by catt dahman
“What that means is that we help with crimes and look at the evidence and get to know the victims because we feel they have a lot to tell us. Victims are like fingerprints and show us who might want to harm them. Each crime scenes is a unique fingerprint. We look at evidence and the actual crime scenes because they point to behaviors as well.”
Her audience looked interested, so she continued, “Looking at victims and scenes, we can add evidence and then begin to see a sort of picture of the offender: in this case, a murderer. We use the evidence to steer us in the right direction and can sometimes tell the offender’s age, gender, and metal state. Using all that, we can locate possible suspects and then narrow them down.”
“How can a crime scene tell you all that?” a boy asked.
“Good question. It’s easy. Usually, the more detailed and organized a crime scene is, the more intelligent the perpetrator is. Women kill in some ways and men in others. We compare and look at past cases. If a victim is raped, in most cases, we have a male suspect. If cat hair is left, we know the victim or the killer has a cat. Foot prints also tell us a lot. Was the offender running or calm and slow? If someone is brutalized, we know the killer was angry.”
“What about…say Michael’s scene?”
Someone told the boy to shut up.
Vivian held up a hand. “It was someone he knew because he wasn’t fighting back or running away. He didn't try to get out of the tub, so he wasn't afraid. The person wasn’t a fan of weapons and he or she used what was handy. The person knew the layout of the room, where Michael would be, and that a hair dryer was there. They didn’t want to be hands-on so that says that the person was on good terms with Michael. Because of the location, it was probably someone of middle age or younger.”
“That’s pretty cool,” Jerry said.
“Do you play football, Jerry?”
“No, ma’am. I did play, but my knee played out when I was hurt on the field.”
“Did most of you know Tommy preferred a different flavored sports drink than everyone else?”
Hands went up.
“So it wasn’t a secret. On the day he died, did anyone see anyone tampering with the drinks or acting oddly? No? Okay. Antifreeze is a very serious poison. I’ll bet most of you never thought about it, am I right? I don’t normally think of it as a poison. Has anyone ever heard someone talking about cars and poisons? No? If you remember anything, you can contact me.”
“Call my office, and I’ll get Agent McLendon to speak privately with you,” Sheriff Briggs offered.
“Ma’am?”
“Yes, Jerry?”
“Why’s the FBI here?” he asked. The crowd leaned forward; they all were curious. It seemed a little strange to have strangers in town asking the questions.
“This is a perplexing case, and the killer or killers have shown a particular brilliance in this crime. Sheriff Briggs asked for some help, and we came to do just that. It isn’t often we are up against something that seems unsolvable because the perpetrator is clever.” She used the opportunity to try to make the killer feel a little cocky, so maybe there would be a mistake in his bravado.
“The killer is smart?” Jerry asked.
“It isn't smart to kill, but yes, this one shows a certain skill. Think about this alone: he or she killed people and managed to vanish from the scene. That took some thought, more than most of us would ever use for this wort of thing,” Sheriff Briggs explained.
“Those on the team, do you feel worried or afraid?” Hands went up. It looked as if the entire team felt threatened. “Always stay in groups of three or more, and be aware of your surroundings. I know this is scary, but we are doing our best to find the killer.” Vivian smiled tightly.
She looked the crowd over, “Who was Tommy dating?”
A girl tentatively held her hand up and said, “Me. I’m Lisa Marie Yow.”
“Did you notice anything, Lisa? Was Tommy worried over anything, or did he feel afraid after Michael died?” Vivian asked.
“No, ma’am. He acted like everything was fine. He was sad about Michael, but he was the type not to worry about anything, and if he did, he didn’t say talk about it. Tommy was the type who never regretted a thing.”
“Did he have anything to regret?”
Lisa shrugged and answered, “Only he would know.”
“Who was his best friend?”
A good looking boy raised his hand and replied, “Me. I’m Steve Turner, quarterback.”
“Hi, Steve. Was he worried? Concerned?”
“Not that I saw, ma’am. Is someone stalking the team?”
Vivian pounced. “That’s possible. Why would anyone do that, Steve?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they hate some of us.”
“Do you know why?”
“No.” He looked around and asked, “Are we in danger? I mean, how is this person picking who to kill? Why those guys? They were good guys.”
Vivian looked at the whole crowd. “Exactly. Why them? What do they have in common other than football? What links those boys? Michael, Tommy, Wayne, and Jasper? What do they have in common?”
People looked at one another and whispered.
“I know someone here knows that answer. Maybe the killer is right here in this gym. Maybe one of you has something in common with those boys. I don’t know unless you tell me. I’d like to stop him or her before there is another violent attack.”
“There’s gonna be more?” Steve asked.
“It’s possible. Can you think of anything?”
“I can’t,” Steve said.
“One more question. What kind of alcohol did Tommy prefer? It wasn’t what the rest of you like, I’m sure.”
“What are you asking?” Coach Cervantes glared.
“Normal question. Someone knows. And even that is a secret?” Vivian looked at the players, and most turned from her gaze. “Thank you. I think I have my answer.”
“I’m going to be easy on everyone,” Nick said, wondering why his sister was so rough on the townspeople. “Is Wayne’s girlfriend here?”
A girl sat to one side away from the popular kids. She was dressed very conservatively and looked serious. “I’m Jacqueline Butler. Jacki, please.”
“I understand there was an argument you had with Wayne before he was killed. The day before?”
“It was a misunderstanding, Agent Swanson. He wanted to stay in the next Friday night, and I preferred to see a movie. We decided to wait until Friday and decide then.” Her face was still serious and pinched. The loss was affecting her deeply.
She was an African American with a forefather who brought Mexican blood to the mix, making her very pretty. Unfortunately, she covered that with big glasses, kept her hair in a bun, and used her slightly patronizing tones. Vivian wondered why she kept her beauty covered.
“Did he like to stay in often? I ask this because knowing the victims draws a picture of the person since I can’t actually meet him.”
“Not too often, Agent Swanson. We had varied interests, but sometimes opposites attack.”
“He wasn’t in drama. Are you?”
She tightened her lips. “Yes, I am.”
“And you practiced around the noose?”
“Yes, we all did, sir. That is thirty people counting the people who do lights and sets. Most are not here tonight, but we’ve all been questioned by the sheriff, sir.”
Nick felt he hit a sore spot. “Where were you when you found out about the death of Wayne? And what were the circumstances?” He wouldn’t have asked or have been as hard-assed as Vivian, but he saw now that they all held secrets that they were not going to share. It infuriated him that they had answers but would not give them. Someone knew.
“I was out with friends.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“I was with some friends having a soda. We were going shopping that day. For blouses. I wanted one in green maybe. Steve, that is Steve Turner, came in and told us. I promptly vomited, sir.” Her voice was
razor sharp and she dared him to ask her more questions.
Nick wanted to throttle her, but instead he nodded and said, “Having a soda when you knew he was missing? Knowing there had been two murders?” His temper rose. She knew she was being difficult and impeding the investigation; it showed in her eyes.
“Agent McLendon….” the sheriff began.
Nick was torn. He looked at the sheriff's concerned face and then he turned to his boss. Virgil shifted in his chair and gave a tiny nod. The nod meant that Nick was free to go for the throat on this question. Enough was enough. You were having a soda and shopping after he was found murdered? Is that right? You and the other kids were shopping?”
“Yes.” Her voice barked.
Nick knew he had this one on the wall. It was good enough for now.“That’s my last question. I want to know why everyone was acting normal when a boy was missing and there had been two deaths.”
Steve spoke up, “My girlfriend was there with Jacki. So was another girl and her mother. I think they were, yanno, trying to figure it out but thinking that nothing had happened to Wayne. There was no reason to think he’d be next. They were shocked and upset. All of us had been looking for him, too. I guess we just didn’t think it could happen again.”
“Thank you.” Nick sat down. He was trying to imagine stern, nerdy Jacki spending an afternoon with Lisa, who looked as sweet and virginal as possible, and Steve’s girlfriend, who sat next to him, and was a perky little blonde. If memory served him right, she was the head cheerleader. No, it didn’t fit at all. And what was worse was they knew that he knew, and that the answers didn't add up.
Fin Carter smiled. He hoped his good looks would win the crowd. So far, his colleagues had been bad cops. “I am looking into the death of Jasper Creek. If anyone wishes to talk, please contact me. I am deeply concerned and am here to help everyone. All I want to ask is how many of you own rifles or have rifles available?”
Almost all hands went up. Typical Texas town.
“And how many of you can use one?”
Many hands went up. Again, typical.
“Thank you. We’ll probably be asking each of you to bring in your guns so we can look at possible matches.”
“You can match a gun to a bullet?” That was Jerry again.
“Yes, we can.”
“Good,” Jerry said.
“How many of you are in drama?”
A few hands went up.
“That's all,” Fin smiled.
Virgil took a deep breath and said, “I appreciate your help and honesty, and we will find the perpetrator, but we still need your help. I think someone knows something or heard something…maybe saw something…and that little thing could stop a killer. Please come to us with anything, even if you think it’s silly. And be watchful. Until we find this person, there may be danger. What do these boys have in common? Think about that, please. Thank you.”
The sheriff said a few words, and as Coach Cervantes walked away, he handed over the list he had made, giving the team dirty looks. Most of the gym emptied. A girl came to ask Vivian about being in the FBI, and she talked to her a while. A boy said he was from the school newspaper and asked to interview Marcus and Fin.
Virgil noticed a girl who hesitated and then walked away. He asked the sheriff who she was.
“That’s Sandy Slider. She’s a good girl from a good family. She kind of looked like she was gonna come talk, didn’t she?”
“She did,” said Virgil as he wondered about her. She was dressed in baggy jeans, loafers, and a big shirt that concealed her body. Her long hair was partially in her face, but had she been dressed in attractive clothing and brushed her hair, she would been a pretty girl. Her face was classically beautiful, and she had a lush mouth and bright blue eyes. “Does she always dress that way?”
Principal Hoffman frowned, “No, last year, she was energetic and perky, and a very pretty girl. I didn’t see her all summer, and sometime this year, I noticed she was dressing in dowdy clothes and was quiet. I’ll make a note to speak with her.”
“If I may? I’d like to speak with her as well.”
“No problem.”
“That’s fine. I’ll call you. I think she is interesting. I actually got a real feel for the students this evening.”
“Did you? At least they were well mannered.” He laughed.
“They were. They were also very guarded and secretive. They know something.”
“Which ones?”
Virgil turned and cocked his head, “Why most of them, actually.”
Chapter Five: Search for the Secrets
In the morning, the team met in the hotel lobby in a private room. Everyone was gathered and waiting on Virgil who had to take some phone calls first. Vivian already had called home to talk to their stepdaughter, Charlie, who missed them but also enjoyed running wild while they were gone. Vivian’s parents kept Charlie part of the time when Virgil and Vivian were on assignments, and the other time, the little girl stayed with Janice, Vivian’s sister-in-law at their own, big, rambling home.
Janice said Charlie was fine and that she and the baby stayed busy. Her baby was beginning to walk and get into everything, but Janice was a great mother, and she did miss Vivian’ brother Joe being at home. The entire family, except for Janice, was in law enforcement.
Joey called Vivian to check in; he and agent Mason Lord, the head of the BAU division of the FBI and other agents-in-training, were at another place, dealing with their own crime scenes.
Joey said they thought their culprit was one of a set of twins but wasn’t sure the person acted alone because there were three sets of twins in town. Joey said for a while he thought he was seeing double.
Vivian laughed about that. She told him a little about their case, and he laughed, wondering if he would have a ‘good kid’ one day. That started Vivian and Joey wondering about small towns and the children who grew up there, just as they had.
She got off the phone and stretched. The hotel had a comfortable bed, and she could have slept a few more hours. She brought up about the gym and their interviews the night before. Nick mentioned how tough she was when talking to the kids.
“Was I too hard on them?” Vivian asked after Nick teased her. She finished a sausage and egg biscuit and washed it down with a big glass of orange juice. She eyed Nick’s last pancake, and when he nodded, she ate it. She was starving.
Fin shook his head. “You were very likable and had an open, honest attitude. The girls respect you, and the boys have crushes.” He laughed.
“Great.”
“No, seriously, you were right on target. Marcus set a strong pace and showed professionalism, and you came in a little harder and related to several students. You established rapport, but also you showed you weren’t a fool. Nick was like a gopher. He dug hard. I think you handled that excellently and probably have some thoughts.”
Vivian appreciated the evaluation. She said, “More than anything, I felt they were repeating a mantra. They kept say good guys and good kids, but I didn’t see that sentiment in their eyes. Those boys had a connection, and it wasn’t a pleasant one.”
“Good. Marcus?” Fin asked. He enjoyed getting to teach a little, especially since during a previous case, he felt as if he had been the student. The Kingsborough House had almost been his undoing.
“Something Mindy said. Her mother was praising the boy like he was the second Coming of Jesus, Himself. It was overkill. But she believed it with all her heart.
“Then Mindy said, “He was near perfect.” It takes effort to add the word near. Just say he was. But she didn’t. She qualified it. That girl has nerves of steel under that crying.” Fin said.
“Oh and Jackie Butler...Nick had her on the run. She was furious.”
Vivian nodded. “I caught that too…her steeliness. Lisa acted more as if it were something that just was. She doesn’t seem worried about her own safety at all.”
Nick replied, “Exactly. That Jerry was a talker. We ne
ed to speak to him in private. Steve as well. He used the word “regret” at least twice. Interesting choice of words? I wanted to shake the truth out of them.”
“We could tell,” Vivian said.
“I like the way you grabbed that bit of information, Nick. Can you see those three girls shopping and giggling together?” Fin asked.
“Not a chance. That’s bullshit. Jacki is a piece of work, and she knows more than she’s saying. I want to talk to her as well. What secret are they keeping?” Nick asked.
Vigil came in, his face creased with concern. “I hope you aren’t making a list of whom to speak to that includes Jerry Barber or Jenny Dome.”
“Yes, Jerry for sure, and who is Jennie Dome?”
“Jerry was found dead this morning, and so was Jennie was as well. We have two crime scenes. Jennie, as far as I can tell, wasn’t strongly connected to the boys. She’s just a girl until we can link them. I want Marcus and Nick with me and on the Barber scene. Fin, you and Vivian have Jennie Dome. See the sheriff and have him go with you if he’s not already there.”
“Were they murdered?”
“You tell me,” Virgil said. “I don’t have much on the two scenes so far, so stay open-minded. Let the evidence lead you, but don’t lead the evidence.”
They scattered, wondering what they would find.
Vivian complained, “I think Jerry would have talked, too. Damn, someone is right ahead of us.”
“They always are,” Fin said.
Chapter Six: Vivian and Fin
“Here we are. Jennie Dome. Her father isn’t in the picture as of lately, and her mother drinks a little and works down at the bar. It isn’t the best situation, but Jennie does the best she can. Principal Hoffman gave me some information,” Sheriff Briggs said. He read, “Was a good student, but her grades have dropped to Ds and Fs. She’s been quieter, even angry at times, and has been sent to the principal for arguing with others and talking out in class.”
“Since when?”
“About six or seven weeks ago. Near the start of school.”
They walked to the Dome’s wooden house; it needed paint and repair, but it was clean. In the living room, was the laundry, half folded. Sheets were crisply folded into squares and there had been a great deal of care taken on the job. On the table was a bottle of vodka, almost empty, and a few glasses.