UNSEEN (29 page)

She had spent years studying the behavior of serial killers. If Carter was the Cape murderer, he wouldn't have left evidence from his victims in his place of work, or made searches for serial killers on his computer. There would have been no connection at all to his secret life. At work, he would have been a different person, not even allowing thoughts of his secret sin to enter into his mind. It would be as if he were two people, living two separate lives. Whatever role Carter played in all this, he wasn't the Cape murderer, that much she was sure of.

But was Carter a victim? Did the killer prey upon him for some resource only he could provide? A name of a victim? Miss Paris' name? The clinic records indicated that Holly Paris had visited the clinic when she was fourteen. Was there a connection between that visit and her selection as a target? If so, that brought up another question. Why was Gary Carter dating Holly's roommate? Perhaps the killer had convinced Carter to help at first, but Carter got cold feet?

Perez tapped Angela on the shoulder and sat on the desk next to her. "We got a hit.”

Angela swiveled in her chair.

"
Carter's sister owns a camp on a lake just south of Sunbury. According to a neighbor, the camp’s supposed to be empty, but there was a mysterious pin point of light in the basement window last night. We went by there yesterday and left a card, so they called us. Local law enforcement checked it out this morning. The window is covered with cardboard, and someone has been there recently. There are tracks on the path up to the door that would have been washed away by last weekend’s rain."

"
That's sounds promising. Have they set up a perimeter?"

"
Yeah. They have local police, SBI, and forest rangers on site. They’re waiting for the go ahead."

"
How far is it from here?"

"
Thirty minutes."

"
Tell them to hold tight. I want to be the first to question him if he's there."

"
There's more." His face scrunched. "Holly Paris is making calls to local news agencies claiming that something big is going to happen at 2:00 on the 395 overpass."

She sat back in the office chair with a squeak. "Hmmm."

"
Two officers have been dispatched to question her."

"
Do you think the killer is in contact with her?"

He shrugged.

"
I want you to go over and check it out personally while I head up to the camp. If what Holly says is true—we're running out of time."

Chapter 43

Jake ran up the stairs toward the lobby of the theater, digging out his phone as he climbed. He punched Jenna's number in and put it to his ear. It rang four times then dumped him to voicemail. "Jenna I know what you're doing, and I understand why you think you have to do this, but please, call me. I really need to talk to you." He ended the call as he crested the stairs.

Downtown was congested with lunch-hour traffic, and Jake's temper was hot. After several near-misses and a number of angry honks, he tore into the parking lot of The Schoolhouse and ran inside.

"
Hold the elevator!" His arm snagged on the metal post between the double doors at the entrance of the building, drawing blood. He wobbled to regain his balance and ran toward the closing doors of the elevator. "Hold the elevator!"

A hand appeared in the crack and the doors started to open back up. Jake got in and turned to see his red-haired neighbor standing toward the front corner.

"
Thanks," he said, gulping for air, and wiping the sweat from his face. He looked around for her daughter, but she was conspicuously missing. "Where's your daughter?" he said, hoping to make light conversation and take the attention off his obvious emergency.

She turned to him, stunned, and her face took on an air of disgust. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The doors of the elevator sealed them in together, and immediately Jake wished he had taken the stairs.

"
Is this some kind of sick joke? Do you think this is funny?" Her posture became threatening.

Jake took a step back and threw his hands up. "I- didn't mean anything. I was just curious where she was."

"
Oh, just curious where she was? What are you, some kind of an activist? Have you been following me?"

"
No! Why would I follow you?"

The elevator dinged, and the door began to open.

"
Look, moron," she said, driving a finger toward him. "Stay out of my business!" She stomped off the elevator and down the hall to the left.

He had no idea what he had just stepped in, but clearly there was something going on with his neighbor and her daughter. Probably an ugly custody battle. That would explain what the little girl had said to him earlier. She knew her mother was giving her up, and she wanted him to let her know that she forgave her. Jake had clearly messed up the chances of that happening. There was no way that fiery redhead was going to let him get anywhere near her now.

The door slammed, but it sounded a mile away. Jake had already given up worrying about his neighbor’s plight and was in a full run down the hallway to his own apartment.

"
Jenna!" he screamed as he entered. "Jenna!" He ran through the living room and brushed past the recliner. The door to the bathroom was open, he could see that it was empty. The bedroom was also empty—and some of Jenna's drawers had been left open. He cursed and flew back down the hallway. At the threshold of the living room, Jake came to an abrupt stop. In its center stood Aiyana, quietly gripping her sketch pad.

"
She's not here," she said with a mouse of a voice.

"
Can we catch her? Did she just leave?"

"
We are in the car together. At the lights."

"
Where?"

"
I don't know. I'm sorry." The corners of her mouth squeezed down, and her chin tightened.

"
No, don't cry. It's okay. We'll catch her." He snatched her up in his arms and started for the door. "You said you’re in the car with her?"

"
Yes."

He pushed through the door without closing it behind him. "You can be with her and me at the same time?"

"
Yes."

"
Good. Can you see outside the car?" He ran to the elevator and pushed the button.

"
There's a sign with flowers."

"
Is there a big yellow flower?"

"
Yes, and little purple ones."

"
You're there right now?"

"
Yes."

"
That's good. That's just up the hill."

"
We're moving again," she squeaked. "I'm scared."

He pounded the panel on the elevator. "Come on!"

Ding. The doors took forever to open.

Aiyana clutched his shirt with her tiny hand. "I don't want to leave. Please don't make me leave."

Was she talking to him—or Jenna?

"
I've got you," he said reflexively. "Everything is going to be okay."

Jake pushed on the doors to force them open, then started running for the side exit. He slammed through the door and raced down the concrete steps that lead to the parking lot.

"
Don't make me go!" she squealed.

Suddenly he passed through her as though she were mist. He skidded to a stop, alone on the stairs. He spun and looked for her as though she had been taken by physical means. The shock of losing her played tricks on his mind. There was no attacker. There was no escape route. It was him, alone on the stairs.

Get a grip, Jake! He thought.

She wasn't dead. She was still alive with her mother in the car! He just had to catch up with them. He vaulted over the railing, slid down the grass to the parking lot, and ran to his car. He ripped his phone out of his pocket and punched Holly's number into it. It was busy. He called Dan instead.

"
Yellow?" said Dan.

"
Oh, thank God, Dan. Are you with Holly?"

"
She's kinda busy."

"
I need her, Dan."

"
She's on the phone, man."

Jake peeled out of the parking lot and headed up the hill toward the florist. "I know she's on the phone, that's why I called you!"

"
One second." He heard him talking to her.

The phone rumbled, then Holly spoke. "This is a bad time, Jake."

"
Holly I need your help."

"
Like I've needed your help? Where've you been?"

"
I'm caught up in something—I've been checking in. Ask Dan. If anything new came up with Gabe I would have been there. Something is going on with Jenna, and I need you!"

Holly was quiet, but he could hear her frustrated breathing. "What do you need?"

"
I found out that I'm going to be a father, Holly. But Jenna's going to the clinic to abort her."

"
What?"

"
I don't know where it is, and I'm trying to catch her. I'm at the florist on Center Street. Do you know where that is?"

"
Yeah. Across from the pizza place, right?"

"
Yes. I'm there now. How do I get to the clinic from here?"

"
Do you know how to get to Pine Street?"

"
Yes."

"
Follow that all the way to the intersection at Mall Road and keep on going about a hundred feet past the intersection. Their driveway is on the right across from the optometrist's office. There’s a sign as you drive in, it will have the number on it. Look for Doris Boardman."

"
Okay. Doris Boardman."

"
I'm sorry, Jake, but I have to go. God, I hope you catch her."

"
Wait. If I don't catch her, how do I get into the clinic?"

"
You can't. They have bullet proof glass and reenforced metal doors. If you don't catch her, it’s over."

Jake gripped the steering wheel and let his frustration channel into it. "Can I call them? Will they let me in if I explain the situation?"

"
I don’t think they will. You know, patient confidentiality... They can't even tell you if she’s in there."

"
You're kidding me!" He raced through a yellow light. "Then I'll just have to catch her."

"
Wait a second! There is something you can do." Her voice lowered. "But you have to promise you won't tell anyone I told you this."

"
I promise, Holly."

"
I mean bring it to your grave."

"
Holly. You know me. I won't tell anyone."

"
There is an office on the side of the building.” She spoke low. "It has a large window. You can't immediately see it because it's on the side of the complex facing the forest. Follow the mulch down the side of the building to just past halfway. Inside, you'll see an L shaped chestnut desk. The window is unlocked."

"
Got it."

"
And if you find anything buried in the dirt outside the window...”

"
What?”

"
Never mind, forget I said anything.”