Page 104 of D for Dead

Much as Jake wanted to find a way to tie him to the murder, had a gut feeling he was somehow involved, the facts didn’t lie, and his alibi was airtight. Hickok shared the news as Jake came off a call with Sheriff Wagner over in Melford, explaining Cunningham had been in the office of Blake & Colman with two other employees until gone one. Computer records said he logged off their system around two thirty and these were backed up by the security cameras showing him exiting the parking lot just before three.

Jake swore, balled up a sheet of paper on his desk and aimed it at the trashcan. He kicked back his chair in frustration.

‘He’s not our guy, Sullivan.’ Hickok shrugged out of his jacket, threw it across his own desk, loosening his tie and rolling up his shirtsleeves. He looked equally frustrated, having spent the day at the beach house trying to make sense of things. ‘I agree something doesn’t add up about him, but the facts don’t lie. He didn’t kill his girlfriend.’

‘Did you ask him about the Velvet Lounge on Saturday night?’

‘Yeah, and he fully admits to being there. He claims Nadine was planning to confront Amy and he followed, stopped her before she went inside. I don’t like it any more than you do, but we have no evidence to suggest he’s not telling the truth.’

Damn it, the woman had had a bug up her ass about Amy. Jake regretted she was dead, felt pity for the way she had died, but somewhere mixed in with regret was a relief Nadine could no longer harass Amy.

‘So what did our sheriff friend over in Melford have to report?’ Hickok asked, leaning back against his desk.

‘House is owned by Tucker Johnson, sixty-two. He’s a carpenter, lives there alone. Bought the place back in seventy-nine; moved in with his wife and kid. Wife suffered with depression, killed the kid and herself shortly after. Wagner says the guy is a recluse, only comes into town when he needs stuff. Since he’s been able to buy stuff online and get it delivered, they rarely see him.’

‘Okay.’ Hickok leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk and linking his fingers together. ‘Sixty-two would have made him early forties when he attacked Amy.’

‘Wagner went to the house last night, but there was no answer. They got a search warrant this morning and went back. There’s no trace of the guy even living there. Sure, his clothes are

hanging in the closet, but the stuff in his refrigerator is out of date, the mail piling up.’

‘Maybe he thought he was gonna get caught so he ran.’

‘They checked the basement.’ Jake swallowed down the anger. ‘It was exactly as Amy described. Johnson was using it as some kind of torture room. Forensics is getting blood samples.’

‘No bodies?’

‘Not in the basement. He’s gotten rid of them somewhere, but we’ll find them. It’s gonna be bad, Hickok. Wagner thinks we are talking double numbers.’

He thought of Amy wandering into that hellhole at fifteen years old. No wonder she had suppressed the memory.

Hickok nodded, taking in the information.

‘So, we have a fifteen-year-old girl who stumbles across a serial killer, one who has been operating for possibly decades. And now she’s grown up, she’s become the focus of another serial killer. What are the chances of that?’

‘Slim to none.’

‘Unless the two sets of murders are somehow connected.’

Jake narrowed his eyes. ‘You think Johnson would be targeting Amy after all this time?’

‘He’s missing from his hometown and she’s the one who got away.’ Hickok gave a twisted smile. ‘I would say it’s very possible.’

* * *

Rebecca had just finished up when her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket, glanced at the screen before answering, expecting it to be Hickok or Jake; frowned when Alan’s name flashed up on the screen.

Not now, dammit.

She let it ring another couple of times before killing the call.

‘I can give you some privacy if you need to take that.’

‘It’s fine. It’s nothing that can’t wait.’ Scooping up her notes, she smiled at Amy. ‘I think we’re done here for today. If I think of anything else, or if there are any more developments, I’ll give you a call. Officers Boaz and Peterson will keep you safe, but if you need anything at all, get in touch.’ Rebecca shot a look in Boaz’s direction. He was totally absorbed in the show he was watching.

God, Hickok. I hope you know what you’re doing.

Her pocket started buzzing again. Irritated she pulled her phone out. Alan knew she was working. What the hell was so damn important? She smiled apologetically at Amy.