Page 68 of Obsession (Temptation 4)

“It’s October thirteenth. The anniversary of the date Jaskulski killed a hotel clerk. Meaning this guy needs to kill a hotel clerk today to continue the ritual. What if the extra girl is the woman this guy plans on killing today?” He checked his watch, seeing it was already nearing noon. “If he hasn’t already.”

“How do we figure out which one of these women it is?”

John refocused his attention on the stacks of photos. Over the past several months of investigating this series of murders, he’d become quite familiar with each of the victims. Could draw their faces from memory. Which was why he found it odd that one didn’t stand out as he sorted the photos.

He went through the list of victims in his head, looking at each pile of photos. Emily Scott… Lillian King… Autumn Quinn… Everly Flores… Alice Marks… Simone Prentiss… Piper Kekoa… Claire Hale… Justine Connors…

They were all here.

But as he focused on each of the women, he realized one was not like the others. And why this woman’s photos didn’t stand out as someone he didn’t recognize.

Because he did recognize her.

Because he knew her.

“Shit,” he cursed, snatching the pile of photos.

“What is it?”

“This woman…” He held up the photo of a young blonde working the concierge desk at what appeared to be an upscale hotel.

“You think that’s his next target?”

He nodded gravely. “I do.”

“I can try to run facial recognition,” Agent Hawkins offered. “See if something comes back, but there’s no guarantee.”

John slowly shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Why? I—”

“Because in addition to the hotel she’s photographed in here, this woman has another job.”

Agent Hawkins’ brow furrowed. “How do you—”

“Her name’s Katherine McCurdy, although most people call her Rina. She works in the corporate offices of The Mad Batter as the personal assistant to the CEO. Who just so happens to be Julia Prescott.”