their current situation. “Where do
you go from here?”
“ There’s a debriefing this
morning. We’re going to do more questioning this afternoon and then
we’ll meet again before we break for the night.”
“ Any idea on a
suspect?”
Tony turned to face Randall. How had his job
gone from challenging to incredibly difficult in one day? He had
trained for this type of work. His degree in criminology and the
justice system proved he was competent, but at some point the
killers and other criminals had outstripped the police department’s
capabilities. Solving this case would be an incredibly difficult
task.
Tony longed for the days when the cases were
easier. It was more than the lack of evidence that had left him
dissatisfied. Kelsey’s face haunted his memory, causing a burning
pain deep in his chest. Was he up to this task?
Squaring his shoulders, Tony stepped
forward. “We’ve got a preliminary profile. We’re calling in a favor
and having Jackson Spade, over at the FBI, review our logic.”
“ What have you got so
far?”
“ I’d rather wait until we
talk to Jackson Spade.”
“ Just give me something,
anything, so when the mayor calls I can tell him that we have a
preliminary profile.”
“ Dang it, Chief, forget
the mayor. He’ll tell the press then everything we have will be
made public. Don’t give him anything concrete.”
“ You seem to forget who
has the political clout to fire me. I need something, and I’ll make
him promise to keep it quiet.”
“ Please, the mayor keep
quiet?”
“ He’ll do it for me. The
mayor doesn’t want to be blamed for a criminal escaping. I’ll
remind him that the public may want news, but they want killers
caught too.”
“ Fine. This isn’t
definitive, but we believe the suspect is a white male,
intelligent, and he’s a smooth talker. There were no marks on the
doors or windows at either scene. He’s a charmer. Both of these
women were smart enough to know not to let a stranger in, yet they
did.”
“ When Jackson calls, I
want to know what he says.”
“ Yes sir.” Tony watched as
Chief Randall walked out of the conference room. Stress would
either bring you down, or set you up for a fall. Tony needed an
outlet for his stress. He would have to find some time for a
swim.
Lost in his thoughts, he jumped when a loud
noise sounded behind him. Tony snapped his head up and spun around.
Rains stepped into the room and nodded a greeting before asking,
“So where are Rex and Janice?”
“ Haven’t seen them. I want
you and Janice back at the apartment complex asking questions
today.”
The door to the conference room cracked
open. With his head downcast and his eyes averted, Rex entered the
room. Choosing to stay silent, Tony observed Rex, wondering what
had changed since yesterday. Normally you couldn’t shut Rex up in
the morning.
“ Good morning,” Janice
said as she breezed into the conference room.
“ Morning,” Michael
replied.
“ Hi,” Rex said, his eyes
not quite meeting Tony’s.
Tony cleared his throat, wishing that they
were gathered under another circumstance. “The pressure is on.
Chief Randall received a call from Senator Turner this morning.
It’s just a matter of time before the media attacks. I want to go
over our profile again before we head out. Janice, you and Michael
will be canvassing the apartment complex and the Ingles’
neighborhood.”
“ Anything specific?”
Janice asked.
“ See if anyone’s memory
jump-started during the night. Maybe someone has been out of town
for a few days. Interview them and ask if they’ve seen anyone
suspicious over the last few weeks.”
Tony turned to Rex, watching for his
reaction. Nothing. Rex sat with his head dipped down, no eye
contact and no quipping statements to lighten the mood. His
behavior was off. Something had happened.
“ Are we sure about the
profile we developed?” Michael asked, interrupting Tony’s
thoughts.
“ Yeah, we’re sure,”
you go from here?”
“ There’s a debriefing this
morning. We’re going to do more questioning this afternoon and then
we’ll meet again before we break for the night.”
“ Any idea on a
suspect?”
Tony turned to face Randall. How had his job
gone from challenging to incredibly difficult in one day? He had
trained for this type of work. His degree in criminology and the
justice system proved he was competent, but at some point the
killers and other criminals had outstripped the police department’s
capabilities. Solving this case would be an incredibly difficult
task.
Tony longed for the days when the cases were
easier. It was more than the lack of evidence that had left him
dissatisfied. Kelsey’s face haunted his memory, causing a burning
pain deep in his chest. Was he up to this task?
Squaring his shoulders, Tony stepped
forward. “We’ve got a preliminary profile. We’re calling in a favor
and having Jackson Spade, over at the FBI, review our logic.”
“ What have you got so
far?”
“ I’d rather wait until we
talk to Jackson Spade.”
“ Just give me something,
anything, so when the mayor calls I can tell him that we have a
preliminary profile.”
“ Dang it, Chief, forget
the mayor. He’ll tell the press then everything we have will be
made public. Don’t give him anything concrete.”
“ You seem to forget who
has the political clout to fire me. I need something, and I’ll make
him promise to keep it quiet.”
“ Please, the mayor keep
quiet?”
“ He’ll do it for me. The
mayor doesn’t want to be blamed for a criminal escaping. I’ll
remind him that the public may want news, but they want killers
caught too.”
“ Fine. This isn’t
definitive, but we believe the suspect is a white male,
intelligent, and he’s a smooth talker. There were no marks on the
doors or windows at either scene. He’s a charmer. Both of these
women were smart enough to know not to let a stranger in, yet they
did.”
“ When Jackson calls, I
want to know what he says.”
“ Yes sir.” Tony watched as
Chief Randall walked out of the conference room. Stress would
either bring you down, or set you up for a fall. Tony needed an
outlet for his stress. He would have to find some time for a
swim.
Lost in his thoughts, he jumped when a loud
noise sounded behind him. Tony snapped his head up and spun around.
Rains stepped into the room and nodded a greeting before asking,
“So where are Rex and Janice?”
“ Haven’t seen them. I want
you and Janice back at the apartment complex asking questions
today.”
The door to the conference room cracked
open. With his head downcast and his eyes averted, Rex entered the
room. Choosing to stay silent, Tony observed Rex, wondering what
had changed since yesterday. Normally you couldn’t shut Rex up in
the morning.
“ Good morning,” Janice
said as she breezed into the conference room.
“ Morning,” Michael
replied.
“ Hi,” Rex said, his eyes
not quite meeting Tony’s.
Tony cleared his throat, wishing that they
were gathered under another circumstance. “The pressure is on.
Chief Randall received a call from Senator Turner this morning.
It’s just a matter of time before the media attacks. I want to go
over our profile again before we head out. Janice, you and Michael
will be canvassing the apartment complex and the Ingles’
neighborhood.”
“ Anything specific?”
Janice asked.
“ See if anyone’s memory
jump-started during the night. Maybe someone has been out of town
for a few days. Interview them and ask if they’ve seen anyone
suspicious over the last few weeks.”
Tony turned to Rex, watching for his
reaction. Nothing. Rex sat with his head dipped down, no eye
contact and no quipping statements to lighten the mood. His
behavior was off. Something had happened.
“ Are we sure about the
profile we developed?” Michael asked, interrupting Tony’s
thoughts.
“ Yeah, we’re sure,”
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