Ruthless: The Faces of Evil Series: Book 6

by Debra Webb

  Adrenaline set a fire in her blood. “We’re heading that way now,” she told Cook before ending the call. To Lori she said, “We’re going to need more backup for this one.”

  If Cagle was there, she wanted SWAT standing by just in case. She couldn’t risk finding him at this remote location and having to wait for back up to arrive.

  Time was their enemy.

  John Findlay III Drive, outside Oak Mountain State Park, 3:30 p.m.

  The rustic board and batten style cabin sat on the south side of the lake. The location was just opposite a small peninsula that jutted out from the small slice of land that intersected the lake from north to south. Bullock’s cabin didn’t appear to have any luxuries, but it had a killer view from a big screened-in back porch.

  Harper had checked Cagle’s truck. He’d left the key in the ignition. There was gas in the tank, and the engine started with no problem. For whatever reason he had abandoned it on the other side of the lake, only a couple of miles from the cabin.

  For the past fifteen minutes while they waited for SWAT to get into position, there had been no movement or sound in or around the cabin.

  Jess hoped Lucy and her kids were unharmed. She prayed little Janey Higginbotham was as well.

  Dan waited next to her. She’d called him while Lori notified SWAT. Jess was glad he’d gotten here in time. He should be a part of this.

  The team commander’s order to move in came across the wireless communications mics they wore. Jess couldn’t breathe as she held her position waiting for the all-clear sign. She, Dan, Lori, Harper, and Cook were standing by, vests on and weapons in hand.

  “Come on, come on,” she muttered. She hated the waiting part.

  “Take it easy,” Dan urged. “We’ll be going in soon.”

  Not soon enough to suit her.

  “Clear, move in,” came over the communication link. “We have three bound hostages inside. No visible injuries.”

  Thank God. Jess was on her feet and moving forward. She tried not to think about the fact that only three people were inside. There were four missing: little Janey, Lucy, and her two kids.

  Someone was absent… besides Cagle.

  Lucy Neely and her two children were bound and gagged in the cabin’s one bedroom. As soon as they were free and the hugging and sobbing had subsided, Jess introduced herself and pushed for answers.

  “Ms. Neely, where is your father?”

  She shook her head. “Not in front of my children.”

  “Detective Wells, would you and Officer Cook take the kids out front so they can call their father and let him know they’re safe?” Paramedics were standing by to check everyone over.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Lori motioned for the kids to follow her. “You’re dad’s waiting to hear from you,” she told them as she ushered them into the hall.

  Once the kids were out of the room, Jess asked, “Did he have the little girl with him? Janey Higginbotham?”

  Lucy nodded and her tears started anew. “He kept repeating that he was a bad, bad man but that he hadn’t wanted to do this.” She shook her head in confusion or exasperation. “He said it was because of you. He called your name over and over.”

  A quaking she couldn’t quite suppress started deep inside her, Jess would need to analyze that part of his motive more thoroughly but not right now. He had that little girl. Her heart hurt with the idea of what might happen next. “He gave you no indication of where he was going?”

  “He said he was going to find you since you hadn’t found him.”

  Jesus Christ. More of that anxiety and apprehension heaped onto her chest. This made no sense. “He didn’t say anything else?”

  She shook her head. “He just kept apologizing over and over. Is he really the Man in the Moon?” Her face scrunched and the tears started anew.

  “I’m afraid so, Lucy.”

  “I can’t believe it.” She shook her head. “My mother always told me I could never see him again, but I thought it was because she hated him.”

  Jess couldn’t explain Lucy’s mother’s reasons, since she had taken her away before the first little girl disappeared. What Jess did know was that sometimes killers like Cagle started out just daydreaming about hurting others. Sometimes they abused those they felt they could control. Or they harmed animals to relieve their urges. There were many things Cagle’s wife may have witnessed that prompted her to get away from him.

  Too bad his wife hadn’t told someone who perhaps could have stopped Cagle before twenty little girls had to die.

  “You talked to my husband?” Lucy asked, struggling to regain her composure.

  “I did,” Jess assured her. “He’s been worried sick, but he’s on his way home.”

  Lucy nodded, relief in her expression. “Is it all right if I use the bathroom? I already wet my pants one time too many. He wouldn’t release us for anything.” Her lips trembled. “I can’t believe he did this.”

  “Sure.” Jess tried to give her a reassuring smile but her lips weren’t cooperating. “I’ll just wait outside the door.”

  Each second that passed had Jess’s tension winding tighter and tighter. Where the hell would he go from here?

  “Chief.”

  She looked up to see Harper striding toward her.

  “You’re going to want to have a look at the root cellar. Chief Burnett’s waiting for you on the porch out back.”

  Lucy stepped out of the bathroom.

  “Sergeant, escort Mrs. Neely to Detective Wells and the children. Her husband will want to hear her voice as well.” To Lucy she promised, “We’ll talk more later.”

  “Just go through the kitchen,” Harper told Jess. He smiled for Lucy. “This way, Mrs. Neely.”

  Evidence techs were already starting their routine as Jess moved through the kitchen. On the porch a portion of the floor was hinged and opened like a trap door. It stood open now, and narrow steps led down into a musty-smelling cellar. Dan stood partway down the steps. He offered her his hand to assist her in following him.

  The cellar was dank but at least there was a light. She held tight to Dan’s hand as she descended into the small space.

  He pointed to a doll in the corner. “Is that Janey’s?”

  Jess pulled up the picture she’d snapped on her phone and then crouched down to inspect the doll more closely. Long dark hair, blue eyes. Red overall dress and pink tee. That was the doll. That icky feeling she’d been experiencing in the pit of her stomach lately started its ritual. Combine that with the worry pumping through her veins, and she felt queasy as hell. “That’s it.”

  Dan swore.

  “The upside is there’s no blood.” She studied the hard-packed dirt floor and the few items in the obviously rarely used cellar, a storybook, a short stool—the kind used for milking cows. Shelves had been built along one dirt wall but they were empty. “No signs of a struggle.”

  “But he’s not here.” Dan threaded his fingers through his hair. “He’s out there. God knows where. With that little girl.”

  Jess wished she could take the doll with her just so she’d have it when she found Janey. Because she was going to find that little girl. But there were tests that needed to be conducted. Tests that would help link a serial killer who had proven his penchant for utter ruthlessness to a missing little girl.

  As Jess reached the porch once more, her cell shimmied in her back pocket. She dragged it out and frowned at the name on the screen. George Louis.

  Why in the world would her landlord be calling her?

  Oh God, what if her place had burned down or blown up? She was just getting used to the eclectic little apartment.

  “Harris.”

  “Jess?”

  Like many older people, Louis shouted as if he feared she wouldn’t be able to hear him.

  “Yes, Mr. Louis, it’s me.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you on a Saturday afternoon. I’m sure you’re out getting your shopping done or having a late lunch.”

&
nbsp; “No bother, Mr. Louis. Is something wrong?” For God’s sake, man, get to the point. I have a monster to track down.

  “There’s a gentleman here to see you. I told him you weren’t home, but he insisted on waiting. I thought I’d better call you.”

  The first trickle of cold fear leaked into her veins. “Where is the man right now, Mr. Louis?”

  “Why, he’s in my living room. I couldn’t leave him out in the heat. He has the sweetest little girl with him. She’s having cookies and milk.”

  The terror blasted her. “Listen very carefully to me, Mr. Louis.”

  “Now, now, you need to stop calling me that. We agreed that you’d call me George.”

  Jess grabbed Dan by the arm and pulled him close as she spoke. “I’m sorry. George.” Her gaze locked with Dan’s. She could hardly breathe. “Listen carefully, George.” She prayed he wasn’t going to freak out when she told him this part. “The man in your living room is extremely dangerous.” He started to interrupt but she cut him off. “Listen to me, George! Please. That little girl’s life as well as yours depends on what you do next.”

  Dan rushed toward the kitchen, ran into Harper in the doorway. They would know what to do. She had to ensure George Louis didn’t screw this up.

  “You tell the gentleman I’ll be there in about forty minutes. Be sure to make him feel at home, George. Be absolutely certain not to do anything that will upset him. Just be a good host. Can you do that for me?”

  “I understand. We’ll be waiting. I’ll make tea.”

  9911 Conroy Road, 5:05 p.m.

  Dan was fit to be tied.

  But he’d just have to get over that. She couldn’t wait another minute. She had told Louis forty minutes, and by God she wasn’t falling down on that promise.

  SWAT was almost in place.

  Lori, Harper, Cook, Dan, and her two uniformed followers parked three houses down and had assumed positions around Mr. Louis’s house.

  Jess was still wearing her vest. She had her weapon in her bag and a .32 strapped to her ankle.

  She was as prepared as humanly possible.

  She knocked on Louis’s front door. Her hand shook as soon as she uncurled her finger and she had to remind herself to breathe but otherwise she was pretty steady. The com link was other-worldly silent.

  Mr. Louis opened the door looking completely unperturbed. She would need to make this up to him if they survived this little tea party.

  “You’re right on time, Jess. Come in.”

  Inside, Fergus Cagle sat in a corner away from any windows. If he was armed, the weapon was concealed.

  Janey sat on the floor in front of him. Jess’s heart lurched. She was okay. Looked good. Thank you, Jesus. The child was playing with what appeared to be exquisite china cups and a teapot. Not toys. The real McCoys. Thank you, Mr. Louis.

  “I’m afraid I didn’t have any toys,” Louis lamented. “Join us. Would you like tea?”

  “No, thank you, George.”

  “I didn’t realize,” he said, noticing the vest she wore, “you were working today.”

  “It’s all right.” Jess smiled for him then walked over to sit in the chair closest to Cagle. “Hello, Mr. Cagle.”

  He didn’t look at her.

  “Would it be all right if George takes Janey in the kitchen so you and I can talk privately?”

  His head turned in her direction, his expression grim, his eyes empty. He looked nothing like the man she had interviewed day before yesterday. That man was gone. This was the one who’d stolen little girls year after year… holding them prisoner in that basement of his. This was the face of evil.

  “No.” Cagle glanced at Louis. “You need to leave.”

  Louis looked taken aback.

  Jess nodded for him to go on.

  He hesitated for a moment, but then he left the room. Cagle said nothing else until he heard the kitchen’s back door slam.

  “It took you long enough.”

  “You didn’t leave me anything to go on, Fergus. How was I supposed to find you?” Jess had psyched herself up for this meeting but inside she was trembling.

  “This is your fault.”

  “You keep saying that.” She shifted in her seat. He tensed visibly. Jess held her breath until he relaxed. “To my knowledge we’ve never met before you sent me the first package.”

  “I didn’t have to meet you,” he growled.

  Janey looked their way, fear cluttering her little face. Her chest seizing, Jess wanted to tell her everything was all right, but she didn’t dare break the connection with Cagle just now.

  “I controlled the urges all those years.” He shook his head. “Until you showed up. Then I was forced to go to the burying tree and exhume my treasures. I couldn’t touch them and continue to resist.” He glowered at Jess. “You have taken everything from me.”

  “You can redeem yourself in your family’s eyes, Fergus. Just let this little girl go and they’ll know you’re not that man anymore. Everyone makes mistakes.”

  “You don’t understand. I can’t,” he snarled. He leaned toward her. “I have to finish this.”

  Jess fought the urge to recoil. “You can let her go,” she urged. “I’ll make sure your daughter knows you did the right thing this time. You changed for her and your grandchildren.”

  He laughed. “You really don’t understand. I’m doing this for my daughter and her children.”

  Before she could attempt to reason with him further, he stood and moved toward Janey. Heart crashing against her sternum. Jess leaned forward, reaching for the .32.

  Cagle turned back to her, a nine-millimeter aimed in her direction. “We have to go outside.”

  Shit. Her heart stumbled. This was not going to end well.

  “Fergus,” she reasoned quietly, so as not to alarm Janey, “you’re an intelligent man. You must know what’s outside. Why don’t we stay in here and work this out?”

  Whether this monster lived or died was irrelevant to Jess, except that she needed the location of the other children. She couldn’t let all hope of finding them die with him just because SWAT’s sharpshooter opted to take out the lowlife scumbag child killer with the first clear shot he got.

  “We have to go outside where he can see.”

  He? Was he working with someone else? Were there two Men in the Moon rather than one? She needed answers, not a gunfight in Louis’s front yard.

  “Tell me where the other children are, and then you and I will go outside. There’s no reason for her to go with us. Let her stay inside.” Jess avoided using Janey’s name so as not to scare her any worse that she already was.

  For one long moment Jess was sure he would agree, then he barked, “Janey, come to me!”

  The child looked up at him, tears sliding down her cheeks.

  Jess wanted to snatch her up and run—her whole body cried with the need—but he was the one who had the gun out and ready to fire.

  Shaking in her little pink-and-white polka-dotted PJs, Janey walked over to Cagle. He picked her up with his free arm and then motioned to the door. “Let’s go.”

  “Going outside is a mistake,” Jess repeated, mostly so those listening would be fully aware of their movements.

  “Move,” Cagle demanded.

  Jess walked to the door, took a breath and opened it. Bracing herself, she stepped out onto the broad, shady porch.

  Please, God, protect this little girl. Don’t let her die like this.

  A loud thwack sounded behind her, and suddenly Cagle was on top of Jess.

  They went down on the porch.

  Janey screamed.

  A dozen voices echoed in Jess’s earpiece.

  The child tumbled from Cagle’s arms. The dead weight of the man on top of Jess seemed to indicate he was stunned or unconscious.

  “Run, Janey!” Jess shouted. “Run!”

  The child stumbled but she regained her footing and took off like a shot.

  A man in full SWAT garb tackled her in t
he yard and whisked her away.

  Cagle moved.

  Jess reached for his gun.

  He snagged it first.

  She tried to reach for the .32, but he pinned her to the porch.

  “Don’t move, Cagle,” she warned. “They’ll shoot and I’m not ready for you to die.”

  “This,” he murmured, “is for my daughter.”

  He shoved the nine-millimeter in her face.

  Images of Dan and her sister flashed across her mind as her breath stalled in her lungs.

  The pop of an assault rifle sounded a split second before a bullet pierced the center of Cagle’s forehead.

  He slumped on top of her.

  Her heart abruptly thundered back into action and Jess shoved him off. She snatched up the nine-millimeter and jumped to her feet.

  She glanced back through the open doorway and Mr. Louis stood there, not a hair ruffled, with an ornately carved cast iron andiron in his hand.

  Jess swayed and Dan was suddenly next to her, steadying her. Members of her SPU team and SWAT swarmed the place.

  Jess started to hand over the nine-millimeter to the nearest cop but something felt wrong. She checked the chamber and then the magazine.

  There wasn’t a single round in the weapon.

  Jess stared at the dead man on the floor… he’d committed suicide by cop.

  And she still didn’t know where the other children were.

  Parkridge Drive, Homewood, 9:30 p.m.

  Chet unlocked the door and stepped back for Lori to go in first. She’d been a little distant all day, but then they’d been a whole lot busy.

  “I can order pizza or something if you’re hungry.”

  She just shook her head and kept walking. He didn’t know when she’d eaten last, but he hadn’t since this morning and he was starving.

  Down the hall he heard the bedroom door close. Her showers always took longer than his. He could call in a pizza, take his shower, and have a piping hot meal waiting for her when she emerged all soft and warm.

  He couldn’t wait to celebrate this victory with her. The Man in the Moon was in hell, and the little girl who would have been his next victim was safe and sound. Badly shaken but not a scratch on her.