“Maybe. As I said, I don’t much like either of them. That doesn’t mean they’re killers.”
Raina’s phone was buzzing in her pocket. She drew it out, expecting Elly or Lucia or even Mya, curious as to what was going on with her and Axel.
It was Jordan. He was probably trying to see about her schedule for Sara and her little pup.
But he wasn’t calling about training.
“Raina, I need to talk to you,” he said.
“Okay. Sure, Jordan. Go ahead.”
“No, in person. Where are you now?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m not home. I’m out in the Everglades.”
“You’re out in the Everglades?”
“Yes, I—”
“Raina, be careful out there. You have to be careful.”
“I’m with Axel. We were visiting some of his friends.”
“Good.” He was silent a second. “Stay with Axel. Call me when you’re home. When I can talk to you.”
“Sure. I can come right back in—”
The phone went dead in her hands and she looked at Axel.
“Jordan,” she said. “He wants to see me. I’m supposed to call him when I get back home.”
“Let’s head back then. I don’t think Jordan is a killer. I do think he might know who is.”
* * *
As they were returning to Andrew’s house, they reached the site where the crew was digging for bones.
Dr. Carlysle was in the path, waving them down as they reached the area.
“Special Agent Tiger!” she called.
Axel reined in and dismounted.
“Yes, Dr. Carlysle, you have something?” he asked her.
She nodded and produced a tiny object.
He realized it was a bone. “It’s amazing we found this! Oh, we have a femur, too, and a few more ribs, and Katie and Jorge over there have just discovered a partial on the pelvis. But this! This is amazing. Maria from the forensics lab discovered it.”
Raina had dismounted, as well. They both looked at the tiny object in Dr. Carlysle’s hand.
“A hyoid!” Dr. Carlysle said.
The bone at the back of the throat.
“And can you tell anything...?” Axel began.
“Oh, yes! Definitely and unbelievably with the size of the bone and the amount of time it’s been in the elements. But see this, right here? Thank goodness the sun is bright and your eyes are good, right? You can see this tiny scratch here, but it’s deep, really, not just from a brush with a rock or something like that. No, sir, I believe this proves these bones belong to someone who was murdered. Murdered by having her throat slit. Most likely, from ear to ear.” She wasn’t being dramatic. The look in her eyes was one of horror. “Didn’t that happen recently?” she asked. “Just days ago. That poor girl they found...”
“Thank you,” Axel told her. “Did you share your findings with Detective Ferrer yet?” he asked.
“I called him just moments ago,” she said.
“Good,” Axel said. He looked over to Raina, his eyes signaling to mount up. She wasn’t surprised and neither was he. It was as he had expected.
“Thank you. This is important to know,” he said, as he looked down at Dr. Carlysle from the saddle. He glanced at Raina. She was stoic, looking back at him.
He lifted a hand to Dr. Carlysle and they started off again.
“You already knew,” she reminded him.
“I did. And if you don’t mind, it’s given me an idea.” He hesitated. “To use you.”
She arched a brow his way. She didn’t appear to be upset or afraid.
“How?”
“I need to call a friend. A coworker. And his girlfriend.”
“And?”
“She has some unusual talents, too.”
“She tried on a dress and saw a body?”
“No. I’ve mentioned them to you before. Past life regression—that brought her to the moment of what was happening.”
“We need to see Jordan.”
“I know. And to the best of my knowledge, my friends are in Virginia. Even if the jet is available, it will take them time to get here.”
She looked at him steadily. “I’m willing to try anything you think might help.”
“Thank you.”
He looked back. Beneath the flickering afternoon sunlight, he saw someone else among the workers. Peg-legged Pete, and there, behind one of the big old cypress trees, another of his ragtag crew. Pete was trying to point something out to one of the workers. She didn’t see him, but she must have sensed him.
She was looking where Pete was directing her attention.
Pete looked up and saw Axel. Grimly, he lifted a hand in acknowledgment.
Axel lowered his head, indicating his thanks.
Thirteen
Titan was apparently happy enough chewing on his bone at Andrew’s house. He was equally happy they