Silk .
You didnt send this? I asked Michael, my voice catching in my throat.
No, Michael replied with a roll of his eyes. I really didnt.
There wasnt a person in my family who would have sent me a package wrapped up in silk, and I couldnt think of anyone else who would want to send me a care package.
Michael hadnt sent it.
Dean wasnt the gift-giving type.
I turned to Lia. You sent this.
Not true. She stared at me for a second, then made a grab for the card.
Dont I started to say. My words fell on deaf ears. She plucked a plain white note card from the envelope and cleared her throat.
From me, to you . Lia arched an eyebrow and tossed the card back on the table. How romantic.
A chill crawled up my spine. My breath felt hot in my lungs, but my hands were freezing cold. The package, the ribbon, the bow tied just so
Something isnt right .
Cassie? Michael must have seen it on my face. He leaned toward me. I glanced at Lia, but for once, she had nothing to say. Slowly, I brought my hand up to the ribbon. I pulled, and it fell away into a graceful black heap on the table.
Now that Id started, I couldnt stop. I hooked my fingers around the lid of the box. I pulled it off and set it gingerly to the side. White tissue paper, meticulously folded, lay inside.
What is it?
I ignored Lias question. I reached into the box. I unwrapped the tissue paper.
And then I screamed.
Nestled in the tissue paper was a lock of red hair.
CHAPTER 27
Still think Im jumping to conclusions when I say this case is related to my mothers? I asked him, my voice shaky. He ignored me and barked out commands to the team of agents hed brought with him.
Bag the packaging, the box, the ribbon, the card, everything if theres a speck of evidence on any of it, I want to know. Starmans, track the boxhow it was sent, where it was mailed from, who paid for it. Brooks, Vance, we need DNA on the hair, and we need it yesterday. I dont care who you have to threaten in the lab to get it done, rush it. Locke
Agent Locke crossed her arms over her chest and gave Briggs a look. To his credit, he lowered his voice to a more reasonable volume and pitch.
If this is our UNSUB, it changes everything. We have no evidence that hes ever made contact with a target prior to killing. This may be our chance to get ahead of him.
We dont even know that this is our UNSUB, Agent Locke pointed out. Its red hair. For all we know, it could be a prank.
Her gaze drifted over to Lia the second she said the word prank . I whipped my head around to look at the Natural liar, too.
Lia tossed her black hair over her shoulder. This is a little beyond the pale, even for me, Agent Locke.
Locke glanced at me. Gotten into any arguments lately? she asked.
I opened my mouth, then glanced at Lia again. Remind me never to ask you for a favor again . The venom in her tone when shed said those words had
been palpable.
Lia. Agent Briggs barely managed to get the word out around his clenched jaw. Tell me again how you found the present.
Lias eyes flashed. I went out to get the mail. There was a package with Cassies name on it. I opened said package. Inside, there was a box. I decided I wanted to see the look on Cassies face when she opened said box. I brought it into the kitchen. Cassie opened it. The end.
Briggs turned to Locke. If the DNA comes back as a match for one of our victims, youll have to completely rework the profile. If it doesnt
He glanced back at Lia.
Why does everyone keep looking at me? she snapped. I found the package. I didnt send it. If the DNA on the hair doesnt come back as a match, maybe you should think about asking Cassie some questions.
Me? I asked incredulously.
You wanted in on this case, Lia retorted. And now the killer contacts you out of the blue? How lucky for you.
I couldnt tell if Lia believed what she was saying or not. It didnt matter, because Briggs had already turned his diamond-hard gaze on me.
Cassie didnt do this.
I hadnt even realized that Dean was in the room until he spoke. Clearly, neither had the agents. Briggs actually jumped.
Cassies not the type to play games. Deans voice brooked no doubt. The entire reason she wanted to work on this case is that she thinks it has something to do with her mothers murder. Why would she risk diverting manpower and resources away from the real investigation when she knows the killer is escalating? If this is a prank, its a prank thats going to get someone killed.
The knot in my chest loosened. I looked at Dean, and suddenly, I could breathe.
Deans right. Lockes voice sounded exactly like mine when I was working my way through a puzzle. If Cassie wanted in on this case, shed just find a way to keep working it on her own.
I tried very hard not to look conspicuousbecause that was exactly what Id been trying to do.
Cassie, did you or did you not drop this case when I told you to? Briggs took a step forward, invading my personal space. Have you done anything that might have drawn the killers attention?