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“I felt his hands on me, but I couldn’t stop him. Thank heavens, a park ranger did.”
“What do you mean?”
“A park ranger came up to the window and shined his flashlight into the car. He must have thought what was going on was consensual, but then he saw I was woozy. Oh, and I threw up. He asked for identification. Wayne Howell—remember that name—pulled out his wallet, and the ranger helped me with mine. Once I was a bit steadier, he let us go.”
“What did you do about it?”
“Nothing. I did not want Wayne to see I was upset. That would have given him more of an upper hand. We drove to my apartment in silence.”
“And you didn’t report it?”
“What was there to report?” Melanie shrugged. “I could have told the ranger that the man was trying to take advantage of me, but I didn’t want repercussions at work.”
“You said nothing?”
“Not until today. You are the first person I ever discussed this with.”
“But why?” He looked confused.
“Several reasons. As I said, I didn’t want trouble at work, and I couldn’t prove anything. I didn’t get a drug test, which in hindsight I should have. I felt a mix of humiliation and relief. How could I have been so stupid? And thank God I’m alive.” She cleared her throat. “I did speak to Wayne a few days later.”
“Seriously? What did you say?”
“I told him he was lucky he wasn’t singing soprano.”
Patterson burst out laughing, getting her reference to being hit in the scrotum. “That was pretty risky. And funny.”
“True. But it hadn’t occurred to me at the time that he could be worse than a horny dude wanting easy access.” She shook her head. “Dating. Not my strong suit.”
Patterson thought a moment. “So you think this is the guy?”
“Well, he fits the profile. He’s attractive, attentive, intelligent.”
“That covers a lot of men.” He smiled. “Let me check and see if he’s still at the base.” He turned to his computer and powered up the contact list of all OSI agents. “You said his name is Wayne Howell?”
“Correct.”
“He was at Quantico until three years ago.”
“When were the bodies found?” Melanie asked.
Patterson checked the file. “Huh. A little over a year ago.”
Melanie paged through the documents. “Last one was determined to have died two years prior, which means Howell was still in the area at the time of the last victim’s death. He must have moved after killing his latest victim. The time frame fits.”
She looked further. “They found traces of Ambien in the most recent body. It doesn’t look like they checked on the earlier victims.”
Patterson was still stunned about Melanie’s connection to a suspect.
“Let’s see,” she said to herself. “Skin samples were taken from under one of the victim’s nails.” She looked up. “We have DNA.” Her eyes glistened.
“Yes, but we don’t have his,” Patterson reminded her.
“What if we can get his?” Melanie stared straight at her boss.
“How?” Patterson furrowed his brow.
“Do we know where he lives?” Melanie asked.
