Sound of Darkness

Many of the graves were marked with flowers.

Colleen commented on that.

“Maybe we should have brought—”

“Alfie said he had been allergic. Ragnar brings a dark beer sometimes. When Alfie was off and he did drink, he liked dark beer.”

“I see. And he dumps it on the grave?”

“A few sips, then he drinks the rest. Alfie also said he couldn’t see the waste of a good beer.”

Colleen smiled. They had walked to the grave. She knelt, moving a bit of brush that had fallen upon his marker.

Red sat, as if he knew he needed to be respectful of the dead.

“I know it could be any of us on any given day,” she said. “But it’s still so sad to me. Someone trying to help others—to stop horrible things from happening to people. I mean, yes, we’ve had a few bad eggs. But in the far greater majority, officers and agents are honorable and save lives.”

“You won’t get an argument on that from me,” Mark said.

It was then he saw Alfie coming through the trees. He had been speaking with someone—another “remaining soul” as Alfie sometimes referred to himself and others.

He started to say something to Colleen, but she had already noted Alfie and was standing.

“Thought you might be around today,” Alfie said, addressing Mark, and then turning instantly and politely to Colleen. “Sergeant Alfred Parker, Alfie to friends, and if you’re with this fellow, we’re friends, right?” Before Colleen could answer, he turned back to Mark. “I know she sees me. I can tell. You see it in someone’s eyes when they look at you.”

“Alfie, Special Agent Colleen Law,” Mark said.

“I’m so pleased to meet you, Alfie,” Colleen said. “Honored,” she added.

Alfie had died at thirty-eight years, three months, and fourteen days, according to his headstone. He’d had dark hair, just beginning to gray at the temples, green eyes, and a tall, bronzed physique.

Cut down in the prime of life, Mark couldn’t help thinking.

“It’s a pleasure,” Alfie said. “And, Mark, I’m proud of you and Ragnar. You got the bastard.”

“Well, we have him in custody and he will be charged. You know he’ll try every legal trick in the book.”

“But can he get away with it, considering his victim had no history of prostitution or even a wild side?” Alfie asked.

“I hope not. I believe Sally will be a good witness against him.”

“I saw her trying to escape,” Alfie said. “I’d be a damned good witness. It’s too bad the world can’t see us. But I wouldn’t change the justice system. No witch hunts should ever occur again. How can he get out of the fact he had the girl in his basement?”

“I don’t see how, but he will try to say Ragnar and I entered illegally. If you want to get really technical—” Mark began.

“I don’t. Anyway, you got your guy. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Alfie asked.

“I need to know if you saw him leave after he brought Sally into his house,” Mark said.

Alfie was quiet. Mark didn’t push him. Alfie’s expression was pained.

“What is it?” Colleen asked softly.

Alfie shook his head. “I don’t know. When I saw what I saw, knowing what has been happening, I went to Krewe headquarters as quickly as I could. It was late, but you know Jackson keeps someone in the office twenty-four-seven, so I was able to report what I’d seen...”

“Well, another young woman was kidnapped.”

“No!” Alfie said.

“We found her. Rather, I should say Colleen and Red found her,” Mark said.

Alfie looked at Colleen.

“She has a unique hearing gift,” Mark said.

“How intriguing! You found the young woman. In time?” Alfie asked anxiously.

“We found her in time. But that’s the problem. We don’t know if Carver held one woman in the basement and went out after another—or if he has a copycat or someone working with him.”

“I see,” Alfie said thoughtfully. He winced. “I was so anxious for someone to get to the girl I knew was being held that I... Well, I can find out if perhaps anyone was around. At least, I can try.”

“Thanks, Alfie. All your help is more deeply appreciated than we could ever say,” Mark told him.

Alfie nodded.

“Where are you heading now? What are your leads?” he asked.

“Well, two boyfriends—we’re trying to find out if either could be involved. And someone suspicious was seen at a restaurant with one of the victims. We’re heading back to headquarters now to see if the one boyfriend shows up to give one of our sketch artists a decent sketch. Then we’ll go to the restaurant and find out if anyone remembers seeing the man in the sketch,” Mark told him.

Alfie nodded gravely again.

“I’ll do what I can. Send my best to Ragnar. Sure wish I could pet the dog!” Alfie said.

Red woofed, as if he understood.

“Now, that is man’s best friend!” Alfie said.

“He is pretty damned cool,” Mark agreed.

“Okay, then. I’m off,” Alfie said.

“Want a ride?”

“No, going off toward the pub over there. I’ll see if any friends are hanging around,” Alfie said.

He grinned, waved, and was gone.

“Wow,” Colleen said.

“I know you’ve spoken with the dead before,” Mark said.

“He’s just...so intriguing. And helpful. And... I wish we could help him.”

“Maybe we will. Eventually. Anyway, let’s find out if Gary Boynton showed up to work with one of our sketch artists.”

They headed out of the cemetery.

As they neared the car, Colleen paused and looked back.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I guess... I was thinking about Alfie again. And how incredible it is that he helps. And how you and Ragnar pulled off getting into Carver’s residence and saving Sally. And then I was wondering...why? Why would anyone want to enclose a woman in a coffin and...”

She let her words trail off, shaking her head.

Then she looked at him and said, “And what’s scarier is, more than one person might be involved. Sure, Carver could have just held Sally in that basement and gone back out...”

“But I don’t think he did.”

She winced. “I don’t either,” she admitted. “I don’t either.”