Page 18 of Wild Wolf

Phil, a forensic guy, told me he’d identified four distinct tread patterns from partial footprints. Two belonged to the kids. The other two were in question.

JD and I examined them, and Dietrich had taken multiple photos.

“More than one killer?” JD muttered.

I shrugged.

Brenda and her crew bagged the remains, transferred her to a gurney, and wheeled her out through the back door.

Paris and her camera crew were ready to capture the money shot as the ME’s crew wheeled the body down the driveway to the medical examiner's van.

JD and I stepped outside and made our way back to the Porsche.

Paris closed in. "Deputy Wild, what can you tell us?"

"I can't discuss ongoing investigations," I said.

"Is this another werewolf attack?" I think she said it just to get under my skin.

I gave her a flat look. "No. This is not related to the previous incident at Echo Point.”

"I heard the victim was brutally attacked. Are you saying there is another predator on the loose in Coconut Key?”

"I'm saying this predator walks upright."

"Should residents be concerned?”

I said nothing and stepped out of frame. I had already said too much.

We talked to Erickson and Faulkner.

"None of the neighbors saw anything," Erickson said. “No video doorbell footage either.”

A frown tensed my mouth.

"What do you think about this one?" he asked.

"Odds are the husband snapped," I said.

Spouses were always prime suspects in situations like this.

JD and I hopped in the Porsche, and he fired up the engine. Jack pulled away from the curb, and we set out to find Grant Peterson.

11

Iput a heavy fist against the door and shouted, “Coconut County. Open up!”

It was late and something you never wanted to hear at your door in the middle of the night.

Grant lived in a unit on the 16th floor in the Nautilus Tower. It was an upscale high-rise with all the amenities, a private marina, and grand views of the ocean. Not a bad place to land after a contentious divorce, but his unit wasn't nearly as pricey as the Stingray Bay mansion.

A voice crackled through the speaker in the video doorbell. "Can I help you?"

"Mr. Peterson?" I said, then made introductions. "We need to have a word with you.”

"What's this regarding?"

"I’d rather give you the news face-to-face.”