Mindfield (Sideways Eight Book 1) (33 page)
Read Mindfield (Sideways Eight Book 1) Online
Authors: A Wallace
Manassas, VA - Medical Examiner’s Office
Friday, 15 July - 5:00PM
Charley and Murphy entered autopsy room two.
Hunched over Lydia Edwards’ body, Carmichael clasped the edge of the table with one hand, and his jaw with the other, while his body tensed. He took a moment to compose himself before peering over the rim of his glasses. “Afternoon.”
“Are you okay, Ansel?” Charley said.
Carmichael sighed long and deep. “Sometimes, I hate my job. This case hurts.”
“I agree.”
“We will catch this guy. Dead or alive, I don’t care,” Charley said.
Murphy cleared his throat. “What do we have?”
“Lydia same as the others cared for, clean, no physical signs of abuse. Binding marks on her right wrist. A final meal was a hamburger, fries, and a carbonated soft drink.” Carmichael pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose. “Sprite.”
“She had a Happy Meal.” Murphy shook his head.
Carmichael tightened his lips. “Yeah.”
“Distilled water?” Charley said.
“Uh, huh,” Carmichael grunted.
“Cause of death?”
“Helium.” Carmichael glimpsed at the ceiling and sighed. “His favorite form of murder.”
“Was she bathed?”
“Yes, and he brushed and flossed her teeth. He went a little further and trimmed the ends of her hair.”
“That’s new.”
Charley swirled her hand around Lydia’s hair. “The photos her parents submitted to the police her hair is in a ponytail or bun. He left it natural.”
“All the girls’ hair was.” Murphy pointed at Lydia’s curls. “Robin was the only one whose hair was down when abducted. Is it significant?”
“True. Interesting observation.”
Carmichael stared at the body. “Lydia cried a lot during captivity.”
“Explain?” Murphy said.
“Her tear ducts are infected, irritated and swollen. Also, the throat tissue is raw and chafed.”
“The candles weren’t lit, he didn’t spend time with her after placing her at rest.” Charley folded her arms. “Her emotional state was inconsequential. He’s smoldering.”
“Any trace on the clothing?” Murphy said.
“None. He laundered the dress and the socks before he dressed her. We determined the brand of laundry detergent.”
“He didn’t wash the other dresses,” Charley said.
“Nope. What would be the explanation?”
“Mothballs,” Murphy said, “to remove the odor.”
“I didn’t think of that.” Carmichael shook his head. “I’ll ask forensics to test for it.”
“It shows he collected the girls’ clothing.” Charley folded her hands, tapping her mouth with her knuckle. “Somehow, a child from his past is associated with the killings.”
“His trigger,” Murphy said.
“Someone he was close to died, left, or something,” Charley said.
“What time did she eat dinner?”
“Around nine in the evening, close to the same time as the others. He may have bought the meal near where he’s holding them.”
Charley tilted her head, her eyes narrowed. “Maybe they keep their video security maintained.”
“Too much to ask,” Murphy said.
With a gradual turn of her head, Charley’s mouth gaped as she looked at him. “He knows.”
“Knows what?”
“When the cams are inoperable or their taping schedule.”
Murphy smacked his forehead. “That’s how he decides where to abduct them.”
“He’s doing his homework, knows where, not who.”
“He could follow them, learn their patterns.”
“Wouldn’t that mean he followed the Edwards around for a while? They hadn’t been to Floriano’s for a month, the night they went to the movies.”
“If he spotted Lydia at Floriano’s, how did he know who she was, and where she would be?” Carmichael said.
“All the victims are familiar with the killer,” Charley said. “They do not fear him.”
“No connection between the girls,” Murphy said.
“But are parents aware of every person their child knows?” Charley said. “At school, alone, I’ll bet there are five to ten people who parents have no idea their children know.”
“But it would have to be someone associated with all the girls, there’s no one.”
She stared at the floor. “That we’ve found.”
“Charley’s right,” Carmichael said. “I recall my daughter would point at someone I’d never seen, and she had known them since grade school.”
“Children also hold secrets, even if to the average adult the secrets have no value, but to the kid, they do. It gives them a sense of power and control. It’s part of the learning process.”
Murphy pulled back the corner of his mouth. “Such as Olivia and Erin’s secret hideout?”
“What about medical issues? The others had them, what about Lydia?”
“None.” Carmichael said.
She placed her hand on Murphy’s upper arm. “Let’s go home.”
Murphy smiled. “Home?”
“Yeah.”
Lorton, VA - Faraday Farms
Friday, 22 July – 11:40 PM
Charley ripped her cap from her head and tossed it onto the kitchen counter. The evening included barbeque ribs and a Washington Nationals Major League baseball game. Murphy grabbed a beer and a bottle of white wine from the cooler. He jiggled them in the air for her approval. With an exhausted nod, she sat on a bar chair. He poured her a glass and sat it in front of her. After he twisted the cap from the bottle, he gulped the suds as he stepped around the counter and took a seat next to her.
“One would think, born with a bat and two balls men would know how to play baseball.”
Murphy snickered. “Yeah, the Pirates took the Nats toys and tossed them into the Potomac. Maybe they need more practice on how to slide into home plate.”
Charley huffed. “Maybe, they’ve trained so much, they’ve become complacent.”
His eyebrows rose.
Charley sighed and gripped the rim of her glass and swiveled it back and forth.
“What’s on your mind?”
She crimped the edge of her mouth. “I wonder if any of the girls went to a pro game. They enjoyed sports.”
“Not sure, but I would take my daughter.”
“You would.” She patted him on the shoulder. Her gazed searched the kitchen. “Each victim had a different flower. What else?”
“Dinner.” Murphy propped his chin into his palm.
“You’re hungry?” Charley stood. “I’ll make you a tuna sandwich. I have red grapes. Salad. Would you like a salad? How about pasta with pesto? You love my pesto.”
A warm smile formed on Murphy’s face. He took her hand and pulled her back into the chair. “No, I meant the girls, the meals were different.”
“Oh, okay, but if you want something to eat, I’ll make it for you.”
Murphy released her fingers as she settled into the seat. “I’m good, Char. Let’s continue.”
“All right, well, Robin’s stomach contents contained grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and milk,” Charley said. “Olivia ate fish, mixed veggies, and skim milk. Natalie had roast beef, boiled potatoes, peas, and milk. Annabelle had pepperoni pizza and soda. Lydia, a hamburger, fries, and a Sprite.”
“It’s as if they were on death row and whatever they requested was their last meal.” Murphy rubbed his eyes.
“He kept Robin fourteen days, Olivia thirteen, Natalie, and Annabelle eight days, and Lydia five.”
“All the girls are active in the arts and sports. Well-rounded, smart, plenty of friends, good students.” He tipped the bottle to his lips.
“I can’t think anymore, everything repeats. I can’t find a connection, a purpose, nothing. This one may beat me.” Charley pulled the Velcro from her pants pocket and removed her tablet. “Let’s review the abduction map. We have Reston, Great Falls, Herndon, Burke, and Oakton. I gave each abduction location a red dot and connected them with a blue line in the order of the kidnappings. The diagram is shaped like a greater than symbol. After Oakton, he jumps south-southeast to Burke. Forms a hook. He heads northwest again to Oakton.”
“The square root symbol.”
“Where will he go next?”
“Back to Reston. The path would be similar to the number eight turned onto its side.”
“He won’t return to Reston.”
“Why not? He went back to Bennett Elementary, knowing Floriano’s was under surveillance. He did it on purpose to create confusion. A trite move of superiority. There’s a good reason he returned to where Annabelle went to school. It’s a message.”
Charley folded her arms on the counter. Her body stiffened, she gasped. “I got it. The Ariel mask.”
“What about it?” Murphy swiveled his chair to face her.
“This may sound crazy, but listen. Robin’s dress was blue, Olivia’s dress was pink, and Natalie’s was green and off-white, cream. Annabelle’s was yellow, and Lydia’s was sea green and there’s a mask. I’m a girl. The dresses are iconic of the Disney Princesses.”
“You mean like Snow White?”
“Yes. Robin’s dress was blue, Cinderella. Olivia’s was pink, Aurora. Green and cream was Tiana, and Tiana was African American as was Natalie. Belle, as in Annabelle, her dress was yellow. Ariel’s dress, sea-green, Lydia.”
“Wow.”
“The Ariel mask made my head spin out of control. Maybe I’m wrong.”
“Is it possible he has an accomplice? I assume he has a job. Who’s watching the girls while he’s away?”
“All had rope burns on their right wrist. They’re bound but left enough slack to use the bathroom and eating. Children aren’t strong enough to break a rope or cord. Tied to a bed and not be able to free themselves.”
“Or the room where they’re held has a bathroom such as a master bedroom.”
“The windows would be boarded or barred. No objects left in the room that would aid the child to escape. He leaves them finger food.”
“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
Charley made an ugly face. “I hate grape jelly or jam, gross.”
“Really… why?”
“I just do.”
“Is strawberry okay?”
“Strawberry is fine.”
“You don’t like grapes?”
“I love grapes. I don’t like grape jam or jelly.”
“That’s weird.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “That’s me.”
“Why did he let Annabelle ride a bike?”
“She’s was his favorite, or he knew her background and pitied her.”
He shook his head. “I doubt it.” Murphy planted his left foot on the floor and anchored the other on the stretcher. “It’s possible the scrapes aren’t from a spill on a bike, but she freed herself and ran. He chased her, and she fell causing her injuries.”
Charley chewed her lip. “Plausible.”
“I believe he held the girls in a wooded area.”
“Annabelle had concrete fragments in the wounds. There isn’t a lot of concrete in the woods.”
“Chasing her. It could be he caught her, carried her back to wherever he keeps them. She fought, he lost control, and she fell onto a sidewalk. Attempting to get away again, she crawled injuring her legs.”
“Sean, why do you think they’re in the woods?”
“The other day, I was waiting for a traffic light and the photographs sprang to mind. A few of the scrapes are a straight line, such as from a twig or branch.”
“Did you suggest this to Carmichael?”
Murphy nodded while taking a drink. “He’ll reexamine the evidence.”
Charley twiddled her fingers on the counter. “You didn’t tell me this.”
Murphy shook his head. “The same night I stopped by O’Shea’s. Carmichael was there. We talked. I’d forgotten about it.”
“Ah.” She smiled. “You’re forgiven for going without me.”
Lorton, VA - Faraday Farms
Friday, 12 August - 2:36 PM
Twenty-nine days had passed since the recovery of Lydia Edwards body.
Thirty-one days since learning banana splits was a new word for divorce.
Forty-four days since Tangerine murdered Hillary Meagan.
Seventy-nine days since Jake returned to the States.
One hundred and eleven days since learning helium kills.
One hundred and fifty days since the murder of Robin Senters.
What’s next?
Results from the Ariel Halloween mask brought nothing new. The same with the masquerade mask found at Rensselaer Park, the day Annabelle Grant went missing. The fingerprints revealed the girls touched it. A sign the killer didn’t have a criminal record. Nor did the culprit work in law enforcement, which was a relief to Doobie and others. These findings also removed the military, bonded, or those associated with the medical community. The list was shorter by a couple hundred thousand citizens in the Northern Virginia area.
Nestled at the desk, reading a current journal article regarding the psychology of a child killer offered Charley no insight. A family member committed most child murders. All members of the girls’ families were exempt from further investigation associated with the abductions or murders.
Still searching for an alternate angle, the familiar
beep, beep, beep
invaded her concentration. She covered her ears with her hands, trying to drown out the sound. Her cell phone chimed. The ringtone, ‘Little Children’, it was Murphy.
“Hey, Char, I’ll meet you at the crime scene.”
“I’ll be there.”
Delaney Ryusaki, aged eleven from Annandale, was of Japanese descent. Born in Fairfax County, her father, Michio, a physician, and her mother, Jordan, a lawyer, were affluent. The abductor had raised the wealth bar.
A fifth grader at Francis Mounts Elementary School, she had shiny black straight hair and hazel eyes. Intelligent, and a renowned violinist, she enjoyed weekly ballet lessons and played shortstop on a girls’ softball team. A feisty child, Delaney had an infectious personality.
After leaving her violin lesson, she disappeared, even though her father waited for her in the car.
They had planned a father-daughter afternoon at the Washington Mall. Police questioned the violin instructor, Mr. Robert Epson, who relayed, after Delaney left the studio he didn’t know when she left the Procter Learning Arts Center building or which door she used.
Charley and Murphy parked side-by-side, left their vehicles, and merged.
“There’s Doobie.” Murphy pointed towards the front of the building. “Hope he has something we can use.”
Doobie approached them, his eyes tired, his expression sad. “We got nothing.”
“Doobie, you read our minds. No forensics?” Murphy said.
“Not yet, but Fleming and his team are combing inside the building. He could have been inside and taken her from many exterior doors. No mask, no ice cream man, nothing.”
His hands in his pockets, Murphy rocked back and forth on his feet. The simplistic single story brick structure resembled a post office.
“Small parking lots on all sides, surrounded by a tree line,” Charley said.
“Plenty of places to run and hide,” Doobie said.
“What was she wearing?” Murphy stared towards the north side of the building.
“She had on a sundress which ties at the shoulders, red with purple flowers. Purple socks, red sneakers. She wore her hair with the sides and top pulled back and clasped with a purple hairclip.”
Murphy and Charley cast knowing looks at one another.
“Her hair was down?” Murphy said.
“Yes, except the sides and top. Why?”
“Murphy recalled all the victims’ hair was worn up when abducted, except Robin, now Delaney,” Charley said.
“Meaning?”
“Unknown, but, it’s a similarity.” Murphy sauntered to the side of the building. Several feet away from the others, at the corner of the facility, he yelled, “Hey guys.”
He waited.
No response.
“We need Fleming out here,” Murphy said.
“Why?” Charley sauntered toward Murphy.
He indicated left. “Take a look.”
Doobie scurried to catch Charley. Their eyes followed his finger to a rear parking lot. “We have a trail.”
The three of them trotted towards the rear of the building to the employee parking lot.
“Sheet music,” Charley said.
“It leads to the tree line.” Doobie removed his cell phone from his pocket to call Fleming, to request help. “Fleming’s on his way.”
“They’re scattered.” Murphy wet his finger and held it into the air. “No breeze. She dropped the music one sheet at a time.”
Charley motioned towards the grove, surrounding the paved lot. “There’s a music folder laying in the grass this side of the trees.”
“I see something else.” Murphy waved to the right. “In front of the maple, a large black box.”
“A violin case.” Charley tugged Murphy’s sleeve. “They left in that direction. This is different.”
“How?” Doobie said.
“She sensed she was in trouble,” Charley said. “Otherwise she wouldn’t have discarded her sheet music or her violin. Musicians are protective of their instruments.”
Doobie scrunched his face. “The killer didn’t notice she tossed sheet music?”
Charley shook her head. “He didn’t have time to care. He wanted her out of here. This is a busy area, detection was a possibility.”
Murphy’s head turned in her direction. “Delaney didn’t know him.”
“You’re right.”
Tech Fleming approached the three of them. “I’m not trying to be an ass, but I want no one in this vicinity until we’re done.”
“Go for it.” Doobie grabbed Murphy and Charley’s attention. “You heard the man. Let’s get the hell outta the way.”
As the three of them cleared the area, the forensics team hustled to the rear of the building.
“Doobie, where did you say Delaney goes to school?” Charley said.
“Francis Mounts.”
Charley nodded and smiled.
“What, Charley?” Murphy said.
“Francis Mounts is a private school not a public school.”
“Meaning?”
She raised two fingers. “He made two mistakes.”
Doobie stepped closer to her. “Which are?”
“Delaney didn’t know him. That’s why she left a trail and she is the only child who attends private school.”
“He screwed up,” Murphy said.
“Yes, he did and in our favor. He couldn’t locate his target.”
“Desperation. He substituted.”
Doobie shook his head. “Damn, I’m confused.”
“Delaney wasn’t his next victim,” Murphy said. “He couldn’t find her, so he grabbed Delaney instead. Overcome with anxiety, he became desperate. He lost control and made a mistake.”
“The only way he could complete his plan was to alter his pattern.” Charley said.
“You’re saying he used the schools as the points of initial contact?” Murphy said.
“Yes.”
“Wait a second, the order has nothing to do with it, but locations,” Doobie.
“But which location?” she said. “The abduction or dumping location?”
“Dumping and here’s why,” Murphy said. “Robin, Olivia, Natalie, Annabelle were abducted and dumped within two miles of the abduction location. Lydia wasn’t. Her abduction occurred twelve miles away. The order is the dumping site. That’s the pattern. Those locations hold the clue we need.”
“Now you’re thinking like a criminal.” She turned to Doobie. “Sean and I will study this alternative.”
“Do it,” Doobie said.
“We need to talk to the father. Where is he?” Murphy said.
“Dr. Ryusaki is over by the main door. His wife is out of town at a conference in Atlanta. The husband notified her, and she is on her way home,” Doobie said.
Charley and Murphy approached Dr. Ryusaki.
“Dr. Ryusaki, we’re Agents Faraday and Murphy. May we speak with you?” Charley said.
The man wiped his eyes. “Yes.”
“You and your daughter were going to the Washington Mall today?” Charley said.
“Yes, and later, to dinner. Since my wife is away, I took advantage of the time to spend with my daughter. I had my staff reschedule all my appointments for the day. Delaney didn’t want to cancel her violin lesson even though I suggested it. Wish I had insisted.”
“It’s our understanding your daughter is friendly?” Murphy said.
“Yes, even though we have told her to be careful and not assume everyone is like her. She’s such a trusting child.”
“What is her favorite color?” Charley said.
With a strange expression Dr. Ryusaki said, “Green and blue, not sure which she prefers. She likes both.”
“Has she mentioned anyone or anything that seems out of the ordinary?” Murphy said.
“No, she has a heavy schedule.” Dr. Ryusaki sniffed. “Delaney’s an active child. I can’t think of anyone.”
“By chance, does Delaney like to paint or draw?” Charley said.
“Only if you make her. She’s not a fan of art class.”
“She’s an only child?” Charley said.
“No, my first wife died years ago. Delaney has a twenty-year-old half-brother. He’s attending school in Japan. He lives with relatives. I’m a tad older than my current wife.” Fidgety, he squeezed his hands. “Will they ask for ransom?”
Murphy’s head flinched. “Are you aware of the five kidnapped little girls in the area since March?”
“Kidnappings? No, I’m not, has there been?”
Shocked at this revelation, Charley and Murphy wondered what parent wasn’t aware. News outlets issued daily updates since the abduction of Robin Senters.
“Have you recently moved here or been away?” Murphy said.
“No, I’ve lived here over ten years. Why? These abductions, where were they?”
Murphy pointed at the ground. “Here, Fairfax County.”
“No, this is the first I’ve heard of it.” Ryusaki shielded his eyes from the sun. “I don’t watch the news. I’m rarely home at that hour.”
“Isn’t your wife an attorney?” Murphy said.
“Yes, she’s a corporate lawyer, why?”
“She isn’t involved with law enforcement?” Charley said.
“No, handles mergers, stuff like that.”
“While sitting in your car, waiting for Delaney, did you see anyone?” Murphy said.
“No, I was reading a book to pass time.”
Charley turned around with her hands on her hips. “How about cars?”
Ryusaki shook his head. “No, no cars.”
“Did you see anything unusual?” Murphy said.
“No, I didn’t. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“You never left your vehicle?” Charley said.
“Not until I realized the time. I went inside and asked Mr. Epson what was taking so long. During our conversation we figured something wasn’t right.” Ryusaki’s eyes filled with tears. “I called the police.”
“You never saw a letter from Delaney’s school regarding changes in lockdown procedures?” Murphy said.
“Lockdown? My wife takes care of everything.”
“What was your daughter wearing today?” Murphy said.
“Uh,” Ryusaki scratched his brow. “Shorts, I guess. Shoes. Shirt.”
Charley turned away, learning the father paid so little attention to his daughter; he didn’t know what clothes she wore. She sighed with disbelief.
Murphy rubbed his mouth with his hand to hide his anger at the lack of involvement Dr. Ryusaki had with his child. He turned his back, his fists clinched with rage. He repressed his temper as Charley touched his hand. As his blood pressure reduced, he faced the neglectful father. “I have nothing further, Dr. Ryusaki.”
“I have no more questions either,” Charley said.
The two of them excused themselves, returning to Doobie.
“Talk about not being involved and oblivious to what is going on in the world,” Doobie said.
“I wanted to punch his face.” Murphy slung his arm into the air. “I can tell you what Charley wore last Tuesday.”
Charley placed her hands out to the side and perused her clothing. “Uh… the same thing I wear every day.”
Murphy wiggled his finger at her. “No, Tuesday night, we went to the Kennedy Center to see ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. You wore a purple dress with red heels. The first time I’ve seen you wear your hair up.”
Stunned, Charley chuckled. “You sure it wasn’t the green dress?”
“No, because purple is my favorite color, and you had lavender flowers in your hair.”
Frustrated, Doobie huffed. “Geez, Murph, did she shave her legs?”
Murphy pocketed his hands. “Yes.”
Doobie tossed his hands into the air and scampered towards the rear of the building to join Fleming.
