Fifteen Times a Killer

by Alan McDermott

  “We kept clear of the area,” she told Alistair Birch.

  “Thanks for leaving me a clean scene to work with,” he said.

  Corrina also told him about the tire marks, and he sent two of his people to search for more.

  “There’s not really much point in you guys hanging around,” Birch said to Corrina. “We’re gonna spend a couple of hours combing this area before we even think about bringing in equipment to look for a body.”

  That was fine with Corrina. It was nearly noon, and though summer was over, the day was turning out to be a scorcher. “Let’s go” she said to McCrae. “Time to call in that rain check. I’m starving.”

  She collected her jacket and they made the twenty-minute walk back to their cars.

  “So, where do you wanna get lunch?” McCrae asked.

  Corrina was tempted to say “anywhere,” but she knew he’d opt for the joint that sold the greasiest burgers she’d ever tried. “Let’s stick to the original plan,” she said. “Pizza.” She named a place.

  “Meet you there.”

  As she drove back into the city, Corrina started the voice recorder on her phone to preserve her thoughts. “Add to profile: probably riding a mountain bike when he leaves the crossed sticks to mark the grave.”

  Yeah, him and ten million others in the Los Angeles area.

  Three dead bodies, and all they know about the killer is that he’s probably male, might ride a bike and used to drive a van—if they could believe his accounts of the abductions.

  In short, they had nothing. That was the default setting for every case, though: start with a blank canvas. As the clues and evidence roll in, the picture of the suspect starts to become clearer.

  So far, Corrina had the outline of a face and nothing more.

  Frustrated, she pulled into the parking lot at the mall and walked to the food court. McCrae was already in the line for pizza, and she sidled up alongside him.

  “Ham and mushroom,” she said. “And don’t forget the—”

  “—extra peppers. I know.”

  Corrina squeezed his arm. She didn’t know why, it just happened. She’d never done it to anyone but her husband before, and she was mortified by her action. McCrae didn’t seem to mind in the least.

  “Go find a seat,” he told her. “I won’t be long.”

  Still reeling, Corrina walked away and searched for an empty table. The court was packed, everyone going about their business, unaware that a serial killer stalked their town. Any one of these people could be next.

  The killer might even be among them.

  Corrina found herself scanning the faces, though she didn’t know what she expected to see. A guy wearing a baseball cap with “Serial Killer” written on it?

  She almost jumped when McCrae dropped into the seat opposite her.

  “What’s up with you today?” he asked. “You seem jittery.”

  “Nothing,” Corrina said. “Just frustrated, that’s all.”

  “Don’t be. We’ll catch him.” McCrae took a bite of his pizza and popped the ring on a can of soda. “We’re here to take your mind off it. If you overthink things, you’ll never see the answer. Woods for the trees and all that.”

  “I guess.”

  “So, what plans for the weekend?”

  “Not much,” Corrina told him. “Connor’s going fishing with his grandpa, so I’ll probably use the time to catch up on some paperwork.”

  “Why don’t you and Mike go away somewhere? Can’t be often that you guys get time alone.”

  Corrina considered her response. If she told McCrae the truth, it might appear that she was fishing for sympathy. At the same time, she didn’t like the idea of lying to him. She’d known him too long, and he was a trusted friend. She couldn’t bring herself to deceive him.

  “Mike and I split up eighteen months ago,” she said.

  McCrae swallowed his mouthful of pizza. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

  “Yeah, we decided against taking out an ad in the LA Times,” Corrina smiled.

  “So what happened? You guys were, like, the perfect couple.”

  “Cop’s curse,” she said. “Long, irregular hours, not being able to switch off after work, you know how it is.”

  McCrae nodded solemnly. They both knew the toll the profession took on marriages and relationships. When they worked together, hardly a month went by without one of their colleagues announcing a break-up.

  “Was that the reason you switched to the Feds?” he asked.

  “Partly,” Corrina admitted. “We just…grew apart. We were spending less time together, and I think that triggered something in his head. Whenever I arrived home late, he’d accuse me of having an affair. That’s when it started going downhill.”

  “We’ve both seen it happen,” McCrae said. “Once that seed’s planted…”

  “I know. I did everything I could to convince him that I wasn’t seeing anyone else, but he was too far gone. Nothing would change his mind. He moved out and filed for divorce.”

  “I’m guessing it wasn’t amicable.”

  Corrina shook her head. “I gave him access every other weekend, but he started demanding more time with Connor. He wanted him for the summer, then the holidays. Said I was ruining the boy’s future by not letting him coach Connor every day. Then a few days ago, he served me papers. He’s taking me to family court for custody.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say he’s an asshole,” Corrina said. “Works for me.”

  That got a laugh from McCrae, and Corrina suddenly realized how much she’d missed him. He’d always been able to make her smile, always had a kind word when she needed it, always had her back when times were hard. She felt guilty for thinking it, but she was sad that he was happily married. If he weren’t…

  “You okay?”

  “What?” Corrina blinked.

  “You kinda…spaced out for a minute.”

  “I didn’t sleep much last night,” she said, and took a sip of her diet coke. It was a lie, but a little white one. There was no way she could tell him what she was really thinking. “This case is driving me crazy. I can’t believe he’s telling us exactly what he did to the victims, how and where he took them, and we still have nothing. It’s infuriating.”

  McCrae reached over and squeezed her hand. “Don’t let him get to you.”

  His touch was gentle yet reassuring, and all too fleeting. McCrae took his hand back and picked up the last slice of his pizza.

  “I gotta fly,” he told Corrina, standing and putting his jacket on. “Bad guys don’t catch themselves.” He squeezed her arm as he passed. “Call me if you need anything.”

  Corrina resisted the urge to turn and watch him walk away. Instead, she finished her drink and the last slice of pizza, then put on her jacket and walked back to her car.

  The mall was just a few blocks from the Wilshire office, and Corrina was back at her desk within fifteen minutes. The moment she sat down, Josh put a folder in front of her.

  “Thomas Crane, reported missing February 12th, 2014. His car was later found abandoned but he was never found. It’s just like the killer said.”

  “What about family?” Corrina asked him.

  “His wife, Miriam Crane. Used to live in Pasadena. No kids.”

  “Where does she live now?”

  “Nowhere,” Josh said. “She died seven days ago. Dropped dead at work.”

  It was as if the universe was conspiring to throw up roadblocks the moment she tried to make any headway.

  “Then we’ll have to just go by the police report. I’ll call McCrae and ask him to send a copy over. What do we know about the wife?”

  Josh picked up the folder and opened it. “She was the president and CEO of Angel Rise hospital for the last fifteen years. Took a year off when Thomas went missing, but she was back in charge after that.” He closed the folder and put it back on her desk. “Want me to go and interview the executive team?”

  �
��No, McCrae can do that. It’s his investigation. I want you to go through her entire life and see if there’s any connection whatsoever to the other victims or their families. Bank records, dating sites, social media, everything.”

  “Will do.”

  Josh left, and Corrina went to the task force room to update the board.

  * * *

  The rest of the day brought no clues to the identity of the killer. They pulled apart the lives of the victims and their relatives, but Corrina and her team couldn’t find anything to link them in any way. She regularly checked in with McCrae, but he was making no progress, either.

  At five-thirty, she decided to call it a day. After choosing a few files to study, she stopped at the supermarket for the week’s groceries and arrived home just after seven. She found Connor eating a reheated meal while reading a comic. Kat Dudley had her earphones in and was scrolling through her phone, her back to Corrina and a half-eaten sandwich on a plate next to her.

  “Hi, Mom,” Connor said.

  Corrina dumped her groceries on the kitchen counter. “Hey, handsome. How was school?”

  “Okay.”

  Not the most comprehensive reply, but it was better than “sucks a bag of dicks.” How she’d love to get her hands on the kid who’d taught him that phrase in the first grade.

  Corrina fished a twenty from her purse and handed it to Kat, who became aware of her for the first time. The babysitter jumped from her chair in a tangle of phone wires.

  “Sorry, Mrs. Stone. I was watching an online lecture.”

  “No harm, no foul. But next time, sit facing the door. I could have been anyone.”

  “Sorry,” Kat repeated. She looked ashamed, and Corrina immediately felt guilty.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m just over-protective. It’s the cop in me. Go on, enjoy your weekend.”

  Kat picked up her school bag, ruffled Connor’s hair and left. As always, Corrina watched her until she was safely inside her home across the street.

  “Come on, mister. Let’s get you packed and shipped out.”

  Connor’s overnight bag was already prepared. She just needed to add his toothbrush and toothpaste. She also sneaked in a couple of Twinkies while he wasn’t looking. They were Connor’s favorite treat, and though she didn’t like him eating too much sugar, it was her parents who would have to deal with his hyperactivity, not her. Besides, he’d need his energy.

  Half an hour later, they were heading up to Beverly Hills.

  Jack Stone’s house was in the exclusive Trousdale Estates. With just four bedrooms and three bathrooms spread out over one floor, it was one of the more modest structures in the neighborhood, but still worth in excess of ten million. He’d purchased it for a fifth of that price twelve years earlier, just after Corrina had moved out to start a life of her own.

  Corrina pulled into the driveway of the coffee-colored building and shut off the engine. Connor was out of the car before she could remove the key.

  “I guess I’ll get your bag.”

  Connor was through the front door in a flash, eager to see his grandparents. Corrina followed him in and found him cuddling his grandma.

  “Hi, Mom,” Corrina said, dumping Connor’s gear by the door. “Where’s Dad?”

  “In his study. Are you staying for dinner?”

  “I can’t. I have to get back.”

  She didn’t like lying to her mother, but she wasn’t about to subject herself to another lecture from her father. He’d mellowed over the years, but still voiced his disapproval of her life choices at every opportunity. Her choosing law enforcement over law courts had been his biggest regret.

  However, she had to have a few words with her father, for her son’s sake. She found him sitting in his office, sitting in an armchair and reading a legal document. The evening sun bounced off his balding head and a glass of whiskey sat in a tumbler on the small round table next to him. Two walls were dominated by bookcases holding scores of legal tomes, and a huge window overlooked the picturesque garden.

  “Ready for your trip tomorrow?” Corrina asked.

  Jack Stone looked up from his papers and smiled. “Hi, sweetheart. Yeah, I’m ready. You want to tag along? Be just like the old days.”

  “I was never one for fishing,” Corrina pointed out.

  A hint of sadness crept over her father’s face. “I know.”

  “But at least you’ve got Connor with you. The son you never had, right?”

  Corrina wasn’t bitter. She just hadn’t enjoyed everything about her childhood. The walks in the countryside, the camping on weekends, those were great, but she’d never taken to hunting and fishing.

  “What can I say? Every father wants to share his passions with his children. It just didn’t work out for us.”

  “It did for the most part,” Corrina conceded. “Anyway, the reason I want to talk to you is that I’m working on something.” She looked behind her, then closed the door to the office. “There’s a serial killer in LA, and we think he may still be active.” Corrina explained that three bodies had been found, with the promise of many more. “I just want you to be aware and make sure you look after my son. The public doesn’t know about this yet, so not a word to anyone, not even Mom. Especially not Mom. You know how she likes to…share things with her friends.”

  “Is Connor likely to be a target?” her father asked, concern in his tone.

  “I really don’t think so, not if you’re both together at all times. The killer’s always chosen solitary victims, people on their own, and it appears they did something to him in the past that he’s punishing them for. So far, that is.” The more she thought about it, the less Corrina liked the idea of her son and father spending a night up by the lake. Fortunately, he had a concealed carry license. “I want you to take your Sig, just in case.”

  “Sure. If it’ll make you feel better.”

  “It will,” Corrina said.

  “Then consider it done.”

  Corrina walked over to the window, her arms crossed over her chest. “When are you going to pack this all in and start enjoying life?” she asked. Jack was in his early sixties, retirement age for someone with a large pension portfolio, but Corrina knew it would take more than numbers on a birthday cake to get him to give up practicing law. He’d made a name for himself in corporate litigation and built up a successful firm over the years, though it didn’t show. The house apart, he didn’t seem to spend much money. He drove a $70,000 car, hated traveling abroad on vacation, and most weekends he could be found out in the countryside fishing with a two-hundred-dollar rod and sleeping in a hundred-dollar tent.

  “I do enjoy life, honey. We just have different ideas of what fun is. You like watching movies, I prefer sitting in a boat and dangling my line in the water. If I did it every day, it would lose the appeal. So, I work during the week and it gives me something to look forward to. If you want to discuss life choices…”

  “Please, don’t start,” Corrina warned him. “I know you wanted me to study law so that I could take over the firm, but it just doesn’t interest me. I prefer to catch the bad guys, not defend them.”

  “Most of the cases I took were spurious claims, just people trying to make a quick buck out of a successful business.” Jack started counting off on his fingers. “The guy who pretended to slip in the supermarket after he drizzled oil on the floor. The woman who jumped in front of a Walmart delivery truck. The woman whose pregnancy test came back positive when she wasn’t actually pregnant. The couple who claimed their dogs had been killed by fumes from an air-conditioning unit.”

  “The community whose homes were destroyed when a sub-standard dam broke,” Corrina countered. “The families who suffered severe medical conditions because toxic chemicals were being dumped in their water supply. You defended those companies.”

  “Yes, I did,” Jack said, his face beginning to redden. “And I’d do it again. Everyone has the right to counsel. If not me, then someone else. I’m not going to apologi
ze for putting food on the table.”

  Corrina threw her hands up in despair. “I give up. I came here hoping to avoid this conversation, but you sucked me in again.”

  Jack Stone slumped in his chair. “Where did we go wrong? How did we get to be like this?”

  Corrina knew the exact moment: the day she came home and told him she was joining the police force. Before that, they’d been as happy as any family could be.

  “I guess I just stopped being your little girl and grew up.”

  Jack held out his hand, and Corrina took it. “You’ll never stop being my little girl.”

  Corrina kissed the top of his head. “I know. Look, I gotta go. Do as I said and make sure you bring Connor back safe, you hear me?”

  “I hear you,” her father said.

  Corrina left, her spirits dull. She spent a couple of minutes going over ground rules with Connor, then hugged her mother on the way out.

  When she got home, Corrina wasn’t tired. She’d planned to grab a bite and watch a movie, but she just wasn’t in the mood. All she could think of was Connor and her father, in a tent, with a madman on the loose nearby. She knew she was being irrational. They wouldn’t even be going up to the lake until the morning. That still didn’t stop the haunting images jumping into her head unbidden.

  To take her mind off it, Corrina contemplated calling McCrae to see if he’d had any breakthroughs late in the day, but it was already eleven. He and Jean would probably be cozied up in front of the TV, perhaps even in bed.

  Instead, Corrina opened a bottle of wine and went through the Thomas Crane police report once more.

  Chapter 13

  Seth Benning was nervous.

  Kidnapping and killing people was always going to be a risky undertaking, but more so now that his secret was out. The police and feds knew about him, and that just added to the pressure.

  But it had to be done.

  They had to feel what he’d felt.