Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
There was a short silence while they all tried to come up with ideas that might answer the question.
“To throw everyone off? Make the investigators believe there is a cult or religious reason. It isn’t voodoo. It isn’t witchcraft. Or satanic.” Shabina frowned as she drummed her fingers on her thigh. “They literally used random items they found. They didn’t bring them to the murder scene. The petals were from flowers in the meadows, easily gotten. They used sticks and rocks they found close to the murder scene. They used items they found in an abandoned box.”
Raine nodded in agreement. “The murders were carefully planned out, yet this ritual wasn’t.”
“So,” Harlow ventured, “you’re saying you don’t believe the ritual is real.”
“I don’t,” Raine said. “I’m with Shabina on this one. I think they studied various serial killers and wanted to have a signature. They just didn’t want whatever they used to point to them.”
“They would have done better to copy a voodoo ritual,” Vienna said. “Any kind of real ritual.”
“Maybe,” Raine said, “but in any case, there is no proof of guilt. Not one single piece of evidence. If it is Felicity and Eve doing these murders, they planned them out carefully. I’m going to do my best to put them in the vicinity of each murder scene before I turn the evidence over to the two agents.”
Chapter Nineteen
Shabina loved having Rainier home. Even the dogs seemed happier. Her protection detail wasn’t quite as happy. They claimed they weren’t getting as much good food as they had before. Rainier told them to go running and work off the weight they’d gained in his absence. Since not a single one of the men looked as if they carried an ounce of fat on them, Shabina just laughed and told them to come to the café every morning and at lunch and she’d make them whatever they wanted.
Everything seemed different without the heavy weight of guilt hanging over her. She ran with Rainier twice a day. Practiced with a gun every day. Did hand-to-hand combat with him. He was so fast that he forced her to increase her speed just to stay on her feet.
She filled him in on the speculation that Felicity and Eve Garner were the number one suspects in the murders, although they hadn’t been confronted.
Rainier nodded toward the two women seated at the smaller table near a window. “They’re coming to the café every day.”
“Practically every day,” Shabina admitted. “If not for breakfast, they come in the afternoon for lunch. We take turns inviting them places or going with them to anything they’re doing, so if our theory is correct, the two won’t have an opportunity to find another victim. Since we’re trading off, it doesn’t appear as if we’re watching them, just that we’re extending the hand of friendship.” She sighed. “I’m going to feel awful if we’re wrong about them.”
Rainier stood behind the counter watching the two women as they waved to other customers and engaged in a lively conversation. “If they’re the killers, Shabina, they’re very good at what they do.”
“I think they’re brilliant,” she admitted. “We’re particularly worried about Miguel. He had a juvenile record, and he frequently goes climbing with them. We all made him promise to call anytime the women want to go to the boulders or anywhere else for that matter. He didn’t ask questions, but he’s been our friend for so long, he’ll do it.”
“I take it Raine turned over any evidence to the FBI.”
“Sadly, there is no evidence, only a trail, and it’s a thin one. I told you how we came to the conclusions we did.”
“Too big of a coincidence,” Rainier agreed. He glanced at his watch. “Babe, I’ve got to sort out the supplies. I’m heading into the shed. Vaughn mentioned he’s worried there’s a glitch in the refrigerator. I’ll take a look at it when I’ve inventoried the supplies. If you get overwhelmed and need a dishwasher, send someone for me.”
Shabina nodded and blew him a kiss as he turned back to the kitchen. He preferred using the back door so he didn’t run into customers. Rainier was never going to be the friendliest of men, but she didn’t care. She could handle the customers, and he could run his business. She just hoped he’d be home most of the time.
The Sunrise Café was popular, and this day was no exception. Quite a few locals were present, including Felicity and Eve. Edward and Janine were having an intimate lunch together. Tom and Judy Rosewood had come in for lunch, and with them were Mary Shelton, the deputy sheriff, and the ME, Martha Fendy. Dr. Amelia Sanderson once again was having lunch with Carl Montgomery, the local contractor. With them were John McAllister, one of the vet techs, and Greg Daily, Patsy’s husband. The two FBI agents had asked for the table across from Felicity and Eve. The two women engaged them in conversation often. Laughing and flirting, talking about the sights in the Sierra and how they had a new love of bouldering and the two men should try it while they were so close to the famous boulders. It was interesting to see how easily the men seemed to flirt and banter with the two women. In no way did the men act as if they considered the women suspects.