Free Night Games by Crystal Jordan

“Were there any connections between the victims?”
    “None that we found. Different economic backgrounds, different areas or suburbs of the city, different friends, ages, jobs ... everything. They didn’t even use the same bank, eat in the same restaurants, or shop in the same grocery stores.” She blew out a breath at the incredulous look on Jack’s face. “Yes, we were desperate enough to examine their lives that closely. Two of the victims weren’t even Magickals. One was a human who’d married a Fae, the other was a Normal who’d been adopted by a Magickal couple.” She tapped her fingers against the arm of her chair. “ That was the only connection we found. All the people this guy killed were Magickals who’d married Normals or Normals who knew about magic. Since vampires are notorious for their disdain of every other Magickal species, not to mention humans, we figured it was a bloodsucker taking his hate to the next level and punishing those who dared to mix.”
    “I’ve put in a request with the NOLA PD to have those files sent here.” Peyton spoke for the first time, and Jack nodded.
    Jack steepled his fingers together in front of him. “But Ms. Winston wasn’t married to a Normal, according to our records.”
    Selina shook her head. “There has to be a connection, because that was no copycat. I’m certain of it.”
    “Copycats can have an obsession to detail that—”
    “I’m aware of that.” Her gaze bored into him. “But this isn’t a copycat, and Mary Winston had something to do with a Normal finding out about magic. We just haven’t found out how.”
    Jack held up a hand in surrender. “Maybe, maybe not. We haven’t received her files from the All-Magickal Council yet, so maybe that will show more.”
    He wasn’t sure which he hoped they’d find in those documents—that their victim hadn’t brought a Normal into the Magickal world, and this murder was just a freak coincidence in its resemblance to an older string of crimes, or that they found this was a serial killer resurfacing after decades of silence.
    Neither was a good option. And no matter what the file showed them, he still had a dead body on his hands. Merek’s clairvoyance and Selina’s experience said this was connected to the murders in New Orleans. Even if he didn’t trust them or their Magickal precognition, he trusted his own instincts. They’d kept him alive through a war and countless deadly situations since joining the FBI. The way the hair prickled on the back of his neck told him that this resemblance was no coincidence.
    They had a Magickal serial killer on their hands.
    Fuck.
    “Her next of kin might be able to tell us,” Selina pointed out.
    As if on cue, the phone on his desk buzzed, and he scooped it up. It was the receptionist letting him know that Mary Winston’s sister had arrived. He sighed when he hung up.
    Selina straightened in her seat. “The victim’s family?”
    “Yep. Dorothy Lapinsky.” He looked to Peyton. “I’m hoping you can take care of something while we question her. Do you have any contacts on the Normal side of the Seattle PD?”
    The wolf’s chin dipped in a nod, while Selina’s brow furrowed. Her fingers tapped a steady beat against the arm of her chair. “You think Ms. Winston might not be the first victim in Seattle.”
    It wasn’t a question, but he answered anyway. “It wasn’t a pattern we were looking for until now, and you said this guy targets Normals, too.” He shrugged. “Call it a hunch.”
    Peyton rose to his feet. “I know a woman.”
    With that semicryptic reply, the wolf exited as silently as he’d come, leaving the door open behind him. Jack knew that was all the information he’d get until Peyton decided otherwise. Getting full sentences out of the man could be like pulling teeth.
    That was the last bit of attention he could spare for Peyton because he could see the receptionist through his doorway. Trailing in her wake was a woman with