by C. M. Sutter
John set his backpack on the chair to his right. He pulled the top zipper open, inch by agonizing inch, just to create more fear in the mind of the young woman next to him. He hadn’t asked her name. She wasn’t that important. The killing was what mattered. He grinned at her as he reached in. Her breathing increased at an alarming rate until she was on the verge of passing out. He stood and slapped her across the face.
“There’s no way you’re taking the easy way out. We’re going to enjoy this process together.” He pulled the pair of Neko Te out of the pack and strapped the first one over his right hand. The missing claw still angered him. “I guess I’m not fooling the cops anymore, so I may as well use these again.”
She tried to scream through the tape, but her cries for help were muffled by the television’s volume.
“See these claws? They’re mighty sharp, just like individual razor blades. Watch this.” He poked her leg with the tip of the claw attached to his middle finger. A blood spot popped up through her skin. He stared at her with a wide smile, his head cocked to the right. “Cool, huh? I barely touched you. Just think what that’s going to feel like in a few minutes when we really get started.” He walked around her chair and untied the ropes that bound her. She stood, as if to run, and fell forward. “What the hell was that?” He laughed. “Did you forget your ankles are taped together? Maybe it’s true about blondes being stupid.” He grabbed her by the legs and dragged her into the bathroom. Her flailing arms did nothing to dissuade him. He climbed over the tub’s edge and pulled her in. Her head hit the porcelain bathtub bottom with a hard thud. She was stunned just long enough for him to attach the second clawed glove over his left hand. He straddled her body, secured the gloves tightly to his hands, then reached down and began.
Chapter 36
Time to relax and decompress in the wine bar was exactly what I needed, even if it was for only an hour. J.T. was gracious enough to join me and share a mezzo liter of red table wine while we discussed the case.
I took a sip then rolled my aching neck. Tension had always settled in my neck and shoulders. “We need to put that sketch and description on the Illinois news stations. This time I want to include the name John Pratt. Even if it’s an alias and not his actual name, it might ring a bell with somebody.”
J.T. agreed. “Certainly can’t hurt. You caught the part about him buying paper, envelopes, and stamps, right? I guess it wasn’t his manifesto after all. He wouldn’t need stamps for that. It sounds like he’s going to send a letter to someone, or already did.”
I watched as two young ladies walked past the wine bar. They couldn’t be more than twenty by the way they behaved and dressed. They giggled, delighted about something, and appeared carefree. They were obviously enjoying their night. I hoped they would always be safe and joyful. It made me think of the dead girls in the park, Jane, and the torment Amber, my own sister, had endured over the last year and a half. It seemed like women of that age group wore targets on their backs and were stalked by every sick predator that roamed the streets. The thought disgusted me.
“Jade?”
“Oh, sorry, what?”
“I said Jane will see her parents tomorrow. At least that’s one positive thing in this gruesome investigation.”
“Right. That’s definitely a good thing.”
“Is something wrong? You seem distracted.”
“Did you email me those pictures you took of the composite?”
“No, but I’ll do it now if you want them.”
I nodded. “Yes. I want to give them a closer look.”
J.T. reached for his phone, tapped a few keys, and placed it back on the table.
“There, all done. Was there something different about Jane’s version compared to Doc Wilson’s?”
I shook my head. “Nah, other than his beard being a bit fuller, but that makes sense. I’d say Jane’s version would be the most reliable one, anyway. She saw him during the day and for a longer period of time.”
J.T. gave me a questioning stare. “Then what?”
I pressed my temples. “I don’t know, maybe I’m exhausted. There’s just something about this guy that gives me the creeps. It’s like we’re never going to catch him. We don’t have a good sketch, and he’s always one step ahead of us.”
“Jade, if it’s any consolation, he gives me the creeps too, and look, I’m a big, strong, tough guy.” He grinned and squeezed my hand. “It’ll be okay. We are going to catch this monster. We always do.”
“Yeah? Then why are some criminals on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for years?”
“Okay, you got me there. I’ll rephrase that comment. We try to catch all of these criminals, and eventually we do. Better?”
I smiled. “Yes, better. I’m done.” I stood and reached for the check. “The bed is calling my name, and tomorrow will come early enough. We need to intercept Jane’s parents before they get to her room in the morning. I’d like to have a sit-down with them and Dr. Adams so they know what she’s been through and what to expect.”
J.T. pushed back his chair and stuck out his hand. “Absolutely, now give me that check. You can cover breakfast.”
I waited as J.T. paid the bill. We rode the elevator together silently to the third floor and parted ways at our rooms.
“Good night, J.T.,” I said as I slipped the key card into the door lock.
“Good night, Jade.”
I pushed the door open. “J.T.?”
He turned toward me as he was walking away. “Yeah?”
“You’ll bang on my door in the morning, right?”
“Why break tradition? Of course I will, at seven o’clock sharp.” He gave me a thoughtful smile. “Get some rest.”
I nodded and closed the door at my back. I wanted to study the composite closer, but I was fading quickly. Five to six hours of sleep each night was catching up with me, and that nagging pain popped up every so often too. A good night’s sleep of hopefully eight hours would definitely refresh me. I knew there would be time tomorrow when I was more alert to go over the composite and the gift shop video again. I washed up, brushed my teeth, and sent Amber a quick text then turned off the light. The morning would arrive soon enough.
Chapter 37
J.T. stared at the quantity of food sitting in front of me. “Do you really eat a full breakfast like that every morning?”
I looked down at my heaping plate and shrugged. “What’s wrong with it? I was brought up in a house with a mom that loved to cook. Now Amber has taken over those cooking duties. I guess I’m used to it.” I popped a piece of bacon in my mouth and rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing finer than bacon so long as I don’t gain weight.”
J.T. laughed then bit into his toast. “Want more coffee?” He stood and reached for both cups.
“Yeah, thanks.”
I checked the time on my phone. We’d leave for the hospital in a half hour. J.T. had received an early morning text from Mr. and Mrs. Weeks that said their flight was boarding and we should expect them at the hospital in Watseka by ten o’clock.
My plan was to sit in the visitors’ lounge, where an area in the back was set aside with two computers that were connected to Wi-Fi. I’d watch the videos again that Doug had given us of every camera angle at the truck stop. We saw our perp come and go from the truck to the diner and into the gift shop as well. We just never had a good view of him since the cameras were mounted near the ceilings. The cap always blocked his face. I remembered being tired that night, and now with a refreshed set of eyes, I might notice something that I missed before.
“Ready to go?”
“Yep.” I slugged down the rest of my coffee, and we headed out. “We have some free time before Jane’s parents arrive. I’m going to go over those videos again while I have the time.”
“Sure. I’ll update Spelling and find out if anything has come in on the tip line. It’ll be interesting to see if the name John Pratt rang any bells.”
“We can only hope.”
>
We arrived at the hospital at eight thirty and took the elevator to the ICU wing, where we checked in at the nurses’ station.
“Good morning, Alice,” I said. “Is there a chance of checking in with Jane before her folks arrive? We’d like to update them with her current condition before they see her.”
Alice looked down both hallways then put her finger up. “Give me just a moment to page Dr. Adams. I need to clear it with him first.”
“No problem.” J.T. and I took our seats against the wall on the same chairs we had sat on yesterday and waited.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway. We both looked to our right. Dr. Adams was approaching.
“Good morning, agents.”
“Dr. Adams,” J.T. said. “We’d like to have a few minutes with Jane if that’s possible. Also, when her parents arrive, we’d like to go over her condition with you and them before they see her.”
“That’s something I intended to do, anyway.” He slid up his lab coat sleeve. “When are they expected?”
“In about an hour, sir,” I said.
“Sure, go ahead. Jane is in good spirits, knowing she’ll see her family soon. She just finished a light breakfast, and I’ve already checked her vitals.”
“Thank you, Dr. Adams. We’re going to wait for Jane’s parents in the visitors’ lounge after we check in with her. Alice said she’d let us know when they arrive.”
“Very good, and I’ll meet up with all of you then.”
J.T. and I passed through the glass ICU doors and knocked on the sliding doors to cubicle six. Jane responded.
“It’s Jade and J.T., Jane. May we come in?”
“Yes, it’s okay.”
I slid the curtain to the side, and we entered her room. Jane’s face looked less swollen than it did yesterday. We took seats in the guest chairs on either side of her bed.
“How are you feeling, and did you sleep okay?” I asked.
“They gave me sleep medication last night, and I’m on a light painkiller right now.”
I nodded. “You’re excited to see your folks, right?”
Her eyes welled up with tears. “I’m sure I look hideous. My mom is going to cry.”
I glanced at J.T., knowing that Jane hadn’t seen herself in a mirror yet. The poor girl would wear deep scars as a reminder of the attack for the rest of her life.
“Honey, your parents are going to be so thankful you survived that attack. It’s only been two days. It’ll take time to heal, but you will.” My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the screen. Spelling was calling. “You’ve already updated him, haven’t you?”
J.T. said that he had.
I shrugged. “Well, he’s calling back. Excuse me.” I walked out to the hallway and answered his call. “Boss, what’s up?”
“Jade, a tip just came in about the name John Pratt.”
“You’re kidding. Does it seem related? I mean, there’s probably more than one John Pratt in the country.”
“How about one that grew up in North Bend then moved to Arkansas in 2005?”
“That’s way too coincidental. You’re saying North Bend, Wisconsin, right?”
“Absolutely.”
I paced the hallway while I tried to keep my excitement under control. My gerbil wheel was in overdrive.
“So, who called it in?”
“Would you believe a cousin of his that lives in Kenosha? Seems like a credible lead to me. Cam and I are conducting this interview ourselves. We’re leaving in just a few minutes.”
“What do you want us to do?”
“Hang tight until the interview is over. We don’t want to waste anyone’s time. We have to make sure this is a legitimate lead first. Jane’s parents are showing up soon according to J.T.”
“That’s correct, sir.”
“Okay, keep your phone handy and wait for my call. It probably won’t be until around lunchtime.”
“Got it. I’ll talk to you later, boss.” I clicked off. Excitement engulfed me, and I couldn’t wait to tell J.T. This could finally be the lead that we so badly needed. I entered Jane’s room again.
J.T. glanced over his shoulder. “Everything okay?”
“Can you spare a minute?”
“Sure. We’ll be right back, Jane.” J.T. stepped out into the hallway with me. “What’s up?”
“Spelling said they got a hit on the name. Apparently, a cousin of a John Pratt that lives in Kenosha called in on the tip line. Get this, he said John lived in North Bend until 2005 then moved to Arkansas.”
J.T. whistled then whispered, “No shit?”
I grinned. “No shit. Spelling said he and Cam are heading to Kenosha now to do the interview themselves. He’ll call back with an update later. For now, he said to hang tight.”
“This could be a real turning point, Jade.”
“I know, and Jack could even check out the North Bend leads for us.”
“Okay, take a breath. Let’s wait to see how this interview shakes out.” J.T. checked the time. “Let me send a quick text off to Mrs. Weeks and see where they are.”
Chapter 38
At nine forty-five, we gathered in the corner of the visitors’ lounge with Dr. Adams and Mr. and Mrs. Weeks. The doctor explained how Jane was doing physically. Once he left to do his rounds, J.T. and I went over the possible mental setbacks Jane could endure. Telling Jane’s family what they needed to know about that sadistic killer was tough, but in order for them to understand her vulnerability, we had to share some of his deeds. We kept the descriptions that didn’t involve Jane as generic as possible.
J.T. added, “Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, there’s a good chance that once Jane is home, she’ll need counseling. She’s been through a lot. That killer’s crimes were heinous and beyond imagination. Jane is the only person we know of that lived through his torture, and she has the wounds to prove it. We want you to know her condition before you go in. She hasn’t seen herself in the mirror, and your looking shocked will only add to her anxiety. Please remain calm if you can.” J.T. stood. “So, whenever you’re ready.”
Mrs. Weeks took a deep breath, looked at her husband, and nodded. “Okay, take us to see our daughter.”
“Please, right this way,” I said as we led them to the ICU wing.
Alice allowed us entry into the unit.
“Jane is in cubicle six, right over here.” J.T. knocked, and she responded.
I opened the curtain halfway and peeked in. “Jane, your mom and dad are here. Are you ready to see them?”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she nodded.
“Go ahead, Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, we’ll give you some privacy.” I slid the curtain open, they walked through, and then I closed the door at their backs. From the other side of the door, we heard cries of love and likely sorrow at what their daughter had gone through.
J.T. squeezed my shoulder when he noticed my own tears. “It doesn’t get any easier as time goes on. It’s okay to be tough and compassionate. Let’s give them a half hour alone. Want a coffee?”
I brushed away the tear slipping down my cheek. “Yeah, let’s wait in the visitors’ lounge. I feel like I need to call Jack.”
“Because of John Pratt?” J.T. asked as we walked down the hallway.
“Yeah, I mean the guy was local. Jack can pull up his name and see if he had a record in Washburn County.”
“Give Spelling the time he needs, Jade. It won’t take long to track down John Pratt if the lead is authentic.” He grinned. “We are the FBI, you know.”
I pulled out my cell phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Seeing if there’s a picture of the guy online.”
“You’re Googling him? I don’t think you’ll find his personnel file or life history on Google. That’s why only special departments like ours have access to that type of information.”
“It doesn’t hurt to check. I’m antsy, okay?”
J.T. chuckled. “Sure, knock yourself out.”
<
br /> Thirty minutes went by, and I hadn’t learned anything from the public web searches. “Damn it.” I closed out the Google search and pocketed my phone. “Let’s see how Jane and her folks are doing.”
J.T. and I reentered the ICU wing after Alice nodded us through. I knocked on Jane’s door.
“Come in.”
“It’s us, Jane. May we join you?”
“Yes, it’s okay.”
We entered to see Mrs. Weeks sitting on Jane’s left and Mr. Weeks on her right. Each parent was carefully holding one of her hands.
“How’s it going in here?” I smiled when everything looked calm beyond the curtain.
Mr. Weeks spoke up. “We’re good. We were discussing a future trip. Maybe once Jane is released, we’ll go to the Florida coast for a week of relaxation.”
“That sounds really nice, and I’m sure Dr. Adams will go over her release date with you. Do you have any questions for us, Jane? There’s a chance we’ll be moving on later today. Gotta catch the bad guys, you know.” I gave her a wink.
“Agent Monroe, do you think you’ll really catch him? Has he hurt anyone else since me?”
“We haven’t heard of any more incidents, so that’s good. And yes, we will catch him. When we do, I guarantee you’ll hear from me personally.”
Jane smiled through her swollen face.
“Is there anything else you remember about him that we can add to our notes?”
She closed her eyes as if she were trying to recall something. “I’m sorry, but no. I’m sure I was unconscious most of the time.”
I patted her blanket-covered legs. “And that was probably a good thing. You gave us plenty of helpful information. We’ll give you guys some more time alone.” J.T. and I stood and turned toward the door.
“Agents Harper and Monroe?”
I looked back. “Yes, Jane?”
“You’ll say goodbye before you leave, won’t you?”
J.T. smiled. “You can count on it.”
Chapter 39
He carefully stepped around the stiffened body lying in the bathtub and took a shower. John dressed and gathered his belongings. This time he made sure he hadn’t left anything behind. He checked out online, the same way he had checked in. Nobody at that fleabag motel had actually seen his face since he arrived. It was time to move on, and it was unlikely he’d bother with anyone else. He was closing in on his final destination, and John laughed at the thoughts buzzing around in his mind.
