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“My not going will only convince them they’re right and that you believe he was innocent.” I refused to break eye contact. “It will look better if I go with you, but either way, I’m going.”

“All right, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He headed for the door.

“Max, research that naval base and find us a way in where we can’t be seen or at least some point where we can do surveillance without being seen.”

“You sure about this, Dakota?” Max nodded in the direction Gabriel had stomped off. “Maybe I should go with you.”

I gave him a rare smile. “Positive.” I could feel his eyes following me as I left the room. Before Salyer, I would have told Max what I was about to do. And he would have tried to stop me.

Gabriel had brought the vehicle to the front of the station and was waiting for me. The firm set of his jaw told me he wasn’t finished arguing yet.

I climbed in and buckled my seat belt. “Let’s go.”

Lights flashed and sirens blared as he screeched out into oncoming traffic.

“Are you trying to kill us before we get there?”

Gabriel didn’t answer, but he did let off the pressure on the gas pedal.

“We’ve both known this was going to happen eventually. Pretending Salyer was dead only delayed it.” I kept my face forward, checking out his profile with my peripheral vision. One thing I was sure of—Gabriel Browne was a cop’s cop. He believed in protect and serve. “We know he’s alive now, and we owe it to the public to make sure they know it too.”

“I could have done that,” he growled.

“You could have. You’re angry because you know I’m right. My not showing up would have added fuel to the fire that he was innocent. Or is it that you still believe he was my lover and I let him go?”

“You know I don’t believe that.”

“Hopefully after today, they won’t either.” I needed to stop talking, shut down, and pull up enough strength to do what had to be done. “How did the media pick up on it so fast? They knew before you did.”

“Anonymous call.”

“You need to find out who received that call and if it can be traced.” I expelled a deep breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to tell you how to do your job. I’m sure you’ve already thought of that.”

“If I were a better liar, I’d tell you I had.” He turned onto the road that would lead to his subdivision. “You sure you’re ready for this? They’re going to be vicious.” He parked behind a cruiser.

I unhooked my seat belt. “So am I.” I didn’t wait for him to open my door.

The medical examiner had already erected a tent and secured the body from sight. Officers had formed a line, keeping back curious spectators as well as the throng of bloodthirsty reporters. I held my head high and walked toward them at a slow pace, making a dramatic entrance into hell.

“There she is!”

Gabriel closed the distance between us as the crowd pushed and shoved, microphones thrust forward with a barrage of questions and accusations flying from all directions. I held up a hand to silence them. Christian had his trademarks, but so did I. Those who were familiar with my cases knew the signal and that I wouldn’t say a word until they remained quiet. A few of the older ones shushed the more eager.

“I know you all have questions, and I’ll be happy to answer those questions as soon as we’ve viewed the body.” I turned my back on them and walked toward the tent.

“Impressive, Dale.” Gabriel was sticking close to my side. “Someday, you’ll have to teach me that trick.”

“No tricks. They want to scream at me, but they also want answers. Most of them know I won’t talk unless they shut up.”

“You’d be better off saying ‘no comment.’” He lifted the front flap of the tent.

“That didn’t work for me last time.”

I’d steeled myself for what I expected to see when we entered. The one thing I hadn’t prepared for was disappointment. “That isn’t Bethany Phillips.”

13

My body trembled as the lock on the cage clicked open. I’d grown too weak over the past week to fight him. “What do you want?” I whispered.

Christian knelt beside me and held up the belt. “I thought I’d give us both a treat today.” He raised me to a sitting position and sat on the floor behind me. “They tell me the near-death experience is as good as an orgasm.” He placed the belt around my neck and drew it tight.

My hands groped at the slick leather, and he continued to tighten his hold until my legs thrashed with a will of their own. “That’s it, sweetheart. You can make it stop. Whisper those words I want to hear.” He released the pressure enough to allow me to speak.

“I’d rather die.”

Christian laughed. “I won’t let you die, Dakota. You’re going to live a long, long time and spend all of it in a cage just like this one.”

“Is it Salyer’s work?” Gabriel was kneeling beside the body, but his eyes were riveted to my face. He’d asked the ME and the photographer to give us a minute alone.

“No. Another copycat and not a very good one. The color he used isn’t crimson. It’s scarlet.” I knelt beside him. “And he didn’t paint her nails. That’s one of the clues that was never released to the public.” I pointed at the marks around her neck. “The discoloration around her neck is wrong also. Christian never used a rope. He used a belt with soft padding so bruising was minimal.” I rose. “The ME said she was raped. Christian never raped any of the women he killed.” I met Gabriel’s questioning gaze. “And he never raped me. I think the ME will tell you this girl was choked to death. Everything else is window dressing to make it look like Salyer. He probably picked up his idea from Angelina’s murder.”

“Maybe it’s Jasmine Elam. The photo we looked at wasn’t all that clear.” He groaned slightly as he rose. “Hard on old knees.”

“Wishful thinking. If Salyer has Phillips and Elam, that isn’t her.”

“I don’t get it. Nine bodies were found, but you’re saying he had other girls. If that’s true, why weren’t their bodies discovered?”

“Because he had a wood chipper. I need some fresh air.” I stepped outside the tent, taking a deep breath to calm the anger beginning to build. Copycat killers had always been a pet peeve of mine. They muddied the waters, making it harder to catch the real killer.

Gabriel joined me. “Figured out what you’re going to say to them?”

“A different truth. One that won’t result in anger taken out on Bethany Phillips or Jasmine Elam. I don’t believe Salyer was involved in this murder. We can use that to stop the copycat killings and turn his anger against the killer.” I trudged slowly toward the waiting group. “If you still want to flush him out, get a lead on who did this. Maybe we can kill two psychopaths with one dose of poison.”

“Stay away from the blonde. I dated her once.”

Questions started bombarding us as soon as we were close to the line. I held up my hand again. “We need your help.” I waited until they quieted. “The young woman inside is not Bethany Phillips. At the moment, we don’t know who she is. That’s where we need your help. Someone out there is using Christian Salyer as an excuse for their dirty deeds. If the killer isn’t scared, he or she should be. If Salyer is still alive, he’ll consider this murder a mockery. In fact, anyone trying to copy his methods will be considered to be mocking his work. He isn’t going to be happy about that or let it go.”