Twisted (Burbank and Parker 1)

Artemis

Hunter, Archer, Keeper of the Hounds

May 1

Sloane Burbank?

NOTES:

(1) Coin signifies battle between good (goddess) versus evil (Python).

(2) Apollo killed Python and assumed guardianship of Delphi (Greek mythology).

(3) Tai Kee

is phonetic pronunciation of Tyche, goddess of fortune, luck, and prosperity.

A hard jolt of awareness shot through Derek as some of the crucial pieces fell into place while triggering a whole new set of questions. Those he’d turn over to the BAU to decipher.

His own attention was fixed on the final table entry—the one that made his blood run cold.

The last victim’s name: Sloane Burbank

And worse, the “date taken” listed beside it: May 1.

That was today.

He flipped open his cell phone and punched in Sloane’s number on speed dial. It went directly to voice mail. Dammit. He hung up and tried her home phone. Same thing. She couldn’t still be out running. Maybe she was in the shower? Outside?

He was clutching at straws and he knew it.

With his jaw tightly clenched, he checked the time. Hank was still on. He would have some answers. He never left Sloane unattended. During his shifts, he kept a perpetual, full-time eye on her.

Hank’s cell phone rang and rang. No one picked up. Eventually, it went to voice mail.

It had to be bad cell reception. Hank never ignored a call, not when he was on duty. Unless he was in trouble.

No. Derek refused to go there. He’d wait a minute and try again. This time Hank would answer.

There was sweat beading up on his forehead, trickling down his neck.

As if on cue, Derek’s cell phone rang.

“Hank?” he said into the mouthpiece.

It wasn’t Hank. It was the local cops in Sloane’s town. Burt Wagner, Sloane’s next-door neighbor, had suggested they call him.

Derek listened to the entire story.

He was already in motion as he issued a few terse orders to the local police.

Then he turned back to Deborah, recited Jeff ’s phone number, and told her to call him, then send him a fax of the printout and have him fax copies to Bill Mann at the BAU and Larry Clark at his New York hotel. He blew out of the office faster than he’d come in.

When he arrived at Sloane’s house, the local police were still on the scene, one interviewing Burt inside the house, three others checking the outside grounds and street.

Hank’s car was parked in its usual spot. As the cops had told Derek on the phone, the bodyguard had been out cold when they arrived, thanks to a well-placed tranquilizer dart. He was now in the hospital, being treated and, hopefully, regaining consciousness.

Derek would head over there next.