Free Healing Her Spirit (Serenity Springs Book 2) by Dawn Sullivan Page B

as she followed them up the stairs.  “I don’t know what the hell is wrong with people these days.”
    Lacey agreed silently as she entered Lela’s bedroom.  Seeing the mutilated body on the bed, she was glad she hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning.  Now she understood why Ryan refused to come back into the room.  “This is much different than the last scene,” she said as she moved closer to the bed.  Sitting down her case, Lacey opened it and slipped on a pair of latex gloves.  “He was very angry for some reason this time.  With Sherry, his incisions were small and precise, making me think he has some kind of medical background.  It was planned.  This,” she said motioning toward what was left of Lela, “this was definitely not planned.”
    “It happened last night,” Katy told her as she moved up next to the bed.  “She talked to her Mom around 8 and was fine then.  So sometime between 8 last night and 9 this morning, when her mother showed up, he got to her.”
    “We are assuming it is the same person,” Jace said from the doorway.  “Why do we automatically think that when the two deaths are so different?  What do they have in common?”
    “Both young women, in their twenties,” Creed said as his gaze wandered around the room.  “Both have long, dark hair and are about the same height and build.”
    “But that’s it,” Katy muttered as she walked over to the window.  “One lived in a larger neighborhood, one out in the middle of nowhere.  One worked for a law firm, one in bookkeeping.  One loved to go out with friends, one stayed home by herself most of the time.  They have very different personalities.  How do we know it’s him?”
    “It’s him,” Lacey said quietly as she leaned over the victim and pulled back the sheet beneath her slightly.  Picking up the bloody scalpel, she turned toward the others.  “He made the incisions on Sherry with a scalpel also.  It’s in my report.  It’s why I believe he is a doctor or a nurse, maybe he works in the ER.  Whoever he is, he knows what he is doing.  He made that clear with the first victim.”
    Creed nodded as he stared at the instrument in her hand.  “I read the report several times.  We spent days checking into all the alibis for everyone on staff at the local hospital.  As far as we can tell, everyone passed.  The only one who could not prove where he was that night is Carl Lutton.”
    “Carl didn’t do this,” Lacey said as she bagged up the scalpel.  “There is no way in hell.”
    “Look, Lacey,” Katy said as she turned away from the window to face her, “I know he is your friend, but you need to be open-minded about this.”
    “Really?” Lacey laughed as she shook her head at them.  “Carl is a good man.  He would never do anything like this.”
    “Maybe he is upset with you,” Katy responded. 
    “What?  Why would he be angry with me?” Lacey asked in bewilderment.  “We are good friends.”  Shaking her head, she went on, “And why would any of this have anything to do with me?  You aren’t making any sense, Katy.”
    “Maybe he wants more than you are willing to give,” Katy pressed.  “Think about it, Lace.  Both of these women are similar to you in appearance, especially Sherry.”
    “Carl is an x-ray technician,” Lacey said as she turned away from Katy.  “He wouldn’t even know how to wield a scalpel.  Don’t you dare ruin his reputation and life on a witch hunt!”
    “What if it isn’t a witch hunt?” Creed asked quietly.  “What if Katy is right and it is Carl.  Are you willing to bet your life on it?”
    Turning back around in fury, Lacey ordered, “Get the hell out of here until I’m ready for help.  I don’t need you in here spouting off stupid shit.  Carl did NOT do this.  Now leave and let me do my job!”
    Lacey watched as everyone filed out of the room, but Katy turned back right before leaving.  “Don’t close your eyes to what could be