“The pillowcase is bloodied but the sheets are clean. They’re also a different print than the ones in these photos,” Gavin said, dropping the pictures down on the bed. “He did the same thing at Jeanne Coleman’s crime scene. Why in the hell does he do this? Why change the sheets, but not the pillowcase? She wasn’t killed on the bed and it looks like the teeth were placed on the pillow after the fact.”

Val’s gaze flew to the pillowcase. Gavin was right. She was so engrossed with the teeth that she hadn’t even noticed the bedding didn’t match.

Warren walked around the side of the bed. “The killer took them as a souvenir. This is what he needs to relive the event,” he suggested.

“Kind of an odd souvenir,” Howie said.

“A souvenir points to a serial case. This is not that,” Mitchell Gavin said. He turned to a crime-scene technician. “Can you start getting pictures of all of this.”

Another technician, who was busy searching the bedside table with a magnifying glass, eagerly motioned for Gavin to come over to her. She pointed out several small reddish-brown drops on the leg of the table.

“The size of these three drops is consistent with medium velocity spatter. It fits in with stabbing. And see, it’s in this crevice. I think that’s why it was missed. No matter how well they clean, something’s always left behind. It’s impossible to get it all. No one is that thorough,” the technician said excitedly.

“Scour the room for more stains and then use luminol. If this is anything like the last one there’s more to see when the lights go out,” Gavin instructed.

“Detective Gavin, Dr. Blythe is here,” Howie said.

Val watched Blythe come in and she smiled. She couldn’t wait to examine the teeth. Show him how strong his newest employee was.

He entered the room breathlessly and pointed towards the bed. “Are they all photographed?”

“Yes, everything is documented,” Warren responded.

“Just like the last ones. This killer doesn’t leave much behind.” Blythe hovered over the pillow, probing each tooth. It seemed like forever before he finally glanced over at Val.

Here it comes. He was going to ask for her help—her expertise. She grew ready to jump towards him.

His eyes lingered on her for a few seconds and Val’s chest lurched with excitement. She stepped forward, her foot still in the air when Dr. Blythe looked away.

“I’ll be finished in a couple of minutes,” Blythe told the detectives.