Malice

by Anne Patrick

  Tears filled her eyes again at his words. At one time, they may have been true. Her whole life she had pushed people away, determined to make it on her own, dependent on no one. It was a destructive course that nearly cost her career as well as her sanity, and here she was traveling back down that same road.

  A knock sounded at the door. "I got it," Austin said.

  Jo grabbed some Kleenex from the stand and wiped her tears. She heard Isaac's voice greet Austin. "Sorry to interrupt, but Chief Benzali wants us down at the station."

  "I'll be with you in a minute."

  Jo went into the bathroom to wash her face, and when she returned, she found Austin sitting on the bed with his head pressed into his hands. "I don't want you to go, at least not until we talk things through. I'll be back as soon as I can." He gave no reply and she walked to the door. With her hand on the handle, she turned back to him. "Even though I may not show it or say it often enough, I do need you, Austin. More than you'll ever know."

  *****

  "You okay?" Isaac asked when she got into his car.

  "I'm fine."

  "I couldn't help but notice Austin packing his bag. I thought he was staying till Monday?"

  "Yeah, well, I guess he's changed his mind," she retorted. "So what does the chief want?"

  "I lied; I didn't want to make matters any worse for you. Agent Ryan called and she's got some news for us on the Camaro. He left something in the trunk."

  "Please tell me it's not another body."

  "No. He left you another message."

  "Of course he did. What'd he have to say this time?"

  "Who are you mad at; me or Austin?"

  "Austin. I hate it when he's right."

  He laughed. "Yeah, humility isn't one of your strong points."

  She shot him an icy glare. "Are you going to tell me what this message is or not?"

  "Sorry, you're going to have to wait till we get there; I haven't a clue. She only said he left you a message."

  "Well, could you drive a little faster then? I'd like to find out how close we are to catching this maniac."

  *****

  I underestimated you, Agent McDaniels. You couldn't handle my world before, what makes you think you can now?

  Jo's stomach churned as she stared at the cryptic note sealed in a plastic baggie. She then turned to Agent Ryan. "What did you find out on the Camaro?"

  "I traced the VN number back to a guy in DC. He sold it eight months ago. The description given of the guy that bought it fits Briggs to a tee, and you'll never guess what name he gave."

  "What?"

  "Jerald Williams."

  "That sick, twisted..." She let out a disgusted sigh. "He's rubbing it in our faces."

  "Williams' death isn't our fault, Jo," Isaac reminded.

  Ignoring Isaac's words, she asked, "Did he register it with DMV in Williams' name?"

  "He never bothered to register it at all. The tag that's on it came back to a similar Camaro in Lansing Michigan reported stolen."

  "Well, we know now he was definitely in DC about the same time the article on me ran in the Post."

  "That's not all, Jo." Agent Ryan sat across from her. "On a hunch I did a search of missing persons. There were three teenagers reported missing from the state of Michigan that month and one was from Lansing. None of them have been located."

  "Good work, Ryan." Jo walked to the bulletin board and glanced at the six photographs now posted. If Agent Ryan's hunch was correct, it meant the toll had now reached nine. Add the twelve in Maine and the three convenience store clerks, and that meant Harland Briggs was responsible for the murders of twenty-four people, mostly children.

  "What are you doing, Jo?" Isaac asked, joining her at the bulletin board.

  "Trying to figure out what his next move is."

  "He's going to have to dump the patrol car and get him some new wheels," Agent Ryan suggested.

  Jo turned to the younger agent. "Where would he do that?"

  "Somewhere public where people won't be paying much attention. A shopping center or mall maybe."

  "Too much security."

  "A truck stop then?"

  "Good. People are traveling, in a hurry to get somewhere," Jo said. "There would still be cameras, but at this point he's not trying to hide his identity from us." She looked at Isaac. "What do you think?"

  "Sounds good to me, I'll get on it."

  Jo turned back to the bulletin board, her eyes resting on the boyish grin of Chad Benzali. The crisp blue uniform he wore seemed in contrast to the innocence reflected in his soft brown eyes. He couldn't have been more than twenty-five, and according to one of the other officers, he'd recently gotten engaged. Recalling the conversation they had when they first met, she couldn't help but feel partially responsible for his death.

  Sensing she was being watched, Jo turned and found the young agent staring at her. Seemingly embarrassed at having been caught, she quickly turned away and busied herself with the stack of files lying on the table. "Any news on when the funeral is?" Jo asked, as she walked to the table.

  "Tuesday at ten," Ryan answered, not even bothering to look at her.

  Jo glanced over the agent's shoulder at the files spread out in front of her. A photograph sticking out of one of the folders immediately caught her attention, and she picked up the manila folder to look. Jo's heartbeat quickened at the photograph of the blue Camaro. It had been taken at the crime scene; the shackles and chains hanging from the rafters could be seen in the background.

  "It's still downstairs if you want to have a look at it."

  She thought about it. Though it was dangerous, she knew it might help bring her closer to Briggs, and maybe even give her an idea of where he was heading. "I'll need you to come with me."

  "Sure."

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  The garage was dark when she entered just ahead of Agent Ryan. The only light came from the emergency exit signs above the street entrance and the door they'd just entered. "I think the lights are over here." Her words preceded the echo of her footsteps as she went in search of the light switch. Within seconds, the overhead florescent lights came on.

  Jo slowly walked to the Camaro parked several yards away and paused at the driver's side door. Glancing back, she saw Agent Ryan hadn't moved; her eyes glued to Jo. "Come on, get in. I'm going to need your help."

  "Okay."

  Sliding in behind the wheel, Jo waited until the agent was seated next to her. "We've known each other for what, a little over two weeks?"

  "About that."

  "So you've seen me angry, right?"

  "Oh yeah."

  "Great. Now I want you to recall my expression during those times, and in the next several minutes as we sit here if you see that expression, I don't care what it takes, you get my attention. Understood?"

  She looked at Jo as if she was nuts.

  "I'm serious, Agent Ryan."

  "I don't understand what's going on here. What are you going to do?"

  "You know the rumors you've heard that I'm psychic, well, they're true, and what I'm about to do can be a little tricky sometimes, which is why I need your help. I need you to keep me grounded. I need you to make sure I don't go too far."

  "Look, maybe we shouldn't do this. I mean, we have the crime scene photos and your profile seems pretty accurate."

  She grinned. "Come on, Ryan, I know you're curious about me. You've wondered if what you've heard is true. Well, now is your chance to find out."

  "Is it dangerous?"

  "Not if you do as I tell you. Give me ten minutes and then start talking to me. If I don't respond, shake me. Yell at me if you have to."

  "I don't know. What if it doesn't work; what if I can't get your attention? I mean, how do I know when you've gone too far?"

  "From my body language," Jo said. Then realizing how little sense she was making, she took a different approach. "Have you ever seen anyone sleep walk?"

  "Yeah, my little sister used to."
>
  "It's similar to that. I go into a trance like state. Though I'm here physically, mentally, I'm somewhere else."

  "Where are you?"

  Seeing as she was already freaked, Jo decided she'd said enough. "It doesn't matter. What matters is you don't let me go past the ten-minute mark. Okay?"

  "All right."

  Fearing the young agent may change her mind; Jo quickly repositioned herself in the driver's seat and took hold of the steering wheel. Then leaning back against the headrest, she closed her eyes. She heard the engine grind to life then felt the car begin to move. Her heartbeat quickened as adrenaline rushed through her veins. Driving through town, she found herself at the park catty-cornered from Dante's Pizza.

  He watched with resentment as a group of teenagers exited the restaurant, smiles of contentment plastered on their smug faces. They hadn't a care in the world; their only concern was what to do for fun on the weekends. He focused on the pretty blonde he had chosen as his next conquest. She was a cheerleader just like Lynnette was, and just as flirtatious. Soon, instead of flashing him a beautiful smile, she would be screaming in anguish. And no one will be there to save her.

  It was amusing how the police just seemed to be running around in circles, especially the FBI. They formed a special taskforce just for him-- brought in their star profiler. She's a fool to think she has a chance of catching me. She has no idea what she's up against.

  "Agent McDaniels, are you okay?"

  Jo barely heard the woman over the beat of her pounding heart.

  "Jo, it's been ten minutes. I think you should stop."

  Concentrating on her breathing, she felt the anger slowly slipping away.

  "Okay Jo, I'm convinced. Look you're starting to scare me. I don't know what to do. I'll go get Isaac."

  "No. I'm okay." Jo turned to the young agent. She looked on the verge of tears.

  "You sure, you don't look okay."

  "I'm just a little shaken. I'll be all right in a minute." She expelled a deep breath, completely drained both physically and mentally.

  "You were with him, weren't you?" she asked softly. "You weren't only with Harland Briggs; there for a split second, it was as if you became him."

  "Welcome to the wonderful world of psychic phenomena."

  She grinned. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. How do you do it?"

  "Beats me." Jo got out of the car.

  Agent Ryan got out and ran round the front of the car. "This is so cool. I mean, I'm sure it probably wasn't for you, but wow. It was just like you said, you were here physically, but mentally you were there with him."

  Jo frowned, fearing now she'd made a mistake by letting the impressionable, young agent witness her psychic ability. "Please don't mention this to the others, especially Isaac. He'd kill me if he knew about this."

  "I won't say a word. So what was it like?"

  She met the woman's curious expression. "Like dancing with the devil and coming away scorched."

  *****

  Jo had Agent Ryan drop her off at the motel, hoping to make up with her husband. "Thanks for the lift."

  "You're welcome. I'll see you later."

  Jo searched the parking lot for his rental car but didn't see it. Unlocking the door and stepping inside, she saw the room was empty. Hoping he might be in the bathroom, she called out to him, but received no answer. She opened the door and saw his shaving utensils were gone, and then went to the dresser and found his clothes gone as well.

  Frustrated, hurt, and angered, she stared at the empty drawer. How could he just walk away from her, without even so much as a goodbye? He was her husband for better or for worse. Yes, she'd hurt him, she knew that, but she'd apologized, had even pleaded with him to stay.

  The anger at his desertion continued to build in her along with the emotions she'd yet to deal with on the case. Images of Briggs began to filter through her mind, his anger clinging to her like a leach. Her own feelings of abandonment, pain, and heartache forged with that anger.

  Jo yanked the drawer from the dresser and swung it against the wall. The wood shattered and fell to the floor. She then screamed as loud as she could and sank into the chair sobbing.

  A short time later, someone pounded on the door, but she ignored it.

  The baby, sensing her anxiety, stirred in her belly, and for a brief instant, she felt resentment for the unborn child, blaming it for the problems weighing heavily on her conscience. That first month had been bliss with just the three of them. They were just getting to know one another. She and Bailey were developing a unique bond, close to what a real mother and daughter had, or what Jo had always wished she had with her mother. Then it all changed, and she was no longer in control of her own body or her life.

  Several minutes passed and a knock sounded at the door again. "Jo. It's Isaac."

  "I'm fine. Go away."

  The door opened.

  "Get out of here, Isaac."

  "I'm not leaving until I know you're okay." He came over and sat on the edge of the bed.

  "I'm just so tired, Isaac. I want all of this to be over with."

  "I know you do; so do I." He grabbed some tissues and handed them to her.

  She gave a dry chuckle. "I'm getting so tired of crying all the time." Swiping at her tears, she met his sympathetic gaze. "I've cried more in the last eight months than I have in my entire life."

  He smiled at her. "You only have a few more weeks. Then, instead of crying, you'll be sleep deprived."

  "Did you come to cheer me up or depress me even more?"

  "What happened, Jo? The manager said you were busting up furniture and screaming."

  "I busted one drawer." She motioned to the evidence lying on the other side of the bed on which he sat. "I'll pay for it when we check out."

  "I don't care about that, Jo. I want to know why it happened."

  "I didn't think Austin would actually leave. I guess I didn't take it very well." She retrieved a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and took a drink.

  "Do you blame him?"

  "He didn't even say goodbye. How could he do that?"

  "He was upset. You should have talked to him."

  "Whose side are you on?"

  "Look, all I'm saying is you've been a walking time bomb for weeks, and I know it isn't just your crazy hormones. You know the rules, Jo. You have to talk about what's going on inside you. As it is, you're playing right into Briggs' hands. You're giving him exactly what he wants. He wants to destroy you, and you're letting it happen."

  "I know, and I should have told Austin, but it's just so hard. The things Briggs does, the anger and resentment he harbors. You've seen his victims; you don't have to be psychic to see the hideous things he does to them."

  "What happened in the garage, Jo?"

  "Ryan told you?" She returned to her chair.

  "She didn't have to. When the manager called, I checked the log and saw you'd been down there."

  "Sorry I didn't run it by you first."

  "Well, was it worth it?"

  "Not really. He thinks he's smarter than we are, and he's becoming more confident in his ability to elude us, but I already knew that."

  "We're going to catch him, Jo, sooner or later."

  "Yeah, but how many more girls are going to die before that happens; there have already been so many. We don't even know for sure how many there have been. He's been active all this time. Three years, Isaac, just think of how many…"

  "Stop it, Jo. Don't do this…this is what he wants. He wants to mess with your head so you'll lose sight of your goal. He wants you to be as frightened of him as he is of you."

  "Well, he's doing a pretty good job of it. I can't even make love with my husband without him being there with us."

  "Which is why you need to talk to him. Look, I know better than anyone how hard it is to talk about our work with our spouses, but Austin is different. He's been in law enforcement practically his whole life. I doubt there is an
ything you can tell him that's going to shock him."

  "That's true, but I don't want him to know just how scared I am of this guy."

  "You said yourself; he can't hurt you anymore, not if you don't let him."

  "Well, so far I'm not doing a very good job of convincing myself of it. I was there Isaac. I felt his pain, his hatred, and the resentment. I know what he is capable of, and it scares the living daylights out of me."

  "Of course you're scared of him, that's only natural. He scares me too, but he's only one man, Jo. He bleeds just like the rest of us."

  "You're right, I know. Maybe I'm just over doing it. It's been a long three weeks."

  "Look, we're pretty much at a standstill till we find that cruiser, so why don't you take a week off. Get some much needed rest and get your head together."

  "No, Isaac. I'm fine, really."

  "You're getting close to the edge, Jo. You've got the baby to think about, not to mention a husband who's pretty upset with you right now."

  "Your marriage is on the rocks, too, but I don't see you taking a break."

  "My marriage is beyond repair. Yours isn't."

  She considered his suggestion. She could use a break, and she did have a doctor's appointment coming up, and then there was Bailey's prom. She really wanted to be there for that as well. "Okay," she finally agreed, "but I don't want to leave until after the funeral."

  "You barely met the guy, Jo."

  "He was a cop, Isaac, that's reason enough to pay my respect," she replied, holding back the fact she felt responsible for his death.

  "Okay, after the funeral then. I'll make your reservation tomorrow."

  "Scared I'll back out?" she teased.

  "You forget how well I know you." He stood. "Now call your husband."

  "I'll think about it."

  "He's going to worry about you no matter where you are, Jo, just as I'm sure you worry about him. That's all part of being married."

  "I guess. You know, if he wasn't so stubborn, he'd be a pretty great guy."

  "Look who's talking." He walked to the door. "There better not be any more furniture breaking in here because I'm not bailing you out of jail."