Killing Kate

Informationen zum Autor Julie Kramer Klappentext The next page-turner in Julie Kramer's bestselling series featuring intrepid television reporter Riley Spartz is a flat-out tour de force of harrowing twists and turns ( New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger). Crime-solving means high ratings for Minnesota TV reporter Riley Spartz when she nails the culprit behind Silencing Sam (Sexy, sinister. Linda Fairstein). But the stakes rise when Riley must piece together a serial killer's murderous motive for Killing Kate. Channel 3's news director sends Riley on a dog rescue story sure to win over MinneapolisSt. Paul's viewers. But when the Twin City's latest murder victim is someone from Riley's past, she can't stay away. Kate Warner was her college roommate's sister, and the killer's signaturea chalk outline of a winged angellinks him to a string of homicides across the Midwest. Unearthing his agenda leads Riley to the legendary Black Angel statue in an Iowa cemeteryand may lead to a twisted trap designed just for her by the angel killer himself. Leseprobe Killing Kate CHAPTER 1 Waitresses were easy to research. For the price of lunch or coffee he gathered most of the information he needed. First, he'd stall in the doorway of the restaurant skimming the menu. Then he might walk past the tables to the bathroom. Or maybe even pretend he recognized someone sitting on the other side of the room. All were opportunities to scan for a promising targetpreferably a blondeand note which section of the room she was serving. Once he was seated, the rest came effortlessly. Often she wore a name tag. And if not, her name usually appeared on the bill. So no introduction was necessary. Her job was to be nice to customers. Even those she might give a cold shoulder to under different circumstances. Flirty charm meant the difference between twenty percent of the tab or being stiffed. He could pretend they were new friends and practice making sociable conversation. Sometimes he even imagined they were married and she was preparing a home-cooked dinner for him after a long day at work. And he always paid in cash, so there was no check or credit card to trace back to him. While she fetched water or restocked the bread basket, he recorded details in a small notebook to further the illusion his meal was business-related. Name. Physical description. And most important, how he was treated. If he detected scorn, he circled that entry with a red pen. That was his code for which ones needed to learn respect. He chose the color red deliberately. Once, he stared so intensely at his server that she dropped silverware and backed away clumsily into another diner. He had meant his attention as a compliment. But instead of being flattered, she pointed him out to a coworker and even from across the room he could see her lips mutter pervert. He wrote down the affront. Then circled her name in red. When she finished her shift, he was waiting in the parking lot to see which vehicle she drove. Women were always cautious going to their cars, and security cameras were mounted everywhere. He knew better than to approach her during that short trek. Home was where they felt safest, and there, it was simple to catch them off guard and out of sight of witnesses. Patience was paramount. He knew better than to follow her directly home, because the last thing he needed was a suspicious cop and a police report with his name and vehicle information on file. He stayed on her bumper only long enough to get her license plate number. Later, he popped her address from public records and watched to become familiar with her work schedule. It was important that she be dressed in the role. To be ...

Autorentext

Julie Kramer

Klappentext

TV reporter Riley Spartz is investigating a mysterious string of murders in which the killer draws an outline of an angel in chalk around each victim. A local legend dating back nearly a century leads Riley to a cemetery in Iowa, home of the infamous Black Angel monument.

Zusammenfassung
The next page-turner in Julie Kramer’s bestselling series featuring intrepid television reporter Riley Spartz is “a flat-out tour de force of harrowing twists and turns” (New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger).

Crime-solving means high ratings for Minnesota TV reporter Riley Spartz when she nails the culprit behind Silencing Sam (“Sexy, sinister.” —Linda Fairstein). But the stakes rise when Riley must piece together a serial killer’s murderous motive for Killing Kate.

Channel 3’s news director sends Riley on a dog rescue story sure to win over Minneapolis–St. Paul’s viewers. But when the Twin City’s latest murder victim is someone from Riley’s past, she can’t stay away. Kate Warner was her college roommate’s sister, and the killer’s signature—a chalk outline of a winged angel—links him to a string of homicides across the Midwest. Unearthing his agenda leads Riley to the legendary Black Angel statue in an Iowa cemetery—and may lead to a twisted trap designed just for her by the angel killer himself.

Leseprobe
Killing Kate

CHAPTER 1

Waitresses were easy to research. For the price of lunch or coffee he gathered most of the information he needed. First, he’d stall in the doorway of the restaurant skimming the menu. Then he might walk past the tables to the bathroom. Or maybe even pretend he recognized someone sitting on the other side of the room. All were opportunities to scan for a promising target—preferably a blonde—and note which section of the room she was serving.

Once he was seated, the rest came effortlessly. Often she wore a name tag. And if not, her name usually appeared on the bill. So no introduction was necessary. Her job was to be nice to customers. Even those she might give a cold shoulder to under different circumstances. Flirty charm meant the difference between twenty percent of the tab or being stiffed.

He could pretend they were new friends and practice making sociable conversation. Sometimes he even imagined they were married and she was preparing a home-cooked dinner for him after a long day at work. And he always paid in cash, so there was no check or credit card to trace back to him.

While she fetched water or restocked the bread basket, he recorded details in a small notebook to further the illusion his meal was business-related. Name. Physical description. And most important, how he was treated. If he detected scorn, he circled that entry with a red pen. That was his code for which ones needed to learn respect. He chose the color red deliberately.

Once, he stared so intensely at his server that she dropped silverware and backed away clumsily into another diner. He had meant his attention as a compliment. But instead of being flattered, she pointed him out to a coworker and even from across the room he could see her lips mutter “pervert.”

He wrote down the affront. Then circled her name in red.

When she finished her shift, he was waiting in the parking lot to see which vehicle she drove. Women were always cautious going to their cars, and security cameras were mounted everywhere. He knew better than to approach her during that short trek. Home was where they felt safest, and there, it was simple to catch them off guard and out of sight of witnesses.

Patience was paramount.

He knew better than to follow her directly home, because the last thing he needed was a suspicious cop and a police report with his name and vehicle information on file. He stayed on her bumper only long enough to get her license plate number. Later, he popped her address from public records and watched to become familiar with her work schedule. It was important that she be dressed in the role.

To be assured of privac…