Whisper in the Night: An absolutely heart-stopping serial killer thriller

by D. K. Hood

  “Yeah.” Martin frowned. “How did you figure that out?”

  Kane shrugged. “The distance between the crime scenes suggests the killer moves around, so he’s either a truck driver and it’s a coincidence, but most likely he likes to spend his vacations on killing sprees.”

  “What age are the victims?” Jenna stared at Martin.

  “Thirty-five and forty-one.” Martin frowned. “I’ve downloaded the case files into the current murder book.”

  “Do they resemble me?” Jenna turned to her computer as if unconcerned.

  “No, they’re both different.” Martin raised an eyebrow at Kane. “Where’s this heading?”

  Kane explained. “What were their occupations?”

  “A psychiatrist and a social worker. They tick the boxes.” Jenna looked at Kane and sighed. “My day is just getting better by the second.”

  Forty-Four

  After watching Kane’s live press conference through the window, Jenna waited for him to return, and then made her way to the interview room. She sat down opposite Paul Kittredge and placed a legal pad, folder and pen on the table. Although both she and Kane had revisited the files of the four men, they’d found nothing to add. It would take her skill as an interviewer to pry some more details from the potential suspects. She stared at the man leaning back nonchalantly in the seat opposite her. “I just have a few more questions.”

  “Wanting to see me three times in one week, isn’t that somethin’?” He glanced at his watch. “Can’t be more than twelve hours since we last spoke. Did you miss me?” He grinned.

  “And I’ll keep hauling you in until I’ve gotten the answers I need.” Jenna took the remote control from a drawer in the desk. “Do you have an objection to me taping the interview, Mr. Kittredge?”

  “Nope.” He leaned forward and stared into her eyes. “Want a little somethin’ to drool over later, Sheriff?”

  Ignoring him, she pressed the record button on the remote and stated her name, then asked Kittredge to do the same. “I appreciate you coming in. You’re not under arrest but if you’d like an attorney present for this interview, you’re within your rights to do so.”

  “I know my rights.” Kittredge smiled at her. “I don’t have anything to hide from you, Sheriff. Ask your questions so I can get back to work.”

  Jenna stared at her notes. Dear Lord, the smell of stale beer, cigarettes and sweat reeked out of him. She figured he hadn’t bathed or changed his clothes in a week or so. Deciding to start with a few general questions, she picked up her pen. “How long have you worked for the Green Thumb Landscaping Service?”

  “Since I came out of jail.” Kittredge stretched. “I completed a landscaping course in prison.”

  “I see.” Jenna made notes as if every word he said was important. “You live at the Triple Z. Didn’t you have a family to go to when you came out of jail?”

  “Nope.” Kittredge moved around in his seat. “My ma died young and I never knew my daddy.”

  Jenna frowned. “That must have been hard. How old were you?”

  “Why all the questions, you plannin’ on askin’ me to marry you?” He chuckled.

  Not in this life. Jenna cleared her throat. “We’ve already established you know Lindy Rosen and Amanda Braxton. As you’re probably aware, both girls have died.”

  “I didn’t kill them.” He barked out a laugh. “I prefer my girls breathin’.” He gave her a long hard stare. “You know darn well I used to like them young, but six years of therapy cured me of that inclination. Now my interest lies in a more mature woman.”

  “Ah, I see.” Jenna smiled at him. “So you’d have no objection to giving us permission to search your room and truck?” She wrote a few lines on a statement pad and pushed it across the table to him with a pen. “So we can prove your innocence?”

  “Sure, why not.” Kittredge signed and slid the notepad and pen back to her. “Can I go now?”

  Agent Martin had supplied graphic crime-scene images of the two murdered women who’d owned the shawl and necklace. She pulled them from the folder and laid them on the table. “Do you know these women? Christine Pullman and Joy Coran?”

  The expression on Kittredge’s face changed in a split second. His eyes had changed to dark and dangerous the moment he lifted them from the gruesome pictures.

  “There’s no way I’m taking the rap for the murder of those girls or these women.” Kittredge flew to his feet in a rage. “I want a lawyer.” He pointed a finger at Jenna. “You women cops are all the same. Ugly bitch. I’d rather sleep with a rattlesnake.”

  Fighting back the fear, Jenna stood her ground. “Sit down, Mr. Kittredge, or you’ll be spending time in the cells until we contact your lawyer.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do.” Kittredge picked up his chair and hurled it at the wall a few feet from her.

  The chair clattered to the ground and the next moment the door opened and Kane walked in with a bored expression. “Do you want me to book him for threatening an officer of the law, ma’am?” He moved toward Kittredge. “It’s all on tape and I’ve been right outside the door.”

  Jenna swallowed the lump in her throat. Normally she’d have gotten to her feet and faced him but her injury prevented her from defending herself. She didn’t look at either of them. “Yeah, and lock him up.” She raised her attention slowly to Kittredge. “I’ll allow you to cool down, and then we’ll see about that lawyer.”

  When Kane grabbed his arm and removed him from the room, Jenna sucked in a deep painful breath. She hadn’t expected such a violent reaction and it had made her realize how close she’d come to becoming a victim. In her condition, even with Kane outside the door, Kittredge could have snapped her neck in a second.

  When Kane returned she looked up at him. “Thanks.”

  “Thanks, huh?” Kane’s eyes blazed. “It takes me more than a few seconds to swipe my card, have the system recognize me then open the damn door. He could have killed you.”

  Jenna pushed slowly to her feet. “I wasn’t expecting him to go crazy. He changed personality in a split second.” She swallowed the bile rushing up the back of her throat. “The Shadow Man wouldn’t act like that, would he?”

  “It depends if that show of anger was real or an act.” Kane leaned against the door. “If the killer believes he can outsmart you and has some knowledge of psychopathic behavior, acting like this would be out of character. For them it’s charm and deny. He could be playing the game, so we don’t rule him out just yet.”

  “I hadn’t planned to.” Jenna used her card to open the door and stepped into the hallway just as Rowley turned the corner. “Looking for me?”

  “Yeah.” Rowley glanced down at his notebook. “A call came in from Mr. Wilts, the old guy who called before, lives out near Glacial Heights? He was out walking his dog again around twelve-thirty last night and had another sighting of a light-colored pickup leaving Glacial Heights. It was a full moon and he insists the decal on the door was for Miller’s Garage.”

  “We know Matthew Miller was in the area when Lindy Rosen disappeared and he drives a Miller’s Garage truck.” Jenna sighed. “With Sam Cross as his lawyer, he’ll accuse us of harassment, so we tread easy with him this time. Give him a courtesy call and let him know we plan to question Miller again.” She tapped her pen against her bottom lip and thought for a few seconds. “Call his father and tell him we want Matt to come in for questioning. Tell him we’ve a witness who places him in the vicinity of Glacial Heights last night.” She cleared her throat. “Make it clear – he comes in or we arrest him on suspicion of double homicide.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Rowley nodded. “Agent Martin called and they have the suspects in custody.”

  “Okay, thanks.” She turned to Kane. “I guess next up is Anderson?” She flicked through her files. “Let me see… ah yeah. He worked out of Colorado in the mines some years ago and could’ve had experience with explosives. He’s had contact with both girls and installed the se
curity systems at both residences.”

  “He doesn’t have any priors.” Kane shrugged. “But maybe he hasn’t been caught yet. He knows his way around electronics and disabling the CCTV cameras in town wouldn’t have been a problem. If you recall, he asked about suspects in the Lindy Rosen case. I figured that was strange at the time.” He frowned down at her. “Are you going to object to me coming in this time?”

  “Nope.” Jenna took the few painful steps to the next interview room and swiped her card. When Kane pushed open the heavy door for her, she straightened her aching spine and went into the room. “Mr. Anderson, thank you for coming in.” She explained the situation and switched on the recorder. After giving the details of who was in the room, she flicked through her files. “I hear your art class is very popular. Did Amanda Braxton attend the classes?”

  “Amanda?” Anderson frowned. “No, I don’t think she’s very interested in art. She often sat in the window reading. Quiet girl, didn’t have much to say.”

  “When did you last see her?” Jenna looked down at her notes to give him the impression she had a list of questions.

  “I don’t remember, maybe in town.” He shrugged. “There are kids everywhere during spring break. I noticed Julie Wolfe helping behind the counter. She’s young to be handling criminal types.” He smiled. “Now there’s a talented young artist. I hope she’s not going to end up as a deputy. She should be studying art.”

  Jenna wrinkled her nose. It seemed every man she interviewed oozed unpleasant odors. Anderson smelled like dirty socks. She looked up from her notes. “We’re not here to discuss Julie, Mr. Anderson. I’m already aware she attends your art class.” She sighed. “When you worked out of Colorado in the mines, did you handle explosives?”

  “Yeah, I’ve laid a few charges in my time.” Anderson had a bored expression. “Where’s this leading, Sheriff?”

  “These are just routine questions.” Jenna offered him a small smile. “You’ll have noticed the CCTV system around town. What would you consider in your expert opinion would be the best way to disable it?”

  “That would depend it if is wireless or hard-wired. I haven’t had occasion to get up close and personal with it.” Anderson leaned back in his chair. “For both the best way is to remove the power source. So cut the wires or remove the battery. If the camera is too high to inspect, and you don’t want to destroy it, then a laser pointer would disable the optics for a time.”

  “How long?” Jenna scribbled on the notepad as if very interested in every word he uttered.

  “That would depend on the set-up. Some cameras have filters, so not so long, and those with infrared would be undetermined.”

  “Can you account for your movements last night and early this morning?” Jenna looked up at him. “Between the hours of eleven and six.”

  “Yeah, I was working.” He scratched his cheek. “I told you before I work the graveyard shift on Sunday and Wednesday nights. It’s good money and there’s not much to do. I was at head office from midnight until six this morning, had breakfast at Aunt Betty’s, went home and slept until midday, went to work at one. I had a job to finish over at Glacial Heights.” He glared at Kane. “Until Deputy Kane arrived.”

  “Okay.” Jenna removed the images of Christine Pullman and Joy Coran from the folder and slid them across the table to him. “Do you recognize these women?”

  She watched him closely as he swallowed with his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.

  “I’m not sure.” Anderson leaned back in his chair. “It’s hard to tell with all the blood and all.”

  “They’re Christine Pullman and Joy Coran.”

  “I’m not familiar with their names, no.” Anderson lifted his attention back to her. “Are they out of Black Rock Falls? I didn’t hear anything about them on the news.”

  “No.”

  “So why drag me away from work?” Anderson rolled his eyes. “You’re wasting my time.”

  Jenna cleared her throat. “We’ve two murdered girls in the morgue, Mr. Anderson. I’m sure if they were your daughters you’d want me to interview everyone who’d met them. The deaths of the other victims form part of our investigation into the Rosen and Braxton cases.” She placed her pen on the table and looked him straight in the eye. “You’ve worked at both the ranches and installed a so-called foolproof security system and yet someone abducted both girls from their beds. How do you account for that, Mr. Anderson?”

  “Human error, I guess. The systems we install are state-of-the-art.” He opened his arms wide. “But they only protect a property if they’re activated. I’ve personally inspected both systems and they’re working just fine.”

  “Tell me about the codes. Do you give the owner a code?”

  “Sure do, we use a basic code, 1-2-3-4, on all the systems for us to make sure it’s operating.” Anderson gave a bark of a laugh. “Before you ask, no, I don’t have a little book with all their codes. I always give them a complete run-down of the system and leave instructions. I insist they reset the codes immediately I’ve gone.”

  Jenna exchanged a look with Kane and he shrugged. She turned back to Anderson. “Where did you live growing up?”

  “My family came from Butte.” He smiled at her. “You know they hold tours of a nineteenth-century brothel?”

  “Ah no, I’ll be sure to remember if I’m ever by that way.” Jenna blinked at him, trying to keep her mind on track. “Do you have any objections to one of my deputies searching your home and vehicle?”

  “Why?” Anderson frowned. “Am I a suspect?”

  “We’re just eliminating everyone who came in contact with both girls.” Jenna inclined her head. “It would save time if you agree, Mr. Anderson, or you’ll have to remain here until a judge gives us a warrant – and we do have probable cause. You drive a similar vehicle to the one seen both nights the girls went missing, we’ve yet to establish your alibi and—”

  “Yeah, I know, because I worked inside both houses and spoke to both girls?” Anderson towered his fingers and thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Sure. I want this over.”

  “Thank you for your assistance. I’ll leave you a statement form to complete giving us permission to search your vehicle and home. Once the search is completed, I’ll arrange a ride home for you.” She pushed to her feet and bit back a groan of discomfort. “Can you get the door, Kane?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Outside in the hallway she handed him her notebook and gripped her back. “What do you think?”

  “I’m glad you pushed him to allow us to do a search but I doubt we’ll find anything. If he’s the killer, he’s way too smart to leave any evidence.” Kane scratched his cheek. “He’s very confident, so either he’s a good liar or has a solid alibi for both murders.”

  Jenna sighed. “Call his workplace and check out his alibi. If they corroborate his story, and we find zip at his home, we’ll have to cut him loose.”

  “It won’t be today.” Kane frowned and glanced at his watch. “We’ll have to do the searches in the morning but they’re going to walk unless we find some evidence.”

  Jenna nodded in agreement. “Okay, I’ll call a lawyer for Kittredge then update the case files and leave you to chase up Anderson’s alibi. You might as well call the Triple Z and see if the barman knows the woman Kittredge said he spent time with on Wednesday night.” She glanced down the hallway. “When we’re done, we’ll speak to Lancaster and Packer.”

  “I’ll interview them if you need to take a break.” Kane touched her face. “You’re so pale. I wish you’d let the paramedics take a look at you.”

  Jenna leaned into his hand. “Thanks, but if one of them is intent on killing innocent girls to get to me, I want to look the SOB straight in the eye.”

  Forty-Five

  As Jenna disconnected from a call to Sam Cross, she looked up, to see Rowley waiting in the doorway. “How did you go with George Miller?”

  “He’s bringing Matt in now but he insiste
d on having his attorney present.” Rowley frowned. “I’ve been calling Cross for a while now but the line’s busy.”

  “Don’t worry.” Jenna rubbed her temples. “He’s coming here to represent Kittredge, so he’s going to be a busy man this afternoon.”

  “Wolfe called with a message. The unofficial cause of death in the Amanda Braxton case was a broken neck.” Rowley rolled his eyes. “He insisted I emphasize the word ‘unofficial’ and said his opinion is from a visual examination only and wouldn’t hold up in court, but he did say the killer inflicted the injury in a typical military combat move.”

  “That’s interesting.” Jenna moved her attention to the whiteboard. “Packer was dishonorably discharged from the army and has already lied about his knowledge of explosives.” She pulled up his file on the computer and went through it again. “Ah, and he was raised in a variety of foster homes. He ran away a number of times then ended up joining the army. The reason for his discharge isn’t listed.” She glanced up at Rowley. “He’s moved around the state but has lived here for the last four years.”

  “So he fits Kane’s profile.” Rowley rubbed the back of his neck and frowned. “He’s worked for me – refitted my kitchen last fall. He seemed like a nice guy.”

  Jenna looked up at him. “Since I’ve been living in Black Rock Falls, I haven’t met a psychopathic killer I haven’t liked.” She shrugged. “Think about all the murdering SOBs we’ve caught, Rowley. I wouldn’t have picked them out in a line-up of men likely to commit robbery, let alone labeled them as sadistic killers. So right now, even the nice guys are in my sights.”

  “So I see.” Rowley nodded. “If you don’t need me for anything else, I’ll head back to the front counter now, ma’am.”

  “Sure. Thanks for your help.” A knock on the door drew her attention away from Rowley. Kane waited outside the door and Smithers and Martin chatted in the hallway behind him. Jenna waved him inside. “What’s up?”