Laurel reached in her pocket for her phone, a lump in her stomach that made her want to gag. “I can’t prove it, but I know you tried to cover your brother’s crimes before you realized we were half sisters. I’m an FBI agent, Abigail.” She opened the outside door and stepped into the protection provided by the eaves before turning to face her sister.

Abigail was several inches taller, even in her bare feet. “I did not help him. If I did anything that assisted Robert with his heinous murders, then I’m very sorry.”

“No, you’re not,” Laurel murmured.

Abigail’s nostrils flared. “No, I’m not. But since I didn’t do anything to help my brother, you must let this go. Besides, what would you do to protect your mother? Your Zen-loving, peaceful, flighty mother?”

“Good-bye, Abigail.” Laurel turned and walked carefully down the walkway, pausing to snap several photographs of the lawn and mostly buried flowers before returning to her vehicle. Once inside, she dialed Captain Monty Buckley’s number.

“Buckley,” he answered over the sound of a printer grinding in the background.

“Hi, Captain,” Laurel said, watching Abigail watch her from the open doorway. “Did you get jurisdiction settled?” They’d reached an agreement easily at the scene by the river, but it still had to be approved.

“Yeah,” Monty said. “FBI has primary because the body was found on federal land, but we’ll correspond and assist since Fish and Wildlife knows the area the best. We’re coordinating now with the locals to tie them in.”

“Good.” In Washington State, Fish and Wildlife were fully commissioned officers. “I have a second crime scene I need processed, as well as an entire subdivision to canvass. Please have the state process and the locals canvass.” She started her engine, her gaze still caught by her sister’s. “Let’s also see if we can get Dr. Ortega to conduct the autopsy and hopefully identify the victim. He did a good job last time.”

“You’ve got it. Also, you should know, I’m having Huck take the lead on this for Fish and Wildlife. I have radiation treatments every day and might not be up to par.”

Laurel paused. She’d learned weeks ago that Monty had prostate cancer. “I hope you feel better. If I can do anything, let me know.”

“Just catch this psycho before he kills anybody else,” Monty said grimly. “Unless you think this was a one-time thing and the guy was just after this poor woman?”

Laurel tore her gaze free to look at the frozen black dahlias beneath the ice. “No. This is just the beginning.”

Chapter Three

Chapter Three