Disclaimer- Nope, they still belong to Tailwind and Tim Kring.
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"Jordan we've Id'd your body from the construction site; Missy Everett, age 25." Nigel handed Jordan the report, as Wren poured them some coffee and they walked toward Jordan's office. "Her office manager reported her missing yesterday, seems she ran the local franchise of "Boobies"."
Both Wren and Jordan groaned. "Boobies? Oh, Gawd, Jordan. If there's a restaurant that caters to the lower IQ set, it's that one." Wren sighed.
"Yeah I've heard of that place; half the Pogue's lunch business dried up when they opened one a couple of blocks away in Old Town." Jordan replied in a resigned tone.
Nigel spared a grin for both women. "Oh, I think it's a fine establishment, wonderful chicken, especially the, ow…" Wren elbowed him indignantly.
"Nigel, honey, if you want to stay a rooster and not become a hen, I wouldn't impugn the dignity Max's place by comparing it to a joint celebrating tits and well you know it." She said in a sugary sweet tone, her eyes flashing.
"Uh, Nige, I think I'd quit while I'm ahead a few extremities." Jordan chuckled, then blanched when she read the bottom of his report.
"Slocum's already made notes on her, how did he perform the autopsy so fast, she was just found this morning." They stopped outside Slokum's office
"Don't know, Jo. Except…..didn't he do the notes on Cathy Alexander, the one found next to the playground?" Nigel stepped into Slokum's office and pulled a file from the "to be filed" basket. "Where was she found?"
"The sicko propped her against a tree on the edge of the construction site on Watertown and Berrybrook; a little boy from a house adjoining the park snuck out to play with some friends, only to find her hidden amongst the bushes." Jordan paused, and then took a deep breath. "Yeah, and look at the cause of death on Missy Everett, strangulation, yet she's a big woman, she was found on a busy street; how did the killer know he wouldn't be spotted, especially on a public street. Someone had to have seen her put behind the dumpster." Jordan added, then immediately looked at the Alexander report again.
"Nige, doesn't it seem the least bit peculiar that all the recent victims were strangled, found in public places and don't seem to have put up much of a struggle."
Wren suddenly spoke up. "Maybe they were drugged, like with a mickey or something in their food or water."
Nigel bowed his head. "Bloody hell". He swore, and then took another look at the Everett case.
"Jo, wait a minute. There seems to be a knock out drug of some kind in her system, look at the tox screen., she was all but unconscious when she was killed."
Jordan glanced at the last several files in the open case section of folders. Something else matched here, but what?
"Excuse me, people, but don't you have work to do? Dr. Morgan, I hope you don't think you're getting paid to follow the dots?" Abruptly Slocum paused in the doorway, surprising the threesome.
"Jack, I am doing this job as a favor, don't worry, we all have enough work to do." Wren used her "iron butterfly" tone and saw with disguised glee his discomfiture.
"Yes, well, thank you, Dr. Morgan." The older man picked up the file then ushered the three out of his office, making a point of locking the door.
Jordan watched him leave, then muttered, "I'll be right back." and went into her office. Wren sighed, then Nigel put a hand to her chin and tilted her face to meet his.
"All right, out with it, my bird. What's bothering my belle of the south."
A smile covered her face at his attempt to tease her. "Nigel, I, oh it's silly, but…."
"But what, Wren?" he put an arm around her as they walked toward the elevators.
"These women, I keep wondering if …if I'm next. If my being a success in a "man's field" like those others, makes me a target. For all I know he's watching me right now. Sometimes, I swear I can feel eyes on me." Wren's voice shook a little and Nigel instantly wrapped both arms around her.
"Luv, if that was true I'd be the first to put you under my supervision 24/7. It's not silly, but I think there's something else tying these victims together. We just have to put all the pieces together."
Wren managed a smile as she put her head again his shoulder.
"Thank you for wanting to be my bodyguard. You're right, it's just a matter of time until our killer makes a mistake."
At that moment Jordan came out of her office, a telltale grin on her face.
Blushing, Wren then told Nigel "I'm going to finish up here in a little while, do you want to meet me at my apartment?"
"Sure, luv. We can get some take out. Don't stay too late, though. I don't want to waste away to skin and bones on account of that blighter." Nigel teased, dropping a kiss on Wren's neck then heading toward the elevators.
As Wren watched him go, Jordan came to her side.
"Must be love."
"Very funny, bride to be, now come on. I've got an idea." Wren snorted then dragged Jordan down the hall, explaining her plan as they headed into the autopsy room.