Rick Mofina - Into the Dark

“Did Amber ever discuss places or locations Eric favored? This may help in locating him.”

Claire shook her head.

“I read your statement on the assault several times,” Tanner said. “Based on your firsthand experience with him, what more can you tell me about Eric’s behavior that day?”

“I remember how his face burned with hate for Amber and for me.”

“Do you believe he’s capable of harming other women?”

Claire paused at the line of questioning.

“I do,” she said. “Why?”

Tanner shot Zurn a glance and hesitated before continuing.

“Claire, we’ve reason to believe that Amber’s case is linked to several older ones and that Eric Larch may have been involved.”

Her eyes widened slightly as she stared at the detectives. Claire swallowed hard as they allowed her time to comprehend what they’d told her. Tanner pulled a sheet of paper from a folder, containing the names, ages and addresses of the five cold case victims.

“Are you familiar with the names of any of these women?”

Alarm filled Claire’s face as she read the death list.

“No.” She touched her fingers to the corners of her eyes. “Why?”

“From the period 2003 to 2007 each of the women were murdered in the greater L.A. area. Their homicides have never been solved. Evidence recently discovered in one of the cases linked them to one killer.”

“Wait. This is the case in the news, the killer who wrote to the press, the Dark Wind Killer case?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, no.”

“New evidence has surfaced linking Amber’s disappearance to the person responsible for these others.”

“Do you think Eric Larch is the killer?”

“We want to find him and talk to him about Amber.”

“My God, you must think Amber’s dead.”

“We don’t have anything to confirm that. You were in her home and know there’s evidence pointing to foul play, but until we find her, we remain hopeful she’s alive.”

“What about the burglary here? Do you think that’s how Eric obtained Claire’s home address?”

Zurn shook his head.

“Detective Cobb’s report and the forensic analysis suggest the attempt to gain access to your electronic files failed. No files were taken,” Zurn said. “Our theory is Larch could’ve used his sources in home security to find his wife’s address. Even though she was house-sitting, the name of the person to contact in case of an alarm would be on file for insurance purposes. Maybe Eric paid for the information?”

Claire said nothing as a new concern surfaced.

“Dorothy.”

“Excuse me?” Tanner said.

“One of my patients, Dorothy in East Pasadena, recently told me that she’d felt as if- Wait.” Claire typed rapidly into her keyboard to find her file. “Here, she told me that late at night she sensed that ‘there’s someone in my house-a man hiding in my house.’ But I reported her concern because it happened after the burglary.”

“Yes, East Pasadena. We’ve been watching the residence out of Temple Station. Claire, it might be best as a precaution to provide us addresses for your patients. We’ll advise them to temporarily relocate if possible, or we can put patrols on their homes. We know there are confidentiality and ethical issues, but this is an unusual situation. Tell them it is a temporary precaution until we locate Eric Larch.”

“Of course, I’ll call them and explain.”

“Good. We’ll work with the appropriate P.D. where they live to ensure their safety. We also think that since Eric Larch threatened you, that you should consider postponing your sessions and relocating yourself.”

Claire said nothing. Tanner continued.

“We’ll assign units to your residence, just until we locate Larch.”

“I understand.”

“Things are going to get intense, Claire. There will be a news conference and press coverage today about Amber’s link to the five other murders. Do you have some place you could go? It might be best if you left L.A. during this time.”

Claire’s thoughts blurred.

“Yes, there are places I could go.” As she nodded, she used her fingertips to stop the tears rolling down her face. Tanner leaned forward and passed her a tissue from the box on her desk, something she usually did to comfort her patients.

“You have to find Amber and arrest Eric,” she said.

“We’ll find them.”

Tanner stood and gave Claire his card with his office, cell and home numbers, then asked Claire for all of her contact information.

“Whatever you decide to do, or wherever you decide to go, you keep in touch with me, okay?” he said.

Claire regained her composure and nodded.

“I’ll talk it over with my husband. He’s still out front.”

“Okay, we’re done here.”

As Claire and the detectives emerged from her office, Robert and Alice, seeing her reddened eyes and the crumpled tissue held to her lips, moved to comfort her.

“They think Amber’s disappearance is connected to that case in the news, the Dark Wind Killer,” Claire said.

“Dear Lord, no,” Alice murmured.

“There will be a press conference later today,” Tanner said.

“Robert’s been following the case in the news. He lived in L.A. during those years,” Claire said.

Tanner and Zurn looked at Robert, appraising him for the first time.

“You look familiar,” Zurn said to him. “You’re that guy, the pilot who rescued the family from a burning car on the freeway? It was all over the news. You’re a hero.”

“Anybody would’ve done the same.”

Tanner looked at him and for a moment felt a sudden tug of unease in a far corner of his memory. Then his phone rang. Before reaching for it, he said, “Mr. Bowen, your wife will tell you our concerns. We’ll be in touch.”

San Marino, California

Claire was still reeling from what the detectives had told her.

She kept twisting the cap of her pen while waiting for Martha Berman to return her call.

Through the window she saw a marked San Marino patrol car roll into her lot to keep a vigil on her office, underscoring the gravity of her situation.

Twenty minutes had passed since the detectives left and Claire sent Robert home. She was alone at her desk, battling her fears while staring at her patient list on her computer monitor. She had to take control of her situation but first she needed some advice.

For one selfish instant, Claire glimpsed at a calendar note for her new appointment with Dr. LaRoy and was reminded of what he’d said about disrupting her regime and avoiding stress.

I can’t think about any of that now. I just can’t.

As she waited for Martha’s call, Claire reread the news clippings Tanner had given her and contended with the horror that was unfolding. Not only was Eric an abusive husband, police suspected he was the Dark Wind Killer.

Five women murdered.

And he is still out there .

Images of the blood in Amber’s home and Eric’s enraged face rose in the back of Claire’s mind. Her knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip on her pen.

Please let police find him. Please let Amber be safe.

Claire’s desk phone rang. It was Alice transferring a call.

“Dr. Berman, I’ll put her through.”

The line clicked.

“Hello, Claire, it’s Martha.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I need to talk to you.”

Claire explained events, telling Martha everything and seeking her advice.

“I’m so sorry, Claire, it’s a terrible situation,” Martha said. “But you shouldn’t feel guilty. None of it is your fault. You’ll get through this, but you need to take several steps.”

Claire took a breath and let it out slowly, grateful for her older friend’s steady, calm voice as she guided her.