“Dr. Blythe will be here personally because of how important this case is. He’ll be in charge and our job will be just to assist him,” Howie said. “This is going to be really high profile.”

Val looked around at the reporters and her pulse raced. “Oh my God. I think every news station is here. A second person killed liked this, someone else who had their teeth removed. This is huge.”

“Huge is an understatement. Francine Donohue wasn’t the only one to die here in Eastville. Jeanne Coleman, the first victim, was murdered here too.”

Her head snapped towards Howie but he was already getting out of the car. Val reached for the door handle and quickly pulled it open. Adrenaline pumped through her system as they started to walk towards the building.

Howie stopped when a blue sedan pulled up. Two men got out. He explained that they were Mitchell Gavin and Alexander Warren, the detectives in charge of this case. He stressed that Gavin was the lead detective and pointed him out.

Val stood by Howie’s side, staring as they came closer. She wouldn’t have guessed Gavin to be a cop. He was a handsome man, moderately tall, slightly over six feet with a lean build. His light brown hair had small silver streaks throughout. Alexander Warren looked nothing like his partner. He stood several inches shorter, his head was shaved and he wore a goatee.

They came up to Howie and shook his hand. He introduced Val and then asked, “What do you know about the victim?”

“The suspected victim is Francine Donohue. The first responders found her driver’s license in her handbag,” Warren announced, then looked through his notes. “She was reported missing about six months ago by her sister. This sister hadn’t spoken to her in almost twenty years but decided to pay her a visit. She went to Francine’s previous residence, which was in Orchard Park, New York, but Francine was gone. Several people saw Francine heading to her car with suitcases a few days before this. No one saw her again after that. Get this. She was a dentist.”

“Holy crap. What a way to kill a dentist.” Howie quickly glanced over at Val.

She maintained her composure as best she could, though it did freak her out.

Gavin, who had been silent, finally spoke. “Do we know how long she’s been living here?”

“According to the apartment manager’s records, she’s been here the last six months. Since she disappeared,” Warren answered.

“So, she was living in Eastville at the time of the last murder.” Gavin looked around at the layout of the apartment buildings. “This isn’t even close to Jeanne Coleman’s place. They’re direct opposites in the complex. They couldn’t be further apart.”

“This may be a hunting ground,” Warren said. “We could have a serial killer.”