should be the one driving. “Don’t do that again,” she said, fastening her seatbelt.
“I don’t like being the passenger.”
“Neither do I.” She glared to show him she meant business, then stared out the window as he drove from the parking lot.
“Don’t pout.”
She whipped back to face him. “I don’t pout.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Whatever.” Having him as her partner was going to be a job in itself. She needed to get him trained, and soon. Her last partner had been more than happy to let her call the shots.
“It looks deserted.” Colin cut the ignition.
“It’s most likely a dead end, but we have to check it out.” Cassidy unholstered her weapon and pushed open her door.
“I’ll enter first.” Colin held out his hand. “Please.”
She stared into his face, noting a shadow of pain flicker across his eyes. Chivalry, and something else, was alive and well in Arkansas.
Guns held at the ready, they approached a metal door to the side of a larger rolling door. Cassidy gave Colin a nod as he turned the door handle. The door swung open with a groan.
Colin took a deep breath and stepped in. Cassidy followed, then moved to his side.
As suspected, the warehouse was devoid of life. Their footsteps echoed in the cavernous room. In a far corner draped a curtain. A tripod lay on its side. The type of lights used by photographers were placed around the photography area. Footprints marred the dust.
Cassidy squinted, making out something pinned to the backdrop. She moved closer. A photo of a smiling, posing Amber wearing the dress they’d found her in was taped there. The killer had lured the girl here, then taken her to the woods and murdered her. “I doubt he’ll use this place again.”
“You think he plans on killing again?” Colin slid his gun into its holster.
“I know he will.” She reached a trembling hand toward the photo. “I’ve seen his setup before.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Explain.”
“This is the same man that murdered my mother.”
In the case files were crime scene photos of this exact scene, but in a different location. Always beautiful, Cassidy’s mother had gone undercover as a model to catch a man who preyed on women who loved the camera. He’d never been caught.
~
“I’ll get your bag out of the car. We need to process the scene.” Colin jogged outside, giving Cassidy a few minutes to compose herself. He had a lot of questions that needed answers, but they would wait. He pulled her aluminum case from the trunk. By the time he joined her, she stood ramrod straight, her features composed.
She took the case from him and got to work. Colin was perceptive if nothing else. She still needed time. He was fine with it.
While she snapped pictures of the scene, he squatted next to the footprints. They weren’t looking for a small man. The prints were as large as the ones Colin left, putting the unsub at six feet tall, at least. He’d read Cassidy’s file. He was familiar with her mother’s case. How had the murderer escaped capture for so many years?
He straightened. “Do you think that perhaps the unsub doesn’t live in Clear Springs? Maybe he returns for an anniversary of some kind.”
Cassidy glanced his way. “Since my mother, we haven’t had anything like this happen again until now. That was ten years ago.”
“There has to be a trigger. A killer doesn’t stay dormant for ten years, then kill again unless something pulled him out.” He stared at Cassidy. “You just had a birthday.”
“Yeah, so?” She slid her camera back in her case, then jerked upright. “I’m the same age my mother was when she died. You think I’m the trigger? The target?”
He scanned the loose pants and baggy blouse she wore. “You’re beautiful enough, but other than that, you don’t fit the profile of his victims. That’s why you downplay your looks. Because your mother was killed for hers.”
“How I dress is no concern of yours.” She headed for the