“I see what you’re saying. Yeah, there are white squares in the middle of them. Maybe numbers,” Gabe said, shooting Ruby a quick look, “I see a 55 and maybe a 90, but not 13.”

Ruby made a face at him as she took back the strip, tucking it back in order. She reached for her phone. There was no sign of the killer yet, but there was plenty of reason to get more people in the garage to make sense of the mess.

“Requesting back-up at 113 Crestview Road. Get forensics over here ready to process,” she said, finding a command in her voice that felt separate from her.

She needed someone to photograph the hell out of this garage, and to scan all the negatives to see what the killer himself photographed.

“Where is he now?” Gabe said, scanning the garage for any hiding places. “Stalking another woman who looks too much like a super model?”

It was too early to strike again. She was oddly sure of that. So far, the time between murders had been consistent.

Too early for the next murder.

Too early for another body.

“He won't kill again so soon,” she said. “Part of the game is the chase. He'll give us the chance to catch up, assuming we won't.”

They were part of the plan as much as the victims were. Why else would Vallejo give her his riddled clues? Did she understand his little parting wisdom too late?

“If this is the garage, what's in the house?” Ruby asked, raising an eyebrow at Gabe. They had probable cause to search Delko's home, as far as she was concerned. A woman was dead and the man kept a creepy altar where his tools should've been.

Gabe just nodded, backing out of the garage.

They approached from the back door of the house, knocking once more. No answer.

Gabe easily kicked it in.

They entered, just ambient light from outside guiding the way.

Ruby walked cautiously through the living room, past the open door that led to the kitchen and her right down the hallway. She kept her eyes forward and her hand close to her holster, just in case.

Gabe walked fast behind her, nearly passing her by when she stopped in the doorway to the master bedroom.

Candles of every shape and color lined the mantle.

“Fire hazard,” Gabe muttered.

“Clear,” Ruby said.

There was no sign of Elias Delko, even as she made her way through the rest of the house.

She made her way toward the front door, scanning for any kind of detail. There were all the signs of a single man. She spotted the remains of TV dinner trays and empty beer cans. It all built the image of a person who had to fantasize about women to get his fix. Clearly there was no female presence living in the house.