“Val, this isn’t a good idea. In fact, it’s a really bad one. Your memories of Julia should be of her alive. If you see what’s in that bedroom, that’s what you’ll see whenever you think of her.”

“Too late. I’ve already seen what’s in the bedroom. I’ve moved on from that. I want to help catch her killer.” She looked straight at him, her decision firmly made.

Gavin got up. Val rose too and went with him to the bedroom. Blythe was on his way and Val knew that as soon as he arrived, she would be asked to leave. Now, this moment, was her chance to help Julia. But Val knew it couldn’t end here. She wouldn’t stop until Julia’s killer was caught.

Val walked up to the bed. Julia’s teeth lay on the pillow, just like Francine Donohue’s had. Suddenly her legs felt weak. She glanced around, looking anywhere but the pillow, trying to collect herself. Her gaze stopped on a lamp that sat on the nightstand next to the bed. It was a pretty shade of aquamarine accented with brass fixtures and a wide butter-colored shade. She concentrated on the lamp, managing to distract herself. Then she saw something reddish brown on the ceramic surface and her jaw dropped as she realized what it was. Blood spatter was streaked across the front of the lamp. Julia was ripped apart and part of her was on this lamp. Val took a few steps back, and steadied herself by leaning on the wall. Gavin came towards her, but she waved him away. “I’m fine,” she said and straightened herself up. Glancing back at the teeth now, she leaned over, getting closer, looking carefully. She had no gloves with her and couldn’t touch them. She’d contaminate the evidence if she did. But she didn’t need gloves to see that not one root was broken. Her gaze shifted a few inches and she noticed the pattern of the pillowcase. It was different from the sheets.

“Do you think this is a copy?” Warren asked Gavin. “Colin might have just seen the TV reports and made this murder look like the others. It’s nearly identical. The only difference is that this one is not as clean. Some bloody fingerprints were found downstairs on the kitchen cabinet. With the dark wood, it’s hard to see. Could be why he missed them in a cleanup attempt.”

“It can’t be a copy. He changed the sheets. He left the pillowcase and changed the sheets. We never released that information to the media. How would he have known to do that?” Gavin asked.

“Julia was working on the case with Blythe. She might have told Colin about certain parts of it.”

“It’s possible but unlikely. This would hardly be a conversation to have when you’re trying to win back your husband.”