by Amy Shannon
“I was always looking over my shoulder, double checking the locks on my door, walking fast in public, and even ...”
“You don’t haveta change,” he said. “Just relax a little. I like you just the way you are. You’re smart, strong, and beautiful. His following you made your senses more powerful. Don’t lose that. It’s not paranoia. It’s being safe and smart. Doc, you may not need to videotape your front yard anymore, but it’s not wrong to be careful.”
“I’ve been living like I was followed for eight years, and I was being followed. How do I just turn it off?”
“I don’t know if you can,” he sighed. “But, you can live however you feel comfortable. Hell, I came here because it was a small town and thought I could have privacy. The town knows more about my routine and my life than I do,” he snickered. “Then I realized.”
“You just have a schedule and routine, nothin’ wrong with that.”
“I guess not,” he said. “Uh, there is somethin’ that I wanna share with you, when this is all over.”
“What’s that?”
“I’d like to take you to meet Patches,” he smiled. “She’s my horse. I mean, she was my horse. I had to sell her when I moved, but the owner still lets me know about her, and said I’m always welcome to come and ride her. She’s a beautiful Mare.”
“I’d love that. I’ve never rode before, but I’d love to see you in your cowboy action,” she smiled.
“Cowboy action?” he snickered slightly.
“Uh huh, I’d like to share that part of your life with you.”
“Then you’ll definitely come with me,” he smiled, as there was a knock on the door. “Oh, I wonder who that is,” he walked down the hall and answered the door.
“Dina? Nels? What brings you here?” Jake asked.
“The agency was closed. I figured you were home,” Nels said.
“Uh, come in, Doc and I were just having some coffee.”
“We weren’t sure who should tell you, so we both came,” Dina explained.
Aggie walked into the entryway. “Nels? What’s going on?”
“Come into the kitchen,” Jake said, leading them down the hall to the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Uh, sure,” Nels sighed.
Aggie poured Dina and Nels a cup of coffee, from the cabinet that contained extra dishes for when Jake had company, which was hardly ever. “What’s wrong?” she spoke through the silence.
“Uh, we’re still searching Robinson’s home,” Nels explained. “In the backyard, and we’re still digging it up, there were buckets buried.”
“Buckets?” Jake asked.
“Black buckets, each had a top sealing its contents inside.” Dina said. “The bureau is assisting in the case, since we have more resources. And Masters was able to hire a few more resources, but we’re also loaning him some extra resources.”
“What was in the buckets?” Aggie asked.
“We found seven heads, buckets filled with wallets, about 20 of them, and some buckets had some cash inside.”
“Seven heads?” Jake asked. “There were only six victims here in Clarksville, and one of them had her head returned.”
“We still have a lot of matching parts and DNA testing to be done. We can’t ID the faces yet.”
“I assume you’ll need my help,” Aggie said.
“Yes, but if you’re off today, it can wait ‘til tomorrow,” Nels explained. “It was a long day.”
“I’ll do whatever I can,” she said. “I do appreciate the help y’all provided for me.”
“There is still a lot more work to do,” Nels explained.
“Well, that’s all interesting to know, but somethin’ made you both come here. One of you wanna tell me what’s goin’ on?” Jake crossed his arms.
“We searched the house, too. Robinson’s house. Interior and exterior. Top to bottom,” Nels explained. “And the basement is somethin’ ... I can’t even explain.”
“Well, try,” Jake leaned up against his counter. “Just spill it, Nels. Dina? Anyone?”
Dina pulled her digital tablet out of her bag. She used her finger to scroll and then stopped at the photo of the basement. “He had a shrine dedicated to ..,” her eyes looked at Aggie and then at Jake.
“Me?” Aggie asked. “I saw the room at the clinic.”
“No,” Dina handed the tablet to Jake. “You, Jake. This isn’t about Aggie or Elaine or even Sully, it’s all about you.”
“What the hell?” Jake stared at the photo of the cement wall covered in articles and photos of Jake. Some of the photos were Jake as a Marine, or articles taken of him in combat, and some were of him standing at crime scenes, in Austin. He continued to scroll through the photos. “I thought it was about Aggie. I mean, he is her stalker, right? He said he was.”
“Yes, definitely, at least all the evidence leads that way.” Dina looked at Aggie. “I reckon you were a second point of reference.”
“What does that mean?” she looked at Jake.
“He used you to gain an advantage over me. He probably didn’t foresee that you and I would end up in the same town. He used his fascination with you to aid in his murdering girls to give as presents to me.” Jake looked at Dina, as he handed her back the tablet. “He did keep saying that we were one. I don’t know what the hell is in his head ‘bout that. I wanna see him.”
“If that’s what you want,” Nels said. “I can make the arrangements.”
“I did some research on this Robinson. I don’t know why he’s been attached to me,” Jake asked. “My profile didn’t consist of him being infatuated with me. Just as someone in his way of his demented desires, like stalking Aggie or Elaine.”
“Not sure what type of fascination, but he keeps saying that you two had a connection. Probably something in his own head. We’re running a DNA test on him, maybe the fact that he was abandoned as a baby can give us insight into his past. We found a bunch of paperwork in a box in his bedroom. I reckon he was looking into who his parents were. The ones who abandoned him. Maybe it’s those answers that can help figure this man out and his motive.”
“Well, let me know when I can see him,” Jake said. “I need this case to be closed.”
“This afternoon, one o’clock at the sheriff’s station.” Nels said. “Uh, Agent, we should go.” The two set their coffee cups in the sink and headed out without saying another word.
Aggie looked at Jake. “What’s with the look?”
“My mind is reeling. I guess I’m trying to figure out why I didn’t know.”
“Well, you caught my stalker, and one you didn’t know you had,” she put her arms around his neck. “That reminds me, I still need to pay for your services.”
“Don’t you dare,” he grinned.
“Oh, well, if you didn’t wanna ..,” she nudged her head toward his room.
“Well, then, yes,” he smiled. “You tryin’ to make me feel better?”
“I hope I’m doin’ more than just tryin’,” she led him to his bedroom, closing the door behind them.
34
Jake got out of his truck and walked toward the entrance of the Sheriff’s station, when he noticed Joe Abrams sitting on the bench. “Ranger Abrams?” he tipped his hat.
Joe tipped the bill of his baseball cap, and slowly stood up. “They won’t let me see him.”
“Who? Robinson?”
“Yes. I need to look that little bastard in the eye and find out why he killed my brother.”
“You may not like what you hear,” Jake said.
“Why you here?”
“I’m gonna have a little chat with him. You got somethin’ you want me to ask him?”
“Why they letting you see him? You’re a fed, ain’t ya?”
“No, just know a few. This guy’s been trailing me for years.” Jake noticed the slight bulge in Joe’s waistband. “Joe, what’re you doin’ with that?”
“He deserves to die.”
“Maybe, but you don’t. You can’
t go in the sheriff’s office armed. You’d be caught before you got past the first deputy.”
“Then you do it for me.”
“I’m not a killer. I’m sorry. Joe, go home. You don’t need to be here. If I get answers for you, I’ll let ya know. You’re not the only one who wants answers. I had to practically tied down Dr. Constantine. It’s a good thing she’s got plenty of work to keep her busy.”
“Mr. Dalton, thanks. I’m sorry. I am real sorry ‘bout this.”
“Go home,” he sighed. “Please.”
Joe nodded and walked slowly toward the parking lot. Jake waited until he saw Joe get in his car, then he turned and went into the Sheriff’s station. He removed his Stetson, and carried it in his hand as he walked over to the deputy, standing at the reception desk. “Jackson Dalton, here to see Arlo Robinson. Sheriff Olsen is expecting me.”
“Yes, sir, follow me,” he walked around the large desk and led Jake through doors that needed to be opened with a key card. “Are you armed, sir?”
“Yes,” Jake patted the holster inside his jacket.
“You’ll need to surrender it and put it in a locker.”
“That’s fine. Anything else?”
“Just the gun and if you have any knives or other weapons.”
“Nope just the Glock,” he walked over to a set of lockers. He removed his holster from his belt and placed it in the locker, turning and removing the key. “Follow me,” he led Jake to a door labelled Interrogation Room four.
“Will I be watched?”
“And recorded,” he said. “Also, no contact with the prisoner.”
“Can I record my conversation with him?”
“Uh, sure, I guess,” he said. “You using your cell phone to record?”
“No, digital recorder,” he pulled out a small recorder from his pocket. “I don’t want him seeing me take notes. He may get the wrong idea.”
“Wrong idea?” the deputy raised an eyebrow.
Jake eyed the man’s nametag. “Deputy Smart, if I take notes when he says certain things, he may think that he said somethin’ important or somethin’ that gets to me. A recorder tapes everything he says, important things and things that are irrelevant to what I wanna know.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ve only been in this job three years. I’m still learning and what’s been going on in this town is been one big lesson. You a profiler or somethin’?”
“No, I just know how to do it,” he said. “It helps me figure people out and why they do whatever it is that they do.”
“When you’re finished, pressed the red button at the door, and someone will let you out.”
“Thank you,” Jake put his hand on the knob. “Is he in there yet?”
“Not yet, but the officer will be bringing him up shortly.”
“Hold on,” Deputy Jericho hurried down the hall toward them. “Sheriff Olsen told me to show this to you. It’s the DNA report,” he opened a folder, and Jake read the top sheet containing the results.
“Thank you,” Jake opened the door and walked into the interrogation room. The room was a textured cement gray. There was a rectangular metal table in the middle of the room, with two chairs on one side and two chairs on the other side. The table had an O-ring for handcuffs to be attached. In the corner near the door, there was a small square table that had one chair, and was piled with yellow legal pads. There was a door on the other side of the room, where he knew prisoners were led into the room. He removed his jacket and folded it over one of the chairs. He set his Stetson on a table that was in the corner of the room. He took out his digital recorder, and placed it on the table next to his Stetson. He walked over to the mirror, knowing someone was behind it, watching, and then leaned his back against it. He crossed his arms, tapping his fingers on his elbow.
The door on the opposite side of the room opened and two deputies led a shackled Robinson to the table. They cuffed his hands to the O-ring on the table, and connected his feet shackles to rings that were connected to the floor under the table. Robinson looked up at Jake and smiled. “You came for me.”
“I came to talk to you.”
“How’s your arm?” Robinson asked, calmly, and almost proud.
“Fine, just a scratch.” Jake walked over to the table. “I wanna record our conversation. Is that a problem?”
“Uh, no, do I need a lawyer or anything?”
“That’s up to you. However,” he turned on the recorder. “I’m not working for the police. I’m not here to try to question you for the police or feds. I just wanna ask you a couple of questions. I need some answers, for my own sake. Not for convictions or anything. Do you want your lawyer?”
“I don’t have one yet,” he sighed.
Jake looked at the two deputies who were standing by the back door. “No lawyer?”
“They’re getting a public defender. No one will question him ‘til he has one. Should be handled by this afternoon,” one of the deputies answered.
Jake pulled the chair that had his jacket on it, and sat down. He crossed his left ankle over his right thigh, and looked at Robinson. “I wanna know why you were sending me these girls as presents.”
Robinson leaned back until the cuffs tugged on his wrists. “You were a cop. I wanted you to notice me.”
“Why me? I mean, what makes you wanna give me presents?” Jake gulped, trying to maintain a composed demeanor.
“You’re my brother. I just know it.”
“Why do you think that?”
“It matches,” he grinned.
“What matches?”
“Your father, my father, the same guy.”
“My father only had one child. He married my mother, and they had me. After that, he stayed married to his work, and never had another child nor another wife.”
“That’s a lie. I know the truth.”
“No, not sure why you believe it, but I know it’s not true. The sheriff did a DNA test on you, and you and I ain’t related. So, even if you thought that, why’d you kill girls to get my attention?”
“You didn’t answer my letters. You know, when you lived in Austin. I wrote you letters.”
Jake shrugged. “Not sure what you’re talking ‘bout, but you killed girls because of some letters?”
“It was self-defense,” he said. “The nurses had it comin’.”
“You dismembered nurses because it was self-defense?”
“They wouldn’t help me.”
“Why the caduceus tattoo?”
“That doctor uh, beautiful Agatha, had one on her lower back. I saw it when she was in the shower at the hospital in Austin. I was watching the nurse that worked with her, and I saw it. Nurse Jenny led me to beautiful Agatha. I knew that if my brother saw her, he’d love her, so I gave you gifts. These girls with that tattoo. You would do whatever you could to help those girls.”
“I’m not your brother. I don’t know why you followed me or followed Dr. Constantine all over four different states, but it’s over now.”
“I wanted you to be proud of me, and he thought she should be savored.”
“He? He who?”
“Dr. Jones,” he said. “But he got outta hand. He wanted to bring her to the clinic, but I couldn’t allow that. She was mine. I was only sharing her with you. I could share with my brother.”
“Then why did you write notes for me to stay away from her? Why did you kill Ted Abrams and put him in my yard?”
Robinson leaned forward in the chair. “Brothers for life, right?” he started to hum to himself.
Jake stood up. “I guess that’s it,” he sighed. “So, you killed Jones?”
“He had it comin’,” Robinson stopped humming.
“And Abrams?”
“The girls weren’t cuttin’ it, so I thought a man may gain your attention. A Ranger. A Tex-as Ran-ger,” he emphasized every syllable slowly.
“Well, you were right. You got my attention, and now, it’s over.”
Robinson tried to stan
d up. “No. I’ll see you again, right? Please, brother. I can do so much more.”
Jake turned around. “I’m sure you could, but no, it’s over. You’re not my brother. You’re nothing to me. These were not presents. They weren’t gifts; they were living, breathing beautiful human beings.”
“Nurses are a waste of time. Mamma never had time for me,” he grunted. “Damn ethics, be damned all of you,” he shouted. “Be damned, brother.”
“Well, I’ll see you at trial, and then that will be it. I ain’t your damn brother, Robinson.”
“Someone will want to talk with me, right? I’ll be famous, right?”
“Maybe, but you’re still not my brother. You’re an evil man.”
“I am not a monster!” He yelled. “I am not a monster!”
“No, definitely not, monsters aren’t real, and you, sir, are definitely real, a real piece of evil. See you in court,” Jake picked his jacket up off the chair, and draped it over his arm. He looked toward Robinson, as he grabbed his Stetson and recorder. “Keep yelling, but you won’t be getting off with an insanity plea. I won’t stand for it,” he turned off the recorder and pressed the red button near the door. The door unlocked and he walked into the corridor.
Nels walked out of the observation room and over to Jake. “The public defender has his hands full.”
“He needs to be locked up.”
“Well, Austin already sent an extradition order. They wanna charge him and try him in Texas. Both Oklahoma and Texas wanna push for the death penalty. I guess the states haveta battle it out.”
“Whoever has the most evidence, right?” Jake asked.
“Uh huh, about your recording.”
“I know you recorded it, too. I don’t care if you use it for evidence or whatever, but I’m done.”
“Do you think he told the truth about Jones?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know much about Jones and didn’t look into his background. Aggie is at the M.Es office now, performing his autopsy. I’m sure she’ll be up to her neck in heads, too. I’m going to check on Brennan, and heading home.”
“I’ll see you out,” Nels led him to the locker, where he inserted his key, turned it, and pulled out his holstered weapon.