Unspeakable Read Free Page B

intelligence and he’s driven by ego. He’s most likely attractive, possibly charming, and comfortable approaching women with some kind of ploy. His sophisticated MO shows that he’s organized and capable of controlling his impulses. I think he lives on the island, is underemployed, and owns or has easy access to a boat. His hobbies include hunting and fishing. He likes guns. I also think he’s probably got some background in law enforcement.”
    She noticed the startled looks but kept going. “No sign of sexual assault, at least nothing overt.”
    Breck’s brows arched. “Overt?”
    Elaina shifted slightly. “Even without rape, I believe these are sex crimes. The knife work is a form of penetration. And this type of offender sometimes can’t get an erection, so he substitutes something else.”
    Breck traded looks with the ranger, and Elaina plunged on so she wouldn’t have to answer any questions yet.
    “He kidnaps these women, injects them with a chemical to incapacitate them, takes them to remote locations,and then makes a deep abdominal incision with a serrated hunting knife. He leaves almost no trace evidence behind, indicating a good deal of knowledge and planning—”
    “Now, wait a minute there.” Breck held up his hand. “We only got two victims. You make it sound like we’re dealing with a serial killer.”
    “I believe we are.”
    “It could be a copycat. Some domestic murder, staged to look like the girl from spring break, just to throw us off.”
    Elaina tipped her head to the side. “And how many of those details were released to the media?”
    Breck darted an uneasy glance around the room, and she knew she’d made a tactical mistake by challenging him in front of an audience.
    But he recovered quickly. “And we don’t know what evidence he might have left in that Audi,” he added. “Could be prints all over.”
    “I’m also referring to Gina Calvert’s car. And the abandoned Mustang found at the boat dock following the Mary Beth Cooper murder.”
    The room fell silent. Breck’s face was pure astonishment.
    “Mary Beth Cooper,” he stated.
    She nodded.
    “From nine years ago?”
    She nodded again.
    Breck leaned forward now, scowling. “A guy
confessed
to that crime. He’s sitting in Huntsville.”
    Elaina nodded again.
    “You mean to tell me you think they got the wrongguy up there? He was convicted in a court of law. Someone wrote a book about it, for chrissakes.”
    “He confessed to a string of murders,” Elaina said. “Investigators have irrefutable DNA evidence he actually committed some of them, too. What I’m saying is, I think we need to look at Mary Beth’s case again. I think it’s related to our unsub.” In fact, Elaina believed there was a good chance Mary Beth Cooper was this perpetrator’s first kill.
    “The Cooper girl died of traumatic asphyxia,” Cisernos said.
    Elaina’s gaze shifted to the ME.
    “Manual strangulation,” he added. “I performed the autopsy myself.”
    “And as you mentioned in your report,” she said, “the victim had ketamine in her bloodstream at the time of death. And she’d been stabbed postmortem with a serrated knife.”
    The room fell silent again. Elaina searched all the faces for some sign of support. Breck sat with his arms crossed, looking disgusted. Cisernos frowned. The cops in the room looked uncomfortable, with the exception of the young Latino officer, who seemed intrigued. He sat forward on his chair, watching her, as if waiting to hear more.
    “Well, now.” Chief Breck stood up and finally offered her his hand. “We’re glad you could make it up here today, Miss McCord. I think we can handle things from here.”

    After her stellar performance in front of Breck, Elaina had the urge to go get drunk. She eyed the festive barsas she drove through town, thinking how nice it would be to pull in and order a double frozen margarita with salt.
    Instead, she headed for the bridge. A knot formed in her stomach as