Brad jumped on this comment
and said, “I was thinking about that too. We need to investigate
this idea further. Remember the Zodiac serial killer from the
sixties? Maybe our guy is a copycat with more than one past noted
serial killer. Let’s think about this idea. First the serial killer
is looking for notoriety such as the Zodiac killer sending messages
to newspapers and the police. In our case John is receiving tons of
media exposure as we speak. He’s basking in glory reading or
watching on TV, or nowadays with the computer websites are
springing up as Billy has told us regarding our JM. Now, if our guy
goes to ground, then what will he do for news? Will he start
killing again? The questions go on and on.”
Sujin spoke up and said,
“What you are saying is you think once the news fades he will begin
again. And if that is the case, we need to find out who and where
it will be. If he strikes somewhere other than a senior center or
town clubs all the notices will have been in vain. How do we get a
fix on this guy?” Agent Jones thought she spoke rather good English
and she sure sounded like an American talking.
Wendy took the break in the
conversation to say, “You know the Zodiac killer was never caught.”
She let that statement hung over an already depressed team. Billy
came bouncing back from the computer room announcing he had the
answer, or the best guess on the probability of John’s next places
to continue his murderous spree. He said with excitement, “My
friends in our ‘Nerds’ club has verified that Aberdeen, Anacortes
and Arden will be the start of the ‘C’ in Catch.”
“Billy how sure of this is
you,” Brad asked.
“Would you believe upwards
of eighty percent give or take a point or two,” as he looked from
face to face wanting them to give him a pat on the back or
something.
“Ok if we accept what you
say is as good as anything we have to go on, which city or town is
first? I know that is a rhetorical question, but after looking at
the map, Arden is a very small town located in Eastern Washington.
Naturally if a team of agents invades Arden the town will explode
with fear. Same with the other two towns and the answer is
undercover would be the way to implement the infusion of
agents.”
Agent Jones was the first to
say he liked it and he was happy when Wendy approved of it too.
Mike loved the idea and added, “We need drawings of what he used in
the past for disguises. The agents must memorize them and slight
variations also included. Now, how do you Brad, expect to sell this
to the FBI?” An obvious jab at the boss and Mike had a shit eating
grin on his face as it was later described by agent
Jones.
“I don’t, but Steve will, to
answer your question Mike.”
“What is that expression all
are saying these days, ‘You can run, but you can’t hide’.” That
last exchange brought on a knee slapping round of laughter as Brad
stood up and said good night. Sujin went upstairs along with Billy
to change out the dogs for the night. Billy lighted a Marlboro and
stomped his feet for warmth in the cold clear night. Agent Jones
joined him for some fresh air and asked him he could talk with him
for a few minutes. Billy, through clouds of blue smoke drifting off
to the east slowing turning gray and disappearing, told Jones to
ask away. “Well, I really like working with this team and as you
have known Brad and the rest of the team for a long time, what do
you think, or why do you think Brad keeps me around?”
“Ah, so that’s it. Simply
put Brad thinks you are unpretentious and have a base of common
sense. He doesn’t think you are a climber at this point and if
given an assignment you will do your best.”
“I thank you but what if one
of my bosses drags me aside for insider information at some future
time?”
“Now that is a tough one.
What would I do in that case? I would tell them if they have any
questions that involve the personal side of Brad Pratt and his
team; they should direct the questions to Brad.”
“I feel it is coming rather
sooner than I think. I get the feeling some shit is going hit the
proverbial fan soon.”
“We have been there before
and you’re not to worry. Brad in a fight is unbelievable be it
physical or mental. He’s so smooth you will observe the person with
whom he is jousting, eat his or her tie in frustration.” Billy
fired up another cigarette before spending the rest of the night
staring at the computer. Agent Jones went back inside and set an
alarm for the early morning rock climbing.
Chapter
9
A cool fresh breeze was
blowing off the ocean as the team walked down the trail to the
beach under a cloudless early morning sky. Slight traces of frost
remained on the grass making the beach grass look like a field of
white mixed with brown waves similar to the foam left with a wave
on the beach.
Leading Wendy and agent
Jones, Brad thought about last night’s phone call to Steve. Steve
listened carefully and told him he would get back to him by noon
his time the next day. Brad had written a report up stating the
salient facts and sent it via fax to Steve’s office. The last thing
he told Steve was about his meeting with the FBI Director and his
new special agent in charge, Nancy Longstreet. He asked Steve to
fax him her personal file and any other facts or rumors about
her.
Putting aside the thoughts,
Brad stopped at the first small sea stack and demonstrated how he
climbed the rocks. At first Wendy thought it a little silly until
Brad explained the how and why of rock climbing. He said, “Suppose
it is a black night, raining and you are climbing out of a canyon
or valley with bad guys looking for you. I know what you’re
thinking: how does this concern me? Well, if you are going to be on
my team you must be trained for any and all possible situations.”
Both Wendy and Jones were shocked to hear they might be part of the
team in the future. Agent Jones stuck out his chest and followed
Brad to the top of the stack. Wendy had a picture of the path they
took and followed suit.
Sitting on the top of small
twenty foot stack, a nice view was had. The incoming tide felt and
looked powerful as the small waves made their way inland. The sun
rising out of the east cast a dark blue against the ocean and a
deep brown where the waves sucked back to make another run at the
beach giving evidence of the strong rip tide. Along the sand dunes
evidence of powerful storms lies against the dunes. Large trees and
logs like white skeletons mixed with small pieces of driftwood were
tightly bunched against the sand hills. From her position on top of
the stack, Wendy could see just the top of the Round House on the
bluff. Fronting the bluff from north to south short grasses long
since turned brown swayed in the light ocean breeze. The usual
strong smell of salt and decaying seaweed was only slightly as the
breeze was mostly bringing fresh air to her nose. What a beautiful
place, she thought as Brad climbed down with Jones
following.
Standing on the beach next
to the stack Brad brought out two red handkerchiefs from his small
backpack. He made up both into a blindfold and first to go was
Agent Jones. No words were necessary as Jones began his accent of
the stack. Slowly he went as it was evident he didn’t know exactly
what or where to place his hands and feet. It took him fully twenty
minutes to reach the top. He knew better than to take off the
blindfold and made his way back down the stack to the beach. When
he reached the sand he took off the blindfold and was totally out
of breath. He said, “Now that was a challenge, ’ and grinned at
Wendy whose turn it was next.
Blindfold in place, she
began her climb. She was intelligent and had tried to memorize the
hand and foot holds along the way. However, only about five feet up
the stack she didn’t have a clue where she was going. It took her
almost an hour up and down the stack. To the both of them, with a
surprised look on their faces when Brad said they did excellent for
the first time climbing blind.
Wendy regretted later when
she blurted out like a smart ass challenging Brad to the task. Brad
gave her a blindfold and turned around so she could fit it to his
head. She loved the way his hair felt, so soft and thick. An
electric current shot its way between her legs and then she spun
him around to make sure he didn’t peek! Brad asked her if she was
satisfied with the blindfold and when she said yes, he turned a
quarter ways around and up and down the stack he went like a monkey
up a tree. Not one minute had passed before he was standing on the
sand in front of her. She pretended to pout as she took off running
back to the house. Brad and Jones went for a run and didn’t return
for over an hour. By then it was close to ten am before the high
pitch of the alarm and lights went on announcing their
arrival.
Billy was waiting for them
to come back standing next to the door smoking like a winter
chimney. He followed them in talking a mile a minute about signs
and numbers.
Brad, Wendy heard from the
wooden table by the window where she was talking to Sujin and
drinking coffee, tell Billy that after breakfast they would all get
together for a talk. Mike had left for his home and told Sujin to
call him if they needed him. If not he would stick around his farm
for a day or two to catch up on some work.
The phone rang just after
they finished with breakfast. Brad took the portable down to the
basement while the rest of them, minus Billy who was having his
dessert outside talking to Rocky, sat drinking tea and discussing
the case. It must have been an important call as it was fully a
half hour before he returned with an abnormal scowl on his face.
Sujin made him a fresh cup of tea as he sat back down
o
n
the floor. He
took a couple sips of the tea and remarked how good it was and gave
his wife a look of love.
Wendy was jealous she had
such a man and longed for a relationship like theirs. She’d chosen
a career over a relationship and now was starting to regret it.
Snap out of it she said to herself. She was still young and
attractive as some of her dates had told her. Oh well, get back to
reality girl and concentrate on doing the job she was an expert
at.
Brad looked at each one of
the team and then said, “We are going to have visitors here by
tomorrow morning. Steve will bring the new FBI special agent Nancy
for a meeting to discuss the case and our new development
concerning the ‘A’ towns. Meanwhile let’s take the day to do our
own research and at dark let’s have a sit down to discuss what we
think might be important to the case.”
Wendy and agent Jones sat
there digesting what he said and wondering what tomorrow would
bring.
John Mitchell, a.k.a. Clyde
Walker sat in his easy chair with his laptop glancing at the TV
news and looking at a map of Washington state of Goggle Earth.
Listening to the weather forecast it would continue to snow. A
record amount of snow was forecast for the winter and Clyde loved
to hear it. He knew few tourists would venture to come to this
slowly snow bound town.
Then he heard the newscaster
say they had a special press conference about the serial killer
known as the “Senior Killer.” His ears perked up and he saw the
camera switch to a room where a tall woman was standing looking
very serious. He slowly closed the laptop and focused on the
screen. The announcer was saying that the press conference was
hosted by the special agent in charge of the case of the serial
killer.
The camera zoomed in on the
woman who began to speak. “My name is special agent Nancy
Longstreet. I was appointed by the Director of the FBI to lead the
search for the serial killer known by the media name of “The Senior
Killer.” I will make a brief statement and then take your questions
one at a time. First we know his name and where he worked and where
he was raised as a child. We also know what the murder weapon is
and we have concrete evidence of where he might strike again. We
have over five hundred agents on this case and we will find this
animal and put him in custody soon. Now I will take some
questions.”
“Yes, the man in
front.”
“What is his name and where
did he work?”
“His name is John Mitchell
and he worked for a film company in Hollywood.”
“The lady in the
back,”
“Thank you for this press
conference and your first details of the case. I would like to know
where he was born and where he was raised; and if you know the
location what transpired when you investigated it?”
“He was born in Olympia and
lived east of the capital on a farm. He has one brother living who
appears mentally retarded and no doubt the killer has serious
mental problems. We believe we interviewed the suspect, but his
disguise led us to think he was the brother. We have since found a
secret room under the kitchen where evidence tells us it was used
to lock up the children. That would account for our profilers
stating our killer was abused as a child or as even a young
adult.”
A shouting question came
from the front, “Madam, if you had an interview with the suspect,
why is it he is not in custody?”
“Unfortunately, another
government agency was conducting the interview and decided to let
him go and put a watch on the farm. Subsequently, he escaped and we
have no idea where he might be now. But from the cryptogram of
random letters we think he will strike again in the future starting
with the letter “A” in the phrase: ‘Catch me if you can’.” Now, one
last question.”