Chapter 36 #2
Erin’s assessment of Shannon proved correct. She looked proud. Haughty. She fell silent so Shannon would talk about herself. She couldn’t help it. Her narcissism was the one thing she couldn’t control.
“I’ve been planning this for a long time,” she said softly, her eyes shining with her own madness. “In fact, I knew who I was when I was only nine years old.”
This told Erin that Shannon truly was not only psychotic, she was very organized, something she and Kaely had both believed.
She had the ability to plan. Her actions were measured and well thought out.
Unfortunately, that meant Erin was in real trouble, but it also meant that Shannon could be manipulated.
Erin just needed to ask the right questions. She had to appeal to Shannon’s ego.
“You planned all of this when you were a child?” Erin repeated, trying to sound incredulous and impressed.
“No, of course not.” Shannon laughed. “Not all of it, but I certainly knew this day would come.”
“Why befriend Kaely?” Erin asked, trying to lead Shannon away from their present situation. She needed her to concentrate on the past. Make her want to prove how brilliant she was.
“It was a great plan. I saw the dedication in your book. That’s when I knew it was fate.
I was already living in Virginia. So, I began to hatch my plan.
Of course, finding Kaely wasn’t difficult.
You can find anyone if you look hard enough.
I moved to Fredericksburg, got a job, and rented a house.
I followed her, learned her patterns, and then introduced myself.
Becoming friends was easy. Knowing that she used to profile—what do you call them—UNSUBs?
That made it exciting. A game I knew I could win.
I learned a lot about profiling. It’s not hard.
You laid out the pattern in your book. Then I worked on a story of my own, so Kaely would introduce you to me.
Again, not difficult. You both think you’re so smart, but you’re not as clever as I am. ”
Shannon’s insanity seemed to twist her features into something frightful. Evil. A chill ran down Erin’s back. This woman was not only deranged, she was extremely dangerous. Erin needed to keep a cool head and try to stay one step ahead of her.
“Then you . . .” Erin let her voice trail off so Shannon would keep talking.
“Then I manipulated Kaely until she was right where I wanted her. When everything was in place, I started to kill. Step-by-step, each one brought me closer to you.” She shrugged.
“I have to admit that I was going to stop after I used your ridiculous book, but then, Patricia Long showed up in Virginia. Her daughter posted something on social media about her mother visiting. It was fate. I had to kill again. I just had to.” She shook her head and sighed.
“Everything I planned. Everything I’ve done, fate was with me.
Even tonight. I was out in the parking lot at the .
. . what do you call it . . . the command center?
I cut the fuel line on Noah’s car, so he’d have car trouble.
No one saw me do it, but some muscle-bound Neanderthal noticed me in the parking lot.
I told him I was a reporter. Then it started to rain.
That made him run for cover. Fate on my side once again.
” Her wide smile reminded Erin of a child at Christmas.
Shannon was enjoying this. Reveling in it.
She met Erin’s gaze. “Finally, tonight, the opportunity I’ve been waiting for presented itself.
The piece de resistance, as they say. Of course, I know the alarm code, so I could get inside if you didn’t let me in.
I’ve been in Kaely’s house quite a few times.
Watched her enter the numbers. And if you’d gone with Kaely to pick up Noah, I had a backup plan.
But I was pretty sure you wouldn’t leave.
Tonight, everything worked out just the way I’d planned it.
It’s so clear to me that this was meant to be. You can see that, can’t you?”
“But why didn’t you come up with your own methods to murder those women?” Erin asked, frowning at her. “I mean, someone like you, creative, intelligent, why copy the ideas of others?”
Shannon’s expression quickly changed. “You’re missing the point,” she replied, her voice tight and angry. “All of this was my idea. Every single killing led me to you.”
“I don’t understand. Why me? I don’t even know you.”
Shannon jumped to her feet. “You haven’t figured it out yet?
Really?” She took off her glasses and flung them a few feet away from her.
Then she put her fingers up to her eyes and removed her contact lenses.
Once she had them out, she stared at Erin for a moment.
Her eyes were green. Why had she hidden them?
Suddenly, the toys left behind at the crime scene made sense. All items she had when she was young. Things her sister had either taken from her, or something she wanted but didn’t get. All the victims having blonde hair. Why hadn’t she seen it? If Shannon had auburn hair . . .
“You . . . you’re . . .”
“You finally figured it out? Man, how dense are you?” She got a few inches from Erin’s face and grinned maniacally. “Hello, little sister. Tonight I’m finally going to achieve my life’s goal. Killing you.”