"I dunno. Ordinary, I suppose. Brown paper wrapping, green and white string holding it together."
"How big?"
He shrugged. "Maybe six inches in diameter."
Big enough for a mouse or a rat. Even a small bird. "So the creature was definitely alive when you delivered it."
"Yeah, as I said, I could hear it scratching about."
"Did the doctor open the parcel while you were there?"
"Nah. We chatted for a while, 'bout the weather and stuff, and then I left. Simple as that."
And as simple as that, they were presented with another clue that didn't lead anywhere. Still, it might be worth checking to see if any of the other victims had a parcel delivered just before their murder.
"Well, thanks for the help. We'll be in contact if we need anything further."
Hartwell nodded. "No prob."
Gabriel headed back to his car. After punching in the code for auto drive, he set the course for SIU headquarters. Then he leaned an arm against the window, blindly watching the traffic slide by. The killer was a multishifter, that much was obvious. But maybe, just maybe, she was also a rare shifter-changer hybrid.
He scrubbed a hand across his jaw and then reached across to the onboard computer.
"Access sweep report for Emma Pierce."
"Identification required."
"Assistant Director Stern. Badge number 5019."
"Voice patterns correct. Report on-line."
Emma Piece had died of a massive heart attack. There was no evidence that the attack was anything but natural. Interestingly, the autopsy also showed that Emma had no ovaries. Tests indicated they'd been surgically removed somewhere between twenty-five and thirty years ago.
Which was when Emma was still a part of Hopeworth. Maybe the killer knew Emma. Maybe she knew the reasons behind the removal of Emma's ovaries. Maybe these killings were some form of revenge.
Though why attack four people who were barely a gleam in their mothers' eyes twenty-five years ago?
Unless, of course, their parents were somehow connected to Hopeworth and what had been done to Emma Pierce. Though that didn't make much sense, given that with the first two victims, at least, Emma Pierce was listed as their birth mother.
He read through the rest of the sweep report. Cell and DNA samples taken from clothes and other personal items in the second bedroom indicated the boarder was closely related to Emma. Probably a sister or mother.
Only Emma reportedly was an only child. Both her parents died in a car crash when she was three months old.
Again, that didn't make sense.
But he knew someone who just might be able to shed a little light on the confusion. Mark Allars. A childhood friend of his father's, and a man who'd spent thirty-five years working at Hopeworth.
He was also one of the four men listed on Sam's birth certificate — and undoubtedly, she'd be furious that he hadn't mentioned knowing the man behind one of the names. But, damn it, the old adage of leading a horse to water was correct. He could push all he wanted, could lead her to names, but in the end, it wouldn't matter unless she truly wanted to uncover her past.
That said, it might be interesting to see the old man's reaction to Sam.
He reset the auto control for Kensington, then got out the viaphone and dialed Sam's number.
* * * *
The screams were coming from the first floor. Sam flashed her ID at security and ran for the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. By the time she reached the first floor, all the nursing home's residents seemed to be milling in the corridor. Many more screams had joined the first, and the sound was almost deafening."SIU, folks. Please clear the area." She had to shout to be heard above the din being made, and even then, it did no good. Everyone ignored her. Perhaps they had their hearing aids turned down to cut out all the noise.
She pushed her way through until she reached the room at the far end of the corridor. Inside, the kite had sheeted its victim. Two nurses were gamely attacking the creature with brooms, alternatively sobbing and screaming for help.