Capricorn: Murders of the Zodiac, #12

By Paris Morgan

In this gripping conclusion of Murders of the Zodiac, the Master of the Zodiac takes things to the next level threatening to devastate Leslie and Ryan once and for all.

Drawing closer to Master of the Zodiac's lair, Ryan and Leslie know their lives are on the line. Willing to face the threat and danger, they're finally ready to put an end to the Master of the Zodiac's ruthless games.

But when the Master of the Zodiac takes what Leslie and Ryan loves most, all bets are off. This time it isn't a game of cat mouse, it's a game of life and death. If Leslie and Ryan want to win back what he's taken, they need to fight through the exhaustion and fear or they won't be match against the Master of the Zodiac's grand finale.

Will the team finally put an end to this evil empire, or will the Zodiac continue like it always has?

Find out now in this riveting finale of Murders of the Zodiac. Paris Morgan captivates your attention from the first page in this final installment. It's good against bad, light against dark and only Ryan and Leslie can restore the balance. Grab your copy today to join this epic journey to find out if they have what it takes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paris Morgan
• Release date: Dec 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223256779

Book preview

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my readers. Thanks for sticking with me to the end.

Prologue

Prologue

I glanced around nervously, making sure he hadn’t followed me. If he found out I was doing this instead of following his instructions, well, I’d be dead.

The pink blanket moved, and I squeezed the bundle tighter while picking up my pace. I had to make it there and back to the office before he realized I was gone.

With the fire station just around the corner, I pulled the hood over my head and moved forward, feeling eyes on my back.

It’s okay, baby girl. I’ve written a note so that your parents can find you when it’s all over. He can’t hurt you if he doesn’t know where you are, I assured. I just hope it’s worth it.

The large doors were closed to keep out the cold, so I placed her bundled-up form in the top of the large bag. There was a small space where the brick came down and separated the doors. It was the only place where she wouldn’t be run over in an emergency.

Wiping tears away, I turned and ran back around the block before dialing the station’s number.

Yes, there’s a baby that’s been left outside your station with a note explaining things. Take good care of her. I flipped the phone shut, ending the call before placing it under the tire of my vehicle.

Now came the hard part: explaining why I’d taken the child away from him. I’d just signed my death warrant, but he was going to kill me, anyway. I had to believe that something good had come from it.

I didn’t have any illusions about the type of man I’d been working with. He was evil. My options had been few and far between, but this way, I had a chance to do something good. Maybe it would balance out for all the bad things I’d let him get away with doing.

Chapter 1

Leslie

Sleep seemed to be the only thing I was good at lately, I thought as I looked over at the clock on the nightstand. It was ten in the morning, and while I knew that Adam had given us the day off, it still felt wrong to be lying here, alive, when all the other victims weren’t.

I sat up, trying to decide what the most important thing on my agenda for the day was. The smell of coffee brewing helped make up my mind. I was going to take a long shower, get a cup of coffee, and call my sister.

If Jerome had seen me and Noah together, odds were the rest of my family had as well. I needed some advice because things had been moving way too fast lately.

Karen, what are you doing today? I padded over to the closet to pull out something that wasn’t my usual work attire.

Nothing at the moment. Why?

I was hoping we could get lunch because I have a few things I need your advice on. I laid my clothes on the counter, opening the shower door to hang my gun holster on the special hook I’d put in months ago. Even in the shower, with my house alarms set and everything secure, it was my most vulnerable time.

I’ve been watching the news. What if we do a spa day instead? Manis, pedis, the works for my hardworking cop sister. What do you say? she suggested.

Uh, that wasn’t my first thought, but sure. Can we get an appointment this quickly? I turned on the shower for the water to warm up while I stepped out of my clothes.

I think so. I was going to come to town in the next few days anyway because I need to pick up some last-minute gifts for the girls.

Oh, right. How’s that going? I slapped my forehead. I’d completely forgotten that Karen had three girls to worry about these days.

Pretty good, honestly, Karen replied, sounding really happy. I’ll make the appointments and text you the address. Depending on what I can get, we’ll do lunch around the appointment time. Look, I’ve got to go. The school’s buzzing in.

I shook my head and locked the bathroom door before getting in the shower. It was so strange to hear my sister talking about kids and school as if she’d been a mother for years. This new thing she was doing might take a little time for me to adjust to.

Crap, I muttered as I stepped under the shower’s spray. I’ll need to get them gifts as well. Oh, and one for baby Hope too.

Chasing a murderer had robbed me of my Christmas spirit. Somehow, Thanksgiving Day had come and gone before I’d even had time to realize it was a holiday. To be fair, I’d been a little busy, but that didn’t ease the guilt for not being there for my family.

There wasn’t time for a Christmas tree or worrying about all the fixings, but I could plan to be at home for the holiday. Surely, even a murderer would take a day off, because everyone would be at their homes, making killing them much harder.

Then again, when had the Zodiac Master ever made things easier on us or his victims?

I scrubbed my scalp roughly, frustrated that we still didn’t know who he was. But I knew it was someone I had a connection with. Maybe that was the direction we needed to follow now before he started killing for the month.

My phone dinged with Karen’s message, and I shifted my focus to finishing so I could get my hands on my much-needed cup of coffee.

***

Karen had outdone herself with getting us into this place during their holiday rush. I entered, feeling really out of place. I didn’t do the girly thing very often, but I had to admit, the three times I’d been before, I’d had fun.

While it felt luxurious to be doing something like this, I knew I needed a little time to recharge, and maybe my sis would shed some light on how to deal with Noah.

Shaking off my feeling of being lazy, I went inside to meet Karen.

Oh my gosh, it’s so good to see you! she squealed, pulling me in for a hug.

Pulling back from her embrace, I asked, Who are you? And what have you done with my sister?

It wasn’t like Karen to show lots of affection. After all, we were cops and sisters. I loved her, but this was something new.

Oh, sorry. I’m so used to giving everyone hugs now. Luke’s family is really into hugs, and I guess it’s rubbed off a little bit, she giggled.

Wow. So you guys are really serious, huh?

I think so. We were in love in high school, and then a lot of stuff happened. I’m pretty sure he’s going to propose over Christmas, which is why I suggested a girl’s day with my sister, so I’ll have nice nails when he puts a ring on it.

This time, it was me who hugged her. That’s so exciting.

We’ve discussed it, but wanted to give it some time. I mean, the gossips will always have something to say about how fast we got together, but Luke and I know it’s what she would have wanted for us.

Ladies, we’re ready for you, the salon technician announced loudly.

Impulsively, I gave Karen another hug. Congratulations. You deserve a good man. He certainly deserves to have you.

We followed the salon tech to the two empty seats and began to take off our shoes and socks. Even though we were relaxing, I knew both of us still had our guns somewhere on our persons. Not that we would need them, but it never hurt to be prepared.

So, you’ve heard my good news. Does you needing advice have anything to do with that guy I saw you holding hands with on the news? She gave me a knowing grin.

Maybe. Things have happened so fast, and I’m not really sure what the next step is.

Have you asked him out on a date? Karen accepted the drink they offered her before turning her attention back to me.

No. We’ve already been through so much. That seems like something childish.

How else are you going to get to know each other outside of the bedroom?

I stuck my tongue out