“I’m Agent Lawson, and this is Agent Hanson,” I said and nodded toward him. Watts looked at Hanson and smiled. I knew right away that I’d just been booted out of the old boy’s club once again.

“Aren’t you that famous serial killer hunter? I know I’ve seen you on television.” Watts smiled and put his hands on his hips.

“I’m only assisting on this case,” Hanson said. “Agent Lawson here is the lead on the investigation.”

I had to give Hanson a point for that one. At least he tried, but it was no use. Watts stuck out his hand to shake Hanson’s like he was a red-carpet celebrity. “Well, I’m sure glad we have you on this one. Whoever this killer is, is one sick fuck.”

Sheriff Watts turned to walk toward the bodies, and Hanson mouthed, ‘sorry’ as soon as the Sheriff’s back was turned. There was no point listening to the Sheriff gab on like he knew what he was talking about as he tried to show off his investigation skills for Hanson.

Instead, I took in the scene and the two girls who once had been beautiful. Their bodies were mutilated and broken, and the pain and fear were etched into their features even in death. There was no mistaking that the girls were twins and no older than their mid-twenties. Their blonde hair was matted and thick with leaves and dirt, but their bodies were crisp and squeaky clean.

Hanson stepped up beside me and grumbled under his breath. “So, what do you think?”

My eyes traveled over the image of the girls entwined in a hug, their lips sewn together. “Whoever this guy is, he’s strong and capable of tossing around the combined weight of, say, two-hundred and fifty pounds.”

I squatted down and stared at how the girls were wrapped around one another like they were frozen in a lover’s embrace.

“I think our guy has a split personality and definitely has a thing for connections. I mean, look at the random abuse on the girl on the left. She has a breast cut off, and she’s missing fingers and toes. I’m not sure what did that to her buttocks and anal cavity, but it looks like the person just did random things to the body. It’s all very erratic.”

I looked up at Hanson as he scribbled a few notes into a small notepad.

“The other girl is not missing any body parts, and the lines carved into her body took time and precision. This was done by someone that values his work. The lips sewn together makes me wonder if this perp was abused…or maybe had a sibling that passed away or had something similar done to him. Or possibly someone wronged him.”

“Like turned him in for a crime?” Hanson’s tone was inquisitive. “Do you think our guy just got out of jail?”