Malice

by Anne Patrick

  "Farrell's a conceited jerk, and Agent Ryan doesn't have your ability to connect with the victims."

  Someone knocked at the door, but Jo continued to pack, forcing Lindsey to leave her side to answer it.

  "You sure know how to make an exit," Isaac spoke as he entered the room.

  "Yeah, well, if you've come here to reprimand me, don't bother. I'm going home."

  "Oh no you're not."

  Jo turned in defiance. "You can't force me to stay here, Isaac. This assignment was elective. Besides, the chief was right; I've no business here. I'm too close to this case."

  "Well, you're about to become a lot closer. We just received a report of another teenager that's missing. Her parents called after they were notified she failed to show up for her afternoon classes."

  Jo gave no reply and continued to pack her bag.

  "Will you excuse us a minute, Lindsey?" Jo heard the door close and then felt Isaac slip in behind her to take a seat on the bed next to her. "You're still packing, Jo."

  "Very observant, Isaac, and here I thought you made it to the head of the class only because you were a minority."

  "Okay, so I deserved that."

  "Yes, you did. Why didn't you back me up in there?"

  "Is that what all this is about; you're mad because I didn't go to bat for you? You called the man out in front of his own men, Jo."

  "So I overreacted. You still should have backed me up on the Camaro."

  "How could I when I went over their case files myself and came up with the same conclusion. I've known you for eleven years, Jo. I know your ability only works when there's a crime scene or a victim, and we have neither."

  "Well, what can I say, it seems sore breasts and nausea aren't the only quirks with this pregnancy."

  "What are you telling me here, Jo?"

  "I'm telling you I saw Lauren Shipley climb into a dark blue Camaro of her own free will yesterday evening, and I saw the same car sitting across the street at Kerry Rhoads house this morning."

  "Why didn't you say anything?"

  "Because I was scared of that look you have on your face right now. The same look I saw plastered on every face in that squad room a while ago."

  "I'm sorry about that, Jo. Had I known he'd use it against you like that, I never would have..."

  "It was you…you told him about Maine?" she asked softly. "Why…why would you betray me like that?"

  "I didn't do it to hurt you, Jo. I thought if he knew what you'd been through with Briggs, he'd understand you more, be more willing to cooperate."

  "When are you going to realize people are afraid of what they don't understand? To most people I'm just a freak of nature."

  "You're not a freak, Jo, and you have every right to be upset with me. I can only imagine what it's like for you, I mean to have this ability and then to have people think…"

  "That I'm crazy."

  "That isn't what I was going to say. Look, Jo, where you got this gift, no one knows, but I think it's obvious to both of us what you're supposed to do with it."

  "I know, but I get so scared sometimes. Lately, I don't know what is real and what isn't. For instance, in the park, I saw a mother and her son playing on the slide. She reminded me of myself. Then the vision happened and they were gone. I don't know if it was part of the vision or if it was real."

  "What do you want me to say, Jo? I mean, it's obvious your pregnancy has opened some sort of new door for you. Whether or not the mother and son you saw were real is something you'll have to figure out for yourself, but I don't think this new heightened ability of yours is anything to be frightened of."

  "Oh yeah, well, you try walking around and have visions of dead people pop into your head and see how you feel about it."

  He grinned. "Okay, so it's going to take some getting used to. The main thing is that you not turn your back on it. You were given this gift for a reason, and that reason is what brought you here. We're making good progress, Jo, but we need you if we've any hopes of catching him."

  There was another knock at the door and they both turned to see Lindsey stick her head in the room. "Chief Benzali just called. He wants to know what's taking you so long."

  Isaac turned, meeting Jo's gaze. "What do you say?"

  "I'm not apologizing to him."

  "No one said you had to."

  CHAPTER ten

  "Maybe you should hang back till I make sure the coast is clear," Isaac suggested, his hand pausing on the door handle.

  "Don't be ridiculous. I promise I'll play nice from now on."

  He tossed her a doubtful glance before climbing from the rental car. Jo followed.

  The station bustled as anxious and irate parents filed in, demanding to know what was being done to protect their schools and neighborhoods. Shaken officers were besieged; assuring them everything possible was being done to ensure the safety of their children.

  "I don't care what you have to do, or how you do it, I want this monster off my streets," Chief Benzali spoke the moment they entered the command center. "The switchboard is swamped with calls, and I just heard a news crew from Channel 4 rolled into town a few minutes ago."

  "It'll help to issue a news release," Jo suggested, glancing first at Isaac and then to the chief, “to assure the public we're doing everything possible to apprehend the suspect, and to warn the teenagers of the danger that's out there."

  "Arrange it," Isaac said, not bothering to gain the approval of the chief.

  Jo took her cellphone and dialed Lindsey's number, instructing her to gather the other members of the taskforce together. She then called directory assistance and got the numbers for all the local news agencies and telephoned them, setting up a news conference that would air on the ten o'clock news.

  Her tasks completed, she walked back to the table where both men sat glancing over a file. Pausing next to Isaac, she glanced down at the photo of the latest missing teenager. Her eyes widened in recognition, and her knees suddenly felt as if they were going to give way, forcing her to grab hold of Isaac's shoulder.

  "Jo!" Isaac leaped from his chair and took hold of her, easing her into the chair beside him.

  "I'm sorry, it's just…that girl…I saw her this afternoon."

  "I know. I recognized her too."

  "You saw her?"

  He smiled, as if sensing her relief. "In the restaurant, she and another girl approximately the same age."

  "Would you two mind letting me in on what you're talking about?"

  "Brandy Richards was in Dante's during the noon hour," Isaac informed the chief. "She was with another girl, fifteen or sixteen, a brunette."

  "Samantha Scott."

  "You know her?"

  "She's the daughter of one of my officers. She and Brandy are good friends."

  "We need to speak with her," Jo said, recalling the conversation she'd overheard in the bathroom.

  "I'll have Officer Scott bring her in."

  While he was on the phone, Jo glanced over the information they had gathered so far on the missing teenager: Brandy Richards, sixteen, was reported missing at one-thirty when she failed to show up at any of her afternoon classes. Five-six, one-hundred-thirty pounds, blonde hair. A member of the track team and a cheerleader, popular among friends, worked part time at the Dairy Queen. May first was her only scheduled day off this week.

  Within half an hour, the other members of the taskforce started to arrive. "Jeez, it's a real mad house out there. We had to come in the back entrance," Agent Ryan advised. Tagging along behind her were agents Farrell, Milano, and Rifkin.

  "It's only going to get worse," Jo warned. "We've called a news conference to run on the ten o'clock news. Hopefully it'll pacify them."

  "We're going to be on the news?" Rifkin asked, with a hint of excitement.

  "I'm afraid so," then turning to Agent Farrell, "and you're going to be the center of attention."

  "I am?"

  She handed him a file. "You're going to give my profile on the
news, and with any luck, it'll run nationally. You think you can handle that?"

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "Good. I suggest you start memorizing the profile. You only have an hour and a half."

  Isaac came over. "Samantha Scott is here. They've put her in one of the interrogation rooms down the hall. Her father is with her."

  "Has the chief calmed down any?" Jo asked, glancing over his shoulder to see the chief on the phone again.

  He shook his head. "I imagine it'll be a long night for him."

  "It's going to be a long night for all of us."

  *****

  With Brandy Richards' file in her hand, Jo entered the interrogation room. Officer Scott immediately stood, offering his hand. "Ma'am," he greeted.

  "Officer Scott." Then taking a seat across from the frightened teenager, Jo introduced herself. "Samantha, I'm Special Agent McDaniels with the FBI. If it's okay with you and your father, I'd like to ask you a few questions."

  "You were in the restaurant today," she spoke in recognition.

  Jo nodded, noticing her reddened eyes, suspecting she'd been crying most of the evening. "In the restroom this afternoon, Brandy mentioned a priest. Can you tell me anything about him? Did she have plans to meet him this afternoon?"

  She slowly nodded. "They were going to meet in the park. She wasn't supposed to tell me. He told her not to tell anyone or he could lose his job."

  "You mean his job with the church?"

  "No, at the youth center. That's where she met him."

  "The youth center?"

  "In Douglas. A lot of the local kids hang out over there because they have a pool table and a couple of pin ball machines."

  Jo glanced up at the two-way mirror, hoping Isaac or another member of the taskforce listened in. "This priest, do you know his name or what kind of car he drives?"

  "I never met him, but Brandy said his name was Tony. She…"

  The girl began to cry, and Jo reached across the table, taking her hand. "It's okay. I know how hard this must be for you. Just take your time."

  Her father poured a glass of water and handed it to her. She took a sip and then glanced up at Jo, her face streaked with tears. "I tried to warn her; I told her she shouldn't go because she didn't know him that well, but she wouldn't listen."

  Jo offered a sympathetic smile, wishing there was something more she could do or say to ease the girl's guilt. "Did Brandy ever mention the kind of car he drove?"

  "A Camaro - blue, I think. Brandy loves Camaros. She's saving up to buy one."

  Jo glanced up at the two-way glass again.

  "She's not coming home, is she?" the girl asked, almost in a whisper.

  Jo squeezed the girl's hand. "I promise we'll do everything we can to get her back."

  Jo then stood, as did father and daughter. "Wait for me outside," he instructed. Once the door had closed, he turned to Jo. "It's the same guy, isn't it?"

  Jo nodded.

  "Then why give my daughter false hope?"

  "Because at this point, Officer Scott, hope is all we have."

  Just as he'd left, Isaac entered. "Rifkin and Milano are on their way to check out the youth center, and I've issued a BOLO on all early-model Camaros fitting the description."

  "At least we know how he's luring them in now. Who wouldn't trust a priest," Jo said, anger beginning to brew in her.

  "Well, we're about to take away his playground."

  "It won't matter." She sat down in one of the chairs and propped her feet up. "Though he's changed his victim profile, the signature and M.O. remain the same. He stalks them days, or maybe even a week, ahead of time before abducting them. I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't chosen another one already. She'll be the last in this area before he moves on."

  "Are you getting the feeling his sisters aren't the only reason he brought us here."

  She nodded. "Yep. Feels like old times, doesn't it?"

  He flinched at her words before glancing away from her.

  Jo sensed he still felt guilty for earlier. "I'm a big girl, Isaac, and my skin's a lot thicker than it used to be."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Don't beat yourself up over what happened with the chief. It was no big deal, just forget about it."

  He avoided her gaze and stood.

  She watched as he began to pace. "That is what's bothering you, isn't it?"

  With a heavy sigh, he turned, his eyes leveling on her. "I didn't want to say anything before, I mean I don't want the others to know yet, but this is going to be my last assignment."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "I'm giving it up, Jo. I'm retiring from the FBI."

  "Why?" she asked, stunned by the news. Like her, the FBI was his life; it was a part of him. "You still have a good ten years before mandatory retirement."

  "You know how it gets sometimes. It consumes you. You become a basket case if you don't talk about it with someone, and, well, I just can't do it anymore, Jo. Not at the cost of my family."

  "You and Joyce aren't getting along?"

  "Joyce and I separated six months ago."

  Jo fell silent. Before her stood a man who had been her best friend and supporter for eleven years. They had watched one another's back. Had been closer than most married couples, yet she'd had no idea his marriage was on the rocks.

  "I'm sorry, Isaac," she said as she stood and took his hand. "Why didn't you tell me? I was only a phone call away."

  "You'd just gotten married, and, well, I didn't want to spoil your happiness."

  "Still, I wish you'd told me sooner. So what are you planning on doing? Don't tell me you're moving to Florida or Arizona?"

  He smiled. "No, I'm staying in the DC area, at least until after Alexis graduates medical school."

  "So are you and Joyce even communicating?"

  "We were until I took this case. I had to take it, Jo. Like you, I had no choice. I want Briggs more than I've ever wanted anything in my life."

  "We'll get him, Isaac, we just have to be patient, and keep our heads together."

  "You know cracking this case would be a major boost to your career," he commented after a brief hesitation.

  "I just want him caught. I could care less about the effect it'll have on my career."

  "Even if it meant a promotion?" he asked, adding a grin.

  His recent behavior started to make some sense. "What kind of a promotion?"

  "I've recommended you for my position. Of course, I didn't know you were pregnant at the time. If you're interested I could postpone my retirement till the end of the year though."

  She sat back down, stunned by his revelation. It was an opportunity she never dreamed possible, especially after her breakdown. She'd spent the last three years in the field watching younger, less experienced agents get promoted over her, none of them coming close to paying the price she'd paid. The blood, sweat, and tears she'd shed over the years seemed almost worth it now.

  "Do you suppose Austin would be willing to relocate to Virginia?"

  Her enthusiasm suddenly squashed, she met his gaze. "I can't do it, Isaac. I couldn't ask that of them." Austin, she suspected, would be more than thrilled for her and would no doubt support a decision to relocate. Bailey, on the other hand, would go ballistic.

  Isaac gave a supportive smile. "I had a feeling you would turn it down."

  "I'm flattered you recommended me though. It means a great deal."

  "You deserve it, Jo. You've paid more than your share of dues to the job."

  "It's like you said, it's what I was meant to do. How many people do you know who go to bed at night knowing that?"

  "Not very many I suspect."

  "Besides that, as crazy as it sounds, I can't imagine doing anything else."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  By nine o'clock every news station in the state was setting up for their coverage of the news conference. Vans with cables attached like umbilical cords parked all along Main Street. Other than the actual interview w
ith the killer once he or she was in custody, Jo hated this part of the job most. The attention high profile cases brought helped to breed these monsters. But without the publicity and the public's involvement, the chances of catching them were often slim.

  She turned from the window and glanced around the command center where the conference would take place to make sure she hadn't missed anything. The photographs of the missing girls were posted on the bulletin board, the podium beside it and fifty metal chairs had been placed in rows facing the front of the room. She walked over to the displayed photographs, dismissing the thought that she was helping to exploit them, and that somewhere out there at least two were probably dead and two others wishing they were.

  Struggling to rid her mind of the horrible thought, she turned and found Agent Farrell only a few feet away, his eyes fixed on her. "I didn't hear you come in. Did you want something?"

  "I just wanted to thank you for your confidence in me. I know we kinda got off on the wrong foot and I'm sorry about that."

  "Let's sit. My feet are killing me." Jo chose the closest chair, folding her legs out in front of her.

  "I also wanted to say I'm glad you're staying. I have a lot of respect for what you do, and I'm sorry for the way the chief went after you in that briefing."

  "Well, I sort of had it coming. I do have a rather large chip on my shoulder, especially when it comes to male chauvinists like Chief Benzali. I can be offensive and condescending sometimes."

  "Really, I hadn't noticed."

  They both laughed.

  The door opened and their boss stepped in, allowing a glimpse of the reporters gathering in the hallway. "Are we all set up in here?"

  "I think so." She looked at Agent Farrell. "How're the butterflies?" Suspecting he was as nervous as she had been the first time she had to get in front of the cameras.

  "Bumble bees are more like it."

  "You'll do fine," she encouraged.

  *****

  Thankfully, the arrogance Agent Farrell displayed on earlier occasions came through like a shining light, and he spoke with authority and confidence. Had she not known better, she would have mistaken him for a veteran agent. He answered questions with tact and discretion while assuring the public the FBI was taking every avenue in its search for one of the most prolific killers ever to terrorize the American public.