barely visible, but they were there—the signs of a person sliding beneath the vehicle and out again.
“He waited here for them all night, didn’t he?” Andrew asked.
“I think so. Then, after the father left for work, he waited a bit longer. Until they were both in the same place, having breakfast. After that, he took them both down fast and hard. Probably two tasers, one for each of them. Shoot the mom. Drop the taser. Shoot the son. Then drug them both while they’re incapacitated.”
“But how did he get two unconscious people out of the house in broad daylight without anyone seeing a thing? I could see it happening, but not at every scene. And this is a fairly busy street.”
Marcus said, “He’s using some technique to blend in. Someone’s seen him, but they didn’t register him as out of place. Hours later, they didn’t remember seeing anything at all. You dress up like a mailman or a meter reader, and you’re as good as invisible to most people.”
“Yeah, but a mailman dragging two bodies behind him would raise some suspicion. Plus he knows their routine. He’s been watching them.”
“Exactly.”
“But a car or van parked on a suburban street like this for an extended period of time or some guy just hanging around would be noticed.”
“I’ve got a theory about that, which means that we have another scene to check that the locals haven’t got to yet.”
“What do you mean?”
Marcus moved out of the garage and back toward the front door. “Tell the kid we’re leaving. I think I know how the killer was watching them.”
Chapter Fourteen
When they had first pulled up to the scene, Marcus had noticed the for-sale sign in the yard of a big yellow bungalow across the street. The sign was blue with white letters. It sat at a lopsided angle, and a layer of grime covered it, as if it had weathered more than its share of storms in the same spot. As he considered how the killer had watched his victims, Marcus remembered pictures from the other abduction scenes. The KCPD had been thorough in their jobs and had photographed the view up and down each block for context. It was a smart move. He remembered other homes for sale sitting opposite the other scenes. It might even have been the reason why those families were chosen—homes opposite properties that had been vacant for an extended amount of time. Although that knowledge wouldn’t help them find future victims, it was still another piece to the puzzle, another question answered.
Marcus picked the lock while Andrew stood guard in the alley. A big oak tree shaded the backyard, and a faded white privacy fence provided some cover. He smelled burning leaves and barbecue in the air. The door had a simple deadbolt mechanism. A bit of maneuvering and a few seconds’ time, and they were inside as easily as if they owned the place.
“What are we going to tell the locals if we find something?” Andrew asked.
“We’re not supposed to tell them anything.”
“Does that mean you’re actually going to follow orders?”
Marcus didn’t reply. He was focused on the scene. The back door opened into a kitchen. Tan linoleum covered the floors, and the cabinets looked like they were straight from the 1950s, with a flat pale yellow finish. A layer of dust covered everything, and the house smelled faintly of excrement.
They walked through a dining room and past a set of pocket doors into a front room that had been remodeled. The carpet had been pulled up and the hardwood refinished. The old plaster had been replaced with drywall. It was like stepping from the past into the present. He supposed that the owner had started updating the house one room at a time and then decided it was easiest to buy new.
The entire house was empty of furniture except for a folding chair leaning against the wall beside the front bay window. Marcus unfolded the chair and sat down, facing the Dunham house. From here, he could see the entire property. He could see the
“He waited here for them all night, didn’t he?” Andrew asked.
“I think so. Then, after the father left for work, he waited a bit longer. Until they were both in the same place, having breakfast. After that, he took them both down fast and hard. Probably two tasers, one for each of them. Shoot the mom. Drop the taser. Shoot the son. Then drug them both while they’re incapacitated.”
“But how did he get two unconscious people out of the house in broad daylight without anyone seeing a thing? I could see it happening, but not at every scene. And this is a fairly busy street.”
Marcus said, “He’s using some technique to blend in. Someone’s seen him, but they didn’t register him as out of place. Hours later, they didn’t remember seeing anything at all. You dress up like a mailman or a meter reader, and you’re as good as invisible to most people.”
“Yeah, but a mailman dragging two bodies behind him would raise some suspicion. Plus he knows their routine. He’s been watching them.”
“Exactly.”
“But a car or van parked on a suburban street like this for an extended period of time or some guy just hanging around would be noticed.”
“I’ve got a theory about that, which means that we have another scene to check that the locals haven’t got to yet.”
“What do you mean?”
Marcus moved out of the garage and back toward the front door. “Tell the kid we’re leaving. I think I know how the killer was watching them.”
Chapter Fourteen
When they had first pulled up to the scene, Marcus had noticed the for-sale sign in the yard of a big yellow bungalow across the street. The sign was blue with white letters. It sat at a lopsided angle, and a layer of grime covered it, as if it had weathered more than its share of storms in the same spot. As he considered how the killer had watched his victims, Marcus remembered pictures from the other abduction scenes. The KCPD had been thorough in their jobs and had photographed the view up and down each block for context. It was a smart move. He remembered other homes for sale sitting opposite the other scenes. It might even have been the reason why those families were chosen—homes opposite properties that had been vacant for an extended amount of time. Although that knowledge wouldn’t help them find future victims, it was still another piece to the puzzle, another question answered.
Marcus picked the lock while Andrew stood guard in the alley. A big oak tree shaded the backyard, and a faded white privacy fence provided some cover. He smelled burning leaves and barbecue in the air. The door had a simple deadbolt mechanism. A bit of maneuvering and a few seconds’ time, and they were inside as easily as if they owned the place.
“What are we going to tell the locals if we find something?” Andrew asked.
“We’re not supposed to tell them anything.”
“Does that mean you’re actually going to follow orders?”
Marcus didn’t reply. He was focused on the scene. The back door opened into a kitchen. Tan linoleum covered the floors, and the cabinets looked like they were straight from the 1950s, with a flat pale yellow finish. A layer of dust covered everything, and the house smelled faintly of excrement.
They walked through a dining room and past a set of pocket doors into a front room that had been remodeled. The carpet had been pulled up and the hardwood refinished. The old plaster had been replaced with drywall. It was like stepping from the past into the present. He supposed that the owner had started updating the house one room at a time and then decided it was easiest to buy new.
The entire house was empty of furniture except for a folding chair leaning against the wall beside the front bay window. Marcus unfolded the chair and sat down, facing the Dunham house. From here, he could see the entire property. He could see the
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