Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
The conversation with Haversham had been mind-boggling and showed how keeping secrets could hurt an investigation. Jane could have done so much more had she known about the Kaminski tie-in from the beginning.
She spent the next day studying the information they’d collected with this new lens in place, spotting connections she’d previously ignored.
Three cases of illegal weapons confiscated on the waterfront nagged at her.
She went down the rabbit hole of research and found two lower-level criminals working together that should have been enemies.
A Mazzuca and a Kaminski.
It would take more digging to learn when August Kaminski had moved into the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps he’d planted the seeds to grow his organization years ago.
She wanted to get with Haversham to find out exactly what he knew and who he had working on it, but she knew she’d used up any good will the day before, mouthing off in Rapp’s office.
While Diego and Gina worked together putting profiles of the next victims together, Rapp was in and out of the office. He appeared frustrated and angry and kept closing himself in his space.
She went back over Haversham’s words yesterday, unable to stop thinking about his hints that Rapp had his own baggage to deal with. A troubled past?
Hal and Joe both respected and distrusted him. But had that mistrust been more about protecting Jane’s heart, which didn’t need protecting in the least, or because they knew something about his job history?
They hadn’t said much when she’d asked. Hal never did give her that dossier on Rapp he’d promised. But she hadn’t wanted to seem too interested lest they start all that nonsense about romantic leanings she didn’t have, so she let it go. Still, Rapp’s mysteries intrigued her.
Know your enemy, her uncle loved to say.
But anyone could be an enemy with the right incentive.
Her phone rang, interrupting her unhelpful thoughts. She welcomed the distraction though she didn’t recognize the number.
“Jane Cannon.”
“Hello, Jane?”
Where did she know that voice from? “Yes?”
“This is Kyle Lito.”
She shot up in her chair. “Kyle. How are you?” Where are you?
“I’m good, thank you. Maria and I are taking a little vacation.” He paused. “I talked to Phillip.”
“I know.”
He sighed. “I honestly don’t know what to do about him. I’m so worried for him, and I don’t know what’s real and what’s not. He told me not to trust the FBI, but he said I should talk to you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d talked to him when I’d visited?”
“Because I hadn’t. He surprised us with a visit after you left. And of course, I told him about it. I had nothing to hide.” He sounded defensive.
“What did Phillip want?”
“He told us he was doing what he was meant to. He talked about justice. About what really happened to his parents.” Kyle swore. “How could the FBI not tell us that? They hushed it all up! No wonder Phillip is going crazy.”
“Kyle, please. I’m just learning about this with you. Can you step me through what he told you?”
“I don’t know why I should. You’ll just sweep it under the rug like your buddies did.”
She gave him a moment to process. Kyle Lito seemed like an intelligent man. He wanted the truth as much as she did.
He sighed. “Phillip showed up the day after you did. He looked good. He’d put on weight, had color in his cheeks, a spark in his eyes I haven’t seen in forever.
And then he told us about people stealing his parents’ organs and about the Harvester case that made the news years ago.
Apparently, those criminals killed Adam and Lena. Not Anton Kaminski.
“Phillip found out a few months ago. I’m not sure how, but it gave him purpose.
A reason to get out of the funk he’d been in.
” Kyle paused. “Only the truth didn’t do him any favors.
” In a whisper, he confessed, “He told me he killed people. Is that true? Because a lot of what he said sounded frantic. He kept talking about someone who gives him orders now. I can’t tell if he’s hearing voices or is actually involved in some conspiracy.
But I haven’t seen anything about a serial killer targeting doctors and nurses in Seattle. So what’s really going on?”
“Phillip killed six people. Two doctors, two nurses, and two EMTs. There were ten people involved in the Harvester killings, and your nephew has four more on his list. But these people are all innocent of those murders. They’re symbols, stand-ins, for those who did the actual crimes.”
“Dear God.”
“I’ve met and talked to Phillip twice now. He says he’s on a mission, that he’s Justice with a capital J. I want to stop him before he kills more innocent people. But I don’t know where to find him. Do you have any idea where he might be?”
“No, but I’d tell you if I did. His parents would never have wanted this.” Kyle was crying. She could hear it. “And Maria… This will hurt her so much. We love that boy. This isn’t him.”
“I’m sorry, but it is.”
“No, I mean, well, yes. It is him. But this is not the man his parents raised. Their deaths broke him. He sounded so clear and smart, like he used to be. The intelligent young man on his way to becoming a doctor. Killing people isn’t what he’s all about. I think someone might be using him.”
“That’s if he’s not hearing voices.”
“I hope not. Because Phillip has always excelled at whatever he does. College, the Army. He sailed through his training to become a medic. And he’s a crack shot.
An expert marksman like his mother and aunt.
” Kyle blew out a breath. “My wife’s family liked to hunt.
Phillip’s handled firearms since he was a young boy. If he wants to kill again, he will.”
“Which is why we need to stop him. Please, if there’s anything you can tell me, anything at all that will help…”
“I wish I could. I’m talking to you because Phillip thought you’d help.
Not like the others who buried the truth.
” His anger was justifiable. Jane felt it as well.
“I honestly don’t know. But I can tell you this.
He’s set on this mission to avenge his parents.
He won’t let you find him before he’s got his targets in sight.
Phillip is a lot of things, but he’s not a quitter.
And when he aims at a target, he doesn’t miss. ”