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stabs and scrapes; bruises on both knees,” Thorpe offered. He could deal with this guy when talking about facts. “I found it of interest that there had been no evidence under her nails. They’d been recently cut down to the quick.”
    Jackson nodded in agreement. “The pathologist thought the killer had done this to wash away any evidence that might have been found. The curious finding was the pathologist felt the body had been soaked in the ocean, washing away any trace amount of evidence. There had been no fluids in her vagina; no evidence of rape. The girl’s face had numerous slashes that left her unrecognizable.”
    Thorpe dropped the file back on his desk. “Not a nice guy. Anger issues.”
    “And all the tips that have come in haven’t turned up any leads?”
    “Nowhere. I’ve gone over it a dozen times. I’ll take you back down to the beach. I’ve gone over it and over it. Feel like we’re missing something, but we can’t come up with what it is.”
    “To be honest with you, Chief Thorpe, I’ve read the report. The beach chair had been stolen off a back porch of one of the beach houses. The team of investigators searched around every house on the row, even searching in a couple. They’d borrowed dogs to come in. Nothing turned up.”
    Thorpe bit his tongue. Jackson had over stepped again. “You don’t work with a partner, I take it?”
    Jackson didn’t answer.
    Thorpe sighed. “The body had obviously been moved and brought to this particular location.”
    “How do you think he did this, Chief Thorpe? I want to know what you think.”
    Thorpe hesitated, questioned whether he liked Agent Dunn’s tone. He pushed his chair back before answering. “I feel the murderer knew the area well and he knew exactly what he was doing all too well. And, Agent Dunn, I figured he’d committed the crime before.”
    “And what do we know about the victim?”
    “Annie Crandell was a college student who had taken the waitressing job on the Cape to enjoy her last summer before graduating the following year. She was going to be a teacher. Her background didn’t produce any red flags. The only daughter of a family that included three brothers.”
    “No abusive boyfriend?”
    Thorpe shook his head. “No. According to her mother, Annie didn’t have a steady boyfriend. There had been no history of any abusive boyfriends either. No history of drug abuse or sleeping around to give us any likely suspects, but I believe the killer picked his victim for a reason.”
    “Clues?”
    Thorpe shrugged. “Only the items at the scene. Not much more. Maybe some sick message, or maybe they mean nothing? Left to throw us off.”
    Thorpe evaluated the man sitting in front of him. Late twenties, thick dark brown hair, dark eyes, his light skin bringing the conclusion he had mixed-race blood. His accent had been hard to assess at first; most probably Southern. His attitude, Thorpe didn’t know where he got that. Jackson hadn’t allowed his guard down, basically a hard man to read.
    Agent Dunn gave a knowing grin. Thorpe knew Dunn was aware what Thorpe thought.
    Thorpe fumbled through his papers, pulled out his personal notebook and his car keys. The need to get out of his office plagued him. “Got a list in here. We can start right now.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Thorpe took Agent Jackson Dunn down to the beach. They stepped over the path of the scene one more time. Thorpe gave Jackson a list of beach house owners and the renters at the time of the killing. Thorpe had already looked into that aspect, even at a list of repeat renters from year to year.
    “How do you think the killer got the body on the beach without notice?” Jackson asked.
    Thorpe eyed Jackson. “I’ve been thinking he used a boat, could have been a row boat or motor boat. Turned off the motor and paddled in. Would explain why no one heard a strange car and why we haven’t found anything on any of the house occupants. But the killer knew the area. Perfect place