Jennifer Lynne is a homicide detective working on one of the most horrific serial killing cases New York has seen in the last decade. When she and her partner get a lead on the suspect, they catch him with his seventh victim. But things go south and...
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A while after Drake left, I knew I had to throw myself into something. To think about anything but what just happened. I dug deeper into Harvey Stark. I made some calls. I found where his surviving family lives.
I've sat on this information for three days. The note where I scribbled the numbers down is still on my coffee table. I've stared at it for hours on end, not quite getting the courage to grab my car keys and head over. Normally, I would drink to build courage, but I'm trying to stay away from alcohol. It's done nothing but give me more problems.
After sitting in my living room watching the sunrise and looking at that note, I decide to screw it and go. Before I completely lose my nerve altogether.
I drive to a neighborhood similar to Jackson's; cold and uninviting. As I pull up to the curb, I realize that I might not be well received here as a cop. But I don't know how else this family will let me into their home.
Walking up to the front steps, I take a couple of deep breaths to calm my racing heart. When I ring the doorbell, a dog barks somewhere behind me. I glance back to look, but the door opens in front of me.
I fix my gaze to see a woman with dark hair in a ponytail. She's Kim Stark if what my contact told me is accurate. She looks at me tiredly. "Can I help you?" She asks.
"Mrs. Stark?" I pull my jacket back and expose my badge on my belt. "I'm Detective Lynne with the NYPD. Do you have a moment to speak with me?"
Her grip on the door tightens, turning her knuckles white. "What about?"
"Your husband's case, Mrs. Stark."
She takes a deep breath and barely rolls her eyes. "My husband is dead, Detective. He has no case." Kim starts to close the door.
No, wait!
"Wait, please!" I call out, my voice cracking. She freezes and I see her own surprise is a reflection of my own. Shit. "I think your husband's case is related to the Devil Lake Killer case."
If she had scales, they would've stood on end like little spikes on her shoulders. She turns her head, peering over her shoulder before taking a step towards me. "W-What are you saying?"
"Please, Mrs. Stark," I whisper. "I would much rather discuss this in private."
She pauses, chewing on her lip for a moment before nodding and stepping to the side. I enter her home, and she closes the door behind me.
The living room is dim. The curtains are drawn with the only light coming from the closed-off kitchen. The sofa is older; white with red and yellow flowers. It reminds me of the one my grandparents had. Kim walks in front of me and gestures to the couch.
"Make yourself at home," she says. "Would you like anything to drink?"
I shake my head as I take a seat. "No, thank you." She comes and sits in the chair adjacent to me.
