The Killing Ground: A Foxx Files Thriller Read Online Free Page A

many what?”
    “Victims. How many victims were there before Julie?”
    “Six.” Rebecca let the number sink in. She could tell it shocked them. “At least that we could tie to this case. That’s over a span of two years. If he changed his MO at any time, we wouldn’t have tied it back to this one.”
    Matt leaned forward. He could see Jordan’s hands clenched on the arms of her chair, and he needed to give her a chance to cool down. “What’s his MO?”
    “This is where it gets bad.” She looked at Jordan, concern on her features. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”
    Jordan nodded her head. She forced herself to exhale, realizing that she had been holding her breath, only seconds from passing out. “I need to. If I’m going to be any help, I need to know what this monster is doing. I need to be able to get inside his head.”
    Rebecca nodded. She didn’t know the exact nature of Special Agent Gray and Assistant Director Mitchell’s relationship, but she imagined it went beyond the normal working acquaintance. “From what we can piece together from time of death, he strikes at night. He carries a knife, most likely forces them into an alley with that. Forces them down on their stomach, slits their throat, and as a final, demeaning blow, rapes them and takes the baby.”
    Jordan bit her lip. The more she found out, the angrier she got. She took several deep breaths and willed herself to calm down, stay impersonal and focused. “Any similarities?”
    “They were all pregnant, other than that, nothing. Didn’t work together, didn’t travel in the same circles. Not much to go on.” Rebecca smiled ruefully. “You can see why I want to catch this guy. He’s a fucking monster.”
    “Can we get a sample of the DNA?” Jordan asked quickly. “We can run it in the National DNA Index System and see if we get a hit.”
    “Sure, as long as…”
    Jordan put her hand up. “I know, as long as it stays in this office.”
    “Most likely he will strike again soon.” Matt interrupted the latest push for power. “We have to figure he’s pissed off about Julie. He’s going to be out for blood, get his retribution for not getting the kill.”
    Jordan had to give consideration to Matt’s idea. His major in college had been psych and had he not wanted to be in the field, could have had a perfectly decent career as an FBI profiler. Hopefully, they could put that to good use. She gave him a cautionary glance to keep him from divulging anymore. The FBI could have secrets just as easily as the CDD. “What’s the time frame between each victim?”
    Rebecca checked her notes. “At first, he was sporadic. The first three averaged every six months. The latest three happened within the last six months.”
    “So one every two months. He’s moving further away from reality, and it’s upping his need to kill.” Jordan rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Think you can provide us with a copy of the file? It’s for research.”
    Rebecca covered her files protectively. “I’m sure you know I can’t do that, Agent Gray.”
    Jordan leaned forward and put her elbows on the desk, bringing her closer to Rebecca’s face. Her green eyes were suspicious of Jordan’s move, as she expected they would be. She was entering her personal space. “We all agreed our main goal was to catch this guy before anyone else gets killed. I’m not asking so I can take something away from the CDD, Detective, I’m asking so I can try to save the next woman, and her child before he picks them.”
    Rebecca sat quietly, turning Jordan’s words over in her head. She seemed more earnest in those few seconds than she had since she walked in the door. “Fine. I’ll see that you get copies. I swear to you, Agent Gray, if any of this gets out and jeopardizes my investigation, I will have your head, FBI or not.” Content that she had gotten her point across, Rebecca stood up. “Come with me.”
     

Chapter 3
     
    She ushered them out into the