Robert Waggoner - John - The Senior Killer

Riding back to the hotel with their driver, Brad thought back on his meeting with Billy Rider for the first time. Strangely enough he came from his father. Four years ago his father called him and told him the man he was looking for could be found in San Diego under lock and key with the key being held by Naval Intelligence. All Brad had to do was go pick him up and he was his to do with whatever he needed. That was all that was said. His father was not a man of many words and what words he did speak were more than useful in business, or military business would be more correct.

Brad found Billy with the shakes from no nicotine and after reading his file, decided this was indeed the guy he was looking for. Aside from his outward appearance, his background in computer hacking put him at the top of the game. Control was all that was needed and after a shaky start, for the last few years they were as close as one can get without being blood. Billy had told him hacking made money and money was needed for his aging father. His father was a vet, but like all or most programs for veterans the money just didn’t go far enough. His father had a rare brain disease and needed constant care. He was in an old veteran’s hospital in Seattle, but Billy wanted to move him to better facilities. Hacking was the answer, but it only landed him in jail. Nowadays, thanks to Brad and his generous salary, father was in an assisted living complex south of Seattle with the care he needed.

Few knew really what his knowledge of computers and given the time could hack into any system in the world, which he proved time and time again. Billy lived not far from his father and only minutes away from Sea-Tac International Airport. Most of the time Billy could work out of his house in his basement full of the latest on government computers. Whatever he asked for, Brad made sure he got it promptly. Only once did his father ask how Billy worked out and Brad told him fine.

Now as the driver drove away, Billy fired up another smoke as they walked to the hotel door. He deposited his smoke after too long hits that made the fire glow like a roman candle in the butt can and they strode to the elevator. Brad and Billy both knew they would go to Billy’s room so he could smoke and show Brad what he had on his laptop.

Brad loosened his tie and Rocky plopped down totally relaxed now that no threat to his master would be forthcoming. Soon he was snoring and had rolled over on his back with his legs spread dreaming of whatever dogs dream about. Brad kicked off his penny loafers and stretched his legs thinking he would go for a run later. Meanwhile Billy had brought his laptop online and began talking about what he came up with today.

He said, “I ran he two letters A and N against all possible words and came up with the word ‘Can’. Then I searched for all phrases, expressions, cliches, puns and more and what came up with more probability than anything was the phase: ‘Catch me if you can’.”

“I didn’t need a computer to tell me that Billy. I just didn’t want to hear it because that means more than fifteen people will die if he is left in his game. And that doesn’t preclude the fact he has more to say after that. We got to get ahead of this guy someway and I’m open to any suggestion you might have.”

“Boss, there are just too many cities and towns to make a word game here in California alone. What if he decides to cross to another state and play another game? My god this could go on and on. Do you realize Brad even if we find out who he is finding him will be another story altogether.”

“Yes I know that and running him to ground is going to be some luck on our part and bad luck on his part.” His cell rang and it was Sujin reporting in. Brad listened and never said a word for ten minutes while Billy played with his laptop. He heard Brad say something and hung up. Brad sat there thinking for a while and Billy knew better than to disturb him when he was thinking. Billy was always amazed how he reasoned things out and was usually right most of the time with his deductions.

“Billy, Sujin may be on to something. To make a long story short, she found a guy who took a leave of absence from a film production company and after two weeks was found dead in his house. His brother handled the small estate and lives in San Diego now, but after trying to locate him, the neighbors haven’t seen him in a month or more. The car fits the description and Sujin and Mike are on their way down to San Diego now to talk to the neighbors.”

Billy waited to see if he was through and when he looked up at Billy he said, “I know what you are thinking: how does the brother fit into the scheme of things?” I really don’t know and even if he is driving his brother’s car, that doesn’t make him a serial killer. But it sure makes a guy wonder what he was doing, if it is the same car, in the area with a dead man talking to a postman.”

Billy added, “And it is doubtful the car was stolen. But why would the dude keep an old car like that and what is he doing running around killing old people?”

“I’d like to know the answer to that too, but time will reveal the answer and if I’m not mistaken, it isn’t the brother but the guy who took the leave of absence.” Billy had not a clue what Brad was thinking, but then most people didn’t. Only his wife knew what he was thinking most of the time. Brad lapsed into thought and Billy went back to his computer lighting up another smoke blowing a smoke ring at the ceiling.

The hotel room’s phone rang and Billy went to answer it. He said yes and told Brad it was for him. Brad moved to the bed and identified him to the caller. It was the FBI profiler and she was staying at the same hotel. She’d asked Brad if he would like to have dinner and he agreed, as he told Billy after hanging up. Walking out the door to take a shower and change clothes he told Billy to keep at it and left.

Brad met the profiler in the bar at eight and by her telling him what to look for, he spotted her at a small table with a glass of wine. He walked up and introduced himself. She was as tall as him and about the same age. Nice looking with short black hair and eyes that were piercing like his. He couldn’t tell the color from the dark bar, but guessed dark brown as were her skin. She was dressed causal but expensively: white silk blouse with black pants that contoured her nice figure. She gave off no sexuality, but in a friendly manner of intelligence. A real professional he thought and she smelled good too.

She asked him if he would like something to drink and he told her tonic water with lemon and no booze would be fine with him. She signaled the waiter as he guessed she wanted control of the situation for at least the present. Time was always on his side and he relaxed to hear what she had to say. It was quiet with the bar TV news on but no sound. His drink arrived and after each took stock she told him again her name and position with the FBI. She must have thought he couldn’t remember names well as she told him her name was Wendy Brown. Dr. Wendy Brown, but he could call her Ms. Brown. Brad responded by saying his name again was Brad Pratt. Dr. Brad Pratt, but she could call him Brad. Her face turned a little red by the candle light and it was evident she hadn’t done her homework on him. Brad took a sip of his tonic and waited for her to begin the discussion.

Wendy recovered quickly and said, “I’ll give you bullets,” and started her standard story of a person who fit this type serial killer. “Psychologists make a practice of profiling people for a variety of reasons. Psychologists believe that our adult behavior is based on circumstances during the formative years. In this instance, parental neglect, especially the mother can set in motion behavior that will ultimately be considered pathological. This is also a case of fixation, a morbid thought process that a particular group is responsible for harmful things and as a result need to die. When we say that, we are getting into some very serious psychopathology like schizophrenia. These are a psychosis and one are divorced from reality. They can structure their world in keeping with their needs and can be oblivious to logic or the real world. They are totally governed by their emotions, most of the time, negative such as hate, resentment and a strong belief that they can do something about the things they believe are within their power to control even if it means destroying them. Generally, they have no conscience or awareness of right or wrong. They do things because they think and strongly believe that this is OK, they cannot ever accept responsibility for their actions. They have no control system such as a belief that they will go to jail if they are caught and a further belief that it is impossible for them to get caught in the first place. They do not think like normal people, they construct their world in keeping with their needs. Often, things happen to them at an early age to reinforce a pathological belief, such as an older person doing something to them while they are youth that they feel rightly or wrongly is a personal attack on them or something that they believe harmed them, kept them from getting something that they wanted, etc. They can turn on and off this pathology. They can work well at a job, not be noticed and can control their impulses for a long time, but then they can be overtaken by the sickness and they need to act on it. They have to be very clever in order to perform acts of violence in such a skillful way that they will not get caught, but often make purposeful mistakes to challenge authority to try to catch them, and in some instances want to get caught. It is always a very complicated set of circumstances and no two serial killers are alike, but all possess the same developmental aspects that set in motion their particular pattern of behavior.”