Slenderman by CeeRee Fields (good novels to read TXT) 📗

a flourish, Franklin rolled out a soft leather case filled with daggers. “My bet is, your killer stabbed his victims in the back. Probably in the kidney so they didn’t bleed out right away, and he made the other wounds to hide a taser’s distinctive marking.”

Jo touched one with an intricately twisted handle interlaced with yellow and pewter. “Gorgeous, and it would fit with the pattern we’ve put together. We finally have the full reports from the other murder sites, and the killer leaves thirty silver coins near the victim.”

None of them added they had received confirmation on notes at each of the crime scenes as well. It pissed her off how slowly information was coming to them as if they had to beg for each individual piece. This was a serial killer for crissakes, all the jurisdictions should be sharing everything. The only discrepancy was the first kill. At Mark’s house, there were no coins, no note with ‘Betrayer’ in bold letters, but the weapon matched when they’d gone back through the medical examiners’ reports.

“These are pugiones which were a Roman Soldier’s dagger. I think your guy is using one to kill. They’re not big, making about a two-inch stab wound.” Franklin trailed his hand across several, his gaze bouncing from the weapons to the cast before stopping on a matte gray dagger with a plain silver handle. “This looks like the length and width.” He picked it up and carefully pushed it into the mold.

“Holy shit. It fits.” Ian took the knife and cast then passed it to Redden. “Why didn’t our examiners catch it was this dagger?”

“Because no one uses a pugio as a weapon. Not for a long time. They are for stabbing, which is hard to get close to a person to do. Most killers use a knife, not a dagger to kill. Knives can stab as well as slash, or they use a gun. A gun is the most common weapon used to kill a person.” Franklin went to a different shelf and returned with an array of stilettos and more modern daggers in two leather cases. “Besides, most people who use a dagger would use these. They are close relatives to a pugio.” He held up a long stiletto. “And better known. But they’re too long and today’s daggers are a mix of a stiletto and a dagger, so much more narrow—”

“Which was why our examiners were thrown.”

Franklin took the dagger and cast back. “The pugiones daggers were very distinctive in Roman times and is why I asked if the killer was a man or woman. Because both wore this dagger strapped to their waists or their thigh.”

Jo caught Redden’s gaze. “If the victims are being incapacitated and then killed, it could be a woman.”

Redden’s eyes widened, and he pulled out two pictures. “But these wounds were made with such force the examiners didn’t think a woman could do it.”

“If the victim is prone and the woman’s angry . . . ” Franklin waggled his head back and forth. “She could do it.” He pointed to the dolls. “My wife inserted all the knives into those dummies and Kyle had pissed her off at one point. She stabbed through the doll’s arm.”

“It’s a doll,” Ian said.

“It’s as lifelike as we can get it. The bone, skin, veins, and weight are in line with a normal person.”

Redden and Ian walked to the doll Franklin had pointed to and lifted the arm, and sure enough, the tip of the knife peeked out from the other side.

“Like I said, never underestimate a pissed off woman.”

“I need to take this back to the medical examiner’s office.” Redden returned to the worktable.

“What about your forensic lab?” Jo asked.

“They’re months behind. It’s why we used the MEs information first and then follow up with forensics.” Redden rubbed his face. “It means I also need to reevaluate the profile.”

Jo nodded. “Franklin, can we take this dagger?”

“Sure. Can you make sure I get it back though? Those aren’t easy to come by. I had to have each of mine custom made. It’s another reason I doubt your ME would know about them. They’re uncommon.”

Ian perked up at that. “I’ll research the dagger while you two take the list and MEs stuff. See if anything pings.”

Jo held her hand out. “Thanks, Franklin.”

“Will I see you next week with Rhys?”

She laughed. “No.”

“Oh, thank God because I don’t need you solving the mystery in a few seconds. It really makes the evening dull when that happens.” Franklin led them up the stairs.

“It’s why I don’t come to your murder mystery events anymore. Rhys loves them, and so does Rian. Both said I took the fun out of the events.”

At the door Jo found Kyle waiting as Redden and Ian thanked Franklin again, she turned to Kyle. “Did you get everything squared away with Rian?”

“Yeah, I’m coming over this weekend. He and Evan promised to help me with the latest quests that came out in Legends of Stone.”

Worried, she blurted. “Are you in their clan too?”

“Oh, no. I’m a bosser, so I’m in a different group, but I hang in their clan sometimes.” Kyle lifted his cell phone to read the screen.

She nibbled the bottom of her lip watching Redden and Ian step onto the porch. “Do you know anyone who’s left Rian’s clan that maybe hangs in the chat sometimes?”

Kyle raised his face from his phone and nodded. “Sure. I have a friend who was in their group and joined mine last year. He’s a geek who enjoys weed, so as long as you swear not to arrest him, I can put you in contact.”

She smiled. “I won’t arrest him as long as he keeps the chat between him and me. You have my cell, let me know when and where.”

“Jo, get a move on, we’re burning daylight,” Redden ordered from the door.

“See you later, Franklin. Kyle.” She tossed a wave before darting down the porch steps and catching up to Ian and Redden.