Chapter 7

The bodies lay only a few feet apart. One had about six bullet holes in his chest. But the other, the other body was different. While Officer Copeland had been shot several times, it wasn't what killed him. His neck had been violently broken. He face was turned completely around facing his back. It was a gruesome scene.

"He's escalating," stated Bobby as he examined the slain men.

"Yeah," the CSU tech agreed, "and this time he left a note with the bodies, addressed to Detective Eames."

Alex jumped at the statement, her anxiety level affecting her impulses. "Let me see," ordered Alex. The tech quickly complied and handed her the evidence bag with the unopened blood-caked note in it. Carefully maneuvering the note out of the bag with a gloved hand, Alex anxiously read the note:

Do you see my sweet Alexandra? Do you see what you have driven me to do? This is all because you were with him last night. These deaths are on your pretty little head. Do you want me to take him away, the way I took your husband away? It would be so easy. Just a bullet and he would be gone. Out of our way, forever.

Speaking of your husband, do you want to know how he begged for his life? How I will make your partner beg for his? You have the power to make it all stop. Or do you want to see your partner end up dead like your dear husband? Or was he so dear after all? Take a good look at these officers and think about it.

Remember Alexandra, I'll be watching.

"He would have escalated eventually, Alex," Bobby said, already anticipating how she would respond.

"He saw us, Bobby. That's why he did this," she responded, spreading her hands to encompass the bloody bodies in front of them. "We are responsible for this." Bobby was about to answer when the tech interrupted them.

"Detectives, I think this hump may have finally screwed up."

That caught their attention. Up until now the killer had been methodical. Up until now all he had done was shoot his victims. Now, his anger had gotten the better of him and he made a mistake. He strangled his latest victim, with his bare hands.

"The strangulation marks around the neck were made with bare hands. There is a good chance he may have left a print," said the tech with confidence.

"See if you can lift any prints and put a rush on the results." The excitement was evident in Bobby's voice as he ordered the techs around, telling them to take pictures of everything about the slain officer's neck.

Alex merely stood off to the side watching. She reread the note again, taking in the threats and the anger written there. She couldn't lose Bobby, especially since they had just found each other. She found herself feeling guilty about the two dead officers lying on the cold pavement only feet from her. They didn't deserve their fate. None of the officers who this guy had killed did. Even though she knew that intellectually, her guilt threatened to overwhelm her. She turned suddenly away from the scene, drowning a sob in the sound of her heels clicking away in the morning dawn.

"Alex?" Bobby had seen her turn away, the way her shoulders were slumped and could guess what she was feeling. He was feeling much the same.

"I'm fine. We should head back to the squad and check in." The guilt in her voice sounded even colder than the early morning chill.

TBC………