Page 73

I lean my head against the wall and adjust the phone in my hand. “How long will that take?”

“An autopsy usually takes a few hours to perform, depending on what they have to work with. We should get some preliminary results by tomorrow, but the full report could take weeks. Months even.”

“That long?”

“Yeah, especially if they need to do DNA testing or toxicology. But I think they’ll find the cause of death pretty fast.”

“Why?” I sense a hesitation. “Why, Jake?”

“You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”

I shake my head. “No, I need to know.”

“It—the body had ligature marks on her neck. And . . .”

“And what?”

A loud exhale precedes his answer. “Freezer burns. There were indications of freezer burns on her skin. He kept the body in a freezer.”

I cover my mouth to prevent a sob from escaping. Close my eyes and drag in a deep breath. “God.”

He runs a hand through his hair again. “I think he might be dumping the bodies because he’s leaving the area. Maybe he’s selling his home or moving.”

“No. He’s not leaving or moving.”

“No? What makes you say that?”

The certainty hits me like an arrow to a bull’s-eye. “He’s making room for more.”

Chapter35

Jake

Fuck. “Are you sure?”

“Y-yes.” Ava’s voice is shaky.

I hate asking her these questions. Hate getting her involved in this mess. Hate that she’s hurting because of me pushing her to help me. But I keep going anyway. “Anything else?”

She’s biting her nail again. “No, not right now. Maybe something else will come to me when he makes a move. Or when I look at the evidence.”

A knock on the door is followed by a muffled voice.

She looks away from the phone. “I’ll be right out.”

And back at me. “It’s Lynn. I’m hiding in the bathroom. This stuff is freaking her out.”

I want to punch myself. “Maybe you two should leave. Go back home.”

“No.” There’s no tremble in her voice now.

I’m an ass for wanting her to stay. “Let me figure out the rest. Now that we have a body, maybe we’ll find some clues.”

“I’m not leaving. I made a promise to stay and help.”

Relief and fear for her battle inside me. I need to give her an out, a chance to get away. “I’m releasing you from that promise.”

“Not to you.”