“Replay that, please,” the sheriff asked in a bewildered voice.
Levi hit the Play button, and they watched it again.
“Jesus Christ, I can’t believe what I’ve just seen,” muttered the sheriff.
Louisa reached over and hit the Play button again as she moved closer to the screen. She shook her head after it ended. The three of them looked at each other in silence as the door opened and the rest of the task force arrived. Jim Craig, Johnny Berry, and Rachael Ayres looked at the sheriff and Louisa curiously. Levi motioned them over to the screen.
“Watch this,” he said and hit the Play button again. They watched the clip several times before they sat down around the table.
“ We haven’t been able to determine who posted the picture of Pete Preston’s body on the Internet. The killer was able to effectively mask the IP address. I’m pretty darn sure we’ll encounter the same challenges with this awful video,” said Craig.
The sheriff held up his hand, indicating he wanted the room to be quiet as he dialed a number on the desk phone.
“Hello, Susan, this is Sheriff Pierce. I have some news that I need to tell you about. A disturbing video has been posted on the Internet that shows Katie. She appears to be in good health and doing all right under the circumstances.”
He gave her the Web address and waited a few moments while she and Tim watched it at their apartment. Susan was crying and hysterical when Tim got back on the line.
“Sheriff, do we have any hope of finding her?”
“Tim, the task force is meeting as we speak. Louisa Hawke is here with us. Believe me, Tim; we’re doing everything humanly possible to find Katie.”
“ We know you are, sheriff. I just pray we can find her…alive. I know you’ll call us with any news,” he said.
“You know I will, Tim.” The room was silent after the sheriff hung up.
Louisa stood up. “Let me suggest something that comes from the thirty or so years I’ve been involved in this sort of demented crap. This killer is very special. He’s fucking with us and doing so for a reason. He firmly believes he’s smarter than we are, and he doesn’t think we can catch him. Now, he gave in to the little girl’s desires yesterday when he ventured out of his safety zone and went shopping with her. That almost cost him the whole gig. He was lucky yesterday, but he doesn’t live on luck. He plans and executes with perfection.
His dark side usually controls the show. That side of him has had to retool the show because of what happened yesterday. For instance, his van is out of the picture now. He knows it, and we know it. So Rachael what do we know about the van?” she asked.
“ We already have video clips of the van from the McDonald’s parking lot and the Toys“R”Us store parking lot in Winston-Salem,” Rachael responded. “We’re pretty sure it’s a nineteen ninety-five Dodge Ram twenty-five hundred panel van. The stock tires on that model were two twenty-five/seventy-five R fifteen. That size would match the tire impressions we recovered from the motel as well as where it was parked off of Highway 52 in the wooded area. We have circulated pictures of the van to every police agency in the neighboring states. However, I agree that since he was stopped by the Mount Airy officer, he won’t use that van anytime soon.
I’m still working with the Bureau’s cyber forensics team to find out what we can about where the video came from. Unfortunately, we’re still ruining into dead ends. We thought the trace could yield better results. The team is working around the clock.”
“Thanks, Rachael. Good work. What else can we do about the van?” Louisa asked.
“I’m going to get pictures of the van posted on our department home page. We’re going to enlist the local and regional media to plaster the picture of that van all over the newspapers and television stations,” said Levi. “We’re also going to have the patrol deputies paste a picture of the van in all the local convenience stores and supermarkets. Based on what we know now, the killer had driven the van around Fancy Gap and other parts of Carroll County. If we get lucky, we might find someone who saw it come down some street or road or, better yet, some driveway. We just need a little luck in that department.” Levi felt good after saying all of that.
“Good plan, Levi that could lead to some good information. Let’s talk about the reward. Does anyone think we can get funds to up the ante on the reward to, say, one hundred thousand dollars?” Louisa suggested.
Everyone in the room looked at each other before the sheriff spoke, “The local reality is that there isn’t that much time until the flea market weekend starts. All of Carroll County is already being affected by this. All forms of business are feeling the pinch. Only half of the regular vendors had paid for their booths and ground space, and the motels are getting cancellation after cancellation. I have personally heard from more residents who are already feeling the fiscal pinch of the recession, and now any chance of recovery is diminishing by the day. This is not good.
I plan to have dinner with Libby Thomas tonight and see what she can do about getting more money for the reward,” said the sheriff. “Getting another fifty thousand will be challenging, but Libby has her ways. If anyone can do it, I’m sure she can.”
“Thanks, sheriff. I agree with you on that point. Libby Thomas certainly appears to have her way with things,” Louisa said, grinning at the sheriff. “OK, now for the next step. Since we have evidence that the killer transported Katie across state lines into North Carolina, we now have a federal offense. It’s time to officially bring the power and might of the FBI into the case. The more help we get on this and the sooner we get, the better our chances of getting Katie back alive. I firmly believe that Katie won’t live into next week.
The killer understands that the noose is now tightening around his own neck. He made a big mistake and now has to deal with the consequences. I agree that he is nearby and is watching us. The video is his way of slapping us in the face. But he isn’t going to play this game much longer. He will probably kill her and maintain his cover if he can, or move on after and create a completely new identity for himself somewhere else. We have to move in the next two to four days.
I’m going to call Sandy Wells, who heads the FBI office in Richmond. We need to see how many agents he can get over here and how quickly he can get them here. It’s time to saturate the area with investigative resources. I’m also going to call the ATF office in Roanoke to see what kind of manpower they can send to help us as well. I don’t expect to get any push-back from any of those folks. I suggest that the core team get together every other day to look at what we have. Any thoughts?”
“I’m not so comfortable with the thought of those federal folks bumping into themselves while we’re trying to conduct our own investigation,” Johnny Berry piped up. “This will make us look like ineffective morons who can’t properly investigate a local matter. I just don’t know if all of that will do us any good.”
Before Louisa could respond, the sheriff stood up. “Johnny, let me tell you something. I like my job. You state folks aren’t elected into office. I am. So let me remind you of what’ll happen if we don’t avail ourselves of federal assistance and the press gets wind of that. Let me tell you what our local residents will think of that. They won’t think we’re morons; they’ll think we’re nincompoops. And my old ass will be unemployed, and that is not acceptable, my good friend.”
Johnny Berry didn’t say a word.
“Listen, you may think I’m butting in to this whole mess,” Louisa said. “Not the case at all. I’m here for the Prestons. I can only be in the background. This is the sheriff ’s jurisdiction, and I’ll do as much as I can to help him and get Katie back to her parents before it’s too late.”
The room cleared out, leaving Louisa and the sheriff alone.
“Please do call Sandy Wells and get his folks out here to help. Every bit of manpower will help us. I agree with you that our window is closing rapidly. Johnny Berry will get over it, especially if we get the girl back alive.”
> * * *
Quinn and Leroy returned to Quinn’s house.
“OK, Leroy, tell me exactly what we know about the priest.”
Leroy looked at his notes. “Well, all I know is that his name is Father
Antonio Cruz Martinez. I really don’t know anything else about him. I haven’t done a Google search on him or anything like that.”
“Cool, we can do that right now. Let’s get his name entered here and see what we come up with.”
Quinn looked at the screen for a moment and typed in some more information. He looked at the results and typed some more.
“Well, Leroy, this is interesting. The hits I’m getting are for his time here at the parish in Fancy Gap. Not a darned thing before that. Nothing! Did you enter his name in your system at work?” Quinn asked.
“I sure did, and nothing came back. No criminal history, no military history or even prior addresses.”
“Well, shit, that’s not good. Where else can we look? Let me look up the telephone number for the archdiocese offices in Richmond. They must have all the information on every priest in Virginia. Got it. Here’s the number for the human resources department. Give them a call and identify yourself as a police officer and see what you get, Leroy.”
Leroy dialed the number and spoke to the person who answered the phone. He looked at Quinn and covered the mouthpiece. “It’s the receptionist. She’s connecting me to somebody.” Leroy waited for a few moments. He identified himself to the new person and asked for information on Father Tony. “This is an important police matter… OK, I understand,” he said as he hung up the phone.
“That was Tami LePage the director of human resources. She told me they don’t give out that kind of information over the phone. She suggested she might talk to us if we go to their offices in Richmond.”
“I’m not surprised, Leroy. Just another bureaucrat covering her ass. OK, Leroy, it’s a three-hour drive to Richmond. Let’s hit the road and visit with them face to face. It’s always harder to say no if you’re standing nose to nose with them.”
“Sounds like a plan to me, Quinn. We can swing by my house and pick up my overnight kit. I sense this will be an interesting trip,” Leroy replied.
Quinn smiled at that suggestion as he went to pack a few things. He threw everything into the back seat of Leroy’s car. They drove across Hillsville into the countryside. Leroy’s farm was about five miles from town. They turned on to a dirt road that led up a small hill to where a picture-perfect farmhouse stood among a grove of tall pine trees.
“Darn it, Leroy, this looks like a Norman Rockwell picture—the beautiful farmhouse with the pond below. Very nice!”
“What it is, Quinn is a whole lot of work, but it’s truly a labor of love. That’s why we stay here. We could live anywhere we want, but what more would it get us? Nothing, really. This is our family homestead, and we love it.”
“Hell, I can see why, Leroy. It’s very special.”
As they parked, Quinn saw a woman come out the front door toward them. She smiled as she approached the car and extended her hand to Quinn.
“You must be the mighty Quinn my husband raves about. Good to finally meet you. My name is Laneisha,” she said.
“Laneisha, it’s my pleasure to meet you. Leroy has told me about you, but he failed to mention how pretty you are. He emphasized how smart you are, but now I see that he truly is a lucky man.”
“Laneisha, do not listen to this man. He can charm the bark off a tree. This silver-haired devil will dazzle you with his brilliance and truly befuddle you with his baloney.”
“Now, Leroy, stop all of that talk. I can tell that Quinn is a gentleman of the highest order. I do believe you’re a little jealous, my dearest husband. This good-lookin’ man pays me a few compliments—well deserved, if I do say so—and you go on being all worked up about it.”
The three of them bent over in laughter. Laneisha led them into the house, where they talked while Leroy filled his overnight bag.
“Are you sure I can’t feed you two before you head out?” she asked.
“Laneisha, I wish we could, but we really have to go. It’s been a pleasure finally meeting you. You two really do need to visit Louisa and me at my house. And, lest I forget, I really do need to see you about my taxes. Leroy tells me you’re the very best at legally minimizing a person’s tax liability.”
“Quinn, it’s been a pleasure. Just let me know when we can visit again! You two have a safe trip to Richmond!”
Quinn’s cell rang. He looked and saw that Louisa was calling.
“Quinn, are you near a computer? You need to see something right away.”
“Leroy, can we fire up your computer before we go?”
Leroy went to his study and booted up his system.
“OK, Louisa, what address do you want us to look at?” he asked. Louisa gave them the information and waited while they watched the video.
“My God!” exclaimed Laneisha as she watched what was unfolding on the screen before her. She turned away as Quinn and Leroy watched it again.
“What do you think, Louisa? He’s really asserting his perceived superiority over all of us, isn’t he?” Quinn asked.
“Quinn, I think this is a clear indication that regardless of the fact that he screwed up by taking her for a shopping trip to Winston-Salem, this reinforces in his own mind that he hasn’t lost all control of the situation.”
“Louisa, you’re right. This is a critical time for us. I imagine his playtime with little Katie might be over soon. Leroy and I are heading out for Richmond in a few minutes. We’re going to the diocese office in the morning, and hopefully we’ll get the information we need. Keep me posted on any progress on this end.”
“I will, and let me know if you run into any brick walls in Richmond. I have a few good contacts there. But I still think you’re barking up the wrong tree, big man. Bye,” she said as she hung up.
Quinn and Leroy began the drive to Richmond. Quinn enjoyed the three-hour trip, as Leroy liked to talk. They discussed their lives, families, and careers. Leroy was adamant in his belief that something was wrong with Father Tony. In his Christian soul, he hoped he was wrong, but his gut told him the priest was the prime suspect.
They arose early the next morning and checked out of the Sheraton near the diocese offices on Carousel Lane. As they ate breakfast at the local IHOP, Quinn told Leroy that there were approximately 220,000 Catholics in Virginia who were served by some 200 priests in slightly more than 150 parishes.
“So our Father Tony has one of the smaller parishes, doesn’t he?” said Leroy. “But you probably don’t know that before he came to Carroll County, the priest who was there also covered the parish in Floyd. They recruited a young, Spanish-speaking priest to take over that parish. How do you know so much about the Catholic population in Virginia? What’s up with that?” he asked.
“Brother Leroy, I pride myself on doing as much research as I can on any item I may have under review. My good friend Mister Google has been very helpful in providing me with great insight into a potpourri of subjects that I might not have known anything about. Let’s head over and meet with Tami LePage and see exactly what kind of kind of human resources director she is. By the way, did you know that Fancy Gap is the western vicariate of the diocese?” Quinn offered as they finished breakfast. Leroy laughed as they left the restaurant and headed to their appointment.
Tami LePage was surprised that the man who called from Fancy Gap had indeed made an appointment to see her. She knew about the abduction in Fancy Gap and the killing of the little boy. She just couldn’t imagine what he needed to know about Father Tony. She had met him on several occasions and found him to be a delightful person. She knew Father Tony was well liked by the bishop and his staff. She never asked why she was never given his personal history file.
She met with Quinn and Leroy in the small conference room near her office. She soon realized the man who called was a sergeant with the Carroll County
Sheriff ’s Department. After all the pleasantries of introductions were finished, she asked politely, “Gentlemen, how can I help you?”
Ms. LePage, as you probably know, we’re working on a horrific abduction and kidnapping in Fancy Gap. One poor boy has been killed, and his sister is still missing. Sergeant Jefferson and I are part of a team following up on all possible leads in the case. We need your help because we need to find out as much as we can about Father Antonio Cruz Martinez.
Now, Ms. LePage, I know what you must be thinking. Father Tony is not a major suspect in the case, but he is a person of interest. We haven’t been able to find out much information about him from public and police resources. Quite frankly, that bothers us. As you know, there’s usually a treasure trove of information about all of us on the Internet. We’re frustrated about what we don’t know about Father Tony. And that’s why we’re here today.”
She looked at them for a moment before she replied, “Mister McSpain, I appreciate the effort you’re putting into your investigation. My prayers are with the family for the safe return of their little girl. We in the diocese are always willing to cooperate with law enforcement efforts. But we must also respect the individual privacy of those who work for us. From the bishop to the janitor, it really doesn’t matter. All personnel records are confidential and must remain that way. However, I will give you a consent form that, if filled out and signed by Father Tony, will allow us to provide the requested information. Minus that, gentleman, you will need to obtain a court order for us to release the information. I’m sorry, but it does have to be that way.”
Quinn looked at Leroy and back at Ms. LePage. “Is there anyone else we can talk to while we’re here to present our request?”
Fancy Gap Page 24