Chasing Evil (Circle of Evil) Read Online Free PDF

frustration sounded in the man’s voice. “Have one deputy out on vacation and another broke his foot falling off a ladder. Not on duty, thank God, but still…”
    Cam gave a tired laugh. Wondered if he had time to stop by his favorite sandwich shop before it closed. It was a mom and pop operation and their hours were set more by mood than schedule. But their meatloaf sandwiches made up for the erratic hours. “Just tell me you haven’t had a report of another disturbed grave, and my day will be complete.”
    “Not that I’ve heard. It’s something else.” Cam heard the rustle of papers. “I’ve have been reading through your briefing reports. Also got the lists you sent.”
    One of the first tasks Cam had completed was a list of registered sex offenders in the state who had been convicted of violent crimes against women and released in the last three years. The names he’d deemed most promising he’d given to a couple agents to pursue. The rest he’d turned over to police departments and sheriff offices in counties where the felons resided for the law enforcement officers to coordinate checks with assigned parole officers.
    “With two men out on leave I’m guessing you haven’t completed the felon checks I sent.”
    Maxwell chuckled ruefully. “Getting there. Feel certain I can check off one. No parole officer on the second so still talking to employers, neighbors and family members. But something else came up last night. Had a report of a bar fight just outside Madrid’s city limits. Guy by the name of Gary Price sent three guys to the hospital in a dispute over a woman. Witnesses all agree the three men moved on Price first, but I ran everyone’s name as a matter of course. Price just moved to the area eighteen months ago. Did sixteen years in Missouri for an attempted car jacking. The woman driving resisted, so he beat her badly enough to put her in a coma before taking off with her car. When she came out of it, she ID’d him. Had seen him at the garage she had her car serviced at.”
    “Sounds like a scum bag all right.” Cam checked the time again, hopes of grabbing that sandwich growing dimmer. “But not the kind of scum bag we’re looking for.”
    “Maybe not. Probably not,” Maxwell corrected himself. “But one of my deputies took the statement of the woman at the bar last night, the one at the center of things. Price had attached himself to her and she couldn’t shake him. She finally told him in pretty plain language to leave her the hell alone. He grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her close, holding his lit cigarette an inch from her forehead and told her she’d look real good wearing his brand. That’s when the other three guys moved in and Price put them all down before leaving.”
    Cam straightened in his chair, interest caught. “But Price has no history of sexual assault?”
    “Nothing shows up on his sheet.”
    “How long has he been out of prison?”
    There was a sound of rustling papers as Maxwell located the information he was looking for. “Four years. He moved outside of Madrid as soon as his parole was up.”
    “What brought him there?”
    “Couldn’t say. Maybe the property. He got a pretty good deal on the acreage he bought at auction.”
    Cam mulled the information over. Price was clearly violent, but a sexual sadist developed over a long period of years. It was unlikely that he’d suddenly evolved into one after a stint in prison.
    Unless he’d never been caught for past sexual crimes. It was entirely possible that there were other graves, scattered over the state—or further—that had gone undiscovered.
    “Price likely has nothing to do with these crimes.”
    “You’re probably right about that.”
    “You going out to see him anyway?”
    “I figured I’d swing by and have a look at him myself this evening.”
    Mind made up, Cam had a mental picture of that meatball sandwich sprouting wings and flying away. “I think I’ll keep you company on