Page 12 of Diamonds

I’m about to replace the lid on the hatbox when I notice something under May’s head.I take another deep breath and reach into the box, pushing her head gently aside.

And… Oh my God.

It wasn’t just her head.

Her hands are in here, too.The flesh is already pulling away from her light-pink nails, but there’s no denying what I’m seeing.

“Maddox!”

He rushes over.“What is it?”

I point in the box.“They chopped off her hands, too.”

“Shit.”He looks inside.“And they’re burned off at the ends.They destroyed her fingerprints.They’re trying to make it more difficult to identify her.”

“But they can still identify her from her teeth, can’t they?”

“I think so, baby.”Maddox darts his eyes around the area.“But we really need to get the hell out of here.Right the fuck now.”

5

MADDOX

I’m driving.Fast.

Alissa’s in the passenger seat, and the hatbox containing May’s head is in the back seat, buckled behind a seatbelt.

I thought about putting it in the trunk, but then I worried that it might tip over and spill its contents.The last thing we need right now is the sound of May’s head rolling around in the trunk.And we want to keep it in as pristine condition as possible so Bill can confirm her identity.

Alissa leans over and squints at the speedometer.“You’re going awfully bloody fast.”

“It’s Chicago.People never go the speed limit here.”

“But it’s the middle of the night.It’s not like you have to worry about traffic.”

“I have to worry about getting the fuck out of that damned park, Alissa.About someone following us.We’re not even close to being out of the woods.”I point my thumb to the rear of the car.“Just ask our good friend in the back seat.”

“Yes, but we’re also not going to do ourselves any favors if we end up in an accident.”

I don’t respond.

Maddox Hathaway isn’t driving, anyway.

Mad Maddox is.

I used to think Mad Maddox only came out when I was aroused.

But tonight, I’ve learned he comes out when my fight-or-flight kicks in.And truth be told, he’s been at the reins since I came face to face with May’s severed head.

And Mad Maddox has one mission.Get to the coroner as quickly as possible.Speed limit be damned.

It’s the middle of the night.No one’s going to pull me over in the middle of the night.The cops who are on duty this time of night are focusing on our city’s many murderers and rapists.

Alissa swallows.“So you said this man did your father’s autopsy?”

“Correct.”

“Bill, you said his name was.”