Killer Love

CHAPTER 7

"You're here early."

Adam's cheerful voice forced Wyatt to look up at the fresh faced youth. Wyatt's face was nowhere as cheerful as Adam's.

"I've been here all night," he answered, running a hand through his hair.

He needed some coffee and something to eat. Maybe a shower and some sleep as well. In that order.

"You stayed at the station all night?" Adam asked surprised.

He pulled out the chair in front of Wyatt's desk and made himself comfortable.

"I had some leads to run down."

"Why didn't you call me?" Adam asked, sounding slightly hurt.

Wyatt couldn't help the grin that came onto his face. Adam had only been on his team for a year, but he was proving to be a valuable asset. Sure he talked a bit too much for Wyatt's personal preference and the kid was a bit too clumsy, but he was still a good detective. Or at least had the skills to become a good detective.

"There was nothing you could do. I had the evidence taken in and analysed immediately last night."

"You found evidence?" Adam sat up immediately, waiting for Wyatt to continue.

Wyatt simply nodded.

He still couldn't believe how he had found the evidence. It had just been sitting there. Cassidy Monte had been collecting the evidence as though they were regular stuffed toys.

His shock at seeing not one, but fifteen stuffed animals, had remained with him throughout the night. He had tried his best over the night to place each stuffed toy at the murders.

He pulled the photos out of the folder on his desk and placed them for Adam to see. The young man's eyes opened widely staring at the photos.

"Are those what I think they are?"

"They are," Wyatt confirmed.

"Where did you find them?"

"Cassidy Monte's house."

Adam's mouth opened in shock and remained that way for quite a bit. The image was rather comical and Wyatt would have laughed had the current situation not been far too serious to be laughing over such things.

"Why does she have them?"

"Apparently, she's been receiving one every month for over a year. She believes that the orphanage she stayed at when she was younger was sending them to her. Angel House, I think was the name," he said, double checking it in his notes.

"I take it the orphanage is not the one sending it to her?"

"I don't think so. But we're going to pay them a visit today just to confirm. From the files, it was noted that Rose also stayed at the same orphanage. We'll find out what we can about her while we're there."

"Is that what has you so stressed?" Adam asked as Wyatt ran his hand through his hair again.

Wyatt shook his head.

"Follow me," he said to Adam and got up.

He led Adam to the conference room. They were essentially using it as their base for all information on this case. On one bulletin board was a map of Beacon with all the towns and cities highlighted. Adam had started tracking the murders on the map but wasn't finished yet. On another, he had placed pictures of each stuffed toy with the families that they represented.

"You've had a busy night," Adam mused as he looked over the board.

Wyatt just grunted. He grabbed the six pictures he had placed to the side.