The Flower Petal Murders — Ray Johnson

The first body is atypical in law enforcement terms because it has been left in an open field where it is bound to be discovered. To make certain it is found as left; someone calls the LAPD division and informs them where it can be located. The first body is left in Jeff's division and he and his partner are assigned to the case.
Rather than hide the body of a naked woman, the murderer has left it in a vacant field. The body is covered with red rose petals and red rose blossoms. To compound the irregularity, the woman's breast and pubic area have been left uncovered. What is the significance? A clue, in the form of two initials, has been left on the expensive yoga mat on which the body has been laid along with another initial in the dirt. Again, what is the relevance? The killer has been meticulous, leaving the body on the mat with the feet facing east.
Jeff at six feet, three inches is well built and weighs two hundred and twenty-five muscular pounds. Working out at his gym three days a week has kept him in optimal physical condition. The women in his division think he is extremely handsome, with light brown hair and fascinating gray eyes. His partner is shorter and less handsome. Jeff is by far the cleverer of the two and suspects this carefully planned murder might be the first of a repeater; a serial killer.
Jeff's suspicions are vindicated with the second body, this time left in a different division; causing interdivision rivalry. This body is also naked, covered with red carnations petals and blossoms. Again the breasts and pubic area have been left uncovered. Jeff is doing his best to keep the media from discovering that a serial killer was on the loose. However, his hopes for keeping the media in the dark were dashed when he is contacted by Cinda McDaniels, a reporter for a Los Angeles Magazine. Cinda is a strikingly beautiful young Black woman who is as clever as Jeff. She has put two and two together and came up with serial killer. She offers Jeff a deal that he cannot refuse.
To compound Jeff's problems, the clues continue to point to religion, rather than serial murder. Why would a religious organization be murdering young women and leaving a trail of clues for Jeff to follow? Another naked young woman is found, covered in red flower petals, with clues again pointing toward religion; possibly a new religion. If Jeff is going to prevent any more young women from being murdered, he will have to find the killer and do it quickly. Just as important, he needs to keep him and Cinda from becoming the killer's next victims.