Page 138 of Protecting Peyton

“Forget I said that.” Her tone was firm. Her eyes communicated that I’d heard something I wasn’t meant to.

“Constance and Winston,” Lucas said, cutting off any questions I might have. “Have we learned anything more from the files?”

Constance pointed at Winston to go first.

“Not much. They have witnesses who think they might have seen the victim with someone prior to the murder, but they only got very vague descriptions. Brown hair, about five-ten, nothing to distinguish the perp, and nothing on the vehicle. He’s very methodical. All the cases are the same. The victim was always sexually assaulted and strangled with a red necktie. The body was always dumped three days after going missing. He kept them that long.”

“Except for the Moulton case,” Constance corrected.

I cringed at her name.

“He didn’t keep her for three days,” she added.

“After the first two, the files had fewer interviews than I would have expected,” Winston said.

Constance nodded. “Disorganized police work in general. The files only have autopsy summaries, not the full reports.”

“That’s on me,” Lucas said. “I was supposed to talk to O’Connor about that.”

Winston did not look happy. “He said the coroner didn’t give them copies because they had sensitive photographs. Boston has real bullshit rules, if you ask me.”

“No wonder they haven’t caught the guy yet,” Terry mumbled.

“What does O’Connor have to say about the interviews?” Lucas asked.

“He says they have additional interviews back in Boston,” Winston answered. “Their procedure is to segregate the ones that don’t have anything relevant. Another bullshit procedure. But he can get us those.”

Lucas nodded. “Then have him send for them.”

Serena,Grace, and I had gone to a separate room while Constance and all the Hawk guys discussed their plans to take down the Strangler. With some luck, it might even be tomorrow.

“Hey, there.”

My heart leaped as Zane poked his head around the corner. I jumped up.

Duke and Terry arrived right behind Zane.

“All done planning your world takeover?” Serena asked as she got up and marched toward her man.

“Not nearly,” Duke answered.

“Too big an area and too many damned variables,” Terry complained.

Zane took me in his arms. “Don’t worry,” he assured me. “We’ll get him.”

Lucas’s voice boomed. “You guys have the guard schedule and assignments for tomorrow. Now let’s all get some rest, because this is going to be a challenging one.”

Serena unwound herself from Duke and gave me a goodbye hug. “I have to work tomorrow, but I’ll have my fingers crossed.”

“Thanks.”

“Get ready for bed, and I’ll be there in a minute,” Zane whispered in my ear.

I nodded, bidding Grace and Constance goodbye before heading off with tingles running all the way to my toes. I’d been aching for more alone time since we’d gotten here.

I was brushingmy teeth when Zane came up and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“I missed you,” I mumbled through a mouthful of toothpaste.