Daddy's Little Killer (36 page)

"Do you need my help?  I have
files.  You were right that this is bigger than anybody ever
imagined.  I didn't say anything earlier because I was afraid
you'd have a fit over me keeping this information from you.  I
have my reasons, but I can't tell you what they are right
now.  Please trust me."

I hesitated, or pretended to, and
nodded.  "I trust you, Johnny."  A squeeze to the hand
sealed the deal.

"I've found almost two dozen suspicious
cases, rapes with survivors, girls who all had disturbing physical
characteristics shared by Gwen and Brighton.  I started
contacting them.  I'm sure at least half of them were attacked
by the same guy, but none of them ever got a decent look at
him."

"Masconi?"

"That's the thing that didn't fit. 
This guy was bigger than Masconi.  I couldn't believe that
somebody pulled the wool over our eyes enough that we really
believed Masconi was the guy, Doc, but they did."

"I see.  So why the charade?  Why
did you insist to me that Masconi had to be back in Darkwater
Bay?"

"I was …"

"Yes?"

"I worried that if I mentioned my theory
that someone around here would find out that I changed my tune
after all these years.  As time passed, and these cases kept
cropping up, I was convinced that this killer would never
stop.  I think it's a game to him.  He set Masconi up,
but not so convincingly that he wouldn't be released before he
could be convicted."

Orion paused.  "Think about it,
Doc.  He ruined a man's life to play games with the police
department."

"It's plausible that it could've been his
motive for setting up Masconi."  My thumb stroked over his
knuckles.  "Johnny, what were you really doing with Gwen
Foster?  I need to know if this thing between us … can I
really trust you?"

"Gwen was my friend.  I loved her like
a sister.  She had such a hard life."

"She was a victim of this guy twice, wasn't
she?"

"I knew you'd figure it out eventually. Once
you started talking to the Blevins girls, it had to be
obvious."

"You knew who I was meeting?"

"Carrie called me.  She was
terrified.  She and Gwen were so much alike.  I suppose
Candy is the flip side of the same coin, how someone traumatized
can go in a different direction.  I'm sorry I didn't tell you,
but I promise, when this is all over, I'll tell you
everything."

"I think you should tell me now,
Johnny.  If this really matters to you, I might be the best
shot you've got at proving your innocence and getting justice for
Gwen and all the others.  It would go a long way in proving to
me that this really matters to you … that I matter more than one of
your infamous one night stands."

His eyes blazed with desire.  "I do
want this," he said.  "I wasn't lying, Helen.  I can tell
you most everything, but there's something I cannot say while we're
in this building."

"Tell me what you can."

"I followed Kelly and Varden to
Washington.  Someone was threatening Gwen, and when she
finally told me the truth about what happened to her, I insisted on
investigating."

"So two private investigators are
involved?"

Johnny shook his head.  "Not the way
you think.  I got a partial print off one of the letters Gwen
received."

"She got threatening letters?"

"It's complicated."

"Is it about her child?"

"Doc –"

"Johnny no.  I have conclusive,
scientific evidence that she went through labor and delivered a
baby."

He finally admitted it.  "This guy
wanted the child.  He thought it was his right, that his
progeny be spared further influence by a whore."

"That sounds psychotic.  This killer
isn't psychotic, Johnny.  He's far too organized."

"Don't you think I know that?  I think
it was his goal to force Gwen into running out of fear to make sure
that wherever that child was placed when he was adopted, that it
would lead him straight to the boy.  I think he wants to kill
him."

"I see."  Either Orion was still lying
to me, or Gwen had lied to him.  I frowned.  Since when
had this stopped being role play on my part and evolved into a
legitimate conversation?

"You saw Gwen's house.  There was no
sign of struggle.  When I talked to Carrie Blevins, she told
me the same thing about this trailer he uses to kill the
girls.  For the blood bath that goes on in the place, it's
neat as a pin."

I hadn't asked Carrie that question. 
Points to Orion for details.  "Go on."

"You tell me.  Are disorganized killers
prone to picking up after the deed is done?"

"No, they're not."  I glanced over one
shoulder.  "Hurry.  Tell me the rest."

"The partial print belonged to Fred
Varden.  I couldn't figure out what a couple of head bashers
for hire to the unions were doing harassing Gwen, but I figured if
I followed them long enough, they'd lead me straight to this
guy."

Oh my God.  Orion was telling me the
truth.

"Instead, they led me to you.  I had no
clue who you were that night.  But I didn't want you to
realize that you were getting sucked into something so dangerous if
it really was a case of mistaken identity either."

"So you gave me the bogus name."

"Yeah.  I got to thinking about it
after you went to your room.  I mean, what if Kelly and Varden
weren't convinced by our act?  What if they came back for
Diana Farber?  What if another innocent woman got hurt because
of this killer who has been my first and last thought every day for
over fifteen years?"

"Then you found out I'm Helen Eriksson," my
words fell flat.  "And you know as well as I do what that
means."

"He wants you here, Helen.  I don't
know how he found out that Hardy and Weber were thinking of
bringing in a criminal profiler, but he knew."

"The hope was that Kelly and Varden would
spur me into action.  If somebody out there was after me,
perhaps I'd be inclined to run far away." 

"It wasn't a great plan, but at least to
this guy's way of seeing things, it worked."

"But I would've accepted the invitation
anyway, Johnny."

His voice dipped low.  "Because of what
Marcos had done to Rick?"

Thud.
  I dropped his hand on the table.  "How in the
hell do you know about that?"

Chapter 34 

Since my question was rhetorical and
followed quickly by an uncontrollable bout of hyperventilation,
instead of sticking around for an answer, I ran out of the
interview room.  Straight into Charlie Haverston.

"Who is Rick?"

"My murdered
ex-husband."  Damage control. 
Shit
.  "It was the one thing
that made me amenable to leaving the FBI and coming
here." 

The instant and very plausible cover story
popped into my head.  "Oh my God.  If Orion's right,
Rick's murder might've been…"

"You don't know that.  You don't know
that he said a single thing that was true, Helen.  Orion
could've lied through his teeth."

"He wasn't lying this time."

"You know this for a fact?"

"Let me rephrase.  Orion didn't tell me
everything, but he told me what he knows about this case, about why
he was hanging around Gwen's house all the time.  It fits with
everything else we've learned."

"Then I should release him?"

No.  Orion knew more about Rick than he
should've, and until I could figure out how that was possible,
other than the far fetched theory I proposed knowing full well it
wasn't true, Orion was best kept out of my hair.  "Hold
him.  He's interfered and withheld information that was vital
to this case.  Throw him back in a cell downstairs."

"Where are you going?"

"I need to take a break."

"You should be resting."  Charlie
pulled out his phone and dialed a number.  "Dr. Winslow? 
It's time."

"You already talked to her?"

He snapped the phone shut and nodded. 
"Don't argue.  It's not like you could stand hitting the
streets in the search for Candy Blevins, Helen.  Go home with
Dr. Winslow and get some rest.  I'll call you if anything
breaks."

It seemed like Maya arrived before Charlie
finished his mini lecture on the need for a second night of
uninterrupted sleep.  Before I could protest, she locked her
arm in mine. 

"You look like death warmed over.  I
thought you were told to take it easy, Helen."

Charlie was a traitor.  Apparently he
neglected to give me the message in favor of not tipping his
hand.  "Missed that part of the conversation where you were
brought into this conspiracy on my health."

"We're going home, and you're going straight
to bed."

"I can walk, Maya.  If you want to be
helpful, carry my bag."  The laptop made my shoulder feel like
the joint was starting to separate. 

"You'll feel better in the morning," she
slipped the bag over her shoulder and waved to Charlie.

After a cup of Sleepy Time tea, my memory
became as vague as it had been last night.  I don't think I
moved for eight solid hours.  Maya was still sleeping when I
woke.  The red light on the department cell phone that Charlie
supplied was flashing.  I retrieved the voicemail, something
happened, he'd fill me in this morning.

Great.  Part of my lie to Orion
suddenly felt like prophecy.  I was being cut out of my own
case due to a perceived weakness I hadn't caused.  Coffee
withdrawal was probably the culprit last night, and the inevitable
letdown of adrenalin.  They had conspired to keep me away from
coffee after it had been wrongly blamed for my sleep deprived
condition.

The aroma of bean should've been enough to
rouse Maya.  Then I'd grill her like Pacific swordfish until
she caved and told me what happened while I was sleeping.  It
was a fine plan, really, and probably would've worked if she had
been home.  Her bed was made.  The morning paper lay in
the dewy grass.  She hadn't been home for hours.

I dialed Charlie's number.

"Haverston."

"Where the hell are you?"

"You're up early.  What time is
it?"

"Charlie –"

"We found Candy Blevins at two."

"Come pick me up.  I need to talk to
her."  I heard Maya's voice in the background.  "Oh don't
tell me.  Please don't tell me, Charlie."

"You already figured it out.  Maya said
there was no point in waking you since the only things we'll learn
from Candy are postmortem."

"Shit.  Come pick me up.  I need
to be there."

"I figured you'd say that."

"Are we keeping this quiet for the time
being?"

"Yeah," Charlie said.  "We all agreed
that the last thing we need is news of this leaking out at central
or to the press.  We'll let the do'er believe we haven't found
her remains.  It probably won't buy us much time, since she
wasn't dumped either."

"That answers my next question, I
guess.  She died like Gwen Foster, didn't she?"

"Not exactly.  Maya said to tell you
that there is no evidence of a partner on this one."

"Because he killed his partner for fucking
up with Gwen.  How long has she been dead?  Does Maya
have a window yet?"

"It was pretty fresh, Helen.  She says
not before ten last night."

"Orion's not the guy."

"It's without a doubt conclusive this
time."

"Dammit."  I pounded my fist against
the kitchen counter.  "He was the only one with links to
everyone."

"That we know about."

"Right.  Obviously.  Are you on
your way over to Maya's house yet?  I can't believe
this.  I'm stuck here without a car …"

"I'll be there in five minutes.  Her
house isn't far from the ME's office."

I noticed that the night before.  Even
though I hadn't been in town a week yet, the city's layout was not
without rhyme or reason.  "Please tell me that Carrie Blevins
wasn't present when her sister's body was found."

"No, she wasn't," Charlie
said.  "Thieg took her home around eleven.  She wasn't
feeling well.  She told him and I quote,
'something has happened to her.  I can feel it. 
Candy isn't here anymore.'
  Pretty
creepy, huh?"

"Did that statement have any part in Maya's
determination of time of death?"

"No, that was based on this thing she stuck
in her belly to take a temperature."

"The liver," I said.  "Good.  I'm
sure Carrie did feel the lack of Candy's presence on earth. 
The phenomenon is well documented among identical twins, if not
fully understood.  How far are you now?"

"Pulling into the driveway.  Are you
dressed and ready to go?"

"Yeah," I said.  "I had hoped to have
cause to hold Orion longer than this, but we're gonna have to cut
him loose now for sure.  I'd rather do that before anyone
realizes he's been warming a cot at central."

Charlie knocked on the door.  "Let's
get to it then."

We rode in silence from Downey to Darkwater
proper. 

"Uh, Helen, are you gonna tell Orion that
you lied to him last night?  He's gonna figure it out pretty
quick anyway."

"I'm not seeing him," I said.  "Go in,
process the release and call me when it's done."

"What will you be doing?"

"Talking to Rudy Simms before his shift
ends."

"Who?"

"The civilian at the information desk on
night shift," I said.  "I was supposed to follow up with him
the other night, but haven't been back.  I figured he's
probably heard more about the goings on at central in the past
twenty-four hours as anyone.  Maybe he can give me information
on the search for Rodney Martin."

I hadn't mentioned the fact that Martin fit
the physical description of a tall, not too muscular man because he
was simply too young to be the perp.  However, he was the only
other person aware that Darnell, Hardy and Weber wanted me in
Darkwter Bay.  Somebody else found out that information, and I
suspected the leak came from Rodney.  His persistent absence
was cause for alarm.  Maybe the perp knew I'd figure out the
link between Kelly and Varden and him.  If so, I'd realize
that someone wanted me in Darkwater Bay playing the game like Orion
suggested.