by Scott Bonn
The guardian picks up his knife from the floor and carves “Psalm 34:7” into Molly’s lower abdomen, just above the groin. He smiles and admires his artisanship after completing his work. He derives great satisfaction by leaving his signature on the bodies of his victims. It serves a psychological need that he must satisfy but does not really comprehend. He accepts that he needs to do it and does not waste time trying to understand it.
It is important to remember that fantasy is the hallmark trait of all serial killers, including the guardian. Like all serial killers, the guardian has unique fantasy needs that he must obey, whether or not he understands them.
As he sits on the floor next to Molly and gazes down at her lifeless body, the guardian enjoys a sense of peace and serenity for the moment. He knows that, unfortunately, his feeling of satisfaction will be short lived. He knows that, before too long, his terrible hedonistic cravings will return, once again. For the time being, however, everything is fine.
All that remains for him to do is dispose of the dead body in the Hudson River. The guardian washes Molly’s corpse meticulously and then ties an iron cross around her neck. She is now ready. He will transport her to the river where he will baptize her in the flowing water and set her free.
Chapter Forty Seven
Stacey Sommers has just finished eating dinner with the other female inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Now, back in her cell, she is sitting on her bed and reading her Bible. This is a new routine for her. She likes to begin and end each day by reading from the Bible. This evening, she is reading one of her favorite verses from the Old Testament—that is, Isaiah 40:11.
She reads it aloud, “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.”
Charles Lundquist taught her this passage, and Stacey has grown to love it because it always reminds her of him. To Stacey, Lundquist is her own gentle shepherd. She feels safe and secure when she is in his presence. He has given her a sense of hope and a feeling of serenity that she has never known. Prior to meeting Lundquist, she did not know that it was even possible to experience such feelings.
Her newfound confidence and sense of purpose have come from Lundquist’s belief in her. She can feel his genuine concern and affection for her that inspires her and gives her hope for a better life.
She will be with her beloved chaplain at Bedford Hills for some time to come. It will be at least thirty-six months before she is eligible for parole. During her remaining time in prison, she plans to be a model inmate and show Lundquist that she is a changed woman. Then, when it is time for her to leave prison, perhaps she will join Lundquist in an intimate, physical relationship outside of prison.
Stacey gets down on her knees by her bed and prays for this to happen in the future. When she is finished praying, she rises to her feet and lays down to sleep. She feels peaceful tonight.
Chapter Forty Eight
Pritchard and Cassidy are sitting together in the guardian war room at One Police Plaza. It is now 10:15pm and they are both mentally fatigued. They have been developing a strategy for Cassidy to employ in the morning when she calls Charles Lundquist to request an interview. They have been discussing the same topic ever since they left the commissioner’s office several hours ago.
The vital importance of the interview with Lundquist is clear to both Cassidy and Pritchard. Therefore, the two colleagues have been thorough and exhaustive in their preparation. They have debated the pros and cons of every possible approach that Cassidy might use with the prison chaplain. After hours of discussion, they have come to believe that the best approach is a simple one.
If Lundquist is the killer they seek, then he is much too clever to fall for a complicated ruse. The guardian would see through such a ploy in an instant. Pritchard and Cassidy are certain of that. They agree that regardless of whether or not Charles Lundquist is the guardian, the best approach for Cassidy is a straightforward and honest one.
After agreeing on this simple strategy, Pritchard and Cassidy look at one another and smile. They breathe a sigh of relief together in unison and then sit in silence for a while. For the very first time since they have been working together on this case, they believe that they have a significant lead. That lead is Charles Lundquist. It is an exciting feeling for both of them.
It suddenly occurs to Pritchard, as he looks at Cassidy, that his desire to drink away his feelings and escape through alcohol has greatly diminished in the short time he has known her. He has not had a drink in seven days. It has been a very long time since he went an entire week without the support of alcohol.
Pritchard finds it exciting and intellectually stimulating to be around Cassidy. He enjoys being mentally sharp and lucid in her presence. He realizes that he does not want to drink when he is around her. He wants to be completely clear and present with her. Of course, he is also very attracted to her and wants to have sex every time he looks at her.
While gazing at Cassidy, it occurs to him that making love to her is far more enjoyable and satisfying than making love to a bottle of scotch whisky. He really wants to have sex with her again, tonight.
Cassidy speaks to Pritchard while he is having his sexual thoughts about her. She talks to him as if she can read his mind and shares his desires.
She smiles and says, “James, you and I have done all that we can for one day. Tomorrow might be a very eventful day for us. We deserve a little break. I think we should go back to your hotel and unwind.”
Cassidy’s words send a surge of adrenaline through Pritchard’s body.
With his heart beating fast, Pritchard grins and says, “Excellent idea, Julia. We definitely deserve a little ‘R and R’ time. I was just about to make the same suggestion.”
Less than thirty minutes later, they enter Pritchard’s room at the Residence Inn Marriott. As soon as the door closes, they embrace and kiss passionately. They tear off one another’s clothing. For now, they are lost in carnal desire. Tomorrow is another day.
Chapter Forty Nine
While Pritchard and Cassidy are enjoying themselves in lower Manhattan, the guardian is engaging in a very dark and diabolical activity uptown in Harlem. He is loading the body of Molly Fisher and her few belongings into the backseat of his car parked outside of the abandoned building that serves as his lair. Dressed in a dark gray hoodie, black pants and boots, he moves quickly and silently in the darkness.
Moments later, the serial killer is driving his car north on Broadway. He turns left on to West 133rd Street and drives straight toward the Hudson River that is a short distance away. He plans to baptize and then deposit Molly’s body into the river just north of the West Harlem Piers. It is a secluded area where he can get his car very close to the river along the Hudson River Greenway. He scouted this location prior to abducting Molly, so he is well prepared.
The entire population of New York is on high alert because of the guardian’s murder spree, and the police presence throughout the city is greatly increased. The killer’s success and his increasing notoriety are making it more and more difficult for him to navigate through the city undetected. He knows that he must be extremely careful, deliberate, and work very quickly to dispose of Molly’s body in order to avoid capture.
Fortunately for the guardian, it is a moonless night. In complete darkness, he slips Molly’s weighted body and personal items into the water just above 133rd Street. He says a blessing to baptize her and then allows her body to sink into the river. Molly’s corpse disappears quickly and silently into the cold water.
In less than one minute, he is back in his Honda Accord and heading south on the Henry Hudson Parkway. There is little traffic at this time of night, so he expects to arrive at his alter ego’s apartment in the East Village within fifteen minutes. While he drives downtown in silence, the guardian thinks about Molly Fisher and basks in the glory of his successful work this evening. He feels satisfied for now but also wonders
when his terrible hedonistic cravings will return, once again.
Chapter Fifty
It is 8:50am on Tuesday, October 26th. James Pritchard, Julia Cassidy and Jason Baldwin are sitting together, drinking coffee and talking in the homicide captain’s office on the second floor of One Police Plaza. Pritchard and Cassidy have been there since 7:30am today. In fact, they came into the office together this morning after spending the night in Pritchard’s hotel room. Special Agent Baldwin joined them when he arrived at 8:00am.
The three colleagues share a common feeling of excitement today. They are excited because today may yield a breakthrough in the guardian manhunt.
First, Cassidy is going to follow up this morning on the Charles Lundquist lead and request an informational interview with the prison chaplain at his office.
Second, FBI Special Agent Liv Olson expects to hear back today from several regional forensic labs about whether the semen sample discovered inside of Eve Curry’s body is a DNA match with anyone in the databases.
Pritchard and the others do not have to wait long to receive a report on the DNA matching inquiries. Just after 9:00am, Liv Olson enters Pritchard’s office. She has received emails from the forensic labs that she had contacted yesterday. The responses that she got from them confirmed what she expected to hear.
Olson says, “Captain, I got email replies overnight from the six regional forensic labs I contacted yesterday. We got no hits at all. They found no matches with our DNA sample. It is unfortunate, but I am not surprised. As I said yesterday, it was a long shot, but we had to try.”
Pritchard says, “Thank you for letting me know, Olson. It looks like our killer’s DNA is not on file anywhere. The bastard is just too damn clever.”
Agent Olson nods in agreement and walks out of Pritchard’s office. Moments after Olson exits, Cassidy stands up and speaks to Pritchard.
She says, “James, I am going to go call Charles Lundquist right now and request a personal interview.”
Pritchard smiles and says, “Okay, Julia. Break a leg.”
Cassidy looks over at Baldwin and says, “Jason, I want you to listen in on my conversation with Lundquist so that we can discuss it afterwards. Please come with me.”
Baldwin says, “Sure thing, Jules.”
Pritchard says, “Good luck, you two,” and the special agents exit Pritchard’s office.
Cassidy plans to make the call to Lundquist from a temporary office she is using a few doors down the hallway from Pritchard’s corner office.
Pritchard sits alone in his office for several minutes to collect his thoughts in silence. Afterwards, he decides to stretch his legs by walking down the hallway. What he really wants to do is check in with Lieutenant Frank Baker, his lead detective in the guardian investigation, whose office is on the other side of the building from his own.
Pritchard stands up from his desk, stretches his back, and places his hands on his hips. He attempts to crack his stiff neck by tilting his head from side-to-side, first left, then right. He smiles when his effort produces a loud cracking sound in the back of his neck.
Pritchard exits his office and begins to walk down the hallway toward Lieutenant Baker’s office. He barely makes it thirty feet from his own office before FBI agents Janet Chin, Ron Carter and Steve Redding approach him. Their no-nonsense demeanor indicates a degree of urgency to Pritchard, so he stops walking and acknowledges them.
Pritchard says, “Good morning. I think you special agents have something to tell me.”
Chin says, “Captain, if you have a few minutes, we would like you to join us in the war room. We have a couple of important leads in the investigation to discuss with you.”
Pritchard says, “Of course, Janet. Please proceed.”
The group of four enters the guardian war room. Lying on the conference table, near the entrance to the room, are two items: a neat pile of blue nylon cord and an iron cross. Chin points to them. Pritchard recognizes the items immediately.
Pritchard asks, “Is this what you want to show me? Items left by the guardian on each of his victims?”
Chin replies, “Yes, Captain. Agents Carter and Redding have been researching the source of these items, and we want to share the results with you.”
Pritchard says, “Go ahead, Janet.”
Chin says, “Let me start with the cord. As you know, the guardian has used blue nylon cord as a ligature to tie up his victims. Our forensic analysts have determined that the cord used to tie up all four bodies came from the same manufacturing source.”
Pritchard nods and says, “Okay.”
Chin continues, “Agent Carter has been contacting manufacturers in an attempt to identify the company that made the cord. If it was made by a specialty manufacturer, and if it happens to be sold in specialty retail outlets, then we might be able to trace the sale of the cord directly to the guardian.”
Pritchard asks, “What have you found out?”
Special agent Ron Carter, a seven-year FBI veteran and expert investigator, replies to Pritchard, “Well, Captain, I did locate the manufacturer of the product which is Quantex Industries, based in New Delhi. They are a leading manufacturer of nylon cord and rope, and they ship their products all over the world. In fact, that is where I ran into a problem. You can buy the nylon cord they make at The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target and a million other locations, so it will be nearly impossible to pinpoint exactly where our killer bought his supply.”
Pritchard says, “I see, Agent Carter. Well, there cannot be too many Lowe’s or The Home Depot stores in Manhattan. I think you should at least find out if any of them have sold a lot of blue nylon cord recently.”
Carter replies, “I am already doing that, Captain. I will let you know when I have the information.”
Pritchard says, “Okay, then, what else do you have for me, Janet?”
Chin points to the iron cross on the table and says, “Captain, there on the table is the cast iron cross that was attached to the body of Eve Curry. It is identical in every way, including weight, to the crosses discovered with the guardian’s three previous victims. Our forensic scientists have determined that they are all made from the same gray iron, and they were all cast from the same mold.”
Pritchard says, “Not too surprising.”
Chin replies, “Perhaps, but allow us to explain the important discovery we have made, Captain. A forensic geologist has concluded that the four crosses are made of gray iron mined in West Virginia, so we know the source of the ore. That is not all. Steve Redding may have found the manufacturer of the crosses. Tell him, Steve.”
Special Agent Steve Redding says, “Captain, I have discovered that one of the leading ornamental iron works that serves the religious community is located right in West Virginia where the ore is from. The name of it is Wheeling Metal Designs. They make custom iron crosses and other specialty items and décor for churches and religious groups all over the country.”
Pritchard says, “Now, that does sound promising, Agent Redding. I am sure you have asked Wheeling Metal Designs if they have a customer in New York who is buying five-pound cast iron crosses.”
Redding says, “I certainly intend to, Captain. I am waiting for a federal judge to issue a warrant so that I can access the sales records of the company. I should have the warrant within a few hours. I will call Wheeling Metal Designs as soon as I get it.”
Pritchard is about to respond to Redding when Julia Cassidy and Jason Baldwin enter the war room abruptly. The two special agents are grinning.
Cassidy says, “Good news. I just spoke to Charles Lundquist. Jason and I have an appointment with him at Bedford Hills in two hours.”
Pritchard asks, “How did he sound on the telephone?”
Baldwin replies, “He was polite and very low key. If Julia’s call upset him in any way, his words, demeanor and vocal tone on the call did not betray him.”
Pritchard says, “Not surprising. If he is the guardian, then he is a cold-blooded basta
rd. Julia, I am going to call the motor pool and have an unmarked car waiting downstairs for you and Jason to use.”
Cassidy says, “Thank you, James.”
She looks at Baldwin and says, “Come on, Jason. We have a road trip to Westchester ahead of us.”
Chapter Fifty One
It is just after 10:00am and eleven-year-old Bobby Fisher is sitting in the classroom at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He is in the sixth grade. Bobby is thinking about his older sister, Molly, while he is working on a watercolor painting in his art class. He is painting a picture of a ship out in the ocean on a sunny day.
Bobby misses his older sister so much ever since she went away to college. He communicates with her every day via text or video chat without exception. He has already texted Molly several times today, starting early this morning. She has not responded to any of his messages, and he is a bit perturbed. It is not like her to ignore him.
Perhaps there is something wrong with her cell phone or she turned it off, he thinks to himself. While working on his painting, he decides that he will make a video call to her on FaceTime during his lunch hour. He plans to give her a hard time for not returning his calls when he talks to her. He giggles to himself at the thought of doing that while he continues to work joyfully on his watercolor painting.
Chapter Fifty Two
At 10:45am, special agents Cassidy and Baldwin are driving north on FDR Drive in a 2017 silver Ford Taurus they were issued by the NYPD carpool. They take I-87 North and the Sprain Brook Parkway to the Saw Mill River Parkway in Hawthorne, New York. From there, they drive north on the Saw Mill River Parkway directly to Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. The trip take sixty-five minutes, so they arrive ten minutes prior to their appointment time with Charles Lundquist.