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CHAPTER

FORTY-TWO

As soon as Logan climbed back in the SUV, his phone rang.

It was Reeves.

He answered with, “Have you heard anything?”

“I probably shouldn’t be talking to you,” Reeves whispered.

“I know. And I regret I’ve put you in this position.”

She paused. “Another body was discovered this morning.”

Logan glanced up at Duke and nodded. “Tell me more.”

“He was found by a hunter near Borealis Lake. A hole had been cut into the ice, and his body was placed there. It appears he froze to death in the water. When we found him, it looked as if he tried to climb out but got stuck. He was half in and half out of the water.”

He squeezed the phone harder. “Let me guess. The victim was Reuben Walsh.”

Reeves’ momentary silence was all the answer he needed.

“How did you know?” she finally asked.

“I’m trying to figure out this killer’s pattern. That led me to believe Reuben Walsh was his next intended victim.”

As he said the man’s name, he put his truck into Drive to get away from the scene.

The last thing he needed was to be here when one of his colleagues arrived.

If it was Reeves or Yazzie, he’d be okay. But if it was someone in Ashcroft’s pocket, that would only serve to make his life more difficult.

“Can you tell me anything else about the scene?” he asked.

“Mostly we just know what I told you. We’re doing a tox screen. My gut tells me that we’ll find sedatives in his system.”

More sedatives. Where was the killer getting these drugs? It sounded as if they were more potent than what someone could buy over the counter.

Did that mean someone in the medical field was behind this?

It was a possibility worth exploring.

“What’s going on with Ashcroft?” Logan asked after a moment of hesitation.

“He’s still as cranky as ever. But he plans on making a statement to the press later. He didn’t want to cause a panic, but at this point, he has no other choice.”

“Understood.” As Logan ended the call, his jaw tightened.

Three people were now dead.

Morgan had created six different series within her most recent collection.

That meant there would be three more victims.

After the last victim was found dead, would that mean this killer had no more use for Morgan?

Bile churned in his gut at the thought.

Logan had to stop this madman before this went any further.

Logan went back to Ranger’s house and gave everyone the update.

Reuben Walsh was already dead, so there was no need to look into him any further.

Ashcroft would have to take this seriously now. There were three bodies—all found in one week.

Logan wasn’t sure how this killer had managed it.

Choosing and taking the victims took time and effort. The lighting in each of the photos had been precise. That was something that could take days to get right. At least, that was what Morgan had told him.

If this guy held true to the pattern he was setting, there would be another dead body tomorrow.

This time, they needed to be there to catch this guy.

“What series was next for her photographs?” Andi asked.

“I have them here.” Logan had brought Morgan’s portfolios with him for this very reason. He found the next series and set the photos on the table in front of them.

The pictures were of Chena Lake. Most of them focused specifically on an old, rickety pier, jagged boards pointing skyward.

“How far away is Chena Lake?” Duke asked.

“It’s about an hour from here.” Logan paused. “I think we can assume this guy already has his victim. He’s working fast. Not only is he staging these murders to replicate Morgan’s photos, but in the midst of doing that, he’s also been able to draw these other victims out and abduct them.”

“If you ask me, that means he’s been planning this well in advance,” Andi said.

“I knew this guy was meticulous, but he’s even more so than I thought.” Logan swung his head back and forth in disgust. “Because you’re right. He has been planning this for a long time to have all these details already organized.”

“If our theories are right, that means the next victim will be number four of six, and that this guy will strike tomorrow night.” Duke’s voice sounded solemn. “My gut tells me that he’s planning on that sixth victim being you. You seem to be at the top of his list of people he’s taunting.”

Logan’s jaw tightened. “I can’t argue with that.”

Andi raised her chin higher, determination showing in the action. “We’ve got to catch this guy. We need to figure out who his next potential victim could be. Maybe it’s not too late to save him.”

“Maybe.” His phone dinged.

Reeves had sent him a picture of the latest crime scene. He’d asked her to do so as soon as she had a moment away from Ashcroft’s watchful gaze.

As he looked at the photo, his stomach sank.

It was just like he thought.

A replica of one of Morgan’s photos. Only it wasn’t the most popular one in the series. In this photo, the hull of a boat could be seen frozen in time in the icy waters.

Instead of a boat, the killer had used a man.

Logan’s insides twisted at the thought.

They had to find some answers, and they had no time to waste.