Page 24 of Shadow Angel
Liking Carter, Beth smiled. He wasn’t a threat to her and she didn’t feel like he was probing her mind. She hoped her mask hadn’t slipped in front of Jo, but she doubted it. Right now, she only wanted to help. “Thanks, we appreciate the assistance. It was good to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Carter tipped his hat and strolled back to his chopper.
“See you next time.” Jo gave her a wave and followed.
Seeing Ryder looking shaken and leaning against a tree, she went to his side. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” He looked at her, his eyes red-rimmed. “I can’t understand how you can all stand around watching a woman being brutalized and it doesn’t affect you?”
Beth shrugged and peeled off her coveralls. “It’s because we’ve seen it so many times before that we become desensitized. It’s not that we don’t care. It’s just that we need to see what’s happening so we can prevent it happening again. Can you understand that?”
“I guess.” Ryder waved toward the cabin. “When I took the position of sheriff, I wasn’t expecting to deal with brutal murders. It’s unimaginable to believe that someone who could do that is walking around town.”
Pushing her mind past the images on the screen, Beth stared into his bewildered expression. “When you were hunting down miners with certain shifts, did you consider miners from different towns?”
“Not for the Cassie Burnham murder but I made a list.” Ryder pulled out his phone. “Gold Rush Mine has a variety of shifts available. I’ll hunt down miners who were free Friday through Wednesday. If we add being free on Tuesday to the suspects list, we can cut it down some.” He shrugged. “It’s going to take time going through it because we can’t haul them out of the mines to interview them.”
Styles had Bear out of the chopper and was throwing a toy for him as he checked over the chopper once more. Beth headed in his direction with Ryder at her side. “We’re concentrating on miners but who else moves around the three towns on a regular basis?”
“Delivery drivers, mail, doctors, nurses, cattlemen, produce.” Ryder shook his head. “A ton of people but not all of them visit the clubs.”
Beth nodded. “We need to discover which ones of them do. We also need to inform the clubs that their dancers are being murdered so they can pass on the information. It will make them more aware that there’s a predator out there.”
“I can do that, no worries.” Ryder opened his cruiser door and took out his hat. “I’m not a rookie. I’ll do my share of interviews. I won’t walk into a situation. I’m not stupid and we’ll need to split up and find this guy before another woman is murdered.”
“You’ve seen what this man is capable of, Cash.” Styles walked up behind them. “Is there anyone you trust you can deputize for a couple of days?”
“Yeah, I guess.” Ryder smiled at Styles. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Okay.” Styles slapped him on the back. “We’re heading back to the office now. Send me your list of possible suspects and we’ll remove anyone who doesn’t fit the general description of the guy in the video. I’m thinking you don’t want to sit in on the screening?”
“No thanks.” Ryder messed with his phone. “I’ve emailed it. I’ll hunt down the other possibles Beth suggested when I get back to the office.” He slid inside his vehicle. “Catch you later.”
Beth climbed into the chopper and attached her headset. She had been considering long and hard about catching the killer. “Jo figures we’ve disturbed the killer’s fantasy. We’ve found the body before he’s had time to come back and visit it. We removed Cassie from the house and he struck again. Jo figures he’s going to take another woman in the next couple of days. It makes sense to me that Rainbow is possibly the next place he’ll hit. It’s in his comfort zone and he’ll feel safe there. We’ll need a plan to stop him. I’m not convinced this perp is a miner. Ryder mentioned a variety of people who regularly move from town to town and although the miners are more likely to frequent the gentlemen’s clubs, they’re not the only people interested in watching women dancing.”
“What are you getting at, Beth?” Styles flicked her a concerned stare. “Seems to me you’re giving us a mountain of suspects to investigate. The most logical are the miners—they fit into the timeline and visited the club—so why deviate from the plan?”
Beth poured coffee into the to-go cups, glad to see it was still hot. “I think we need to cut corners and get moving on this investigation before he kills again. There’s only the three of us working this case, so we need to take drastic action.”
“I’m all for drastic action.” Styles took the coffee she handed him. “What have you conjured up now? Is it legal?”
Shaking her head in disbelief, Beth snorted. “Of course, it’s legal. I’m thinking a sting operation. I figure I should go undercover as a dancer. I’ve already told you I know how to pole dance, so it wouldn’t be difficult for me. I’d slip in just fine. Of course, we’d just have to clear it with the management of the club. It’s the only way we’ll catch this guy.”
“What about all the men staring at you?” Styles took the chopper high over the snowcapped mountains. “I’ve seen your reaction when men give you unwanted attention. I don’t think you would be able to handle it inside a club for a couple of days and you’ve already said that this man plans everything ahead of time.”
Beth nodded. “I’m convinced he does, and just for the record, when I went undercover in the brothel I handled it just fine.” She shrugged. “I got the job done fast and saved lives. This is no different and this time I’ll have you watching my back. You figure you can mix with the locals without being noticed, so I’ll have you in the room with me all the time I’m onstage.” She thought for a beat. “Think about it. We’ve taken away the killer’s prize, so he’ll grab whoever he can find. I mean to make him come for me.”
“And how exactly do you intend to do that?” Styles headed the chopper toward Rattlesnake Creek.
Smiling Beth sipped her coffee. “When I’ve watched the video, I’ll let you know. This killer has specific tastes. From looking at the victims after he’s done with them, he wants big eyes with plenty of makeup and red lips. I can make my eyes big and totally different. I have a variety of contact lenses I can use, wigs, and I’ll attach long red nails. Trust me, he won’t be able to resist me.”
“You’re batshit crazy.” Styles chuckled as he landed on the roof of the FBI building.
Unconcerned, Beth shrugged. “You’ve mentioned that before. Maybe that’s what it takes to catch this guy.”
“Look. I know you’re darn good at undercover work but it’s risky.” Styles turned to her. “Before we consider it as a last resort, at least interview the other two possible suspects first. We have a wider timeframe now and one might slip up. We’ll need time to set up the sting with the club in Rainbow anyway. If we don’t find more possibles tomorrow, I’ll greenlight your idea.”
“Okay, fine, but we don’t have much time to get things rolling.” Beth blew out a long breath. “He’s escalating and we might miss our chance and some other poor woman will be killed. We could easily get everything set up and people interviewed this afternoon and tomorrow. I could go under tomorrow night, then I’ll be there Thursday and Friday nights. It will fit into the killer’s schedule.”
