Page 108 of Girl Between (Dana Gray FBI Mystery Thriller #5)

The Monroe property was a place of horrors. A veil of unease emanated from every corner as Dana and the task force began their search.

If such a thing as a breeding ground for serial killers existed, Dana was certain she’d found it.

Her spine tingled as she crossed the overgrown acres, the wind whispering warnings with each step.

She could feel the tales of torment deep in the soil of this place.

It hung in the hushed quiet of the abandoned land.

If Levi Monroe ever lived here, it was a long time ago.

There were no signs of life anywhere on the property, rather it seemed a monument to death.

After the outbuildings and farmhouse were cleared by law enforcement, Dana joined them to examine what was left.

She started in the slaughterhouse. The stench was the first thing to assault her as she stepped inside. Death dwelled here, clinging to every surface. Bones and bloodstains marred the wooden floor, blanketed by a layer of dust and misery.

The building was a relic of decay, a shrine to killing, hidden behind a facade of rural charm. Every cobwebbed corner seemed to hold secrets, every shadow a potential threat. Sorrow seeped deep into Dana’s bones as she stood where so many animals had met their end.

Was this where Monroe got his start? His first kill? His thirst for blood?

Dana’s attention was suddenly drawn to the K9 unit entering the building.

The large German Shepherd balked upon entering the kill room.

He looked up at his handler as if to say this is not a safe place.

But ever the professional, the dog followed orders and entered the room.

It paced a few feet, circled, then lay down.

The agent handling the dog set a marker on the spot and signaled the dog to move on.

Again, the dog paced several feet, circled, then lay down. Down went another marker.

The cycle continued until the entire slaughterhouse floor was dotted with yellow evidence markers.

“Is that normal?” Dana asked when LaSalle strode over.

She shook her head. “This K-9 is trained to identify human remains. Slaughterhouse must be throwing it off.”

“We’ve got something,” one of the BAU agents called, signaling George to join him at the first marker.

Dana and LaSalle hurried over to peer at the image reflected on a LiDAR screen. The ground-penetrating technology wasn’t something Dana was proficient in, but she didn’t need to be an expert in subterranean radar to know what she was looking at—bones. Human bones.