JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER Page 18

  Replacement started to open her mouth and Vicki continued, “As far as compensation for services rendered, Ms. Campbell and I’ll be discussing the particulars while you brief Madam Mayor.”

  “Wait a second,” Replacement replied. “Jack and I are a package deal. I’m at the rundown with the mayor too.”

  “The particulars of your services have to be ironed out beforehand.”

  “Trust me, she brings a lot to the table.” Jack winked at Replacement. “She needs to be there when I brief the mayor.”

  Vicki’s square jaw became more pronounced, but before she spoke, the mayor walked through the door, and Jack snapped to attention.

  Her black suit and steel-gray shirt matched her salt-and-pepper hair. “Getting a contract in place is not negotiable and time is limited. Shall we start?”

  Replacement looked to Jack, and he nodded.

  The mayor shook Alice’s hand as she passed. “Ms. Campbell.” She walked to the end of the table and sat opposite of where Jack stood. When he didn’t move to sit down, she held out a hand toward the chair.

  Jack preferred standing in general and wanted to remain on his feet when giving the briefing but he reluctantly sat. He knew from the first time he laid eyes on the mayor she was a woman who didn’t beat around the bush. “A serial killer’s targeting tall men in Darrington, Madam Mayor.” He waited for a reaction. Nothing. He continued, “There are three victims we are aware of.”

  “There could be more?” she asked.

  Jack nodded. “We have no way of knowing how many. If we look at the first victim, Ray Davis, we see the similarities in stature and cause of death.”

  “He was a big man and multiple stab wounds?”

  “Yes. All victims received multiple deep lacerations with a thick blade. The ME’s report isn’t finalized, but the initial autopsy confirmed at least three of the wounds to Branson were fatal and two to Davis. Morrison reported that Greg Freeman was stabbed six times. It’s clear the killer is progressing. This last killing was intended to terrorize.”

  “Do you know why he’s killing?”

  Jack’s eyes locked with the mayor’s. “Not yet. I think the motive is secondary.”

  The mayor’s thumb ran along the table. “I find that disconcerting. Why would the reason he’s killing be secondary to you?”

  “There could be a thousand reasons he’s targeting big men, but the reason typically comes out after they’re caught or never. Sometimes hate’s just hate and you can’t explain crazy.”

  The mayor thought for a second before she leaned back. The door to the conference room flew open and Replacement’s smile conveyed her discussion with Vicki went well. The two women entered the room, and Jack noticed how Vicki’s eyebrow ticked up when she glanced at the mayor.

  “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I hope I didn’t miss much.” Replacement walked around the table and sat down next to Jack.

  As Vicki leaned in and whispered in the mayor’s ear, Jack saw the faint lines in her forehead deepen. “You opted for a flat fee?” the mayor asked Replacement.

  “Think of it as an expensive tryout. I asked for a dollar less than what you’d need to get approval for. That way it’s simple and it’s between you and me. If Jack solves it quickly, it’s more than you wanted to spend, but it’s also all-or-nothing. If we don’t deliver, you don’t pay.”

  Jack’s chest swelled a bit as he looked at her. She crossed her legs and folded her hands.

  She belongs at this table.

  “Agreed.” The mayor nodded. “Continue.”

  “The progression and speed is what’s worrisome. His targets are the same, but serial killers usually don’t operate at this rate. This killer has taken two lives in a week and in multiple locations with only some cooldown time in between. He is operating like a hybrid. A spree serial killer.”

  “That covers the speed. What do you mean by progression?” the mayor asked.

  “He made an effort to hide Daniel Branson’s body. If that jogger hadn’t come across the bag, we might have never found it. Greg Freeman was lured to the scene and then posed.”

  “He didn’t target the others?”

  “Branson would go to the dog park. Davis was killed outside his own house. The killer wanted to make a point, so he took Freeman there.”

  “What’re the next steps?”

  “Talk to the ME. All of the killings are bad for forensics. Branson was dismembered and animals—” Jack stopped when Replacement squeezed his leg under the table. He noticed the mayor had gone paler. “With Freeman, the storm complicated everything. Morrison’s in contact with the FBI and state.”

  “Let Morrison handle all the interaction with other agencies.” The mayor’s lips pressed together. “After your past dealings with them, that would be best. Am I understood?”

  Jack nodded. “There’s a long to-do list, but you should concentrate on this press conference. You’ll need to do three things: humanize the victims, ask the public for help, and slow down the killer.”

  “And just how am I supposed to do that?” The mayor’s hand smacked the table.

  She’s got a temper. “Let him know he accomplished his goal. You said people were safe, and he wanted to let them know they’re not. You need to let people know he’s right—they’re not safe.”

  Vicki scoffed. “She can’t do that. She’ll look weak.”

  Jack kept looking at the mayor. “It’s not about politics. You’ll look a hell of a lot weaker if this guy gets any madder and keeps killing. We need to get him to cool off. Most serial killers get some satisfaction from the kill, and then they go underground.”

  “How long do they stop?”

  “It varies. Weeks, months—some go years between kills. We need to do something to get him to back off.” He looked at Vicki. “I’m not talking about panic in the street but you let people know there’s a killer out there, and he is dangerous. You tell big guys to be careful. Let them know everything is being done to stop these killings. We need the public’s help, anyone who was out on Westbrook last night…the killer pulled over near the sign. Someone could’ve seen something. Start with humanizing the victims. If you have pictures, show them. Talk about the families they left behind. Let the killer know they were loved people.”

  The mayor looked down at her hands, and Jack noticed the slight slump in her shoulder.

  “He would’ve killed again no matter what you said. It wasn’t your fault. Right now, you have a job to do, and you need to concentrate on that.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Learn Fast

  Jack looked out the apartment window while Replacement sat at the computer with a notebook open. Lady lay in the corner with her head on her paws. Jack walked over to lean against the half-eaten couch and frowned.

  I have to figure out what I’m going to do with Lady.

  “The press conference went well,” Replacement said. “She kept it short and covered everything you told her.”

  “Yeah. Morrison has my notes now too. I pray the murderer cools off.”

  “You think he will, right?”

  Jack shrugged. “I’m not a profiler, kid. I’ve never worked a serial killing. I was a regular cop.”

  “But you’ve taken classes.”

  “It’s totally different. I know you’re trying to help but—”

  Replacement smacked the notebook down on the desk, and Lady’s head shot up. “Jack Stratton, there are times when your self-doubt really ticks me off.”

  “We’re dealing with people’s lives. I screw up, and people die. You’ve passed me off as this expert and—”

  “And what?” She hopped out of the chair and her arms went wide. “What? Morrison’s working the case with all the resources the police have at their disposal. It’s not all on your shoulders, but you think it is. Look, Jack, whether you like it or not, you keep getting placed to stand in the gap. What do you want to do? Have the mayor pull in someone else? Who’s to say if they c
an solve this anymore than you? Even if they worked a hundred cases, I don’t care what you say, you’re the best person to catch this guy. That’s what you do. You stop the bad guys.”

  “Experience matters.”

  “Yeah. You have it, but if you want more—learn fast.” Replacement stuck her chin out. Jack stared into her green eyes and her gold flecks flashed. She sat back at the computer and watched him for a moment. “So, where do we start?”

  Jack cracked his neck. “We need to make a to-do list and a profile of this guy.”

  “We don’t have much information.”

  “We have a lot, kid. What did you find out in the missing person reports?”

  “I found three reports that were filed. They’re all men, and they’re all over six foot six.”

  “In Darrington?” Jack asked.

  “One in Darrington, one lived in Fairfield, and another was from New Hampshire. Hold on.” She pressed a few keys and the reports appeared. “Alan Barnes, Eldin Parish, and Henry Clark. Alan lived in Darrington. He was thirty-eight at the time. Divorced. Lived alone. His ex-wife reported him missing two years ago.”

  “Detective Davenport looked into it. It’s still open,” Jack read. “Joe was concerned because Mr. Barnes had recently lost custody of his children, was laid off, and had a substantial amount of debt in his name. His car was recovered on Deer Creek Road, one mile from Deer Creek Bridge.”

  Replacement gasped. “Did he jump?”

  “If someone wanted to kill themselves, I wouldn’t think Deer Creek Bridge. It’s high, but not high enough. It’s definitely not the bridge I’d pick.”

  “Don’t talk like that.” Replacement’s eyes narrowed, and she turned back to the monitor. “They searched the creek, but no body was found. They didn’t locate a note either.” Replacement looked back at Jack. “Why would you park a mile away and then jump?”

  “It doesn’t make sense. That’s two similarities for that case,” Jack said.

  “Two?”

  “Height and the car was found on the side of the road. Daniel, Davis, and Freeman were all killed along the side of the road. What about the next guy?”

  “Eldin was from Fairfield. He was twenty-two when reported missing. Had a history of drug abuse. He also had restraining orders against him by his parents. The case is still open, but Detective Lenox in Fairfield thought it was probable Eldin went to Florida to live and wouldn’t contact his family.”

  “How tall is he?” Jack asked.

  “Six foot six.”

  “Anything else on him?”

  “Nothing. Detective Lenox interviewed everyone Eldin knew. They all said the same thing regarding his character. He was the type of man who could just get up and go.”

  “Is Lenox still on the force?” Jack asked.

  “I’ll check. There’s also Henry Clark. This one is recent. Three months ago. His sister called from New Hampshire. Henry was a photographer. His sister said he was going to Fairfield to take pictures of thatched-roofed barns, and then he was headed to Pennsylvania, New Mexico, or Bolivia.” Replacement rolled her eyes. “Well, that narrows it down.” Her finger traced along the screen. “Henry did skip out on his hotel bill, and they found some personal items left behind in the room. No camera equipment.”

  “What about a car?” Jack asked.

  “He didn’t own one. The sister said he preferred to go by bus.”

  Jack ran both hands along the side of his head. “Most serial killers kill women. He’s targeting big guys. Six foot six and up.”

  “How many giants can there be in Darrington?” Replacement asked.

  “We should check the census. I also want to call Big and Tall stores. Guys that big need custom clothes.”

  “Should we try to find a way to warn them?” Replacement asked.

  “The press conference and the news are the best way. That should at least give the guys a heads-up.” Jack rolled his shoulders. “The killer gets these big guys to let their guard down. We’ll have to get the ME reports and check for defensive wounds, but I don’t think there were any.”

  “How do we know it’s a guy?” Replacement asked. “Maybe it’s a girl and the guys underestimate how dangerous she is because of that.”

  “Anything is possible, but we need to look at probable. Statistically, serial killers are men. They also work alone. There are exceptions, so we can’t put blinders on, but we need to narrow the field. We’re looking for a white male under the age of thirty-four.”

  “I found the national databases you wanted me to access.” Replacement flipped her notebook back. “Two universities are also compiling information. I went through the paperwork, and they should be getting back to me soon.”

  “The FBI also has one. It’s part of ViCAP.”

  “ViCAP.” Replacement’s voice rose. “Violent criminal apprehension program?” Jack nodded and she smiled. “I’m working on my police lingo,” she said.

  “There’s sure a lot of it. We’ll have to go through Morrison on that database, though.” Jack smiled wryly.

  “Is that it for databases?” Her pen hovered over the notepad.

  “No. I want to go back to his first kill.”

  “Ray Davis?”

  Jack shook his head. “We’re dealing with a serial killer now. Ray may have been his first human kill, but he may not have been his first kill.”

  “Human?” Replacement made a face.

  “Serial killers usually start with animals. They work their way up to humans. I want to pull all of the records for murdered animals. If he started in this area, we might be able to catch a break there.”

  “Started here?”

  “Serial killers start on animals when they’re in their teens. He may not have grown up here. It’s still worth a shot.”

  Replacement spun around to the computer. “I’ve seen that database.”

  “Get the log-in that Morrison sent us.”

  “I don’t need it.” Replacement grinned.

  “Use it. You’re not using my old police log-in, right?”

  “Right. They disabled that account when you left the force.” She squeezed her shoulders together. “I happened to make a couple of other accounts…”

  “There’s no reason for you to hack when we have access, so don’t hack.”

  “It’s technically not hacking.”

  “Deranged people do things just for the thrill and since you’re not crazy…” he raised an eyebrow, “instead of breaking a bunch of laws and risking getting caught, how about you use the account we were given?”

  Replacement opened and closed her mouth and pretended to talk while she tilted her head back and forth.

  “Funny.” Jack headed off to the kitchen and brought back two waters.

  The police scanner on the table clicked on, and they both turned to listen as a call came in. The call was only for a traffic stop downtown. Jack smiled. He’d thought listening to the scanner would bother him, but it didn’t. It had the opposite effect.

  Some people have those little waterfalls on their desks to relax; I have a police scanner.

  Replacement turned back to the keyboard and searched the database. After a couple minutes, she gasped. “There’re lots of animal murders in here.”

  Jack nodded. “It’s a known precursor pattern, so they started to track it awhile back. Can you make up a list of people with prior crimes against animals?”

  “I thought serial killers liked lighting fires.” Replacement’s fingers danced across the keyboard.

  “They do. They have a lot of traits in common and sometimes none. Some serial killers end up seeming completely normal.”

  “Then why start by checking animal deaths?”

  Jack looked over at Lady in the corner. “Her. We know he’s going after big guys, but what if he started with—?”

  “Big dogs.” Replacement leaned over the keyboard and her hands became a blur. “They didn’t organize the database by size, but they do have weight. There are
a lot of codes I don’t understand. I may be able to break it out another way.”

  “You go, geek girl.”

  Half an hour later, Replacement stomped away from the computer in frustration. “Why are all the police databases so half-assed?”

  “Do you have any idea how little funding they get? I know the guys at IT. They want a good database, but you need money. You need people to put the data in it.”

  Replacement held up her hands. “I’m sorry. I got frustrated.”

  Jack kissed her head. “Me too.” He walked back over to the monitor. “Is there anything you can use?”

  Replacement’s nose wrinkled. “Who’s Gary Shaw?”

  “Gary’s in animal control. Good guy. A little weird.”

  “His name’s all over the reports,” Replacement said.

  “Can you get me a number for him?”

  Five minutes later, Jack hung up the phone. “Gary’s in, but he was out back.”

  Replacement held up her phone. “He may have to wait. I got a text from Vicki in the mayor’s office. They got a call to the tip line. A guy named Chester Pratt reported seeing a dark sedan on Westbrook right before Freeman was killed.”

  “Did she give an address?”

  “He lives over near Herring Run Pond.”

  “I want to talk to Chester and then Gary. Do you want to take a ride?” Jack smiled.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  As Seen on TV

  It took ten minutes for Jack to finally convince Replacement to leave Lady home. They jumped in the car and headed for the address Vicki had sent. Chester Pratt lived in a small cottage next to Herring Run Pond. The homes that surrounded the postcard-perfect pond were originally summer cottages but over time the owners converted them to year-round residences. That meant they had almost no yard and were almost stacked on top of one another. Pratt’s house was one of the few with a garage.

  Jack parked along the small chain-link fence, and they hopped out. As they passed the garage, he noticed an old Impala parked inside. An inch of dust covered it, and different fishing rods rested against one side, but he could still make out its blue color.