Dreaming Death (Krewe of Hunters #32) - Heather Graham Page 0,76
one kind or another whether he had been introduced to her as one or not.
Though not as tall as Keenan, he had a similar build. Stacey had noted that many Krewe agents were not giants at all—it was in the way they moved. Their jobs required they kept fit. But Axel had crystal eyes against bronze skin, dead-straight hair and an incredibly intriguing profile.
Beyond a doubt, he was an interesting man.
His new wife, Raina, was taller than Stacey, with rich, dark auburn hair and eyes a lighter shade than her hair, an amber color. She had a great smile as she took Stacey’s hand, greeting her warmly.
“And you’re not an agent, right?” Stacey asked her.
“Nope. I’m an animal trainer—domestics, whatever they may be. My forte is dogs, but I’ve worked with just about everything else you might consider a pet. Or,” she added, her smile deepening, “anything anyone else thinks of as a pet.”
“She’s working with a lot of police and agency bomb-and-cadaver dogs,” Axel told Stacey.
It was a strangely cheerful conversation to be having in the reception area of the morgue while they awaited Dr. Beau Simpson.
“But I’m here because Keenan thinks I might be able to help. And if I can help you catch a murderer, I’m so happy to do so!”
Dr. Simpson came out for them, bringing them first to mask and gown up, then heading into a room that was quite cold and seemed to be filled with giant, silver-colored filing drawers.
Of course, Stacey knew, what was filed was bodies. Some awaited loving family members or friends to claim them and set them to rest with flowers and prayers.
Others would meet with a pauper’s farewell, no fanfare whatsoever. Decent, but cold, lacking the greatest of human gifts—love.
She’d seen death before, but today seemed especially sad as she looked at the rows and rows of “filing” cabinets.
“Okay,” Beau said. “You just want me to open the drawers on Jess Marlborough, Billie Bingham and Lindsey Green. Anything in particular you’re looking for?”
“A last look,” Keenan said.
“Right.”
If Beau was surprised, confused or even perturbed by the request, he didn’t show it. He didn’t even ask why a dog trainer had come with them. He apparently knew Raina already; he had greeted her as a friend.
He opened the drawer that contained the mutilated remains of Jess Marlborough first. Keenan and Stacey stood on one side; Axel and Raina on the other.
Beau looked away.
One by one, they laid a hand on the cold body.
Jackson had told Stacey that every once in a rare while, those who did see the dead found something as they touched the deceased.
She felt nothing, just the chill of the preserved body. Life was gone.
She waited for the others. Raina let her touch linger, but then she glanced at her husband and shook her head slightly.
They went on to the body of Billie Bingham and repeated their motions.
Cold, so cold. All life gone, not even the memory to the soul once inside.
It was the same for the others, Stacey thought. Raina gave that almost imperceptible shake of her head.
At last they came to the body of Lindsey Green.
The insides were not ripped up, but she wore a red gash around her neck like a sick Halloween necklace.
This time, Raina held on a few moments longer; she didn’t shake her head.
Beau turned to look at them all, one by one.
“Thank you,” Keenan told him. “I know we’re taking up your time.”
“Don’t forget, there’s a victim in Virginia, too, if you need.”
“We won’t. Thank you.” As the drawer closed, Keenan managed a smile. “I don’t know that ME as well as I know you.”
“You need anything with him, you let me know,” Beau said.
“Will do,” Keenan said gratefully.
They left the morgue, agreeing to meet up at the office directly.
On arriving, they took seats in the conference room. Jackson joined them, ready to listen to whatever Raina had to say.
“I don’t really have anything,” she began.
“But you did have a vision from the last victim,” Axel reminded her.
“Right. I felt something from her, yes. She was asked to the house. I’m not sure who asked her. She was looking for...work. She had met Billie at a club. She was anxious and eager to find out if she was...worthy, I guess, of being one of Billie’s escorts.”
“What was she doing in the basement?” Keenan asked.
“She thought that Billie was down there. I don’t know why. I had an impression of her going down...and then she was completely surprised. She was killed