Killer Exposure

by Jessica R. Patch

  Three nights ago, Locke would have agreed. Been more than happy to let her march out there and tell Jody she’d kept her from being an aunt. Hurt her little brother. Jody had always mama-henned him as a child. Still tried. But three days felt like a lifetime ago. They’d been through eons of mess in seventy-two hours.

  “You did face the music, Greer. You faced me.”

  “Because I had no choice.”

  “Is what it is. I got this one,” he murmured. “Be right back.” Locke went out the front door. Jody met him with a grin. Her hair was as blond as his was black. Her eyes weren’t quite as blue as his, but close. She lunged from the rental and wrapped him in a hug. “You smell like baby shampoo, bro.” Jody had a condition that heightened her sense of smell. It was a blessing and a nightmare at times. Of course she’d smell Lin on him.

  Evan greeted him with a firm handshake. “How’s the storm chasing, Locklin?” The man had never called him Locke to his face, not in all the years he’d known him.

  “Busy.”

  “Okay, so we’ve relayed all information pertaining to the case to the rest of the team at Covenant Crisis Management, but we’ll need more official details from Greer,” Jody said. All business. But her eyes softened. “Things going okay with her? You getting along? Any answers to why she left you high and dry?”

  Locke swallowed hard and glanced at the picture window. Greer was nowhere to be seen.

  “I mean she has to have some kind of explanation.” Jody held up her hands. “I told myself I wouldn’t get up in arms, but she hurt you, Locke.”

  “I did.” Greer’s voice came from near the garage. Lin was secured to her hip. “And I’m sorry for that.”

  Jody spun around and stared at Greer, then at Lin. “How old is that baby? Did you step out on my brother?” she asked, her voice raised. Evan laid a hand on Jody’s lower back and whispered something in her ear.

  “Look closer, sis,” Locke said.

  Jody stepped toward Greer, studying Lin. Her eyes grew wide and tears bloomed in them. “You have a daughter?” she whispered to Locke.

  “He does,” Greer murmured. She’d come out to own up to her part and admiration swelled in his chest, but Jody could be a firecracker when she felt threatened or when she was angry. And something inside him needed to protect and defend Greer even though what she’d done was wrong. There was no defense. But those feelings were between him and Greer alone. They didn’t need to extend to other members of the family.

  “You kept—”

  “Can we talk privately, please?” Locke asked. “Go on in the house. I’m right behind you.”

  Jody nodded and left Evan outside with him and Greer.

  “You know how she can get when it comes to you,” Evan said to Locke.

  Very Mama bear. “I’m not seven anymore.”

  “I know,” Evan said and walked over to Greer and Lin. “She looks like you, Locklin. Be thankful it’s working in her favor,” he teased and slapped Locke on the back in a brotherly gesture. “Go talk to Jody. I’d like to spoil my niece if I’m allowed.” Evan grinned and Greer’s shoulders relaxed. He owed his brother-in-law big-time.

  “She’s going through stranger anxiety,” Locke said.

  Greer snickered.

  “Well, she is!” Locke growled and rushed through the garage, hearing Evan’s last words.

  “You won’t be scared of your uncle Ev, will you? No, you won’t.”

  Baby talk. It happened to the best of them.

  Inside Jody stood in the living room in front of the photo collage on the wall. She didn’t look at him but she spoke. “You know how much I like Greer. I always thought she was the one for you. I was afraid you’d screw it up. Never expected it to be her.”

  Another reminder that he was a total letdown. Even if she was halfway teasing, the sting lodged in his chest. “Thanks?”

  She grinned and hugged him. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  After relaying everything that had transpired, from his and Greer’s relationship, through to her witnessing a murder on Thursday, he sighed, collapsed on the couch and raked his hands through his hair. “I was in the middle of asking about her dad when you drove up. You said it yourself, I screw things up. I have my whole life. You were there when I told Mama I wasn’t going back to school. Told her and Dad I wasn’t following in the Flynn-Gallagher footsteps and joining the military or becoming a lawman.”

  Jody sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulder. “Do you want to be a dad, Locklin?”

  “Honestly? Yes and no.” He massaged the back of his neck. “No, because I can’t bear to see eyes identical to mine radiating utter disappointment in me. And I never thought about it too much, but when I saw her, held her...something happened. I can’t explain it. I wanted to be a dad. I am a dad. I’ve known her less than a week and I’m crazy in love with that child. And I’m crazy scared because the only thing I’ve ever done right is capturing a perfect photo of a storm.”

  Jody wiped a few tears and held his hand.

  “I live in a camper most of the time. When I’m not traveling for the team, I’m traveling on my own in between bunking in my old room at home. I can’t have a daughter live in a camper. She needs a school district and friends. Greer’s given her that. A home. A life. A church.”

  “Locklin, good dads aren’t perfect dads. Our dad was awesome, but he wasn’t perfect. He was overly strict and über-structured thanks to the military. It was his way or no way. And once he was out of the navy, he never missed any of our events or milestones.”

  “You feel that way because you were the golden child. You did everything perfectly. Joined the navy. The Secret Service. Private security. You never let him down. That’s all I ever did.”

  Jody wrapped her arms around Locke and kissed his temple. “No, brother. He was proud of you. Always showing people your photos and telling anyone who would listen about his son who chased storms and had more talent in his pinkie finger than Daddy had in his whole body.”

  The back of Locke’s eyes burned. “He never told me.”

  “No, and he should have. So you make sure and tell Lin every day how proud you are of her no matter what. You love her. Be there for her. That’s what’s going to make you a good dad. Not a perfect one. Campers, houses, school districts—all that can be worked out.”

  Locke had no idea that Dad had been proud of him. Talked good about him. All Locke remembered was everything he’d done wrong. But there had been good times. Good talks. Good advice. And when the rubber met the road, Dad was there for him. Pulling him out of ditches, hauling him out of trouble at a party in his teens.

  “You make it sound easy,” he said.

  Jody hooted. “I’m no parent, but I know it’s not easy. And while I’m at it, Locklin Shane Gallagher, you need to pull your spiritual act together. Because the best father to imitate is our heavenly Father. You love Lin like He loves and cares for us, and you’ll be fine.”

  Jody had a point. “I feel like I’ve disappointed Him, too, Jode.”

  “No, Locke. You haven’t. Believe me, I’ve been there. Carried all sorts of guilt and shame. You know my past. In all that mess, all that anger at God and bitterness, He never once thought of me as a disappointment. To Him, we’re nothing but potential. You look at your baby and see you. It melts you.”

  “It does.”

  “And when God sees us—His babies, His children—He sees Himself. And it melts Him. He loves us no matter what.”

  They were made in the image of God. Locke had never thought of it like that. He loved Lin and nothing would ever make him not love her. And God loved Locke. He knew his ways and behavior more than anyone.

  “I needed that. Now I need to convince Greer that I can do this. Not perfectly, but I can do this.”

  “You’re right. Because this baby is ours. All of ours.
We’re going to spoil her rotten and love the mess out of her.” She pointed to the window. Outside Evan was flying Lin around like an airplane. “He’ll have a pair of baby aviators on her by Wednesday.”

  “Maybe you should have one of your own.”

  Jody grinned. “Maybe we will.” She laid a hand on her belly.

  “Are you?”

  “Not yet, but we decided last month it was time to start a family.” She watched Evan outside. “Lin and ours could grow up together.”

  If Greer allowed it. She nearly had a coronary when he’d mentioned taking Lin away on trips and weekends to see his family.

  “Greer called her friend Tori. She lives on a farm near the edge of town. You and Evan are welcome to keep Lin there. She has plenty of space.”

  “Great.”

  Locke hugged her. “Thank you.”

  “You’re my baby bro. I’ve always got your back, but right now, I want to hold my baby niece. Stormie Lin. I love that Greer did that. Shows she didn’t give all of you up when she left, Locke. Things might be salvageable between you two.”

  He whipped his attention in her direction. “First of all, I don’t know if I can trust her again in that way.”

  Jody’s expression soured. “If God can give me a second chance with the man I love after he cost me my job in the Secret Service, then He can give you a second chance with a woman who hid a child from you. You’ll have to forgive her first and trust can be worked on. Find out the reason. That may help you with any decisions.”

  Jody had a point, but... “Secondly, I didn’t say I wanted a second chance with Greer. I just want my daughter.”

  She gave him the “look” again. “Well, we’ll see how it all plays out.”

  They walked outside and Jody smiled at Greer. Greer returned it. Two women speaking without words. Two women he admired more than anything. He hoped Lin grew up to be exactly like them.

  Evan brought Lin to Jody. “She’s going through stranger anxiety so...”

  Greer laughed and shook her head.

  Jody frowned. “Since when did you become a baby expert?”

  “Twenty minutes ago. I’m a fast learner.”

  Smack talk and baby talk continued for another fifteen minutes or so, then they headed back inside for coffee and shoptalk.

  It was time to catch a killer.

  Or at the very least, stay alive and survive what may come.

  * * *

  Monday morning brought oyster-colored skies, a chill in the air and an unease to Greer’s bones. Yesterday had her completely emotionally exhausted. Her nerves were already toast from the attacks that kept coming, and then dealing with Jody—the woman could be scary—but in the end, they’d made their amends. The rest of the evening had been spent talking about the case at hand and getting the computer analyst, Wheezer, involved on Jody and Evan’s side since he’d just returned from his honeymoon. She kind of felt bad throwing this on him but that came with the job description according to Jody. He was going to dig into the victims and the suspects Greer and Locke had put together.

  Marty Wise, Bolt Masterson and Rudy Dennison were at the top of the list. In that order. But somehow at least one woman was involved. It was a woman who had been in the camper the other night and nearly knocked them over—but that didn’t mean she was in on the attacks or murders. She may have seized an opportunity to get evidence that might incriminate her. Who was the mystery woman? Jenna Dennison. Star Jumper. Jewel Pharelli. Or someone else?

  On Sunday night, after ordering pizza and letting Lin get warmed up to Evan and Jody, which thankfully, she did—especially Evan—they’d driven over to Tori’s and she welcomed Locke’s family to stay for as long as necessary. After midnight, Locke and Greer had left Lin with her best friend and Jody and Evan. Hollister was bunking on an air mattress in Lin’s room and working on the garage and attic—getting them cleaned out, organized—and going through Mama’s things that Greer hadn’t been emotionally able to.

  Now, she was staring out the kitchen window at 8:00 a.m., sipping her brew and dreading another stormy day. According to Locke and the weatherman on TV, the last storm system had moved out, but an even bigger one was moving in between today and Wednesday night. New storms had swept in through the coast, hitting Mobile hard. No place in Alabama seemed safe. Greer was so over the rain and tornado watches. Where was the sunshine?

  Locke entered the kitchen in jeans and a white T-shirt, his hair wet, wild and curling around the edges. He hadn’t bothered to shave and a day’s worth of growth graced his chin, cheeks and neck—a look that suited him too well. Her belly flip-flopped over and again. The fresh soap scent didn’t help the crazy sensations doing the cha-cha all around her ribs and dancing into her pulse, spiking it.

  “Morning,” he said with a husky sleep-laced tone as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Their new routine. Until it wouldn’t be. If that car horn hadn’t sounded, Locke would have kissed her yesterday. Greer chalked it up to impulsiveness. They had loved each other once. It wasn’t like they suddenly weren’t attracted to each other anymore. Did that mean Locke had forgiven her? Wasn’t mad anymore? Did you kiss people you were mad at?

  Maybe. Love. Anger. All mixed together brought all sorts of confusing feelings. “How did you sleep?” she asked.

  “That couch has seen better days, Greer. But I’ve also slept in worse conditions. So there’s that.” He half smiled over his mug, steam pluming in the air. “Hollister still snoozing?”

  “Of course.” Her cell phone rang. She glanced at it. “Deputy Garrison,” she said to Locke and answered. “Hey, Ben, what’s up?”

  “I’m assuming you’re up and at it this morning.”

  “At what? I’m technically not supposed to be on this case and the sheriff has me basically on leave.” Which ate at her. She needed the money. “But, yeah. I’m up.”

  “Well, I thought you’d want to know the analysis came back on the trace evidence they got off your hands when you were attacked Thursday night.”

  “And?”

  She put Ben on speaker. “Locke Gallagher is here with me and, considering the situation, I feel no need to keep this information from him.”

  “You’ll tell him either way so...” His tone sounded irritated. Greer didn’t care.

  Locke sat up straighter, laid his forearms on the table and leaned in. Greer’s heart picked up pace.

  “According to the report, there was some trace evidence of an adhesive on your skin and on Mr. Gallagher’s. It’s the kind used to apply prosthetics.”

  As she’d suspected, someone had disguised his identity to keep other employees from recognizing him. The beard, the mustache, even the facial features could have been altered. No wonder they couldn’t find anyone fitting the physical appearance perfectly.

  Ben continued, “The maintenance uniform fibers didn’t match the ones the carnival employees use now. But here’s where it gets weird.”

  As if it hadn’t been weird all along?

  “Go on,” Greer said.

  “A guy in the crime lab doing the analysis remembered the fibers and adhesive found on you also matched a victim from another case a few years back that ended up going into FBI hands out of Birmingham.”

  Greer gaped at Locke while her insides twisted. “And?”

  “And I did a little digging and made a call to someone I know in the Birmingham office, which is a mess right now with the tornado that blew in the other night. He did me a favor and sent the reports. Turns out the same adhesive and fibers were found on seven different women murdered and left in shallow graves in woods all over Alabama in the past ten years. The most recent out of Birmingham.”

  Greer shivered and lost her breath. “I want that report.”

  “I figured you’d say that.”

  A knock jolted her from her seat. Ben stood at the back door wit
h the reports in hand. Greer hopped up and opened the door. “What on earth?”

  Ben smiled and stepped inside. “Sheriff said to keep you out of the loop because you’re stubborn and won’t let the rest of us do our jobs, but I told Adam we had to let you know.”

  “Adam didn’t want to tell me?”

  Ben shrugged. “He thinks you have enough to deal with without being frightened further. But I think you need to know because this feels...like I said, weird.”

  Indeed. It was for Greer to decide. Not Adam, and it stung that he’d be okay with keeping this secret from her. She glanced at Locke. He sat with his arms folded over his chest. Greer took the report from Ben. “Grab a cup of coffee if you want.” She perused the trace report and pondered the situation. If this guy had disguised his facial features and stolen her laptop and taken editing software, then he must believe that she had the ability and skill to use it to discover his true identity. Which means he knew he was recognizable.

  Ben busied himself making a cup while Greer read over the files, her hands trembling as things became clearer on one end and muddier on the other. Locke stood and laid a hand on her shoulder, then took the information and studied it for himself.

  “Victims were brunette, blue-eyed, and they’d all been to a carnival around the time of their murders.” Locke frowned. “Greer, this changes things. You weren’t just in the wrong place at the wrong time when a man was murdered by a random carnival worker. You stumbled upon a serial killer. One who has eluded law enforcement for at least ten years! No wonder he’s been coming for you with a vengeance. He has so much more to lose.”

  Sinking to the chair, Greer nodded and whispered, “I know.”

  Locke continued skimming the information. “Well, I was hoping it’d be easy and it would only be one carnival in common with all victims, but it wasn’t. It was multiple carnivals. Some within just months of each other, but mostly about a year apart.”

  “Is this guy tracking carnivals and pretending to be an employee to get in and out?” Greer asked. “No one would pay attention to a guy in a maintenance uniform. And with the facial disguise, if they did describe him to the police, it wouldn’t be accurate. He fooled me.”