Shadow of Vengeance (46 page)

Until now.

“Patch him through to my phone,” Nick told Leon and picked up a pen. When the phone rang, he quickly answered. “Detective Merretti.”

“Morning, Detective, this is Deputy Sheriff Dave Keppler with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.”
 

“Morning. My partner says you have some info pertaining to a John Doe case.”

“I’ve got better than that,” Keppler said. “I’ve got his wife.”

Nick refused to let his excitement surface. They’d had leads in the past that had ended up being nothing but a wasted effort. “His wife? How can you be sure? And why is she coming forward eighteen months after her husband was murdered?”

“It’s a long story. Can you come here and meet her?”

Nick covered the receiver. “Leon, see how long of a drive it is to Marietta, Ohio,” he said, then returned to the call. “Why can’t the wife come to Detroit? Is she incarcerated?”
 

“More than you could imagine,” the deputy said, his tone filled with both sympathy and disgust. “Eighteen months ago, I answered a call from a farmer claiming he found a dead body in his field. When I arrived, I realized the woman wasn’t dead, but she was pretty close. Someone stabbed her—at the minimum—twenty-one times, then bludgeoned her with a tire iron. She spent six months in a coma. When she woke, she couldn’t speak or move.”

Leon rapped his knuckles on the desk then held his hand up and mouthed, “Five hours.”
 

“And now?” Nick asked and glanced at his watch. They could be in Marietta by one.

“She’s a quadriplegic, but her speech therapist is using this gadget that’s allowing her to speak.”

“What’s the woman’s name?”

“Vivian Saunders. The husband’s is Arthur Saunders.”

He jotted down the names, then handed them to Leon. “Does she know who attacked her and killed her husband?”

“Yes, Detective. Her daughter.”

*

The fifteen minute drive to Jake’s office had been hell. When Owen had wanted to apologize and right his wrong, Rachel refused to speak with him about anything but the investigation. In between the few comments she made, she’d gnawed on her damned pencil, something she hadn’t done for days.
 

Now they sat, side by side, in Jake’s stuffy, cramped office, waiting for Robert Conway, the missing kid’s dad, and his wife to show. Marty O’Reilly, the inspector from the Michigan State Police Field Service Bureau, stood behind Jake’s desk, where the sheriff remained seated. The inspector kept his arms folded across his chest as Rachel told Marty and Jake what she’d learned about Robert Conway and Guarinot Security.
 

“That’s some decent info,” Marty said when she finished, his tone complimentary and yet smug. “Is that all you’ve got?”

Rachel frowned. “Well, for now. And I think it’s more than decent. The malfunctioning equipment is key. The fact that the missing boy’s father was probably the one who donated it…I don’t think that’s something we should overlook.”

“Could just be a coincidence,” Marty countered. “Could be one has nothing to do with the other.”

Owen had enough of this guy. For Marty to dismiss the evidence as coincidence had him wondering not only how up to speed the inspector was, but if he was ready to take over the investigation.

Jake’s phone rang. He quickly answered, then said, “I’ll be right there.” He rose and wound his way through the tight office. “Robert Conway is here.” He looked to Marty. “I’m grateful for your assistance, but unless he directs his questions to you, I want Owen and Rachel to take the lead with Conway. They’ve been here all week and Rachel knows his son. Agreed?”

Marty’s face reddened, but also softened with relief. “Whatever,” he said, and turned his back on them as if more interested in the county map hanging on the wall than them.

The uncomfortable silence in the office thankfully lasted for only a few minutes. Between Marty, who pouted like an angry kid, and Rachel, who refused to even look at him, claustrophobia might have squeezed him out of the room.
 

Jake introduced them to Robert Conway, a tall, well-dressed guy who looked to be in his forties and obviously took his gym membership seriously. After introductions were made, Conway ran a hand over his close-cropped, blonde hair.
 

“I just flew halfway around the world to get here.” He fisted his hands, then dropped into the metal folding chair Jake had set up for him. “I had to walk away from a top secret job because you people can’t do your fucking job. I want to know everything,” he demanded, and directed an angry glare at Marty. “And I mean now.”

The state police inspector pushed off the wall, and twisted his mouth into a mocking smile. “The sheriff and the private investigators he’s hired have been handling the investigation. I just got here yesterday.”

“Yesterday?” Conway shifted his anger toward Jake. “You waited until yesterday to call in the professionals? Sheriff, I’ll have your badge for this. Understand? If something happens to my son, I’ll make sure you won’t even be able to work as a fucking meter maid. I’ll—”

“Mr. Conway,” Rachel interrupted. “I can assure you that we’ve been doing everything possible to find your son.”

He slammed a fist on the desk. “Bullshit.”

“If you continue with your threats and profanity, I’ll escort you from my office,” Jake said in a calm voice the belied the tension rolling off his shoulders. “This is a courtesy, nothing more. Trust me. We want your boy found just as much as you do.”

“A courtesy?” Conway looked to Marty. “Do you have any idea who I know? I’m well acquainted with some of the most powerful—”

“Doesn’t matter,” Marty said. “The sheriff’s right. The information we have pertaining to an ongoing investigation isn’t public record.”

“That being said,” Rachel added. “We would like to share with you
some
of the details. We’re also hoping you can answer a few questions for us.”

Conway looked away for a moment. “Fine. Whatever.” He waved his hand.

“Will your wife being joining us?” Rachel asked.

“No. She’s at the hotel…thirty miles from here, by the way. I don’t know what the hell is going on in this town, but I couldn’t find a room. Which was a total pain in my ass.” He crossed his ankles. “She’s suffering from a migraine. This whole thing with Josh has her…she’s not taking this well.”

“Did you meet your wife while you were attending Wexman University?” Rachel asked.

“No. I met her a few years after I graduated.”

“From Wexman, right?”

Conway released an exasperated sigh. “Yes. What does this have to do with anything?”

Rachel held up a finger. “When you were at Wexman, do you remember anything about the university initiating a no hazing policy?”

“Yeah.” He looked to the ceiling and squinted. “I was a junior, I think.”

“Do you know what happened to cause this policy to go into effect?”

“How the hell should I know?” Conway leaned forward. “Mind telling me where this is going? Because I got a missing kid out there.” He pointed to the door. “And if I don’t get some answers, I’m calling the FBI. I don’t need a bunch of backwater cops and a couple of private investigators, who don’t know their heads from their asses, wasting my time.” Focusing on him and Rachel, he sent them a look of disgust. “Don’t you people have some cheating housewives to spy on?”

Keeping his temper in check, Owen forced a chuckle. “Mr. Conway, I can assure you that Rachel and I are quite competent to handle this investigation. But your cooperation is necessary. The insults…aren’t.”

“Fine. Waste my time.” He folded his arms across his chest. “No. I don’t remember anything about the no hazing policy. Anything else?”

Rachel sent him a smile. “Thank you. Now about the security equipment you donated to the university.”

“What about it?”

“Why did you donate the equipment?” Rachel asked.

“I make sure things are secure for a living. Since my son was attending Wexman, I wanted to make sure there were extra security measures. The system I donated wasn’t top of the line, but the model was only a few years old and used to be one of our best sellers. I got it for next to nothing and told the university president if it wasn’t installed, they’d never see another dime from me. Trust me. President Lambert doesn’t want that to happen. I’ve been very generous.”

 
“Why is that?” Owen asked.
 

“Wexman’s engineering program is excellent. Over the years, I’ve personally hired over a dozen graduates.” He glanced around the room. “I’m trying to be patient with you people. Now I demand you tell me what this has to do with my son.”

“Mr. Conway,” Jake began, “your system malfunctioned the night before Josh was kidnapped.”

Conway looked around the room, then shook his head in disbelief. “Impossible. That system has an impenetrable firewall. The only way it could be disabled is if…” He moved to the edge of the metal chair and poised himself as if ready to run. “I need to speak to President Lambert. Now.”

“Why is that?” Owen asked.

“Because he has the codes to disable the system.”

Owen looked to Rachel, who met his gaze with a raised eyebrow. “And he’s the only one with this code?” he asked, when he refocused on Conway. “Wouldn’t the head of security have this code, too?”

Conway nodded. “Of course he would. But in order to keep it secure, I instructed Lambert to make sure that code wasn’t public.” His face growing red and mottled, he cracked his knuckles. “The reason I donated the system was to keep my son safe. I need to head to the university and find out what dumbass messed up my system. I also want the name of the guard on duty that night.” He shook his head. “How in the hell could someone take a kid from a dorm room without being seen?”

“He wasn’t taken from his room,” Rachel answered. “He went missing after he left the residence hall.”

Relief crossed Conway’s face. “So Josh isn’t missing because of me…thank God.” He blew out a deep breath. “Anything else? Because while you people attempt to do your job, I’m going to the university to get my own answers.”

“There’s nothing more,” Owen said and looked to Rachel, then Jake. Prior to meeting with Conway, they’d agreed not to show Conway the copy of the photo of Josh. Even Marty had been onboard. After meeting Conway, Owen couldn’t be happier with that decision. The man would likely raise holy hell if he saw the picture, and they needed him to keep his cool and not interfere with the investigation. “As for President Lambert, he—”

“Have you ever heard of Wexman Hell Week?” Marty asked.

Shit. They’d also agreed not to discuss anything about the other missing kids. Adding to the father’s worry when they didn’t have solid evidence that there was a serial killer, even if they believed it to be true, hadn’t been part of the plan.

“What? Are we back to the hazing crap again?” Conway stood. “This is bullshit. After I meet with Lambert, I’ll be making a few calls. The four of you will be lucky to have jobs by the morning.”

Marty took a step forward and pressed his knuckles against the desk. “Back to the hazing crap.” He kept his attention on Conway. “Wexman Hell Week has—allegedly—been going on for the past twenty years.”

“What are you talking about?” Conway asked. “It’s been going on longer than that. Universities across the country have no hazing policies, but it doesn’t mean fraternities aren’t still doing a Hell Week. They just toned it down so pansy-ass kids don’t get hurt and call their mommies.”

Rachel cleared her throat. “Mr. Conway, for the past twenty years, nine boys pledging with different Wexman fraternities have gone missing. Actually, Josh makes number ten. And each abduction takes place during Hell Week.”

Conway glared at the sheriff. “You knew about this? You knew and did nothing to stop it? You’re done, Sheriff.”

“The sheriff has nothing to do with this,” Owen said. “The university refused to get rid of the fraternal organization because the alumni wouldn’t hear of it.”

“If anything happens to my son, I’ll do more than shut down the fraternities. I’ll bulldoze the place until it’s nothing but a pile of rubble.” Conway stood and moved to the door. “I’m done with this. The president and I need to have a long…talk.”

“Lambert is in Wyoming,” Rachel said. “He left a few days before Josh went missing. You’ll have to speak with Xavier Preston, the dean who’s acting on his behalf. I’d be happy to give you his phone number. Actually, Owen and I were planning to head to the university now. If you want to follow us, we can take you to his office.”

“No.” Conway held up a shaky hand, then ran it down his face. “No. I…I’d rather talk to Lambert.” With a deep frown, he looked to the floor. “I need to check on my wife. Call me if you have anything.”

After Conway left the room, Marty grabbed his coat. “Sheriff, got a private place I can use to make some calls?”

“I thought we agreed not to bring up Wexman Hell Week,” Rachel said before Jake could respond.

“No. You three agreed. The only thing I agreed on was not showing Conway a picture of his abused son hanging from a wall. Besides, I find it hard to believe a guy with
top secret
access wouldn’t know the school he sent his son to had an alleged serial killer stalking it.”