R. E. Bradshaw - Rainey Nights Read Online Free PDF Page A

admire you?”
    “Don’t try to schmooze me, Rainey Bell. I know your tactics. I’ll get back to you within the hour. Be safe out there.”
    Rainey didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. Danny entered the room in a hurry. His face was a bit flushed with the excitement. Deputy Knox clearly got the message to him that Rainey needed to see him right away.
    “What is it, Rainey? What did you find?” He asked, coming around the table to stand next to her.
    “This last girl, Crystal, she wore an abstinence pledge ring, a simple gold band. It was not on the body. I remembered reading that at least two other victims were missing a gold band. I think we have the link to all the victims. We need to talk to the families again. Find out if their daughters had any connection with these abstinence pledge people. I have Brooks looking for information on any of them that could have come in contact with the victims.”
    Danny looked down at the table strewn with victim files. “What are you thinking here, Rainey?”
    “It doesn’t necessarily have to be one of the people associated with the Pledge. It could be someone who goes to these events, trolling for victims. Think about the different bible verses he’s left us.”
    Rainey shifted files on the table until she found the one she was looking for. She pulled a sheet of paper out of the file and handed it to Danny. The paper contained the bible verses they were able to recover from some of the bodies, the ones discovered before decomposition destroyed the paper. There were five verses, including the one they found today.
Psalm 45:14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
Isaiah 47:1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
Jeremiah 14:17 Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
Lamentations 2:21 The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.
Ezekiel 23:8 Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.
    Rainey pointed out, “We talked about the virgin theme, but this puts it in context. Crystal was planning a big Pledge drive at a lockdown for the youth in her church. We need to know more about that.”
    Deputy Knox came in with a copy of the pledge document from Crystal’s car. Rainey took it and read it quickly. There was no official logo from any organization on the paper, just the simple pledge to abstain from sex until marriage. It also had places for the name and address of the pledger, plus a space to write something about themselves. It was a stalker’s dream come true; all the information he would need to find them and wait for his moment to strike. Rainey knew in her gut this pledge had something to do with the case. She handed the paper to Danny. He began to read it.
    Rainey turned back to Gillian, reverting to official names in front of Danny. She knew how important it was for a female officer to retain a professional air around other officers. “Deputy Knox, would you find out if anyone from the church is available to meet with us there? Also, ask Detective Martin if he could join us for a moment.”
    Knox started moving. She didn’t need reminding to respond to Rainey’s request swiftly. She was almost out the door when Rainey’s words made her pause.
    “Hey, clear it with your supervisor so you can go with us to the church.”
    Knox almost smiled, but gathered it in quickly. “Yes, ma’am.” She