Page 82 of Race to Save Her

“There was no way of telling how he died, but judging by this mess. There had to be a struggle.”

“How old was Sills?”

“Fifty-two, widowed, and retired from the construction trade.”

Katie thought about that and wondered if he had gotten involved in something that turned deadly or if he was just an unsuspecting victim in a web of lies and murder.

There was a notepad on the floor that was covered in blood and decomposition fluids. “John needs to document and collect this,” she said.

McGaven took notes.

Katie went to the first bedroom, which appeared to be a guest room. A bed, small dresser, and a rocking chair were the only things in the room. There was no nightstand or lamp.

Katie slowly walked down the hallway and stopped at a closed door. It appeared to be the bathroom. She opened the door and then quickly stepped back.

“What’s up?” McGaven said.

Katie moved to let her partner see the room. “We need this processed carefully. I don’t want to contaminate or be exposed to this.”

McGaven looked into the carnage. There was blood spattered on the walls, sink, toilet, across the shower doors. There was a dismembered arm lying in the shower, which appeared to have been decomposing for a day or two.

“Did not expect this,” he said.

“This killer isn’t going to stop,” said Katie. “He’s like a runaway train and he’s getting more brazen. We all need to be careful.”

FORTY-NINE

Saturday 1500 hours

John had just finished taking photos of the bathroom. He was wearing a full hazmat suit so that as he moved around carefully he wouldn’t be exposed to any contaminants. It was almost impossible to see what could be mixed in with the blood.

Katie watched John work. His expertise and well-honed skills were impressive. It reminded her that he was so much more than she knew. She loved the fact that there was always more to discover about him.

All the photographs were taken. All sides of the bathroom, an overall view, and then a close-up of the arm. John then carefully traded the digital camera for another one and did a methodical video of everything in and around the walls of the room.

McGaven joined Katie. “I’ve searched everywhere else and cleared it, but I want you to see this.”

She followed her partner to the office alcove. The area wasn’t like the rest of the house—it wasn’t orderly and neat. There were papers, unopened mail, strange notes scratched down on notepads. It reminded Katie of a Jekyll and Hyde personality—if indeed the same person who had kept the rest of the house so tidy was responsible for the messy desk.

“Maybe the person who left the bloodbath in the bathroom went through here looking for something?” said McGaven.

Katie thought for a second. “Funny you say that. Just like Tyler going through Shelby’s house.”

“What do you think it could be?”

“It could be anything, but I bet it’s something the killer doesn’t want found. Perhaps something that could connect him to all of this horror, his working location or someone who was helping him.”

“We need to get all this paperwork boxed up so we can sift through it back at the department,” he said. “And any paperwork of a personal nature.”

She nodded. “I get the feeling the killer wanted us to see this. It’s a bit contrived in this tidy home… don’t you think?”

McGaven opened a box that held 8.5-by-11 computer paper. “Katie… look at this.”

In the box there was what looked like a typed manuscript. McGaven flipped through the pages quickly and came to printed photos. They were of places that looked familiar.

“Those are the other crime scenes,” Katie said.

“Look at this.”