“Why the hell are you tip-toeing around this guy? How much more obvious can it be that he’s your killer?”
“It is obvious, Chief,” Owens said. “It’s glaringly obvious, as if someone were attempting to frame him.”
“Who would frame him and why, while also being insane enough to commit the murders, who?”
“That’s what we want to find out, and I think Rowland may know the answer,” Owens said. “I got the impression the other day that he was holding back something.”
“Of course he was, he was hiding the fact that he’s a killer.”
“Chief,” Erica said. “I know you dislike the man, but does he strike you as being stupid?”
Chief Connors sighed. “No.”
“Then why would Rowland kill a woman who could be traced back to him? And remember, this happened only one night after he committed another murder a short distance away that could also be linked to him. It doesn’t make sense.”
“The man is insane. His actions and motives don’t have to make sense.”
“You may be right, but we’re still going to interview him at home again before dragging him in here.”
The chief grabbed his uniform jacket from a coat rack; it had a fleece lining and a faux fur collar. The weather was colder than the last time Erica and Owens had been in town, and the threat of snow was in the air. Erica didn’t mind the cold; she liked brisk weather.
“I’m coming with you.”
“Come if you’d like,” Owens said, “but Erica and I will be speaking with Rowland alone.”
The chief glared at both of them. He wasn’t a man used to being told what he could and couldn’t do in his own town.
“I’ll drive you out there,” he said through grim lips. “He’s home. Joey Revene hasn’t left his property since the last time you were here.”
“You’ve had him under watch?” Erica asked.
“Of course, the man is a serial killer.”
They went out the front door where the chief’s SUV had a designated parking space. Erica fidgeted in the rear seat, as excitement flooded into her. They were going to get answers from Jude Rowland this time, and if not, then she would play things the chief’s way and drag Rowland into the station with cuffs on. The man was the key not only to the Wildcard case, but he might lead them to Traveler as well.
* * *
“Where the hell did that come from?” Chief Connors said as they neared the gate in front of Jude Rowland’s property. Across the road from the gate was a green portable toilet.
Deputy Linda Perkins was on duty again. Linda left her patrol car and greeted Erica and Owens with a smile, as they met her halfway, along with the chief.
Connors pointed at the toilet. “Who placed that there?”
Linda grinned as she said, “Joey did it. He said that it was disgusting to make us pee in the bushes.”
“If I catch anyone using it, I’ll suspend them for taking a bribe.”
“A bribe?” Linda said. “It’s not a bribe, it’s a toilet, Chief, and Joey is right, using the bushes is disgusting.”
The chief was about to respond when the strident sound of the gate lock disengaging caught everyone’s attention. A moment passed, then the gate began to slide back on its metal wheels.
“It looks like we’re invited in,” Erica said.
She returned to the SUV with the chief and Owens. Before they could turn into the driveway, Linda waved for them to stop.
The chief lowered his window and spoke to Linda. “What is it?”
“I just wanted to let you know that Joey isn’t alone. Molly Jackson showed up a few hours ago.”
“All right, and I meant what I said about that toilet. Use it at your own risk.”
“Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir,” Linda said, but her tone didn’t reflect the respect her words indicated.
The chief stepped on the gas again and the SUV moved swiftly along the winding path of Jude Rowland’s driveway. When he was out of sight, Linda headed for the portable toilet.
* * *
That is one good-looking man, Erica thought as she watched Jude come out of the house to meet them. Accompanying Jude was a black woman in her sixties, Molly Jackson. Molly’s straight, shoulder-length hair was turning gray, but her face was still youthful despite the lines around her eyes and mouth.
To Erica’s annoyance, the chief left the vehicle with them and strode toward the porch. Molly Jackson studied the chief and made an observation.
“You look like you’ve swallowed a lemon, Gary.”
“And you’re standing next to a murderer, Molly. These are FBI agents and they have proof that Joey killed a woman.”
Molly reacted to the chief’s words with a shocked expression. As for Jude, his face revealed no hint that he had heard the chief’s words. However, he was staring at Erica as if he were pleased to see her again.
“Joey wouldn’t kill anyone,” Molly said.
“It happened in Florida,” the chief said, “isn’t that right, Joey?”
Jude ignored him and gave Molly a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you again for the food; I’ll see you next week.”
“You know you don’t have to thank me, Joey. You’re family, boy.”
Molly went down the stairs while carrying a plastic bowl with a top on it, along with an insulated cup filled with coffee. Her car was parked nearby. It was a mid-size Mercedes that Jude had bought her on her last birthday. As she neared Erica, she stopped and looked her over.
“You’re with the FBI?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Joey there is a good man, you remember that.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” Erica said.
When Molly reached the chief, she stared at his stomach.
“You need to cut back on the sweets, Gary.”
The chief sucked in his gut. “I’m the same weight I was when I played high school football.”
“You were a little chubby back then too,” Molly said, “and how’s Alice doing?”
“Alice is fine, Molly.”
“And what about those smart and beautiful girls of yours?”
The chief smiled as he thought about his children.
“Gracie just got a promotion at work; she’s a division manager now, and Amanda is engaged to a doctor down in Orlando.”
“And Zach?”
“He’s still long-haul trucking. He loves being out on the road, and he’s his own boss.”
Molly grinned. “I’m glad to hear those kids are doing good.” She continued to her car and opened the door; before getting in, she spoke to Jude. “Serve these folks some of that peach cobbler I left you, but none for Gary, he should cut back.”
The chief scowled at her. “Get on your way, Molly, we’ve got law enforcement work to do.”
“Foolishness is what it is,” Molly told the chief. “Joey wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
They waited until Molly had her car moving, then Erica walked up the stairs with Owens. When she looked back, she saw that the chief had stayed at the foot of the steps. That was good. It saved her having to ask him to wait in his car.
“Holler if you need me,” the chief said.
“Will do,” Owens told him, as he and Erica followed Jude inside.
* * *
The heat indoors felt wonderful and the scent of coffee was in the air. When they entered the living room they saw that a carafe and cups had been laid out on the coffee table.
Jude gestured at it. “Molly prepared that. Help yourselves to coffee.”
They both declined the offer, and Erica got down to business.
“You stayed at the same Daytona Beach hotel where a murder victim, Tessa White, was last seen. Do you expect us to believe that was a coincidence?”
Jude’s cool demeanor faltered as he took a seat in the same large chair he had sat in previously. Erica followed him and stood a few feet away. This time she could make out the book that was on the round table beside the chair
. It was different from the one Jude had previously been reading. It was a high-end notebook, leather-bound. A heavy gold pen laid between its open, unlined pages. On the left-hand page, Jude had written down notes concerning a book he was working on.
The pen and notebook were expensive and well-made items. It gave Erica a glimpse of what Jude considered important. Jude Rowland might ride around in a borrowed van and wear clothing bought off the rack, but he was particular about where and how he recorded his thoughts and ideas.
“First, you tell me that someone murdered critics of my books, now, you tell me that someone killed a woman, and that they did so while I was staying at the same hotel. Doesn’t that say to you that I’m being framed?”
“That’s one interpretation of the facts,” Owens said. “It’s equally valid to believe that you killed them all yourself.”
Jude stared at Owens. “Have you read any of my books?”
“No,” Owens said.
“I have,” Erica admitted.
“What did you think of them?”
“They’re a bit over the top when it comes to violence but well thought out and clever.”
“Yes, they’re clever, and if I were the murderous type, I’d be cunning enough to kill someone without leading the authorities right to my door.”
Erica moved closer and leaned down to look Jude in the eye. “I agree with you. I also think you know something about these murders.”
Jude broke eye contact. “I… if I told you what I think is going on you wouldn’t believe me.”
“And if you don’t tell us we’ll arrest you and bring you into town for questioning by Chief Connors.”
Jude looked up at her. “That man hates me.”
“We’ve gotten that impression,” Owens said. “Are you claiming he’s involved somehow?”
Jude laughed. “You’d probably believe that before you would believe the truth.”
Erica braced her hands on either side of Jude’s chair and leaned in close enough to kiss him as her own eyes bored into Jude’s.
“What is the truth?”
Jude rose from the chair slowly, making Erica straighten up. When he was standing, they were almost touching, but Jude was nearly a head taller than her.
“It’s about Johnny Revenge.”
“Your character? What about him?” Erica said.
“He’s real,” Jude said.
“What?”
Jude stared down at her. “Johnny Revenge is real, and I think he’s behind the murders.”
Erica looked over at Owens and saw a look of confusion on his face that matched the emotion she was feeling.
“Grab your coat, Mr. Rowland,” Erica said. “It’s time you’ve made a formal statement.”
Chapter Twenty
SANGUINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Inside an interrogation room at the town’s police station, Erica sat across a table from Jude Rowland and discussed a killer. Chief Connors and Brad Owens stood outside the room watching through a one-way mirror as a camera recorded the conversation.
“Johnny Revenge isn’t really his name of course, but he’s like the character I write about, or so he claims,” Jude said.
“Your character is essentially a paid assassin.”
“Yes and no. In the books, Johnny doesn’t kill every time. While most of his clients want their targets dead, some only seek payback in the form of physical punishment, or to have the person they hate be discredited or humiliated in some way. When Johnny does kill, he can make it look like an accident if he wants to.”
“And you claim that there’s someone out there like that?”
Jude looked down at the scarred top of the cheap beige Formica table separating him from Erica, after rubbing his eyes, he looked up again. Erica was surprised to see that the normally stoic Rowland’s eyes had grown moist.
“I should have come forward sooner, I know that now. Maybe I could have saved lives.”
“Tell me how you met this man.”
“I haven’t met him. He contacted me by leaving type-written letters in my mailbox. They had no stamps or return address, but they were in plain white envelopes.”
“Do you still have those letters?”
“Yes.”
“How many are there?”
“Four.”
“What did they say?”
“Understand something, I didn’t take the first one seriously at all. I thought it was a joke.”
“I can imagine. Now, tell me what was written in the letters.”
“In the first one, the man claimed that he was just like the character I write about. ‘I’m the real Johnny Revenge,’ he wrote. He also said that he loved the books and that he was my biggest fan.”
“‘I’m the real Johnny Revenge’ seems like an odd thing to write. Plus, the letter must have been hand-delivered. Why didn’t you report it to the police?”
Jude jerked his head at the one-way mirror. “Report it to Chief Connors? The man wouldn’t have taken it seriously.”
The door of the interrogation room opened, and the chief stuck his head in.
“If you tried telling this bullshit to me, you’re damn right I wouldn’t have believed you. What are you up to, Joey? Are you setting up an insanity plea, trying to claim you have a split personality, or what?”
Erica stood, walked over to the door, and spoke to the chief in a whisper.
“If you interrupt the interview again, I’ll ask my partner to arrest you for obstruction of justice, do you understand me?”
The chief pointed at the floor as he shouted, “You’re in my house, lady. I’ll stick my nose in whenever I want.”
Owens appeared behind the chief. His face was red with anger. “You want to use a civil tone when you speak to Special Agent Novac, and you will not interrupt her again.”
The chief turned his head and glared at Owens, Owens who was younger, more fit, and taller than he was.
“She threatened to have me arrested in my own station.”
“It wasn’t a threat, Chief, it was a promise,” Owens said.
Chief Connors looked into Erica’s eyes. He saw that Owens spoke the truth. He backed up slowly and shut the door as he left the room.
Erica retook her seat. When she studied Jude, she saw that he appeared worried.
“I don’t know why the chief hates me so much. I’ve never done a thing to him.”
“Forget him and let’s get back to the interview. Tell me more about these letters. What did the second one say?”
“It gave great praise concerning the new Johnny Revenge book. The writer again stated that he was the real Johnny Revenge. I was also congratulated on the news that a Johnny Revenge movie was under consideration. There was talk in Hollywood that the director Frank Falco was considering turning Johnny into a blockbuster movie. Falco had optioned the film rights for a three-year period and the contract was about to run out.”
“I didn’t know there was going to be a movie made.”
“There won’t be, at least, not anytime soon. Falco decided to go with a different project, but he did option Johnny Revenge for another three years.” Jude shrugged. “It’s quite common for projects to fall through and I had no problem with Falco. If I had, I wouldn’t have optioned the rights to him again.”
Erica was tapping her fingers on the table. “Didn’t Frank Falco die recently in a car accident?”
Jude hung his head. “I pray it was an accident.”
“You’re saying it wasn’t?”
“I don’t know,” Jude said in a quiet voice.
“Your pen pal claimed something different?”
Jude nodded. “A third letter was left in my mailbox after Falco died. It stated something to the effect that Falco should have made the movie. It also claimed that the cops would never figure out why his brakes failed.”
“How long after the accident was this?”
“It was the next day. The letter was in the box when I checked for mail in the afternoon. Fra
nk Falco had died the night before. There was no time for the police to have conducted a thorough examination of the wreck, and yet, when the report came out a week later, failed brakes were blamed for Falco’s death.”
“What did you do then?”
Jude shook his head slightly. “I still didn’t believe that the letter writer was serious… but I wasn’t certain. That’s when I had the fence placed around the property and cameras installed.”
“Are the three dogs a new addition too?”
“The dogs are trained to defend me, but they’re my companions, not guard dogs. I’ve had them for years.”
“You said there was a fourth letter. Did the cameras record who left it in your mailbox?”
“No, the system was still being installed as the fence was going up.” Jude nibbled his bottom lip. “He didn’t like seeing that fence. He said that if I was putting it up to keep him out not to bother. If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead, but not to worry, because he liked me. It’s in the fourth letter that he claims outright that he killed Falco; he also said that he would be taking care of my other enemies too.”
“Who are these ‘other enemies?’”
“I didn’t know what he meant by that. I don’t have anyone I consider an enemy.”
“His threshold for that designation may be low,” Erica said. “So low that he’s going around killing people who have left negative reviews on your books.”
“There’s something else.”
“Yes?”
“The last thing he wrote in that final letter was a warning. He said that if I ever went to the police or told anyone about him… he would kill me.”
“And now you’ve told me,” Erica said.
“Yes.”
Erica rose from her seat. “Wait here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Agent Novac?”
“Yes?”
“Do you believe me? I’m telling you the truth.”
Erica had been scrutinizing Jude as he relayed his story. He seemed to be speaking the truth; however, she’d been fooled before by clever liars.
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