Jordan should have a slower day, as they were setting up the sting to catch Chucky Mulveney at the poker game on Friday. She was confident about the outcome, given that Darla’s information had always been good.
Ellie felt an urgency she couldn’t quite explain, a feeling that had grown infinitely stronger since they interview hadn’t gone as she’d hoped. Casey had noticed it too.
It had been an unusually busy morning, but maybe it was busier than most because Ellie had all but jumped on every call.
“I think it’s lunchtime,” Casey reminded her gently.
“But…” Ellie wished she hadn’t mentioned lunch. Her stomach growled.
“See, we’re not even that close,” Casey pointed out when another unit answered the call.
“What if they need someone else—”
Ellie’s question was answered by yet another unit signaling they were on their way.
“Unless someone says ‘all available units,’ and that didn’t happen, I’m stepping out of this car right now. We haven’t stopped for a minute. I need to pee, and you need to chill.”
If there was something funny to this, Ellie didn’t quite see the humor, but she followed Casey out of the car and across the street into the diner. Casey went to the restroom while Ellie sat at the counter, picking up a menu and laying it down immediately.
She didn’t understand why she was feeling so restless, so uncomfortable with the delay of her plans. She was going to move in with Jordan, and the shared mortgage wouldn’t be much more than what she was paying for rent now. She had passed the exam with flying colors just like she’d known she would, like everyone had expected. She might be able to work in another department, just not Homicide at this time, or she could wait it out, right?
Casey frowned when she returned and saw that Ellie had nothing but a coffee in front of her. “What is up with you?” she asked.
“Nothing. I don’t like wasting time, that’s all.”
“You can’t be serious. What do you mean by wasting time anyway? Having lunch?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. Let’s eat something so we can get out of here.”
Casey’s look spoke volumes, but she stopped trying to press Ellie for an answer.
“Yeah. Let’s eat.”
* * * *
Jordan hadn’t told Ellie what the plan was. She didn’t want her to worry when they both had a lot on their mind regardless of whatever game Darby was playing. After all, it was Derek who was going to interview him, not her, and chances were, she wouldn’t have to go anywhere near him. This was a loose end they had to tie up, but she didn’t expect anything substantial to come out of it. Check the box. Move on.
She was in another room, following the interview from a safe distance on a monitor. Nevertheless, Jordan flinched when on the screen, the door was opened and Darby shuffled into the room. He looked a decade older than when she’d last seen him.
His face fell when he saw Derek.
“Mr. Darby. I have a few questions regarding a student who accompanied your attorney a few times, Colin Buck.”
“I imagine. I had hoped to see Jordan?”
He would try, any way, to get a rise out of Derek, knowing the anger simmering just underneath Derek’s cool façade.
“We can’t always get what we hope for, can we? Did you ever talk to Mr. Buck?”
“A couple of times,” Darby said, smiling cordially. “Yes, I remember him, a nice young man. He had many questions.” He turned his gaze to the camera in the corner of the ceiling. “Is she here?”
“What kind of questions?”
“I’m sure she is. Jordan, I want you to know I’ve been thinking about you.”
No surprise so far.
“I was told you were going to answer questions. This is a waste of time.” Derek got to his feet, letting the chair scrape across the floor.
“You’re leaving already? You don’t want to know what Colin asked me?”
“I know that you’re lying. Donovan told us Buck took notes, that he barely talked to you.”
“Detective Henderson! Wait! I don’t know why he would say that. He even agreed to give Colin and me some privacy, so we could discuss…matters. You talked to Donovan? He gave Jordan the letter? Look, I’m going to tell you. I get mail from admirers. Mostly women, but some men too—I guess they have a bit of a crush. Colin was one of them, and he took the job so he could meet me in person.”
Derek gave an incredulous laugh.
“Yeah, right. I have other things to do than listen to this shit.”
Jordan wasn’t so sure anymore.
“Ah, come on, it wasn’t anything sexual. He was interested in my story.”
“Why would I believe you, when we found nothing in his room, or on his computer to back up that fantasy of yours?”
Jordan could have given the answer even before Darby spoke.
“He was a law student. His interests were a bit risqué, so he couldn’t exactly brag about them on social media. That is dark net stuff—you know, the place where I interacted with Dr. Roberts.”
Derek looked slightly sick at the reminder of the way Bethany had laid out her trap, and the way it had backfired. Jordan couldn’t blame him.
“If you dig deeper, you’ll find something. When you do, I might have something else for you.”
“Which is what?”
“No, not that fast. You’re going to find proof of Colin’s…admiration for me, and then you’ll come back. I’ll give you more if I can talk to Jordan.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” In the other room, Jordan groaned. This was disappointingly predictable. He couldn’t do better than that?
“That’s not going to happen.”
“No? Jordan, if you can hear this, what if it’s bigger than just one screwed up college kid? Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Here we go.
“There are many lost souls out there,” he said, turning his gaze back on Derek. “I have a front row seat, unfortunately, not for much longer. I am willing to help you, though, not because I want to make amends, but to avoid someone else crapping all over my legacy while I’m still here.” Gone was the conversational tone, the smile. Jordan remembered that Jonathan Darby too, and it worried her. Could it be that he knew something? It didn’t make sense, or maybe she didn’t want it to make sense. Donovan had built his career on impossible high profile cases. He wouldn’t want to trash it because of one serial killer? There was nothing Darby could have promised him.
“I give you one more thing. Colin had some unusual friends. Come back soon, please. I’ll be waiting.”
Derek glared at the laughing man, before he turned to leave. A few second later, he joined Jordan.
“What a bunch of crap,” he said, sounding disgusted. Jordan watched as Darby was led back to his cell. He smiled, raising his shackled hands as if to wave at her.
“I’m not so sure,” she said before turning off the monitor.
“Oh no, don’t tell me you fell for that.”
“Remember what Bishop told us? The guy who was asking for Colin?”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s connected to Chucky #6 somehow, but this has nothing to do with Darby. You were right about the letter. All he wants is to rattle you.”
“I’m not sure we can take that chance, but we’ll see what the lab can tell us and go from there.”
That was something they could agree on.
* * * *
After chasing a man who had robbed a jewelry store down several blocks, even Ellie had to admit she was ready to call it a day. Sorting out her notes at her desk after they’d brought the robber down to booking, she decided to wait for Jordan and go to the Night Shift from here. Casey regarded her thoughtfully before she said, “I’ll see you later?”
“You certainly will. I’ll just finish up here.”
Spontaneously, she picked up the
phone and called Ariel’s home.
Sherman informed her that the girls were having dinner at the moment, and nothing had changed as to Ariel’s conduct. Ellie hung up with a sigh. She was certain that the other side would want to hear Ms. Sherman’s and other experts’ testimony on Ariel’s credibility, and she hoped Ariel’s issues in dealing with the unexpected freedom wouldn’t be a problem.
“Hey. You’re still here.”
“Yeah, just waiting for Jordan,” she answered her friend Libby. “You’re going to the Night Shift?”
“In a bit, yes. Did you hear anything from Kate?”
“Nothing since the last text. I guess she needed that time-out,” Ellie said, and Libby nodded.
She was glad Kate was doing something for herself. It was long overdue. What did she need? Ellie asked herself. Was she acting selfish?
“What about you? I heard you’ve been busy. Not that I doubt it, we’ve barely seen you. You and Jordan are still looking for a house?”
“Oh yes.” Ellie felt her features relax into a smile. “We’re going to see something next week.”
“Cool. I look forward to the housewarming party.”
“Party? What’s the occasion?”
Jordan had only overheard the last part of Libby’s sentence.
“I’ll leave that up to you, Ellie. See you later.”
Ellie took one last look at her notes and got up. “Let’s go. It’s been one of those days.”
“No kidding,” Jordan said, and it occurred to Ellie that she looked tired. “So what was that about a party? Not today, please.”
“No, not today. But hopefully soon.”
* * * *
Jordan was still mulling over the preliminary results from the lab when they sat at the table with a group of friends. Colin Buck’s internet footprint was unassuming. A private Facebook and Twitter account, nothing remarkable there.
Darby might have lied. He might have told the truth, and Buck had sought out employment with Donovan specifically. Donovan’s name had been in the press in connection with Darby’s a lot. If he had indeed used other channels to satisfy his interest in Darby and his crimes, it would take a lot longer to find. She would have to do some research on the fans of serial killers, their online hangouts, see if there was one group that had welcomed Colin in their midst.
This should be fun.
“Hey, Carpenter, you have a moment?”
Casey Lyons startled her out of her musings. Ellie was standing at the bar with Libby Marshall, immersed in conversation.
“Sure.”
Casey cast a look at Ellie before she said, “I was hoping you could tell me what’s the matter with her?”
“Ellie? Why?” Jordan asked, confused. “If this is about the job, you should talk to her first.”
“Yes and no. She’s been a little off lately. She was really thrilled after she took the exam.”
“Yeah, well, there isn’t an opening right now. I think it’s justified that she’s a little disappointed.”
“I understand that. It’s just that in the past few days, she’s been a bit…intense.”
Intense was a way to describe Ellie on any day, so Jordan still didn’t quite get what the problem was.
“Look, I appreciate your concern, but you don’t have to worry. We’re fine, Ellie’s fine, but there’s a lot going on right now, with the cult case coming to court and all. Ellie’s doing her job, and she’s good at it. Right?”
“Yeah.” Casey took a sip of her beer. “Forget I said anything. I’d be disappointed too. She’s worked hard for this.”
“No harm done.”
“Friday’s still poker night?” Casey asked.
“Yep. Let’s hope we get lucky.”
“You can get lucky tonight,” Ellie who had returned, said. “Oops. Casey.”
“Yeah, me.” Casey shook her head with a smile. “I realize I’m not needed here. Thanks for the advice, Jordan. Good night.”
“What was that about?”
“Nothing in particular. She had some questions about the sting.”
Ellie slipped back into the booth, leaning against her. “We should have picked the D&T tonight. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to take a break from the shop talk.”
“Speaking of which, you promised me something…”
“I did…and I plan to deliver.” Ellie leaned in to kiss her. So easy, those little sins of omission—but Jordan was certain she’d done the right thing. The last thing she needed was to add any more stress for either of them.
Chapter Seven
Donovan didn’t seem the least bit concerned when they confronted him with Darby’s statement, slightly contradicting his own.
“Mr. Donovan,” Derek said, “Mr. Darby told us that there were regular conversations between him and Colin during those visits. Now, they might be privileged, but it’s still curious.”
“What’s curious about that? He’s my client, but it’s no secret that the man is a liar and a psychopath. Messing with people is his favorite pastime.”
“Oh, that’s a cute way to say it.” Jordan couldn’t help it.
“Like it or not, but it’s true.”
“All right then. We’ll be in touch.”
“If you must,” Donovan said. “I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but I can’t imagine Colin conversing with Mr. Darby. That boy was always so nervous, he would have peed his pants.”
“Thanks for your time, anyway.”
* * * *
In the following days, techs tried to trace Colin’s steps in darker areas of the world wide web, with little to no success. If he had any odd affinity to serial killers, he had covered his tracks well. The only hint was that he’d done some research on Darby, which was nothing surprising given his assignment. But why be so secretive about it?
Jordan had spent the better part of the past days looking at groups that had an interest in serial killers, Darby specifically. There was one claiming that he never even existed, and the whole case was one big government conspiracy. She sighed in frustration, shaking her head at the screen.
“It’s too early for this shit—again,” she said to herself. Then again, there was never a good time to search for the needle in a dirty, stinking haystack.
Derek who had come in cast a look over her shoulder. “Let me guess. Alien zombie Elvis did it?”
“Something like that. It’s no big deal that one person puts up a site like this. The number of followers…That’s terrifying.”
“No kidding.”
There was another group called The Real Conversation that saw a connection between moral decay in society, and Darby’s crimes.
“Right. How is killing people morally superior?” Since Derek already agreed with her, this was a rather rhetorical question, but Jordan needed a moment to vent. “I’ll be so happy when we don’t have to deal with this crap any longer. A few months, and this is going to be over. He is going to be over.” She flinched when a photo of herself came up, in a folder with Judy Lawrence, Lori Gleason, and other women who were dead. The members of the group claimed, while not condoning murder and torture, to carry on a philosophical discussion on how taboos kept society working. The mere idea that someone thought Darby had a point, even if they objected to the way he’d been making it, turned her stomach.
“I believe you that those people are sick…but do we have anything on Colin Buck?”
Jordan shrugged. “Not yet. At this point, it’s still fishing.”
“Maybe it’s time to let go. Darby sold us a load of bull. As usual.”
“I don’t know. He knows I’m not going to set foot in there if he doesn’t give us something.”
“So? Maybe making you think that he has something, that you might have to do this, is enough for him? How well did you sleep last night?”
She yawned, not elaborating that she wasn’t tired because of nightmares. “I guess there’s your answer. Get me some coffee, please? I’d really appreciate it.”
/> Jordan had to admit that Derek’s theory was entirely possible. Darby didn’t have a lot of time. His reasoning might be just that, hoping he could get to her in some way. Don’t flatter yourself, she thought. All she wanted to know was who killed this kid. She wouldn’t put it past Darby trying to smear Buck’s reputation in order to get what he wanted. Jordan didn’t trust Donovan either. He wouldn’t go as far as being involved in a murder or a cover-up, but apparently there was very little he wouldn’t do to advance his career and name recognition.
Derek had barely left when a part of the puzzle came together all of a sudden. A user by the name of TheBishop boasted about his roommate having access to Darby.
-He’s going to ask him all about his motivations.
-How can we know it’s real?
-I’ll give you proof. Just wait. There’ll be details that weren’t in the press.
Jeffrey Bishop was hiding in plain sight. When she found herself unable to find the later conversations with the alleged proof, she called the lab to alert them of the site. She left a message for Valerie who wasn’t in her office. Derek returned a moment later.
“We’ll have to take those coffees to go.”
“Where are we going?” he asked, checking his watch. “If I remember correctly, we’re going to crash a poker game later.”
“We need to have a talk with another player first. Colin’s roommate was apparently active in the convos on moral decay group. Valerie isn’t here yet, but I left her a message to get on it.”
Derek looked a tad too doubtful for her liking.
“That’s…sketchy.”
“How many roommates of somebody do you think could brag with direct access to Darby? There’s your connection. If anything, Bishop knows more than he told us, and I want to know what that is.”
“It’s worth a try,” he admitted. “All right. Let’s go.”
Intentions (Carpenter/Harding Book 6) Page 5