by Mary Eason
“Kara, it’s been a long time.” He waited until she took a seat before closing the door.
“Davis, before you say it, you know I don’t believe any of this but we can’t afford another scandal like the last one. We need to be above reproach on this one.” His eyes slid to Kara briefly.
“I understand what you’re saying, but Jessica is my friend. I need to be part of this. Hell, I am part of this.”
“Do you have any idea what the press will do when they get wind of your connection to all the victims?” Davis wondered what Ed was more concerned about. His connection to the victims or his relationship to Kara.
“Is there anything new on Jessica?” Ed asked at last when Davis didn’t answer.
“No, nothing yet. Her car is still in the garage. But we believe she knew her kidnapper,” Davis told him.
“Great—just great. That’s exactly why I need you to stay out of the spotlight on this one, Davis. The press will eat you alive when they find out you’ve known all the victims. I don’t want you to go through that. It’s not good for the Bureau or you if—”
“Are you ordering me off the case entirely?” Davis demanded before Ed could finish.
Ed stared hard at Davis for a long moment before slowly releasing his breath. “Would you do it if I asked?”
“No. Jessica has only a short time left if the killer is staying true to form with his first victims. Dammit, Ed, Jessica is like family to me. I’ve practically watched her grow up. I’m not backing off this.”
“All right,” Ed answered at last, clearly not pleased with Davis’s response. “But I’m warning you, stay out of the limelight. And if this thing comes to the attention of my superiors, I won’t have a choice but to pull you off the case and suspend you. Understood?”
“Yes.” Davis got to his feet, ready to leave before Ed changed his mind.
“And keep her out of this. We can solve it without the help of a medium this time.”
“With all due respect, we can’t. Kara’s been the only one to give us any break in this case so far. We need her.” Davis turned to Kara and added, “I need her.”
Ed’s parting words irked Kara. She’d been a major part of pulling all the clues together on the first Angel case and yet he still considered her gift little more than a parlor trick.
They left Ed still fuming over Davis’s words.
“He doesn’t know that you suspect the Angel of these new murders and that Frankie wasn’t involved at all?” She knew the answer as well as Davis’s reasons behind keeping Ed in the dark even before he confirmed it.
“No, and until we have some solid evidence pointing that way, he’s not going to.” They took the elevator down one level to the floor housing the taskforce working the latest murders. Kara recognized several of the agents from the original Angel case but there were a few new faces as well.
“Most of you know Kara Bryant from the original case,” Davis announced to the team. “I’ve asked her to help us out on this one.”
Once he’d introduced her to the new members, Davis asked Ryan to brief them on the latest on Jessica’s case.
“So far, we haven’t turned up anything, but we’ve got both state and local police involved in the search. We’re covering every possible square inch of countryside. Davis, the media already have wind of the killings. I’m thinking we could use this to our advantage. Call a press conference. Get them on our side and involved.”
Davis’s gaze slid to Kara. “No. And while we’re on the subject, how the hell did the press obtain any details of an ongoing investigation in the first place? We have a major leak somewhere, Ryan. How did that happen?”
Ryan squared his shoulders in a defensive gesture. He clearly resented the question. “What are you implying? I’m certainly not tipping off the reporters. It could be anyone. The police who handled the original murder case putting the pieces together and trying to make a name for themselves, or some receptionist hoping to make a quick buck.”
Davis blew out a breath. “Find the security breach and put a lid on it quickly, before valuable details key to solving this case are released to the public.”
“Davis, we’re getting nothing here. Someone out there might have seen something important to the case that will help us find Jessica,” Ryan added, clearly frustrated by Davis’s reluctance. “We need to reach out to the public for help now. We can’t wait any longer.”
“I said no press.”
Kara could still hear Ed’s warnings, but neither Ryan nor the taskforce knew what Davis had faced in there. She glanced at each person seated around the table. Some were beginning to grow suspicious of their leader.
“We’ll solve this on our own, okay?”
Ryan slowly nodded then added, “I was hoping that maybe we—you and I—could take Kara to some of the places that look promising.” Ryan gave Kara an encouraging smile. “Maybe you can see something we’ve missed. You feel up to it?”
“Sure.” She understood Ryan was willing to try anything at this point. “Just tell me where.”
“We’ve got several possibilities. If this guy is running true to form, he’s gone to great lengths to follow his—the Angel’s—old MO. So…” Ryan went to the map covering one wall, revealing most of DC and the surrounding area. “We’d concluded that these are the most likely places he would have taken Jessica. We’ll keep searching other areas, but so far, I’m concentrating on these primarily. That’s where I’m hoping Kara will be beneficial.”
“Ready?” Davis asked her quietly. She knew what he really was asking was if she was ready to go through this again.
“Sure, I think so. It’s worth trying. Let me just get my suitcase from your office and then I’m ready.”
The dry countryside outside of DC literally swarmed with agents from every branch of law enforcement. They were met right away by the agent in charge of the search, who told them nothing had turned up yet.
“God, I hate this,” Davis told her once he’d finished briefing them. “I can’t believe this is happening again.”
He took her hand for a second and held her back from the others. “Stay close, okay. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“I will. Don’t worry, I’m okay.”
“Davis, I think we should start with the barn, don’t you?” Ryan fell into step next to them. “I mean, you never know…”
When they reached the building, Kara stepped inside and stopped. She couldn’t feel Jessica but she did sense something.
“What is it?” Davis asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m not sure—”
“Look around you, Kara. I’m here with you. I’m right here with you now.”
Davis stepped away for a moment to examine something one of the agents found, Ryan appeared at her side.
“Kara?”
She glanced at him. “I’m sorry?”
“I thought you said something.”
“Oh, no, nothing.”
Ryan continued to watch her carefully. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“You think you are so smart, don’t you, Kara? But I slip through your world without you knowing it. You’ll never catch me.” He was so strong now. Growing stronger with each kill.
“Mommie, Mommie, he’s there with you! Mommie, be careful!” Suddenly Ava’s presence overpowered the killer’s. Kara knew Ava was afraid for her.
In Kara’s mind she could feel her daughter’s fear.
“She’s next, Kara. She’s my next victim. I can’t wait.”
“No.”
“I’m okay, baby, don’t worry. I’m okay.” Kara tried to reassure her frightened child. “Daddy’s here with me. He won’t let anything happen to me, okay?”
“Kara? What is it?” Ryan asked in concern.
Davis stopped talking to the agent and came to her side. “What do you see?”
“He’s here, Davis.” Kara was shaking from fear.
“Where? Can you see him?”
; “No. He’s too strong. He’s taunting me. Davis, he’s says Ava is next.” Kara tried to keep the panic from her voice. She didn’t want Ava to read these thoughts.
“That’s not going to happen, Kara. I’ll never let that son of a bitch hurt Ava or you.”
“Davis, we may have something.” Ryan motioned to the agent coming toward them holding something in his hand.
The agent handed Davis a diamond earring.
“Where did you find this?” Davis asked, stunned. Kara could tell he recognized the earring.
“Over by the stall, Agent Martin. We’re still searching the area.”
“Recognize this?” Ryan asked quietly.
“Yes.” He met Ryan’s gaze. “Jessica’s parents gave her those for her eighteenth birthday. She never took those earrings off. She wore them all the time.”
“May I?” Kara asked, and he handed her the earring. She closed her eyes. She could only feel Jessica’s happiness. She’d been so happy the night she received the earrings. Kara didn’t feel Jessica’s presence there.
“She’s not here, Davis. She’s never been here. He’s playing with us. He planted that earring to steer us off course.”
“Are you sure?” Ryan asked, obviously disappointed in her answer. “This has been our best clue so far.”
“Yes, I’m sure. I’m sorry, Ryan.” Kara turned to Davis.
Davis nodded slowly before speaking to Ryan. “Keep your people looking for clues. We need to go back to headquarters and start over.”
“Davis, with all due respect to Kara, we can’t dismiss the fact that maybe she’s wrong about this.”
“She’s never been wrong before, Ryan. She’s not wrong this time either.”
“Are you willing to place Jessica’s life on that? And your career?” he added quietly.
“Yes, I am. Keep the team looking. You come with us.”
The tense silence stayed with them throughout most of the drive back into the city. Once again, Kara felt as if she’d come between their friendship.
“Ryan, Jessica was your friend as well. When you talked to her last, did she mention anyone special in her personal life?” Davis asked, more to fill the empty space.
“Not really. She told me once she wasn’t really looking for anything serious after her last relationship ended. But you know she had a crush on you the size of Texas.” Ryan gave Kara an apologetic grin.
Davis chose to ignore this remark. “When did you speak to her last?”
He thought for a moment. “Not since you left for El Paso. As I recall, Jessica left around the same time that you did.”
“Have someone check with her friends. See if there’s anyone they might know of worth checking out. Also, let’s check with her old boyfriend. Find out what he’s been up to, oh, and before I left for El Paso, she mentioned someone she’d been seeing for a few weeks. Someone she said she met in one of her Criminal Justice classes at UV. I got the impression he’s not a student. He might be her professor. She called him Alec. Maybe one of her friends will know him. And Ryan, do it discreetly. Without alarming her parents.”
Once they reached the command center, Ryan called in Davis’s orders to his partner then went back to the map. “Okay, where else should we be looking, Kara?” Ryan shook his head. The lack of sleep was finally catching up with him. “Because frankly, I’m out of ideas.”
Kara stepped over to the map, her fingers tracing along the places marked by the team. Something drew her in another direction entirely. South of the city, past Alexandria, there were miles and miles of farmland. She felt the pull of one spot in particular. She realized she was still holding Jessica’s earring.
She closed her eyes again and she could feel Jessica’s fear.
“Here! She’s here.”
Ryan looked at Davis. “We checked that entire area already. That was the first place we looked. She wasn’t there.”
“We’ll look again. He could have moved her there. Obviously, he enjoys playing games with us. Let’s go.”
“Do you want me to call the others in?” Ryan asked as they headed for the door.
“Not yet. Let’s just do this thing ourselves. Kara, you said you felt him there at the last site. Do you think he’s pretending to be one of our men or even is one of the agents on our team?”
“Maybe—I don’t know. But he was definitely there.”
“You said he planted the evidence. Maybe you were just sensing his presence because he’d been there.”
“No. It was too strong. He was there.”
“Ryan, have someone quietly check out all the personnel working that area. See if maybe someone is there who doesn’t belong. These creeps love attention of any kind. He’s probably enjoying making us look like fools.”
Ryan did as Davis asked but Kara could tell he wasn’t nearly as convinced.
They drove in silence to the small farm outside of the city where she believed they would find Jessica.
“According to the property records, there are two barns situated on opposite ends of this piece of land.”
“Is she still alive?” Davis forced the words out.
“I don’t know. I think so.”
They reached the site just as the last light of day disappeared.
Ryan shook his head. “We’ll never find her alone. Davis, let me call for help. We might be able to save her if we have enough people combing the area.”
“You’re right, we can’t do this alone. Okay, call it in. Kara and I will search the barn closest to us. Ryan, you take the one on the southeast part of the property.”
“Got it.” Ryan dialed his cell phone and walked away, while Davis and Kara headed toward the barn some fifty feet away.
“Kara, I hope to God you’re sure about this.”
“She’s here. I can feel her here.”
He took her hand as they made their way inside the dark barn. From the beam of Davis’s flashlight, the shadows of the barn stretched out around them. The place was covered in years of dust and abandonment.
“Do you feel anything?”
Kara clutched the earring and moved instinctively toward the place where she felt Jessica’s presence the strongest. Her fear and pain continued to grow. Jessica was terrified.
“God, he’s here with her, Davis. The Angel’s here!” Kara whispered urgently and watched as Davis drew his weapon. She did the same.
The voice of the killer and victim warred with each other. Jessica tried to scream but he was there preventing her. “He’s laughing. God, he’s laughing at her pain.”
“Where is she, Kara? Can you tell me where she is?”
She stepped inside the barn and lost contact with Jessica. She wasn’t there, which meant…
“We’re in the wrong place. She’s in the other barn.” She and Davis ran toward the direction Ryan had disappeared. When they reached the barn, they found Ryan standing outside, finishing his call.
“What is it?” he asked.
Kara moved to the side entrance of the barn and Jessica’s fear became more pronounced. Kara tried to focus on the girl alone but suddenly she went silent. She could still hear his laughter though.
“The door’s open.” Kara pointed to the entrance where a weathered door stood ajar.
“Someone had the damn thing locked. Look,” Ryan said, and his light hit the lock that lay open on the ground. Fresh blood covered the doorpost of the place.
Davis drew his weapon. “Ryan, cover the back. Don’t let this creep get away. Kara, stay here.”
Davis cautiously entered the barn. Kara couldn’t stand by and wait so she followed Davis. The flashlight caught something. Jessica. Her warm body lay positioned in the Death Angel’s standard pose. Her hands secured with the white scarf. The bunch of white lilacs clutched within them. The Bible quote lay haphazardly, placed near the body as if the killer had run out of time. Gotten sloppy.
“Dammit.” Davis knelt close to her, searching for a pulse. Her throat had been slashed. He’d taken
his time with her. She’d been tortured for days. “Call an ambulance!” Davis yelled out to Ryan who had joined them and stood looking down at Jessica, a hook of horror on his face.
“Dear God,” Ryan whispered to himself.
“Davis, she’s dead,” Kara told him quietly.
“No, dammit!” She knelt next to him as he began to perform CPR. The blood pulsed from Jessica’s body with each compression.
“Davis. She’s gone. You can’t help her now.” Kara somehow managed to pull him away from Jessica’s body.
Within a matter of minutes, the small room filled with agents. They descended on the crime scene and began analyzing everything, asking dozens of questions. It seemed like hours before the team finished examining Jessica’s body and released her to the coroner.
Davis and Kara stood a little ways away from the bustle, watching.
“I need to tell her parents. Dear God, I don’t know how to tell them this.”
“Let someone else do it, Davis.”
“No, I owe it to Jessica to be the one.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
He turned to Kara and smiled wearily. “Thank you. I need you, Kara. I need you with me. I’m so glad you’re here.”
The drive to the Youngtree’s house felt as if it took forever. Just getting out of the crime scene clogged with emergency vehicles seemed endless.
“Have they been told she’s missing?” Kara asked as they stopped in front of the house and someone obviously watching through the window stepped outside.
“No. God, Kara, how am I going to tell them their only child is dead?”
In the end, no words were necessary. The minute Mrs. Youngtree saw Davis’s expression she knew. She screamed and collapsed onto her knees. Her husband caught her in his arms and managed with Davis’s help to get her back inside.
Everything slipped into slow motion. Mrs. Youngtree’s doctor arrived soon after her husband called. Once sedated, the doctor sat with her while Davis asked his friend some difficult questions, starting with the last time he’d spoken to Jessica.
“We talked to her Sunday evening when she had dinner here. It wasn’t unusual for us not to hear from her during the week. Jessica kept busy with work and friends and school. We understood that.”
