Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
“Can I ask you a favor?” Erin said after they’d gotten into the car and were getting ready to head back to Kaely’s.
Kaely nodded. “Of course, what is it?”
Erin hesitated a moment before asking, “Could we go to the lake where Sophie Rogers’s body was found?”
Kaely frowned at her. “You know the scene was thoroughly processed, right? I guarantee you that the crime scene techs did a thorough job.”
“I’m not saying they didn’t. I just . . . I just want to see it. Sometimes looking at the scene in person helps me to understand more about a murder.”
Kaely was quiet for a moment. “Erin, I could make that happen, but isn’t it possible it might make it harder on you?”
“Maybe, but I really want to do this,” Erin said. “I know you said it was a private lake.”
“I have a friend who can get us in. The police have released the scene.” Kaely stared at Erin for a moment longer before taking her phone from her purse. She placed a quick call and then hung up. “Okay. My friend left our names at the gate. We can get in . . . if you’re sure.”
Although somewhere inside, Erin wasn’t completely convinced this was a good idea, for some reason she felt drawn to the site. She nodded at Kaely. “I’m certain.”
About thirty minutes later, they were pulling up to the entrance of the lake.
The man at the gate verified who they were and let them in.
The park was quiet. It was April, but it was still chilly this time of the year in Virginia.
Kaely drove around the outer perimeter of the lake and then parked.
They got out of the car and walked over to where a large dock stretched out from the shore and into the water.
Erin was silent as she walked to the end of the dock.
This was where Sophie Rogers died. Or at least where her body was dumped.
The medical examiner’s report said they didn’t find any water in Sophie’s lungs, which meant she was dead when she went into the lake.
Seeing this place . . . knowing that someone had died this way because of what she’d written .
. . Erin suddenly felt a little faint and swayed.
Kaely quickly put her arm around Erin’s waist, helping to steady her.
“I think we need to go home,” Kaely said.
“I wish I’d never written that book,” Erin said softly.
“No, you don’t. It was a good book. Again, he could have used someone else’s plot.
The fact that he picked yours? A big mistake.
” Kaely pulled on Erin’s shoulders until she was facing her.
“You’re going to help catch him, Erin. Don’t you see that?
I’m glad it was your book, because we’re going to put him away for good. ”
Erin looked back at her friend and thought about what she’d said. Although she was still battling feelings of guilt, Kaely’s logic made sense. Maybe she was right.
Erin stepped away from her friend and gazed around once more. Being here hadn’t brought any new revelations, but it had made Sophie’s death seem more real. And it had also made her even more determined to see justice done. She wouldn’t stop until the Novel Killer was either in prison or dead.
After collecting all the evidence they could from inside and outside Erin’s house, Adrian called the alarm company to make sure everything was secure.
Then he increased the number of times his officers checked out the cabin, making certain it was closely watched until Erin returned.
Although he had no idea what her schedule was, he felt he had to call her right away.
When she answered the phone, he asked if it was convenient to talk.
“Sure. We’re back at Kaely’s house. It was a long day. I have to admit that I’m pretty tired.”
“I’m sorry,” Adrian said, “but I have to give you some rather bad news.” He took a deep breath and went over the events of the day.
She gasped when he brought up Dale. “Is he okay?” she asked.
“Yes, he’s going to be fine.” He had no plan to tell her about the attack on him.
Not now. It wasn’t important. Maybe when she came home.
“We didn’t catch whoever was in the house, Erin.
I’ve contacted the alarm company. They know that no one should go inside the house until you return.
I told them either you or I will contact them once you’re headed home.
We’ve locked everything up tight, and we’re watching it closely.
No one will get in again. But . . . do you have any idea what this guy might be looking for? ”
“No,” she said. “Like I said, I don’t have anything of real value inside. No safe. No cash under my mattress. Maybe he realized I was out of town and took it as an invitation to break in and look around. He probably thinks I have a lot of expensive things because of my book.”
“Yeah, that could be right.” Although her assumption made sense, his gut told him something different.
This guy hit him and then shot an officer.
He wasn’t just prowling around, looking for something to steal.
No one would take the chances this guy had unless he was trying to get his hands on something really valuable.
He was committed and had a goal in mind.
Adrian couldn’t tell Erin what he was thinking.
He didn’t want to frighten her any more than he already had.
“Look,” she said, her voice tight. “It would be difficult for me to come home right now. Are you certain everyone’s safe? I don’t want anyone else hurt.”
He noticed that she didn’t ask about her house first. She was more concerned about his officer than she was her possessions.
“Don’t worry. Everything will be okay from here on out,” Adrian said. “You just do what you need to do.”
“I really appreciate that,” she said. “I wish I could tell you why this is happening, but I honestly don’t have a clue.”
He could hear how tired she was, and he knew this wasn’t the time to push her.
He really wanted to know what it was inside the cabin that the intruder was looking for.
Obviously, Erin had no idea. He wanted this guy stopped, but most of all, he wanted him arrested and in jail for shooting Dale.
Adrian intended to do whatever it took to see that happen.
“Do you know when you’ll be back?” he asked.
She sighed. “No. Today was the first day at the command center. I think I may have to go back again tomorrow. To be honest, I’d like to help with the investigation if they’ll let me.
I’ve been deputized, can you believe that?
Kaely believes I will be safer here, in Virginia, with them.
After what you just told me, she may be right.
” She paused for a moment, then said, “That guy couldn’t be looking for me, right?
I mean, it’s fairly obvious that I’m not there. ”
“I can’t be sure, but I agree with you. If he was interested in hurting you, he would have made sure you were in town first. Besides, he went out of his way to make certain no one was in the house before he went inside.”
“How did he manage to not trip the alarm?”
“I don’t know,” Adrian said, “but I think you need to change your code immediately. It’s possible he has it. Can you do it from there?”
“I’m sure I can,” Erin said. “I’ll take care of it right away.”
“Good, that will make me feel better. Why don’t you text me your new code once it’s changed.”
“I will. And Adrian, thank you for watching over the cabin. I’m so, so sorry about Dale.”
“Me too, but the important thing is that he’s going to be okay.”
Adrian wanted her to come home, but she was probably right. Staying with Kaely and her husband was the safest thing to do right now. He was certain they’d take good care of her.
“Will you let me know when you’re on your way back?” Adrian asked.
“Sure. Like I said, I’m not certain how long I’ll be here. I’d like to wait until they catch this guy. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”
“We’ve seen some of the news reports,” Adrian said. “Are they any closer to finding him?”
Erin sighed. “I don’t know. There’s been another one. I don’t think the media has it yet. This time he stole his idea from Patricia Long’s book Grin.”
“I read that book,” he said. “It was good, but she hasn’t published anything for a few years. I’ve wondered why.”
“She’s here,” Erin said. “She was visiting her daughter in Virginia when they found the body. I know why she’s not writing now. I’ll save that story for when I get back, okay?”
“Sure. Not a problem.” He hesitated a moment, but something was bothering him, and he felt the urge to share it. “If I remember right, Long lives in Pennsylvania, right? Her stories were all set there.”
“Yeah, that’s right,” Erin said. “Before you mention that her being here is a strange coincidence, I’ve already thought about that.
But if you met her, Adrian, you wouldn’t see her as a suspect.
She’s just not the type. Besides, investigators are pretty confident the killer is a man.
It would be hard for a woman to overcome these victims. I’d be worried that Pat might be a target, but the first murders happened when she was still in Pennsylvania.
It really seems like coincidence that she’s here.
Maybe this guy found out and decided to kill again just because she was in the state?
I don’t know. My mind is working overtime.
Forget what I said. I’m really exhausted and a little overwhelmed with everything. ”
“You need to get some rest,” he responded. “Well, like I said, don’t worry about your place. Truthfully? I think whoever broke in is long gone. A confrontation with the police makes intruders nervous. I’m sure everything will be fine from here on out.”
“Please give Dale my love, will you? Tell him I’m praying for him.”
“I will.”
Adrian disconnected the call, but he was struck by a couple of things.
First of all, he didn’t completely believe her when she said she didn’t suspect Patricia Long.
He knew her well enough to hear a shadow of doubt in her voice.
Secondly, she just said she was going to pray for Dale.
That was new. He sat at his desk and stared at his phone, wishing he was in Virginia, not here worrying about Erin from so far away.
All he could do was pray that God would watch over her and keep her safe.
He cared deeply about her, but there was no indication she felt the same way.
He tried to push thoughts of her out of his mind, but it wasn’t easy.
“I’m coming back.”
“Did you get what we need?” Lee asked, shielding his mouth over his phone.
He was trying to keep his voice down so that the old lady inside the house couldn’t hear him.
He hadn’t yet finished trimming this grouch’s lawn.
She had an outside camera and was watching him through her window as he took the call.
He didn’t want her to call his supervisor and complain.
He had to have this crappy job. It was all he had.
For now, anyway. He glanced her way then turned his back to her.
Stupid witch. It was only April. It wasn’t like the grass was that long anyway.
“Yeah, I got it. But that cop shot me, man. Shot me!”
“You didn’t go to the hospital, did you? They have to report gunshots.”
“I didn’t go to the hospital. I’m not an idiot. It’s not that bad. I took care of it myself. Besides, I paid him back. I don’t think he’ll be causing anyone problems again.”
“You shot a cop?” Lee said. He glanced back and looked at the old lady, who finally walked away from the window. She was probably watching him on her camera now. “Are you insane? The police will be all over this now. That was really stupid.”
“If you want out, I’ll gladly finish the job. Just tell me. I could do a lot with all that money.”
“Okay, okay,” Lee said. “I think we have everything we need. Come on back.” He sighed. Things were really complicated now. He shouldn’t have teamed up with Pilcher. He really was nuts. “We have to finish this,” he said through gritted teeth.
“You better be willing to see it through. You promised me.”
Lee grunted. “I have no intention of letting her out of this now. Erin Delaney’s gonna pay. And pay big time.”