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The first thing we’re looking for is the theft of Stephanie Cole’s phone,” Logan told the assembled group as they all turned to face a large television screen on one wall.
He thought he saw Alex relax a little, but generally an atmosphere of gloom permeated the room. He didn’t know how to dispel it. Jeff was able to stir up his people, inspire them, provoke their determination. But Logan was just as confused as everyone else in the group. Profiles weren’t easy to create, yet they usually followed a formula. Some criminals thought they were unique. Unable to be categorized. But that wasn’t true. Years of studying dangerous offenders had unlocked truths about them that led to their captures. That’s what profiling was.
For instance, some serial killers included a sexual component when they killed. Those who didn’t but showed anger toward female victims often had issues with some woman or women in their past. That wasn’t true every time, but it was valid enough of the time to make it easier to profile them. And handing a profile to the police that was so on target that it led to the capture of a killer was an incredibly satisfying experience. It’s why FBI agents became behavioral analysts.
But there was nothing sexual about this case. The UNSUB’s reason for killing, his motive, was something else. They knew he wanted to show them how superior he was to them. But there had to be more. What was his trigger? They had to refine their profile, but would it be before someone else died? Would it be Logan’s fault because he wasn’t Jeff? Wasn’t as skilled as Jeff?
Logan hit a key, and the video popped up. “This is from yesterday afternoon. Stephanie is certain she still had her phone earlier that morning. We know she took a phone call around nine, so that confirms it. Here we can see her and the shop’s owner, Roger Burredge, serving customers later that morning. Gorman said Burredge has seen this. He also said business is slow since it’s winter. Some people still take out their boats or arrange for cleaning or repairs, but the shop isn’t as busy as it is in summer. The chief said to watch carefully at around ten thirty. Burredge goes into the storeroom, and Stephanie is in the restroom.”
He paused the video, stood, and pointed at the screen. “Burredge confirmed every customer on this recording but this one.” Logan waited for the time in the video Gorman had mentioned. They watched as a man walked around the counter and seemed to be looking at something on the wall behind it. Then he turned around. For just a moment, his hand was behind the counter, out of sight. Then he walked away. By the way the light changed in the room, it was clear that the entrance door was opened and shut.
“Looks like this is the guy who stole Stephanie’s phone. But he’s wearing a stocking cap and keeps his head down the entire time,” Logan said. “We can’t see his face. He’s wearing gloves and a thick winter jacket. Black jeans. Because of the heavy coat he’s wearing, it’s hard to tell his build. His height is hard to determine too because of the camera’s angle, although we can tell he’s not real tall when measured against the counter’s height.” Logan paused the video again. “Neither Burredge nor Stephanie saw him before or after this was recorded.”
“Do they usually leave the front unattended like this?” Kaely asked.
“Burredge said that especially in winter, they know almost everyone who comes into the store. Besides, not too many people would rob a boat shop anyway. Their equipment is specialized. Also, the front counter was unattended for only a few minutes.”
“So how did our guy know Burredge and Stephanie were going to be away from the counter long enough for him to steal her phone?” Alex asked. “That doesn’t make sense.”
Logan frowned at her as he considered her comment. “No, it doesn’t, does it? If he’d waited inside the shop for them to both step out, they would have noticed him. And they wouldn’t have left the room at the same time.”
“Maybe our UNSUB planted a device in the store so he could watch them,” Ben said.
“And sat outside for days, hoping Stephanie would leave her phone unattended?” Julie said. “I don’t see it.”
“Actually, he probably knew it wouldn’t take long for that to happen,” Monty said. “I worked in a small shop when I was a teenager. It was just the owner and me. Lots of times we both stepped away for a minute or two. Our guy was taking a chance, but he knew there would be an opportunity. And sure enough...”
“Ben, will you call your chief?” Logan said. “Ask him to contact the Georgetown police to send some officers over there and look for a recording device.”
“You won’t find it,” Alex said.
“Why?” Logan asked.
“The guy took too long to reach the door. He probably grabbed his camera on the way out.”
“I think Alex is right,” Kaely said. “He’s so organized he would have taken any camera he planted. It makes sense.”
Logan turned to Ben again. “Okay, tell the chief the camera is probably gone. But even though the chances are slim, I’d like to think he left something behind that will help us find him.”
“I keep wondering about his next move,” Alex said.
Logan nodded. “I do too. He has an endgame, but what is it?”
“I don’t think Jeff was his final target,” Alex said. “But after targeting Monty, he had to assume we’d be put under protective custody.”
“Why couldn’t Agent Cole have been his last?” Ben asked. “Maybe the UNSUB considers his death his crowning achievement.”
“But again, we have to look at his unstable MO. First he goes after the founders of the BAU, then he targets Monty and kills an elderly woman. After that he goes after Jeff, the agent in charge of our unit. So now what?”
“The last message he left pointed to Donald Reinhardt,” Julie said. “I have to wonder if he’s the next victim.”
“I hope he stays here where he can be protected,” Monty said.
“I don’t know,” Alex said, her face tight. “This UNSUB seems to always know what’s going to happen next. Maybe he thinks Reinhardt will bail.”
Logan cleared his throat. “The security camera in the boat shop’s parking lot didn’t show the thief leaving. He must have stayed close to the building, under the camera’s view. Again, I think he knew exactly what he was doing. Probably parked down the street where there weren’t any security cameras from other businesses.”
He paused. “It will be difficult to watch the next video. I wasn’t sure if we should even do it, but maybe we all need to see it. It’s from a security camera by the pier.”
“Have you seen it yet?” Alex asked, her voice tight.
Logan shook his head. “I haven’t had time.” He took a deep breath and brought up the video. Although it was dark, streetlights made it possible for them to see the road near the pier. Suddenly, a dark-colored car zoomed into the camera’s range and hit one side of the pier, shooting straight into the water. Little by little, the car slipped under the black water.
It was over in less than a minute.
