Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [503]
Stolz simply nodded.
“We might find something on the suit, some debris from the killer like hair or fibers. He couldn’t have done this without making contact with the body.”
“He went to a lot of trouble just to take the brain. Maybe he sells parts to teaching colleges,” Bonzado’s female student suggested, as she helped Carl, who had been quietly collecting evidence that may have spilled from the barrel. The woman seemed overly anxious to help and held open a plastic bag while Carl dropped small particles in with forceps.
Maggie was impressed that Carl already had two bags in his other hand, one containing what looked to be a swatch of hair or fur and in the other, a small, crumpled piece of white paper.
“What is this?” She pointed to the crumpled piece of paper.
“Not sure,” Carl said as he handed her the bag. “It’s not a note, if that’s what you were hoping. It’s not even writing paper.”
Maggie held it up, examining it in the sunlight. “Looks like a waxy texture.”
“Getting back to more important matters,” Stolz grumbled. “Like missing brains. Serial killers often take things, clothing, jewelry, even body parts.” He looked from Bonzado and Carl to Watermeier and finally—lastly—to Maggie. “As trophies, right?”
“Yes, serial killers often do that. There’s only one small problem here,” Maggie said, stopping all of them, waiting for their attention. “Mr. Earlman wasn’t murdered.”
CHAPTER 21
Adam Bonzado helped Simon with the bags of sand wiches and sodas, keeping an eye on his student. Ramona and Joe had literally dug into this project, but Simon…Well, it was hard to tell. His pasty complexion and quiet demeanor were typical. So when he volunteered to get lunch for the group, Adam knew it was Simon just being Simon, always the first to offer when there were errands that needed to be run.
They made their way through what seemed to be a growing crowd of reporters and cameras. Officer Trotter with the state patrol had the media trained to stay back behind the crime-scene tape, but that didn’t stop the barrage of questions.
“Professor, Jennifer Carpenter with WVXB Channel 12. When will we have an official update?”
Adam recognized the attractive blonde behind the glasses.
“I’m not in charge, Ms. Carpenter. You’d have to ask Sheriff Watermeier.”
“I’ve been asking Sheriff Watermeier. What exactly are you finding? And why are you hiding it?”
“We’re not hiding anything,” Adam said, and when she whipped off her glasses, he realized the cameraman behind her was now running film. Jesus! Just what he needed. Why hadn’t he kept his big mouth shut? “We’re simply trying to assess the situation. I’m sure we’ll let all of you know what’s going on as soon as we can.”
He turned his back to them and headed for the quarry. Simon waited for him on the other side of the tree line.
“Vultures,” he told his student, hoping for a smile.
“I think she likes you.”
Adam glanced at him, expecting some smart aleck comment to follow. His students were always razzing him about being single. But Simon looked serious. Adam knew Simon was older than most of the other graduate students, having come into the program late. “Yeah? You think so? I’m not sure she’s my type.”
Now, Special Agent Maggie O’Dell was another story. From their first introduction Adam couldn’t help thinking that if he did actually have a type, she would be in the running. Forget that the woman had amazing brown eyes and could make an FBI-approved navy-blue suit look official as