The Rainy Day Killer (23 page)

He looked at Dalzell. “
Then you could go back to working your intel on their businesses, and you,” he looked at Stone, “could go back to policing them the way they’re supposed to be policed.”

“
It sounds to me as though you’re saying that if you were appointed to head up the task force, you’d actually try to get rid of it,” Bloodworth said.

“In a nutshell, I guess that’s correct.”

“Thank you for your answer,” Commander Stone said.

“You’re welcome,” Hank replied. “Just make sure they don’t put me on th
e damned thing, because there’s no way in hell I want
that
.”

Bloodworth
smiled, but Stone and Dalzell merely nodded.

Hank stepped on the brakes. He
’d passed through the intersection at the Jefferson Davis Highway and was now on Fuller Road, slowing to a stop at the sentry post that marked the entrance to the land controlled by the United States Marine Corps, land that included the town of Quantico, where Ed Griffin was waiting for him, the FBI Academy, and the Marine Corps base.

As he edged forward in the lineup of cars waiting to be greeted by the Marine sentry,
he pulled out the wallet containing his badge and departmental identification. Although he’d passed through this checkpoint several times in the past, he knew his status as a law enforcement officer meant very little to the sentry who exercised the jurisdiction granted to the USMC by Congress and the state over the town of Quantico, Virginia.

He was
about to become just another ten-second event in the life of a bored Marine.

34

Friday, May 31: mid-morning

The town of Quantico consists of only seven streets and just under five hundred people, but because it’s bordered on three sides by one of the largest U.S. Marine Corps bases in the world, the town has seven barber shops, seven laundry and tailoring businesses, and four stores specializing in military apparel and gear, not to mention twelve restaurants and coffee shops. Hank decided that civilians running a business in Quantico apparently had no trouble understanding what their patrons were looking for in terms of goods and services.

He
was not surprised to find that Griffin was waiting for him in the driveway of his tiny, two-bedroom bungalow. He got out and opened the trunk of the Cadillac, and Griffin tossed in his travel bag.

“You travel light
,” Hank said, closing the trunk.

“Always. It’s part of the life.”

They climbed in and Hank started back through town.

“I
would’ve invited you in,” Griffin said, “but I don’t have a housekeeper and I don’t do housework. You can do the math.”

“That’s all right,” Hank replied.

“I really need another coffee. Just don’t stop at any of these places in town, I beg of you. You have to remember, their clients are almost exclusively military personnel and law enforcement officers, none of whom could care less what coffee tastes like as long as it’s hot and in constant supply. There’s no point in inflicting it on our livers. I know a place about an hour from here where we can stop. I’ll show you.”

Hank turned onto Fuller Road. As they drove past the base bachelor housing quarters, Griffin
cleared his throat.

“You sure you’re okay with this?”

“With what?”

“With driving. We can switch, if you like. I don’t mind doing it, if it’ll make you feel more comfortable.”

Hank grinned at him. “Nervous?”

“No, no! Not at all. I just thought you didn’t drive, is all.
”

“
I drive when I’m on leave. I love highway driving. It’s very relaxing. I’m fully-trained in defensive driving, advanced precision driving, pursuit driving, and every other course it’s possible to take, so you’re perfectly fine, Ed. Just make sure your seat belt’s fastened, and you’ll be okay.”

“I feel so safe now.”

Hank made his way back to the southbound I-95. His plan was to jump onto Route 3 at Fredericksburg and work his way southwest to Charlottesville, then take the I-64 the rest of the way to Alleghany County. They had a long drive ahead of them, and when Griffin’s coffee joint came up they both bought jumbo sizes.

“Our next stop will be a roadside rest area
,” Griffin said as they pulled back out onto the highway. “You don’t buy coffee, you just rent it.”

Hank laughed.

“It was nice of the happy couple to invite me like this at the last minute,” Griffin remarked between sips.

“It’s a Bureau wedding. Half the Glendale field office is
probably invited.”

Griffin groaned. “Say it ain’t so.
Too many navy suits gives me blurred vision. That reminds me, did I pack my eye drops?”

They drove in silence for a mile, then Hank pointed at the Cadillac’s music system. “You can turn that on, if you like. There
are CDs in the console.”

“I’m fine, thanks.” Griffin rubb
ed his chin. “Tell me something. Do you think our friend Bill’s still in Glendale?”

“No. I don’t.”

“Montgomery’s still under protective surveillance, isn’t she?”

Hank nodded. “For a while longer.”

“But you don’t think she’s in any danger.”

Hank hesitated, then shook his head. “No, I don’t.”

“I happen to agree with you. I think the bastard’s on his way here, just like we are.” He turned sideways in his seat to look at Hank. “You know, I’m starting to wonder if he wants to get caught now, if he’s been elevating the risk level to bring about some kind of end game. I think it’s fair to say at the very least that the post-offense excitement he’s feeling is reaching the point where it’s equal to, if not exceeding, the excitement of the offense itself. Maybe he’s actually getting bored with the sexual component and is ready to give up his anonymity in exchange for fame and personal recognition.”

“You
think he’s getting a bigger thrill out of the risk than the rape and murder?”

“We’ve seen
instances before where behavior escalates as they go through a kind of desensitization to the act of rape, and even to the murders. I hate using the drug analogy, because I don’t like equating sexual homicide with addiction, but it
is
almost like the way the body develops a tolerance for drugs and other chemical sources of pleasure, requiring larger and larger doses to maintain a certain level of satisfaction. It could be that he’s reached a stage where the act itself no longer supplies him with the kick he needs.”

“That’s difficult to appreciate, Ed.”

“I know. It’s a horrible, twisted world these guys inhabit. But I think this may be what’s going on. He called you more than he called the other lead investigators.”

“Lucky me.”

“They like the thrill of power that comes with injecting themselves into the investigation and contacting the police, but he was even more anxious than usual to develop a relationship with you, even obtain your approval.”

Hank said nothing, staring at the highway ahead of them.

“He’s on his way here,” Griffin said finally. “He has some way of surveilling Karen’s activities. Maybe computer spyware, listening devices, I don’t know. He’s aware of this trip, and I think it’s his intention to grab her right out of the middle of it and turn her into his crowning achievement. He’s probably fantasizing about the book and the movie deals he’ll get for his story after he pulls it off.”

“He won’t stand a chance.”

“You may be right. But as I’ve said before, he’s not stupid. He’s shown an amazing ability to evade pursuit up to now. He’ll be extremely confident he can pull it off. And if he doesn’t, he no doubt figures he’ll be famous anyway.”

A mile later, as Hank mulled over Griffin’s words, a thought occurred to him.
The Cadillac was equipped with a hands-free communication system to which he’d paired his cell phone, and now he touched the button to activate the service.

“Mickey Marcotte,” he said, and the phone dialed the nu
mber for him.

Thankfully, Marcotte was at his desk and took the call on the third ring.

“Mick, it’s Donaghue. Can you do something for me?”

“Sure, Lieutenant. What’s up?”

“Can you get someone to sweep my office for bugs?”

“Bugs? You mean listening devices?”

“That’s what I mean. Can you get someone in there right now, today?”

“Um, I think so. I
could take a shot myself, but I know a guy who’ll do it right. I should be able to get him in.”

“Do it. Tell Byrne to charge it to our unit and I’ll take care of it. He can call me if he wants, but I
need it done today. It’s extremely important.”

“Will do, Lieutenant.”

Hank ended the call and glanced at Griffin, who was looking at him with eyebrows raised

“A hunch
,” Hank said.

“Oh?”

“I’ve got a bad feeling I’ve already met the Rainy Day Killer. In person.”

3
5

Friday, May 31:
lunchtime

“The day before the ceremony,” Lane Alexander said
, pushing aside the remnants of her chicken caesar salad, “is supposed to have a lighter schedule than the Big Day, so I’ve taken care of several tasks for you already.” She reached down and brought out a wicker handbag. “Let’s go through a few things now, so we can just strike them right off that old checklist.”

Karen nodded grimly. They were sitting on the patio behind the Alexander ranch house, at a
glass-top dining table Lane had explained was part of a set she’d personally chosen because she liked the references to eighteenth-century furniture design, including the metal lattice work with decorative acanthus leaves, the serpentine detailing on the arms of the chairs, and the simple ivory color of the cushions, none of which Karen understood or gave a damn about.

Karen had
already devoured her BLT and downed the two glasses of wine Lane was permitting them to have before the rehearsal, scheduled for later in the afternoon, and she’d been picking restlessly at a bowl of cashews as her mother-in-law-to-be filled her in on the latest gossip as it related to the guests she’d personally invited to the wedding. Effortlessly, in accordance with her professional training, Karen had committed each detail to memory, but her mind was elsewhere.

Escape is futile
, Stainer. We have you completely surrounded. Come out with your hands on top of your head. This is your last warning.

Lane touched her hair unconsciously. It was thick, black hair, coiffed and sprayed rigid in a style that reminded Karen of Ann Landers, the gossip columnist from her youth. Tidy and perfect in a powder blue jacket and skirt, her makeup and lipstick flawless, Lane was a compact, alert Virginian with a soft accent and a sharp glint in her eye.

“I’ve taken the liberty of printing out your schedule for tomorrow,” she said, holding up a folded piece of paper. “I’ll put it right in here.”

She opened the wicker bag and took out
Karen’s clutch, which Karen had thought was still in her room but had obviously found its way into Lane’s hot little hands. Lane slipped the piece of paper into the clutch and gave Karen a toothy smile.

“
I’ve assembled your wedding day kit for you,” she said, removing things one at a time with a little flourish. “Mini-deodorant, breath mints, tissues, a package of safety pins, thread and needle, and a few other emergency items to make sure you get through the day without a scratch.”

“Is there still room for my gun?”

Lane’s smile brightened crisply. “I do love your sense of humor, dear. It absolutely brightens up everything.”

She put the clutch back into the wicker handbag and took out two small boxes. “I have the rings, so don’
t fret about them.” The boxes went back in the bag in exchange for another small box. “I’ve purchased your gifts for the wedding party. Swarovski brooches for the ladies, Rolex wrist watches for the gentlemen. Would you like to see them?”

Karen shook her head. “I’m trusting you here, Lane. I know you’ll make me look good.”

“You’ll look better than good, sweet. You’ll look fantastic.” The wicker handbag disappeared again beneath the table.

“
Sandy packed your getaway bag this morning,” Lane went on, “so that’s done. The manicurist will be here at two, so don’t forget. Your friend, Miss Archer, arrived in town an hour ago and got settled into her room at the hotel. Mr. Donaghue is expected to arrive here at three, and your brother Darryl telephoned to let me know he’ll meet us at the church at four. Brenda, of course, is in town. That’s everyone in the wedding party, so hopefully we’ll be able to start the rehearsal right on schedule. We’ve reserved the back room at Lee’s in town for the rehearsal dinner, so everything should fall into place nicely.”

“Thank God,” Karen said.

“One other thing.” Lane held out her hand. “I’ll take your cell phone now.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your phone, dear. We don’t want you bothered by a lot of nuisance calls or texts or whatever people pester you with. I’ll keep it right with me, so it’ll be safe. Don’t worry about that.”

Karen blinked. “Sorry, Lane. No can do.”

“Of course you can.”

“No, I can’t. I don’t stop being a cop just because I’m on v
acation. The cell stays with me.”

“It’s not a vacation, for heaven’s sake. It’s your
wedding
. The Most Special Day Of Your Life.”

Karen stared at Lane’s outstretched hand and shook her head. “Sorry. I tell you what, though. Compromise. I’ll turn it over to you
tomorrow before I walk into the church, as long as you promise to hand it back to me at the reception. Deal?”

“After you throw your bouquet,” Lane offered.

“After the photographs are taken.”

“After the first dance.”

“After dinner.”

Lane sighed, withdrawing her hand. “After dinner.” She
picked up her glass of wine and drained it, shaking her head. “I wonder if all Texan girls are like you.”

“I severely doubt it.”

“So do I.” Lane set down her empty glass. “Just one more thing.”

“Uh oh.”

“Try to relax, dear.”

“Okay, Lane, I’ll try. I know you’ve got my six on this. I a
ppreciate it.”

“
I’ve got your what?”

Karen
laughed, despite herself. “Never mind.”