Chapter 15

This new murder was the seventh kill for Bleeding Heart. I knew he'd been studying the work of Victor Hawthorne and making it his own.

I'd never understand why there were people like them in this world. What had happened to murderers like them? I could only assume something awful had occurred and had rewired their brain into a twisted state.

I stared at the picture of the woman with the heart tattoo on her cheek.

Leaning against my Land Rover, I watched as Eva closed up the shop, turned, and smiled at me. She walked up to me, and I embraced her.

"How was your day?"

"Busy. But the murder spooked me. How was yours?"

"Busy thinking about you."

She blushed, looking adorable. "You got the picture?"

Nodding, I opened the door for her to slide in.

When I settled into the driver's seat, I showed her the image Sean had sent me. "This is for your eyes only."

She glanced at the picture and gasped. "That's her! She had glanced back toward the crying baby on the train."

"Do you remember the man with her?"

"Short brown hair. I'd say mid-thirties." She sat back in the seat, thinking. "Nothing about him stood out. He had his arm around her shoulder, so I assumed he was her boyfriend or husband."

"He's probably her kidnapper."

She clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Do you have a few minutes? I'd like you to relay the details to Sean."

"Yes, of course. Are we heading to the precinct?"

"No, I'll call him first. The precinct is probably swamped with officials trying to solve the first murder in this affluent town."