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off the roof of the car before she smacked into the pavement. The car sped up, ran the red light, and left the scene of the accident. Who would do such a thing? Kari’s stomach lurched, but she forced herself to keep the food down.
    She’d never forget that car—a black Crown Victoria, but she could only make out the first couple of letters of the license plate—AP.
    Kari raced down the street. People had already gathered around April when Kari arrived, out of breath. A woman in pink talked to a 911 dispatcher on her cell phone. Kari looked at April. Her dress had rode up to reveal ample thighs and red panties. Kari removed her jacket and placed it over April’s limp body. Blood seeped from her mouth. Her eyes stared at the sky. Kari leaned down and took her hand, which was already cold.
    “April, it’s Kari. Hang on. Help is on the way. ”
    April blinked and mumbled unintelligently.
    “Don’t try to speak. Save your energy.”
    April grabbed Kari’s shirt and pulled her close.
    “Save the kids,” she whispered.
    She took a deep breath and closed her eyes forever.

CHAPTER 6
    “I’ve been waiting for you. Let’s get down to the morgue.” Nicolet stood as Cobb walked back into the office.
    “Hold that thought,” the police chief said coming up behind them. “Where have you two been?”
    “At the foster parents',” Cobb said.
    “Did you go see the social worker?”
    “Yes, this morning.” Nicolet leaned on his desk.
    “Well, get back down there. One of those social workers just got ran over. Hit and run. She didn’t make it.”
    “Oh, hell,” Cobb said.
    “Do they have an ID?” Nicolet asked.
    “April Mascarenas. I don’t know if this is a coincidence or just bad ass luck.”
    Nicolet shook his head. “You know what Einstein said about coincidences.”
    “No, tell us, Ivy League.” Cobb grinned.
    Nicolet glared at him. “I told you not to call me that.”
    “Okay, ladies. Stop the chatter and get down there.”
    Visits to the morgue were always a gastrointestinal adventure for Cobb. Cobb, the big, tough, no holds barred ex-marine had a sensitive stomach. Nicolet laughed every time.
    They found Dr. Chiba next to a cadaver with its chest cavity splayed open.
    “Hey, Doc,” Cobb said.
    Hostility rose off him like heat off pavement. He narrowed his eyes and glared at them.
    “Do you people ever use the telephone?” His face flushed. “I have more on my plate than just your case, Detectives, but since you’re down here…”
    Nicolet and Cobb exchanged looks. They were dealing with Dr. Chiba’s other personality today.
    Dr. Chiba strolled over to another cadaver and pulled back the sheet. Patience’s mutilations looked more pronounced now that the wounds were clean.
    “The poor girl went through hell. Take a look at these.” He raised one of her arms.
    Nicolet leaned in to get a closer look. “Are these animal bites?”
    “No, they’re human. I got a consult on this one. The bites are from pre-teens. They were able to tell that from the size and number of teeth in the impressions.” He placed her arm back on the gurney.
    “That’s some pretty sick shit,” Cobb said.
    “See this,” the doctor said as he spread his hands out over her neck in mock strangulation. “Look at the indentations the hands made. An adult male or maybe a woman with very large hands strangled her.”
    Nicolet nodded. “That helps, doc.”
    Dr. Chiba replaced the sheet over her body.
    “She’s had forced sexual encounters based on the scar tissue I found.” The doctor looked down for a minute, stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets. “Please get justice for this poor girl.”
    Once outside, Nicolet made a beeline to the driver’s side of the car.
    “I won’t call you Ivy League anymore if it bothers you that much,” Cobb said once they were on the highway.
    Nicolet glanced at him and had to hold back a laugh. Cobb looked sincere in his so-called apology.
    “Good. I hate that.”
    “What’d