Emilia Sanchez rose and ran a hand down the front of her pantsuit. Her dark hair was pulled into a low ponytail. Weston had worked with Emilia on several cases. She was highly intelligent and passionate about her work.
He closed the lid to his lunch and pushed it aside before taking out a notebook from his pocket along with a pen. Around the table, his colleagues did the same.
“There are three aspects to these murders I’d like to discuss,” Emilia said. “The first is the bracelet charm placed on each victim’s wrist. In Debra’s case, it’s a pawn. In Marianne’s, a rook. The chess pieces have significance.” She wrote on the board. “A pawn represents a peasant in medieval times. During a game, they’re usually the first piece sacrificed.”
“Debra Channing was a janitor here at the university,” Avery said.
“Exactly. In our society, janitors aren’t paid well. It’s a menial job, which is why the killer chose Debra to be the pawn.”
“What does a rook represent?” Lieutenant Rodriguez asked.
“It symbolizes the walls of a castle,” Emilia answered. “Marianne Jenkins was posed at Avery’s house for a reason. Her home was the castle, and the killer breached it.”
The knot in Weston’s stomach tightened. From the beginning, he’d suspected the killer was focused on Avery and now Emilia’s observations confirmed the threat. “The notes addressed to Avery reference each chess piece.”
“Yes. That’s the second piece of evidence which I’d like to address.” Emilia went to her binder and removed a piece of paper. “The note left on Debra’s body reads ‘The game begins, Avery, with the King’s pawn opening.’ The killer is letting Avery know he’s started playing.”
Beside him, Avery’s expression was professionally blank, but under the table, her hands were knotted together. Weston leaned closer until their shoulders were touching. The urge to protect and comfort was instinctual and as impossible to resist as breathing.
“Playing?” Luke asked. “As in, the killer and Avery are playing some sick twisted version of chess.”
Emilia nodded. “Chess is a game of strategy. Avery and the killer are opponents. This is supported by the second note, left on Marianne Jenkins’s body. It reads ‘I’ve captured your rook, Avery. So far I’m winning the game. Hurry, hurry and make your next move. Time’s running out.’ The killer is taunting her. He also seems to indicate she’s made a move in the game, and he’s countered by taking her rook.”
“What kind of move did Avery make?” Weston asked.
“She brought you on the case.”
Avery’s brow furrowed. “But…if getting help from Weston triggered the killer to kill Marianne, that would mean everything I do is a move. Including this meeting.”
Weston’s gaze shot to Emilia who nodded. Her dark eyes reflected sympathy. “Yes. The killer is daring you to win the game—to find and stop him before he captures all the pieces on your board.”
“And by capture,” Lieutenant Rodriguez said, throwing down her pen. “You mean murder. Well, we aren’t going to let that happen. You said there were three pieces of evidence. What’s the third?”
“My father’s notebook,” Avery answered, before Emilia could speak. “The killer has targeted me because of my dad.”
Luke held up a hand. “Hold on. We’ve dug through all of your father’s arrest records and investigation files that we could find at the sheriff’s department.” He turned to Emilia. “And I’ve even contacted retired detectives who worked with Kenneth Madison. We can’t find any case that’s similar to these.”
“I recommend you expand your search to assaults in which strangulation was used,” Emilia said. “These murders are not the work of an amateur. Posing the bodies in the classroom and at Avery’s house was risky. This killer is controlled, disciplined, and he’s practiced in preparation for this competition. It’s possible Kenneth Madison arrested the killer for a lesser crime—like assault—long ago. After that, the killer probably moved away, using distance and time to perfect his skills. But Avery is right. She’s been targeted because of her father. The key is why.”
“We can dig through the files again,” Grady said. “Expanding the search to strangulations might yield new results.”
Avery inhaled sharply and sat up straight. “I know another avenue to pursue. Calvin Miller is a retired FBI agent. He and my grandfather grew up together, but more importantly Calvin was a mentor for my dad.”
Lieutenant Rodriguez nodded. “Good. Weston and Avery, interview Calvin Miller. Luke and Grady, look at strangulations in Union County. Focus on ones Kenneth Madison worked first and then branch out. In the meantime, Emilia, I want a complete workup of our killer. Race, gender, age, work experience. Everything.”
Weston raised a hand to stop everyone from moving. “Emilia, how fast is the killer working? There were only two days between the first and second murders. We’re beyond that now but no one has been reported missing. Yet.”
“It’s hard to say. He’s smart enough to shift his plans based off increased police pressure, but it won’t deter him for long. He’s probably already selected each of his victims.”
Beside him, Avery whispered, “The clock is ticking.”
Twelve
Nothing was better than murder, but a close second was planning the kill.
The Chessmaster hummed as he ironed the long white gown. The fabric was soft with lace detailing at the neck and hem. He draped the garment on a hanger before carrying it to the rear bedroom. Anticipation sank into him with fierce claws. The noose hanging in the center of the room, attached to a pulley system, stood empty. Everything was ready.
He opened the closet and hung the gown inside. Along the back wall was a collage of pictures arranged under printouts of different chess pieces. Avery was in the center. She was dressed in uniform, sunlight highlighting the curves of her face and copper-colored hair. The Chessmaster traced the line of her neck. Dark images fueled by twisted desires heated his blood. He wanted to hurt her. To make her pay for everything.
He closed
