by Jessie G
“Nope.” Davin deliberately went for the knife last and held it where Elias could watch as he depressed the release button on the casing to reveal a six inch blade that was sharp enough to glint in the moonlight. “What’s this for, Elias?”
“Fuck you.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” After bagging the blade and tossing it on top of the growing pile of evidence, Davin jerked Elias around and walked him toward a waiting cop car. “You have the right to remain silent…”
After reading him his rights, Davin pushed Elias into the back seat and then left him to stew while they searched his car. Before the night was over, Davin intended to know everything there was to know about Elias Ward.
One by one, the team approached Goldberg’s box and called out their finds before adding them to the pile. “Found a stash of oxy in the spare tire well.”
“Two knives in the glove compartment. One tested positive for blood.”
“Beretta over the visor.”
The information just kept rolling in and the more Davin heard, the more confused he was. Rifling through the bagged items, he found himself circling back to the question that had been plaguing him since they found Terence. “Why didn’t he drug them?”
“Maybe they were a backup plan,” Goldberg answered even though he’d really only been talking to himself.
Davin rolled that over and thought it rang truer than any of their other assumptions. “Juan, how did he know all his victims had habits?”
“Mingling has a question for that. It’s pretty vague if you don’t know to look for it, but you can share your drug preferences if you are searching for like-minded people.”
Another officer came over with a small baggie. “Tested positive for heroin.”
“He was prepared. I bet if we ask Sam Whit what his drug of choice is it’s going to be Xanax.” Davin shook his head. “Everly said our victims were all over the place—heroin, coke, pot, oxy, Xanax…we’re going to find it all.”
“Okay,” Juan murmured and when Davin didn’t continue, asked, “But why?”
“Goldberg called it a backup plan and I think he’s right. Elias didn’t want to subdue his victims. That would defeat the purpose. He wanted them aware enough to know they were dying. But if their need to be high interfered with his fantasy, he had just the thing to take the edge off.”
“If his targets were so unpredictable, why bother?” Juan scoffed. “There are easier ways.”
“He didn’t want it to be easy. He was pushing his skill set.” Or honing his craft and Davin was positive they were only scratching the surface of Elias Ward’s crimes. “When we start digging into this guy, we’re going to find he’s done this before.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.” Someone had pulled out his bike and gear and left them on the road. With a brief look at Goldberg, he asked, “Shoot me a copy of the evidence list once you’ve got it checked in?”
“You know I will. Now, get. That waste of sperm doesn’t deserve to see the sunrise.”
In full agreement, Davin pulled on his helmet and then nodded to the two uniforms waiting by the car with Elias inside. “Let’s get this bastard in a cage where he belongs.”
Chapter Ten
Davin
The first person he saw when he walked into SVU was Doctor Everly and he veered in that direction. Up until that moment, Davin had been certain they caught the right guy and that they got him before he could kill again. Unless there was something he missed, the older man had no reason to be at the precinct that early, and Davin hated the itch of doubt seeing him produced.
“Doc? What are you doing here?”
“I was awake. After a week, it’s a habit.” Davin understood that all too well. “Good work, Detective. If you need me to do anything, I’m wired on coffee and at your disposal.”
“Thanks, and yeah, if you could.” There was a lot to do before he could finally stand down and let the exhaustion have its way, but there was only one thing Everly could take off his plate. “The news isn’t going to wait for us to make our notifications. I know it’s still early, but we need to call each family and start the process of releasing the bodies.”
“The news is already insane over your little motorcycle stunt across the Causeway. A hundred and forty, really?” When he just shrugged, Everly shook his head. “I’ll make the calls. You focus on wrapping this guy up for the DA.”
Notification was part of his job and while he hated to hand it off, Everly was right. His time was better served getting a confession for the District Attorney. “Thanks, Doc.”
There were a few uniformed officers in the pit as he walked past and Davin grimaced when they started whooping and clapping. He understood that wins were hard to come by in their line of work, and they should be proud of their accomplishments. But celebrating didn’t feel right. Both because six men were still dead and because bringing their killer to justice didn’t bring Davin any pride.
Would his coworkers still be clapping if they knew how much he hated the job?
Thankfully, the Captain left his hands in his pockets when Davin approached, and while he still looked pleased with their results, James was ready to get down to business. “We’ve got Elias waiting for you in interrogation one.”
“Has he asked for a lawyer?”
“Not yet.”
‘Interesting.” Though probably not surprising. If Davin was right that he’d done this before, then his confidence would be through the roof. A fancy lawyer would only get in the way of his posturing. “Anything else I need to know before I go in there?”
“Only that you were right about the drugs. Goldberg said they found enough to open a small pharmacy and even more weapons to defend it.”
Also not surprising. “Did Juan get me an address?”
“Several, here and in other states. I’ve got Williams on it. You really think he’s done this before?”
“More than once and I think he’s trying to one up himself each time.”
James muttered a few expletives under his breath and slapped Davin on the shoulder. “Well done, Detective. Now wrap a fucking bow around this asshole and hand him off to the DA.”
The required graciousness was beyond him, so he snatched the file from the Captain’s outstretched hand and continued toward interrogation. As promised, Elias was waiting for him in the first room, hands cuffed to the table as he leaned back in the chair. Deceptively relaxed, congenial façade firmly in place, Elias smiled when he entered.
They had solid evidence, more than enough for Hurley to make a case. Getting a confession would only make that case stronger but, for Davin, it was Elias’s cocky smile that confirmed his theory. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Did they bring you something to drink?”
“They offered. I refused.” Elias inclined his head, the smallest smile still hovering on his lips. “But thank you for asking.”
“Good.” Davin nodded toward the camera. “And did they explain that everything we say or do in this room is being recorded?”
“Yes, they made that very clear, and yes, I acknowledge that I was properly Mirandized when you arrested me at the Museum.” Doubling down at that confident façade, Elias asked, “Does that cover all your bases, Detective?”
“It’s a good start.” Sitting across from someone like Elias always made him feel dirty and Davin had to remind himself he was in control now. No longer the victim, he was an advocate for those who couldn’t, for whatever reason, speak for themselves, and he refused to fail them.
Flipping open the file, Davin took the time to pull out each photograph, lay them in a neat row, and say their names aloud. For him, the visual strengthened his resolve. From Elias, he was counting on a different reaction. “I assume you recognize them?”
“Of course.” If Davin had to describe the look on Elias’s face, it would be adoration as he gazed at each photo. “My greatest work so far.”
So far. Was he so confident that he wanted to brag? Eager to hear it
, and sick to his stomach because he had to, Davin tapped the first photo and repeated, “Jeremy Hargrove.”
“My first, here at least. Such a special boy.”
“Special?”
“I like them young and innocent.”
“He was a drug addict and the rent boy you picked up on a dating site.”
“He was young and innocent,” Elias stressed. “And possibly a little foolish. But the drugs and sex hadn’t jaded him. He craved romance and attention and soaked up affection like a sponge. It was so delicious the way he fawned over every conversation.”
Short of calling him a sick fuck or worse, Davin didn’t have a good response, so he tapped the next photo and prompted, “Was Tom special?”
“Oh, no. I mean, yes, they all were in their own way.” Elias laughed at some private joke and Davin decided it was the creepiest sound he’d ever heard. “But Tom and Jeremy were completely different. Tom was an adrenaline junkie. The thrill of it was infectious. He wanted to see the world and climb mountains and…. Well, given the chance, he wanted to do it all.”
“If only he could get over his little coke habit.”
“Some people are perfectly functioning addicts.”
“Yeah, some.” By all accounts, Tom wasn’t except in his own head, which was probably why Elias was drawn to him. Again, Davin tapped the table. “Tell me about Mike.”
“Such a handsome boy. Did you know he was a drag queen?”
Of course, he knew, but he was happy to let Elias dig his hole deeper. “No.”
“Three nights a week at some cabaret downtown. I’m not usually into queens, but he was quite stunning in either persona. I almost hesitated to slit his throat that first night. He kept waxing on about dressing up for our second date and I have to admit, it would have been exciting to kill a drag queen. But it didn’t fit the game.” Elias trailed off, his voice fading as his gaze took on a dreamy quality. “Maybe it will be the next game.”
Wiggling in his chair, it was clear Elias was excited by the idea and Davin knew this was his drug of choice. Even now, facing multiple life sentences, the thrill of planning his next ‘game’ was impossible to resist.
Davin just wanted to smash him in the face. Instead, he tapped the table again. “What about Edward?”
“A broody fella. He fancied himself to be a painter. Impressionist stuff, very dark and sexy. Another one who craved the romance. So easy and so, so pretty.”
“And Terence?” Davin barely glanced at the face that had been haunting his dreams for the last eight years and he sure as hell didn’t touch the image, despite having done it for all the others. Thankfully, Elias was too busy boasting to notice or care what he was doing.
“Ah, the complicated one. The whole world was against him, or so he thought, but he had plans to show everyone what they were missing. At times, there was sophistication about him. A veneer that hid the dark depravity hidden within. But make no mistake, he was a bit of a psychopath beneath the personas. I recognized that kindred spirit immediately and often wondered what skeletons rattled his closet.”
“But you killed him anyway?”
“Of course, Detective, killing him was especially triumphant. We killers usually see the darkness in each other, but Terence never saw it in me. It was validation that I was winning the game.” Pride had Elias squaring his shoulders and puffing out his chest as if he wasn’t handcuffed to an interrogation table. “I was killing right out there in plain sight and no one saw me.”
Disgusted, Davin tapped the last photo. “Julio.”
“Ah, little Julio. Simply, it was the way he said Master when we spoke. Sends a little tingle up my spine just thinking about it.” Still appearing completely unconcerned by his arrest, Elias reached out and gently traced the edge of Julio’s picture.
The ease made him wonder if there was something he was missing. Did Elias think he was going to walk away from this like he did the others? Would his confidence make him as eager to share those details too? Davin knew he had enough, but he couldn’t turn down the chance to get closure for anyone this man hurt.
“Anything else you want to tell me?” Davin asked as he gathered up the photos and tucked them back in the file, out of Elias’s sight, earning him a frown for the first time since they’d begun. “Maybe you want to share the names of the other men you’ve killed?”
“Ah, Detective, you caught me when no one else had a clue and I applaud you for it. That’s why I have been so honest with you. None of those other Detectives were worthy opponents. They don’t deserve my confession.”
It was insulting to have a monster consider him worthy and it only made Davin that much more determined to root out every one of Elias’s secrets. “That’s okay. We’ll figure it out.”
“Oh, Detective,” Elias purred and batted his eyes, boldly sizing Davin up as if he was another…no. Nope, not going there. The only thing he was going to be to Elias was the man who put him away. “I have no doubt you will.”
Refusing to rise to the bait, Davin stood, gathered his paperwork and headed for the door. He would turn it all over to the district attorney, write up his reports, and then Elias would officially be someone else’s problem.
“That’s it?” Elias called when his hand curled around the knob. “There isn’t anything else you want to know?”
Davin glanced back thoughtfully. When he asked Elias if there was anything else, he got shut down. Now he was dangling it out there and while Davin wanted to return the favor, he couldn’t walk away if there was really something to learn.
“You said Terence was a psychopath.”
“I did.” Elias grinned, pleased to have gotten his way. “Start rooting around in his closets, Detective. I bet you’ll find I’m not the only one with a trail of bodies in my wake.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Telling you would ruin the surprise.” When Elias laughed again, Davin was done. “It’s been a pleasure, Detective, I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again.”
Realizing he was being dismissed after allowing Elias to get the upper hand, Davin walked out more disgusted with himself than with their suspect. He nodded to the two officers waiting to escort Elias back to a cell and continued toward the observation room where Captain James was waiting with Hurley.
“Great work, Monroe.” Hurley met him at the door, expression eager as he offered the file. “He’ll never see the outside world again.”
“From your lips to the judge’s ears.” While he appreciated her bravado, they both knew there was no way to predict what a jury would do at trial. Still, he respected her work and was relieved to put everything in her capable hands. “I need to confirm that all the evidence has been logged, then you’ll have my full report. After that, I’m requesting a couple of days off.”
“Days?” James scoffed. “I don’t want to see you back here for at least two weeks. No argument, Detective.”
Two weeks with nothing to do was more than he could handle, but that was a fight for another day. With a nod to the pair, Davin exited observation and trudged across the pit, his steps dragging until he was finally at his desk. To his relief, Goldberg’s log was front and center, so he verified that first before moving on to his report.
If he thought it would have helped, Davin would have gone home and grabbed a few hours of sleep first, then approached it with a clearer head. But his brain didn’t work that way. Instead, he pushed through, relying on the never-ending noise in the precinct to keep him awake and the steady tap of the keyboard to know he was still functioning.
Still, it was mid-morning before he finally hit send, officially ending his active role in the case until it came time to testify. Now all he wanted was to hide in his apartment, scour himself clean, and hope the ghosts stayed quiet long enough for him to sleep. He’d have to call a cab since there was no way he could safely get on the bike again and there was no one who would bother to pick his sorry ass up.
That was the hardest part. While
he had some acquaintances on the force, some people he respected more than others, there was no one worrying and waiting for him to come home. No one who would share this victory or see that he was struggling with his own demons. When he woke from the fog, he would still be alone, and he would only have himself to blame.
“Hey, Monroe, your ride’s here!”
Davin was so focused on putting one foot in front of the other, that he hadn’t been paying attention as he headed toward the elevator. “What?”
If there was a response, he didn’t hear it. He didn’t hear anything at all after he spotted Alaric leaning against the wall beside the elevator doors, idly tapping away on his cell phone. Then Alaric looked directly at him, his normally stoic expression transformed into…Davin wasn’t sure. Not pity. That would have sent him running. But something that made his feet move faster until they were close enough to touch.
Without a word, Alaric pressed the call button, then held the door for him when they slid open. Once inside, he jabbed the button until the doors closed again, ensuring no one else could join them. He expected Alaric to speak, maybe to bitch that he was working too hard, running himself into the ground, not taking proper care of himself…
But Alaric didn’t do any of those things.
Instead, there in the elevator, just the two of them, Alaric wrapped a strong arm around his shoulders and offered his silent support. That simple embrace from the man Davin once believed would never let him down was more powerful than any word or platitude or sleep.
There were very real and very valid reasons to refuse, any of which would get him released in an instant. Davin didn’t utter one. Though he would rather bite his tongue off than admit it, especially to Alaric, he needed this.
Especially from Alaric.
Chapter Eleven
