Karen Rose - I’m Watching You

Jack obliged and she pulled on the dry gloves while he gingerly removed folded clothing from the crate and placed each item in a specially prepared plastic tub. A rank odor filled the air and Kristen was suddenly glad she’d had no dinner. „We’ll unfold them in the lab, look for fibers, that kind of thing,“ he said. „We’ve got a shirt, very bloody.“ He flipped the collar to check the tag. „No famous brand. One pair of jeans, slightly bloody. Levi’s. One belt.“ He grimaced. „One pair of jockey shorts. Fruit of the Loom.“

„Would his mother be proud?“ Spinnelli asked dryly and Jack chuckled.

„You mean are they clean? May have been when he put ‘ em on. Sure aren’t now. One pair of socks, one pair of Nikes. And finally…“ He frowned at the bottom of the crate. „I don’t know. Some sort of tile. Considerate of your humble servant to put a bottom in the crate, Counselor. That way nothing of importance slipped out.“ He lifted out a thin slice of stone, turning it over and sideways. „Well, this is one for the books. I think it’s marble.“

„This whole case will be one for the books,“ Kristen said. „How about the next crate, Jack. The one with the Blades? I want to see if there’s another letter.“

Jack sliced open the next envelope and more Polaroids and papers slid free. „He’s methodical,“ he said as they gathered closer. „Close-ups of the tattoos, bullet entry wounds.“

Kristen clenched her fists to keep her fingers still. „Is there a letter, Jack?“

„Patience, patience,“ he admonished.

„You wouldn’t say that if he was peeping in your living room window,“ Mia said and Jack had the good grace to look chastised.

„One map, ‘x’ marks the spot… And one letter.“ He handed it to Kristen, soberly.

„Wonderful.“ Kristen scanned the page, swallowed back the lump that rose in her throat at the P.S. this one more personal. „‘My dearest Kristen. It would appear you haven’t yet found the first token of my esteem.’“ She looked up, found Reagan studying her with the same concern as before. „He sounds pissed.“

Reagan’s black brows furrowed. „Go on.“

„ ‘No matter, it’s only a matter of time, after all. I suppose we’re fortunate it is winter. They should keep.’“ Her own brows crinkled at that, then glancing at the map she understood and her stomach quickened at the thought. „He means their bodies should keep.“

„Aren’t we the lucky ones?“ Mia asked, tongue-in-cheek.

„These three hoodlums and their kind savage the peace every day. They’ve stolen the lives of two precious innocents and for that alone they should die. The fear and misery they caused the good people who would have done the right thing and testified makes their sin all the worse. You fought a good battle in the courtroom, Kristen, but this one was lost before you began. Again, sleep well knowing these heartless murderers have been rendered final justice… Your Humble Servant’“

„And the P.S.?“ Abe asked.

Kristen drew a careful breath, trying to keep the words from sticking in her throat. „The blue stripes were a good choice and your workmanship admirable. You may, however, choose different attire when you begin work on your next project. I would hate for anyone to believe you anything but a lady.’“

Mia hesitated. „What did you wear to the wallpapering extravaganza, Kristen?“

Kristen’s cheeks heated as her hands grew clammy once again. „A sports bra and biker shorts. It was three a.m. I didn’t think anyone in my neighborhood was awake to care.“

Reagan pushed back from the table and paced the length of the room, his big body tense. „That isn’t the point,“ he said tightly. „Jack, I want to see that last letter.“

Again Jack obliged, slitting open the envelope, sliding the contents to the table. He bypassed the Polaroids and the map and handed Reagan the letter without a word. Reagan scanned it, creases of color appearing on his cheekbones, a scowl bending his features. „ ‘My dearest Kristen, I grow impatient for you to share the satisfaction of my labor. Ross King was the lowest of criminals, preying on young children, stealing their youth, their innocence, then conspiring with his debased lawyer to further pervert the system. What he has received at my hand is a thousandfold less than he deserves. Sleep well tonight, knowing the children he ruined are vindicated and countless others are now safe from harm… Your Humble Servant.’“

„And the P.S.?“ Kristen asked, hearing her voice tremble.

He looked up, his eyes narrowed and questioning. „‘Cherry, dear.’“

Kristen closed her eyes, her empty stomach churning. „I’ve been stripping the paint off my antique fireplace mantel and I’m about to start the staining. Choices are oak, maple, or cherry.“ She opened her eyes. „The fireplace is in my basement. You can’t see in from the street. You have to be standing at the window, looking down.“

„Then he’s venturing up to your house.“ Spinnelli was grim. „When was the last time you worked on the mantel?“

„This past Saturday.“ She flattened her hands on her thighs. „I’ve been too busy with the Conti case to do any work on the house the last few days.“

„Then we have a time frame. He must have been frustrated that you didn’t check your trunk.“ Spinnelli looked from Abe to Jack to Mia. „You check the tire for vandalism?“

„Puncture in the sidewall,“ Abe responded, his fists jammed in his pants pockets.

„Was the tire punctured while the car was parked in the garage?“ Spinnelli asked.

„Almost certainly,“ Jack said, then turned to Kristen. „Do you mean you really haven’t opened your trunk for a month, Kristen? Not even once?“

Kristen shrugged. „I never carry anything large. Any home improvement materials get delivered by the store. I just put little stuff in the backseat.“

Mia frowned. „Don’t you buy groceries or anything?“

„Not a lot. I don’t cook very often, so no.“

„If you don’t cook, what do you eat?“ Spinnelli asked.

Kristen shrugged again. „I eat most of my meals at a diner near the courthouse.“ She found herself addressing the next question to Abe Reagan. „What next?“

Reagan was looking at the maps. „Let’s put some uniforms at each of these locations until we can get your guys out there, Jack. I want to start at dawn. First light.“

Spinnelli was looking at the Polaroids. „We have five dead men. Suspects?“

Mia sucked in one cheek. „First stop would have to be the victims of the… victims.“

„How many victims are we talking about, Kristen?“ Spinnelli asked.

Kristen sat back. „Ramey had three that we know of. The Blades had their two. Ross King had six boys come forward, ranging in age from seven to fifteen. So all totaled we have eleven victims, plus families and friends.“ She lifted her eyes once again to Reagan’s intense gaze. „I can get you a list of names and last-known addresses.“

„But that one victim would kill all five,“ Jack wondered. „Does that make sense?“

„Perfect way to muddy the waters.“ Abe noted the coordinates of each map on his notepad. „Get your revenge, pop off a few for the road, give the defense attorneys room to introduce reasonable doubt if you’re caught. There’s a certain poetic justice in it.“

„I’m surprised our humble servant didn’t pick off a defense lawyer or two while he was at it,“ Mia muttered.

Kristen took in the photos, the clothing, the maps. The letters. „Don’t discount it,“ she said quietly. „I don’t think he’s anywhere close to being done yet.“

Wednesday, February 18,