All that pain.All that loss.All those people carrying it around like something they couldn’t put down because it was fused to them, part of them, and nobody was helping.
The skeleton of an idea formed, but it was too crazy to entertain.However, that was when Amber Holloway walked into the door of his work.She’d donated a big bag of stuff, and sitting on the top of it was a beautiful music box that brought back memories of his daughter’s.Edgar hadn’t been able to resist asking questions, and that’s when he’d learned about Amber’s struggles.
It felt like a gift from above.It all fell into place.One figurine for each victim, to symbolize their rebirths.
Of course, there was only one music box to begin the sequence, so he took it home and kept it for when the mission began.The other figurines he carved himself with his own two hands.When he’d told Lindsey Doyle about his little project, she’d greatly encouraged him, and then asked for one small favor to put the icing on the cake.
She’d shown him a picture from Austin Creed’s farmhouse.He had a music box too.Then Doyle had said,‘When you use this one, she’ll come.’
She.The FBI agent.Dark.The woman who’d put Austin Creed away and who was now in New Orleans, thirty miles from where Edgar was sitting, chasing his figurines around the city.Doyle had told him about her, and she’d said the proximity to the Creed case would guarantee that Dark caught the spree investigation, and she’d been right.Doyle was always right.
And best of all, Edgar Borden was happy to go along with all of this, because if he was being honest with himself, he wasn’t doing this to save people.That’s just what he was going to tell the cops.
He was doing this for himself because he wanted nothing more than to go back to prison.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Ella hit the highway doing eighty and called Ripley before she’d made it past the first exit.
Ripley picked up on two rings.‘Dark, where the hell are you?I was at the Parsons scene but I’ve just got back.’
‘Listen to me.I know who he is.’
‘What?Who is he?’
‘Edgar Borden.Thirty-six.Released from Louisiana State seven months ago.Aggravated robbery, served three years.He works at a donation centre in Gentilly.That’s where Rose Michaels’s music box ended up.’
'How do you.'
‘He goes to a support group on Tuesday nights at a church.It’s for people dealing with loss.Eddie Foxall went to that group.Earl Parsons used to go.Rose Michaels’s mom went to the group.He’s been sitting in a room with these people every week, listening to them talk about the worst things that ever happened to them, and then he’s been killing them.’
‘I’m looking right now.’
‘It gets worse.Remember on the phone how he said, ‘Someone’s told me all about you,’ and, ‘I opened the door, just like someone else did for me.’
‘Yeah.’
‘He was talking about Lindsey Doyle.’
‘Uh, Dark, you’re thinking of the wrong case.Are you going mad?’
‘No.Edgar Borden was in Louisiana State, where Doyle worked.If she fell in love with Creed, it’s not crazy to think she might have relationships with other inmates.’
‘Right, let’s say I believe you.Where are you going?’
‘Creed’s farmhouse.Look at the pictures in the file on my desk.They’re ones the NOPD took when they last searched Creed’s place.In Creed’s bedroom there’s a music box with a pelican on it.It’s exactly the same pelican.’
‘Looking.Hang on.’Ripley went quiet for a second then said, ‘Oh shit.You’re right.It’s identical.’
‘Yeah it is.’
‘Wait, are you alone?’
Ella said, ‘Yes, and I need you to do something for me.I don’t know what I’m going to find at Creed’s farm, or if Edgar will even be there, so get an address for him.His parole officer will have one on file.Try the Ninth Ward, that’s where the cell tower pinged.Get uniforms to Good Shepherd Donations and to First Love Church on Flood Street.Lock both places down.If he’s at either of them, hold him.If he’s not, talk to everyone who works there and find out when they last saw him.’
‘I’ll call Fields.’
‘Call Fields.Call whoever you need.But get it done fast because if he’s not at either of those places, he’s at the farm, and I’m about twenty minutes out.’
