by LS Sygnet
"Listen, Charlie was the one who brought me in here. Are you sure he's not –"
"He's also the one who helped me get in here without being seen. He'll keep them away as long as possible, but I'd rather not press my luck. We're going to keep searching for whoever killed Gwen, but we've got to do it off the radar."
"Do you need my help? I have files. You were right that this is bigger than anybody ever imagined. I didn't say anything earlier because I was afraid you'd have a fit over me keeping this information from you. I have my reasons, but I can't tell you what they are right now. Please trust me."
I hesitated, or pretended to, and nodded. "I trust you, Johnny." A squeeze to the hand sealed the deal.
"I've found almost two dozen suspicious cases, rapes with survivors, girls who all had disturbing physical characteristics shared by Gwen and Brighton. I started contacting them. I'm sure at least half of them were attacked by the same guy, but none of them ever got a decent look at him."
"Masconi?"
"That's the thing that didn't fit. This guy was bigger than Masconi. I couldn't believe that somebody pulled the wool over our eyes enough that we really believed Masconi was the guy, Doc, but they did."
"I see. So why the charade? Why did you insist to me that Masconi had to be back in Darkwater Bay?"
"I was …"
"Yes?"
"I worried that if I mentioned my theory that someone around here would find out that I changed my tune after all these years. As time passed, and these cases kept cropping up, I was convinced that this killer would never stop. I think it's a game to him. He set Masconi up, but not so convincingly that he wouldn't be released before he could be convicted."
Orion paused. "Think about it, Doc. He ruined a man's life to play games with the police department."
"It's plausible that it could've been his motive for setting up Masconi." My thumb stroked over his knuckles. "Johnny, what were you really doing with Gwen Foster? I need to know if this thing between us … can I really trust you?"
"Gwen was my friend. I loved her like a sister. She had such a hard life."
"She was a victim of this guy twice, wasn't she?"
"I knew you'd figure it out eventually. Once you started talking to the Blevins girls, it had to be obvious."
"You knew who I was meeting?"
"Carrie called me. She was terrified. She and Gwen were so much alike. I suppose Candy is the flip side of the same coin, how someone traumatized can go in a different direction. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I promise, when this is all over, I'll tell you everything."
"I think you should tell me now, Johnny. If this really matters to you, I might be the best shot you've got at proving your innocence and getting justice for Gwen and all the others. It would go a long way in proving to me that this really matters to you … that I matter more than one of your infamous one night stands."
His eyes blazed with desire. "I do want this," he said. "I wasn't lying, Helen. I can tell you most everything, but there's something I cannot say while we're in this building."
"Tell me what you can."
"I followed Kelly and Varden to Washington. Someone was threatening Gwen, and when she finally told me the truth about what happened to her, I insisted on investigating."
"So two private investigators are involved?"
Johnny shook his head. "Not the way you think. I got a partial print off one of the letters Gwen received."
"She got threatening letters?"
"It's complicated."
"Is it about her child?"
"Doc –"
"Johnny no. I have conclusive, scientific evidence that she went through labor and delivered a baby."
He finally admitted it. "This guy wanted the child. He thought it was his right, that his progeny be spared further influence by a whore."
"That sounds psychotic. This killer isn't psychotic, Johnny. He's far too organized."
"Don't you think I know that? I think it was his goal to force Gwen into running out of fear to make sure that wherever that child was placed when he was adopted, that it would lead him straight to the boy. I think he wants to kill him."
"I see." Either Orion was still lying to me, or Gwen had lied to him. I frowned. Since when had this stopped being role play on my part and evolved into a legitimate conversation?
"You saw Gwen's house. There was no sign of struggle. When I talked to Carrie Blevins, she told me the same thing about this trailer he uses to kill the girls. For the blood bath that goes on in the place, it's neat as a pin."
I hadn't asked Carrie that question. Points to Orion for details. "Go on."
"You tell me. Are disorganized killers prone to picking up after the deed is done?"
"No, they're not." I glanced over one shoulder. "Hurry. Tell me the rest."
"The partial print belonged to Fred Varden. I couldn't figure out what a couple of head bashers for hire to the unions were doing harassing Gwen, but I figured if I followed them long enough, they'd lead me straight to this guy."
Oh my God. Orion was telling me the truth.
"Instead, they led me to you. I had no clue who you were that night. But I didn't want you to realize that you were getting sucked into something so dangerous if it really was a case of mistaken identity either."
"So you gave me the bogus name."
"Yeah. I got to thinking about it after you went to your room. I mean, what if Kelly and Varden weren't convinced by our act? What if they came back for Diana Farber? What if another innocent woman got hurt because of this killer who has been my first and last thought every day for over fifteen years?"
"Then you found out I'm Helen Eriksson," my words fell flat. "And you know as well as I do what that means."
"He wants you here, Helen. I don't know how he found out that Hardy and Weber were thinking of bringing in a criminal profiler, but he knew."
"The hope was that Kelly and Varden would spur me into action. If somebody out there was after me, perhaps I'd be inclined to run far away."
"It wasn't a great plan, but at least to this guy's way of seeing things, it worked."
"But I would've accepted the invitation anyway, Johnny."
His voice dipped low. "Because of what Marcos had done to Rick?"
Thud. I dropped his hand on the table. "How in the hell do you know about that?"
Chapter 34
Since my question was rhetorical and followed quickly by an uncontrollable bout of hyperventilation, instead of sticking around for an answer, I ran out of the interview room. Straight into Charlie Haverston.
"Who is Rick?"
"My murdered ex-husband." Damage control. Shit. "It was the one thing that made me amenable to leaving the FBI and coming here."
The instant and very plausible cover story popped into my head. "Oh my God. If Orion's right, Rick's murder might've been…"
"You don't know that. You don't know that he said a single thing that was true, Helen. Orion could've lied through his teeth."
"He wasn't lying this time."
"You know this for a fact?"
"Let me rephrase. Orion didn't tell me everything, but he told me what he knows about this case, about why he was hanging around Gwen's house all the time. It fits with everything else we've learned."
"Then I should release him?"
No. Orion knew more about Rick than he should've, and until I could figure out how that was possible, other than the far fetched theory I proposed knowing full well it wasn't true, Orion was best kept out of my hair. "Hold him. He's interfered and withheld information that was vital to this case. Throw him back in a cell downstairs."
"Where are you going?"
"I need to take a break."
"You should be resting." Charlie pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Dr. Winslow? It's time."
"You already talked to her?"
He snapped the phone shut and nodded. "Don't argue. It's not like you could stand hitting the streets in the search for Candy Blevins, Helen. Go home wi
th Dr. Winslow and get some rest. I'll call you if anything breaks."
It seemed like Maya arrived before Charlie finished his mini lecture on the need for a second night of uninterrupted sleep. Before I could protest, she locked her arm in mine.
"You look like death warmed over. I thought you were told to take it easy, Helen."
Charlie was a traitor. Apparently he neglected to give me the message in favor of not tipping his hand. "Missed that part of the conversation where you were brought into this conspiracy on my health."
"We're going home, and you're going straight to bed."
"I can walk, Maya. If you want to be helpful, carry my bag." The laptop made my shoulder feel like the joint was starting to separate.
"You'll feel better in the morning," she slipped the bag over her shoulder and waved to Charlie.
After a cup of Sleepy Time tea, my memory became as vague as it had been last night. I don't think I moved for eight solid hours. Maya was still sleeping when I woke. The red light on the department cell phone that Charlie supplied was flashing. I retrieved the voicemail, something happened, he'd fill me in this morning.
Great. Part of my lie to Orion suddenly felt like prophecy. I was being cut out of my own case due to a perceived weakness I hadn't caused. Coffee withdrawal was probably the culprit last night, and the inevitable letdown of adrenalin. They had conspired to keep me away from coffee after it had been wrongly blamed for my sleep deprived condition.
The aroma of bean should've been enough to rouse Maya. Then I'd grill her like Pacific swordfish until she caved and told me what happened while I was sleeping. It was a fine plan, really, and probably would've worked if she had been home. Her bed was made. The morning paper lay in the dewy grass. She hadn't been home for hours.
I dialed Charlie's number.
"Haverston."
"Where the hell are you?"
"You're up early. What time is it?"
"Charlie –"
"We found Candy Blevins at two."
"Come pick me up. I need to talk to her." I heard Maya's voice in the background. "Oh don't tell me. Please don't tell me, Charlie."
"You already figured it out. Maya said there was no point in waking you since the only things we'll learn from Candy are postmortem."
"Shit. Come pick me up. I need to be there."
"I figured you'd say that."
"Are we keeping this quiet for the time being?"
"Yeah," Charlie said. "We all agreed that the last thing we need is news of this leaking out at central or to the press. We'll let the do'er believe we haven't found her remains. It probably won't buy us much time, since she wasn't dumped either."
"That answers my next question, I guess. She died like Gwen Foster, didn't she?"
"Not exactly. Maya said to tell you that there is no evidence of a partner on this one."
"Because he killed his partner for fucking up with Gwen. How long has she been dead? Does Maya have a window yet?"
"It was pretty fresh, Helen. She says not before ten last night."
"Orion's not the guy."
"It's without a doubt conclusive this time."
"Dammit." I pounded my fist against the kitchen counter. "He was the only one with links to everyone."
"That we know about."
"Right. Obviously. Are you on your way over to Maya's house yet? I can't believe this. I'm stuck here without a car …"
"I'll be there in five minutes. Her house isn't far from the ME's office."
I noticed that the night before. Even though I hadn't been in town a week yet, the city's layout was not without rhyme or reason. "Please tell me that Carrie Blevins wasn't present when her sister's body was found."
"No, she wasn't," Charlie said. "Thieg took her home around eleven. She wasn't feeling well. She told him and I quote, 'something has happened to her. I can feel it. Candy isn't here anymore.' Pretty creepy, huh?"
"Did that statement have any part in Maya's determination of time of death?"
"No, that was based on this thing she stuck in her belly to take a temperature."
"The liver," I said. "Good. I'm sure Carrie did feel the lack of Candy's presence on earth. The phenomenon is well documented among identical twins, if not fully understood. How far are you now?"
"Pulling into the driveway. Are you dressed and ready to go?"
"Yeah," I said. "I had hoped to have cause to hold Orion longer than this, but we're gonna have to cut him loose now for sure. I'd rather do that before anyone realizes he's been warming a cot at central."
Charlie knocked on the door. "Let's get to it then."
We rode in silence from Downey to Darkwater proper.
"Uh, Helen, are you gonna tell Orion that you lied to him last night? He's gonna figure it out pretty quick anyway."
"I'm not seeing him," I said. "Go in, process the release and call me when it's done."
"What will you be doing?"
"Talking to Rudy Simms before his shift ends."
"Who?"
"The civilian at the information desk on night shift," I said. "I was supposed to follow up with him the other night, but haven't been back. I figured he's probably heard more about the goings on at central in the past twenty-four hours as anyone. Maybe he can give me information on the search for Rodney Martin."
I hadn't mentioned the fact that Martin fit the physical description of a tall, not too muscular man because he was simply too young to be the perp. However, he was the only other person aware that Darnell, Hardy and Weber wanted me in Darkwter Bay. Somebody else found out that information, and I suspected the leak came from Rodney. His persistent absence was cause for alarm. Maybe the perp knew I'd figure out the link between Kelly and Varden and him. If so, I'd realize that someone wanted me in Darkwater Bay playing the game like Orion suggested.
Orion was right about one thing. This had become a vast game of cat and mouse. My suspicion was that I came onto the perp's radar via Rodney Martin too. It put him in the unique position of being the only person who knew the identity of this man. Varden and Kelly couldn't be persuaded to cooperate. They were used to playing dirty and keeping their mouths shut.
I made my way to the tomb-like lobby at central. Simms heard my shoes clacking on the stairs and looked up. His face broke into a grin. "Hey, Eriksson. Are you back on active duty again?"
"Yeah, Rudy, I'm back. Although I wasn't aware the world at large knew I'd been under the weather."
"Are you kidding? You've been the number two topic of conversation around here this week."
"I'm not sure if I should be worried or flattered by that. What's been number one, just out of curiosity?"
Rudy lowered his voice. "This thing with Captain Martin. Have they asked you to help with the search?"
I shook my head. "I'm sure you know more about what's happening than I do. But that's not why I came to see you this morning."
"Right, that question you had for me the other night. I asked Benny about your visitors. He said he saw a couple of guys that matched the description you gave me come in here that evening. They took the elevator upstairs somewhere."
"Were you aware that both my office and Captain Martin's were broken into that night?"
"I heard about his. Part of the buzz over his disappearance."
"I wonder if that event is related. Have you heard anything?"
"Yeah, that Captain Martin's house was a mess. They found blood but don't know if it belongs to Rodney yet. When they determined that it was foul play, Chief Lowe said he was putting his best men on the job."
"So that's why Rogers, Daltry and Myre were here late last night?"
"Uh-huh. Chief Lowe too. Benny said he can't remember the last time he saw Lowe here that late. And Benny's been here for twenty some years."
"Interesting."
"Do you think something bad really happened to Captain Martin?"
"I wouldn't rule it out, Rudy. Did you happen to mention to anyone other than Benny that I asked about the men
who were hear the night our offices were broken into?"
"I guess we probably should tell somebody … not that you aren't somebody. I only meant –"
"Rogers, Daltry or Myre," I offered an understanding smile. "My case is actually wrapping up quickly. I'll let them know about it Rudy. Thanks so much for your help. I do appreciate it."
"I should tell you that Benny thought he recognized those guys," Rudy said. "He wasn't positive or anything, but remembered a case a long time ago where two men were accused of roughing up a couple of workers at the docks for opposing the unionization efforts at the time."
"Oh?" My heart skipped a beat.
"Kelly and Varden, I think he said. Benny said they worked for the union to silence opposition. He figured that he had to be wrong. I mean, what would a couple of union roughnecks be doing nosing around here, right? Captain Martin wasn't exactly the type to discourage the cops from having union representation."
"Right. Probably a mistake." I knew better. Someone had hired the pair because they had no scruples. I changed my mind about the likelihood of their cooperation. Benny's identification would be enough to bring them in for questions about breaking and entering. And the attempted abduction of me in Washington could be addressed at the same time. I asked Rudy to turn in the department's phone and immediately replaced it with a new prepaid from a little shop next door to Central Division.
I considered calling David back and letting him deal with that issue. Federal pressure might be exactly what Varden and Kelly needed. It sure had induced them to lose interest in what I was doing.
Instead of meeting Charlie upstairs, I made my way to the parking garage. I had a spare set of keys to the rental in my purse and needed to follow a lead or two of my own. First, I needed to visit the crime lab and talk to Forsythe about the keys. The fact that Varden and Kelly normally worked for the union's interests and the number one name in unions back east was always a crime family (like Sully Marcos), it wasn't a stretch to believe that Datello might know something about Kelly and Varden.
I couldn't get past the safe keys that were found at Gwen Foster's home. Forsythe probably wouldn't like it, but I needed to check those keys out of evidence for a couple of hours. Hopefully he was back from the Blevins crime scene.