Page 91 of Deadly Cry

‘You’re not wrong, providing it’s actually edible,’ she shot back.

Kim marvelled at the woman’s metabolism.

‘Go on then,’ Bryant said, reaching forward. ‘I’ll take one for the team.’

He bit into it and placed the remainder at a point on his desk that was directly above his bin.

‘Okay, okay,’ Kim said, moving the plate of cookies out of the way.

Seeing this as permission, they all descended on Penn’s offering like flies to a fresh pile of dung. She wasn’t upset. They were Jasper’s muffins and even she’d be grabbing one for herself later.

‘Okay, guys, sounds like your stroll around the building last night yielded results. Want to tell me about it?’

‘We’re wondering if there’s anything to do with pairs, boss?’ Penn said. ‘It’s the only thing we can link with the name Noah.’

‘So we’re wondering if there are any other crimes that come in twos,’ Alison added.

‘But we’ve had three murders?’ Kim queried.

‘But the first two were similar: women with children,’ Penn answered.

‘And yet different,’ she said, turning to Alison for an answer.

‘Still working on it.’

‘And the phone records of the phone that called Nicola yesterday?’ Kim asked.

‘Only been used eight times in ten years other than the call to Nicola.’

‘No incoming calls or messages?’

‘Not one. Not even from the only other number it’s making contact with.’

‘Stace, stay on that. I want everything you can find. Penn, I want you looking at any crimes that have come in pairs.’

Both officers nodded their understanding.

‘Alison, I want you to take a look at the scratches on the wrist of our first victim. What do they mean and what is their purpose?’

‘Got it.’

‘But not before you’ve taken a look at this.’

Kim reached behind to the printer for the copies of the comment she’d screen-shotted and printed from her phone.

She handed the first copy to Alison and then circulated the rest.

‘Our guy?’ Kim asked impatiently.

Alison read the comment and then spread the other two communications around it.

The room waited in silence until Kim could bear it no longer.

‘Well?’

‘I can’t be sure.’

‘I’m not asking you to bet your house on it. Your opinion?’