by R E Gauthier
Walking for several minutes, Nikki made her way to a green space where kids were playing catch, and some dogs were playing frisbee with their owners. It wasn’t a park but an area next to a business with a wooded lot. As she watched the children playing and the dogs running, Nikki’s phone rang.
“SA Hyland here, what do you have for us, Detective Watters?”
“I thought you’d like to know; the police have found a body in Sleepy Hollow State Park.”
“Whereabouts is this park?”
“North of Lansing in a remote forested area, some people out hiking with their dogs found a man’s body in a shallow grave close to the lake. First officers on scene said it looks like animals may have been digging up the body.”
Nikki immediately thought this could be Kyle Nolan. “Have they found any identification on the body?”
“No identification or clothes. There was also disfiguration of the face and hands. Until our pathologist can determine if the damage to those areas is due to animal predation, we won’t know if the killer is responsible for it. I recall reading in your file that the men your suspect killed, also had the skin on their faces and hands cut off to obscure their identities.”
Nikki drew in a breath. The body found at the state park, most likely was Kyle Nolan’s that Washburg had concealed, hoping that it would stay that way until he finished his plan with Ashley Foster. When the media’s report of a man’s body, found in a state park, came out, it would likely cause Washburg to speed up his timeline for fear that it would alert the FBI to his whereabouts. “I need you to secure as much of the crime scene as possible, I don’t want anyone to have access to the area until SSA MacGregor, and I can search it ourselves. If this is Kyle Nolan, we need full toxicology performed immediately. We also need the pathologists to keep all particulates found on the body.”
“Of course, I sent out a crime scene team and notified the pathologist that the body would be coming in. I have already ordered toxicology and collection of debris and DNA.” Watters cleared his throat. “I told the pathologist to put a rush on everything as this could be the body of a victim of an ongoing FBI case.”
“Thank you. When did this happen?”
“I got the call a few minutes before I called you from the Laingsburg Police Department. They don’t have a crime scene team or pathologist so, they will call us if they find a body under suspicious circumstances.”
“Do me a favor. Most times we want an investigation to stay out of the media, but in this case, we want our suspect to know that his latest victim was found. If by chance this is Kyle Nolan, which I believe it is, we want our suspect to be worried that he doesn’t have all the time in the world to finish his plan.”
“I can call and arrange a press conference right away; do you and SSA MacGregor want to be present?”
“No, and don’t even mention the FBI as yet. We only want our suspect to know his concealment of the body wasn’t sufficient. We don’t want him to know we’re here; that could spook him. I’ll want you to wait until SSA MacGregor, and I have had the chance to search the scene before you arrange the press conference.”
“Not a problem. The body may not have been found for several months because normally that area is impassable until summer. We had a dry Autumn and then this unseasonable warmth has opened up that area to hikers.”
“Lucky for us, many factors worked in our favor. Please send me GPS coordinates to locate the scene. SSA MacGregor and I will want to search it before the area becomes inundated with the press or onlookers.”
“We were fortunate that the hikers who found the body didn’t have cellphone reception, they walked back to the park’s office and the staff called the police. The police asked the hikers to remain at the office for questioning while the park officials secured the scene. The location of the scene and the details will remain out of the press or public knowledge as long as you want.”
“Thank you again, Detective Watters, it’s refreshing to work with a competent police force on this matter.”
“We may be backwoods people compared to what you’re familiar with in the big cities, but we do know crime scene protocols. I’m sending those coordinates now and will await your call before I release any information.”
Nikki thanked him once again and closed the call as she picked up her pace to a jog; Mack was going to be excited by this news. Jogging past a few fast food restaurants and avoiding the hurried drivers as they entered and exited the parking lots, Nikki scrolled to Mack’s call icon on her phone.
A sleepy-voiced Mack answered her phone. “This had better be important, or I won’t be happy.”
“This is important, get dressed with your wig and disguise and call Torres, we’re going to Sleepy Hollow State Park.”
“What is so important at Sleep Hollow Park?” Mack asked around a long yawn.
“How about a body that could be Kyle Nolan’s?” A few curse words and a thump told Nikki that Mack was walking and talking on the phone at the same time. “I’ll let you go so that you can get dressed without injury.”
“Thanks, Nikki, I’ll call Torres, and we’ll be ready when you get here. Where are you by the way?”
“I can see the motel; I’ll be there in three minutes. We’ve got to hurry if we want to beat the setting sun.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sleepy Hollow State Park, Just before sunset, March 14, 2012
Torres and Nikki were on the other side of the crime scene, while Kelsey walked the perimeter on the outside of the crime tape erected by the police. She wanted to see what drew the killer to this place and she also wanted to get a sense of landmarks. Wearing the long red wig to obscure her identity was annoying, but she knew if Washburg were watching the area, he wouldn’t be alerted to the presence of the FBI until they wanted him to know they were here. Today Torres, Nikki and she were there as the Crime Scene Investigation Team. They wore the white disposable forensic coveralls, the mask, booties, caps, and latex gloves.
Kelsey noticed the location was several yards from a hiking trail, down a gully a few feet from a stream that emptied into the lake. The area was rocky and had leaf litter from the dense tree canopy above. The tall, bare trees stood silently, branches swaying in the wind. Touching the bark of white birch, Kelsey closed her eyes. She tried imagining what the killer would have seen as he was searching for a location to bury the body. To her right, the lake stretched the entire length as far as the eye could see, to the left, the embankment went to the hiking trail. Had the killer been here before the burial, looking for the right spot? The place the killer buried the body was obscured from the hiking trail by rocks and trees. He would have had the benefit of this concealment when he buried the body at any time of the day. We need to look for people who may have seen a man fitting the description of the men Nikki found watching and following Kyle Nolan, on or near this park. Kelsey made notes in her book.
Glancing around to where Nikki and Torres were searching a small two-foot square grid area meticulously, Kelsey thought she saw a glint of sunlight from the setting sun reflecting off of an item. Afraid to call out and ruin their identity rouse, she walked carefully and quietly to the spot. “Nikki, I saw something just to the right of your hand,” Kelsey whispered.
Without looking up, Nikki used a gloved fingertip to brush away the leaves lightly. Under a leaf with holes in it, Nikki found a cracked glass syringe. With tweezers, she extricated the pieces carefully from their hiding spot. Placing each piece into an evidence bag, Nikki said quietly, “great eye. The crime scene investigators said teenagers and party-goers frequent this location in the park in the warmer months, but we’ll have it analyzed. I’m not certain drug addicts would use a glass syringe to shoot up, so this, most likely, was left behind by the killer.”
“How commonly are glass syringes used? Can we trace them easier than the plastic one?”
Nikki shrugged. “I can check into it. I know we use them when we want to analyze gases, but beyond that, it could
be what the killer was able to obtain.”
“Do you think Washburg Industries Medical Supply makes glass syringes?”
“I’ll look into it as well as when we get the analysis back on this syringe’s contents. I want this to be Kyle Nolan as much as you do, but we need to rule out the possibilities. The fact that someone removed the skin of the face and hands did point toward Washburg, but until Dr. Tufts can verify the skin was removed surgically as in the other six men; we’ll have to hold off any further speculations.”
“Nikki, I’m not making speculations, I feel it in my gut that this is Kyle. Do we have a DNA sample of Kyle Nolan to compare to this body’s sample, once we extract one?”
“Detective Watters called Mr. and Mrs. Nolan and had them bring in a hairbrush and toothbrush from Kyle’s apartment and an envelope from the Christmas card they received from him. We should have plenty of items to collect a viable, complete DNA profile to make a comparison to the DNA recovered from the man’s body.”
Kelsey straightened up and carefully extricated herself from the cordoned off search grid. The floodlights illuminated the crime scene once the sunset. The team could search through the night in the cover of darkness to collect as much potential evidence as they could find. She needed to make a few calls to check on Lambert and Gillis watching Deb. If Washburg wanted to make a move at night, tonight could be the night he did it.
Lambert answered her phone on the first ring. “Lambert here; we were not expecting to hear from you this early, is there something wrong?”
Kelsey decided to refrain from mentioning the body and the crime scene to Lambert. Instead, she thought she’d ask them to be extra vigilant. “I’m calling to check on how things are going on your end. Are there any suspicious movements?”
Lambert reported that nothing outwardly odd had happened since they took over the surveillance of Deb two hours prior.
“I need you to be more specific, and I can then be the judge on whether it’s relevant or not. Our suspect is cunny and knows how to look like he belongs.”
“Yes, I recall the nickname around the Bureau; they’re calling Washburg the Chameleon.”
Grimacing, Kelsey drew in a breath. “Well, then you know how he can look like anyone; I need you to tell me about any movement at all around the apartment building in the last two hours.”
Lambert described three people entering the building from the back entrances. They all turned out to be tenants that used their issued keys to gain access to the building. Each person was then seen entering their respective apartment units on the newly installed cameras on each floor. They saw a pizza delivery guy who ended up being lost, looking for an address not located inside the building. “We called the pizza place and verified the young guy was on his first delivery and got mixed up to which apartment he was to make his delivery.”
Kelsey smiled. The East Lansing FBI office sent over their best agents. Nikki had explained the protocol and Lambert, and Gillis had executed it perfectly. “Perfect, I need you to continue to be vigilant. We have reason to believe that Washburg will follow his usual MO and make his move at night. I need you to notify us of anything that may look suspicious.”
“We understand, we’ll report to you if we see anything out of the ordinary.”
“Don’t worry about the time either; it looks like we’ll likely be awake all night.”
“Will do’ I’ll notify Agent Gillis, and if we see something, one of us will call you immediately.”
Thanking Lambert, Kelsey closed out the call. Checking her watch, she saw that it was almost time for her to call Miranda and check on her and Nanna. They had decided it was best to call in the evening while Kelsey wasn’t on surveillance duties and before Nanna sat down to watch her usual television shows.
Tapping the picture icon for Miranda, Kelsey waited for the call to connect.
“Hello, Babe. I’ve been sitting here waiting for you to call; how are things going?”
Miranda knew that Kelsey couldn’t tell her about the investigation, but used the same query every time they spoke. Kelsey knew it was a general inquiry to how Kelsey was doing and not her fiancée’s way of poking for information. “I miss you, I wish I were there with you, and I’m tired and cranky.”
“Oh, my poor baby. It doesn’t sound like things are going well.”
“They’re not. I want this investigation to be over so I can come home. Things got more complicated today but could help us solve this case, so I hope we can wrap it up soon.”
“You’re not alone, are you? I can hear people’s voices in the background.”
“No, I’m at a crime scene and cannot talk for long but wanted to tell you that I love you and to hear your voice. How are things there?”
“Well, after Nanna returned from Lynn and Rory’s we’ve been busy looking for a caterer to cater our wedding. The usual one Nanna uses called and had to pull out because the owner is pregnant and won’t be available for June.”
“Can’t she have someone run the business while she’s having her baby?”
Miranda explained how a woman, her husband, and her best friend ran the company. The parents were expecting twins, and they didn’t want to risk booking catering jobs when the babies were due, in case of unforeseen circumstance. “Don’t worry we’re armed with a long list we’re going through to find the perfect alternative.”
“How has Nanna been otherwise, any more concerns?” Kelsey asked the same question each time she called and spoke to Miranda, and each time Miranda gave her the same answer.
“Nanna has told me to tell you, that she’s just fine and not to worry about her.”
Kelsey told Miranda what she told her every time she heard Nanna’s message. “Tell her that I’ll worry about her as long as she keeps insisting on stressing over our wedding arrangements. I explained that we could do them ourselves.”
“I know but you know how she wants to feel useful, and in her words; it’s not every day that your granddaughter gets married.”
Kelsey chuckled, and the smile grew across her face. “Tell her I love her too. I’m sorry we cannot have another date tonight, but it looks like I may not get much chance to sleep tonight.”
“I’m sorry too, but I know how important your work is so that I won’t complain. When you get back, you’re all mine.”
Hearing the resignation in Miranda’s voice, Kelsey said, “gladly; when I get home, we’ll send Nanna away to visit Rory or Kenny, and we’ll get reacquainted properly.”
“It’s a date, and I’ll hold you to that Agent MacGregor.”
Imagining the devilish smile on Miranda’s cute lips, Kelsey closed her eyes and concentrated on kissing them. “You do that; because that’s a promise, I intend on keeping Miss Gauthier.”
Miranda chuckled and said, “I felt the slightest tickle on my lips, you’re getting good at that.”
“Good, hold on to that until I can call again. I love you.”
Miranda said she loved Kelsey and missed her before they ended the call.
Looking up from her phone’s end call screen, Kelsey saw Nikki standing up and motioning her to approach. Walking carefully closer to where Nikki stood, she asked what was up.
“Torres found something that could help us. While looking for anything out of place, she found some dirt particles that looked different from the surrounding area.”
Kelsey hoped that along with the syringe it would help them build a case against Washburg. “How long before we know what the composition is? Can we use it to trace it back to Washburg or the area where the murder took place?”
Nikki nodded. “We can have a preliminary examination done, and it can tell us simple identifiers like sediment type, color, and structure. A more in-depth analysis will need to be done to break the soil down to its chemical make-up, density, and if it contains any foreign biologicals and this will further identify markers for us. If we can trace the origin of the dirt to a specific location; we can use it to determine where the s
oil came from and maybe where the killer was or where the murder occurred. I know your gut is saying you think this is Kyle, but we should prepare if it turns out it is not.”
“It is not only my gut; I’m getting the distinct feeling about this place feeling familiar; like I have seen it somewhere before.”
“Like Déjà vu?”
Kelsey shrugged. “I don’t know, but I feel like I’ve seen this exact spot, but I cannot remember where.”
“The blue sky, the trees; could this be the spot you saw in your vision?”
Kelsey realized Nikki maybe right. “I hadn’t thought of that; you could be right.”
Nikki rocked up on her toes. “That’s why we make a great team.” She stretched her arms over her head. “It’s going to be a long night; we should have some coffee and get warm in the tent.”
Kelsey agreed. They had much work to do, and they needed their wits about them so they could act if necessary. As much as she wanted this case to be over soon, she prayed that Paul Washburg waited another night to finish his plan with Ashley Foster. I need more sleep to get my mind working on all cylinders.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Village Inn Motel, Early Morning, March 15, 2012
Nikki, Torres, and Kelsey got in around 3 am to get a few hours’ sleep. The forensic team collected all night long, and once they determined they had searched the area sufficiently for physical evidence, they called an end to it. Because of the immense volume of evidence needing to be processed, Nikki called in a few favors with several forensic experts to use their labs to help with the analyses. Kelsey managed to fall asleep much quicker than she had anticipated, especially after she called to check in on agents Lambert and Gillis. Once she had confirmation that Deb was still safe and Washburg hadn’t made a move, she could rest.
Waking with a slight headache, Kelsey smelled the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and opened her eyes to find Torres and Nikki smiling at her. “How long have you two been standing there?”
“We were waiting to see if we had to wake you. You must have been exhausted because you didn’t hear my phone ring.” Nikki poked Torres and chuckled