by Scott Bonn
Cassidy asks, “I see. Anything else, Professor?”
Geiger replies, “A couple of years ago, a former colleague of mine at BU told me he heard that Lundquist had taken a position as a prison chaplain somewhere in New York. I remembered thinking at the time that it seemed like a logical career move for him, given his goals and compulsions.”
This statement by Geiger causes Cassidy to recall that Special Agent Janet Chin suggested the guardian might be an ordained minister or priest.
Cassidy says, “Yes, in that official capacity, he would be working with troubled individuals every day. If he is a prison chaplain in the state of New York, it will be easy enough for us to track him down. I want to have a very serious conversation with Charles Lundquist as soon as possible.”
Geiger says, “Oh, one more thing. I found this group photograph of the BU graduation ceremony the day Lundquist received his PhD. That is him right there.”
The professor points to Lundquist in the photograph, and the two FBI agents take a long look at the image. They both realize that they might be looking at the guardian for the first time.
Cassidy asks, “May I take this photograph, Professor?’
Geiger answers, “Yes, of course. Please let me know if I can be of any further help.”
Cassidy says, “Thank you, Dr. Geiger. I do have one last question for you. Based on your experience with Charles Lundquist, do you think he is capable of committing these murders?”
Geiger lets out a long sigh and says, “It is difficult for me to imagine that any human being is capable of committing the atrocities attributed to the guardian serial killer. These crimes are horrible, and they violate every moral and religious code in the world.”
After a pause, he says, “I just do not know. I really do not.”
He continues, “As self-righteous and dogmatic as Charles Lundquist appeared to be when he was my student, it seems too incredible to me that he is the one committing these murders. At the same time, however, the wording and tone of the letter read by Anderson Cooper definitely remind me of him. That is why I called you. I hope that I am wrong about Lundquist. It would break my heart to find out that one of my former students is committing these terrible acts. If it is Lundquist, then he has become a very lost and deranged soul.”
Cassidy thanks the professor for his time, and she and Baldwin make their exit. By 3:30pm, FBI Special Agent Sellers is driving Cassidy and Baldwin back to Logan Airport for their return flight to New York. On the way to the airport, Cassidy calls Pritchard to tell him what they have learned from the professor. The homicide captain is very excited to hear the news.
Pritchard says, “Excellent. Your lead sounds extremely promising, Julia. Well done. I will have my people locate this Charles Lundquist immediately. By the way, right after you left this morning, I found out that the semen sample did not register a CODIS hit in any of the DNA databases, so your good news from Boston makes up for the bad news here. Hurry back. We need to discuss our next move.”
Cassidy confirms that she and Baldwin are on their way back to New York and says goodbye.
Chapter Forty Four
At 6:10pm, Pritchard and Cassidy are sitting in the office of NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton. They are filling him in on the significant events of the day in the guardian investigation, particularly the interview with Dr. Geiger in Boston. Pritchard tells the commissioner they have already located Charles Lundquist and that he is the chaplain at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in Westchester.
Bratton sits with a stern look on his face as he listens to the update. He nods periodically and takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk. The commissioner becomes visibly excited and slams the top of his desk with his right fist when he hears the information about Lundquist.
After listening to the entire update, Bratton says, “I like this Charles Lundquist lead a lot. The guardian certainly appears to be a religious fanatic, so being a prison chaplain is a natural or even perfect front for him. It all fits together well, as I see it.”
Cassidy says, “Yes, Commissioner, the pieces of the puzzle do seem to fit together but with all due respect, sir, I think it is a mistake to assume that if Lundquist is the guardian, his job as a prison chaplain is just a front. Commissioner, I believe that the criminal pathology of the guardian runs much deeper than that. I am of the opinion that the guardian’s religious convictions are genuine. He truly believes that God speaks to him and directs his actions. If Charles Lundquist is, in fact, the guardian, then being a prison chaplain manifests his religious convictions and utilizes his extensive theological training. It is not just a façade for him.”
Bratton says, “Point noted, Agent Cassidy. Now, Jimmy, we should talk about your plans for Lundquist. How do you want to approach him?”
Pritchard says, “Well, Commissioner, all we have right now is an enticing lead that we need to explore. I want to approach Lundquist directly but also carefully, and on his own turf. I think that Julia should go to his office at Bedford Hills and interview him. She can take one of her colleagues with her, but I will not go to the interview.”
Bratton says, “Good idea, Jimmy. If Lundquist is our killer, and you go to see him, it might spook him and send him into hiding. I imagine that it will seem routine, and much less confrontational, if Cassidy conducts the interview with him. Also, we want him to be as comfortable, open and relaxed as possible during the initial interview, so doing it on his own turf is a good call.”
Cassidy says, “Commissioner, we checked and Lundquist has no priors. His record is clean. So, if he is the guardian, then it makes sense that we did not get a CODIS hit on any of the DNA databases from the semen sample.”
Bratton says, “Right. Once again, the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit. Good luck, Cassidy. I do not need to tell you how important the interview with Lundquist is. This is our first decent lead in the case, and we need to move quickly and decisively in order to determine if Lundquist is our psycho killer.”
Cassidy says, “Absolutely, Commissioner. I will call Lundquist at Bedford Hills first thing in the morning to arrange an interview.”
Bratton nods and thanks them both for their update on the manhunt. Pritchard and Cassidy stand up and leave the commissioner’s office. They proceed to the guardian war room together where they both realize that they are starving, so they order in Chinese food for dinner. When it arrives, they share Moo Shu pork and General Tso’s chicken while discussing how Cassidy will approach Lundquist for an interview.
Chapter Forty Five
While Pritchard and Cassidy are eating dinner together and talking in the guardian war room, approximately eight miles north of them, Molly Fisher, a first-year student at Columbia University is jogging in the northwest corner of Central Park. She is wearing a bright blue, two-piece tracksuit and white Nike running shoes. She is sweating heavily from her exertion, despite a chill in the evening air.
It is 6:29pm and dusk has settled in over Manhattan. Molly had not intended to be in the park after dark, but her American history study group session went longer than expected and she got a late start on her run.
Columbia University administrators have been telling students not to go out alone, especially after dark, with the guardian serial killer at large. Despite their warnings, Molly could not resist going out for a jog on this beautiful, crisp fall day. She loves to run outdoors and used to be on the cross-country team at her high school in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Molly Fisher is slender, five-foot-five-inches tall, with green eyes and long, straight, dark brown hair that she ties back in a ponytail. She is full of energy and has an outgoing, confident personality that makes her seem older than her actual age of seventeen. She is magnetic, charming, and people love to be around her.
Molly is also very bright and enjoys school, particularly studying science. In fact, she is attending Columbia on a science scholarship. She is a superior student and hopes to go to medical school after graduation. She wants to
become a surgeon.
The Fisher family is highly regarded by all who know them in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Molly’s father, Brian, a popular dentist, is very proud that his oldest daughter is attending Columbia University and wants to become a medical doctor one day. Molly has an eleven-year-old brother named Bobby who idolizes her and calls or texts her at college every day. Molly’s mother, Jill, is the office manager for a prominent surgeon in Cherry Hill. Jill had spent ten years as a stay-at-home mom but returned to work full time two years ago.
Molly is in her first semester at Columbia; she has been on campus for only a couple of months, but she has already made many friends. She feels very comfortable living in Manhattan, New York. The big city appeals to her sense of adventure.
Molly has yet to go home for a weekend visit since going to Columbia, although her family lives just eighty-five miles away. She loves her family very much, but her new life on campus is exciting and very busy. She plans to go home to see her parents and sister next month for the Thanksgiving holiday break from school. She will have so much to share with them about her exciting experiences in the city.
Molly has run in Central Park before, but never at night. As dusk settles in, she is jogging northbound near Central Park West, which is the western perimeter of Central Park. Molly looks around and realizes that it will soon be completely dark outside. She decides to head back to her college dormitory that is slightly more than ten city blocks from her current location.
Molly lives in a double room with fellow first-year student, Trish Bennett, in Hartley Hall located at 1124 Amsterdam Avenue near West 115th Street. It is in the heart of Columbia University.
As she heads home, Molly picks up her pace a bit. She is jogging on an unnamed and sparsely occupied path that is located between the more heavily trafficked West Drive and Central Park West. Although she cannot see it from her current location, she is close to West 107th Street. Her plan is to exit Central Park North at 110th Street and then run the short distance uptown to her dormitory on Amsterdam Avenue. At the current pace she is running, even with city traffic, Molly should back be to her dormitory five minutes after she exits Central Park.
Molly is feeling good while running northbound on the secluded path. There are many trees and heavy foliage on both sides of the narrow path. The tall maple and oak trees loom over her like specters in the dusk. It is getting quite difficult for her to see the path clearly as full darkness approaches. She thinks to herself that she must be careful not to stumble and fall before she reaches the park exit at 110th Street.
As Molly reaches a point on the path that is directly opposite West 108th Street, she hears a rustling in the bushes to her left. As she turns her head in that direction to look, she sees a large dark form lunging directly at her. Suddenly, the strike of a blackjack to the left side of her head renders her unconscious. She sees a white flash followed by total darkness and silence.
Molly slumps into the arms of her attacker. He places handcuffs on her wrists and carries her effortlessly through the trees and bushes to his red Honda Accord sedan that is parked a short distance away facing east on West 108th Street. Like a silent ninja, he moves through the darkness and places her into the backseat of his waiting car.
Molly is in the hands, and at the mercy, of the guardian. Similar to his four previous abductions and crime scenes, the guardian permits no witnesses and leaves no evidence behind for the authorities to find. Like the four girls before her, Molly vanishes in an instant and without a sound.
Moments later, the guardian turns his car left onto Central Park West from West 108th Street. He drives two blocks and turns left again on to 110th Street. He then drives several blocks to Broadway and makes a right. He heads north on Broadway for twenty blocks.
Several minutes go by and the guardian is parking his car on West 130th Street, just west of Broadway. The location is very dark and empty, as it always is at night. The guardian removes his new prize from the backseat of the Honda Accord and easily carries her up to the second floor of the abandoned building that houses his secret lair. As he carries her inside, it occurs to him that Molly is the fifth guest to grace his special domain.
Chapter Forty Six
The guardian is looking down at Molly who is lying on the floor. She is still unconscious. The light of a single candle in a sterling silver holder on the floor next to Molly illuminates her bound and handcuffed body. There is duct tape stretched tightly across her mouth.
It has only been five days since the guardian killed Eve Curry, and yet his bloodlust has already reached a point that it is overwhelming and undeniable to him. Just as Dr. Janet Chin had feared and predicted, the guardian’s hedonistic needs are escalating. The duration of the cooling off period between his murders is getting shorter. His lustful desires are actually growing stronger after each new victim.
Simply put, the guardian’s homicidal and sexual hungers are increasing over time, and he is requiring a new victim more and more frequently in order to temporarily satiate his cravings. Just like a drug addict who is not satisfied for long after a fix and soon needs another, a fresh kill does not satisfy the guardian for long. His cravings are insatiable. He will always need another victim.
The guardian watches Molly as she regains consciousness. She is lying on her back. He is standing over her and looking down when she opens her eyes. While her pupils adjust to the dim light, she wriggles in her restraints and moans loudly through the duct tape on her mouth. When she is able to focus, her eyes open wide in horror at the sight of the guardian standing over her. She thrashes on the floor but is unable to move. She emits another terrible moan that only the guardian is present to hear.
The ligatures that bind Molly keep her lying on her back. Seeing that she is unable to move, the guardian reaches down with both hands and pulls her up into a sitting position. He wants to be able to look directly into her eyes when he speaks to her.
A cold sweat covers Molly’s face. Her eyes are wild with terror, and her body is trembling uncontrollably. She feels nauseous and faint as she looks at the unfamiliar man, wearing dark clothes with an impassive expression, who crouches in front of her. Her thoughts are racing. She cannot imagine what is happening to her or what this strange man wants from her.
The guardian holds a student ID card that he found in the pocket of Molly’s tracksuit in his left hand and a large knife with a jagged edge in his right hand.
Then, as if he has just read her mind, the guardian says, “Hello, Molly. I imagine that you are wondering what is happening to you. You are confused.”
She responds to him with a pathetic whimper.
In a deep, measured and monotone voice, the guardian continues, “I am so happy that you are here, Molly. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am the guardian. I can see that you are terribly frightened, but please, let me assure you, there is no reason to be. I am here to protect you from the evil horrors of the material world. You should not fear me. This is a time for us to celebrate and cherish. I have been sent here to save your mortal soul.”
The guardian’s words fail to appease or calm Molly in any way. In fact, his words have the opposite effect on her. After hearing the strange words from the cold-sounding man in front of her, Molly is more terrified than ever. She whimpers in terror.
Still crouching in front of Molly, the guardian watches her intently. He stares at her with unblinking eyes. From his experiences with the girls who preceded Molly, the guardian knows that nothing he says will make her understand why she is here. He accepts that reality.
As he stares directly into Molly’s eyes, his heart is pumping fast and adrenaline is surging through every inch of his body. The pupils of his brown eyes dilate. He is breathing fast. He is salivating and has clenched teeth. He can feel a strong erection inside his pants.
The guardian places his knife and Molly’s student ID card on the floor next to him. He smiles at her.
The guardian is in his killing zone, once again.
For a few moments that seem like an eternity to Molly, she and the guardian stare directly at one another. For Molly, time stands still, and the horrible silence in the room is actually deafening to her ears.
A few moments later, the silence in the room is shattered as the guardian emits a primal scream and pounces on Molly. He wraps his powerful hands around her neck and begins to strangle her. Terrible moans emanate from beneath the duct tape that covers Molly’s mouth. Tears pour down her cheeks from her bulging eyes. She is dying.
The horror and physical agony end for Molly when the guardian breaks her neck and chokes the life from her with his bare hands. He allows her limp body to slump down to the floor. Unsatisfied by the act of killing, however, he stares at her corpse with hedonistic lust surging through him.
As he has done on four previous occasions, the guardian completes his terrible ritual by engaging in necrophilia with Molly’s dead body. His escalating sexual desires now require him to have direct skin-to-skin contact with his victims.
Against his better judgment, the guardian takes a tremendous risk, just as he did with Eve Curry, and allows himself to climax inside of Molly without using a condom. He does this while fully recognizing the recklessness and possible danger of his behavior. However, he is powerless over his desires and simply cannot resist the impulse to feel her naked flesh completely.
Upon completion of his awful ritual, the guardian lies next to Molly’s corpse on the floor of the abandoned building for several minutes. He relaxes with her and enjoys the feeling of her still warm body. He touches her face and strokes her long dark hair.
He caresses her forehead and says to himself, “God’s will has been done here today. Now, Molly, you can rest in peace for all eternity.”