Free Precipice by J. Robert Kinney Page A

careful.”
    “Maybe Forensics can run the sample against DNA found at those past crime scenes. If we can link the perpetrator of those crimes to the person who sent this envelope, it may open a few doors.”
    “It won’t do much good without a suspect in custody to run a comparison. And running a full profile like that could take a while. But it won’t hurt to secure proof these are all part of the same case. I’ll ask Cliff to take care of it.”
    Shannon stood and walked over to the window, case file in hand. “But why wasn’t this guy positioned like the others? The rest were calculated and organized, methodical. Posing the body, with hands crossed like they’re about to be buried. Not a single sign of a struggle. But this guy?” She paced as she read through the report. “This attack was disorganized and messy. They left him splayed across the floor…the room trashed…spatter pattern indicates multiple bullet wounds too…” She trailed off, but Dominic finished her thought.
    “If this is the same people, why the sudden change in M.O.?”
    “Exactly what I was thinking,” Sloan chimed in. Dominic grabbed the contents from the envelope to examine as Sloan continued. “Killers don’t fluctuate from organized to disorganized overnight…not without some emotional trigger. Why the change?”
    “Maybe this wasn’t restaging…” Dominic interjected.
    “What do you mean?” Shannon asked.
    “Well, restaging is designed to throw off law enforcement. It’s not part of the killing routine, but more of an afterthought. But posing a body execution style doesn’t do that. They wanted to draw attention to those deaths.”
    “So…” Sloan hesitated. “Maybe the posing is part of their inherent signature. Maybe that is part of their ‘routine.’”
    “Precisely,” answered Dominic. “Which means Braxton was actually the restaging, designed to look different from their typical kill.”
    “Then why go through the trouble of sending us the photo? Trying to throw us off and then admitting guilt seems counterproductive…”
    “Maybe to avoid media attention. They don’t want the public associating the two, but they still want to challenge the brains at SISA. Whoever’s behind this thinks he—or she—is highly intelligent and is trying to prove it.”
    Shannon chimed in. “So with the note, they’re admitting responsibility for Braxton, while at the same time, making sure we know he shouldn’t be considered the same way as the rest.”
    “So why was Braxton killed if he’s not part of the overall pattern?” Sloan spoke slowly, “Maybe it was never intended. An opportunistic accident. We need to figure out why they targeted Braxton…”
    He grabbed the case file, “Ian Braxton, a wealthy museum director, young for his position. His friends described him as naïve and gullible, but sweet and an all-around good guy. Nothing noteworthy there.” He paused to clear his throat and take a swig from his coffee mug, “But once you get past the first couple pages, it starts to get interesting. Apparently, the police discovered a suspicious connection between him and the first murder, but had yet to pick him up.”
    “Right…it says here…” Shannon picked up the file and located the notes. “Mr. Braxton was suspected of leaving a back door unlocked the night of the janitor’s murder. Says they caught it on security footage, but it wasn’t conclusive. If he aided a breaking and entering, he’d be roped in on deeper charges. The cops were at the house to bring him in for questioning on a conspiracy charge when they discovered his body.” She looked up and asked, “Did we get a copy of that tape? It’d be nice to see for ourselves.”
    “You’re reading my mind, Faye. It should be on its way over. Talk to that intern kid about it. He’s supposed to set it up in the conference room down the hall.”
    “Craig. Great. Dominic and I will get right on that.”
    “I should hope so.” He stopped