The Dollmaker(The Forgotten Files #2)(103)

“Given the parameters, I’ve narrowed it to one man. Norman DeLuca lives near Terrance Dillon and he owns a business in town.”

“Shit.” DeLuca. The picture sent from Carol Knox was of a younger version of DeLuca. He forwarded the text to Andrews. “Just sent you an image of Knox’s son taken when he was a boy.”

There was only a brief hesitation. “DeLuca,” Andrews said.

“He owns the damn funeral home. He likely knew Radcliff and his situation. Probably offered to buy the propofol from him. Big wedding for daughter coming up and leaving a widow. Money was too tempting. He’s been around all their lives. He was at Roger’s funeral. Terrance’s funeral.”

“And no doubt, your sister’s. He’d been in town less than a year when your sister died, and he was working at the funeral home then.”

“He put the doll in her casket.”

“A very logical assumption. He never attended the college, but it’s an open campus, and as a local, he could easily have been around them. He’s only a few years older, so he wouldn’t have stood out too much around the students.”

“And the prostitutes killed in Colorado fit what his sister told me,” Sharp said.

“Explain.”

“Knox’s ex-wife told her daughters she was certain she saw her son years ago. She lost the guy in the crowd. Really rattled the woman,” Sharp said.

“I’m trying to connect the deaths to his credit card receipts. If he traveled, there’d be some kind of record. Given a little more time, I’m confident I can show a link.” Keys clicked in the background. “And DeLuca’s Funeral Home was a corporate sponsor of Terrance’s football team. That’s how the kid recognized him.”

“I’ll head to the funeral home now.” Sharp drove toward DeLuca’s.

He dialed Tessa’s phone, and when it went to voice mail, he cursed. “Tessa, where the hell are you? I think I know who killed Kara, Diane, and Elena. Norman DeLuca. Tall, with dark hair and olive skin. Just stay the hell in your house or close to the cop assigned to you.”

His next call was to the cop on duty. On the fourth ring he received a crisp, “Officer Smith.”

“Where is Officer Baugh? He’s supposed to be on duty in front of Tessa McGowan’s house.”

“Officer Baugh is being taken away in an ambulance. He was drugged. Still passed out cold.”

“Where is Tessa McGowan?”

“Missing.”

He floored the accelerator as he redialed Andrews. “Tessa is missing. What can you tell me about the funeral home?”

“I’m pulling building plans now. Bowman is with me, and he wants to talk to you.”

Sharp barely registered. “Sure.”

“Bowman here. I’m sending our newest man and putting him on an intercept course with you at DeLuca’s.”

“I don’t need a new guy.”

“It’s McLean.”




Tessa woke in stages. At first she was aware of a quiet shuffling around the room, then the strong smell of chemicals, and finally an aching pain in her side. Eyes closed, she tried to raise her hand to her head but couldn’t lift her arms.

What was wrong with her? Was she still asleep? She thought back to when she was in the car accident and she couldn’t move her legs. Fear sliced through her as she tried to convince herself that she was okay. But her legs didn’t move. She didn’t feel the prick of the doctor’s probe on the bottom of her feet. Had she been in another accident?

Terrified of what she might discover when she awoke, she hesitated, praying it was a dream. But as tempting as sleep was, she knew this was real. Summoning her courage, she opened her eyes, wincing against the bright light. Again, she tried to raise her arms, but this time realized they were not paralyzed but strapped at her side. She was in a chair akin to what she’d have found in a dentist’s office.

As her mind cleared, she focused on a stainless-steel table laid out with surgical instruments similar to the medical examiner’s office.

“Good, you’re awake.” His voice was soft, soothing, and calm. “I didn’t want to rush you. I thought you’d need the rest.”

She stared for a moment, willing her mind to calm. “Let me go.”

The man came around the side of her chair and smoothed his hand over her hair. “Certainly. All in due time.”

“Why?”

His smile was so soft and pleasant. “Oh, don’t look so upset, Serenity. You’re with me now, and you are safe.”

Panic clawed, making it hard to remain calm. “I’m not Serenity. I’m Dr. Tessa McGowan.”

He shook his head. “Out there you may be, but in my world you’re Serenity. My perfect doll.”

“I’m not a doll. I’m a woman.”

He stepped back from her. “If you keep scrunching up your face, those wrinkles will stick. Didn’t your mother tell you that?”

“I know you from Terrance Dillon’s funeral.”

“I took care of him as well as Kara and Diane. They didn’t send me Elena. I just found out they’re going to cremate her, but then that’s not such a terrible loss. She ruined her face, destroyed all my beautiful work.”