Two Graves (A Kesle City Homicide Novel) by D.A. Graystone

Commissioner’s office was to the left but when they got out, a young woman met them and motioned to the right. “This way please.”
    “Damn,” Davis mumbled.
    “Looks like we aren’t alone.”
    The young woman smiled and led them to the hallway entrance of a conference room. The other entrance came from a well-camouflaged doorway in the Commissioner’s office.
    Mann was shocked to see his old Captain waiting outside the door. “Andy, what are you doing here?”
    “Beats the hell out of me. I just got the official summons from on high about fifteen minutes ago,” Captain Keough replied, shaking Mann’s hand. Taking Davis’ hand next, Keough greeted him. “He bring you into this snake pit?”
    “Misery loves company,” Davis replied.
    “Well,” Keough said, “let’s get this over with. Got to admit, I’m pretty interested in why I’m here.”
    Inside the room, Mann wasn’t surprised to see the usual suspects gathered. Along with Captain Walsh was the mayor’s chief of staff, Don Parkside – no doubt to cover His Honor’s ass.
    As they were about to sit down at the long highly polished table, Commissioner James walked through the connecting door from his office. Mann caught a glimpse of someone sitting in front of the Commissioner’s desk. All Mann could see was a pair of crossed legs in expensive men’s slacks before the door closed quickly.
    Before he even reached his chair, the Commissioner started the meeting. “Captain Walsh has been briefing us on the investigation. So, Lieutenant, do we have a serial killer on our hands?”
    “Whoa, I’m sure it is too early in the investigation to jump to those conclusions,” the mayor’s chief of staff said. “God help us if the press gets a hold of something like this. We do not want to feed the fires of panic in the city.”
    Ignoring Parkside, Mann answered the Commissioner’s question. “We have three murders with strong indications that they are the work of the same killer or killers. We don’t have any indication at this point that there is more than one person involved so I am betting on just one killer.”
    “You are linking three killings?” asked James.
    “I am. The tie to the first killing of the boy is weak but the knife definitely makes a trail.”
    “It isn’t as if it is the only switchblade in the city. We know of at least three more like it,” Parkside said, revealing how much he had read about the case. “There is nothing to definitively tie the knife to the boy.”
    “Actually, we can. Luis Gabel's crew identified it by a knick on the blade. There is no other logical explanation that puts the knife in the hands of a second killer so we have to assume one killer. The next two have a clear signature that absolutely connects them.”
    “OK,” the Commissioner said, looking pointedly at Parkside, “let’s accept three linked killings for now. Where does that put us? Captain Walsh said that this one was worse than the others?”
    “The violence is escalating. This latest victim was mutilated – ripper kind of mutilation. He spread the organs all around the floor. We will have to wait on the autopsy to know about rape.”
    The Commissioner looked over at Parkside. The Mayor had just announced his candidacy in the coming election. Politically, this would be a landmine. As though completing the thought, the chief of staff spoke again. “Kesle does not need a serial killer at this point in time.”
    Mann opened his mouth to ask when it would be convenient and felt Captain Keogh’s hand on his arm.
    “As soon as this hits the press, the city will panic,” Parkside continued. “I have been on the phone to the Mayor. He wants this guy caught before the press even knows he exists.”
    “Sir, given the frequency of the murders, we don’t have much time,” Mann said. “I would recommend a task force be formed immediately.”
    “A task force?” Parkside asked, the pleading clear in his voice. “That is definitely