transient. The interstate system provides immediate and easy escape routes. A killer can simply get back on the road and be three hundred to four hundred miles away before the body is even discovered.
“Just since the database was created, two serial killers have been apprehended and convicted. Both long-haul truck drivers. We believe there are possibly several serial killers out on the roads using the rest areas and truck stops to supply them with easy targets.”
“When you say ‘several,’ how many do you really suspect?” asked Gwen.
Kunze didn’t hesitate. “Possibly a dozen.”
Gwen glanced around the table. None of the others flinched at this number.
“You can’t be serious,” Gwen said. “You’re saying there could be a dozen different killers—serial killers? Today? Driving thehighways, undetected. Stopping at rest areas and truck stops to find their victims? And essentially getting away with murder?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. We believe Agents O’Dell and Tully are close on the trail of one of them right now. The guy who killed Gloria Dobson and Zach Lester. We think he’s killed more. This particular task force is assigned to catch this guy.”
Kunze rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. That’s when Gwen noticed the man’s fatigue and his attempt to downplay his frustration.
He looked around the table at them and there was a hint of anger in his voice when he said, “He’s dared us to find him, to catch him. We probably have a window of a week or two before this bastard simply changes his route. Chooses another part of the country. Revises his killing pattern. And when he does, he’ll be gone again. But one thing is certain—he won’t stop killing.”
CHAPTER 14
IOWA
Maggie had already guessed what was inside the white plastic bag.
She and Tully let the CSU techs take charge. They stood back with the others at the bottom of the dirt pile and watched as Ryan, the taller of the two male techs, carried the small bag. Janet had handed it down to him, both as careful as though they were handling fine china.
After helping to free the bag from the dirt, Maggie had lifted and felt the contents. She could tell it was double bagged. There was a large solid mass inside and she noted the squishy mess that had pooled at the bottom. She estimated its weight at about ten to eleven pounds, and she had a good idea what it was.
With the bag free of the chunks of mud, it was easy to see the Walmart logo.
“The contents of this one might not even be related to the bigger one.” It was Matt, the other tech, but even as he said it, he was spreading out and preparing a body bag, anticipating that it was human remains.
Maggie glanced around at the men. Of course no one believed it held someone’s discarded impulse buy at the twenty-four-hourretail store. All of them were eager but there was a nervous quiet. The air had started to cool with dusk settling in around them. Maggie could feel their contradictory emotions—they wanted to see, but maybe they didn’t want to see.
At first she had considered whether she and Tully should push back the men, not allow them access. In fact, she was surprised that Tully—who usually played by the rules—hadn’t suggested it. But they had all spent an afternoon digging in the mud, sharing the significance of what might be buried here and exposing themselves to the rancid smells. Maggie wasn’t going to be the one to tell these men thanks for all your help, but no, you don’t get to see what you worked so hard to uncover.
In the middle of the black body bag the small white plastic one looked less sinister. Matt and Ryan waited for Janet. She kneeled down after putting on a fresh pair of purple latex gloves. The plastic bags’ handles had been tied in a loose knot. It would have been simple enough to untie it. Instead, Janet snipped off the knot entirely and placed it into an evidence bag that Matt held out for her.
As
“Just since the database was created, two serial killers have been apprehended and convicted. Both long-haul truck drivers. We believe there are possibly several serial killers out on the roads using the rest areas and truck stops to supply them with easy targets.”
“When you say ‘several,’ how many do you really suspect?” asked Gwen.
Kunze didn’t hesitate. “Possibly a dozen.”
Gwen glanced around the table. None of the others flinched at this number.
“You can’t be serious,” Gwen said. “You’re saying there could be a dozen different killers—serial killers? Today? Driving thehighways, undetected. Stopping at rest areas and truck stops to find their victims? And essentially getting away with murder?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. We believe Agents O’Dell and Tully are close on the trail of one of them right now. The guy who killed Gloria Dobson and Zach Lester. We think he’s killed more. This particular task force is assigned to catch this guy.”
Kunze rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. That’s when Gwen noticed the man’s fatigue and his attempt to downplay his frustration.
He looked around the table at them and there was a hint of anger in his voice when he said, “He’s dared us to find him, to catch him. We probably have a window of a week or two before this bastard simply changes his route. Chooses another part of the country. Revises his killing pattern. And when he does, he’ll be gone again. But one thing is certain—he won’t stop killing.”
CHAPTER 14
IOWA
Maggie had already guessed what was inside the white plastic bag.
She and Tully let the CSU techs take charge. They stood back with the others at the bottom of the dirt pile and watched as Ryan, the taller of the two male techs, carried the small bag. Janet had handed it down to him, both as careful as though they were handling fine china.
After helping to free the bag from the dirt, Maggie had lifted and felt the contents. She could tell it was double bagged. There was a large solid mass inside and she noted the squishy mess that had pooled at the bottom. She estimated its weight at about ten to eleven pounds, and she had a good idea what it was.
With the bag free of the chunks of mud, it was easy to see the Walmart logo.
“The contents of this one might not even be related to the bigger one.” It was Matt, the other tech, but even as he said it, he was spreading out and preparing a body bag, anticipating that it was human remains.
Maggie glanced around at the men. Of course no one believed it held someone’s discarded impulse buy at the twenty-four-hourretail store. All of them were eager but there was a nervous quiet. The air had started to cool with dusk settling in around them. Maggie could feel their contradictory emotions—they wanted to see, but maybe they didn’t want to see.
At first she had considered whether she and Tully should push back the men, not allow them access. In fact, she was surprised that Tully—who usually played by the rules—hadn’t suggested it. But they had all spent an afternoon digging in the mud, sharing the significance of what might be buried here and exposing themselves to the rancid smells. Maggie wasn’t going to be the one to tell these men thanks for all your help, but no, you don’t get to see what you worked so hard to uncover.
In the middle of the black body bag the small white plastic one looked less sinister. Matt and Ryan waited for Janet. She kneeled down after putting on a fresh pair of purple latex gloves. The plastic bags’ handles had been tied in a loose knot. It would have been simple enough to untie it. Instead, Janet snipped off the knot entirely and placed it into an evidence bag that Matt held out for her.
As
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