The Last Move (Criminal Profiler 1)

“The quick DNA test of the semen found in Gloria Sanchez showed it belonged to Martin Sanchez.”

“I assumed they weren’t sexually active,” Mazur said. “What about the DNA found in the condom in Rebecca Kendrick’s apartment?”

“Also Martin Sanchez. Guy gets around.”

“What about the hair samples that the medical examiner found on Gloria?” Kate asked.

“State lab is testing DNA now. I also pulled additional strands from her blouse. Thanks to the high-profile nature of the case, you might have results within a week.”

“A week?” Kate asked.

“Light speed in my world,” Calhoun said. “Also, there were similar hair fibers found on Rebecca Kendrick. I looked at hair samples from both victims, and they’re very similar. Again, a wait-and-see until the lab gets back to me.”

“Thanks, Calhoun,” Mazur said.

“Sure thing.”

He hung up. “The clock is running out. A week is going to be too late.”

“If William is our killer, then he has a very short cooling-off period.”

Many serial killers took breaks between murders. Some could only wait weeks or months, while others could wait years. He moved his jaw from side to side. “Right.”

Her cell rang. It was Agent Nevada. She pressed the phone to her ear. “Tell me you have good news.”

“Kate.” His voice sounded heavy with fatigue.

That tone never boded well. “Where are you?”

“About a hundred miles from you.” Silence rose up between them.

She closed her eyes. “What happened?”

“Sara Fletcher committed suicide. She got hold of a pair of scissors and cut her wrists.”

“What?”

“The staff thought she was improving. According to her nurse she ate a decent meal and then settled back into her pillows as if she’d turned a corner.”

This kind of relief wasn’t uncommon before suicides. Knowing death was close gave the troubled a sense of peace because they knew their suffering would soon end.

She could have discussed the whys of this girl killing herself, but right now she didn’t care about the reasons. Sadness and despair washed over her.

Nevada cleared his throat. “She left a note for you.”

She swallowed hard, not trusting her voice for several seconds. “What did it say?”

Silence hovered for a moment. “She said, ‘Tell Agent Kate it’s not her fault, but I can’t live with the monsters anymore.’”

Her chest tightened, and unshed tears clogged her throat as her gaze dropped to the Wonder Woman bracelet around her wrist. “That’s it?”

“That’s it. I’m sorry, Kate.”

Mazur was staring at her, very aware that something was wrong.

“I’ll get back to you.”

“Right.”

Ending the call, she carefully slid the phone in her pocket and glanced at the bracelet on her wrist. “Sara Fletcher killed herself.”

Mazur swore. “It’s time for a break.”

“I’m fine,” Kate said. Tears welled in her eyes, and one spilled down her cheek. She sniffed and wiped it away with her knuckle.

“No. We’re calling it a night. I’m taking you back to your mother’s.”

She sighed and pressed her fingers to her temple. “I can’t just stop.”

“I’ll make calls and get a few of the detectives out there searching for this property. I don’t think he’s going to be found until he wants to be found.”

When William arrived at the church, the secretary told him the cops had been there asking about Rebecca. Barely two days since he’d stabbed Rebecca, and Katie was here. He’d expected Kate to figure this all out, but not quite so soon. He would have to step up his game. Clever girl.

“I told them you couldn’t have done this,” Mrs. Lawrence said. “They told me to call them when I saw you.”

He smiled gently down at her. “It’s a misunderstanding.”

“I knew it,” she said smiling. “You’re a good man.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Lawrence.”

“They told me Rebecca is dead?”

He nodded. “I know. It’s terrible.”

“She wasn’t a perfect woman, but Rebecca wanted to be a better person.”

If only Rebecca had been more loyal to the people who had helped her most. “It’s a terrible tragedy.”

“What should I do about the police?”

He smiled. “You will have to do what you think is best. Now I have to see the priest.”

She frowned. “Of course.”

William ducked into the confessional and waited a few minutes before the small door separating his booth from the priest’s opened. Though the screen was supposed to hide the identity of the penitents and the priest, he always knew who sat on the other side as soon as they spoke.

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,” William said.

“How can I help you, my son?”

The faint New York accent gave Father Tim away immediately. Young and idealistic, he believed prayer really was effective.

William cleared his throat. “It has been five days since my last confession. I have been having impure thoughts about a woman from my past.”

“I see.”

“The woman I’m thinking about is Katie.”

“Katie?”

“I love her.”

Silence emanated from the priest’s side. “I understand police were here asking for you.”

Just as he’d recognized Father Tim, the priest had recognized him. “I know.”

“Can you help the police with Rebecca?”

“No. I can’t help them at all.”

Kate knew her detached silence troubled Mazur as he drove to her mother’s house. She knew she looked pale, exhausted, and heartsick. But as much as she wanted to pretend she could handle this one alone, at this moment she could not.

He walked her up to the front door. “You need a good night’s sleep.”

She unlocked the door and flipped on the lights. He followed her inside, and then checked each room and closet before joining her in the main room.

For a moment she was quiet, doing her best not to allow her gaze to roam over him. She liked looking at him and wondered what it would feel like to touch him. “Do you want to stay?”

“Stay?”

She took his hand in hers and rubbed her thumb against the calluses on his palm. “I’d like you to stay.”

He angled his head as he closed his fingers over hers. “I know words are your thing, but I want you to tell me exactly what you want.”

She cleared her throat, more nervous than she had been in a long time. She’d been around Mazur enough the last few days to know he liked her. She’d noticed the way his gaze lingered an extra breath on her body. She took a half step toward him. Inches separated them. “In our line of work we deal with death.” She hesitated, wondering why words, which were always her ally, had abandoned her.

A smiled tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Tongue-tied?”

She cleared her throat. Her heart thudded in her chest, and her body tingled with anticipation. “Sex is one of the few ways to really feel alive.”

“I’ve heard that.” His tone had dropped and his smile vanished.

Kate shifted and drew in a breath. “I know I can be quirky. And I’m not very good with people.” And then before she had a chance to change her mind, she said, “I’d like to have sex with you.”

He stood still, staring. His gaze didn’t waver, and he didn’t speak. Her heart tripped, and she feared if they didn’t enjoy each other in this precious pocket of free time, she’d return to her life and he to his and that would be that.