AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Maybe he’s just tired of the whole thing and wants a way out,” Jeff said.
“Then why not just kill the women and leave their bodies where they’ll be found? That would humiliate them and make him feel powerful. That’s the usual agenda for serial killers.”
“You’re assuming at least some of the women are dead?”
“After all these years? Yeah. Besides, if he’s looking for someone specific, once he knows one of the women isn’t the right one...”
“She becomes irrelevant and...”
Alex nodded. “He disposes of her.”
“Let’s not forget you look like the women he’s taken. The problem is you’ve been in Virginia for only a few years. It seems as if he’s looking for someone he met years ago.”
“I don’t think facts matter much to him. His premise is horribly flawed. The person he’s looking for could have moved, died . . . or at least cut her hair, for crying out loud. This UNSUB has an obsession that has no reason. No objectivity. I remind him of this woman he’s looking for, and that’s all that matters. Just like the other women.”
“But he says he’s not alone,” Jeff said. “Surely whoever is working with him is aware of his delusion.”
Alex shrugged. “Assuming he’s telling the truth, whoever’s helping him may not care. Perhaps he’s getting something out of this. Security. Money. I don’t know.”
Jeff hesitated a moment before saying, “He seems organized, yet he has no way to know if any of the women he abducts is his target. At least not until he has them and . . . what? Interrogates them? This really is something new.” He shook his head. “I hear what you’re saying, but what if he either wants to add you to his collection or trade the women for you? Maybe he’s convinced himself you’re the woman he wants. And remember, just because he says the other women are alive doesn’t mean they are. They could all be dead. You may just be next on his list.”
“Well, I guess I’ll find out.”
“We’re going to spend the rest of today getting you ready,” Jeff said. “And getting SWAT and HRT prepared.”
Although Alex knew SWAT and the Hostage Rescue Team would be employed, she was worried the UNSUB would see them. “You might not be able to use them,” she said. “If the UNSUB picks a spot where they can’t hide, they’ll have to stay behind.”
“I’m not taking chances with your life,” Jeff said sharply. “My God, haven’t you given enough to this job? I won’t let you die.”
Alex was surprised by his sudden burst of emotion. He was usually calm and collected. She wanted to tell him that God had prepared her for this. That she knew she would be okay. But if she told him the Lord had spoken to her in a dream, he’d assume she was unstable, and then the CP would dress up another agent to look like her and send her out there. She knew better than to be overly confident, but she still had more faith in herself to bring the women home than she did in any field agent the Bureau might choose.
“I’ll be fine, Jeff,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “I have the same training as anyone you could send out there.”
“I know that, but he’s trying to stack the deck. We’ve got to make sure you have some kind of a weapon.”
“He said no gun.”
“You’re not doing this without a way to defend yourself.” Jeff leaned so far back in his chair that for a moment Alex thought he might tip over. He ran a hand over his face. “Why are we even talking about this? It’s nuts. This is probably a complete waste of time.”
Alex couldn’t argue with his reasoning. Serial killers weren’t known for their compassion or for keeping their word. The UNSUB’s world was made up of his needs, his thoughts, and his will. Other people existed only to give him what he wanted—whatever fit into his perverted world. Yet for some reason her gut told her that at least some of the women were still alive.
“We can’t be sure of that, Jeff,” she said. “And we’re not going to gamble with these women’s lives. Let’s stop talking about this and spend our time preparing me.”
Jeff crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “You’ll go to the command post. They’ll get you ready. I want you to follow their instructions to the letter, do you understand?”
“When do you want me to leave?”
“Now. But if the lab finds something on the letter or the envelope that could help us, we’ll call this off.”
“If there’s enough time. Unless they can tell us where he is—and where the women are being held—I have to go through with this.”
Jeff didn’t reply. There was nothing to say. Alex was right. No matter what the lab discovered, there was almost no chance it would change anything.
“I have to ask this, Jeff. You said you were certain the note came from the UNSUB. But how can you be sure? Maybe someone who knows Merrie McDowell is missing sent it. Like Tracy’s father did.”
Jeff scooted another piece of paper toward her, and Alex picked it up. It was a copy of a photo. A woman lay on a small bed, her eyes closed. Alex looked closer.
It was Tracy Mendenhall.
