Page 36 of Coordinates of Death

“Dr. Sharpe, it’s Corporal Hunt and Kordell Greene.”

“Yes, Garrett said you were calling. Tell me what you found. Better yet, call me back on video so you can show me.”

“Will do.” Aurora ended the call and hit the video button, waiting for him to connect.

Seconds later, his face appeared on the screen. “That’s better. Garrett said something about Jennifer’s hand being in a block of ice.”

“Kord, can you get it out of the fridge and put it on the table?” Aurora explained how they’d found the ice and brought it back in a cooler. “We noted a finger missing and surmised it’s Jennifer’s missing hand.”

“Well, now I’ve heard of almost everything.”

Kordell put his gloves on and set the cooler on the table, lifting out the ice.

“Here it is.” Aurora turned her camera and gave the coroner a clear view, circling around the block of ice.

A whistle sailed through the speaker. “What do you think SBK has done to her palm?”

“I’m almost scared to speculate. Sir, I hate to tamper with the evidence, and I know the body is your jurisdiction and we’re here in the States, but something tells me there are coordinates inside to where the killer is keeping the next victim. We’re running out of time.”

“Because of the time constriction and other lives at stake, I’m allowing you to proceed. But take lots of pictures before and after thawing the ice. You’re gonna have to let it thaw as naturally as possible, but it will take some time. Put a container of hot water beside it. That will help speed up the process. Turn up the heat in the room. Once it melts, get as close as you can to the hand and take more pictures.” He paused. “Use gloves. Do not touch the hand with your fingers. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Report back your findings, then transport the hand in the cooler—on ice—to me.”

“Will do. Talk to you—”

“Wait, I have news for you.” The screen bounced as Dr. Sharpe made his way to a slab. “I found something on Jennifer’s body you’ll want to see.”

Kordell cringed, holding his breath. The way this case was going, he realized whatever it was wouldn’t be good.

“Just a sec. I need to mount my phone.”

Seconds later, a view of Jennifer’s mottled face appeared.

“Okay, look at this.” Dr. Sharpe pushed up Jennifer’s upper lip, exposing her gums. “I know you probably can’t see it, but there are dozens of tiny needle marks on her gums.”

Aurora’s hand flew to her chest. “That’s new. I don’t remember that on the previous victims.”

“That’s because there weren’t any. I checked.” He let go of the lips and picked up his phone. “I’m doing a full tox report. These marks tell me that SBK drugged Jennifer multiple times, probably to keep her sedated and immobilized.” He raised a finger. “One more thing I discovered.”

The camera view switched to the victim’s ear. “I found this once I washed off the blood.”

Aurora gasped.

A half-drawn symbol was carved into her earlobe, but it was what appeared beneath the ear that sent Kordell’s pulse racing.

A.H.

Aurora Hunt.

Beside the initials, a crude inked heart stained Jennifer’s flesh.

The Shadow Box Killer’s sick token of love to Aurora.

Kordell’s gut churned at the killer’s deranged way of worshipping Aurora. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled, and he squared his shoulders.

No way would Kordell let SBK anywhere near his childhood friend—not over his dead body.