Chapter 60
SIXTY
Outside the main entrance to the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department, the news media was waiting for a comment from Sheriff Wayne Scott. A few minutes went by before the sheriff, undersheriff, and three of his lieutenants walked through the main entrance to give a press conference.
Sheriff Scott came to the podium dressed in police attire.
He was one with his officers—it showed solidarity.
His face was solemn, his presence was intense, and he paused until everyone was quiet and had eyes on him.
He was a natural leader and remained commanding and strong for all the men and women of the department.
“Thank you for coming out today. This will be brief. We received many inquiries regarding last night’s incident involving one of our deputies, Deputy Samuel Young.
He was on an important assignment when he was stalked, attacked, and left for dead.
We’ve received confirmation from the hospital that he is stable and will make a full recovery.
He will return to duty when he is able.”
“Sheriff Scott,” said a woman in the front. “Who was he protecting?”
“I can’t comment on an active investigation.”
“Isn’t it one of your own? Hasn’t the killer made threats against one of your detectives?”
“No comment,” he said.
“Does it have to do with recent murders and the discovery of dismembered body parts?”
“Again, it’s an active investigation. We can’t report on it—as of yet. But what I can tell you is that we have the best detectives and officers working on the case, and we will bring the perpetrator to justice. Thank you all for coming.”
The crowed began firing more questions.
Katie and McGaven watched the brief press conference on one of the televisions in the forensic division. With a case this big, there were a lot of reporters with questions. The sheriff making an appearance due to Deputy Young’s attack helped to deflate some of the media angst—at least for now.
“He always looks so handsome and professional. He has this way of showing how much he really cares about his officers,” said Katie, feeling proud of her uncle.
“Can’t argue that,” said McGaven.
“You ready?” said John, calling from the hallway.
The detectives followed the forensic specialist into the main examination room. For some reason, Katie always felt energized when there was something for John to show them about one of their cases. It was an opportunity to find out another potential clue about the killer.
“Okay,” began John, “this is one of those cases where there’s not a lot of forensic evidence to examine. But let’s start with the finger found in Katie’s car.”
Katie waited in expectation.
“The medical examiner’s office has just recently identified it as Shelby’s finger; the arm is hers too.” He pulled up photos of each. “It was assumed, but both have been officially identified as belonging to the body of Shelby Roberts.”
The detectives studied the screen, waiting for what else John had to say.
“The cut marks are definitely neat and in a fairly straight line. I’ve searched for and tested the type of tools suggested by the medical examiner—such as a bone saw or specific cutters used in autopsies—and I have to conclude that a bone saw was most likely used.”
“How would someone outside the medical profession obtain one of these?” asked Katie.
“It’s easier to obtain than you would think.
Besides medical and veterinary practices having them for various reasons, like amputation and different types of joint replacements, someone could order one through a medical supply company.
There are also meat saw bands used by butchers, or abattoirs to cut pieces of meat for grocery stores. ”
“I see,” Katie managed to say. This didn’t exactly narrow down things.
John continued. “The arm found in the shower at the cabin hasn’t been identified yet.”
“Could you tell if it was female or male?” said McGaven.
“It most likely belonged to a female.” John looked at the detectives.
“I know this isn’t helping you singularly but I hope it’ll put together a tighter picture of the killer.
” He turned to another computer and pulled up images and toxicology reports.
“Now as far as Shelby’s body at the Heritage crime scene is concerned,” he said, “it had been completely washed, and—strangely—there were high amounts of magnesium and sulfates on her skin as well as internally.”
“Isn’t that Epsom salts?” Katie said.
“Correct,” said John giving Katie a smile.
“Why would there be Epsom salts on her? Is that a way to wash away any evidence?”
“I thought that could be it too, but then I remembered a case I worked on a decade ago that involved a flotation tank.”
“What’s that?” she said, remembering she had heard something about them being for health purposes.
“It’s sometimes called a sensory deprivation tank, an eight-foot-long pod or chamber, which is lightproof, soundproof, and filled with heated, salt-dense water that people use for relaxation and to help with muscle pain.”
“So the Epsom salts act as a weightless aid for flotation.”
“That’s sounds creepy,” said McGaven.
“It does, but there have been studies that it’s quite effective for relaxation and stress relief,” explained John.
Katie was already trying to figure out if Shelby had indeed been in one of the flotation pods. “You said they’re completely enclosed. Could someone lock you inside it?”
“I suppose there’d be a way.”
“If a person was exposed to this type of therapy for a long period of time, wouldn’t it make them crazy without light or sound?
” Katie couldn’t imagine being locked in that type of device.
But it made sense that a killer who thrived on having complete control over a woman’s body could use one of the pods in that way.
“I can’t imagine it would be pleasant to be kept in one,” said John. “It would be like being in solitary confinement.”
“So maybe the killer didn’t wash her, but she was submerged so long that she was covered in it.”
“There was a lot found in her hair, so that supports that theory. Conveniently for the killer, it would work as a natural cleaner too,” he said. “It has a wide variety of uses.”
Katie studied photos of the body. McGaven walked to a large examination table where the clothing Tyler had worn lay. Spread out in this way, the blood stains were more shocking.
“We couldn’t find any legible fingerprints on the car or in the properties we processed,” John said.
“There were smudged areas, but someone took exceptional care to wipe them from Sills’s cabin, the metal hardware, Tyler’s car, and the messages to Katie.
” It was obvious John didn’t like the fact that Katie was in the killer’s sights.
“That’s annoying,” said McGaven.
“We’re still trying to test for blood on the knife found in Tyler’s car. The knife itself is a type of hunting knife. It’s consistent to the wounds inflicted on Tyler.”
The detectives were solemn, thinking about everything they had learned.
John swiveled on his chair and looked at them. “We’ve been working together for a while and we’re friends.”
“Yes,” said McGaven.
“Of course,” said Katie.
“I want to go on record between the three of us that I’m concerned. I don’t say this about just anything.” He turned and pulled up an image of the notes written to Katie. “Take a look at these.”
Katie, when do we meet?
Katie, you’re getting warmer.
Katie, you’re hot now.
“Where did the last one come from?” Katie asked. She hadn’t seen it before
“It was in Deputy Young’s cruiser.”
“Katie, we need to double down now with your safety,” said McGaven.
“I appreciate what you’re both saying, but we’ve been down this road before. It’s the work we do. It’s the killers we chase…”
“This feels different,” said John.
“I agree,” said McGaven.
Katie had to admit it did make her uneasy.
“When the sheriff hears about this note, you know what he’s going to say,” said McGaven.
Katie shook her head. “No. I’m not going to quit this case. We’re too close. There’s a woman’s life on the line.”
“And so is yours,” said John softly.
Katie wasn’t going to stop. She went over to the first computer and saw the hardware that had been used to attach Shelby to the tree. She quickly changed the subject. “Did you find out what this is?”
“I know what you’re doing. We’re not done with this yet,” said McGaven.
Katie appreciated both John and McGaven caring about her safety, but she was going to ignore them both. “Anything?” she persisted.
John sighed and joined her. “It’s a specialized type of fastener used in the manufacture and construction of modular homes, barns, and specialized boxes.”
“Specialized boxes?” she said.
“There were two used on the secret storage compartment under Bates’s place. I read it in the report.”
“So the killer uses these types of specialized hardware pieces…” Katie worked out scenarios in her mind. “And obviously feels comfortable using them or didn’t think anything of using them.”
“We can try to trace them to where he buys them,” said McGaven.
“I tried,” said John. “He had to have bought them online or through a construction catalog where there’s tons of different hardware. It would be a needle in a haystack.”
“And we don’t have the time to search for needles with Patricia still missing,” Katie said. “We already have our work cut out for us. Thank you, John.” Katie couldn’t look directly into his eyes or watch his handsome face look back at her with worry. It was too painful.
The detectives needed to finish what they had already set in motion.
There were two properties owned by Martin Sills they still needed to search.
Katie was hoping the killer would know they were going to be there, so they could stop him before another woman was abducted—and before Patricia would be killed and her body dumped somewhere.