Dead Run

CHAPTER 43

Tuesday, November 20

3:30 p.m.

The main branch of the Miami-Dade library was housed in the Cultural Arts Center in downtown Miami. The coral-faced and stained stucco building all but screamed fun-in-the-sun, and Liz suddenly realized that St. Louis was going to seem awfully tepid after the fanciful pinks, corals and palm trees of south Florida.

The second floor housed microfilm issues of all the local newspapers, including the Miami Herald. Gavin Taft had been headline news starting in 1998. A look at the microfilm index revealed a wealth of articles on both Gavin Taft and the New Testament Murders.

Armed with a legal tablet, pen and plenty of money to pay for copies, Liz began with the oldest article and moved forward in time. She took a few notes, but for the most part learned nothing new. The first victim had been found in June of 1987. Between then and October of 1998, eleven other women were murdered. All had been killed the same way.

No connection between the women had been found.

A stupid mistake had led to Taft’s capture. During a routine traffic stop for a burned out taillight, the officer thought he recognized the stains on Taft’s hands and arms as blood. A thorough search of the vehicle had revealed more blood and a knife. Unbeknownst to the officer, he had caught Gavin Taft on his way home from his most recent slaughter-Jennifer Reed, a twenty-two-year-old coed and the last New Testament Murder victim.

End of story until Tara turned up dead on Key West ten days ago.

Disappointed, Liz stared at the microfiche screen. She had hoped she would see a connection between the victims that no one else had. She had fantasized finding a mention of a tattoo, one of a strange horned flower.

As she moved to flip off the machine, an article at the bottom of the displayed page caught her eye.

Satanists Believed Responsible for Death of Livestock.

The story came from nearby Homestead. It detailed a rash of livestock killings-the animals had been found with their throats slit. Images associated with satanism had been drawn on fence posts and the sides of farm buildings. Pentagrams. Horned goats. An inverted cross.

A horned goat.

The Horned Flower.

Heart pounding, Liz altered her search from Gavin Taft to satanism.