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Afraid for her own sanity?

Maybe

She could s were happening in a house, she would be irritated with the people who lived there, thinking that if they had any sense at all, they would move out

But this was real life, not a movie, and tothat hadthat had for her past and all her wonderful drea A huge one that would strike fear into the heart of any would-be invader, human or otherwise

Herto see just howon the autopsy table, Jed thought

She was lying there as if she were sleeping, but this was the forever kind of sleep

Doc Martin was droning on about tearing and bleeding, and the absence of fluids, fibers or any other trace evidence that ht help Like the other victiled, a clear indication that the killer had strength There were signs of force once again, but no signs of torture

Jed stood silently by Jerry’s side, listening Doc Martin had spent a long ti them what they didn’t have, but the fact that they didn’t have anything still gave theloves, that would have left fibers behind

Were they looking for a doctor or a nurse, both of ould have had easy access to plastic gloves? Or, for that matter, a dishwasher?

The women had been forcibly taken and raped, but not tortured before death The high, the cli

"She was beautiful, huh?" Jerry said softly

She certainly had been, Jed reflected Young and beautiful, with long hair highlighted with brilliant red

Doc Martin continued to talk into his recorder as he prepared to open the corpse, and Jed turned away, striding from the autopsy room He didn’t need to see the invasion of her body; he didn’t need to be there at all If they learned anything new, anything pertinent, he would hear about it soon enough

He wasn’t optih Their killer was clever, and so far they had found al scientific hich to work if and when there was a suspect It was a case now for thethe street and asking questions

He was surprised when Jerry followed hie, since he’d seen dozens of autopsies As soon as they got outside the building, Jerry lit a cigarette

"Thought you quit," Jed said

"I only smoke after I’ve been in there," Jerry said as he drew heavily on his cigarette, then coughed He took another drag No cough that tiuy knows his victims?" he asked after a minute

"I don’t know He either knows them or he has the kind of char woerous predator out there, so hea fake cast, then lured his victi to have some kind of a handicap?"

"I think it’s a possibility," Jed said "Unless he knows theht free, it’s either a fake handicap or he has so"

Mal O’Donnell joined them then, and Jed arched a brow at him Doc Martin couldn’t have finished with poor Patti Jo so quickly

But even Mal had apparently decided that staying to the bitter end would be pointless He scowled at the other two men "He said he’ll call us later about the tox report and her last s," Jed predicted

O’Donnell looked irritated "Hey, you gave up the cop thing, reot the killer, keep your opinions to yourself"

He shoved past them both, and Jerry looked at Jed "He’s just pissed because the FBI are on their way," he said "The heat we’re getting is unbelievable"

"I can believe that"

"You get anything, call me," Jerry said

"Will do"

Jerry handed hi after his partner "Don’t be pissed at Mal," he called over his shoulder "We’re going to be dragged through the official ringer this afternoon, and you get to walk away"

When Jerry was gone, Jed looked at the paper he was holding It held a list of names and addresses Patti Jo’s friends and co-workers, and the last place she’d been seen alive

The newest theme park, Jed noted

And Dan McDuff was listed as one of her co-workers