went through Morris’s file again. They searched for hours for any clue that would connect him and Elise. It didn’t make sense. We needed to gather names and find a common thread.
I looked at the clock—four thirty. What had started out as a half day of work had turned into another murder with no leads.
“I’m ordering a couple of pizzas. We can’t live on vending machine candy bars forever.”
I called Dick’s Pizzeria and placed the order. They said to expect the pizzas in thirty minutes. Jack and I went downstairs to talk to Kyle and Dan.
We entered the forensics lab. I wanted to ask if there was anything new, but their blank looks told me all I needed to know. They didn’t have anything to offer. There wasn’t any trace evidence on Elise’s clothing, the stretch cord, tights, or mat. They hadn’t found any fingerprints other than Elise’s on the car’s door handles or steering wheel. The only evidence on her clothing was from the park—dirt, leaves, and twigs.
Jack and I sat at the table with Dan and Kyle. We brainstormed over a cup of coffee. I was sure they needed a break anyway.
“I’m thinking this guy knows how to play the game. It may be his first rodeo or not, but he knows how to avoid being detected. He doesn’t use the same kill method twice, and we have no idea where he’s going to pop up next, or who his target will be. He leaves nothing behind and no trace of his actions. What are we missing?” I asked.
I looked from face to face, hoping for an epiphany, an aha moment from anyone, but nobody said a word.
“You guys didn’t find anything at either scene, such as a murder weapon, fingerprints, or tire tracks. Morris had a knife according to his boys, and he was killed with a knife, but none was found. Elise was killed with her own yoga gear. It can’t be a coincidence that this killer doesn’t have to bring his own weapon to commit the crime. Even though there isn’t a connection between the two of them that we know of, the killer has chosen Morris and Elise deliberately. These aren’t random murders. He knows who he’s going to target and how he’s going to kill them. There had to be something that connected Elise to Morris.”
“Or someone,” Kyle said.
Jack spoke up. “Maybe that’s it. It’s possible that the connection isn’t actually between Morris and Elise at all. It could be someone
“Good. Just think of every angle you can. We need Perry to give us a list of his own acquaintances too. What does he do for a living?”
Jack checked his notes. “He’s a CPA.”
Lieutenant Clark slapped his hand on the table. “Okay, follow that too. Maybe somebody didn’t like the way Perry prepared their taxes. I don’t care how stupid it sounds, check everything. Talk to the North Bend PD and see if they want to lend a hand. They can dig in deeper with the business owners from the strip mall. Maybe somebody there had a beef with Elise. I’ll have a few deputies pull extra shifts. We need videos from businesses along her route home. Just because nobody followed her out of the strip mall doesn’t mean they weren’t waiting somewhere else. Get some deputies out there collecting video feed from every business that has surveillance cameras. Get the tech guys on it. I don’t care if they have to pull double shifts. Let’s move.”
“Got it, boss,” Billings said as he scratched his goatee. “I’ll get more deputies in here.”
“Okay, get a plan under way. We need something solid. We have to apprehend this maniac before he becomes a serial killer.” Lieutenant Clark cracked his knuckles. “I’ll call downtown and see how much the city can pitch in. If this gets worse, we may have to call in help from the state patrol too.”
Chapter 15
Clayton and Billings went through Morris’s file again. They searched for hours for any clue that would connect him and Elise. It didn’t make sense. We needed to gather names and find a common thread.
I looked at the clock—four thirty. What had started out as a half day of work had turned into another murder with no leads.
“I’m ordering a couple of pizzas. We can’t live on vending machine candy bars forever.”
I called Dick’s Pizzeria and placed the order. They said to expect the pizzas in thirty minutes. Jack and I went downstairs to talk to Kyle and Dan.
We entered the forensics lab. I wanted to ask if there was anything new, but their blank looks told me all I needed to know. They didn’t have anything to offer. There wasn’t any trace evidence on Elise’s clothing, the stretch cord, tights, or mat. They hadn’t found any fingerprints other than Elise’s on the car’s door handles or steering wheel. The only evidence on her clothing was from the park—dirt, leaves, and twigs.
Jack and I sat at the table with Dan and Kyle. We brainstormed over a cup of coffee. I was sure they needed a break anyway.
“I’m thinking this guy knows how to play the game. It may be his first rodeo or not, but he knows how to avoid being detected. He doesn’t use the same kill method twice, and we have no idea where he’s going to pop up next, or who his target will be. He leaves nothing behind and no trace of his actions. What are we missing?” I asked.
I looked from face to face, hoping for an epiphany, an aha moment from anyone, but nobody said a word.
“You guys didn’t find anything at either scene, such as a murder weapon, fingerprints, or tire tracks. Morris had a knife according to his boys, and he was killed with a knife, but none was found. Elise was killed with her own yoga gear. It can’t be a coincidence that this killer doesn’t have to bring his own weapon to commit the crime. Even though there isn’t a connection between the two of them that we know of, the killer has chosen Morris and Elise deliberately. These aren’t random murders. He knows who he’s going to target and how he’s going to kill them. There had to be something that connected Elise to Morris.”
“Or someone,” Kyle said.
Jack spoke up. “Maybe that’s it. It’s possible that the connection isn’t actually between Morris and Elise at all. It could be someone
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