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He opened the refrigerator and found it undisturbed Stocked wi
th three bottles of white wine and one red, cheese, eggs, and a loaf of bread Its clean, nearly unused surfaces glistened A check of the cabinets revealed standard inexpensive dishes that ht be stocked in a rental Made sense
“Georgia, when do you estimate the time of death?”
“About ten last night”
Alex looked out the back door and noticed it backed up to the woods A killer could easily have coh the brush undetected Deidre’s town house was an end unit, and there was a clear path fro lot Easily accessible
He moved out the back door and walked down the stairs
“Footprints?”
“It was blistering cold last night and the ground was rock solid”
“So no footprints?”
“Blood ses by the back door I think the killer went toward the woods and stripped off whatever protective gear he earing We’ve got a scent dog co”
“Fingerprints?”
“Lots, but I don’t knoho they belong to I’ve checked all around the outside of the door as well as the countertops, the cabinet handles, and the refrigerator door handle I pulled a few good thumbprints from the counter But if loves”
“You’re going to want to see this,” Deke called out from outside the kitchen
Alex turned androom, where a uniformed officer knelt by a coffee table He watched as the officer, with gloved hands, re device mounted to the underside of the table
All the personnel in the rooia to inspect
She took the small device in her hands and studied it closely “So to Deidre This device is wireless and has a range of about a ets, and they e would have clearly heard Deidre in this room”
“Keep your voices dohile we need to search the rest of the house,” Deke said, lowering his voice “My first choice would be the bedroom, another favorite spot for creeps who like to listen”
Alex pulled on a fresh set of gloves before crossing to Georgia He held out his open palm, “May I?”
Raising a brow, she handed it to hi “So polite”
Alex ignored the co device, said quietly, “This isn’t cheap And it’s sophisticated Can also be purchased on countless Internet sites”
“Stalking ia quipped
“Soon-to-be ex-husband?”
“Top of my list”
Georgia glanced back at the kitchen as eure this out We’ve got to
Alex laid his hand on her shoulder “He’s already caught He just doesn’t know it yet”
Chapter Seven
Monday, January 16, 11:45 AM
Leah’s hands trembled as she tried to insert her key in the front door She fu an oath, she picked theot the key in the lock She undid the dead bolt and hurried inside Without hesitating, she locked the door behind her Beyond tired, her nerves were shot
A glance out the frontand she saw the cop car parked across the street She drew in a steadying breath, trying to break the bands of tension in her chest The cop would be Alex’s doing She’d been as careful and controlled as she could be when she’d spoken to hi in the silence between her careful sentences
Slowly, she turned from theand down the hallway She was halfway to the bathrooave out and she lowered herself to the floor and buried her face in her hands
Sadness and fear Dear God, Deidre was dead Stabbed