Silent Death: A Chilling Serial Killer Thriller (A Caine & Murphy Thriller Book 3)

by Dominika Waclawiak

  “What are the demands?” Kate asked. The senator turned to her. “You’re in charge of this, aren’t you?”

  “I... am.” Kate hated how that sounded like a question. “Special Agent Kate Harper. And we have tied your granddaughter’s abduction with your daughter Madeleine’s murder. Madeleine was investigating the disappearances of...”

  “I don’t want to hear about that old case. Why isn’t Johan Luken in custody yet?” Senator Richards turned back to Agent Morris.

  “I beg your pardon, Ma’am. But if you received a phone call from the kidnapper this morning, it wasn’t from Johan Luken. We’ve had him under surveillance since he was released from jail. All of his numbers are tapped, and he didn’t make any phone calls. Is the kidnapper demanding money? Have you received proof of life?” Kate said in a rush before all the brass in the room overrode her.

  “I’ve not received proof of life,” Senator Richards said with a shake in her voice. “He wants me to deliver eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars tonight at midnight. I received a delivery of a burner phone to my home about an hour ago.”

  “We’ve attempted to track down where the phone came from but we are dealing with a professional here, people.” Agent Morris said and looked around the room. “Every lead went nowhere. We will be following procedure in regards to the burner phone and the next contact. A small team will set up at the Senator’s house. Agent Lipsky, pick two others from your team. I want you leading this.”

  Kate flushed red.

  “Yes, sir,” Agent Lipsky said and grinned at Kate. He got up from the table and motioned to two of the more junior agents in the room. Pandemonium erupted as soon as Agent Morris left the room with the Senator, agents and security detail trailing behind them.

  This didn’t feel right, thought Kate. No way she could be so wrong. Lorelei was still out there and the FBI had been expertly misdirected. Her phone buzzed with a text message. She stared at it in disgust.

  It read: We lost Johan Luken ten minutes ago. Have not picked up his trail yet. How should we proceed?

  40

  Sara got off the westbound bus at the Sunset/Bundy bus stop and hurried down Bundy Drive. Mark was meeting her at Lorelei’s apartment in fifteen minutes and she had another five blocks to go. To make matters worse, she set the time for the meeting. She’d miscalculated on how long it would take to get crosstown.

  She quickened her pace without breaking into a full run. Screw Eva and all her experience, she thought as she attempted to pull focus from the burning sensation blossoming in her lungs. She would find something at Lorelei’s, she was sure of it.

  Sara checked the time and swore. She sprinted down the sidewalk not caring about her breathing. This was her chance to prove to everyone she could do this job, she had to make it there first.

  Wiping the sweat from her face on the back of her sleeve, she took the stairs two at a time. Mark was at the door waiting for her.

  “I’m sorry I’m late. I...” she debated on what she should tell him. “Anyway, thank you for meeting me here.” They stared at the police tape crisscrossing the doorway.

  “I didn’t think this would be so difficult,” he said. “I haven’t slept since she disappeared. I keep trying to think of everything I could have done to stop her from going out that night. She went to meet somebody and didn’t want to tell me who. I gave her space and, instead, I should have been there for her. She didn’t trust me enough.”

  “I’m sure she trusts you. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the words to tell your loved ones what’s happening. Especially when it’s not your own secret to tell.” Sara said as they both ducked under the police tape.

  “What exactly are we looking for?” He asked.

  “Anything that the FBI and the police missed.”

  “How will we know when we find it?”

  “I’m not sure. I know this must sound silly to you. Me thinking I can find a clue they missed.”

  “It doesn’t sound silly. I want to help too. It’s frustrating to be left out. I’m waiting at home for news, any news, and I’m going out of my mind.” Mark said.

  “I understand. I’m Lorelei’s age, and that gives me the advantage.” Sara said, looking around the apartment. It was a small one bedroom close to the UCLA campus. Built in the sixties, the architectural elements weren’t exactly stunning but it was clean and sunny. Lorelei had painted the walls a pale green making it seem like the trees outside were coming in.

  “The FBI and the police looked in the usual places. We need to look in the unusual places. Lorelei loved to read,” she said as she pointed at the bookcase spanning one entire wall of the living room. “I’d keep things hidden away in books.”

  “She loved the classics especially Jane Austen.” Mark said and Sara could tell he was struggling not to cry.

  “What was her favorite book?”

  “Pride and prejudice,” he said without hesitation.

  “Let’s start there then.” She went over to the bookcase and ran her finger along the spines of the classics. The books looked as if they’d been read multiple times. Sara found the copy of Pride and Prejudice and flipped through it. Lorelei underlined many passages and took copious notes in the margins. Sara could tell this was her favorite book.

  “Nothing in this one.” Sara said.

  “It was a good idea though.” He pointed to the center shelf. “This was Lorelei’s to-be-read bookshelf.”

  They got to work searching the books on that shelf first, then doing the rest of the remaining shelves. They came up empty.

  “I was so sure we’d find something there,” Sara said.

  “Where else can we search?”

  “The police must have gone through her papers and garbage cans.” Sara scanned the small room. “They must have found nothing if Johan is a suspect.”

  “They have a suspect? Who’s Johan?” Mark grabbed her by the shoulders. “Where is he? Why aren’t we asking him questions?”

  Sara’s face flushed scarlet. “They’re wrong. He couldn’t have snatched Lorelei because he’s been in jail for the last week.”

  “You knew this, and you didn’t tell me? We broke into Lorelei’s apartment so you could prove he wasn’t the one, is that right?” Sara yanked her arm away from him and paced back and forth.

  “His name is Johan Luken, and he put me in touch with Madeleine in the first place. He was arrested the morning of Madeleine’s murder and didn’t do any of this. Johan’s a scapegoat.” Sara watched Mark take it all in. He headed for the door.

  “You lied to me and I can’t take liars right now. I can’t...” A sob escaped from deep inside of him and he crumpled to the floor. Sara had never seen a grown man cry and had no idea of what to do. She kneeled down beside his jerking back and waited.

  He pulled himself together after another minute. Snot dripping from his nose, he glanced over to her. His face was splotchy and mucous ran into his mouth. Mark wiped it off with his shirtsleeve.

  “I came here to find Lorelei. We will find her, I promise you.”

  He nodded. “I haven’t cried like that since I was ten.”

  “We can go if you want, get some coffee or...” She stood up and held out her hand to help him up. He grabbed it and pulled himself to his feet.

  “Thanks...I.” He stopped. “The file. She had never seen the file before. It came to me. She took out a piece of paper from the file before giving it to you.” Matt said, excitement growing in his voice.

  “That has to be it. You never saw what was on it, did you?”

  “I noticed it was one of her mother’s diary entries. It was handwritten, like the other sheets. It wasn’t like a report or anything typewritten.”

  “When was the last time you saw it?” Sara asked.

  “At her mother’s house. Right before the police came.”

  “Did she put it in her purse? Or?” He frowned trying to bring up the memory.

  “She didn’t put it in her purse she put it into he
r jacket pocket.”

  “Do you remember which jacket it was?”

  “Yes. She was wearing her favorite leather jacket,” he said and rushed towards the bedroom.

  “I really hope she wasn’t wearing that when she disappeared,” Sara muttered towards his receding back.

  “Hope so too,” he called back disappearing into the bedroom. Sara entered the room as he was picking up a dark brown leather jacket from an armchair next to the bed. “This is it.”

  “Pockets. Please God, let it be in the pockets.” Sara said as Mark checked both pockets. Triumphant, he held up the small slip of paper.

  “I found it.” They both froze as they heard keys in the door. Mark pocketed the little sheet of paper and they came out of the bedroom, finding themselves face to face with Detective Gutierrez.

  “You’re not allowed to be here. This is a crime scene.”

  “This is my girlfriend’s apartment. She didn’t die here. I have every right to be here.” Mark said.

  “You see the police tape? That shows that no one is allowed in here.”

  “How did you know we were here?” Sara asked.

  “Your friend Eva Murphy called us. She used to be a cop, what did you expect?”

  “We were just leaving.”

  “I don’t want you anywhere near this case. You endanger that girl’s life with your childish detective work. If that happens, I’m coming after you, do you hear me?” Detective Gutierrez said to them.

  “Hear you loud and clear detective,” Sara said. They got out of there fast.

  41

  Neither Sara nor Mark spoke until they got back into Mark’s car. Mark locked the doors before he took the little piece of paper out of his pocket.

  “Should we have given this to the detective?” He asked, his hands shaking.

  “Let’s see what it says first. It might not be pertinent to the case and then we’re admitting another crime for no reason.”

  “Another crime?” Mark side-eyed her.

  “We’re not supposed to take anything out of her apartment. It’s all deemed evidence.”

  “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “Do you mind if I take a look at it?” Sara asked and he handed it to her.

  “Shouldn’t we be wearing gloves or something?” Sara flushed. She hadn’t thought of that.

  “No, I...um, guess it’s too late now,” she held onto the sheet of paper. “I’m sure it’s fine. If it was still in her pocket, her kidnapper didn’t touch it.”

  Mark leaned over to read it at the same time she did. Sara could smell his lame attempt at masking the alcohol smell with toothpaste but she didn’t blame him. She’d be drinking too.

  “Lorelei thought she was meeting her birth father that night?” Sara asked.

  “She never knew who he was and Madeleine refused to speak about him. It was something that bothered her. I’m not surprised that the moment she had a clue to his identity, she went to search him out. Why didn’t she tell me she was going? I would have gone with her. Kept her safe.” His voice trailed off.

  “Focus, Mark. You can ask her that yourself when we find her.” He nodded back but Sara was unsure if he understood the words she said. He was in another world.

  “We have his initials, BDE. Lorelei knew to call him the moment she saw this entry. Madeleine must have introduced them or he was important in Madeleine’s life at some point.” She glanced over at him but he wasn’t paying attention to her. His gaze was fixed at the building in front of them.

  “We have to give this to Gutierrez,” he said.

  “No.”

  “Yes, it’s evidence. Gutierrez needs to see it.” Matt snatched the paper out of her hand.

  “He’ll arrest us.”

  “I don’t care. If this can help find Lorelei, the police have to have it. I’m not taking the chance of keeping it from them and something going horrible wrong.”

  “It won’t go wrong.” Sara knew how lame that sounded.

  “Bullshit.” He pushed the car door open. Sara grabbed his arm.

  “At least, let me take a photo of it. I can investigate while they investigate. Please.” She was desperate, and she didn’t care if he knew it. “Please, Mark.” He frowned but she could see she’d gotten through to him, somewhat.

  “Fine. Take a photo,” he said and held the paper up to her. He wasn’t taking any chances. Sara pulled her phone out and snapped several pictures, hoping that they were legible enough to read.

  “Thank you,” she said. He grunted in response and got out. He turned back to her. “I can’t give you a ride. You should have told me about the suspect.”

  “I see,” Sara said, fighting back her own tears. “Uh, thanks for coming with me.” He didn’t look to have heard her. She got out of the car and he was already bounding up the walk.

  “Two for two today, Sara,” she muttered as she walked back towards the Sunset Boulevard bus stop. Eva Murphy had called the detective on her. The betrayal was a punch in the gut. Sara considered Eva a friend but, as it turned out, she was anything but. Sara fought against the waves of panic that coursed through her body. She’d messed up, and she knew it. However, that knowledge didn’t make her feel any better.

  Sara walked up Bundy Drive beating herself up at every step. All she wanted to do was hide. Or get as drunk as Mark and Eva spent their days being. It was working for them why couldn’t it work for her?

  The dreams will come back, a voice whispered deep inside her brain. There was no easy solution to her problem. She didn’t know oblivion. She wasn’t allowed it. If she got drunk, her walls might come down. Her protection would dissolve and they’d come to her again. Begging and pleading for help. Even worse, she might wake up in Limbo. That would never happen to her again. Never, she swore.

  Her phone buzzed, interrupting her spiral into darkness. It was a text from Johan.

  “I will solve this case. Alone. And everyone who doubted me will know I did,” Sara said to the bougainvillea bush to the left of her.

  She’d never felt so alone.

  42

  Sara sipped her coffee and waited for Johan to appear. She arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the planned designation time and wished she were the one running late. The caffeine wasn’t helping her nerves any either. She put the cup down on the table and fiddled with the napkin. Where was he? Her watch said eight. He wasn’t even late yet. Calm yourself, Sara thought.

  The smell of musk mixed with aftershave filled her nostrils. Her heart dropped. Johan. He had arrived. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deep. God, she’d missed him. She turned, a smile spreading across her face.

  “Don’t turn around. Listen to me carefully. You’re being followed.” She raised herself up to see who it was. “Sara, don’t.” She sank back in her chair, fear coiling around her stomach.

  “Who’s following me?” She whispered.

  The foursome standing between her and the window moved outdoors.

  “Meet me in the ladies room. Now.”

  Trying to be as nonchalant as possible, Sara drank down the rest of her coffee and rose to go. She turned to a barista walking by.

  “Where is your ladies room?” He gestured towards the back and she walked in the direction he pointed. She knew where it was but if someone was watching her, she figured acting normal would be the best thing she could do.

  The several steps she took to get there felt like an eternity. She dared not look toward the front door. The hairs on her arms stood on end. He was inside, she was sure of it.

  She turned the corner into the little hallway and saw Johan at the door to the alley. He motioned her to follow him. She quickened her step and didn’t breathe until they were outside. The smell of the dumpster hit her full force and she coughed several times.

  “Where to now?” she asked.

  “I don’t know who’s tailing you. It could be LAPD or the FBI. We shouldn’t be seen together.”

  “It’s because of Eva. She threw me under
the bus. Called Detective Gutierrez on me.” Johan pulled her into a hug. She slumped against him, letting his smell and warmth envelop her. “We found something. Mark and I. Lorelei went to meet a man who she thought was her father with the initials BDE. Did Madeleine ever mention someone with those initials to you?” The smell of the garbage dumpster mixed overwhelmed his personal smell and Sara dug her nose deeper into his chest.

  He thought for a moment. “No, she never mentioned anyone with those initials. I’m sorry about Eva.”

  “I miss you,” Sara said.

  “Me too. I think I’ve found a way to stop this, once and for all.”

  “How?” Sara pulled away and looked up into his face. He was still handsome, but he wore the toll of the last months. Gaunt cheeks with dark circles under his once sparkling eyes. He looked haunted.

  “Will you tell me?” Sara asked in a small voice.

  “I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark but I didn’t know how else to get your help.” His words stung her.

  “Tell me,” Sara said. She would not get sidetracked from the question.

  “He kills the women for their souls. The films imprison the souls somehow. And then he feeds on them.”

  “How can we stop this?”

  “I think I know where some of the films are. If I can get to them, then I have leverage. He’ll meet me then for sure.”

  “Have you told, Eva? You’ll need backup,” gasped Sara.

  “I don’t want to scare my contact away. It’s our only hope of saving Lorelei. And if you can find the ring, then we’ll know who to banish.”

  “I don’t understand. Your contact is Asmodeus?”

  “Asmodeus will have to meet me in his human skin. I’ll know what he looks like. Finally.”

  “Where are you going? Back to the Angelino Heights house?” Sara asked, stalling for time. She needed to convince him to bring Eva and a gun. Something to protect himself with.