Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
Adrian had planned to drive to the resort so he could talk to Merle.
Sometimes it was the only way to calm him down.
But Lisa told him to stay put and called Thomas, one of his officers.
She asked him to go in Adrian’s place. Arguing with Lisa was fruitless.
Especially when they both knew she was right.
He had half a mind to leave work now, pick up his prescription, and crash on the couch.
The pain wasn’t getting any better. He was close to telling Lisa he was leaving, which would have delighted her, when the phone rang.
The sound made his head pound so he picked up the receiver as quickly as he could.
He could turn the sound down on his cell phone, but not on the landline.
It was old school, with a cord, but he was used to it. He was a creature of habit.
“Chief Nightengale,” he said.
“Chief? It’s Dale. Lonzine and I drove by Erin Delaney’s cabin. Something weird is going on.”
Dale Robinson was a fine officer. Young, kind of inexperienced, but he made up for it with determination. He loved being a police officer, and his wife, Alice, and their two kids were more than proud of him.
“Define weird,” Adrian said.
“Something about the front door didn’t look right,” Dale said.
“So, we decided to check it out. It wasn’t locked, boss.
We pushed it open. The alarm was turned off.
The house looks fine from what we could see from the porch.
We didn’t want to go inside until we talked to you first, though.
We called the alarm company, and they told us that whoever opened the door had the code.
They assumed it was Miss Delaney. But that can’t be right, can it?
Didn’t you say she’s still out of town?”
“Yeah, she is.” Adrian sighed. “Look, stay there. I’m on my way. Don’t go inside until I get there.”
He hung up. Now he had no choice. He had to tell Erin about the break-in.
This was her house. Her life. She had to decide what to do from here.
He couldn’t make that decision for her. First, he wanted to check things out himself.
He got up from his chair a little too fast. The pain in his head made him sit down again.
He opened his desk drawer and grabbed his bottle of over-the-counter pain reliever.
It would have to do for now. He picked up the phone again and called Detective Sargeant Timothy Johnson. Tim was trained in forensics.
“Yeah, boss,” Tim said.
“I need you to go with me to Erin Delaney’s place. There’s been a break-in. I want fingerprints, trace evidence, anything you can find.”
“Sure, boss. I’ll grab my kit and meet you outside.”
Adrian popped several pills into his mouth and then swallowed them with the bottle of water next to him. Then he slowly stood up again. Those pills the doc ordered were sounding better and better every minute.
He was on the way out of his office when Lisa stepped inside again, blocking his way. What was it with this woman? Was it possible she really could read his mind?
She put her hands on her hips and stared at him. “You finally listening to some sense and going home?”
“I’m headed there,” he said.
“When?”
He frowned at her. “I’m not sure you know who works for who here. As I’ve told you more than once, I don’t have to check in with you.”
“Actually, it’s who works for whom.” She didn’t move, just kept staring at him. He knew that look. There wasn’t any way to get past it.
He sighed. “I’m stopping by Erin’s cabin because there’s been a break-in. On the way, I’m going to pick up my medicine. After I’m done at Erin’s, I’m going home to lay down and knock myself out with Doc’s pain pills. Hopefully, I’ll wake up again. Someday soon, anyway.”
Lisa finally smiled. “I don’t think Doc’s plan is to send you into a drug-induced state of unconsciousness and a lifelong addiction to pain pills. I’m pretty sure you can trust him.”
“Yeah, that’s what all drug addicts say about their doctors.”
Lisa laughed. “Hey, boss. If you’re not feeling up to it tomorrow, stay home at least one day? I can’t remember you ever missing a day of work. We can get by for a day or two without you.”
Adrian winked at her. “That’s what I’m afraid of. Finding out you don’t need me.”
He walked out of the station, Lisa’s light laughter following him.
Erin quickly ate the cheese Danish and chased it down with coffee. The coffee wasn’t that bad. Although she didn’t normally like strong coffee, at that moment, it was exactly what she needed. Noah waited patiently until she was finished.
“Let’s continue,” she told him after wiping her mouth with her napkin.
“I know I seem to be repeating myself, but one more time, is there anyone you know who might be behind this?” Noah asked. “Do you have any enemies who would go to these lengths to target you? Someone not connected to your book. Maybe someone from your past?”
Erin grunted. “I was a police officer. There were a lot of criminals who would like to see me dead, but most of them are drug addicts, thieves, or both. And none of them could come up with something as intricate as this. Besides, even if it were possible, I left the force a long time ago. Why would they wait two years to target me? Doesn’t make sense. ”
Noah shot a quick look at Kaely. What was that about? He cleared his throat, a sign of nervousness.
“Just ask it, Noah,” she said. “I’d rather talk to you than to Detective Herrington.”
“Kaely told me about the young girl who was shot accidentally during a gang war in St. Louis before you left the force. Could someone from her family be involved?”
Erin thought back to Sarah’s father. He was angry at first but later let her know he’d finally realized it was an accident and that he didn’t hold any ill will toward her.
She could still see his grief-stricken face in her mind.
It really never left. But she’d never noticed anything about him that would make her think he was capable of something like this.
Besides, that was in St. Louis. The murders were happening in Virginia.
And even if he wanted her to suffer for Sarah’s death, he would never kill innocent people to make his point.
He was a good man who’d been through a terrible tragedy.
“No, her father would never do something like this. He’s a good man.”
“Still, I need his name,” Noah said.
Reluctantly, Erin gave it to him, along with Mr. Foster’s address. “I really hope you don’t bother him. I guarantee you he’s not involved.”
“So, this is the famous Erin Delaney,” a deep voice behind her said, startling her. She turned around to find a tall man with brown hair and dark eyes staring down at her.
“Erin, this is Sargeant Paul Jackson with the Virginia State Police,” Noah said. “He’s working the case too.”
He stepped up next to Erin and smiled. “I’m happy to meet you. Sorry you’ve been dragged into this. We’re all hoping you can help us find this guy.”
“Not sure I’m much help,” Erin said. “But I’m trying.”
“Hi, Kaely,” Paul said. “Good to see you.”
“It’s been a while, Paul,” Kaely said. “How are you?”
“Good. Just busy trying to find this UNSUB. We’re all working on adrenaline and caffeine. I know you understand that.”
“Yeah, I do,” Kaely said.
“Paul, I’d like to talk to you, but I’m interviewing Erin right now,” Noah said. “Maybe we could catch up later?”
Paul frowned at him. “Where’s Herrington? Isn’t he supposed to be conducting the interview?”
“He left to go check out another murder that might be tied to the others.”
Erin noticed Noah’s jaw tighten. He wasn’t pleased with this interruption.
“Shouldn’t someone from our department take his place?” Paul asked. “This is highly irregular.”
“Look, Paul, your boss asked me to do it. I realize it’s unusual, but you’ll have to take that up with him when he returns, okay?”
“You bet I will.” He offered Erin a tight smile. “It was nice to meet you, Miss Delaney. Kaely, good to see you.”
Erin just nodded at him. Rather than leave immediately, he stared at her for several seconds before turning around and walking away. There was something about him that made her uncomfortable.
“Sorry,” Noah said when Paul was out of earshot.
“Jackson’s very territorial. Frankly, he can be a jerk.
He’s certainly interested in you, Erin. As soon as I got here, he wanted to know when you were going to be here.
I’m surprised he didn’t ask you to sign his book.
I know he has a copy. I saw it on his desk. ”
“I’m sorry he’s upset,” Erin said, “but I’m grateful you’re doing the interview. I’m so much more relaxed with you than I am with Herrington.”
Noah smiled. “I’m glad. However, like I told you, Herrington will probably still talk to you. Go over my notes.”
“I know. Hopefully, I’ll be better prepared to handle it.”
“You’re doing great,” Kaely said. “And you’ll be fine with Herrington.”
“I appreciate your faith in me,” Erin said. “I wish I felt the same way.”
Kaely put her hand on Erin’s shoulder. “Just remember that you’re not alone. We’re here, and we’ll be here if Herrington interviews you.”
Erin took a deep breath and smiled at Kaely. “Thanks, that helps more than I can say. I don’t know what I’d do without the both of you.” She squared her shoulders, and Kaely withdrew her hand. “So, let’s get back to what we were talking about. The toys?”
“Yeah, the toys,” Noah said. “They make some sense, something from the UNSUB’s childhood.
This makes us wonder if his anger is with a parent.
God knows we’ve seen that before with serial killers.
” He shook his head. “And I agree with you. Sarah’s father doesn’t sound like a suspect.
The toys would be newer. Something Sarah owned.
” He met her gaze. “Someone may contact him, Erin. I’m not sure what leads the police and the FBI are following. ”
“Well, I truly hope they don’t bother him,” Erin said. “He’s been through enough.”
“I hear you.” Noah leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Was there anything you noticed from the other cases? I mean besides the toys?”
Erin considered his question for a moment. “The women who died all looked different, but they all had blonde hair. The authors look different. The first book copied was written by a man. That doesn’t mean that the killer isn’t targeting authors, but I think his choices point more at the victims.”
“But you have blonde hair,” Kaely said. “Are any of the other authors blonde?”
Erin thought for a moment. “I’m going from the author photos on their books.
Dan Harper has gray hair. Toni Sue Smith .
. . I can’t quite remember, but I think she has brown hair.
Patricia Long had brown hair with blonde streaks.
Of course, that was a few years back. I have no idea what her hair looks like now. ”
“I just can’t see the connection with the authors,” Noah said. “Why pick these particular writers? Was it because he felt he could pull off the murders he read about in their books?”
“Could be,” Erin said. “I can’t really answer that question, but I’m certain of one thing. He had a reason for picking us. This guy is very organized. He has a definite plan.”
“I agree,” Kaely said.
Noah nodded. “I do too. He has a strategy, a design, and he’ll stick to it.” He smiled at Erin. “Kaely is right. You would make an incredible behavioral analyst. You have great insight.”
Erin was gratified by his statement, but it also hit her hard. That had once been her dream, but that was over. Her behavior after the shootings made it clear that she didn’t have what it took to work for the BAU.
“Thank you,” she choked out, “but I think it comes from Kaely. She’s taught me so much.
” She cleared her throat as a way to push back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.
It was the stress of this situation and her proximity to the career she’d always wanted that made her feel so emotional.
“Noah’s right,” Kaely said. “Maybe I had something to do with teaching you about profiling, but no one can teach the kind of instinct you have.”
“Do you have any other ideas about these murders?” Noah asked.
“She’s tired, Noah,” Kaely said. “Erin will be with us for a while. Why don’t we give her a break? If she comes up with something else, she can talk to you at home.”
“That’s fine,” Noah said. “I’ll give Detective Herrington what we have so far. I’ll talk to him when he gets back. Maybe he’ll accept what we have and call it good. But if not, I’ll let you know, okay?”
Erin was about to tell him that she understood.
The truth was, she hoped that didn’t happen.
She was uncomfortable around the brusque detective.
Before she could respond, the back door of the building, the one she and Kaely had entered through, suddenly swung open.
Erin watched as Detective Herrington walked in with a woman.
As they came closer, she realized the face was familiar.
It was Patricia Long. She thought she was the only author who was going to be here in person. So, what was Patricia doing here?