“I used to have it in Boston. We were doing well there, but the mob made my life miserable. When some bruiser tried to buy my daughter and marry her, I got the hell out.”
Livy and Lyzee stated at each other.
“Really?”
“Yes. I moved here last year.”
“That’s interesting. Do you know these women?” Elizabeth asked, pulling a file from her messenger bag?
When she placed the pictures on the table, she prayed they’d come unstuck.
“Hey! That’s Stephanie! She’s my waitress.”
“When did you see her last?”
He thought about it, rubbing his big meat hook hands over his face. “I think it was two nights ago when she got off work. She never showed last night for her shift. My daughter was going to cover for her, but she had already worked that morning.”
Elizabeth pulled out the bag with the cocktail napkin in it. “Are these her hours?”
He checked them out. “Yes, they are. Has something happened to her?”
“Yeah, she was murdered. You can bet she won’t be showing up for work tonight either.”
He gasped. “Oh no! That’s horrible! I feel bad that I complained about her ditching her shift.”
“It was all over the news.”
“I don’t watch television. It rots the brain.”
Elizabeth could bring up the fact that he sold copious amounts of booze and that rotted the liver, but who was she to judge?
As they sat there, the waitress carried over two plates of food. It looked like a plethora of animals committed suicide over the top of the potatoes.
Crap!
If she ate this, she was going to be sick. No one should consume this much grease.
She watched in horror as Livy dove in.
“Timothy, was anyone bothering her the night she was last seen alive?” Elizabeth asked, watching the man’s face. She wasn’t big on coincidence and this man was in Boston last year, right where the killer had played his sick games.
Was he the one murdering the women?
Could he be the connection?
“No one would say a bad word to Stephanie. She was a gem. She left work, headed out, and I thought made it home. She didn't live far from here.”
They were aware.
“How about this girl?” Livy asked with a mouthful of bacon.
Elizabeth gave her the look. She’d seen her partner take down food before, but she seriously thought she had a tape worm.
Livy ignored her.
“She looks familiar, but I’m not sure. After a while, everyone starts to look the same in here. I can ask my daughter. She works the floor and might have seen her.”
He whistled, and the bright-eyed girl returned and she lovingly dropped her arm over her father’s shoulders.
“Yes, Dad?”
“Meghan, my love, I need you to talk to these two garda and tell them anything you know. They’re working on an investigation.”
Elizabeth corrected him. “We’re the FBI not cops. They’re two different things.”
The girl continued smiling. “What can I do for you?” she asked.
“Have you seen this girl in here?”
The woman stared at the picture. Then, it was like the lightbulb went on.
“That’s Missy Kelly. She comes in and has a few drinks, smokes with the men, and then usually takes one home. She’s one of our loyal evening customers.”
Yeah, not anymore.
“How about this one?” she asked, showing them a picture of the waitress.
“She works here.”
“Well, these two ladies won’t be coming here for work and pleasure. Unfortunately, they’re both dead.”
The young woman gasped. “Oh no! Stephanie was a wonderful person. I can’t believe this! Poor Missy! She was loose, but harmless.”
“Well, believe it. They’re gone.”
“This is horrible,” she said.
“Yes, and what’s ironic is that ‘The Butcher’, as he’s been named, liked Boston a great deal. In fact, he came here from that fine city.”
Timothy looked confused. “I’ve heard of him. Everyone has, but I was long gone before he started killing. I’m sorry, but it wasn’t my pub. I know what you’re thinking, but I have nothing to do with this.”
“Why did you pick DC?” Livy asked.
“It seemed like a busy city where I could make my business work. I needed out of Boston. The mob was squeezing me for money, and when they focused on my daughter, I couldn’t stay. I wanted to be where it was safe for Meghan to grow up, marry, and start a family.”
Elizabeth made notes in her little paper notepad. “So, you recall the news of ‘The Butcher’?”
“Yes. While I don’t watch the news, I do read the papers. It was all over the headlines.”
Livy finished her food. “Can I have yours?” she asked her partner.
Elizabeth couldn’t believe Livy. Where the hell was she putting it? In a hollow leg? Instead of commenting, she pushed it toward her. “Go ahead. I’m not hungry.”
“Was anyone bothering Missy?” Livy asked, as she prepared to devour the rest of the food.
“No,” offered Meghan. “She did her thing and that’s it. I remember cutting her off, since she was starting to get tipsy. I worked last night, even though I wasn’t supposed to, and I feel horrible. Maybe if I didn't send her out of here, she’d still be alive.”
Elizabeth knew this wasn’t her fault. The killer was a watcher. Missy was likely his target well before Meghan sent her home.
“I was cranky last night. When Stephanie didn't show, I pulled a double. It looks like I’ll be working again tonight too.”
It was understandable.
“Off the top of your head, when did she leave? Can you recall?”
“I’m going to say around twelve thirty. Hey! You were here! I remember you with that really geeky guy who nearly got his ass kicked.”
Elizabeth closed her mouth.
Crap!
“You kicked the shit out of that big baboon who was picking on your boyfriend.”
Livy snorted.
“Yeah, that was me. Guilty as charged.”
Timothy looked confused as he looked back and forth between Elizabeth and his daughter. “Why didn't I hear about this when I got here this morning?”
Meghan O’Leary shrugged. “They pulled badges, Patrick didn't see any harm done, and they left right after.”
“I don’t like pub fights, Meghan. You should have told me,” he scolded. “This is why I don’t like you working at night. The men who come in here get rowdy.”
“She handled them just fine.”
Livy pointed to Elizabeth’s split lip. “Well, she didn't get away unscathed.”
Meghan laughed. “She almost did. Honestly, Dad, I forgot about it. She whipped his ass. It was funny. The guy was a douchebag. He was being belligerent to just about everyone, including me.”
The man glanced over at the Fed. “Thank you for handling it. I don’t allow people like that in here.”
Livy pushed the plate away. “Well, someone is using this place to find victims. Both women were here, and now they’re in body bags in our morgue. That’s a big problem.”
He shook his head. “I think, starting next week, I’m going to begin working the night shift. I need to make sure this business doesn’t go down the tubes. This is our livelihood, Meghan.”
She looked embarrassed. “Sorry, Dad.”
He patted her on the hand. “It’s okay. Go handle the other customers.”
When she was gone, he stared at the two Feds. “What can I do to help? You’ve already been in here staking the joint out, so tell me how to help find this bastard.”
“Keep an eye on any women here who are redheads. He seems to favor them. That’s all we have right now. If you see anyone acting suspicious, call me.”
The man nodded. “I will. If I see anything?”
Elizabeth pulled a card o
ut from the back of her badge. “Don’t worry about the time. I can be here in twenty minutes. I only live in Georgetown. Whatever you do, don’t engage him. Trust me when I say he’s sick.”
The man got up. “I will.”
As he headed away, Elizabeth threw down some cash. “If you puke in the ride, you’re cleaning it up, Livy. I swear to God you’re a glutton for punishment.”
“It was really good. I saved you a blood sausage. It was a little liquid-y, but not too bad.”
She stared at her. “Are you out of your mind? Did you just hear the sentence that came out of your mouth?”
Livy laughed. “I’m nervous about tonight. When I get nervous, I eat. When I eat, I forget that I’m going to jump my sexy dream man’s bones.”
“Did you forget that Gabe is likely going to see you naked tonight, and you just downed half a cow, a field of greasy potatoes, and blood sausage?”
She stared, openmouthed. “Oh, shit. I may be sick.”
“Yeah, you will be in about two hours.”
They headed out.
“You don’t think I’ll get sick, do you?”
Elizabeth laughed all the way to the Denali she’d left there the night before. “Follow me back so we can drop off a vehicle. Then we’ll head to Missy Kelly’s house.”
“You didn't answer me.”
“Yeah, and that should tell you what I’m thinking.”
Livy started cursing.
Elizabeth was right.
She was screwed.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
He watched them scouring the city for him, and he found it amusing as hell.
They were out and about, trying to find a lead to bring him in. Well, it wasn’t going to happen.
He was invisible. They couldn’t catch him in Boston, and they certainly wouldn’t find him now.
He’d make sure of that.
Not only was he smarter, but he had so much more on the line. There was no way in hell he was going to surrender, only to be locked away for the rest of his life.
Or worse…put to death.
No, it wasn’t happening.
These two women were simply out of luck.
Unfortunately for them, specifically the sexy redhead he wanted to work on, they would be meeting, and soon.
She wasn’t worthy of trying to find him, but she was worthy of being his to immortalize forever.
He was better than her.
He was an artist, and she was nothing more than a canvas. In life, these thoughtless women tried to prove they had power.
Well, they had none when it came to him. The control was his to wield, and he would.
Granted, he did appreciate her tenacity. They were getting closer and closer, but he had something in mind. It would turn the tables and push her even closer.
He always had a backup plan.
Tonight, he’d start making it happen.
It was time to have some fun.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Wednesday Afternoon
Missy Kelly’s Home
After dropping off the spare Denali, they arrived at Missy Kelly’s residence. Once inside, the stench was beginning to intensify. The blood on the walls was turning, and the stains were moving from bright oxidized red to vile brown.
That was all that remained of the crime scene, and both Elizabeth and Livy knew that soon the clean-up crews would be coming.
This place would be sterilized for the next occupant.
It was a sad testament to a woman’s life. They had Missy Kelly’s personal information, and she was alone in the world. Her possession would be sold or scrapped, and she would be nothing more than a distant memory.
Come to think of it, Stephanie O’Malley had been a loner too. Was that another reason the killer had picked them? The profile indicated that he was a watcher, and certainly, he was finding these women fascinating.
He was prolific, and that worried Elizabeth and Livy. At some point, he was going to move on. The last thing Elizabeth wanted was this case haunting her every step of her career. They needed to lock this bastard down and throw away the key.
They couldn’t lose this game. Too much was at stake.
As they walked through the woman’s space, Elizabeth tried to figure out what made the woman a victim. All the windows had locks, all the doors were intact.
“He’s got to be grabbing them outside,” she stated. “As they open the door, he has to be attacking.”
Livy headed back across the room to the front door. Carefully, she examined it for any sign of distress.
“Here,” she said, pointing at one spot. “It looks like a dent.”
Elizabeth picked up her phone and made a call.
“Doctor Leonard.”
“Hey, Doc, it’s me.”
“Are you heading here already?”
“Not yet. I’m at the last victim’s home. Did our women have any head injuries?”
There was a rustling of paper. “Yes, there was an impact wound on their frontal lobe. They may have fallen forward and hit the ground.”
“Is it possible that they may have had their heads bashed off a door?”
There was silence while he pondered it. “That’s definitely a possibility. I can’t give you a definite. All I do know is that it was a hard flat surface—door or floor—either fits the bill.”
Elizabeth pondered it. She’d have to be knocked out. If she wasn’t, she’d fight like a hell cat. “He’s got to be stunning them enough to incapacitate, but not enough to kill.”
“I concur.”
“Thanks, Doc. We’ll be arriving soon.”
“I’m running to my place to get my bag. I’m done with the reports.”
She didn't really hear him since her mind was spinning a mile a minute. Elizabeth was adding the information to the profile from Gabe’s golden boy. “Okay, Christopher, I’ll see you then.”
When she hung up, Livy was grinning.
“Shut up,” Elizabeth said, ignoring her. “He and I can’t have sex. I’ve already called him twice today, and I’ve had breakfast with him. We’ll be in each other’s way. Trust me on this one.”
She simply shrugged.
“Let’s get back to the reason why we’re here. I think I know what happened.”
“What?”
“He hit her here,” she said, gently grabbing her partner’s head to show her “After he did this, she’d fall, right?”
“Yeah, she’d be stunned, and then she’d be on the floor.”
Elizabeth got behind her partner. “Lean back.”
“If you drop me in anything gross, I’m going to hurt you, Lyzee,” she warned. “I don’t need to be a biohazard for tonight. I want Gabe all over me, not coated in plastic and wearing a hazmat suit.”
She laughed. “I won’t drop you. Come on!”
Livy leaned back so Elizabeth could drag her into the main living area. “He’s going to be looking around. There’s no blood in here. He didn't start hurting her in this room.”
Livy stayed still. She listened to her partner walk through it as she played in his mind.
Elizabeth pulled her toward the kitchen.
“There’s no space here. He’s going to find someplace better. He might have been pissed. He’s used the kitchen in all the other cases.”
“The dining room was his backup plan,” Livy stated.
Elizabeth pulled her in there, and finally, Livy stood up. “I’d be exhausted,” she admitted. “You’re not that heavy, and I’m in great shape, but still.”
“I’m one twenty of dead weight. We all know how hard it is to lug a body. Our killer has to be younger and in decent shape, or he would have just taken care of her wherever. The foyer was big enough.”
She agreed.
They looked around. The room was processed. There were black smudges everywhere and the place was stripped by the tech team.
“Want to help me check her bedroom?”
Elizabeth asked.
“Yeah, that’s generally where all the action happens, and we both know it.”
Upstairs, they searched everything that wasn’t pulled apart by the team.
They found the usual suspects.
Sex toys.
Lube.
Lingerie.
“Someone liked playtime, and this fits what Meghan stated. She’d pick up a man, come home, get her sex on.”
Livy laughed. “You know you have the same shit in your room.”
She stared at her. “I don’t have lingerie, and I don’t need lube. As for the sex toys, I don’t have them either. You seem to think that I don’t have sex. I’m not celibate, Livy. I’m just selective.”
“Do tell.”
“Not happening. You have a big mouth.”
Livy laughed. “The girlfriend code demands you spill it. These are your rules.”
“Last month I had a few dates with a Capitol cop. Against better judgment, I broke my ‘no dating cops’ rule. We had sex a few times and had a couple of dates.”
“And.”
“It fizzled out. I need something unique, special, and hot. I’m not finding it lately, so I’m opting to just bide my time.”
“Until what? Your girl parts rust out? I say you jump the ME. You can get your sex on, and relax. Besides, he’s attractive in that geeky way.”
“It has nothing to do with him being a geek. I think smart men are incredibly sexy. I could have sex with him, and I would probably enjoy it.”
“Then what’s the issue?” she asked, digging through Missy’s personal possessions.
“He’s not my type.”
“You keep saying that, but who is your type? It’s a guy. Pick one, start something, and see where it goes.”
Elizabeth dug through Missy’s closet without saying a word.
“Did you have sex with Gabe?”
It caught Elizabeth off guard. “WHAT? Why would you go there?”
She was embarrassed that she had to ask this. “I really feel something when I’m with him, and I don’t want it to destroy us. You’re my best friend. This is your one chance to tell me to back away. I know you and he are very close, but I don’t know just how close.”
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