Ruthless by Debra Webb Page B

viewing pleasure of all those watching, maybe including the evil being who did this.
    Dan nodded, but there was more on his mind. He looked so worried. She ached to just close out all those prying eyes and go to him.
    Do your job, Jess.
“We can talk on the way,” she suggested. If he was going to blow up and lay down the law again about how she should be in hiding, she didn’t want that to happen here with all those reporters buzzing around on the street. Fact was, she was barely hanging onto her composure here.
    He nodded again.
    As they moved toward his SUV, the reporters clamored for statements and Dan gave them all they were going to get for now: “No comment.”

 
    Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Thursday, August 19, 2:29 a.m.
    D an stared at the tiny bones arranged on the coroner’s table and his chest ached. What kind of evil preyed upon little children like this? Humans made mistakes. But this was no error—no spontaneous event that was later regretted. No. This bastard repeated his heinous deed over and over. Year after year.
    “How long will it take you to make the official identification?” Jess asked. “I’m not trying to rush you, Dr. Baron, but as soon as this news hits the street those parents are going to want to know which one of them this child belongs to.”
    If the bastard who’d done this stuck to his previous MO, the remains would prove to be Emma James. Jesus Christ. Dan had to look away a moment.
    “I uploaded the dental records of the other victims to our database after the first set of remains found theirway to you,” Sylvia Baron explained. “I wanted to be prepared… just in case.” She nodded to the computer screen on the credenza and then rested her attention on Jess—waiting, Dan suspected, for a thank-you.
    Jess didn’t disappoint her. “I appreciate your hard work. I’m certain the families will, as well, even if saying so isn’t on their minds just now.”
    When she didn’t get on with it, Dan prompted, “You want a drum roll, too?”
    Sylvia shot him a glare. “Emma James. The little girl in the photo.”
    “She went missing the year before Dorie.”
    “That’s right,” Dan said in answer to Jess’s observation. She looked so tired. He hated that some sick fuck was doing this to her. “He’s taunting us with a trip down memory lane.”
    “The delivery was made personally this time,” Jess said quietly, as if she were thinking aloud. Her voice was thin, anguished. No one wanted to investigate cases like this, but these children deserved the best on their side.
    “He may have paid someone to make the delivery for him,” Dan countered. Walking up to Lily’s door when she was home was taking a risk. Then again, at that time of night most were distracted by television or preparing for bed.
    Jess shook her head. “He wouldn’t share any part of this with anyone else. I’m certain he made the delivery himself. His every step is careful, methodical.”
    Dan laughed, a painful sound even to his own ears. “And he wants to share his accomplishments with you.” How the hell was he supposed to protect her until they found this bastard?
    “We will find him, Dan,” Jess said as if she’d read his mind. “He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s helping us along.”
    Dan held up his hands. Couldn’t say what was on his mind in front of Sylvia. The associate medical examiner knew too much about him and his relationship with Jess already. She didn’t need to know he was out of his mind with worry. Hell, he hadn’t slept at all last night. From the looks of her, Jess hadn’t, either.
    “I have to tell you, Harris,” Sylvia said, as she folded her arms over her chest and pointed an accusing look at Jess, “you certainly know how to keep life interesting. In all my years in this office, I have never had so many back-to-back—how shall I put this—completely bizarre cases. You should have your own reality series.”
    Jess forged a quick smile. “I’ve