Robert Waggoner - John - The Senior Killer

Standing on the beach next to the stack Brad brought out two red handkerchiefs from his small backpack. He made up both into a blindfold and first to go was Agent Jones. No words were necessary as Jones began his accent of the stack. Slowly he went as it was evident he didn’t know exactly what or where to place his hands and feet. It took him fully twenty minutes to reach the top. He knew better than to take off the blindfold and made his way back down the stack to the beach. When he reached the sand he took off the blindfold and was totally out of breath. He said, “Now that was a challenge, ’ and grinned at Wendy whose turn it was next.

Blindfold in place, she began her climb. She was intelligent and had tried to memorize the hand and foot holds along the way. However, only about five feet up the stack she didn’t have a clue where she was going. It took her almost an hour up and down the stack. To the both of them, with a surprised look on their faces when Brad said they did excellent for the first time climbing blind.

Wendy regretted later when she blurted out like a smart ass challenging Brad to the task. Brad gave her a blindfold and turned around so she could fit it to his head. She loved the way his hair felt, so soft and thick. An electric current shot its way between her legs and then she spun him around to make sure he didn’t peek! Brad asked her if she was satisfied with the blindfold and when she said yes, he turned a quarter ways around and up and down the stack he went like a monkey up a tree. Not one minute had passed before he was standing on the sand in front of her. She pretended to pout as she took off running back to the house. Brad and Jones went for a run and didn’t return for over an hour. By then it was close to ten am before the high pitch of the alarm and lights went on announcing their arrival.

Billy was waiting for them to come back standing next to the door smoking like a winter chimney. He followed them in talking a mile a minute about signs and numbers.

Brad, Wendy heard from the wooden table by the window where she was talking to Sujin and drinking coffee, tell Billy that after breakfast they would all get together for a talk. Mike had left for his home and told Sujin to call him if they needed him. If not he would stick around his farm for a day or two to catch up on some work.

The phone rang just after they finished with breakfast. Brad took the portable down to the basement while the rest of them, minus Billy who was having his dessert outside talking to Rocky, sat drinking tea and discussing the case. It must have been an important call as it was fully a half hour before he returned with an abnormal scowl on his face. Sujin made him a fresh cup of tea as he sat back down on the floor. He took a couple sips of the tea and remarked how good it was and gave his wife a look of love.

Wendy was jealous she had such a man and longed for a relationship like theirs. She’d chosen a career over a relationship and now was starting to regret it. Snap out of it she said to herself. She was still young and attractive as some of her dates had told her. Oh well, get back to reality girl and concentrate on doing the job she was an expert at.

Brad looked at each one of the team and then said, “We are going to have visitors here by tomorrow morning. Steve will bring the new FBI special agent Nancy for a meeting to discuss the case and our new development concerning the ‘A’ towns. Meanwhile let’s take the day to do our own research and at dark let’s have a sit down to discuss what we think might be important to the case.”

Wendy and agent Jones sat there digesting what he said and wondering what tomorrow would bring.

John Mitchell, a.k.a. Clyde Walker sat in his easy chair with his laptop glancing at the TV news and looking at a map of Washington state of Goggle Earth. Listening to the weather forecast it would continue to snow. A record amount of snow was forecast for the winter and Clyde loved to hear it. He knew few tourists would venture to come to this slowly snow bound town.

Then he heard the newscaster say they had a special press conference about the serial killer known as the “Senior Killer.” His ears perked up and he saw the camera switch to a room where a tall woman was standing looking very serious. He slowly closed the laptop and focused on the screen. The announcer was saying that the press conference was hosted by the special agent in charge of the case of the serial killer.

The camera zoomed in on the woman who began to speak. “My name is special agent Nancy Longstreet. I was appointed by the Director of the FBI to lead the search for the serial killer known by the media name of “The Senior Killer.” I will make a brief statement and then take your questions one at a time. First we know his name and where he worked and where he was raised as a child. We also know what the murder weapon is and we have concrete evidence of where he might strike again. We have over five hundred agents on this case and we will find this animal and put him in custody soon. Now I will take some questions.”

“Yes, the man in front.”

“What is his name and where did he work?”

“His name is John Mitchell and he worked for a film company in Hollywood.”

“The lady in the back,”

“Thank you for this press conference and your first details of the case. I would like to know where he was born and where he was raised; and if you know the location what transpired when you investigated it?”

“He was born in Olympia and lived east of the capital on a farm. He has one brother living who appears mentally retarded and no doubt the killer has serious mental problems. We believe we interviewed the suspect, but his disguise led us to think he was the brother. We have since found a secret room under the kitchen where evidence tells us it was used to lock up the children. That would account for our profilers stating our killer was abused as a child or as even a young adult.”

A shouting question came from the front, “Madam, if you had an interview with the suspect, why is it he is not in custody?”

“Unfortunately, another government agency was conducting the interview and decided to let him go and put a watch on the farm. Subsequently, he escaped and we have no idea where he might be now. But from the cryptogram of random letters we think he will strike again in the future starting with the letter “A” in the phrase: ‘Catch me if you can’.” Now, one last question.”

“Ms. Longstreet, as I understand it, the FBI is working together with another government agency and if that is true, who and what are they. Is it part of Homeland Security?”

“No it is not part of Homeland Security. It is a loosely held group of individuals consulting with the FBI. The head of the group is an ex-military man by the name of Brad Pratt. No more questions and thank you for coming.”

“Jesus H. Christ,” Brad shouted in his room with Sujin. They had been alerted to the press conference by Steve. Steve told them to remain cool and he would see them in the morning. “Can you believe this? She has spilled the beans and now this guy knows who I am. What is God’s name was she thinking about. I will kill the bitch.”

Sujin had never before seen him this angry. He was pacing around the room like a caged animal. Rocky was on the bed with her and he lay with his head in her lap whining. Finally Brad quit ranting and put on his running gear and left the house with Rocky hot on his heels.

The rest of the team had been watching the news conference in another room. Half way through Billy told them that the shit was going to hit the fan and a few minutes later they heard Brad shouting and feet running up the stairs. Everyone was afraid to move or say something. Agent Jones couldn’t believe his ears that this agent in charge gave away evidence that should never be made available to the press. All knew the more the killer found out the harder it would be to catch him. Jones felt that this was a giant setback to their plans and the ability to catch this guy. Wendy later agreed with him and both wondered what was going to happen the next day when this witch came for the meeting. They all found out about two hours later when Brad fresh from a hard run, took a shower and used the phone in the center hub for all to listen while he call Steve in Seattle.