Pray for Mercy (Detectives Kane and Alton)

??Once I have a copy of your workbook, from the time you started work for Mrs. Wagner, you’ll be free to go. Do I have your permission to make a copy of the last few entries?”

“Yeah, sure.” Duffy lifted his chin and his mouth curled into a smile. “Sally told you I’d been home, right?”

Trying not to display her thoughts, Jenna pushed the statement book across the desk to him. “I’ll go and make copies. If you’ll write down when you last saw the victims and add your permission for me to make a copy of your workbook and sign it, you’ll be able to get back to work.” She glanced at Jo. “Agent Wells will be able to assist you.”

“Anything to oblige.” Duffy pulled the statement book toward him and took the pen Jenna handed him.

Jenna flashed her card across the scanner and went outside the door. She dropped the book on the small table under the two-way mirror and thumbed through the pages. Using her phone, she copied every page of the book from the week before Agnes Wagner’s death right through to his future appointments. It didn’t take her long. She smiled to herself. “If you are our killer, Mr. Duffy, you’ve just made your first mistake.”

THIRTY-TWO

It had been an interesting day and they sat in the truck gathering their thoughts, noting how the glass doors of the sheriff’s office sparkled, with not a speck of dirt anywhere. They guessed that having a derogatory message scrawled across the front for all to see was more than the sheriff could stand. It was amusing to know the FBI had become involved and the great Sheriff Alton wasn’t coping with the case. Calling in the FBI would be a last resort. This scrap of information confirmed that they already held the winning hand. Their string of perfect crimes was driving the sheriff insane. They’d left no clues and had an advantage that the FBI and sheriff hadn’t considered, and yet it was right under their noses.

Achieving success at murder came down to intelligence because it didn’t take a genius to plan a murder or to avoid leaving evidence behind. Everything they needed to avoid detection they could purchase at the general store, and those generic items were untraceable. Selecting the next person to die was a little more complicated and hinged on if the sheriff arrested Zac Rio for murder. If she did, it would be time to cut and run. They’d be free to find another small town, set in the forest with an old ladies’ quilting circle. It would be game on and they’d have so many old biddies to choose from. So many all alone and living in isolated areas just made for them to exact their own special justice.

Ideas pooled inside their head, the concepts so sweet they rolled around like a piece of candy, each idea landing on a taste bud and spiraling into a macabre delight. Nothing came close to seeing the sudden realization on the old women’s faces that something was terribly wrong. The uncertainty in their eyes and the questions all delivered with a harsh tone as if they were kids for them to discipline. So, they’d turn the tables on them and laugh and call them useless, or weak, and stupid. In fact, they were all these things. It had been all over the news to keep their doors locked, and yet they’d opened them without question. After waving them inside, they’d offered them refreshment. The houses always had the same smell. The musty odor that unlocked the memories and triggered the anger, but once inside, they’d had to be patient. The old women would leave them to shuffle around the kitchen and that time was all they needed to prepare. When the women returned, the fun began and the plan would unfold just as it had in their minds.

After, blood-soaked like a wild cat after its first kill, satisfaction had filled them, but like the finest steak dinner, who could stop at one? They wanted more from the quilting circle to be afraid—and needed more to suffer—for every darn terrifying second they’d spent locked inside the dark closet with the spiders—and for every meal they’d missed. Could they stop when they’d taught the last old lady on the list a lesson? No, they’d just gotten started and next they’d remove everyone who’d stood by during their punishment and said nothing—and that list was endless.

It was fun watching Sheriff Alton running in circles, and she’d ride that carousel forever before finding them. People from every walk of life interacted with the quilting circle and up to now, the sheriff had only skimmed the surface. Many Black Rock Falls residents lived alone, and in isolated areas. They figured only one in three could possibly have a suitable alibi for the nights of the murders. A word here, and a push in the right direction there, and the sheriff would find herself with a list of possible suspects a mile long.

They smiled to themselves. They’d achieved the perfect crime and wanted to sit and gloat but, of course, someone had to spoil the moment. One of the quilting circle ladies waddled past, basket filled with groceries and smiled at them. They waved back, gritting their teeth to fight the rising need to spring from the truck and sink a knife deep into her neck. They sucked in deep mountain-fresh breaths and calmed the rage. They must stick to the plan, even as the need to kill became intolerable. Being in control and selecting the women who’d had many visitors to their homes was the charm. In this way they spread the risk of discovery. Sheriff Alton didn’t stand a chance. Their superior intelligence could outwit her time and time again.

THIRTY-THREE

Kane high-fived Carter as they headed back to the Beast and grinned. “Oh, you did the best, concerned expression I’ve ever seen. You had that woman eating out of your hand.”

“Well, Mrs. Duffy’s pupils were a little dilated.” Carter tossed a toothpick into his mouth. “I figured she was on some type of tranquilizers, and most who take them rely on sleeping meds as well.” He swung into the truck and stared at him. “It’s just looking for the signs.”

Snorting with laughter, Kane slid behind the wheel and glanced at the dogs in the back seat. “Man, you could charm the skin off a bear.” He patted Duke. “I’ll drop the statement into the office but Duke needs to stretch his legs. He’s been cooped up for hours.”

“Sure, I took Zorro for a run earlier.” Carter shrugged. “I’ll check with Kalo and see if he’s hunted down any more info on the suspects. I asked him to run them through every database he could think of, so if they’re dirty, he’d find out all the details.”

“Ask him about service records as well.” Kane scratched his chin, thinking. “The Ka-Bar knife found at the scene looked like government issue to me. If not from the killer, it had to come from a close family member. It’s not the type of knife I usually see carried in these parts; regular hunting knifes are more popular. Although, people can buy anything online these days.”

He walked into the sheriff’s office and went to the front desk to wait to speak to Maggie. As Carter moved past him, with Zorro sticking to him like glue, he smiled at him. “Tell Jenna I’ll be back soon.”

“Sure.” Carter stopped walking. “I’m heading down to Antlers for a steak tonight with Jo. You coming?”

The thought of an Antlers house special filled Kane’s mind and he groaned. “A steak sounds tempting but I’ll need to head on home and tend the horses.” He glanced back around, but Maggie was still speaking with someone.

“Do you want something, Dave?” Poppy leaned on the desk and smiled at him.

Kane smiled back at her. “Ah, no, I need Maggie to file this statement as soon as possible and get a copy into the murder book.”

To his relief, the man speaking to Maggie turned to leave. He pushed the statement across the counter to her. “This is crucial evidence. Can you get this into everyone’s files ASAP?”

“I sure can.” Maggie took the paperwork and sat at her desk.

“Thanks.” Kane turned away. “I gotta go walk Duke.” He headed for the door.

“I’ll come with you. Wait a second, I need to tell Maggie I’m leaving.” Poppy turned away but soon caught up with him outside on the steps. “I was hoping we’d be able to talk but you’ve been so busy all day.”

The last thing he needed was Poppy for company. Her constant chatter ground at his nerves, especially when he wanted to take the time walking Duke to think thr

ough the current caseload. He glanced at Poppy. He had to admit she couldn’t have arrived at a worse time. “Talk about what?”

“I want to look over some old case files with you.” Poppy bounced along beside him, her face animated. “We could work in my hotel room. The mayor arranged a suite. It’s very comfortable and there’s room service… or we could wait until I move into my apartment. That would be cozy, wouldn’t it?” She slipped her hand through his arm and pulled him to a stop and leaned into him. “I could learn so much from you, Dave.”