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Pandora's Children - Part 10

We walked into the shack and Jaci took pictures while I put gloves on and poked around. I found #extra tins of tea but still nothing to show how she laced it with whatever poison she used. Jaci put away the camera and shuddered.

"All of these deaths went unnoticed."

***

"Not unnoticed," I said. "Unconnected. I'll bet these were all investigated as missing person cases but went cold. Now that we know they're all connected and who's responsible, we're #rosy."

"You mean 'we're golden,' right?"

"My mother always said 'we're rosy,' so..."

***

"Was this really part of her plan?" Jaci asked.

"I think they developed plans for every eventuality. She's just sticking to a #script that was written a long time ago."

"What happens in the next scene?"

"We figure out what happened after she went into the water."

***

The officers in the clearing continued to dig up bodies, the divers arrived to pull bodies from the lake, & the medical examiner arrived.

She stared at the scene. "I questioned your #sanity when I got your message about 'dozens of bodies,' but now I'm questioning mine."

***

The ME called in reinforcements and then got to work. She called us over and said with a smile, "This is the perfect time to have my #fantasy fulfilled."

We watched as a huge double-wide trailer pulled up. The words "Mobile Autopsy Unit" were emblazoned on the side.

***

"Where the hell are my keys?" The captain asked, #frantic. "I need to get back. The Chief's about to give a press conference saying we have a suspect in custody and expect to wrap the case up soon."

"They're in the car, sir."

"Oh, good. You're in charge, Thibodeaux."

***

The ME called us over to the trailer. "I found something you need to see."

"We're listening," Jaci said.

"I've autopsied three bodies so far. I don't know how they were killed but the #atlas, the first cervical vertebra - the one that supports the head - is missing."

***

"Do you think they were #ritual murders?" Jaci asked and the ME shook her head.

"No, they're trophies. If you go to her house you'll probably find a box or something containing all of the bones she's taken. It means something to her."

"We'll go when we're done here."

***

We left the autopsy trailer and saw two sets of bodies laid out. One from the land and one from the sea.

"What an #enchanted life we lead," Jaci muttered sarcastically. "How did we get pulled into investigating a cult of serial killers?"

"We're special?" I questioned.

***

"We're still babysitters," Jaci said as we watched more bodies being laid out.

The sound of tires on gravel cut off my reply as the captain returned.

"How'd it go, Cap?"

"The chief's as stubborn as a #mule. He gave the press conference anyway, to reassure the public."

***

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