Rand.
“What the hell,” she groaned, rolling onto her back. “Agent O’Malley,” she said, “how can I help you, Captain Rand?”
“You’ve got it wrong, O’Malley. I’m helping you this morning. Wake up and get down to Waterfront Park. Your killer has struck again.”
Sin met Jack and Gonzales at the scene.
She made it to the park before the clock struck half-past the hour, rode her bike up over the curb and parked on the sidewalk in front of the park on the fringe of the crime scene. Removing her fingerless, black leather gloves, she unsaddled her bike, and tied her hair back in a ponytail.
Just past the ugly yellow tape, she spotted Rand and a handful of officers standing near a veiled object. C.S.I. had already begun to process the perimeter.
“Captain,” Sin said, “I appreciate you securing the scene.” She swallowed her pride, and continued, “The FBI could use the FDLE’s help this morning.”
Sin watched as Rand scanned the park and the sea of city cops. He looked back at her with a jutted chin and pumped up chest. “There seems to be plenty of Miami city cops around. Use them.”
Sin stared at him incredulously. “Seriously?”
“Unless you want to relinquish command of the investigation.”
You smug bastard, Sin thought as she stepped toward Rand to give him a piece of her mind. Just as she was about to unload a verbal assault, Jack and Gonzales walked up.
Jack stuck his hand in between the two of them and looked directly at Rand. “Nice to see you again, Captain.”
“Yeah, you too, McGuire,” he responded in a curt tone. “My men answered the 911 about forty-five minutes ago. We were just finishing up securing the perimeter when,” he nodded toward Sin, “she showed up.”
“She?” Jack said. “Do you mean Special Agent O’Malley?”
“Yeah, her.”
“Well, on behalf of the rest of the Federal Government, let me thank the FDLE for your help.” He looked around at the uniformed officers of the Miami Police Department. “It looks like we can take it from here.”
“Pff,” Rand huffed. He eyeballed Sin as he waved his men back to their cars. “The offer still stands, O’Malley. Anytime the big leagues get too tough for you, give me a call.”
“Big leagues,” Sin mumbled when Rand was out of earshot, “Find me a bat and I’ll shove it up his home plate.”
Gonzales snorted. “You do have a way with words.”
Jack dropped his sunglasses down, blocking out the sun. “You have no idea.”
Sin heard the sound of a vehicle approaching and saw the M.E.’s van heading toward them with Quincy behind the wheel.
“Sorry it took me so long,” he said. “Damn van wouldn’t start.”
The passenger door opened and Evelyn stepped out. “It’s a good thing I was close and able to give him a jump.”
Quincy stood in front of everyone and eyed the veiled object. “Time’s a wastin’. Let’s get started.”
As they were talking, a high-pitched voice shouted from behind. Sin turned to see Tiffany Swenson storming straight at them with her cameraman in tow. She was already broadcasting as she stomped through the grass in her three-inch heels.
Sin pointed at two of the uniformed officers. “You and you, don’t let her or any press come anywhere near here. The entire park is now considered a crime scene. All unauthorized personnel are restricted to the street or sidewalk until I say different. Gather some men and tape off the entire park.” She nodded toward Gonzales. “Agent Gonzales will assist you.”
Gonzales shook the officers’ hands and introduced himself. “Tell me what you would like me to do.”
The conversation soon switched over to Spanish and the three walked away jabbering as if they were the best of friends and quickly organized the other officers to set up the proper perimeter.
Sin and Jack were mumbling back and forth while watching Gonzales when Quincy interrupted, “Are you two dancing or do we have a body to process?”
Jack slapped Quincy on the shoulder. “It’s always nice to see you Quince. But we need to start meeting in happier locations.”
Quincy smiled and nodded.
The exchange seemed strange to Sin until she remembered that she was the odd man out. Everyone else here was assigned to Miami.
Quincy was about to have his team pull the tarp from the body when Sin stopped him.
“Hold up,” she said. Sin drew everyone’s attention to the swarm of press trucks and cameramen with telephoto lenses.
Quincy nodded and had some of his people grab a bunch of sheets from the van. They quickly formed a circle and used the sheets as a wall of protection from the ever-present media.
Everyone gloved up and stepped inside the makeshift tent.
“Okay, we’ve waited long enough, let’s see what we have,” Jack said.
Sin stepped forward along with Quincy. They each took a corner of the tarp and gently removed the covering.
“Damn!” Jack said. “What the hell is that?” He pointed at the victim’s head. It was surrounded by a gilded frame.
Sin followed the angle of his arm until her gaze zeroed in on where he was pointing. “Damn is right.” Her words echoing Jack’s.
The victim appeared, at first glance, to be female—same approximate age as Vivienne—dressed in high fashion and seated on a chair similar to the last vic. What grabbed everyone’s attention was her face or lack thereof.
“What’s covering her face?” Sin said.
“It looks like a weird welder’s mask,” Jack said.
“I was thinking a jousting helmet that a knight might wear,” Quincy commented.
Evelyn stared and turned a greenish hue. “I think I will go see if Alejandro needs any help.”
Sin nodded and continued to stare. As she focused, she was able to take in the entire scene. “Our perp is staying true to his art. He’s drawing our attention to what he sees as being the most important part.”
Jack walked around the victim, continuing to ogle the metal contraption around the head. “If he wanted to draw our attention,” he said, “he has accomplished his mission.”
Quincy began thinking out loud. “When he framed
