Page 142 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“Please find out for us,” Angela implored.

“My friends, my family... no one would do anything sohorrible.”

“But as you said,” Jackson reminded him, “the funeral waslisted in the paper, and you don’t know who might have been there. We’llappreciate anything that might help.”

Robertson offered them a grimace and said dryly, “You know,I’ve heard rumors. You guys are supposed to be ghost hunters or something.Maybe the dead guy can just tell you who killed him, huh?”

“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Jackson asked, smilingruefully. “Afraid we’ll just have to do a real investigation and see what wediscover. Amazing what the living can tell us when we have brilliantpsychologists and psychiatrists on hand.”

Robertson frowned. “You don’t need a psychiatrist for this.A sick mind is sure as hell involved.”

“Absolutely,” Jackson agreed. “Please call us if you thinkof anything.”

“Yes, I will. Um, am I free to go?”

“Of course. You’ve always been free to go,” Jackson saidpleasantly. “We’re just seeking any help we can get.”

Robertson nodded. “All right, then. You’ll keep me informedon what’s going on?”

“Naturally. And thank you forcoming in,” Angela said.

He nodded, and then Jackson told him, “I’ll see you out.”

Angela followed but hurried to heroffice and computer. She quickly did a search on the recent funeral at theRobertson tomb.

Videos had been posted to various media outlets. She wasn’tsure how Benjamin Robertson could have missed the number of people who had beenfilming.

Most of the videos were of the priest or the singers.Benjamin had been right, the AveMaria soprano had a gorgeous voice, and Benjamin’s cousin’s son hada lovely tenor, his tone plaintive as he sang Danny Boy.

But one video also showed the tomb and the crowd surroundingthe service outside what would become the deceased’s final resting place.

At least twenty-five to thirty-five people attended, eachwho might easily be identified.

Jackson came into her office. “You found video?”

She nodded.

“I just got a call from Kat. They identified the second JohnDoe—our killer’s latest victim.”

“And?”

“His name is Arnold Kern. Until recently, he worked forRobertson Technologies.”

“Benjamin Robertson’s company?” Angela asked.

Jackson nodded gravely. “They let him go not that long ago.He has a record, something he kept hidden at first. But, apparently, it wasinformation that came out when the human resources department did a deeper diveon some of their employees. He had a drug conviction.However, he didn’t do any time. Was only put onprobation.”

Angela sat back, frowning. “That doesn’t make sense. I mean,Arnold Kern was the one who lost his job. If there was going to be a murder...Well, what are the most common motives? Money, love, jealousy—or revenge. Butif revenge were the case in this, wouldn’t Benjamin Robertson be the one introuble?”

“Ah, well, that’s when there is a real motivefor murder. And when it’s not someone who is, in layman’s terms, batshit crazy.”

“But this doesn’t seem random.”

“No, it doesn’t. Anyway, despite the state of decompositionin our other victims, Kat said they’re hoping for identifications on them soon.There might be a connection between the victims. We’ll have to speak withBenjamin Robertson again.”

“But not now. Jackson, I really want to get back into thecemetery.”

“All right. But we have video now to scan.”