Karen Rose - I Can See You

“Which may connect to five dead women,” Noah said bitterly. “So IA’s helping us?”

“More like reluctantly cooperating. There was Oxycodone and Valium in Jack’s whiskey bottle. The empty prescription bottles were in Dell’s car.”

“At Rachel’s he swore he’d only had one drink,” Noah said hollowly. “Katie must have been slipping stuff in his booze all along. I blamed him for getting there too late.”

Olivia gave his arm a brief squeeze. “You didn’t know, Noah.”

“Jack was late a lot before Katie came into the picture,” Micki added softly. “It was a perfect storm, I guess.”

Carleton nodded wearily. “Apt description,” he murmured. “Such a waste.”

“Were Dell’s prints in Jack’s house?” Noah asked.

“Yes,” Abbott said. “Dell was there. So far, however, we have not found Dell’s prints in Donner’s house, so it seems their only connection is Dell’s rant last night.”

“What about Donner?” Noah asked. “We get his LUDs yet?”

“Still waiting for them,” Abbott said. “When we’re done here, we’ll go search his office at Marshall, and check his next of kin. I got the warrants signed overnight.”

“We?” Noah asked.

“We,” Abbott confirmed. “Until I get you a new partner, we’re riding together.”

It was going to be a very long day. “Okay.”

“Glad you heartily approve,” Abbott said dryly. “Kane, anything on Jeremy Lyons?”

“Security at Marshall found his car in one of the lots last night,” Kane said. “He hasn’t called home, hasn’t used his credit cards, didn’t pick his kid up from day care.”

“So Lyons is either gone under or dead,” Abbott said. “Putting us no closer to determining who’s doing this. The one bright spot is that the two potential victims Eve identified weren’t contacted and are still safe.”

“He could be done,” Olivia said. “We almost caught him coming from Rachel Ward’s. Maybe that was enough to convince him to stop.”

Carleton looked unconvinced. “I don’t think he’ll stop until you stop him or until he accomplishes whatever it is he’s trying to do.”

“What is he trying to do?” Abbott snapped. “Goddammit.”

Carleton appeared unoffended. “Do that to you. Make you ruffled. Throw you off.”

“Well, he’s doing a damn good job,” Abbott grunted. “But I take your point. Once we find Donner, we’ll start getting some answers.”

“God, I hope it is him,” Noah murmured.

“But you still don’t think it is,” Abbott said, then shrugged. “He framed Axel Girard, Donner could be a setup, too. We need to know what Dell knows and how he knows it.”

“We should be careful with Farmer. His reality isn’t cogent. He ain’t right,” Carleton added dryly when everyone gave him a puzzled look. “We need to consider what he says accordingly.”

“Right now he’s all we have,” Abbott said, “cogent or no. Ian, anything?”

“The Bolyards were shot with the same gun, a nine-mil. Harvey Farmer and Katie Dobbs were killed with a same, but different gun, higher caliber. Katie’s face had lacerations and bruises, probably from a fist.” He hesitated. “Katie had had intercourse an hour before her death. Unlikely that it was consensual.”

Noah gritted his teeth. “Jack did not rape her. Dell did,” he said even as a new wave of nausea rolled through him at the thought of what Dell might have done to Eve.

“I told IA that,” Ian said quietly. “Based on the blood spatter, Katie’s body temp, and the chemical levels in Jack’s blood, he was already unconscious when she was shot. It might have been harder to definitively say that, however, if we hadn’t gotten there when we did. That open window would have muddied things considerably.”

“So,” Abbott said, “we need to at least ask the question. Open windows at Harvey’s house and Jack’s. Any chance Dell could have killed five women?”

Carleton shook his head. “It’s far more likely Dell just picked up this element of the Shadowland killer’s MO. He seems like a quick study, writing news articles that Buckland’s editor accepted as genuine. He’s not a stupid man.”

“Just not cogent in his reality,” Abbott said sarcastically. “Olivia, Katie was his brother’s fiancée, but he used her to hurt Jack. There’s something there. Use it to froth him up. Get him agitated, then get him talking. I want to know what Dell saw last night. Micki, anything from the Bolyard house?”

“No forced entry. So far no forensics. Looks like he caught them by surprise at dinner. The wife was probably shot from the doorway. She fell face-first into her dinner. The husband was collapsed over her, probably protecting her.”

“Would have better protected her by not confronting Donner in a coffee house,” Abbott grunted. “What else?”

Micki produced a small plastic bag. “Cat hair, found in Rachel’s living room. It matches cat hair we took from Martha’s carpet. It doesn’t give us any more on the killer’s identity, but it’s a connection to give the DA when we finally catch him, just like this one.” She put a photo on the table. “Christy, leaving the diner. Look at her shoes.”

They did, everyone frowning. “And?” Noah asked.

“They’re Manolos, four hundred bucks a pair,” Micki said.

“Spendy,” Olivia said. “I still don’t get it. Why are the shoes important?”

“Because they weren’t in her closet, they weren’t anywhere in her house,” Micki said.

“His souvenirs,” Carleton said. “It’s very common for serial killers to take souvenirs, and shoes are among the most common things to keep. Again, nice connection once you find him, but not terribly helpful to me in forming a profile.”

Micki looked unhappy. “I’m done now.”

“It’s good work, Mick,” Abbott said, trying to smooth over Carleton’s tone.

Carleton winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be dismissive. Knowing he collects things is just more of the same. It doesn’t help me, help you.” He glanced at his watch. “I have a patient at nine. Call me if there’s any change in Jack’s condition.”

“Will do,” Abbott said, then turned back to the team. “Today, we focus on finding Donner and cracking Dell Farmer. Noah, you and I will go to Donner’s office at Marshall and execute the warrant. Olivia and Kane, you’ve got Farmer.”

“What about the coffee shop?” Noah asked. “The TV reporter said that Bolyard saw Donner there. They’ll have tapes. Eve says Donner eats at the Deli. Let’s start there.”

Abbott shook his head. “I went by the Deli as soon as they opened this morning. Security video is only of the register and the barista didn’t remember Martha, Bolyard, or Donner. Let’s meet back here at two. I have a press conference at three, so get me something.” He met their eyes, grim. “A killer would be nice. Web, you’re with me.”

Noah stopped at his desk to get his hat and coat and found Eve staring at her laptop screen, her expression intent. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Trying to keep busy. Natalie won big at the casino last night because Dasich and one other player got thrown out for cheating and-” She pursed her lips. “I’m babbling. Dr. Pierce stopped by on his way out. He said he had dinner with Dean Jacoby last night. They know it was me. He said Jacoby wants to see me this morning, but I told him you’d made me promise to stay here.”

He wasn’t sure what to say. “Eve, you did the right thing. Whatever happens.”

“I know,” she said, then smiled, ruefully. “Luckily I’m a damn good bartender so I’ll still have one career. You take your desk. I know you’ve got work to do.”