by Anne Patrick
"I thought we were done here. I've already told you everything I know."
"Did you happen to mention celebrating Suzy's victory underneath the bleachers?"
"Excuse me?" The color drained from her face.
"You heard me." Jo put her palms on the table and leaned toward the girl. "You were at Suzy Miller's soccer game, and afterwards you and Cindy Lennox helped Suzy celebrate her win by smoking a little weed underneath the bleachers."
The teenager looked at her father. "I don't know what she's talking about."
"Let's cut the charade, okay, a girl's life is on the line here. Unless you start telling the truth, she's going to die in the most horrible way you could imagine."
"Sheriff, I don't think my daughter should say anything else until I've spoken to an attorney."
"How did you come by this information?" Sheriff Davies asked.
Jo ignored the question and stared at the teenager. "Look, Kelly, I don't care that you girls were getting high after the game, or that your friend Cindy has a very lucrative drug operation going on right under her parents' noses. The only thing I care about is where Suzy Miller is."
"I don't know where she's at, I swear."
"Okay." Jo sat across from her. "Start by telling me the last time you saw her."
The girl glared at Jo, seemingly unmoved.
"I've got all the time in the world here, but your friend doesn't. I could paint you a very ugly picture of what is happening to her this very moment, but I don't think either one of us wants that."
She lowered her eyes, staring at the floor.
"Please, Kelly, if you know something tell her," her father pleaded.
The teenager sighed. "All right. We snuck out about ten-thirty and walked down to the bowling alley to play pool."
"You did what?"
"Mr. Rogers, please refrain from interrupting your daughter." Isaac came and stood next to Jo. "It's imperative we get her full statement as accurately as possible."
"All right. I'm sorry."
"Go ahead, Kelly," Jo said, "and don't leave anything out. No matter how insignificant you may think it is."
"Okay. We went to the bowling alley. There weren't any cute guys there so we started back home. We'd only gotten a few blocks when a patrol car started to follow us."
"Was it a local patrol car?" the sheriff asked.
"I don't know. We'd smoked a couple of joints so we sort of freaked out."
"You took off running," Jo guessed.
"Yes. We were scared. We weren't even supposed to be out that late."
"Okay, so then what happened?"
"Me, Krissy and Alex took off toward town and Cindy and Suzy ran toward the stadium." Kelly closed her eyes and bit down on her lower lip.
"What happened next, Kelly?" Jo pressed. "I need to know what happened."
"I'm not sure. I mean, all I know is what Cindy told us when she met us back at her house almost an hour later."
"What did she tell you?"
"She said Suzy had been arrested. I believed her until this morning when the sheriff called."
Jo studied the girl; it was obvious she was scared. She thought back to the conversation she'd had with Cindy Lennox. She said she was going to meet a friend. "Did you talk to Cindy after you spoke to the sheriff this morning?"
The teenager nodded. "She said if we told the truth, he could come back for us," she barely managed before breaking into tears.
Mr. Rogers wrapped his arms around his daughter. "It's okay, baby. I won't let him hurt you. I promise."
Several minutes passed before her tears subsided. "I'm sorry I lied, but I was so scared. I didn't know what to do."
Knowing the teenager had probably seen the news of the gruesome discovery they'd made in Louke, she didn't blame the girl for being terrified. "It's okay, I understand."
"He won't come after us, will he?"
"No, I'm sure he's left the area." With a BOLO on the patrol car, she was surprised he hadn't dumped it yet. He was getting more brazen, which meant he was liable to slip up soon. Jo shifted her gaze to Mr. Rogers. "You can take her home now. Thank you for your cooperation."
"If you won't be needing her help anymore, I'd like to take her to her grandparents for a couple of weeks. Just to be safe."
"That's probably a good idea," Sheriff Davies said. "Just leave a number with dispatch where you can be reached." Once they had gone, he turned to Jo. "Shall I have Cindy Lennox brought in?"
"I doubt that'll be necessary. She'll come in on her own." And hopefully this close brush with death would put her back on the right track.
"I take it this is the same man you guys have been after?"
"I'm afraid so," Jo answered. "I don't think he'll strike again in your area, but it wouldn't hurt to pass the word along to your men to keep their eyes open."
"What I'd like to know is how he managed to slip in and out of my county without being seen by one of my guys."
"That's a good question, Sheriff."
Jo glanced at Isaac, somewhat taken aback by the anger in his voice. "You did receive the BOLO on the stolen cruiser, didn't you?"
"It was posted as soon as it came in, and copies were handed out to the night shift."
"I assume you've notified the surrounding counties about Miss Miller's abduction."
"Of course, and I've had my reserves out all day canvassing the area." Sheriff Davies walked with them from the room. "Agent McDaniels, do you mind telling me how you knew all that about the girls?"
"I'm psychic."
"No, really, how did you know?"
Jo smiled. "Give us a call if you turn up anything else."
"Yeah, sure."
*****
"You okay?" Jo asked of Isaac on the way out of town.
"There's nothing worse than a redneck sheriff."
Jo burst out laughing and he immediately tossed her an icy glare. "Oh come on, he wasn't that bad."
"I don't know which was worse, him, or that pompous Mrs. Lennox."
"Now I really liked her, and I still can't get over that mansion she lives in."
He rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to the road.
"Wow, and you call me cynical." But being the son of a sharecropper in South Carolina would explain his animosity toward the wealthy?
"So what happened at the soccer field?"
Jo smiled at his attempt to change the subject. He liked talking about the past about as much as she did. "It was kind of neat actually. I saw the final minutes of her game. She's quite the soccer player."
"Did you see Briggs?"
"No. It really bugs me why I only see certain images."
"What do you mean?"
"My visions are so random. The only time they're consistent is when I'm with a victim, and it's always the last moments before death."
"Well, the ones you've discussed with me gave you the answers you were seeking at the time. Like the ones with the Camaro, and then today we suspected they were lying and they saw her after school."
"Are you suggesting my subconscious thoughts could be summoning the visions?"
"It makes sense."
They drove in silence for a short time, before Jo began to search for a radio station with a decent signal.
"So what do you think happened?" Isaac asked.
Jo didn't answer immediately, sorting the information in her mind. After several seconds, using what she'd managed to piece together of the girl's personality, she offered her theory. "The way I figure it is when he caught up to them Suzy immediately copped an attitude with him, probably spouting off her constitutional rights and that he was out of his jurisdiction and had no right to be harassing them. A brief confrontation took place, giving Lennox ample opportunity to take off. Paranoid and thinking he was really a cop, and probably afraid her parents would find out about her little drug operation, she didn't mention her friend being busted. Then when the Millers called informing them Suzy hadn't come home, and having heard the ne
ws about the teenage girls in Louke, she was terrified. She called the other girls and made them swear not to tell a soul, that's when they concocted the story that Suzy never showed up for the slumber party."
"A decision that will probably haunt her for the rest of her life."
"Most likely."
"Have you come up with any other theories as to why he buries them alive?"
"No, unless it's just another form of torture."
"You suggested that before."
"Yeah, but it doesn't really make sense. By burying them alive, it's as if he's washing his hands of them. It seems almost contradictory."
"Because of his need for control?"
"Right. Strangulation is more of what you'd expect from someone who needs to prove he is in control. It's more personal."
"I agree. He's intelligent though; maybe he's burying them alive to throw you off. By doing that he would be in control."
"I don't know, Isaac. I just want the guy caught."
*****
Jo heard the shower running when she entered her motel room. She was tempted to join her husband, but recalling their reunion last night and fearing a reoccurrence, she opted to watch television instead.
As she sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts reverted to the events of the morning, her frustration continuing to build. She had analyzed and helped to apprehend many monsters like Harland Briggs, but none had ever gotten under her skin the way he had. Whether it was because he seemed to have no remorse for the unspeakable acts he committed or the fact he had played a hand in her nervous breakdown, the desperate need to stop him was never more apparent. As hard as she'd tried to prevent it, the case had become very personal, and she knew if she was ever to have normality in her life again, she had to end his carnage.
She had just slipped off her shoes and leaned back on the bed when she heard the shower shut off, and it wasn't but a few seconds later the bathroom door opened.
A smile formed as Austin exited the bathroom with only a towel around his waist, his bulging biceps straining against his sunburned skin as he rubbed his hair vigorously with a towel.
"I see you took advantage of the pool."
"Hi, babe." He came over and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "I highly recommend it. How was your morning?"
"Busy. We've got another missing girl."
"Oh no. Is there anything I can do to help out?"
"Thanks for the offer, but with all the jurisdiction legalities there isn't much you could do."
"I could help out on the tip hotline as a volunteer. I'm sure the locals have their hands full, what with discovery of the bodies and all."
"You heard."
"I read about it in the paper. You and your friend Lindsey were the ones who found them." He took her hand, interlocking his fingers with hers. "No wonder you were so upset last night."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't really feel like talking about it though."
"It must have been pretty awful if Lindsey had to go home."
"I still don't feel like talking about it, Austin." She knew if she did, he would eventually ask about the victims and that would lead them to the real reason she couldn't make love with him last night. And that scenario would not end well.
"So who should I talk to about helping with the tip hotline?"
"I'll ask Isaac. He's meeting us for lunch," she glanced at the clock, "in half an hour."
He grinned. "What shall we do in the meantime?"
"I was thinking a quick nap."
"Good idea."
He lay beside her and captured her lips in an arousing embrace, his arm circling her waist to draw her closer. Almost immediately, images from the crime scene shattered her desire. A wave of nausea forced her from his arms. "I'm sorry," she barely managed as she bolted from the bed to the bathroom, barely making it to the stool before vomiting.
Jo rinsed out her mouth and washed her face. Oh, God, this can't keep happening. Please, erase the images from my mind. Silence the screams. Give me strength to finish this case.
"You could have just told me you weren't feeling well." Austin spoke from behind. He grabbed a towel and handed it to her.
"I told you I wanted to take a nap. That usually means one of two things: I'm not feeling well, or I'm tired."
"I'll be sure to remember that." He turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Jo leaned her head back and closed her eyes, frustrated and angry at what was happing to her and the strain it put on her relationship with Austin. She wished she had confided in him yesterday about her experience with the victims. He knew she sometimes used her ability, he would understand the repercussions. She had to do something. She couldn't keep thwarting his attempts at intimacy without some kind of explanation.
Austin met her as she came out of the bathroom. He was already dressed. "You ready to go eat?"
Jo looked at the clock. They were already ten minutes late. "As soon as I put on my shoes." Their talk would have to wait.
CHAPTER TWENTY
When they got to the restaurant, Isaac was nowhere in sight. Settling back in a booth, they placed their order and visited casually about things going on back home. It had taken her hometown of Claremont Oregon several months to recover from their experience with a serial killer. Hunters and fishermen were only now brave enough to reenter the woods without the fear of finding a headless corpse. The case that had brought them together had made them the town heroes and had secured Austin another four years as sheriff.
"I've finally got the city commissioners talked into taking bids on a new jail. Hopefully we can get it on the ballot in November."
"How many contractors have placed bids?"
"Four; including your brother."
"I was afraid of that."
"Well, the only way he's going to get it is by underbidding the others."
"I need to call him. I haven't spoken to him since I left."
"You need to call your mom, too."
"Do I have to?" she replied, finally winning a smile from him. Though she and her mother had made amends after ten years of barely speaking, their relationship still needed a lot of nurturing.
"She's trying, Jo."
"So am I, it's just hard sometimes."
"I know." He gave a supportive smile.
The waitress brought their meals and they ate in silence, except for the occasional banter. Then glancing up at the clock and seeing it was almost one-thirty, Jo decided she'd better get back to work. "You wanna give me a lift to the station? You can check on volunteering for the hotline."
"Sure, I'll go pay the check."
Jo made a quick trip to the restroom, and when she returned, she saw Isaac enter the restaurant. After a nod in Austin's direction, he approached her. "Sorry we stood you up," Jo said.
He grinned. "I was just about to apologize for standing you up. I got called down to the funeral home. Boone finished the preliminary on the victims, and just like you described, they were all tortured and raped. Same as in Maine."
"Not now, Isaac," she said as she saw Austin only a few feet from him.
She hoped he hadn't heard Isaac, but when Austin took her by the arm and guided her to one side, she knew he had.
His eyes narrowed as he glared at her. "Why didn't you tell me you'd been with the victims?"
"Because I knew you'd be upset, and I didn't want you to worry."
"No, you were afraid I'd make you come home."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You knew I didn't want you coming here in the first place, and you were afraid if you told me the details, I'd try and talk you into coming home with me."
"Let's get something straight, Austin, this is my work. It's a part of me. You knew that when you married me."
"Yeah, and I'm beginning to see just how much it means to you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're the psychic, figure it out."
Jo stared after him as he walked out of the café.
She turned to Isaac. "Thanks a lot."
"Sorry, I thought you'd already discussed the visions with him."
Jo gave no reply, and only shook her head as she chased after her husband.
*****
Austin had his suitcase on the spare bed and was slinging his clothes into it when she entered the room. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?"
"You see, this is why I didn't tell you. I know how you get sometimes."
He glanced up; his eyes steady on her. "No, had you told me, I would have listened, and I would have been there for you. But no, instead, you pretend nothing has happened. You deceived me, Jo."
"How did I deceive you?"
"By not being up front with me and not trusting me enough to confide in me."
"Okay, you're right, I should have confided in you, but you're wrong about the reason I chose not to," she said, on the verge of tears. "I didn't tell you about my visions because I knew you were already afraid for me and didn't want to worry you further."
"You've shared your visions with me before," he reminded.
"This is different. These girls weren't only murdered; they were tortured, and raped in every imaginable way possible. Being a man, you can never understand the horror and humiliation of having your dignity stripped away, being unable to defend yourself. It's like your soul is ripped out of your body and you're left as a hollow shell, completely void of feeling. You don't even care if you live or not. These girls welcomed death. That's how bad it was."
Jo raised a shaky hand and wiped the tears from her eyes, expecting him to rush to her and take her into his arms as he usually did when he knew she was upset or frightened. But he just stood there, staring at her, and then went back to packing. Only then did she realize how badly she had hurt him.
She walked over and sat down on the bed. "I'm sorry, Austin."
He continued to pack, as if her apology meant nothing.
She hated fighting with him; he could be as hardheaded as she was. She grabbed his hand. "I said I was sorry."
"I heard you."
"But you're still going to leave."
He tossed her a look she had never seen before, at least not on him. It was one of defeat and discouragement. "You don't need me here, Jo. You don't need anybody."