A Killer's Prey

by M. J. Eason

  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 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 maybe 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 just sensed 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 the city where Kara believed they would find Jessica.

  “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.

  “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,”

  Ryan returned to the car 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, Davis. I can feel her here.”

  He took Kara’s hand as they made their way inside the dark barn. In 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. Frankie’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?”

  “This way!” She 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.

  Outside, a short distance from the house, the previous owners had built a small root cellar.

  “The door’s open.” Kara pointed to the entrance where a weathered door stood ajar.

  “Someone had the damn thing locked. Look,” Davis’s light hit the lock that lay open on the ground.

  “Davis!” They could hear Ryan calling to them from inside the barn.

  “We’re out here! We’ve found something!

  Ryan’s hurried footsteps rounded the corner of the building, then stopped when he spotted them.

  “Jeez…” Fresh blood covered the doorpost of the place.

  “Kara, stay here.” Davis led the way down the stairs with Ryan following. But Kara couldn’t stand by and wait. She followed them inside. At the bottom of the stairs, the light caught something. Jessica. Jessica’s 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.

  “Davis, she’s dead,” Kara told him quietly.

  “Do it, 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 Youngtrees’ 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.

  “Yes, they were told. I told them. Dear God, 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 and sedated her. The doctor sat with his patient while Davis asked his friend some difficult questions, starting with the last time he 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.”

  “Has anything unusual been happening in her life? Anyone new that you know of?”

  “No, not as far as we knew. She seemed happy with her life the way it was. Said she wanted to pursue her law degree. She had started taking classes, as you know.” He stopped for a second and then asked.

  “Davis, did that son-of-a-bitch rape her? Tell me what happened to my baby.”

  “Mark, don’t go there. This won’t help you or Nancy. Just let me take care of this.”

  “I swear I’ll kill him if I ever find out who did this to her. You tell him that. You tell him I’ll kill him.”

  Outside the Youngtrees’ house, Davis told Kara he needed to go back to the command center.

  “Kara, you should go back to my place and get some sleep. I can’t. I can’t even think about sleep right now. I want to stay and help. There’s going to be lot of evidence to process. This could take hours.”

  “No, I’ll stay with you. Maybe I can help.”

  He lowered his head accepting her answer. Davis started the car and then asked, “Have you talked to Ava lately?” Kara knew he wanted to be sure Ava was safe without giving her location away.

  She hadn’t told him about Ava earlier because she didn’t want to worry him. “She’s okay.” When he looked at her questioningly she added, “She’s fine, Davis.”

  “Thank God for that. I can’t imagine going through what Mark is going through right now. I don’t think
I could bear it if anything happened to either of you.”

  The evidence from Jessica’s crime scene began to arrive shortly after their return. Dozens of evidence envelopes had been collected at the scene. The taskforce spent the rest of the evening and well into the morning, sifting through their contents to no avail.

  “It’s like he’s getting better with each new victim. There’s no footprints, no fingerprints. No hair samples. No semen,” Ryan said once all the evidence had been processed.

  “She was raped?” Davis asked. Kara could tell he knew the answer already.

  “Yes. Looks like repeatedly. This is one sick bastard,” Ryan told them both.

  “He’s a monster but he’s also human. Sooner or later he’s going to screw up.”

  “I hope you’re right. But so far, with four bodies behind us, he hasn’t shown any signs of screwing up.”

  Davis flinched at Ryan’s choice of words. “They’re more than bodies, Ryan. These are women I knew personally. And you were close to both Rachel and Jessica.”

  “I know that. I only meant that he’s perfecting his MO and expanding upon it. I think we have to face facts here.”

  Davis sat down on the edge of the table, covering his eyes for a moment. “What are you getting at, Ryan?”

  “Well, think about it. During the original case, we saw some evidence that seemed to indicate Frankie might not have acted alone. Maybe there are two killers. Maybe we should be looking for someone close—”

  “To us? Someone working the case? Why not just say it? You’re starting to believe all the stories about me now as well. Do you really think I’m capable of doing such horrendous things to anyone, much less the people I know?”

  “No! For Christ’s sake, Davis, that’s not what I’m saying at all. Of course not! But you have to admit this is starting to look less like Frankie acted alone, even on the old cases. I’m thinking someone connected to the Angel case maybe leaked evidence without even realizing it. What I’m saying is, I think we need to tighten the circle of people who have access to this case to only those we know we can trust. Like it or not, someone is exposing information that could prove crucial to solving the case. We can’t afford another scandal like the last one. You know this, as well as I do.”

  “You’re right,” Davis said wearily. “I apologize, Ryan. I’m just upset about Jessica. I’ve let this get too personal.”

  “Davis, it is personal. You knew all these women. Maybe…”

  “Maybe what?” Davis met his gaze unflinchingly.

  “Maybe nothing. Maybe we’re all tired.”

  “Ryan, I want to find out who’s behind this more than anyone. I have a huge stake in this as well. But you’re right. Go over the files of the people involved in the past cases as well as this one and let me know what you find. Oh, and do it quickly. I want to let Jessica’s parents know something soon.”

  “Of course, I’ll get right on it. Why don’t you try to sleep. You look terrible. I’ll call you when we know something.”

  “I’m fine. Just get me some answers soon. Where are you on re-interviewing the people connected to the first murders?”

  “We’ve gone through just about everything in the files. There’s nothing new. I talked to a few of Frankie’s acquaintances from the past but no one has a clue where he might be. Most still believe he’s dead.”

  “I know it’s difficult, and I appreciate all your hard work but still he’s out there. We both know it. And we’re running out of time.”

  Davis turned to Kara. “You feel up to a little ride?”

  “Sure. Where do you want to go?”

  “Let’s go back to that cellar. It’s almost daylight. I’m thinking maybe we overlooked something. Something critical.”

  “Davis, we went over every inch of that place,” Ryan told him. “We didn’t miss anything.”

  “Maybe but I’m hoping we missed something important that can’t be seen through normal eyes.”

  Chapter Seven

  “He was only trying to help, Davis,” Kara told him quietly once they were heading back to the crime scene.

  God, he dreaded going back there but knew they had little choice. They’d missed something. He hoped Kara could find it.

  “I know.” He glanced her way then finally smiled. “I know I’m being super sensitive about this but, dammit, I knew this girl. Hell, I knew them all. I was married to Rachel. This creep—Frankie—has made it personal for me. It feels as if he’s turning everyone I care about against me.”

  “He hasn’t turned me. And he never will. And Ryan still believes in you. He’s just frustrated. Like Ed. We’re all frustrated. I just wish I could see his face for once.”

  “Me too, love.” He stroked his thumb along her cheek. His eyes held hers. “Right now, I wish for nothing more than this to be over. I want out. I need out. Once we’ve solved this case, I’m done. I can’t do this.” He could tell his confession surprised her. Kara believed Davis bled Bureau blood.

  “I don’t blame you for not believing me but the Angel case destroyed so much. It cost me you, Kara. I would have given anything—I still would—if I could just go back and do things differently between us. I never wanted you to leave. I thought you knew how I felt. Now I realize I couldn’t have been more unclear. I’m so sorry I hurt you. That I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.”

  He was stunned to see tears in her eyes. Davis pulled into a parking lot and took her in his arms. “Please don’t cry, Kara. Please don’t. I love you so much. I want to be with you. I want to marry you.”

  When she tried to move away, he held her tighter.

  “No, don’t. Please. Just let me hold you for a moment.” He felt her slowly relax.

  “When this is over, I want you and Ava to be with me. I want us to be a family.” She still didn’t trust him not to hurt her. He hated that she couldn’t believe him.

  “I can’t do this, Davis,” she whispered desperately. When his lips met hers, her protest died away. Just for a moment, she gave herself to him completely. She tasted like forever. He wanted to hold her this close and keep right on kissing her, believing that her sweetness could somehow drive away the bitterness of the past.

  He felt her withdrawing from him in stages. She pushed his chest and reluctantly he let her go. “I can’t think about this now. I can’t, Davis! I need to finish this thing first before I can think about the future.”

  Davis understood what she meant but that didn’t stop the pain. Or the fear in knowing there might be a chance one of them wouldn’t survive this case. When she looked into his eyes, he knew she would see the tears in his as well.

  “Yes, you’re right. This is a nightmare. But it’s one that has to be solved if you and I are ever going to be able to put this thing in the past once and for all.”

  They were still close. And for the time being it was enough.

  “I think we both could use some strong coffee.” Davis nodded toward the restaurant close by.

  “Right now that sounds like heaven.”

  From the restaurant, they called Ava together. She still appeared shy with him even though he hoped she now trusted him. It was hard to accept he didn’t really know his own daughter.

  Kara read his thoughts so easily. “I should have told you about Ava. But I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I need you to believe that. I just thought…”

  He squeezed her hand. “I know. I guess we both made mistakes. You have no idea how many times I wanted to come after you. And I know you don’t believe me now but I’m serious about leaving the Bureau. I’m done. I want a normal life. I want you.”

  She laughed at this. “I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not anything close to normal. And it’s looking like your daughter isn’t either.”

  “Maybe not but you’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Kara. You and Ava. You’re all I want.”

  ****

  In the light of day outwardly the barn and cellar appeared innocent enough. But the evidence of
the brutality of the murder that had taken place there was everywhere.

  From the road leading to the property, Kara could feel Jessica’s terror.

  “She wasn’t here long,” she said and saw Davis’s surprise. “He brought her here the day he killed her.”

  The closer they got to the cellar, the harder it became to shut out the terror Jessica Youngtree experienced. Kara could see her, the white scarf around her eyes, naked, cold and shivering. He’d brought her here in the trunk of his car.

  Kara got out and stood with her eyes shut tight. The image of Jessica being dragged from the car into the damp cellar appeared. She’d tried to scream but he had something in her mouth. Kara couldn’t make it out.

  Her body was covered in blood. He’d taken his time, enjoying every minute of her pain. It excited him. After each attack, he’d raped her, heightening his pleasure.

  Inside the cellar, Kara knelt where Jessica’s body had lain.

  “The last few minutes before her life ended happened quickly. Thank God for that. In the last minutes here before death, Jessica didn’t suffer much. That’s something to tell her parents.”

  He glanced at Kara and then looked away from the evidence there.

  “But I don’t think that will ease their pain, do you? It certainly doesn’t help mine.”

  “No, I know.”

  “Kara, you said she wasn’t here long. Do you see anything that might help us figure out where he kept her before? We need to figure out where he had her. Maybe he left something behind there.”

  Once again, Kara closed her eyes and concentrated on the emotions filling her head. Fear. Pain. Cold. She could see Jessica’s body lying there shivering and broken.

  Her hands folded neatly around the lilacs as she died.

  Then suddenly, Jessica’s final moments disappeared but not before she captured a fragmented plea. In the moments before her death, Jessica had tried to connect to Kara! Jessica had known Kara would come for her.

  How? Had he told her?

  She hadn’t noticed this before because there were too many other distractions in her thoughts. Ava. Davis. Frankie. She hadn’t heard Jessica’s cry for help. Kara tried to focus more closely on what Jessica had tried to tell her.