Mike nodded. “We left it in position for you and Weston to see.”
“Appreciate it,” Weston said. He’d joined Avery on the porch, also wearing gloves. “What are you looking for?”
“I’d like to see how many pages are written on.”
The knife had been shoved through the top cover of the notebook, along with several pages, but a majority of the sheets were hanging loose. She used the tip of her finger to flip through them. Definitely her father’s handwriting. Only half the notebook was used.
She glanced at Weston. “I asked Savannah about Dad’s notebooks. She thought they’d all been thrown out but also mentioned finding some of Dad’s jackets. One had a notebook in the pocket. Savannah tossed the notebook in the trash, and the coats were sold at a yard sale months ago.”
“So this notebook could be the one your sister threw away?”
“Yes. Another possibility is the killer was at the yard sale, and found another forgotten notebook in one of my father’s jackets.”
Both options twisted Avery’s stomach. The killer hadn’t been stalking only her. He’d been watching her family too.
“No one will touch you or them, Avery,” Weston said, seeming to come to the same conclusion. “We’ll put your grandmother and sister under protection. Troopers will be assigned to watch over them 24/7 until we catch this guy.”
“Avery, there’s more you need to know,” Mike said. “When responding officers arrived, they did a perimeter check of the property. A woman was hanging in the backyard from a tree. She’s been murdered in the same way as Debra Channing.”
Avery’s legs turned to jelly. “Do you know who the victim is?”
“It’s Marianne Jenkins.”
Weston inhaled sharply. Avery closed her eyes as bile rose in the back of her throat. Professor Jenkins frightened face filled her mind. Had she seen something on the night of the murder on campus? Something that had made her the killer’s next target? The questions ran rapid fire in Avery’s mind as she tried to make sense of it all. “I want to see the crime scene.”
Mike rubbed the back of his neck. “Avery, you don’t have—”
“It’s not negotiable, Mike.” She stepped away from Weston and squared her shoulders. “Let’s go.”
Avery appreciated that Weston didn’t try to talk her out of it. Instead, he fell into step beside her as Mike led them around the side of the house. They walked through the yard and into the woods. Floodlights had been set up around the crime scene. Part of a rope still dangled from a branch. Marianne Jenkins had been cut down and placed on a large tarp nearby. The coroner’s investigator was making notes on a clipboard. They were a few meters from the hiding place Weston had found while doing a perimeter search on her property the other day. A shiver crept down Avery’s spine.
“What do we know?” Weston asked. His voice was flat, and Avery recognized the ranger locking away his own emotions.
“She was hanging from here.” Mike pointed at the short end of the rope tied around the branch. “Deputies said she was cold to the touch, so they didn’t try to revive her.”
“Any idea on time of death?” Avery asked.
Mike waved in the direction of the coroner’s investigator. “John believes she was dead before she was hung on the tree.”
“That’s consistent with the first victim.” Avery stepped closer to the tree. The branch was too tall for her, but Weston could easily reach it. So could Mike.
“Marianne is…” Avery’s gaze darted to the woman lying on the tarp. “Was my height. This branch is tall enough she wouldn’t reach the ground when the killer hung her. But an average man could still touch it easily.”
“Probably why the killer chose it.” Mike gestured to the street, a short distance away. “He likely parked over there and carried her to the tree. We found footprints in the dirt, although not good ones. We’ll cast them anyway. I’ve got deputies canvassing the neighbors, asking if anyone saw a vehicle in this area.”
“He set the scene,” Weston said. “Just like the first time. The killer placed her high enough to make it look like she’d hung herself, but he didn’t want to run the risk she would survive. So he kills her ahead of time.”
Avery nodded. She turned. She had an unimpeded view of her home. “From this position, I would’ve seen her when I stepped into the backyard. My father’s notebook was left on the front doorstep to put me on alert. I would’ve immediately done a perimeter search and found Marianne.”
She approached the tarp. Rope was wrapped around the professor’s throat. Her legs and wrists were bruised. Nails on each of her hands were broken and blooded. Anger heated Avery’s blood and her heart ached, but she pushed both feelings away. Every detail was important. Nothing could be overlooked. Marianne was dressed in the same white gown as Debra had been. Another consistency between the two crimes.
“Excuse me, John.” Avery pointed at Marianne’s hand, careful not to touch the body. By law, only the coroner’s investigator had that right. “Could you check to see if she’s wearing a bracelet?”
“Sure thing.” He bent down and gently pushed up the sleeve of the nightgown.
A handmade leather bracelet was wrapped around Marianne’s wrist. Dangling from it was a single charm. Avery bent down for a closer look and her breath stalled in her chest. “It’s a rook.”
“Check the pocket of the gown,” Weston said.
John did as requested and pulled out a sliver of paper. He handed it to the Texas Ranger. Avery stood. She ignored the tremble in her legs. “What does it say?”
“I’ve captured your rook, Avery. So far I’m winning the game. Hurry, hurry and make your next move. Time’s running out.” Weston lifted his gaze to meet hers. “It’s signed The Chessmaster.”
The murder of a second woman and the Chessmaster’s note changed the case. Weston took every
