by Jaden Skye
Wayne looked over at Tracy, surprised and grateful.
Tracy thought of the day her own mother went missing and the horrible feeling of emptiness that had gripped her the rest of her life. She’d turned it into something positive though. That loss led straight to this work, helping others who were going through the same kind of hell. It didn’t mean she didn’t care or was unable to love. In fact, deep down because of that nightmare, Tracy knew she could love even more.
Everyone was taken aback by the intensity of Tracy’s remarks, especially Hunter, who looked at her curiously.
Wayne, however, seemed to understand. “Thank you,” he said gratefully. “Kevin made it hard for Candace and me from the very start.”
“Now you’re blaming me?” Kevin became irate. “In the middle of my horrible suffering, you’re blaming me? Is this the man I’m supposed to have for my son-in-law?”
“We’re getting off track here.” Clay tried to calm matters down.
Hunter stopped him. “No, it’s important to hear how everyone feels. We’re billiard balls bouncing off one another. One right hit will lead us where we need to go.”
“Where we need to go now is to find the person who took Candace,” Wayne proclaimed, nervously.
“Do you have any ideas about who that might be?” Hunter zeroed in.
“Absolutely none,” Wayne replied. “This is a total shock and nightmare.”
“How about you, Mr. Barclay?” Hunter turned to Kevin then. “What was it you wanted to tell us? Would you like to tell us now, or speak to us privately?”
Kevin threw a quick glance at Wayne. “It doesn’t matter if Wayne and Andy are here or not when I talk. Nothing matters unless you find my daughter, does it?”
“No, it doesn’t,” agreed Hunter.
“Okay then, here goes,” said Kevin. “My wife and I have been going through this over and over. We know you’re searching for a link between the victims and I believe I’ve got something for you.”
Chapter 18
The room bristled with anticipation.
“There were always rumors going around that the second victim’s husband, Jeffrey Glaze, was having affairs,” Kevin said. “No one paid much attention to it before. But after Candace went missing, I made some calls to people who would know. It’s definite, Jeffrey Glaze was a regular player, he came on to lots of women. For all we know he could have come on to Candace and Tina, too.”
Clay stepped in strongly.. “You’re sure of this? Positive?”
“Positive,” Kevin responded. “I’ll give you a list of the people I spoke to. Some even think Jeffrey might have used escorts as well. When I heard that my skin started to crawl.”
“This is important.” Hunter was all over it. “We’re not sure who was the last one to see Shannon alive, either. For all we know, it could have been Jeffrey Glaze.
“And there’s more,” Kevin went on, seeming more grounded than when he’d arrived. “Candace was beautiful. Everyone knew she was beautiful, and guys loved her. That shop of hers was a hot spot, too. All kinds of people came in, bought stuff, talked to her. Glaze lived about a mile from her shop. I’d bet you dollars to donuts he dropped in, saw Candace, and made a play for her. Why wouldn’t he, she was beautiful.”
“She’s still beautiful,” Andy whispered. “She’s still alive.”
Wayne spun around on his heel and stared at Andy. “How do you know that?”
“I just know,” Andy replied.
“How?” Wayne was horrified. “How do you know more about Candace than I do?”
Kevin ignored both of them and continued. “I believe Candace said no to Glaze and it didn’t sit well with him. So he grabbed her. Think about it. “We’ve got to find out if he had any contact with the first victim. Tina used to be a dancer. Check and see if Glaze was ever seen at the club where she danced.”
“The club’s being checked for that as we speak,” Hunter replied. “All the venues the victims went to and the people they knew are being thoroughly scoured. Pictures of everyone connected to all of the victims are being circulated.”
“Pictures of who? Me too?” Wayne looked horrified.
“Yes, you and Andy,” Hunter replied.
“Why me?” Wayne was outraged. “I wasn’t even here. I didn’t give you my permission to circulate my picture.”
“Your permission isn’t required in a situation like this,” Hunter responded. “You were engaged to the victim. This is routine.”
“This will ruin my business and reputation,” Wayne kicked at the bit. “People will recognize me for something sordid.”
“Is that all you care about? Candace’s life is at stake.” Andy looked him in the eye.
“You don’t care that they’re circulating your photo all over town?” Wayne retorted.
“No, I don’t, not at all,” said Andy. “They can do anything they want in the world to bring her back alive.”
“That’s the kind of man I want for my son-in-law,” Kevin burst out. “But I don’t believe these two guys have anything to do with it. Just focus on Glaze.”
“Why just Glaze?” asked Hunter.
“The creep lived under cover. Everyone thought he was an upright citizen, it turns out he had a double life. I don’t like that. I checked into the women Glaze had affairs with, and they were all the same age, all ash-blondes.”
Hunter was impressed. “Good work,” he offered.
“Move in on Glaze, trail him, make his life a living hell,” Kevin insisted.
Andy shuddered, while Wayne leaned over and put his head in his hands, as though he was about to throw up.
“We have a dragnet out, Mr. Barclay,” Tracy stepped in, “and it’s getting bigger and deeper as we speak. Every possible suspect is being gone over with a fine-tooth comb. And we’ve posted a huge reward for any lead that takes us to the killer. New tip lines are being set up and we’ve got more volunteers working them. We’re asking for anything, anything anyone saw. And I’m putting the profile together now. We’ll catch him, I’m sure of it.”
Wayne’s head shot up as he listened. Andy just looked over at Tracy and smiled.
Chapter 19
Tad wouldn’t let himself get as upset as everyone else was getting, trying to find the third victim and bring her home alive. What fools they were, running around like mice on steroids, trying to figure out where she was. Fat chance they had of keeping her alive, too. Why should the killer spare this one? He hadn’t spared the other two, had he? What did the stupid cops think they could do that would make him change his mind? Tad had some ideas about how to get the killer to change his mind, though, and he had every intention of sharing them. The question was, would the cops brush him off as if he were nothing, or would they finally listen to him this time? Would they see Tad for who he truly was? Smarter than all of them!
If he was going to be perfectly honest with himself, Tad was plenty upset. After all, he wanted to stop the killer as much as anyone else. He just had to keep his cool so when he called the tip line they’d take what he had to say seriously. Tad hated it when people didn’t take him seriously. He never understood why they didn’t either. He was more patient and thoughtful than most people. He wrote all kinds of letters to the editors and checked them carefully before he sent them out, too. Not only did he check the spelling and grammar, he went over every line he wrote. Tad wasn’t the kind to lead people astray.
Tad even had a few of the letters he’d written to the editors about this case right here, in his room. He’d read them again now to see if one might be ready to send along.
Dear Editor,
In the case of the three women who went missing, you’re obviously looking in all the wrong places. Nothing of substance has turned up yet, has it? And it’s been a while. You’ve got two women down the tubes and the third one about to go. What a waste for young, beautiful women like these to go down the drain so early in life. Think of what was waiting for them, all the experiences they never had
a chance to have. Think of all the happiness that was waiting for them that not one of them ever grabbed. Think about it and it will lead you straight to the killer.
Tad breathed deeply then. He wasn’t sure if this was what the editors wanted to hear. Did he sound crazy? That’s the last thing he wanted, to sound crazy. He wasn’t crazy, he was kind and smart. He was definitely something worth reckoning with. People at his job not only liked him, they counted on him. He saw that in their eyes. But of course, his job was simple and not one person there had any inkling of how smart he really was. Once his letters to the editor were published, though, everyone would realize who he was the entire world!
Tad had collected a bunch of newspapers describing the search for the killer and lined them up carefully in his room. Now he grabbed one of the papers and started rustling through the pages, wanting to read the other letters to the editor again. He wanted his letter to sound just like theirs so it would get accepted, too. Once it was they’d have a break in the case and it would help the third victim and her pathetic family.
As Tad rustled through the paper, the photo of Tracy Wrenn caught his eye. Tad stopped for a while and gazed at her. Tracy had long, dark, shiny hair and beautiful, intelligent eyes. Tad looked at them a little more closely and wondered why in the world someone like her was running down killers. Tracy looked like someone who should be out having lunch with other young wives who were taken care of by wonderful husbands. She wasn’t, though, that was obvious. Why not? Tad wondered. Was anyone taking care of her?
Tad looked closer, noticing the strange crease between Tracy’s eyebrows. This young lady had gone through big trouble, he suddenly realized. That’s why no one was taking care of her. When you live through trouble like that, you didn’t end up having lunch with other women. Tad suddenly laughed. Tracy was on the prowl, along with the toughest of men. She obviously needed someone like Tad to step into her life and give her a hand. She needed him but she didn’t know it. But if everything went well, she’d soon find out.
Tad wanted to turn the page but couldn’t put the picture down. He looked at it from all angles. What was it that gripped him about her? Then suddenly, it struck him! The two of them had the same initials, TW, Tad Warehouse and Tracy Wrenn. That was it! They were destined for each other! It was a sign that Tad should send his letter to the editor immediately. He should also call the tip line right now. Would Tracy answer it? Maybe not the first time, but he’d keep calling until she did.
Tad felt better immediately, almost felt lighthearted. It definitely looked like he had an important part to play in turning the world back in the right direction and helping solve this terrible crime.
Chapter 20
It was almost seven that evening and the light of day was starting to fade. Tracy was still at the office, waiting for a general meeting with a few agents that was scheduled to be held in the conference room in a few minutes.
As another day went by she couldn’t help think of Wess. She hadn’t had time to check in with him, and to her surprise he hadn’t called again, either. That was okay. If truth be told, Tracy really wasn’t able to deal with any more turbulence right now. When this was all over they could go away for a weekend together and she’d explain her work to him again. She’d let him know how much she loved him. Wess always felt better when she told him that. He needed love more than she realized. There would be plenty of time to work things out. Tracy looked at her watch; she was hungry.
“The meeting won’t take long. Hunter noticed Tracy’s restlessness. We’ll go over whatever we have, then we can grab a bite of dinner.”
“We?” asked Tracy, startled.
“Sure, why not?” Hunter said quickly as there was a knock on the door. He went over, opened it, and August, Wanda, Sgt. Harding, and a few others stood there.
“Come on, let’s go,” said August as they all started walking down the long, empty hallway to the conference room at the end.
The conference room was carefully set up for them. There were bottles of water near every seat and the blinds were drawn tightly shut over the windows. The room had a secretive, no-nonsense atmosphere, as if it were saying you were special to be here, and you’d better do your best.
Hunter walked to the front of the room immediately and took his place. As chief of the behavioral unit it was up to him not only to coordinate efforts but to take charge of briefings like this. Ultimately, the buck stopped with him and everyone knew it.
“I’d like to start by hearing what you guys have for us,” Hunter announced, “then we’ll get Tracy’s impressions and wrap up for the day.”
August walked over swiftly and stood beside Hunter. He looked particularly sharp this evening, in a tweed summer jacket, slacks, and bright blue shirt.
“Okay,” August began. “As requested, we’ve looked into the allegations concerning Jeffrey Glaze’s multiple affairs. There’s definite evidence to corroborate it, though it seems the women he’s been involved with were married women in his social circle.”
The room grew quieter. Wanda, sitting next to Tracy, shook her head. “These guys,” she murmured, “one is never enough.”
“There’s no evidence that Jeffrey Glaze availed himself of prostitutes or escorts, or that he had anything to do with Tina,” August continued. No linkage there.”
Hunter sat there scrawling notes quickly on one of the long, yellow pads. Tracy watched the pressure of his writing, and thought about his off-the-cuff invitation for dinner that night.
“I spoke to one of the women who had a brief affair with Jeffrey,” August went on. “She asked that her name not be released for the sake of her marriage and I granted her that privilege. Let us call her Anna, for convenience. Anna was someone who Shannon socialized with regularly. She said that Jeffrey told her that although Shannon was a great mom and teacher, she was cold and distant in the marriage. Shannon left Jeffrey lonely, wanting more.”
“Oh please,” Wanda couldn’t help speak out. “It’s an old song guys sing to get a woman to bed.”
“What is the relevance of this argument?” Sgt. Harding joined the discussion. “Whether his wife drove her husband to playing around or not is immaterial. She’s dead now. That’s what we have to focus on.”
“We’re looking to see if Jeffrey’s a plausible suspect,” August responded curtly.
“Did you find any link between him and the third victim, Candace?” Sgt. Harding stayed on point. “Without that, no matter how many women he slept with, he’s not a plausible suspect and we can’t waste our time.”
“We checked Candace’s shop records carefully,” August continued. “There’s no evidence that Jeffrey was a customer. None of the workers there recognized his picture either. Despite Kevin Barclay’s suggestions, there’s no evidence that Jeffrey knew Candace at all.”
“Good, that’s all we need to know.” Sgt. Harding was adamant.
“What about you, Wanda?” Hunter turned toward her. “Were there any forensic fingerprints that would connect Jeffrey Glaze to the other victims?”
“Nothing,” said Wanda.
“Let the facts speak for themselves then,” Sgt. Harding emphasized.
Hunter and Clay exchanged a quick glance. They needed a suspect and Tracy knew it. She also knew they were too upright to just drag anyone in.
Wanda took a tired breath. “After all this time, they’ve got nothing,” she whispered to Tracy. “This killer’s gonna kill again, I feel it.”
“The other two possible suspects we’ve been looking into are Wayne and Andy,” August continued. “Andy was the last one to see Candace alive and Wayne was her fiancé. Most say she was happy with Wayne. Only one friend, her maid of honor, suggested that Wayne was pressuring her to tie the knot too fast. She said Candace wondered if she should slow down.”
“Candace’s father tried to get in the way of the marriage,” Clay commented. “The father’s close to Pastor Boyd.”
“Yeah, I heard that,” August continued, “bu
t it didn’t make a difference. Boyd’s not the kind of guy who would do anything behind someone’s back. He agreed to marry the couple and was going through with it.”
“How about Andy?” Hunter broke in. “Have you been tracking him?”
“Yeah, of course,” August answered. “He’s a decent guy, a nurse, works at Boston General Hospital. So far there’s not one reason to doubt him.”
“We have to doubt everyone,” Tracy piped up. “Andy was the last to see Candace alive.”
An eerie silence filled the room.
“Talk to everyone at the hospital he works with,” Tracy continued. “Check his daily routines. He was hit hard by losing Candace, who knows how it’s affecting him?”
“What about the other two women, Shannon and Tina?” August spoke condescendingly. “They were killed before Candace disappeared. Would this male nurse grab and kill them, too? Does he secretly hate all women? I doubt it very much.”
“We could be looking at a killer who is grabbing his victims randomly,” Sgt. Harding piped up. “Young ash-blondes attract him. Could be a waste of time to go through the details of everyone’s relationship. It’s all circumstantial.”
“Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t?” Tracy shot back. “There’s a good chance the killer knew his victims, lived close to them, as a lover or friend. That can’t be discounted.”
“Tracy is right,” Hunter joined in. “What else did you find out about Wayne, the fiancé?” .
“Wayne’s from Texas,” said August, “was married twice and is making a good living selling these creepy paintings. They’re all the rage, I heard. He also sells them on the internet. Wayne’s first marriage was when he was in his early twenties. It only lasted two months. His second marriage lasted three years. She died in a car accident. So far as I can tell he didn’t date for a few years after his second wife died.”