Murder in Misery (Spook Squad) - By Ashley K. Broome Page 0,44

them off. “Okay whatever. I’m just hoping that we can get to whoever this leopard is and bring them in and hopefully wrap the case up.”

Melinda looked over at Keegan dubiously as the woods cleared out to roadway. “Well I hate to break it to you but when you mix the amount of cars that travel down this highway and one specific scent that has been covered over by said traveling cars, I lose my helpfulness. You got anything Gary?”

“He headed left.” Gary answered without missing a beat. He shrugged at the incredulous look Melinda gave him as he started walking in that direction. It felt like as soon as he started walking he stopped. “And this is as good as it gets. Sorry Keegan. Not much help.”

“It’s fine.” Keegan took a deep breath to calm herself. “I was hoping for a miracle.”

“Yeah, not a tough order or anything.” Gary chuckled to himself and he turned back towards the woods. “I’m going to see if I can help direct that tech crew who is now bumbling through the woods and possibly destroying evidence as we speak.”

“Right well, Melinda,” Keegan didn’t even have to finish the thought out loud. Melinda was already side by side with Gary leaving Keegan to fend for her self to get back to the main scene.

Keegan had taken an unlucky trip through a briar patch but other than that she emerged from the copse of trees just fine. Matt was walking with Doctor Biggerson along the side of the gurney carrying the white body bag towards the medical examiner’s van. As soon as Matt spotted her he waved Dr. Biggerson off and headed over. His eyes full of concern and a little bit of hope that her guys might have found something.

“Anything?” Matt asked as he placed a hand to the small of her back.

“Just a general direction before too much grime and exhaust got in the way of things.” Keegan pointed west, “He headed that way when he darted off but otherwise we’ve got nothing. Perhaps we’ll get something more conclusive, like some DNA, from a briar or something.”

“Speaking from experience?” Matt grabbed her arm and inspected it. “You have to be more careful Keegan.”

Keegan stared into deep brown eyes and knew Matt was talking about more than just stumbling through a briar patch in the middle of the night. He was talking about facing down an enraged shifter.

“I know,” Keegan nodded and pulled her arm out of his hands. “Sometimes I forget to think about myself though and focus on the other people who could be getting hurt if I didn’t step in.”

“I think we’re all trained enough to handle ourselves if the situation calls for it.” Matt glared at her. “What you did could have gotten you killed if whatever you pulled didn’t work. Despite what you may think, no one would be glad to see you hurting or dead. Not even Detective Cassidy. Just promise me something okay?”

“Depends on what it is.” Keegan narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Matt when his voice grew soft.

“Be careful. Losing you,” Matt shook his head to stop the trail of thoughts that were making it past his brain to mouth filter. “Just promise me that you’ll be careful.”

Keegan nodded slowly, “Yeah, okay. I promise to be more careful out here.”

“Good,” Matt ran a hand through his hair. “I’m going to head in and see what the Doc finds.”

“I need to re-walk the scene.” Keegan mumbled more to her self then to Matt as he jogged down the driveway and slipped into his police cruiser. Things were getting far too complicated between the two of them.

Keegan ignored the fatigue that blanketed her as she walked into the victim’s house to see Leeroy standing as still as a statue and staring at the window. The window she had so obviously missed the first time. It was the eastern most window in the room and it was shattered from the outside in. Glass trailed a few steps before it was no longer visible to her eye. “This is the same person who killed the Barrs.”

The words were raw out of Leeroy’s lips and Keegan nodded grimly. It looked to be that way. A lot of the second scene mimicked the first crime scene and the similarities were too eerie to just be a coincidence. “It looks to be the case.”

“And it’s one of their own.” Leeroy shook his head and looked up at Keegan and pointed from the window