Hidden Murders

Hidden MurdersPerfect Crime Series - Book 5 Clara Lewis Copyright © 2023 Clara Lewis – All rights Reserved This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.www.claralewis.com Contents Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Continue Reading the Series Review This Book Also by Clara Lewis About the Author Connect With Clara PrologueDear writer, Share this with the world. I killed them all. I don’t discriminate and do not have a reason for doing what I did. I am not sorry for what I did.I saw a vast number of people every day who would live their lives uncaring and oblivious to what the real world is like. In doing so, they forget about people like me and mistreat people like me. Let what I do serve as a reminder to be humble. I have lost something important, and until I find it, I will not stop. Trying to stop me is futile, and trying to fight back will result in the loss of more lives. P.S. – I like the name that you have given me. It reminds me of my purpose. The New Hope Killer. Chapter 1No. No. No. This wasn’t right. Leon was speechless when he stepped foot on the crime scene. At first, he thought it was awfully convenient for another group of bodies to turn up right as Miss Greta was being questioned for murder. That had soured his mood on the drive away from New Hope, from the answers he sought. But, on the other hand, it had brought something to his attention. Was she communicating with someone? While the New Hope killer was far different from the other one, it didn’t dispel the possibility that the New Hope killer might have had a helper. It most certainly wasn’t the other killer. Dr. Naderi believed that one man had done all the murders. Leon disagreed, but he didn’t have solid evidence. Sure, the details were minute, but that didn’t change how that had changed things. Dr. Naderi made a living off reading people. He should know that a serial killer doesn’t suddenly change methods. He should know that there was a reason behind each kill and that the method reflected that. Dr. Evelyn definitely saw something and had reluctantly agreed to Leon, much to her surprise. Then again, Leon had forgotten that he was being read. Dr. Naderi and Dr. Evelyn had noticed his attachment to the first case he had worked on. The failure of it had struck him deep; no matter how hard he tried to shake it off, it clung to his bones. “What are you thinking about?” Dr. Evelyn asked. Her voice was a welcome distraction. Leon often retreated into his mind, plagued with one thought after the next. He was an overthinker, even he could admit that, and there were times it had kept him awake till the sun peeked over the clouds as a sign of the new day. “I don’t know. Do you think Miss Greta had a helper?” Dr. Evelyn looked confused. “You mean to kill the girls?” Leon nodded, and their eyes met briefly. He turned his attention to the road before them after a few seconds, thinking that maybe his theory was too farfetched. However, in his defense, all bases had to be covered. “It’s possible,” Dr. Evelyn replied after giving the idea some thought, “I can have Lee search on Miss Greta and who she’s close enough to, and then maybe Sarah and Will can follow up on that.” She ignored the stunned look that Leon briefly shot her. She had agreed with him so many times, yet he still managed to be surprised that he had made sense. It made her wonder just how many crazy ideas he had proposed that were promptly shut down. Dr. Naderi wasn’t the type to see past the logic. Sometimes, the fact was just fact, and he refused to budge. Now that Dr. Evelyn was being trained to take his place, she wondered if he would ever tell her off about being too soft on Leon. Granted, Dr. Naderi had become their leader simply because he had seniority. However, Dr. Evelyn didn’t think the others would treat her the same way, although Dr. Naderi certainly did. If she were to become a leader, she wouldn’t even know where to start. Everyone had their own flaws, including her, and she wasn’t ready to tell others what to do and what not to do. Lee ran his mouth a lot, leading to a few officers knowing intimate details about the case. Sarah had a slight anger issue that resulted in her getting kicked out of the lab at least once. Todd was deathly quiet and would sometimes not contribute, while Will tended to disappear. Dr. Evelyn suspected he was slacking off but who was she to call that out?She had her own issues, one with a bottle of pills and trips to a therapist who somehow still remembered her name. She could be overbearing and a little bossy. Maybe that’s why she stuck around Leon. The man didn’t pretend that something wasn’t wrong with him. He knew that, and he shrugged it off, sometimes in the worst ways.