Ambushed At Christmas

“Meaning?” The statement got Deacon’s attention.

“His crimes against women have been escalating. He has a decent-sized rap sheet.” She picked up the cup, rolling it in her palms for the warmth.

“But chopping off someone’s foot seems harsh for someone who is escalating their violence,” he stated.

“This case reads like a revenge killing to me. It’s violent and personal.” Her body shivered involuntarily, thinking about what had happened to Jillian Mitchell.

“But why the foot?” Deacon’s brows crinkled in concentration. She didn’t want to think of the move as adorable. It helped that his face muscles tensed. It seemed to dawn on him. “The killer wants to send police on a wild-goose chase.”

“A copycat who cut off a foot...” Leah didn’t finish her thought before she saw Charles walk into the restaurant out of the corner of her eye. Had Keeve alerted Charles to the fact that she was here? Son of a—

Charles Dougherty made a beeline for her table. His gaze zeroed in on Deacon. Looking at her ex now, she couldn’t see what she’d ever seen in him. Friendship? Kinship? Comfort? Familiarity? Charles had been a sympathetic ear after being alone for two and a half years following the loss of Wyatt, a man she’d truly cared about. Raising a child on her own had been tough and she wasn’t making excuses, but after Charles lost his teenage daughter to a rare childhood cancer and then his wife walked out, Leah had felt for the guy.