Guardian Ranger (Shadow Agents 2)

He opened the door.

Because the dead can’t whisper.

Reed Montgomery was most definitely dead.

The man’s body was lying facedown on the floor. Blood had pooled beneath him. His hands were out by his sides, positioned deliberately.

Jasper knew that if he turned the man over, he’d find that the guy’s throat had been sliced. The killer had come up on the guy, walked silently up behind him, caught him off guard...

And used his knife on Reed’s throat. The man wouldn’t have even had the chance to scream. Not that a scream would have helped him.

Just like the others. Because Jasper had looked at a crime scene like this before. Three times before.

“Jasper.” Veronica’s strangled voice. He glanced at her, saw the horror on her face. The increased pallor of her skin.

Hell. Another dead body for her to deal with in less than twenty-four hours.

He blocked her view. “Go back into the den.” He needed to search the scene. He couldn’t risk her contaminating evidence, and he just...

I don’t want her having to stare at the body.

“It’s him, isn’t it?” She swallowed. “The man who owns the bar. The one you called Reed.”

He nodded.

“I...talked to him last night. He’s the one who directed me to you when I came in Last Chance.”

So Reed had recognized him, too. Jasper had suspected that the man remembered him. Reed would also have known that Veronica was Cale’s sister. No way would the guy not be aware of her, not after all of his dealings with Cale. So Reed had realized that Jasper and Veronica were hooking up; he’d probably figured that Jasper was helping to track Cale.

Just hours after he’d gotten that knowledge, he had been killed.

Killed...silenced.

The killer knew I was coming to talk to Reed.

So Reed had been taken out.

“He asked me...asked if I was sure I wanted you.” Her gaze was on his. “I was sure.” Her chin lifted. “Is he dead...because of whatever is happening with Cale?”

Why lie? Besides, the woman already knew the truth. “Looks that way.”

He gave her credit. She didn’t flinch. Her shoulders straightened, and she turned for the door. She’d taken two steps when she hesitated. “Did he suffer?”

“No.” The kill had been quick and clean. The work of a man who knew just what he was doing with a knife.

“Good.” Her breath whispered out. “My father...he suffered... No one should have to suffer.” She slipped from the room.

Swearing, Jasper turned back to the body. He yanked out his phone. Punched one button to get Gunner on the line. “I’m going to need a crime-scene team out at Last Chance,” he said, not bothering to identify himself. “Our guy’s struck again.”

A swift inhalation of air, and then Gunner demanded, “You’re sure it’s the one we’re looking for?”

“No sign of B and E.” Not from what he could tell. Just like the other scenes. “Looks like the victim let him in.” The kill had happened just hours before. “Then when the vic turned his back, the killer struck.” His fingers tightened on the phone. “The attack came from behind, just like the others. A slice right across the jugular. The victim bled out.” Had it been easy? Had he suffered?

He sure would never tell Veronica if the guy had. The last thing she needed to know was just how sadistic Cale could be.

“Get our medical examiner in on this.” They’d fly Dr. Sarah Jacobs in. No local with shaking hands would handle this kill. “I’m betting that once the crime-scene guys go over this, and she gets to see the body, all the results will be the same as before.”

The results...the info that the techs gathered about the killer’s height and weight and military training...all based on the kill method.