Kenzie, Patrick, Teresa, and Van Pelt approached Rigsby and Cho at the Crocker Memorial State Park. Policemen, CSI techs, news crews, and gawkers stood behind yellow tape.
"Hi. What have we got," asked Teresa.
The team walked toward the crime scene as Cho explained who the victim was. "Victim's name is Emma Plaskett. 19. Local girl. First responder knew her from high school." He pointed out a young deputy that was sitting on the hood of a Sheriff's Department cruiser. "Lives at home with her parents, has an older brother and a twin sister, Maya, who went missing at the same time last night."
Kenzie's eyes grew wide. Oh shit.
"Their car was found abandoned on the roadside last night. Ten miles north of here," said Rigsby.
"Who's coordinating search teams locally," asked Kenzie.
"Sheriff Hardy here is in charge."
Sheriff Hardy gazed sadly at the crime scene, chewing gum. "Hi. Ed Hardy. Good to meet cha." He held his hand to Kenzie.
"Patterson, Lisbon, Van Pelt, Jane," said Kenzie. Hardy nodded politely to them while Patrick looked at the body.
"I've called in all my people and we've got volunteers rendezvousing at the football field. We'll grid up and have 'em in the field shortly."
"Kenz. Look," urgently said Patrick. She walked over to him. "Oh shit."
"Yes."
"Maybe it's a copycat," denied Kenzie.
"It's a coincidence," said Teresa.
"That's what I said," said Cho.
"There's no such thing as coincidences. Not with him."
Rigsby looked at Cho, giving him an "exactly" look.
"What are you all talking about? Who's him?" asked Sheriff Hardy.
"Red John. He's a serial killer. This is his style of cutting," said Van Pelt.
"The rest of his MO is absent. Red John works indoors. He doesn't move the body post-mortem. And where's the smiley face?"
"It's a trademark. He wouldn't drop that."
Kenzie and Patrick stepped aside so Sheriff Hardy didn't hear. The sound of a plane is heard from above.
"It's him. Look at her toenails," said Patrick.
"I can see them," said Kenzie.
"Painted with her blood. Just like my wife. This is Red John, and he wanted to make sure I'd be on the case."
"We don't know that. You're jumping to conclusions. Like I said before, maybe it's a copycat. We haven't seen a–"
The team looked up at the sky. A light plane was skywriting with smoke and finished up a wide circle and created two dots for eyes.
Fuck.
"What the hell?" asked Sheriff Hardy.
The plane drew the curve of a smile.
🙂
Kenzie and Patrick walked up to the Plaskeet household. Hardy took a wad of gum from his mouth and tossed it.
"Man, this nicotine gum is like chewing on a tire," complained Sheriff Hardy.
"Can you tell us about the family," asked Kenzie.
"Old money. Mr. Plaskett's an architect. Mom's a sculptor. Plasketts have been in the county since before there was a county. Which counts around here. I've been in town ten years, and I'm still the new guy."
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I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane
Fanfiction"I bet on losing dogs, I know they're losing, and I'll pay for my place by the ring, Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down, ...
