She Had to Have Gas

Trade paperback. Inspector Beale has seen many brutal crimes in his career, but this one takes the cake. The body of a young woman is seen, then it disappears, then it pops up again, only this time the head, and lower arms and legs have been cut off and are missing. Instead, tennis rack covers are taped to the neck and the two upper arms. But not the legs. So far, it's just one of the goriest crimes he and his journalist pal, Tony Purdon, have ever seen. But then a second body is found - and it's missing head, arms and feet. What is going on?