William Bernhardt - Strip search

"But not the mastermind of the whole operation."

Another significant pause. "No. But we will. Please bear in mind that, despite her delusional state, Dr. Esther Goldstein is intelligent and she has planned her crimes well in advance, very carefully. Nonetheless, we will catch her. And as for the involvement of the federal government, that's standard procedure in cases involving multiple murders. In no sense does it constitute an indictment of the LVPD. We've worked together before and we will no doubt-"

Esther stopped listening. Delusional state? Did that cheap harlot third-rate psychologist-a woman who didn't even have her doctorate!-actually have the audacity to say Esther was in a delusional state? What was wrong with these people? They should be applauding her efforts. She was stamping out the parents that destroyed children's lives. Was that delusional? Would Susan Pulaski find it so delusional if she had been raped by her father, her foster parents, if the courts had never listened to her, just sent her back again and again and again? Would she still Something on the television screen caught her eye. A young man was standing behind Susan, staring at the floor.

It was the same kid she had brought with her when she came to the university-what was his name? David? Dwayne? No-Darcy. Darcy O'Bannon. The chief of police's son. He was the numbers whiz, the one who whipped through the continuing fractions most of her graduate students couldn't handle correctly, even though he'd never had any experience or training in the field. That was the answer! That must be how they were able to follow her clues, to solve the equations, to understand the secrets of the Kabbalah that guided her actions. That idiot savant was guiding their pathetic efforts to catch her.

If the final piece of the Sefirot were to be destroyed as planned, if the final piece of this majestic plan were to work, Darcy O'Bannon would have to be eliminated.

She turned off the television and logged onto the Internet. She hated to add a new factor to the plan this late in the game, with as little time left. But given all that was at stake, it would be worth the effort.

"Where's Darcy?" I asked, when I didn't see him outside the conference room.

"Who cares?" Granger replied, with his usual touching concern. "Can't you do anything without that kid?"

"I don't want to consult with him. I want to know where he is." This was odd. Just before the press conference, he'd been threatening to stick with me until we caught Esther. I knew he'd come into the press conference room. So where was he now?

"Last I saw him," Granger said, "you were about halfway through the conference." He was tight-lipped, downright sullen. Probably still sulking because O'Bannon chose me to do the press conference instead of him.

"And he left? While I was talking?"

Granger shrugged. "Looked like he thought of something he'd forgotten. Or maybe saw something, someone. I don't know. Anyway, he started flapping his hands and then he ran out the back door."

"That doesn't make any sense. Why would he-"

"Have either of you seen Darcy?"

Granger and I both slowly pivoted to the left. Chief O'Bannon was asking the question.

"No," I answered.

"You got him on some…math quest or something?"

"No, nothing. I expected him to be here. Why?"

"Got a call from one of my neighbors. She's known Darcy since the day he was born. Says she heard some kind of commotion next door."

I felt an icy grip at the base of my spine.

"It's nothing," I said, sounding just as unconvincing as I felt. "You know how unpredictable Darcy is. Probably saw a rare species of butterfly or something."

The crease in O'Bannon's forehead deepened. "Is there any chance…any at all…"

I didn't need super-empathy to know where he was going. "Darcy doesn't fit the profile. Esther only kills bad parents."

"Tucker did his damnedest to take you out. Darcy was with you when you interviewed Goldstein."

My throat went dry. I felt shaky, anxious, barely able to breathe. Darcy!

"But why now?" Granger asked. "That interview was-" He snapped his fingers. "The press conference. She must've seen him at the press conference!"

"And then she realized how we've managed to decode all her little mathematical puzzles," I added somberly.

O'Bannon didn't waste a second. "Amanda! I want an APB out on my son. Now! Granger, mobilize every man you have available and-"

There was more, but I didn't hear it. I was already halfway to my car. I wanted to dig into my purse, wanted to pull out the pill bottle that would make the acidic aching eating away at my stomach lining go away. But I didn't. That was how I missed Esther the first time. I couldn't let it happen again. Darcy needed me. All of me, everything I had to give.

I just prayed to God I wasn't too late.

"Hello, Darcy," Esther said. "Remember me?"

He was standing in the kitchen holding a book and a folded piece of paper. He picked up a package of Pizza Hut chicken wings from the counter, tossed them into the microwave oven, then started it.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

He looked at her strangely. "I thought you might be hungry."

She laughed at him. "Idiot savant. Mostly idiot. Do you remember who I am?"

"Of course. I remember the way you smell. The sound of your shoes. You are the Math Lady."

"Yes, I am," she said, smiling slightly. "What else do you know about me?"

"You made all those nice people die."

"They weren't nice people, Darcy."

"I do not think anyone is so bad they should get killed." His hands flapped wildly in the air. "I do not think people should kill each other. Killing is bad." Darcy didn't make eye contact with her. Instead, he sat down on the hardwood floor and crouched in a fetal position, arms around his legs, and rocked back and forth.

"I brought you some more math puzzles. You like puzzles, don't you?"

"Stay away from me. Please stay away from me."

She moved closer. "You don't have to hold yourself, Darcy. Here, let me hold you."

"No!" He scooted away from her. "I do not like for people to hold me. I do not like for people to touch me!"

"Oh, nonsense. You'll change your mind when you see what I have for you."

"I will not. Stay away from me!"

"I can't, Darcy. A smart boy like you, so gifted with numbers. You deserve a reward."

"A reward? Do you mean a treat? I like treats."

"All right, then. We'll call it a treat." She reached inside her Wind-breaker and removed a large serrated knife. "I can't let you spoil my plans, Darcy, but I can let you become an important part of them." She smiled. "Come closer, dear. I have something very special for you."

"Hurry! I shouted without moving my lips as I barreled down the highway. I'd heard of backseat drivers before, but this was the first time I'd ever experienced being a backseat driver to myself. I careened through the neighborhood gateposts and tore down the road at a speed that sent trash, leaves, and a few small animals flying out of my path.

Even before I arrived at the O'Bannon residence, I could hear the alarm.

Some of the neighbors were gathered outside, huddled on the front lawn. "We tried to get in there," one of them shouted at me. "But we didn't have a key."

I didn't have a key, either, but thanks to Chief O'Bannon, I did have a gun. Three shots were enough to get the door open. I raced inside, throwing caution to the wind. I didn't have time to stealthily creep into each room, gun poised. I had to find Darcy.

"Darcy!" I shouted. "Darcy? Where are you?"

No answer.

Okay, think, I told myself. Calm down and think. Someone or something set off the alarm. So logically, he must have been here.