Taurus: Murders of the Zodiac, #4

By Paris Morgan

Leslie wanted time to heal and reconnect with her boyfriend, but the Birthday Killer's eerie silence mocks her at every turn…

The attempt on her life only strengthened her resolve, she's done playing and it's time to lure the killer from his shadows. After a horrifying game of cat and mouse, plus a near death experience, Leslie can't wait to get back to finding this serial killer.

When a Zodiac sign is found on a boat after a random accident, Leslie and Ryan are called in to join the FBI to investigate. Only this time it's as if they're on a cross-country wild goose chase, without getting closer to the real killer.

Amidst trying to apprehend the person that almost took her life, her boyfriend struggles to accept her dangerous career. Juggling the balance between personal life and catching a serial killer, the murderer is mocking her from the shadows.

Will the killer once again have the upper hand or will his ruthless vengeance cost Leslie her relationship and her life this time?

Paris Morgan continues this gripping series of psychological thrillers. Each title is more bone-chilling with plot twists that will have you racing towards the end. Taurus is the fourth book in the Murders of the Zodiac series, drawing you deeper into the web of the Zodiac killer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Misdirected Tales
• Release date: May 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223859888

Book preview

Taurus

Paris Morgan

Copyright © [2021] by [Alathia Morgan writing as Paris Morgan]

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

To my editor: You let me use your name for the villain and that made it so much fun. You go over and beyond to fix my mistakes. You get each book ready for the world to read. Thank you.

Contents

1.Chapter 1

2.Chapter 2

3.Chapter 3

4.Chapter 4

5.Chapter 5

6.Chapter 6

7.Chapter 7

8.Chapter 8

9.Chapter 9

10.Chapter 10

11.Chapter 11

12.Chapter 12

Epilogue

About Author

Also By

Chapter 1

Leslie

Iwas lying in my bed, ecstatic that I was finally home. It had been a long, awkward drive through three states before we arrived at my doorstep. I hadn’t wanted to take the pain medication, but being in the car for all those hours hadn’t been comfortable.

We’d been in California, trying to help the FBI catch a serial killer. He’d managed to put an arrow in my shoulder, but in the end, it had only managed to piss off his boss. There wasn’t much turnover in the serial killer business—you either were one, or you were dead.

I knew that the boss had given us a few days to recover, but that didn’t change his overall plan for people to die. He might not be doing it himself, but planning it was the same punishment, even if he hadn’t gotten his hands dirty.

Ryan had gone straight home, but had called frequently to make sure that we were safe. Jerome had wanted to come in and take care of me, but I’d convinced him that I needed some peace and quiet. Karen was going to stay with me, and I didn’t want a lot of people there fussing over me. When others were around, it was hard to put on a good face when you didn’t feel like it. Jerome and I were still new enough in our relationship that I didn’t want to feel that pressure when I was trying to heal.

The doctor had referred me to someone in Dallas, but that appointment wasn’t until tomorrow. I’d been on the plane for only a few hours because my three unwounded colleagues had decided that it was better to get me home as quickly as possible.

Karen stood in the doorway as I tried to get comfortable. Do you need anything?

To catch the Zodiac Master.

She placed a hand on her hip. A realistic one, please.

Not really. Once these pills kick in and I stop thinking, then I should be good. Did you set the alarms?

Yes, and I’ve asked your boss to check in occasionally just to make sure that we don’t get blindsided.

Stretching my legs felt so good. I know it’s probably weird, but I don’t think he’ll hurt me unless he absolutely has to. He knows I’m hurt, and we closed this case a few days earlier, so there should be a slight lag before another killer steps up to fill the last one’s shoes.

I’ll be able to stay a few days. The FBI requested me to watch over you, and my boss agreed. Karen walked over to the blinds and closed them, casting the room into darkness.

Thanks for taking the time to come out and be my protection detail. I never thought I’d be in this position. I gently moved, trying to find the most comfortable position.

Get some sleep. Karen started to close the door. Call out if you need help to get up, though I know that you’re more than capable. We need you back on your feet and not having to rest more because you didn’t ask for help in the first place.

It’s not fair that you know me that well. I’m determined to catch this guy, and I’m not about to do anything that will be a setback in being released to work again, I promised myself, while reassuring my sister at the same time.

You’ll get him. It may take a little longer than you’d like, but he wants to be caught.

I agree. He wants to play his games first, and if I’m good enough, then I can beat him. It’s a chess game. I yawned as the pills started to kick in.

Rest. She closed the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

What could we do differently this time? We had more information, and it wasn’t hard to figure out the pattern. If we kept doing this each month, we were going to be able to anticipate his recruits. They were going to lead us to him.

I drifted off before I could finish my train of thought.

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Whispers penetrated my foggy brain. Is she okay?

Should she be sleeping that long?

I’ll wake her up in about an hour so she can shower before we go to the doctor.

We have a meeting in the morning, and they want to have Leslie there for her input. She’s not allowed in the field until she’s cleared medically, but they said she can sit in so that we’re up to date. Ryan’s voice had returned to a normal level.

The bed must have swallowed me because I was having trouble getting out of it. Another reason for that could have been that I didn’t want to deal with the Zodiac Master and his games at the moment.

My eyes were open, but it felt more like toothpicks had been forced between my lids. Maybe a shower would help, but then I’d have to let Karen know I was awake.

Determined to make it on my own, the ten steps to the bathroom felt more like a hundred until I could grab onto the walls for support.

I had no idea how long I’d been asleep, but my body felt much better as I washed my hands and looked in the mirror.

Circles under my eyes would have been a gross understatement for the visible purple moons that had decided to make me look so weak. I gingerly unbuttoned my shirt to reveal the white bandage covering most of my shoulder. We would need to change it, but if I was going to shower, I would need to put some plastic on top of it to keep it dry.

Already exhausted, I wanted to go straight back to bed, but a shower would probably help me feel better.

Karen knocked on the door. Leslie, can I come in?

It’s open. I didn’t have to yell because she was coming in whether she had permission to or not. That was the thing about sisters. They did whatever they wanted, no matter what you said.

Ryan and Agent Collins are both in the living room wanting to check on you. She came in and shut the door behind her.

How long have I been asleep? I continued to take the rest of my clothes off unassisted.

About thirty-six hours. Here, let me help you with the bandage. She took the saran wrap that we’d used when we got home and put it over the bandage, adding tape to seal the edges. There, that should let you get showered, at least. I’ll go get you some clothes.

We missed the doctor’s appointment. Her words finally registered.

I called, and they said for us to bring you in today instead. They felt that you needed the sleep more. Holler if you need me.

Will do.

The hot water felt good, and I soaked it up for a few minutes, but I knew that the guys were waiting to see me. I wrapped a towel around me and then opened the door. Okay, I’ll take some help.

She entered with a grin. It’s about time.

A regular bra wouldn’t work, so Karen had dug through my closet and found a strapless one that would have to do. Leggings and a button-up shirt were the best I could manage at the moment, and the guys would just have to get over it.

When I entered, relief flooded Ryan’s face as they both stood waiting for me to be seated.

I’m so glad that you’re alive, he gushed.

It made me smile, and I saw the hint of one on Agent Collins’ face, too.

What’s been going on while I slept several days away? I gingerly lowered myself into one of the chairs instead of the couch since I had to go to the doctor’s later, anyway.

Well, Agent Watson closed things up out there and will be arriving tonight. He’s requested a briefing at the FBI building first thing in the morning. Will you be able to make it? he asked hopefully.

After the doctor’s appointment this afternoon, I don’t plan to take any more pain meds, and Karen can make sure I’m awake and there on time. Is there a plan for us to discuss at this meeting? I rested my arm on a pillow to relieve some of the pressure on my shoulder.

We have some profilers working on ideas, but we need more input from both of you. There’s also the matter of finding the next killer before they get started. Now, that this is the third case and across state lines, we can pursue things much faster than having you wait around, Agent Collins explained patiently.

Got it. They may not let me come back to field work, but I can help and then send Ryan out into the danger zone. I winked in his direction because I had no authority to send him out.

I’ll allow that, but only because you’re injured and can’t defend yourself. Once you’re back to 100%, then I’ll have to start giving you orders, Ryan retorted.

All right. We just wanted to check on you and see if you were doing better. Agent Collins stood to leave.

Sleep helped, and I’m sure that moving around will help get the soreness out of my muscles. Depending on what the doctor thinks, I’ll be using the treadmill by the end of the week to get my body back in shape.

Only if the doctor says that you can, Karen informed. I’ll make sure that she doesn’t overdo it.

Thanks, Ryan smirked. She’s hardheaded, so it’ll take a strong person to make sure that she’s following doctor’s orders.

I ignored them, but it made me feel better knowing that they were watching out for me.

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What seemed like hours later, after the doctor had poked and prodded all around my wound, he seemed satisfied with the results.

I would say take it easy for at least another week. If it’s closed over, I’ll let you return to light duty, but no heavy lifting, or you’ll open it up again, he advised me.

Can I exercise?

What she means is, besides pushups, can she start working out again? Karen provided with a snicker.

He appeared thoughtful. "I know the hardest thing is being sidelined when you have a job to do, but if you don’t take care of it now, then you won’t have a job because you’ll be dead.

That said, I think you can do some light walking when you feel up to it. I wouldn’t do anything more than a walk until next week, then you can start jogging. He shook his head. If you’re going to be the one watching her, you’re going to have your hands full.

Yes, sir. That is so true. She has a meeting tomorrow. Can she go to that? Karen asked, as if I wasn’t right there in the room.

Hmm, it shouldn’t be a problem. But if you get tired, go ahead and rest. I want you to stay home for the rest of the weekend, and then come see me on Monday. I know that’s not a week, but if you make it through the weekend, I’ll have a good idea if you can do some desk duty by then.

Thank you, Doctor. I’m starving, and she wouldn’t let me eat before we came. So, with your permission, I’m going to go renew my energy so I can get better. I started to hop off the table, but decided that a graceful slide might