Free Violence of the Father (A Trinity of Death Romantic Suspense Series Book 2) by Charlotte Raine

eyes, trying to forget what I’ve just seen.
    I pull out my cell phone and dial Jake Romano’s number.
    “I’m off the clock, Tobias,” he answers as soon as he picks up. “So, unless you’re calling me to tell me that you’ve caught the Commandment Killer and there’s a beautiful newswoman who wants to show the world the detectives who caught him, I’m currently unavailable.”
    “He’s been in my house,” I tell him.
    “What?” Romano asks, his voice two pitches higher. “How…you’re sure it was him?”
    “Well, you know how Philip Herdon was missing a lot of flesh?” I ask. “We thought it was animals? Well, I’m thinking that the killer took some skin before the animals began to chow down. It’s here. Nailed to the walls in my apartment.”
    “I’ll call everybody we need. Just make sure you have your gun out and don’t touch anything,” he says.
    “Thanks. I wasn’t sure how to be a detective, but you’ve just reminded me,” I say, unable to contain my sarcasm.
    He snorts. “I care about you too, Tobias.”
    There’s a faint click as he hangs up. I look around. I didn’t think to check my bathroom or anywhere else that the killer could be hiding, but my gut tells me that the killer wouldn’t leave this grotesque display if he wanted to deliver the message in person. Keeping my gun out, I avoid looking at the flesh as I walk past it to step into my bathroom. I keep my gun raised. My shower has a frosted glass door, but I can still see nobody is inside and there’s nowhere else a full-grown human could hide. I walk back out into my bedroom.
    That’s when I notice something in the middle of the four slabs of flesh. I step closer. It’s a photograph of Lauren and me. It’s the same one that was nailed to Philip Herdon’s cross—where Lauren and I are stepping out of my apartment. This time, it has something written on it: Romans 8:13 .
    I get onto the internet on my cell phone. I search for the Bible verse. The search engine displays the verse under the top link:
    For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
    Apparently, this killer likes to take metaphorical words and make them literal.
    If you live according to the flesh… I type the phrase into my phone’s browser and skim the discussion. One of the commenters has written, “…in this instance ‘flesh’ is in contrast with the Holy Spirit and it’s also connected to sexual immorality…”
    Considering this photo was taken in the morning—evident by the fact that our shadows are cast to the west—I think I can safely assume that the killer is using this overly elaborate message to condemn Lauren and me for sleeping with each other. Did he not kill one of us because he already killed someone who committed adultery?
    He didn’t kill either of us, right?
    I dial Lauren’s number. It goes straight to voicemail.

Chapter Ten

Lauren
    “ H ello ?” I answer.
    “Where are you?” Tobias asks.
    “I’m stepping onto your apartment’s floor right now…and there’s a police officer and forensic analysts in front of your door…what the hell is going on, Tobias?”
    I don’t wait for an answer. I shut off the phone and take long strides over to his door. I flash my badge at the officer as he raises his hand to stop me from coming any closer.
    “I’m Detective Williams. Detective Rodriguez is my partner—”
    “Lauren,” Tobias says, nearly knocking over the officer as he steps out of his apartment. “Where have you been? I’ve called you three times.”
    “I keep my phone on silent while I’m driving,” I tell him. “There’s this whole thing about driving and cell phones in case you haven’t been paying attention to the news. I don’t want to risk being distracted. I’m fairly certain that the bigger question is what on God’s earth is going on here? What is that smell?”
    “Rotting flesh.”
    “Rotting flesh? Please