Short Excerpt

Ivy dodged a minefield of crime scene techs and the photographer to get her first view of the victim.

Dark hair splayed out across the earth. Once umber skin had purpled and cracked and dried out. Bodies decomposed faster in the heat, making it nearly impossible to narrow down time of death, but that was the ME’s job. She hunted down those responsible for crimes like this, and it was hard to believe this woman had wondered out here on her own. Especially given the bullet wound in her temple. “Did you find it?” she asked the ME.

The forensic pathologist grabbed for the victim’s shoulder and hefted the body to one side. Exposing the markings etched into her skin. “Right where you said it was, Agent Bardot.”

Damn. She was hoping this latest murder wasn’t connected. “The FBI is officially claiming jurisdiction over this case.”