by Rick Murcer
Another sobering silence gripped the room. Manny waited for the obvious question.
“Damn. Only in Florida. So what does that mean?” asked Penny Craig.
“On the surface, he’s saying that he is free to express himself. That’s not hard to gather, if we’re right. The second might have to do with the victims and how they’re not bound to earth anymore, but that’s only a guess. It could have a deeper meaning.”
“One thing it does tell us, however, is that he isn’t the lover he thinks he is.”
“Why?” asked Marie.
“Because the first message was about him, lending credence to the idea that he’s far more about him than he realizes.”
Just then, Josh walked back into the room and sat down beside Manny’s chair and then motioned for him to sit.
“Excuse me,” he said as he sat.
His boss leaned close and spoke softly.
“You might be on to something. I did what you asked, and the report will be on the way soon, but the tech said there is something weird with the data already.”
CHAPTER-23
“Captain Swifton, we need a minute,” said Manny, rising from the table. “I need to speak with my team, then we’ll be back in to wrap this up.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Sure. We’ll be here.” Once in the breakroom hall, the smell of coffee still tangoing in the air, Manny turned to Josh.
“What does ‘the data is weird’ mean?” asked Manny, his pulse rate climbing.
“The tech said that there were about one hundred forty homicides over the last two months, a little above normal, but nothing drastic. She said the number of shootings was down, however, but the number of others, such as knifings, beatings, and the like, were up. That caught her attention, so she then broke them down by area and how the victims were killed.
“She said the murders outside of Miami proper had spiked and had leaked into the subdivisions.”
“You mean like the one where the Blankses were found,” said Manny.
“Yes. But that wasn’t all. It seems that there were at least three double murders that the locals have investigated that weren’t shootings.”
“But they wouldn’t think that all unusual, given the gang and organized crime shit going on around here, right?” asked Sophie.
“Right,” said Josh. “But one of them—”
Josh’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket.
“She just sent the report with all of the graphs and maps.”
“Yeah, but it’s going to be hard to see and read from these phones,” said Belle.
Josh turned to Dean.
“Dean. Do you still have that iPad in your briefcase?”
“I do. Hang on.”
A minute later, the five of them huddled around the eight-inch screen as Josh sent the report.
Dean opened the email and then pressed the PDF file logo. A few moments later, six graphs and three charted maps, stacked three by three, covered the screen.
This is only the first batch, read the title of the email.
“What were you going to say?” asked Manny, looking at Josh.
“I was going to say that there were two female employees of a local computer store found bludgeoned to death in a park on the outskirts of the city. The first report said they were robbed and then killed with a hammer as they lay on their backs.”
Manny saw Sophie flinch. He wondered briefly why he hadn’t. He’d have to worry about that later. They were getting close to something here.
He thought about what he’d requested from the lab, the knowledge of the older double murder adding fuel to those ideas.
Shapes and their meanings were important to this man. He may not even realize how important. Had he subconsciously screwed up? Manny’s emotions did the roller-coaster ride again as his excitement stirred.
Tapping the screen, he asked Dean a question. “So did the tech send a map plotting out the double murders over the last two months?”
“Let’s find out. If not, she can whip one up in a hurry.”
The first map wasn’t the right one. It displayed all of the murders, double homicides and others, outside of Miami proper, with color-coded dots connected by numerous lines.
Working expertly, Dean opened the second.
It revealed a much smaller nebulous pattern of dots and lines that were much clearer than the first map.
“This isn’t it either,” said Dean. “This is all of the murders that were committed without a gun, single and double homicides.”
“Next,” said Manny.
A moment later, the map flowered on the screen, and instantly Manny knew what they were looking at was his theory in practice.
There were three dots, connected by two lines, giving the impression of the top three sides of a perfect diamond. The pattern started where the two women from the computer store were found, then moved north and west to the Everglades to the tree where the young couple was killed. Then, beginning from the top of the diamond again, the line stopped at where he guessed was the Blanks’s home in the subdivision east and north of the crime scene for the two computer store employees.
Manny again touched the screen.
“This is it, isn’t it? What you were thinking?” said Sophie.
“I think so. He’s so obsessed with his art, his passion, and his love affair with patterns, that he may not have realized what he was doing. But, then again, he may have.”
“You mean, to taunt us?’ asked Belle.
“I don’t think he’s the taunting type. He may just be compelled to show his genius. There’s a difference between those two ideas for men like him. I’m just not sure yet. But if we do this right, we just might find out.”
Pointing to the screen again, Manny touched the bottom of the diamond that, as yet, had no dot or lines running to it to complete the shape.
“Dean, how far is it from the top point to the sides of this pattern?”
Pulling the inch-equals-a-mile scale from the bottom of the map, Dean superimposed the lines from the top dot to the two side dots, extending them until they intersected at one point.
Dean shook his head. “That can’t be right,” he said. Then he repeated the action.
Glancing up at Manny, he shrugged.
“This is nuts. According to this, the distance from the top dots to the side dots is exactly six point five miles for both of them. I mean exactly.”
“It makes sense, in a twisted, serial-killer sort of way,” said Manny.
“Now let’s make an intersecting point from the side dots to the bottom of the diamond directly below the top dot, exactly six and a half miles away.”
Dean hit the keys on the pad’s screen with gusto, completing the perfectly-shaped diamond with a fourth dot. He then magnified the screen until an address displayed.
“This says the property belongs to Grayson Pool Company. It seems to be a warehouse where they keep their supplies,” said Dean.
“Is that it? Is that where he kills again?” asked Sophie.
“I think so,” said Manny softly.
“How did you know?” asked Josh.
“I didn’t until we got the info on the last double murder, which looks like it was his work as well, without the engraved circles or burnt squares. I was only thinking about what he’s obsessed with, at least part of it. I still don’t know why he’s doing what he’s doing. ”
“Can we do something else here?” asked Belle.
“Sure, what?”
“If his pattern stays true, he’ll kill again in under twenty-eight hours. But can we get the time of death from those poor ladies that were beaten?”
“Sure,” answered Dean.
Manny felt his unease grow as Dean searched.
“According to the ME’s report, it was four days, almost to the hour before the second double murder at the tree.”
“So that means he reduced his time from the first to the second and to the third murders about twelve hours,
again, assuming that first incident is his. So what’s to say he won’t change it again?” said Belle.
Manny exhaled. “That’s great thinking, Belle. There’s nothing that says he won’t because we don’t know where he’s coming from, totally.”
“Say he does change his agenda. It would most likely be in twelve-hour increments, by my calculation,” said Josh.
“So our best guess is twelve hours, or will he really go twenty-four?” asked Sophie.
“Belle? What do you think?’ asked Manny.
“Well, if he stays consistent, I’d say twelve hours, leaving him in the middle of his established design. But his agenda is his own, so anything is possible,” she said.
“Even if he moves his schedule up to kill again in twelve hours, we still have time,” said Manny.
Josh stepped toward the conference room. “All right. I’ll go talk to Marie and her crew, and we’ll get people out to this address.”
“Wait. You have to make sure she does that discreetly. We don’t know if he’s planning to take his next victims there, or if they work there or own the place. Also, we can assume by the nature of the target building, he’s likely to use water somehow for these next murders. We need to give her that information.”
“Water? Makes sense. But what should they watch out for?” asked Josh.
“I’m not that well versed on what goes on around here. Hell, I don’t know. The beaches. Clubs with pools. Maybe even pools where these people have done work. Maybe the fire department or the life guards association can help. That should be her call,” said Manny.
Pausing, Manny listened even closer to his instincts. “You know, if he does accelerate to the whole twelve hours, that only leaves four left. He’ll also want some prep time, depending what’s next.”
“So?” asked Sophie.
“We need to go out there now,” said Manny. “At the worst, we can have the owners meet us there to see if they’ve seen anyone or anything out of the ordinary over the last few days. Best case, we catch his ass.”
“Pretty optimistic, aren’t we?” asked Josh.
“Maybe, but I think we’ve got a bead on his next round of fun. That might mean we end all of this.”
“Good idea. I want you to wait until I can get a couple of squad cars to go with you,” said Josh.
“We need to go now. Besides, we’re still cops and we’ll have Sophie, stars and all,” said Manny.
“Bet your ass,” said Sophie.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. You can have some blues in the neighborhood if you want, but I’d rather it just be us. We can be in and out before dinner.”
“Have it your way, but be careful. All right. You four head out there now, and I’ll brief Marie. She can send a unit or two, like you asked, to watch the area. Make sure you call so we know what’s going on.”
Manny nodded. But there was another situation that had been playing on his mind, especially if this killer took only twelve hours away from his schedule, providing he took any at all; there was time to nail two birds with one stone.
“I think Dean, Sophie, and I can handle it. I’d like you two to do something else, if you’re willing.”
“Damn. That’s always trouble when you ask something like that. But fire away,” said Josh.
“I’d like you to fly to Saint Kitts and talk to the local police department.”
His eyes shifted to Belle. She stiffened but stayed silent.
“Why?” asked Josh.
“It’s a small island, and they can’t have had a lot of crime over the years, unless I miss my guess. The murder of Belle’s friend had to be big news. Such an experience had to be shocking and unusual. There might be things to learn that no database of cold cases will discover.”
Looking at Belle, Josh raised his hands. “That makes sense to me, but that’s probably a two-hour flight down and another two hours back. You might need us.”
“True, but I think Marie’s people can handle the muscle side. There isn’t much profiling or analytical work to do now. It’s a good time for you to skip down there.”
“Not to mention, I’ll have the opportunity to face the thing that still gives me nightmares, right?” said Belle, stone faced.
“If that comes up, then yes. I was thinking more of how you still remember the details of Cammy’s murder and that they can’t pull a fast one on you, if they try.”
“That’s a good point too,” said Josh.
Belle twisted her head, her neck cracking. “You think they might be hiding something?”
Manny shrugged. “I only think that it’s a small island, and I wonder how many white kids that age were living or vacationing there at that time, among other things. Plus, I know you have a few questions of your own.”
Josh nodded. “Okay. We’ll go. Maybe we can get a name or something. You head to the warehouse and stay in contact with Marie and don’t do anything stupid.”
With that, he headed toward the conference room.
Belle tilted her head toward Manny, a thin smile crossing her mouth. “If I go crazy, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Then you’ll be part of the club,” said Sophie. “We’re all damn nuts.”
“Hard to argue with that,” she answered, then followed Josh.
“Let’s get our butts in gear. Timing is everything, and we just might find what we’re looking for,” said Manny.
“I hope so. Maybe we can stay here a couple of extra days for a little sun,” said Dean as they walked to the elevator.
“That would work. I can work on my thong lines,” said Sophie.
“One can only hope,” said Manny.
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“Nothing. I just hope you’re right about getting to work on your thong lines.”
They reached the black SUV parked on the street near the front of the building.
Sophie got in the driver’s side, complained about the heat, and then quickly started the truck. She revved it up a couple of times, grinning like the Mad Hatter. Then his partner slammed it into drive and pulled away from the curb.
The three of them talked about nothing and everything for the twenty minutes it took them to get to Grayson’s Pool Company, something they seldom did these days.
It was intentional, in Manny’s eyes. There was only so much cop shit any of them could take in a day. That anyone could take in a day.
Reaching the white building with teal and orange lettering, based on the Miami Dolphins football team, they pulled into the side parking lot and got out.
The evening sun had sunk beneath the horizon as darkness rapidly approached.
“I think we missed them. It looks like this place is closed,” said Dean.
“Maybe Grayson and his son haven’t gotten here yet,” said Manny.
“Or that.”
They approached the glass door on the front of the building, and Manny immediately saw that the lights had been turned off.
He checked the door. Locked.
Turning to Dean and Sophie, he pulled his phone from his pocket.
“I’ll call them again.”
As he hit the recall button, he caught sudden movement out of the corner of his eye.
Spinning toward the glass door, his adrenaline spiking high, he watched through the semi-light as a man dropped to the floor and then disappeared from his sight.
CHAPTER-24
The FBI’s Gulfstream banked a few degrees left as Belle felt it level off. It had been only forty-five minutes since they left the police department’s conference room, but rank had its privileges and getting a federal jet in the air was a small task for Josh to pull off.
What her new boss lacked in investigative skills—though he was above average in that department—he made up for with how he handled the administrative part of his job. No one could have gotten them in the air faster. She wasn’t sure that was such a blessing, however.
She studied him as he talked on the phone
and, when he abruptly hung up, catching her stare, she didn’t glance away.
“Do I have something on my face?” he asked.
“No, well, yes, but you can’t help it.”
“That means what?”
“It means you aren’t only a good-looking boss man, but you are the perfect fit to lead this BAU.”
“Have you been talking to Sophie, or are you trying to suck up and get me to turn this jet around?”
“I’ll confess to both. You caught me. Will it work?”
“Nope. Nice try, though. We might have something here with your friend’s case and Valentino being related.”
Belle nodded, fighting the twisting aerobics the butterflies were performing in her stomach. Manny and Josh were right. There could be a break in the case by going to Saint Kitts. But neither of them had known it as long as she had, whatever that meant in the great scheme of things. She had never been good with confrontation, but she’d have to be tonight.
In about an hour and a half, she and Josh would talk to the inspector who had led Cammy’s murder investigation as well as the head of the island’s police department to see what they could uncover. It didn’t matter what she really wanted to do, which was to hide her head until this whole thing was over. But that was part of this world of cops and crooks, wasn’t it?
You don’t always get what you want.
“You hanging in there?” asked Josh.
“Yes. I’ll be fine. I hope the others won’t need us, that’s all.”
“We gave the Miami-Dade people all they needed. Let’s hope that’s enough.”
“It will have to be. Besides Manny, Sophie, and Dean will be there to help keep them together. And I think we have time before the perp cranks it up again,” said Belle, trying to get her mind away from the upcoming meeting.
“Do you really think we do? That he’s not going kill again for another sixteen hours?”
Belle crossed her legs. Did she? She was a profiler first and foremost. She wasn’t Manny, but she thought she had a bead on this unsub.
“Yes. I think we do. I just can’t see him breaking with the symmetry he’s established, as far as we can see it.”