Free Blackwaters: A Kate Reid Novel (The Kate Reid Series Book 4) by Robin Mahle Page A

wish…”
    “I’m interested only in finding resolution, Agent Jameson, and if that means I’ve got Myers and Reid working on the team, then I’m confident a resolution will be in short order.”
    With compulsory goodbyes exchanged, Dwight ended the call. “Thank you, Agent Myers. We’re only scratching the surface on this investigation so far, but with your help, I’m sure we’ll move along much more quickly. I can tell you that I have no desire for another body to be found floating along some river. So, the sooner we find the person who killed those girls, the better.”
    “Of course.” Georgia began to rise. “Why don’t you send me what you have and I’ll take a look at it on the plane later today?”
    “Sounds good. Thank you.”
    Kate waited until Georgia was out of sight before speaking again. “It’ll be good to have her helping us out. I had no idea she knew Lyons. Probably should’ve had her come with us to Atlanta. Anyway, back to what I think might be a clue was the second victim’s clothing. Do you have the image Lyons sent over? I haven’t uploaded it yet.”
    Dwight entered a command on his keyboard. “Yes, here it is.” He turned the monitor so Kate could see it. “What are you thinking?”
    Kate studied the photo of the girl at the crime scene, still in her clothes. Bloated, several contusions suggesting scrapes with either floating debris or the animal life. Evidence of strangulation as was determined to be the actual cause of death. Bulging, hemorrhaging eyes, bruising consistent with the hand markings around her neck. “She looks almost as though her skin has been—dissolved or melted away. Does that make sense to you?”
    Dwight came around and sat down next to Kate. His brow narrowed as he looked at the screen. “Possibly. We’d have to look at the coroner’s report, but it definitely looks eroded in a way inconsistent with injuries or even attacks by whatever lives in that water.” He looked back to her. “That’s going to make it even harder to pull DNA.”
    “Right, but there’s something else too.” She tried to realign her thoughts, as they’d been distracted by this latest concern. “Take a look at her top.” Kate raised her index finger and placed it on the monitor, outlining the letters on her shirt. “Looks to me like she was wearing a school t-shirt. WJHS.”
    “I see it. It doesn’t fit her either—too small.”
    “Yeah. I don’t think it was hers. We know the unsub redresses his victims after taking his souvenir, but I think he’s putting them in clothes that he owns.”
    “Interesting. You were thinking about this last night?”
    “I was walking home after my car broke down and I came across the school in my neighborhood and it just hit me. I don’t know if Lyons has taken this into consideration or not, but I think it’s worth looking into. The victims’ families could probably answer the question as to whether or not the clothes belonged to the victim. And I’m pretty confident the JHS stands for Junior High School. Don’t know about the W.” She leaned in closer to the screen. “What does that say? Beneath the letters. Can you zoom in on this a little?”
    “Sure, hang on.” He pulled his keyboard to the end of his desk. “Here, can you read it now?”
    Straining to see, Kate began to shake her head. “No. Dammit. It’s too faded. It has to be a mascot name or something like that, though. Don’t you think?”
    “I don’t know. It’s too damn hard to see.” Dwight took pause. “Junior High School? I thought it was called middle school now?”
    “I think most schools are called that now, but I could be wrong. Maybe it’s just newer schools? I don’t know, but my guess is, this shirt she’s wearing? For one, it’s not hers. Secondly, it’s fairly old, considering how faded it is and, finally, we need to find out what the W stands for.” Kate looked at Dwight. “If we can get the name of this school, we might have a decent