Page 39 of Gone in the Night (Detective Morgan Brookes #16)
THIRTY-NINE
He’d been thinking that things were complicated, a lot more complicated than he’d anticipated.
Then he’d heard the radio news reporter make the boldest statement he had ever heard.
The guy who sounded as shocked as he was said that the police were not looking for anyone in relation to the two murders.
What the hell did that even mean? He pushed back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head, realising that it meant he had a get out of jail free card, one that had been handed to him with a huge fucking grin on his face and at no cost to him whatsoever.
He should cut loose now, stay quiet, keep out of the way and go about his business like he usually did.
The chance of some jumped-up copper falling for what he intended was too much for even him to think about.
There had to be some catch. It was too perfect.
His foot kept tapping against the floor, a nervous tick he’d had since school that he tried to control.
When he got nervous or excited it was hard to contain it, even when he placed his hands on his thigh to stop it.
Staring down at Yolanda’s Instagram account for the tenth time today, he knew he should stop this madness that was consuming him, but how did you stop something that was like a sickness inside of you, growing and getting stronger each day until it completely took over?
That was the battle raging inside of him right now.
Did he admit defeat and walk away whilst he had this most perfect opportunity, that never, ever happened.
Or did he finish his little spree with the beautiful Yolanda Crystal?
There was no way that was her real name either.
The thought made him more excited than he wanted to admit.
What was exciting over doing the right thing?
It was everything, the buzz of adrenaline that ran through his veins at the thought of hunting her to her remote camping place and having some fun with her.
Maybe this time she wouldn’t be found as quickly as the previous two, and he’d be able to see if her body mummified in the right conditions.
It would be nice to be able to keep checking on her progress before it was discovered and someone reported her missing.
Although he couldn’t guarantee she would find the ideal secluded place to record her New Moon vlog that she’d posted about yesterday on her Instagram account.
Was there anywhere that was completely remote when there were fell walkers, farmers, campers, mountain bikers and God knows what else kind of extreme sport some people liked to torture themselves with?
The door opened and in walked one of his colleagues, mugs of coffee in hands. He smiled as they passed him one. Today was getting more interesting by the hour.
He was staring at the picture of Yolanda he’d screen-shotted from her YouTube channel as he wondered what he was going to do.
Was he going to take this golden opportunity and not spoil everything?
Or was he going to have some fun?
He would let his instinct guide him; it was in fate’s hands whether she lived or died, and it was in fate’s hands whether he got away with the murders or was captured and held accountable.
He didn’t think the cops had a clue what they were doing, and to be fair to them he could see why – he’d done a pretty good job of throwing a spanner in the works.
Risky killing a copper, but worth it for the distractions it alone was causing.