robb j.d. - chaos-in-death

8/12/2019 Robb J.D. - Chaos-In-Death

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In Death Series

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Nora Roberts

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haos in Death===================

Chapter 1

He found life in death. And delight in the whirlwind of fear and fright. To hunt to steal the light the life

the blood the soul. !ell he"d been born for it.

It #ade hi# laugh to dan$e around the #adness of his $reating $ape swirling%and wasn"t that awonderful tou$h%legs &i$&ing in a 'o(ful 'ig.

)*en the sound of his own laughter deep and ri$h and free thrilled hi# #ade hi# laugh all the harder.

He was ali*e.

+And (ou"re not,+

He hopped s&ipped leaped o*er the three bodies he"d arranged on the floor. Tilting his head he grinned

at his handiwor&. He"d laid the# out so the( sat%well slu#ped but that was dead for (ou%in a line

against the wall.

itiful spe$i#ens reall( this trio of 'un&ies who"d barel( had the wit or the will to put up a fight. ut /od

&new a #an had to start so#ewhere. Still their fear was his now and their tears their $ries and pleas%

all his.

It tasted so deli$ious.

He needed #ore of $ourse so #an( #ore. ut he"d #ade a #ost e0$ellent start. No #ore pla(ing b( the

rules no sir, No #ore r. /ood /u(.

oring gu(.

He patted his own $hest. +I feel li&e a whole new #an.+

Chu$&ling he stowed the blood( s$alpel the *ials all the lo*el( spe$i#ens in his &it. And inspiration

stru$&.

Cli$h2d3 he as&ed hi#self his head tipping fro# side to side his glea#ing red e(es bulging with glee and

#adness as he s$anned the roo# the bodies the walls. a(be #a(be but irresistible,


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After dipping a glo*ed finger into a pool of $ongealing blood he $o#posed his #essage on the ding(

wall. He had to dip ba$& into the well% ha-ha-ha%se*eral ti#es but the ti#e was well worth it.

To who# it #a( $on$ern4

lease ta&e out the trash. Don"t forget to re$($le properl(,

5h his bell( hurt fro# laughing. He pressed a hand to it nearl( snagging one of the long pointed nails

that stabbed through the glo*e. Then found hi#self hesitating before signing his na#e. He &new his

na#e. 5f $ourse of $ourse he did. 6or a #o#ent his glee teetered toward fur( his laughter toward

guttural grunts.

Then all righted again. He did another 7ui$& 'ig dipped his finger again.

Than& (ou for (our attention to this #atter. Dr. Chaos.

erfe$t. Absentl( he su$&ed the blood and gri#e fro# his finger and read the #essage o*er twi$e.

Ti#e to go he de$ided. Things to do. And he was absolutel( fa#ished. He pi$&ed up his &it lifted an ar#

in salute.

+Adieu #es a#is,+

5n a last $a$&le of laughter he turned swirling the $ape%he 'ust lo*ed doing that%as he s&ipped to the

ba$& roo# and $li#bed out the window.

He $ouldn"t re#e#ber e*er ha*ing #ore fun. And $ouldn"t wait to do it all again.

888

9ieutenant )*e Dallas studied the s$ene. Cops saw it all but there was alwa(s so#ething new so#e

fresh brutalit( e*en in the d(ing su##er of :;


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+!or& see-no gu( eabod(. I need ID T5D.+ )*e fit on #i$rogoggles engaged their light to peer into

the *i$ti#"s #outh. +Clean $ut neat and tid(. She was either alread( dead or un$ons$ious when he too&

her tongue and he had a good stead( hand.+

Struggling to find her own good stead( hand eabod( opened her &it. +Ta&ing the bod( parts those

parti$ular bod( parts do (ou thin& ritual3+

+ossibl(.+ She loo&ed up at the #essage on the wall. +ostl( I thin& he li&es to 'o&e. Real funn( gu(.

He did what he wanted too& what he wanted now he"s telling us to $lean up the #ess. Dr. Chaos.+

)*e loo&ed around the roo#. +That"s what this is. The #iddle gu(3 The &iller too& hi# out where he la(.

@ses a &nife or a s$alpel. ut he doesn"t use it on the others e0$ept for the re#o*al. He swit$hes to

bludgeoning for the other #ale.+

+Cob( i0 age twent(-si0+ eabod( told her. +There had to be two &illers #a(be three. 5ne for ea$h

*i$3+

+a(be. It"s a lot of wor& for one #an. ut onl( one ta&es $redit3+

As )*e had eabod( studied the blood( #essage. +Dr. Chaos. It $ould be the na#e of a group.+

)*e $onsidered it while she used the gauges. +?eah it $ould. T5D on Darnell two hundred thirt(-eight.+

+If there was onl( one wh( didn"t she run li&e hell when he"s stabbing the be'esus out of that gu( or

beating the $rap out of i03+

+Too& her out blows to the &nees. Shattered &nee$aps. ut (eah it $ould be #ore than one. Three

distin$t #ethods of &illing.+

+i0 T5D two hundred twent(.+

+So he too& so#e ti#e with Darnell. )nough for rape.+ )*e lifted the he# of the short nightshirt. +No

bruising bleeding tearing I $an see but the ) will deter#ine se0ual assault.+ )*e lifted the $heap thin

$hain around Darnell"s bruised ne$&. +She"s wearing a ninet(-da( $hip fro# /et Straight.+

+i0 has si0t(.+ eabod( held up the $hip.

!ith a nod )*e rose and #o*ed to the #iddle *i$ti#. +Hear-no has thirt(. !ilson i$&ford+ she said

when she"d run his prints. +Age twent(- two. That sa#e pre$ision surgi$al re#o*al on the ear. Dr. Chaos#a( 'ust be a do$tor or at least ha*e #edi$al training. H## T5D two hundred thirt(. Didn"t die first.+

She sat ba$& on her heels tried to see it.

+He"s the biggest of the three. The &iller went at hi# first+ she $ontinued. +I bet (our ass he did.+

+He( bet (our own ass.+


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+Defensi*e wounds hands ar#s. i$&ford put up a fight. Ta&e it a $ouple wa(s. Sa( three &illers one for

ea$h *i$. Tea#wor&. 5ne stabs one beats one strangles. ut this doesn"t loo& li&e tea#wor&+ )*e said

s$anning the roo# again. +It loo&s li&e . . .+ She gestured to the #essage on the wall.

+Chaos.+

+?eah. Could be the tea# 'ust went to town on the pla$e. ut I"# onl( seeing one t(pe of blood(

footprint and it"s too #u$h to swallow the( all wore the sa#e sie and t(pe of shoe.+

+issed that+ eabod( #uttered.

+a(be there"s #ore and I"*e #issed the#. 5r #a(be the others were #ore $areful.+

+ut (ou don"t thin& so.+

+I thin& that"s an interesting gap of ti#e between T5Ds. I thin& the sa#e hand did the re#o*als ane0perien$ed hand stead(. !e"*e got serious o*er&ill on the two #ales and #anual strangulation%whi$h

is personal and inti#ate%on the fe#ale. The destru$tion of the s$ene is o*er the top and that reads

rage. ut the #essage is 'o&e( whi$h reads $ontrol and intelle$t. It $ould be #ore than one. 5ne with a

$ool head one 'ust batshit $ra(.

+9et"s get the# bagged tagged and transported. I want to tal& to the nine-one-one $aller.+

888

Batrina Chu hun$hed in the ba$& of the bla$&-and-white her fa$e white as death her e(es puff( fro#

weeping. 5ne of the unifor#s had gotten her so#e water. Her throat $li$&ed on e*er( swallow. ut to

)*e"s relief it loo&ed li&e Batrina had $ried herself out. Her puff( pale green e(es sta(ed dr( and fo$used

on )*e.

+I need (ou to tell #e what happened+ )*e began.

+>en didn"t show up for wor&. She *olunteers on the brea&fast shift at /et Straight. The one off Canal.

And she and Cob( and !il the( go to the #eeting after.+

+?ou wor&ed with her3+

+I"# her sponsor. I wor& at the free $lini$ on Canal.+

+9ouise Di#atto"s $lini$3+

+?es. Do (ou &now Dr. Di#atto3+


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+?eah.+

The $onne$tion see#ed to stead( her. +I"# an aide there. I"# stud(ing to be a nurse. >en $a#e into /et

Straight a $ouple #onths ago and I offered to be her sponsor. !e hit it off. She was reall( wor&ing it

(ou &now3 Reall( tr(ing hard. She got Cob( to $o#e in. The( wanted to turn their li*es around.+

+I ha*e her li*ing on !est Si0teenth.+

+The( $ouldn"t pa( the rent. The( started s7uatting here a $ouple wee&s ago. a(be three I guess.

Nobod( was using the pla$e and she said Dr. Rosenthall said it would be o&a( for a few wee&s.+

+Dr. Rosenthall3+

+He and Dr. Di#atto donate ti#e to /et Straight. He and Arianna basi$all( fund the organiation.+

+Arianna.+

+!hitwood. The("re engaged. Arianna and Dr. Rosenthall. She"s a therapist. She donates her ti#e too.

>en she wanted to get $lean sta( $lean. She ne*er #issed the #orning #eeting. And she started

wor&ing at Sli$e%a pia 'oint%about two #onths ago. She"d help ser*e brea&fast ta&e in the #eeting

then stud( for an hour or two%Arianna hoo&ed her up with an online business $ourse%then go to Sli$e if

she had the lun$h shift go into the Center%the !hitwood Center%if she had the dinner shift. ut she

didn"t show up not to ser*e brea&fast not for the #eeting. She didn"t answer her "lin&. Neither did Cob(

or !il. I got worried.+

A tear lea&ed through after all. +I thought #a(be the("d ta&en a slide. It happens. I didn"t want to thin&

it. I reall( trusted she"d tag #e if she got in a situation. ut I did thin& it so I $a#e b( on #( wa( to

wor& to $he$& on her. I &no$&ed. I $ouldn"t see in the window. It"s boarded and grilled but >en ga*e #ea &e( so I opened it and . . . I saw.+

+Do (ou &now an(bod( who"d want to hurt her or Cob( or !il3+

+No.+ ressing her lips together she shoo& her head. +I &now so#e people thin& on$e a 'un&ie but the(

were tr(ing. The( were $lean and tr(ing to sta( that wa(.+

+!hat about people the( asso$iated with when the( were using3+

+I don"t &now. >en ne*er told #e about an( trouble not this &ind. She was happ(. I went b( Sli$e last

night for ta&eout and we tal&ed awhile. She was happ(. Cob( got a 'ob there deli*ering and !il waswor&ing as a sto$& bo( at the twent(-fourse*en a $ouple blo$&s awa(. The( were going to pool their

#one( and rent a pla$e. 9ast night she told #e the( had nearl( two thousand in the rent &itt( so the(

were going to start to loo& for one.

+She was happ(.+


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-----------------------------------------

Chapter :

+Run Rosenthall and !hitwood+ )*e told eabod(. +And get what (ou $an on the Canal Street /et

Straight.+

+Alread( on it. And the sweepers are on their wa(.+

+/ood.+ )*e wal&ed ba$& into the building. +It"s going to ta&e the# a while to sort through this #ess.+

She po&ed through a bit. +Credits $ash e*en loose $hange. I"# not finding an( lin&s.+

+The( probabl( had the#%who doesn"t3%so the &iller probabl( too& the#.+

+Ta&es the "lin&s but lea*es the s$rat$h. He or the( didn"t $are about the #one(. >ust the &ill. And if he

too& the "lin&s he either had $onta$t with the# or thought the( tal&ed about hi# to ea$h other or

so#eone else *ia "lin&.+

+It"s sad+ eabod( #ur#ured. +The( were (oung and tr(ing to reboot their li*es. The( had a good$han$e of #a&ing it too. The floor"s $lean.+

+Suddenl( I 7uestion (our $leanliness standards.+

+I #ean if (ou o*erloo& the blood and the #ess. It"s not dust( or dirt(. The( &ept the floor $lean. And

see so#ebod( repaired and painted this $hair. The( weren"t *er( good at it+ eabod( added as she

pi$&ed up one of the bro&en legs. +ut the( tried. And when I $he$&ed out the bathroo# I guess it"s an

e#plo(ee"s restroo# deal. An(wa( it was $lean. The &illers #ust not ha*e used it. ut the *i$s the( &ept

it $lean.+

+9ieutenant3+ 5ne of the unifor#s stepped in. +!e found this in the re$($ler out ba$&.+

He held up the $lear prote$ti*e $oat $o*ered with blood li&e the ones she"d seen $ountless do$tors

wearing. +>ust one3+

+So far sir.+

+Beep $he$&ing. An(thing pop fro# the $an*ass3+

+Not (et.+

+Beep on that too. ag that for the sweepers. The("re on their wa(. Rosenthall eabod(.+

+Dr. >ustin Rosenthall thirt(-eight. He spe$ialies in $he#i$al addi$tions%and was gi*en a grant b( the

!hitwood /roup for sa#e%$ause rehabilitation. He wor&s pri#aril( out of the !hitwood Center a

fa$ilit( for the stud( of addi$tion with a health $enter and *isitor"s lodging atta$hed. No $ri#inal.+

+9et"s go see if the do$tor"s in.+


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+He"s *er( studl(+ eabod( added and $ontinued to wor& her handheld as the( wal&ed to the $ar. +Has

nu#erous awards for ser*i$e and inno*ations in his field. Donates ti#e to the Canal Street Clini$ /et

Straight and others.+

eabod( slid into the $ar as )*e too& the wheel. +I got lots of pops on gossip and so$iet( pages. He and

Arianna are 7uite the ite#. She"s a loo&er. And reall( reall( ri$h. Not Roar&e ri$h+ eabod( saidreferring to )*e"s husband +but she"s up there. 5r the !hitwood /roup%headed b( her parents%is.

She"s thirt(-four a therapist again spe$ialiing in addi$tions. 6ro# the fluff pie$es I"# s&i##ing it loo&s

li&e the( #et four (ears ago and were engaged last fall. The wedding"s set for ne0t #onth billed as the

wedding of the (ear. And . . . oh she had a brother. Chase died at the age of nineteen. 5D"d. She was

si0teen. The !hitwood Center opened three (ears later.

+5h listen to this. Rosenthall had a sister. She #ade it to twent(-two before she 5D"d. He was on tra$&

to be$o#ing a topflight $ardia$ surgeon. Swit$hed his fo$us after his sister"s death.+

+A surgeon. /a*e that up+ )*e $o##ented +to wor& with 'un&ies. 9i&e his sister li&e his fian$2e"s

brother. Da( in and da( out seeing the# listening to the# treating the# hearing bullshit out of the#.So#ething $ould snap.+

+C(ni$ alert. Honest Dallas fro# what I"# reading here the gu( sounds li&e a saint. A studl( saint. Saint

Studl( of Rosenthall.+

+Do (ou &now wh( the saints are all dead3+

+!h(3+

+e$ause dead"s the onl( wa( (ou $an pull it off. 9i*ing"s #ess( and e*er(one li*ing has so#e dirt( little

se$ret. That"s wh( we ha*e 'obs.+

+A dirt( little se$ret that has a renowned and studl( do$tor slaughtering three re$o*ering addi$ts3+

+So#ebod( did it. He"s got the $onne$tion he"s got the s&ill and a$$ording to our sour$e he"s the one

who ga*e the# the green light to s7uat there. If he"s so saintl( wh( didn"t he float the# a $ouple

#onths" rent3+

+That"s a good 7uestion.+

+It"s one I"# going to as& hi#.+

888

5ld ti#e-faded bri$& housed the !hitwood Center. No flash )*e noted no gloss%at least not on the

e0terior%so the building sat $o#fortabl( in the old eatpa$&ing Distri$t.


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The( #ade the left into a s#all blue and $rea# re$eption area. The wo#an behind the $ounter tapped

her earpie$e turned awa( fro# the s#art s$reen where it loo&ed to )*e she"d been wor&ing on

updating a $o#ple0 s$hedule.

+Can I help (ou3+

+9ieutenant Dallas and Dete$ti*e eabod(.+ )*e held up her badge.

+!e need to spea& with Dr. Rosenthall.+

+Is there a proble#3+

+There al#ost alwa(s is.+

The wo#an didn"t loo& pleased b( the answer and re#inded )*e of Dr. ira"s ad#in. The dragon at the

gates of the N?SD"s shrin& and top profiler.

+Dr. Rosenthall"s in his lab this #orning.+

+!here"s his lab3+

+I reall( #ust insist (ou tell #e (our business before I disturb the do$tor.+

+I reall( #ust insist (ou ta&e us to his lab.+ )*e tapped her badge. +And this has a lot #ore insisten$e

than (ou be$ause it $an arrest (ou for interfering with a poli$e in*estigation.+

+I"ll $he$& with the do$tor.+ The words sounded as sour as the wo#an"s fa$e loo&ed. She tapped her

earpie$e again. +?es a$h would (ou tell Dr. Rosenthall two poli$e offi$ers are here and insist onspea&ing with hi#. ?es. No the( won"t sa(. Than& (ou.+ She waited a #o#ent staring holes through

)*e. Then s$owled. +er( well.+

After another tap she spo&e to )*e. +The do$tor"s lab assistant will $o#e out and ta&e (ou ba$&. The

do$tor will see (ou.+

She ai#ed her nose in the air before turning ba$& to her s$reen.

o#ents later a side door opened. The #an who $a#e out had deep brown s&in and large hea*(-lidded

e(es nearl( as bla$& as his $rown of $url( hair. He wore a standard white lab $oat o*er 'eans and a red T-

shirt that as&ed +( petri dish or (ours3+

+5ffi$ers3+

+9ieutenant Dallas and Dete$ti*e eabod(.+


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+5h. @# . . .+ He flashed a *er( white s#ile. +If (ou"ll $o#e this wa(3+ Through the door was a #ae a

rabbit warren of roo#s off angled $orridors. The lab assistant negotiated the# on flapping gel sandals.

He paused at double steel doors swiped his $ard spo&e his na#e. +a$hai /upta.+

The se$urit( blin&ed green in a$$eptan$e and the doors slid open into a large lab. )*e felt a weird

'u0taposition as her friend a*is"s *oi$e wailed out about lo*e on the wild side o*er the pristine red andwhite roo#. Strange e7uations and s(#bols held froen on one of the wall s$reens while so#ething

bubbled blue in a heated bea&er. A wo#an with short slee& red hair hun$hed o*er a #i$ros$ope while

her foot tapped to a*is"s grinding beat. Another lab $oat diligentl( wor&ed two $o#ps at a long white

$ounter.

He sported a short stub of a pon(tail and ragged s&ids.

In the $enter of it a#id the $oils of tubing the spar&ling ele$troni$s the bus( s$reens and the forest of

test tubes bea&ers and spe$i#en dishes stood >ustin Rosenthall.

He wore a lab $oat li&e other #en wore a tu0 perfe$tl( fitted and so#ehow elegant. His gilded #ane ofhair glea#ed under the bright lights. id-star handso#e poeti$all( pale he re#o*ed a bea&er fro# its

heater with tongs and set it in a bath of water. Stea# hissed and $urled.

Through the thin $urtain of it )*e saw his e(es tawn( as a lion"s fi0 intentl( on so#e sort of gauge.

+!hat"s he wor&ing on3+ she as&ed their guide.

+An antidote.+

+To what3+

+To e*il.+ At her raised e(ebrows a$hai flushed shrugged.

)*e heard a low beep. >ustin lifted the bea&er again slid it into a $ontainer sealed it set another gauge.

5nl( then did he step ba$& loo& o*er.

+Sorr(.+ There was an absent $har# in his s#ile in his #o*e#ents as he $rossed to the#. +The ti#ing"s

$ru$ial. ?ou"re the poli$e3+

+9ieutenant Dallas Dete$ti*e eabod( N?SD.+

+Dallas. 5f $ourse (ou"re Roar&e"s wife.+ His s#ile war#ed as he e0tended a hand. +It"s ni$e to finall(

#eet (ou. How is Roar&e3 I ha*en"t seen hi# in . . . it"s probabl( been a (ear. ore.+

+He"s good. This isn"t a so$ial $all Dr. Rosenthall.+

+>ustin. No of $ourse not. Sorr(. How $an I help (ou3+


13/81


14/81

a$hai began to weep and the harsh sobs bore hi# down to the floor where he $o*ered his fa$e with

his hands.

>ustin turned ashen. At her station the redhead sat *er( still staring at )*e as if she"d spo&en in an

an$ient foreign language. The other #an slu#ped ba$& in his $hair shuddered then $losed his e(es

lowered his head.

No one spo&e.

-------------------------------------------------

Chapter E

In the silen$e )*e ga*e eabod( a signal and responding eabod( #o*ed to a$hai. +I"# sorr( for (our

loss+ she began in the $o#fort *oi$e she used so well. +9et #e help (ou. 9et #e help (ou up. !h( don"t

we go o*er here sit down3+

+How $ould%was it%I"# sorr(+ >ustin said. +I 'ust $an"t thin&. The( were atta$&ed3 In the building on

!est Twelfth3+

+?es.+

+ut wh( for /od"s sa&e3 None of the# belonged to a gang none of the# had an( *aluables to spea&

of. !as this 'ust so#e rando# &illings3+

+Do (ou &now an(one who"d wish the#%an( one of the#%har#3+

+No. No I don"t. The( were turning their li*es around and the three of the# had for#ed a strong bond.

Their own s#all support group.+

+The( were addi$ts.+

+In re$o*er(+ >ustin said 7ui$&l(.

+!as there an(one who the(%again an( one of the#%used to asso$iate with prior to their re$o*er( who

#ight ha*e resented the fa$t that the( were getting $lean sta(ing $lean3+

+I don"t &now but if so the( didn"t #ention it to #e. If there was so#eone so#ething one of the#

#ight ha*e told Arianna. Arianna !hitwood. She was the therapist of re$ord for all three of the#.+

+?our fian$2e.+

+?es.+ He loo&ed awa( pressed his fingers to his e(es. +( /od the( were so (oung so hopeful.+

+?ou ga*e the# per#ission to s7uat in that propert(.+


15/81

+?es. The( $ouldn"t #a&e the rent on >en"s apart#ent. She"d fallen behind before she"d #ade the

$o##it#ent to re$o*er(. a$hai told #e the( were sleeping on the street. I thought . . . it would be a

roof o*er their heads until the( found a pla$e.+

+?ou for#ed an atta$h#ent to the#3+

+To >en then through her to Cob( and !il. She was so deter#ined and (ou $ould see the light $o#ing

ba$& into her. ?ou $ould see her finding her 7uiet. It was gratif(ing. )*en inspiring.+

+I guess I"# $urious wh( (ou didn"t float the# the rent.+

+I wish I had.+ outh tight he glan$ed o*er to where eabod( #ur#ured to a$hai. +!e ha*e a poli$(

not to lend #one( to an(one in the progra# but to tr( to find another wa( to help to guide the# to

help the#sel*es. I ne*er i#agined . . . The three of the# together should ha*e been safe. /od &nows

ea$h one of the# had e0perien$e on the street handling the#sel*es.+

+I ha*e to as& where (ou were between one and four this #orning.+

+?es. I . . . !ell here. I was here.+

+That"s a lot of #idnight oil to burn.+

+!hat I"# wor&ing on it"s%I belie*e%at its tipping point. I wor&ed until after two then bun&ed on the

sofa in #( offi$e.+

+Did (ou see or spea& with an(one during that ti#e3+

+No. I sent Ben and a$hai ho#e about ele*en I thin& it was. ?ou $an as& the# or $he$& the log-outs.arti left earlier. I spo&e with Arianna . . . I"# not sure I"d ha*e to $he$& the"lin& log. a(be ten or ten

thirt( before I sent the bo(s ho#e.+

+!hat are (ou wor&ing on3+

+A seru# to $ountera$t deep and $hroni$ addi$tion and substan$e abuse. It will treat the $ra*ing on both

a ph(si$al and ps($hologi$al le*el 7uiet the *iolen$e of that need during withdrawal and after.+

+There are #edi$ations for that alread(.+

+edi$ations that basi$all( substitute one $he#i$al for another. I"# atte#pting to wor& with naturalingredients that will trigger the $he#istr( in the brain and the bod( to return to the le*els prior to the

addi$tion. A rebalan$ing we"ll sa(.+

He rubbed at his te#ple again the sa#e two fingers on the sa#e spot in the sa#e $ir$ular #otion. +Is

there an(thing I%we%$an do for the# now3 Conta$ting fa#il(3 I $an"t re#e#ber the details of that but

Arianna will ha*e it. !ith the burial #e#orial3 An(thing3+


16/81

+!e"ll be notif(ing ne0t of &in. I"ll need to tal& to s. !hitwood and as soon as possible. 6irst I"d li&e to

spea& with (our other assistants.+

+Interns+ he $orre$ted auto#ati$all(. +arti 6ran& and Ben Di$&erson are here on intern s$holarships.

Sorr( it hardl( #atters. I want to tell Ari in person fa$e-to-fa$e not o*er the"lin&. !e lose patients

9ieutenant. To their addi$tion to the *iolen$e it often generates or the ph(si$al abuse it $auses. utthis3 This $o#es *er( *er( hard.+

+Is she in the Center now3+

+?es she should be in session now. I"ll go up tell her.+

+If (ou"d tell her I want to spea& with her before we lea*e I"d appre$iate it.+

+?es. I"# sorr( to #eet (ou this wa(. I"# 'ust . . . sorr(.+ )*e let hi# go and de$ided to ta&e the redhead

first.

+?ou got the pi$ture+ )*e began.

+?eah. It"s a reall( ugl( pi$ture.+

+!ere (ou $lose to the *i$ti#s3+

+I hate that word. i$ti#.+ She folded her hands together on her lap as if she wanted to &eep the# still.

+It"s o*erused.+

+It is in #( line of wor&.+

+?eah I guess. Not espe$iall( $lose. I li&ed the#. >en in parti$ular. She was 'ust so da#n li&able.+

+?ou wor& in the lab. Do (ou get friendl( with a lot of people in the progra#3+

+There"s intera$tion. It"s part of it. There"s a $o##unal eater( on-site so a lot of ti#es staff"s eating with

patients and re$o*erings. !hen wor& allows we"re en$ouraged to attend sessions or le$tures. It"s #ore

than lab wor& espe$iall( for >ustin. It"s our whole life and understanding who and what we"re wor&ing

for. ?ou"re going to find out+ she added. +I &now how it wor&s. ( brother was a 'un&ie fa*ored >a

la$ed with Feus. He fa*ored it a lot right up until he 5D"d. He #ade #( life #( #other"s #( father"s

hell. I hate the 'un& and it too& a long ti#e before I stopped hating the 'un&ie.+

She glan$ed o*er her shoulder. +!ith Ben it was his father. Ca#e into it late (ou $ould sa(. Started with

pres$riptions after a $ar a$$ident es$alated until he"d destro(ed his #arriage did ti#e for s#a$&ing his

wife and Ben around ended up on the street where he stabbed so#ebod( to death for twel*e dollars and

a wrist unit. He died in prison when so#ebod( returned the fa*or.+

)*e $onne$ted the dots. +And a$hai3+


17/81

+Childhood friend. The( were tight li&e brothers. The friend pla(ed around with re$reationals li&ed the#

too #u$h until he was fl(ing on @ps and oun$e $rashing on Chill. Then he was 'ust one #ore 5D when

a$hai found hi# dead%two da(s dead. >ustin wants people in*ested who wor& for hi# people who

&now all the sides all the la(ers and ha*e a reason to be here.+

+He wants it personal.+

+?eah and it is.+ She loo&ed o*er at a$hai then down at her folded hands. +This happening to >en and

the others people who had a real shot at rede#ption who reall( put it all into &i$&ing it3 That"s personal

too. 6or all of us.+

+@nderstood. If (ou &now how it wor&s (ou &now I ha*e to as&. !here were (ou between one and four

this #orning3+

+In bed.+ Her gae tra$&ed up #et )*e"s. +Alone and asleep. I had a date but it didn"t go an(where. I

got ho#e 'ust after #idnight. I"*e got a roo##ate but she had a date and it did go so#ewhere. She

didn"t get ho#e until si0 this #orning.+

She ga*e )*e a narrow loo&. +An(wa( fro# what (ou said how the( were &illed3 The three of us

would"*e had to go batshit together brea& in to that pla$e and &ill the# li&e a pa$&.+

+That"s a thought isn"t it3 I appre$iate the ti#e. If (ou thin& of an(thing $onta$t #e or #( partner.+ )*e

#o*ed on to the last.

+Ben Di$&erson+ he said. +Did the( #a(be get atta$&ed on the street3+

He wat$hed )*e with horror and hope. His fa$e pale and thin showed signs of fatigue. +a(be the(

ran+ he $ontinued in a *oi$e that hit$hed in a battle against tears. +And the people who atta$&ed the#went at the# when the( got to the building.+

+No.+

+It 'ust doesn"t see# real+ he #ur#ured rubbing at his da#p tired e(es. +I feel li&e I"# going to wa&e

up and none of this happened.+

+How well did (ou &now the *i$ti#s3+

+I . . . /od. I don"t &now. To tal& to. Not li&e a$h but we hung out a $ouple ti#es. ( un$le #anages a

Sli$e and I helped >en then Cob( get 'obs there. I #ean I as&ed #( un$le if he $ould gi*e the# a tr(.He"s good about gi*ing people a $han$e.+

+Did (ou e*er go to the pla$e the( were sta(ing3+

+5n$e. The restaurant"s $lose to where I li*e so I go in a lot. I wal&ed ba$& with >en and Cob( one night.

( un$le ga*e the# so#e food. And we hung out.+ He s#iled a little. +It was ni$e.+


18/81

+Did the( own "lin&s3+

He blin&ed in pule#ent. +Sure. )*er(bod( has at least one "lin&.+

+Do (ou &now an(one who"d want to hurt the#3+

+I don"t see wh( an(one would. The( were har#less. The( didn"t ha*e an(thing didn"t hurt an(bod(. >en

was stud(ing so she $ould do se$retarial wor&. She wanted to wor& in an offi$e. That"s not #u$h to as&.+

No )*e thought. It wasn"t #u$h to as&.

!hen >ustin $a#e ba$& in he loo&ed drained. +If (ou $ould gi*e Arianna a few #inutes she"ll #eet (ou

in the editation /arden.+

+All right.+

+Is there an(thing #ore we $an do3+

+Not at this ti#e.+

+!ill (ou &eep #e%us%infor#ed3+

+I $an do that. If an(thing o$$urs to (ou an(thing at all let #e &now.+

She signaled eabod( who put her hand on a$hai"s shoulder before rising.

+Arianna !hitwood down in the gardens+ )*e told her. +Did (ou get an(thing3+

+He was in lo*e with Darnell+ eabod( said as the( headed down again. +He didn"t hesitate to tell #e or

that he thought #a(be she felt so#ething ba$&. No alibi but he gi*es off this gentle &ind of sweet *ibe.

I $an"t see hi# slaughtering three people.+

+5n the other hand he and e*er(one in that lab &new all three *i$s and where the( were s7uatting. At

least two of the#%and I"d add Rosenthall as a third%had been there &new the setup. That weighs.

There are going to be others who &new the# and the setup fro# /et Straight and Sli$e. This wasn"t

rando#.+

+No. Rando# doesn"t fit.+

+e$ause3+

+5h bo( a 7ui. Deliberate brea&-in through the ba$& and the other &illers%be$ause I $an"t see it being

one gu(%got into the front atta$&ed the# in a frenied but s(ste#ati$ #anner. !re$&ed the pla$e but

as far as we &now too& nothing but their "lin&s%and at least one of the# had the prote$ti*e gear so no

blood on his%or their%$lothes. It"s #ost probable the( brought the weapons%a &nife s$alpel and so#e

sort of bludgeoning tool%with the#. repared pre#editated and target spe$ifi$. Did I pass3+


19/81

+Not bad.+ The( passed through an atriu# on the #ain le*el and into the burgeoning gardens. +Not bad

at all+ )*e said with a loo& around.

+Totall( #ag. ea$eful. Bind of Fen. 9oo& butterflies.+ A s#ile bro&e o*er eabod("s fa$e. +utterflies 'ust

#a&e (ou happ(.+

+The("*e got that bugg( bod( and those $reep( little antennas. eople don"t thin& about that be$ause

the( get distra$ted b( the wings. I alwa(s wonder if the( ha*e teeth. The( #ust ha*e tin( sharp little

teeth.+

+?ou"re not spoiling #( happ(.+

)*e too& the path #ar&ed editation /arden angled through blosso#s and butterflies. She saw Arianna

on one of the stone ben$hes the dia#ond on her left hand on fire in the strea#s of light. She wore a

leaf- green suit with a foa# of la$e and high raor-thin heels of the sa#e $olor that show$ased long

legs. Her hair a ri$h nutt( brown was wound up in so#e $o#pli$ated twist that left her e0$eptional fa$eunfra#ed. )*er(thing about her said $lassi$ and $lass and re#inded )*e of ira.

At their approa$h Arianna turned her head. Her e(es a $olor $aught so#ewhere between green and

brown spar&ed with anger.

She rose.

+9ieutenant Dallas. I"d hoped to #eet (ou but not li&e this. Dete$ti*e eabod(. Can we sit3+ She did so

folded her hands again. +I wanted to tal& to (ou here. I"d hoped to find so#e 7uiet here. ut not (et.+

+?ou were the therapist for all three *i$ti#s+ )*e began.

+?es. The( would ha*e #ade it. I belie*e that. 5n a professional and personal le*el I belie*e Cob( and

!il would ha*e #ade it. I &now >en would ha*e. She"d $o#e so far in su$h a short ti#e. She"d found the

7uiet.+

+Dr. Rosenthall used that ter#. The 7uiet.+

+?es I guess I pi$&ed it up fro# hi#.+ Arianna laid a hand on her heart. +Addi$tion is ne*er 7uiet. It"s

*iolent or sl( or sedu$ti*e. 5ften all three. ut >en found her 7uiet and her strength and was helping

Cob( and !il find theirs.+

+5ther addi$ts not #a&ing su$h progress #ight resent the# for theirs.+

+That"s true. The( would ha*e told #e if an(one was pressuring the# threatening the#. >en was

addi$ted to heroin preferred it in the #i0 the( $all Chill on the street. She often bartered her bod( for

hits. Her #other was the sa#e her father was her #other"s dealer%she thin&s.+

+She did so#e ti#e in the s(ste#+ )*e put in. +>u*ie group ho#es foster ho#es.+


20/81

+?es. She had a troubled diffi$ult $hildhood. >en ran off when she was si0teen and $ontinued that

troubled diffi$ult life up until nearl( four #onths ago when she wo&e up after a binge. She"d lost three

da(s and $a#e ba$& to herself $o*ered in $uts bruises filth her own *o#it in so#e base#ent flop with

no re$olle$tion of how she"d gotten there. She got out began to wal&. She thought of the ne0t s$ore

thought of 'ust ending her life and she $a#e to /et Straight. Instead of wal&ing on tr(ing for the ne0ts$ore or ending her life she went in.+

+This wasn"t her first tr( at rehab.+

+No.+ Arianna turned her head to #eet )*e"s e(es. +She"d had three $ourt-assigned rehabilitations and

none of the# too&. This ti#e she $hose. She wal&ed in on her own. She was read( to be helped and

the( helped her. >ustin and I were there that da(. She often said that was the beginning for her. !hen

we #et.+

Arianna loo&ed awa( again as her *oi$e roughened.

+!ithdrawal is hard and painful but she ne*er ga*e up. She brought Cob( in. !e en$ourage re$o*erings

to se*er ties with people who are part of their addi$tion but she wouldn"t listen. She sa*ed Cob( si#pl(

be$ause she wouldn"t gi*e up on hi# either and then !il. The( lo*ed her and their lo*e for her and

ea$h other pro*ed stronger than the addi$tion. That"s a &ind of #ira$le. And now . . .+

+Did the( tell (ou about an(one who $on$erned the# who ga*e the# an( grief put an( pressure on

the# to use again3+

+No. None of the# had an( fa#il( no one the( were $lose to or had $onta$t with not for a long ti#e.

The( for#ed friendships asso$iations at the Center and at /et Straight. The( were still in the

hone(#oon stage so happ( to be where the( were so happ( to ha*e ea$h other.+

+!ere the( inti#ate3+

+No not se0uall(. >en and Cob( had been if (ou $an $all it inti#a$( when the( were both using. !hat

the("d for#ed now was a fa#il( so the( li*ed that wa(. 6or >en se0 had been that bartering tool or

so#ething to do with another addi$t. She"d be$o#e desensitied about se0. I thin& she was beginning to

feel nor#al and natural urges. She was attra$ted to a$h% a$hai /upta%and he to her. ut neither of

the# #o*ed on it.+

+How $an (ou be sure3+

+She would ha*e told #e. Honest( had be$o#e a *ital tool for her in re$o*er( and she trusted #e.

The("d #ade a *ow%>en Cob( and !ill%to abstain for si0 #onths to fo$us on the#sel*es as

indi*iduals. Cob( 'o&ed about it. He was funn( sharp. He"d used that $har# and wit to sur*i*e on the

streets. Now he used it to &eep hi#self and his friends stead(. !il went the #ore spiritual route. He"d

li*ed with his great-grand#other until she died and she"d ta&en hi# to $hur$h. He"d started to go ba$&.

>en and Cob( went with hi# a few ti#es but #ore for friendship than interest.+


21/81

+!hat $hur$h3+

+Ah . . . Chelsea aptist.+

+!here else did the( go routinel( do routinel(3+

+The( li&ed to hang out at the Twelfth Street Diner drin& $offee and tal&. The( all put in ti#e at /et

Straight attending #eetings ta&ing on $hores %$leaning organiing donations%that"s part of the

progra#. The( attended group there too as well as here. The("d see a *id now and then but pri#aril(

the( wor&ed%sa*ed their #one( toward finding a pla$e to li*e% $on$entrated on the progra# studied.

5r >en did. She was ta&ing a business $lass.+

+?ou ga*e the# per#ission to li*e in the building3+

+?es. >ustin as&ed #e and we thought it would gi*e the# a breather allow the# to li*e on their own

sa*e sta( $lose to the Center. The stipulation was the( had to &eep the pla$e and the#sel*es $lean.

The( did.+

+?ou *isited the# there3+

+)ither >ustin or I would drop b( on$e a wee&. Spot-$he$&+ she said with the first hint of a s#ile. +!e

trusted the#. ut (ou $an"t trust the addi$tion.+

+Arianna,+

The sharp $all sli$ed through the 7uiet garden. A #an tall his dar& hair $ropped $lose to a tanned fa$e

hurried toward the#. His e(es a green as sharp as his *oi$e were all for Arianna. Ignoring )*e and

eabod( he grabbed her hands got to his &nees.

+I heard what happened. !hat $an I do for (ou3+

+)ton.+ Tears shi##ered in her e(es. )*e saw her bear down against the#. +I was going to tell (ou

#(self but I needed to spea& with the poli$e. 9ieutenant Dallas Dete$ti*e eabod( #( asso$iate )ton

illingsl(.+

+The poli$e.+ He shot )*e a disgusted loo&. +At a ti#e li&e this3+

+urder usuall( brings the $ops.+

+It"s hardl( ne$essar( to interrogate Arianna at all and parti$ularl( before she"s had ti#e to pro$ess.+

+5&a(. 9et"s interrogate (ou. !here were (ou between one and four a.#. this #orning3+

He blustered. )*e $ouldn"t thin& of another word for the sounds he #ade or the loo& on his fa$e as he

sprang to his feet. +I"# not answering an( of (our insulting 7uestions and neither is Arianna.+


22/81

+5h (eah (ou are+ )*e $orre$ted +here or at Cop Central. ?our $hoi$e.+

+)ton.+ Arianna rose. +Stop now. ?ou"re upset. The poli$e are tr(ing to find out who hurt >en and the

bo(s and wh(.+

+The("ll hardl( find out here with (ou.+ He too& her hands again. +>ustin should ne*er ha*e allowed it.+

+>ustin doesn"t allow an(thing.+ /entl( but deliberatel( Arianna drew her hands awa(.

+?ou"re right of $ourse. ut it"s natural to want to shield (ou fro# this &ind of ordeal. I &now how #u$h

(ou"d in*ested in these re$o*erings.+

+I ha*en"t heard an answer (et r. illingsl(.+

+Dr. illingsl(+ he snapped at )*e. +And at that ti#e of the #orning I was ho#e in bed.+

+Alone3+

+?es.+

+!hat was (our relationship with the *i$ti#s3+

erhaps due to the fa$t that his fa$e went red Arianna answered for hi#. +)ton is one of our

ps($hologists. He spe$ialies in h(pnotherap(. The pro$ess $an help the# through withdrawal gi*e the#

fo$us and $an often help the# bring the root of their addi$tion to the surfa$e.+

+So did (ou do the "(ou"re getting sleep(" with the *i$ti#s3+ )*e as&ed hi#.

+?es.+

+And3+

+As Arianna $an tell (ou the( were #a&ing e0$ellent e*en e0$eptional progress.+

+!hen"s the last ti#e (ou had $onta$t with the#%ea$h of the#3+

+I"d ha*e to $he$& #( boo&. I $an hardl( re#e#ber off the top of #( head.+

+Do that. Did (ou e*er *isit the building where the( were li*ing3+

His lips thinned. +No. !h( would I3 Instead of wasting ti#e here (ou should be out on the street

loo&ing for the #ania$s who did this. It"s ob*iousl( the result of *iolent addi$ts people the( asso$iated

with before the( began the progra#.+

+Nothing"s ob*ious at this point. ?ou"*e been *er( helpful+ she said to Arianna.


23/81

+Can (ou let us &now when . . . >ustin and I would li&e to arrange a #e#orial. !e"d li&e to arrange for

their re#ains.+

+Arianna+ illingsl( began.

+)ton please. It"s little enough.+

+I"# re7uired to infor# the ne0t of &in+ )*e told her. +I"ll be in tou$h on$e I ha*e. ?ou ha*e trans$ripts

of (our sessions with the#. The( $ould help #e. Do$tor-patient pri*ilege doesn"t appl( when the patients

are dead.+

+I"ll ha*e the# sent to (ou this afternoon. I"ll show (ou the wa( out.+

+!e"*e got it than&s.+

As the( wal&ed awa( )*e glan$ed ba$&. )ton had her hands again his head bent toward hers as he

tal&ed rapidl(.

+Asshole+ was eabod("s opinion.

+ig fla#ing asshole with a big fla#ing te#per. 9oo&s li&e he &eeps in good shape. et he puts in plent(

of g(# ti#e. And he wants Arianna !hitwood for his own.+

+5h (eah and she doesn"t want hi# for hers.+

+That"s a pisser for hi#. I bet she ga*e the *i$s a lot #ore of her ti#e attention and affe$tion than she

gi*es illingsl( whi$h is another pisser for hi#.+

+Billing the hell out of the# doesn"t $hange that. !ould be a prett( #ur&( #oti*e.+

+a(be but I reall( hate hi# alread(. lus h(pnotherap(. !ho &nows what he"s up to with that3+

+!h( didn"t (ou as& for his trans$ripts3+

+e$ause he wouldn"t gi*e the# up not without a warrant whi$h (ou"re going to put in the wor&s while

we head o*er to /et Straight.+

+5ooh that"s going to be another pisser for illingsl(.+

+I $an onl( hope it"s not the last.+

-------------------------------------------

Chapter G

The( got little #ore fro# /et Straight but $onfir#ation of e*er(thing the("d heard before and #ore grief.

)*en as the( stepped out into the air holding the first faint hint of fall )*e"s $o# signaled. She

re$ognied the first on s$ene on her s$reen.


24/81

+5ffi$er Slo*i$.+

+Sir we dug up a wit $lai#s she saw so#eone near the rear of the $ri#e s$ene and obser*ed hi#

stuffing so#ething in the re$($ler where we found the blood( prote$ti*e gear.+

+That"s a brea&. How good a loo&3+

+She $lai#s a good solid one. There"s a streetlight and she states she saw hi# $learl( and he was

dan$ing.+

+Sorr(3+

+That"s her state#ent 9ieutenant.+ )*e heard the shrug in his *oi$e.

+Her des$ription"s prett( strange but she"s sti$&ing to it and doesn"t stri&e #e as a wha$& 'ob. Her

apart#ent"s got a good *iew of the area and she was up wal&ing her &id%&id"s teething. She"s a short-order $oo& on parental lea*e. !e got her on the $an*ass.+

+!hat did she see3+

He $leared his throat. +A #onster. ossibl( a de#on.+

+5ffi$er Slo*i$ are (ou a$tuall( wasting #( ti#e on this3+

+Sir I wouldn"t but she ga*e details she had the ti#e down and she ad#its it sounds $ra(.+

+/i*e #e the details.+

+ale #ediu# build%she thin&s%dar& hair wild and string(.+ He #ade the throat-$learing sound again.

+/reenish s&in red bulging e(es $ontorted features and pro#inent teeth wearing a bla$& $ape and

$arr(ing a bla$& sat$hel.+

+And this green red-e(ed #onster was dan$ing in the streetlight.+

+And laughing sir in what the wit des$ribes as a wild guttural laugh. I belie*e her 9ieutenant I #ean

about what she saw. It $ould be the sub'e$t was wearing a #as& or a disguise.+

+?eah.+ )*e hea*ed out a sigh. +!ill she wor& with an artist3+

+She"s an0ious to.+

+Conta$t Dete$ti*e ?an$( at Central and get her to hi#.+

+?es sir.+


25/81

She sho*ed the $o# into her po$&et. +A green red-e(ed $ape-wearing #onster.+

+5r possibl( de#on+ eabod( put in and earned a sneer. +I"# not sa(ing I belie*e in #onsters and

de#ons but so#ebod( h(ped up on Feus sa( $on*in$ed he is one gets in the gear to top it off. Sin$e

the wit onl( saw one #an and the e*iden$e leans toward one #an%he"d ha*e to be h(ped on

so#ething. Feus not onl( #a&es (ou $ra( but it deadens (ou to pain pu#ps the adrenaline.+

+a(be. !e"ll see it through.+ She $he$&ed the ti#e. +I want (ou to go b( Sli$e tal& to the boss the

$owor&ers and do the sa#e at the twent(- fourse*en. ?ou $an round it off with the diner the( used as a

hang spot. a(be the( had so#e trouble last night or so#ebod( followed the# ho#e. I"# going to

swing b( the #orgue see what orris $an gi*e us. !e"ll hoo& up ba$& at Central.+

+I"d sure as hell rather go to a pia 'oint than the #orgue. !ant #e to bring (ou a sli$e3+

+No . . . #a(be. ?eah.+

)*e slid behind the wheel and headed for the #orgue.

Feus was a good fit she thought but not a perfe$t one. It fit the *iolen$e the fren( of it. ut not the

$al$ulation. Still a blend . . . and so#e enterprising soul was alwa(s $o#ing up with a new and i#pro*ed

in the illegals ga#e.

6l(ing on Feus a #an $ould ha$& beat $ho&e%and laugh his ass off while doing it. ut he $ouldn"t plan

%$ostu#e sat$hel with weapons and prote$ti*e gear glo*ed or sealed hands. She didn"t e0pe$t the

sweepers to gift wrap the &iller"s prints for her.

He"d bro&en in through the ba$& window )*e thought bringing the s$ene ba$& into her head. Need a

tool for that in the sat$hel. Cli#b in ni$e and 7uiet%so#ething else that didn"t fit the Feus not pureFeus. athroo# ba$& roo# all neat and tid( so the &iller had #o*ed straight into the front of the shop

and the *i$s.

Target spe$ifi$ pre#editated planned. She was sure of it. oti*e was a #ur&( area.

She $onsidered re'e$ted fiddled with *arious theories through downtown traffi$ then let the# si##er

as she wal&ed into the white tunnel of the #orgue.

orris wore a gra( suit and a strong red tie. The $hoi$e $heered her a little. His wardrobe rarel( *aried

fro# bla$& sin$e the #urder of his lo*er. The band twined through his braid of dar& hair #at$hed the tie.

His long $le*er e(es #et hers o*er the open bod( of >ennifer Darnell.

Through the spea&ers a sa0 wailed out a 'a( riff.

+I see (ou got #e a triple-header.+

+The #onster did it.+


26/81

+Not diffi$ult to belie*e gi*en the $ondition of these (oung people. There"s internal abuse self-infli$ted

fro# (ears of illegals ingestion poor diet. The( li*ed hard for their short ti#e. I found signs of re$o*er(

and re*ersal. If the("d li*ed and &ept $lean the( should ha*e done well enough.+

+!ere the( &eeping $lean3+

+Bnowing (ou"d as& I ran and rushed the to0 s$reen first and the( were. Their last #eal whi$h I

assu#e the( shared about #idnight was pia a diet $ola for the girl straight $ola for the bo(s.+

+Se0ual a$ti*it( $onsensual or for$ed3+

+No. i$ti# one%in order of T5D%suffered #ultiple bro&en bones and ribs so#e of the# post#orte#.

C5D would be a fra$tured s&ull. He"d literall( had his brains bashed in. ( a bat or pipe so#e three

in$hes in dia#eter and e0tre#e for$e. I found so#e paint fla&es in the wounds. I"*e sent the# to the

lab.+

+Head blow first3+ )*e spe$ulated.

+6ro# #( re$onstru$tion whi$h is still preli#inar( (es. A blow here.+

orris tapped the side of his hand diagonall( o*er his right te#ple. +It would ha*e &no$&ed hi# out $old.

It"s unli&el( he felt the rest.+

+S#all fa*or.+

+i$ti# two #ultiple stab wounds infli$ted with a 'agged-edged blade so#e four in$hes in length. Not a

hunting or $ar*ing &nife. ore li&el( an ine0pensi*e #eat &nife. The tip bro&e on bone and that"s at thelab as well. He was stabbed first $enter of the $hest two stri&es and on$e in the abdo#en. Again fro#

#( preli# the rest of the wounds $a#e se*eral #inutes later.+

+In$apa$itate both #ales.+

+And her. As in (our notes she was stru$& with the sa#e bat as &illed her friend a$ross the &nees

shattering her &nee$aps. The ear e(e and tongue were re#o*ed post#orte# and with a s#ooth sharp

blade%a s$alpel would be #( opinion. And it was done with pre$ision. Do (ou &now how #an( are

responsible for this3+

+5ne.+

orris"s e(ebrows shot up. +5ne3 ?ou ne*er fail to intrigue.+ He loo&ed o*er the bodies again. +The

da#age here the strength the sheer energ( it too& to beat the first *i$ was $onsiderable. 5n the

se$ond the stab wounds are *er( deep *er( for$eful and there are eight(-fi*e holes in that unfortunate

bo(. That also ta&es strength and energ(. Considerable enduran$e.+

+And when he"d finished there he still had enough to #anuall( strangle %$orre$t3+


27/81

+?es+ orris $onfir#ed +he used his own hands.+

+To #anuall( strangle the third whi$h also ta&es strength. And still after that he had it in hi# to brea&

$hairs tables basi$all( wrea& ha*o$. He ended it a$$ording to the wit we"re wor&ing with b( dan$ing

down the sidewal&.+

+Then he has a powerful $onstitution probabl( $he#i$all( enhan$ed. He en'o(ed this.+ orris laid a

gentle hand on >ennifer Darnell"s head. +I"# not ira so that"s si#pl( a dead do$tor"s ta&e. ut (ou and I

see e*er( da( what one hu#an being is $apable of doing to another. This one en'o(ed hi#self.+

+?eah and when the( ha*e that #u$h fun the( want to do it again.+

888

She headed to Central. She needed to re*iew her notes write an initial report%harass the sweepers and

the lab for theirs%start her #urder board and boo&. And she wanted a loo& at the wit or at least ?an$("s

s&et$h.

So#ewhere in there she wanted to $ar*e out so#e ti#e to do a good solid run on )ton Asshole

illingsl(.

She s#elled $oo&ies the #inute she stepped into the bullpen $aught the s$atter of $ru#bs on

>en&inson"s shirt wat$hed a0ter stuff the re#ains of one in his #outh before he offered her a big s#ile.

+Nadine"s in (our offi$e 9T.+

+atheti$. atheti$ that a bun$h of $ops fat-assing at their des&s instead of out ta&ing down bad gu(s

$an be bribed with $oo&ies.+

>en&inson shot up a hand. +!e got one Dallas. Reine&e"s wal&ing hi# down to lo$&up. I"# doing the

fi*es.+

+!ith $oo&ie $ru#bs on (our shirt.+

He brushed at the# hastil( as she turned awa( to stride to her offi$e.

!here Nadine 6urst reporter e0traordinaire lounged in her *isitor"s $hair nibbling on a $oo&ie and

wor&ing on her C.

Sa(ing nothing )*e lifted the lid of the ba&er( bo0 on her des& too& out a fat $ho$olate $hip. +!hat do

(ou want3+


28/81

+A #an of a#aing se0ual prowess great sensiti*it( stupendous abs and the fa$e of an angel. Toss in a

wi$&ed sense of hu#or and stupendous wealth who adores the *er( ground I wal& on. 5h wait (ou

alread( ha*e hi#.+

)*e bit into the $oo&ie.

+Se$ond $hoi$e3+

Nadine fluffed ba$& her strea&( blond hair s#iled her feline s#ile with her $at"s e(es glinting. +I heard

(ou $aught a #ess( one.+

+That"s right. I don"t ha*e an(thing to gi*e (ou. I ha*en"t put it together (et.+

+Three *i$ti#s beaten stabbed and strangled re$o*ering addi$ts with a $onne$tion to the !hitwood

/roup%&illed in fa$t on propert( owned b( sa#e. The !hitwoods are alwa(s a strong stor(.+

+The *i$ti#s are the stor(.+

+I &now.+ Nadine"s s#ile faded. +The( were (oung tr(ing to turn things around. Are (ou loo&ing at gang

andor illegals related #urders3+

+I"# loo&ing at e*er(thing e*er(one.+

+In$luding the !hitwoods and the *er( drea#( >ustin Rosenthall.+

+In$luding.+ Nadine )*e $al$ulated was alwa(s a good sour$e. +!hat do (ou &now about )ton

illingsl(3+

+He"s a di$&.+

+I got that #u$h.+

+Is he a suspe$t3+

+Nadine it"s too earl(.+

+!ell I hope he is be$ause he"s as I said a di$&. Co#es fro# #one(. Not 7uite on the !hitwood le*el

but he"s got a fat portfolio. He also seriousl( $ourted the lo*el( Arianna who fell head o*er s&irt for

Rosenthall %who is not a di$&. I don"t &now #u$h about hi# but I $an find out.+

+I"# wor&ing on it.+ )*e too& another bite of $oo&ie. Da#n fine $oo&ie. +!hat else do (ou want3+

+?ou"re 'ust ba$& fro# $losing a big one in Dallas. Isaa$ $ueen% the se$ond ti#e (ou too& hi# down.

It"s a hot stor( Dallas. Hi# $o#ing after (ou abdu$ting one of his for#er *i$ti#s. I want (ou to $o#e on

Now and tal& about it.+


29/81

)*e set the $oo&ie aside. Da#n fine or not her appetite dried up. +I"# not going to do that.+

efore she $ould sa( an(thing else Nadine held up a hand. +And I"# not going to press (ou. I had to

as&.+

+It"s not li&e (ou to gi*e up so eas(.+

Nadine re$rossed her legs. +A $ouple of (ears ago when (ou and I hoo&ed up o*er the Delass $ase I

did a little resear$h. I li&e to &now who I"# wor&ing with.+

)*e said nothing.

+It"s not eas( getting #u$h ba$&ground on (ou but I &now (ou were found in Dallas when (ou were a

$hild and (ou"d been . . . hurt. The reporter wants an inter*iew Dallas but the friend won"t push.

6riendship"s stronger than a stor(.+

+5&a(.+ And it was.

+!hen (ou get so#ething on this new $ase #a(be (ou $an gi*e #e a heads-up.+

+a(be I $ould. ?ou should $onta$t ree and elinda >ones+ )*e said as Nadine rose. +?ou should go to

Dallas where it happened tal& to the# there.+

+I intended to $onta$t the#.+ Nadine angled her head. +An on-lo$ation spe$ial3 That"s not bad. So#e of it

in the apart#ent where he &ept elinda >ones and the girl so#e in the hotel suite where he $a#e after

(ou. No that"s not half-bad. I"*e got to go.+

At the door Nadine paused glan$ed ba$&. +Dallas an(ti#e (ou want to tal& to the friend about an( ofit the reporter will step ba$&.+

+I appre$iate it.+

Alone )*e turned to her "lin& and $onta$ted another friend. She was shuffled dire$tl( to Dr. 9ouise

Di#atto"s *-#ail left a #essage as&ing for a #eeting.

Rising she progra##ed $offee then began to set up her board. She"d wor& better with the *isuals.

!hen she finished she started her report.

+That"s parti$ularl( grueso#e+ Roar&e said fro# her doorwa(.

Nadine had been right )*e thought in her su##ar( of hi#. 5h she"d left a few things out but all in all.

He did ha*e the fa$e of an angel a fallen one with the wings well-singed but that onl( #ade hi# #ore

$o#pelling. That and those wildl( blue e(es the sil&( bla$& hair. He wore one of his sharp business suits

but there was no asshole *ibe here as with illingsl(.


30/81

This was power su$$ess se0 and danger all rolled into one strea#lined pa$&age with Ireland gilding his

*oi$e.

Still.

+!hat are (ou doing here3+ she de#anded.

+I had business nearb( and too& a $han$e I"d see #( wife. And here she is. This is new+ he said

loo&ing at her board again.

+Caught it this #orning. 5h >ustin Rosenthall and Arianna !hitwood sa( hi.+

+Is that so3+ He shifted his gae ba$& to her. +!hat would the( ha*e to do with this3+

+That"s a 7uestion. How well do (ou &now the#3+

+Not that well.+ He ran a hand absentl( o*er )*e"s shoulder as he #o*ed $loser to the board. +Surfa$eso$iall( $haritable foundation e*ents sort of &nowing. He"s intense without being prea$h( and she"s

dedi$ated without being tireso#e. And the( both put their ti#e and effort into their parti$ular $ause.+

+)ton illingsl(.+

+/it+ Roar&e said using his $hildhood slang in insult.

+a(be (ou $an elaborate on that later but right now I ha*e to%+ She bro&e off answered her "lin&.

+Dallas.+

+I"*e got the s&et$h 9ieutenant+ ?an$( told her. +I thin& (ou"re going to want to see it.+

+5n #( wa(.+

She $li$&ed off rose.

+!h( not ha*e it sent to (our $o#p3+

+e$ause he"s going to want to e0plain it to #e.+ She thought of the des$ription. +?ou $an tag along.+

+!h( not sin$e it"s unli&el( I $an tal& (ou into a late lun$h or earl( dinner.+ He flipped open the ba&er(bo0 helped hi#self to a $oo&ie. +This will ha*e to do. I ha*en"t had ti#e to #onitor the poli$e reports+

he added as the( wal&ed. +Tell #e about the $ase.+

She did as the( used the glides to get to ?an$("s le*el.

+A strong !hitwood-Rosenthall $onne$tion+ he $o##ented. +As I said I don"t &now the# well but I

$an"t see the# in*ol*ed in that. @nfortunatel( I $an"t see illingsl( in*ol*ed either. Certainl( he wouldn"t


31/81

stoop to getting his hands dirt(.+

+eople who wor& with addi$ts da( in da( out so#eti#es end up using the#sel*es. a(be one or

#ore than one of the# gets in too deep. Newl( re$o*erings $an be li&e $on*erts. 6er*ent. 5ne of the#

finds out threatens to spill it. Reputation"s ruined the Center bla$&ened blah blah.

+!hoe*er did it had so#e #edi$al training+ she added. +orris $onfir#s the a#putations weren"t the

wor& of an a#ateur.+

+An( nu#ber of people at the Center and /et Straight would ha*e #edi$al training.+

+?eah and I"# going to loo& at all of the#.+

She #o*ed through ?an$("s di*ision straight to the glass $ube where she saw hi# and a wo#an in her

earl( thirties with a bab( on her lap.

?an$( ga*e )*e a nod.

+C(nthia this is 9ieutenant Dallas. 9T C(nthia Bopel%and 9ilian.+

+Than&s for $o#ing in s. Bopel.+

+I"# happ( to. I onl( wish I"d $onta$ted the poli$e last night when I saw hi#. ut I 'ust thought it was

so#e $ra(. I didn"t &now about those people until 5ffi$er Slo*i$ &no$&ed on the door toda(.+

As she spo&e the bab( su$&ed heroi$all( on one of the plugs parents used to &eep babies fro#

s$rea#ing%as far as )*e &new.

+!e appre$iate (our $ooperation and infor#ation. Can I see the s&et$h3+

?an$( e0$hanged a loo& with the witness and C(nthia sighed. +It"s what I saw. I &now how it loo&s but

it"s what I saw.+

)*e held out a hand for the printout. And when ?an$( ga*e it to her loo&ed at the fa$e of a #onster.

---------------------------------------------

Chapter

The $roo&ed 'aw a$$ented a twisted #outh with teeth long sharp and pro#inent. A thin nose hoo&ed

o*er it. The e(es bulged and glea#ed red against s&in of pale si$&l( green. Hair fell in oil( twists o*er awide forehead o*er ears with a defined point nearl( to the shoulders of a swirled bla$& $ape.

+I &now how it loo&s+ C(nthia repeated boun$ing the bab( on her &nee either out of ner*es or habit. +I

&now I sound li&e a nut$ase but I"# not. I got a good loo& be$ause he was dan$ing around in the

streetlight li&e it was a spotlight on a stage. >ust weird. !ell I thought%after it s$ared the hell out of

#e for a se$ond%'ust so#e weird gu(. ut then when the poli$e $a#e and said those three people had

been #urdered right a$ross the street . . .+


32/81

+a(be he dressed up for it+ )*e $onsidered. +Theatri$s.+

+I &now he was $reep(. And that laugh.+ C(nthia shuddered. +It was this #ania$al laugh but low and

deep%and &ind of raw. 9i&e he had so#ething stu$& in his throat. After he stuffed so#ething in the

re$($ler he bent o*er his hands on his &nees laughing and laughing. I started to go wa&e up Reed%9ilian"s dadd(%but then he%this gu(%left. He went up the street %spinning around so the $ape he was

wearing twirled.+

She let out a sigh. +?ou see all &inds of strange stuff and people in the $it( and half the ti#e (ou barel(

noti$e or get a &i$& out of it (ou &now3 ut this was . . . !ell it #ade the hairs on the ba$& of #( ne$&

stand up.+

+!hen (ou see so#ething li&e this in the #iddle of the night outside (our window it would spoo& (ou+

)*e $o##ented.

The tension in C(nthia"s fa$e eased. +I didn"t thin& an(one would belie*e #e. I felt stupid but then thosethree people I had to report it on$e I &new. Howe*er he loo&ed how $ould he be laughing and dan$ing

around after &illing the#3 He is a #onster.+ She drew the bab( $loser. +5n the inside he"s e0a$tl( how

he loo&ed. )*il.+

+I &now how it loo&s too+ ?an$( said after he"d wal&ed C(nthia out.

+ut she was solid Dallas.+

+?eah I got that. I don"t thin& we"ll be issuing a 595 on this fa$e at this ti#e but she saw what she

saw. The attitude fits%the laughing dan$ing around the theatri$s. There was definite glee in the &illings.

So he dresses up for it adds so#e pun$h.+ She frowned o*er the s&et$h. +He strangled Darnell fa$e-to-fa$e. Is this what he wanted her to see3 Adds #ore fear but it"s not as personal if she"s seeing this

#as& this disguise and not hi#.+

+Are (ou $ertain she &new hi#3+ Roar&e as&ed.

+5h (eah. The( &new ea$h other. He &new all of the#. )ar e(es tongue. !hat did the( hear see3 !hat

was he afraid the("d sa(3 So . . . send #e the file $op(+ she said to ?an$(. +!e"ll start $he$&ing $ostu#e

shops theaters.+

+If it"s #a&eup+ ?an$( told her +he"s a pro and an e0pert. If it"s a #as& of so#e &ind it"s da#n good so

it"d $ost large.+

+?eah. And that should help. Ni$e 'ob ?an$(.+

+Here to ser*e. Strangest s&et$h I"*e e*er done and I"*e done so#e strange.+

+Ha*e (ou $onsidered a $o#bination3+ Roar&e as&ed as the( wal&ed ba$&. +That he has so#e sort of

defor#it( and pla(ed it up. The 'aw%if (our witness has it right%it loo&s se*erel( dislo$ated.+


33/81

+I"# going to be wor&ing that angle but nobod( I"*e inter*iewed so far has an( &ind of fa$ial defor#it(.

?ou $an"t hide so#ething li&e that. If it"s a #edi$al $ondition . . . I"# waiting for 9ouise to tag #e ba$&.

a(be she"d ha*e so#e ideas on that. 5r ira. I need to wal& this through with ira.+

!hen the( stepped ba$& into the bullpen eabod( hailed her. +Not #u$h to add fro# Sli$e or thetwent(-fourse*en or the diner. I"# writing it up. He( Roar&e. 9u$&( I brought ba$& a personal pie.

a(be Dallas will share with (ou.+

)*e pi$&ed up the ta&eout passed it to Roar&e. +a(be she will. Did (ou see an(bod( li&e this3+ She

offered eabod( the s&et$h.

+!hoa. Seriousl(3+

+?an$( thin&s the wit"s solid and as I tal&ed to her #(self I agree.+

+art de#on part #onster part hu#an. He"s li&e a #utant.+

+He"s li&e so#ebod( in $ostu#e+ )*e $orre$ted. +Start running down this loo&. Theaters $ostu#e

outlets. See if (ou $an find an(thing that fits.+ She started to dig out #one( for the pia.

+?ou got the last one+ eabod( told her.

+I probabl( did. And let"s see if we $an find an(one $onne$ted to the $enter or /et Straight who"s

in*ol*ed in theater or theatri$al #a&eup. Costu#e parties+ she added. +la$es li&e the Center ha*e fund-

raisers li&e that right3 !here the( #a&e people dress up li&e idiots then s7ueee the# for donations.+

+I doubt the( thin& of it in 7uite those ter#s+ Roar&e $onsidered.

+ut (es.+

+!e"ll loo& at that. If (ou get an(thing $lose to a hit+ she told eabod( +let #e &now.+ She went ba$& in

her offi$e with Roar&e. +/o ahead+ she said gesturing at the ta&e-out bo0. +I want to tr( to get a #eet

with ira.+

She sat and began $hipping awa( at the s$ales of the dragon at ira"s gates. +Ten #inutes+ )*e insisted.

+I"*e got three Ds.+

+And Dr. ira has a full s$hedule toda(.+

+Ten #inutes+ )*e said again. +6or this.+ She angled so her "lin& $aptured the #urder board.

+In thirt( #inutes+ the ad#in told her. +Don"t be late.+

+I won"t.+


34/81

Sa#pling the pia Roar&e wandered o*er to her board. +?ou &now (ou $ould $onta$t ira dire$tl(.+

+?eah but it"s not right. Channels are $hannels for a reason e*en when the("re anno(ing.+

+I suppose. ?ou"*e dis$ounted this being done b( so#eone fro# their past3 An addi$t a dealer.+

+Not dis$ounted.+ She tried the pia herself. +ut the probabilit("s low an( of the# &new so#eone ba$&

then who had the s&ill to surgi$all( re#o*e bod( parts. I thin& he was on so#ething when he did%the

fren( the strength and enduran$e then laughing and dan$ing. So e*en fl(ing he had s&ill a stead(

hand. Add to it Darnell"s been out of that for nearl( four #onths and wouldn"t be tough to tra$& down. If

she"d &nown so#ething that threatened so#eone with this s&ill wouldn"t he ha*e dealt with her before3

6or four #onths she"s been i##ersed in the Center and the progra#. It"s so#ebod( atta$hed to that.+

+I $an"t fault (our logi$. I rarel( $an.+

Her "lin& signaled. +Dallas.+

+Dallas I was in surger(.+ 9ouise still in s$rubs #as& dangling $a#e on s$reen. +I 'ust heard. I $an"t

7uite belie*e it.+

+?ou &new the#.+

+?es. I"# a$tuall( >en Darnell"s ph(si$ian of re$ord. I do her #onthl( e0a#s. Did+ she $orre$ted. +I"d see

her often when I did a rotation at either the Center or /et Straight. And Cob( too in the last few

#onths. I #et !il re$entl(. He hasn"t been in the progra# as long.+

+How well do (ou &now Rosenthall and Arianna !hitwood3+

+er( well. The( were in Haiti helping to set up a new $lini$ when Charles and I got #arried or the("d

ha*e been at the wedding.+

+)ton illingsl(.+

9ouise"s prett( fa$e pruned. +He"s an e0$ellent therapist and a $o#plete 'er&.+

+I need to tal& to (ou about this.+

+I"*e got another surger( s$heduled. It"s #inor but the("re alread( prepping the patient.+

+Ha*e her and Charles #eet us for drin&s+ Roar&e suggested and got a blan& loo& fro# )*e. +Here.+ He

si#pl( nudged her aside. +Hello 9ouise.+

+Roar&e. I didn"t realie (ou were there.+

+!h( don"t (ou and Charles #eet us for drin&s after wor&3 ?ou and )*e $an dis$uss what needs to be

dis$ussed.+


35/81

+?es I thin& that would wor&.+

!hile Roar&e set it up )*e turned ba$& to her board. She li&ed 9ouise and Charles but wasn"t sure how

she felt about her inter*iew with a sour$e turning into a so$ial hour. !hat the hell.

+6ind so#ewhere to #eet up near the $ri#e s$ene+ )*e said and ga*e Roar&e the address. +I want to

go ba$& o*er it.+

+There.+ Roar&e turned awa( fro# the "lin& when he"d finished. +Now (ou $an tal& to 9ouise re*isit (our

$ri#e s$ene and ha*e a little ti#e with friends. Interlude on !est )le*enth between Si0th and Se*enth.

At fi*e or as $lose as (ou $an #a&e it.+

He s&i##ed a fingertip down the dent in her $hin. +It"s effi$ient.+

+I guess it is.+

+I"*e got a #eeting shortl( so I"ll see (ou there.+ 9eaning down he brushed his lips o*er hers. +Ta&e

$are of #( $op+ he told her then left.

It should ha*e weirded her out )*e #used sharing pia and good-b(e &isses #a&ing dates for drin&s

in her offi$e. It did she ad#itted but not as #u$h as e0pe$ted. Her gae landed on the ba&er( bo0

narrowed.

She said +H###+ and pi$&ing it up wal&ed out. She ignored the noses that $a#e up sniffing as she

passed through the bullpen and $aught a glide to ira"s offi$e.

The ad#in bus( on her $o#p glan$ed up with a stern frown. +?ou"re earl(.+

+Then I"# not late.+ )*e set the bo0 on the des&. +Than&s for $learing ti#e for #e.+

Stern turned suspi$ious as the wo#an lifted the lid of the bo0 a fra$tion then #ore as she peered in.

+Coo&ies3 ?ou brought #e $oo&ies3+

+The("re good. I had one. Is she free now3+

Still e(eing )*e she tapped her earpie$e. +9ieutenant Dallas is here. 5f $ourse. ?ou $an go right in.+

+Than&s.+

+Are these a than&-(ou or a bribe3+ the ad#in as&ed as )*e #o*ed to the door.

+The("re $ho$olate $hip.+ leased with herself )*e stepped into the $al# of ira"s offi$e.

ira s#iled fro# behind her des&. a(be it was a shrin& thing )*e $onsidered thin&ing of Arianna. The

war# loo&s the prett( fe#inine suits perfe$t blend of $olor and 'ewelr(.


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+I &now (ou don"t ha*e #u$h ti#e.+

+)nough I hope. Ha*e a seat.+ As )*e too& one of ira"s blue s$oop $hairs ira $a#e around the des&

too& the one fa$ing. +I loo&ed o*er the data the $ri#e-s$ene photos. ( first 7uestion is how sure are

(ou there"s onl( one &iller3+

+er(. !e ha*e a wit who saw hi# at the rear of the building where he bro&e in. She wor&ed with

Dete$ti*e ?an$(.+ )*e too& out the s&et$h offered it.

+!ell.+ In her pla$id wa( ira studied the s&et$h. +Now I ha*e to as& how good is (our witness3+

+Again I ha*e to sa( *er(. I figure he geared hi#self up for it added the dra#a. The wit sa(s he dan$ed

in the streetlight laughed his ugl( ass off. ( sense of the s$ene is frenied glee. He had to be on

so#ething be$ause &illing three people that dead ta&es enduran$e.+

+I agree.+ ira tu$&ed a lo$& of sable-$olored hair behind her ear as she $ontinued to stud( the s&et$h.+Theatri$al $onfident organied. He &new where to brea& in $a#e prepared and was able to &ill with

e0tre#e *iolen$e three people alone and in a relati*el( short a#ount of ti#e. )nduran$e (es and

rage.+

She shifted #et )*e"s e(es with her own 7uiet blue ones. +I agree with (our assess#ent that he has

so#e sort of #edi$al training. The a#putations were s&illfull( done. I belie*e he"ll &eep these trophies

these s(#bols. His *i$ti#s are no longer able to see hear or spea& of hi#.+

+ut the( had prior to their deaths.+

+Al#ost $ertainl(. The( &new ea$h other. Dan$ing laughing so (es he en'o(ed hi#self. He $an $elebrate%and in the light perhaps hoping he"d be seen. Spotlighting after his su$$ess.J

+He en*ied their friendship+ ira $ontinued. +Their bond and their happiness. He won"t #a&e friends

easil( won"t feel that bond. He #ost li&el( li*es alone feels underappre$iated at his wor&. He"s s&illed.

The elaborate disguise tells #e he wants to be noti$ed and doesn"t feel he is not enough. Nothing is

enough. He wants what others ha*e%friends fa#il( $o##unit( %and at the sa#e ti#e feels superior to

the#. He"s better than the( are. "Ta&e out the trash" he wrote in their blood. That"s what he #ade

the#. And it a#used hi#. He"s a series of $ontradi$tions )*e. Two people%perhaps #ore%in one. ?ou

ha*e a *iolent so$iopath under the influen$e of a strong illegal. He"s both $ontrolled and out of $ontrol

$ann( and re$&less. He has a god $o#ple0 battling with low self-estee# a bitter en*( and has found

satisfa$tion and personal delight in &illing.+

+He"ll do it again.+

+As soon as he $an.+

+This fa$e. @nder the #a&eup or the #as& whate*er it is $ould he ha*e a defor#it(3 The 'aw"s

e0tre#e.+


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+?es I see that but a defor#it( su$h as this3 He"d be in $onstant pain. It would be all but i#possible for

hi# to eat. His spee$h would be garbled. As so#eone with #edi$al training and $onne$tions he would

$ertainl( ha*e had this repaired.+

+A re$ent in'ur( a$$ident3+

+ossibl(+ ira $onsidered. +ut again I $an"t thin& of an( reason it wouldn"t be treated. If for so#e

reason he refused to ha*e it treated and is dosing hi#self with pain&illers and other drugs it #ight

e0plain the fren( the dualit( in his profile. ut wh( would an(one endure the pain of this the so$ial

stig#a3 And it $ontradi$ts again his $onfiden$e his need to be seen as superior.+

+It #ust be fa&ed. eabod("s running down $ostu#e shops theaters.+ )*e paused a #o#ent $hanged

angles. +Do (ou &now >ustin Rosenthall and Arianna !hitwood3+

+?es. Arianna"s an e0$ellent therapist. A bright $o#passionate wo#an. She and her parents ha*e done a

great deal not onl( in resear$h and appli$ation on addi$tions and rehabilitation but the( built theirCenter with the purpose of treating the whole person. h(si$all( e#otionall( #entall( spirituall(. The(

turned a personal traged( into a great gift.+

+And Rosenthall3+

+er( s&illed re#ar&abl( gifted. ore intense than Arianna I"d sa(. It see#s to #e%though I don"t see

or so$ialie with the# often%she"s softened that intensit(. efore Arianna he was #u$h #ore of a loner

and rarel( stepped awa( fro# his wor&. Not unli&e so#eone else+ ira said with a s#ile. +!ith her he

re#ains s&illed gifted dedi$ated to his wor& but he"s happier. And not $apable of #urdering three

people li&e this.+

+)*er(one"s $apable+ )*e stated.

+?es (ou"re right. All of us are $apable under $ertain $ir$u#stan$es of e0tre#e and *iolent beha*ior. !e

$ontrol it $hannel it%in so#e $ases #edi$ate it. >ustin"s a do$tor dedi$ated to healing a s$ientist and

#an of reason. The person who did this re'e$ts reason and hu#anit(. He"s gi*en hi#self a #onster"s

fa$e. Hu#anit( #eans little to hi#.+

+5&a(. How about )ton illingsl(3+

+A s&illed therapist and an enor#ous pain in the ass.+

)*e had to grin. +I don"t thin& I"*e e*er heard (ou $all an(bod( a pain in the ass.+

+I don"t li&e hi# so it"s hard to be ob'e$ti*e. He"s a po#pous snob who sees hi#self as perfe$t. He"s rude

anno(ing and full of hi#self.+

+A god $o#ple03+


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ira"s e(ebrows rose. +?es I"d sa(. ?ou wonder if he"s $apable. I don"t &now hi# well enough. He"s

s&illed%he has an D and would ha*e done so#e ti#e with a s$alpel before he fo$used on his

spe$ialt(.+

+H(pno-*oodoo.+

ira let out a 7ui$& e0asperated laugh. +I &now (ou"re suspi$ious of the te$hni7ue but it"s *alid and $an

be *er( effe$ti*e. illingsl( $ertainl( wants to be noti$ed and rewarded and praised. ut . . .+ She studied

the s&et$h again. +It"s *er( diffi$ult for #e to en*ision a #an li&e hi# deliberatel( #a&ing hi#self

hideous. He"s also *ain.+

+So#ething to thin& about though. I appre$iate the ti#e.+

+I"# happ( to gi*e it. Tell #e how (ou are.+

+I"# fine.+

+?ou ha*en"t been ba$& long. How"s (our ar#3+

)*e started to dis#iss it then settled on the truth. +A little sore in the #orning and b( the end of the

da(. ostl( good though.+

+That"s to be e0pe$ted with that &ind of in'ur(. Night#ares3+

+No. a(be 'ust being ba$& in New ?or&"s enough. At least right now. Isaa$ $ueen"s ba$& in a $age

where he belongs. That doesn"t su$&. I"# not thin&ing about #( #other what happened there+ she said

before ira $ould as&. +Not (et. It"s done and right now I"# o&a( with it.+

+!hen and if it"s not (ou"ll tal& to #e3+

+I &now I $an. That"s a prett( big start right3+

+?es it is.+

)*e got up started for the door. +Is she li&e (ou3+ she as&ed. +Arianna !hitwood3+

+9i&e #e3+

+That"s the sense I got fro# her. She #ade #e thin& of (ou. Not 'ust be$ause she"s an attra$ti*e fe#aleshrin&. It was . . . I don"t &now a sense. If she is li&e (ou then she"s got no part in this. And thin&ing

that I hope to hell >ustin Rosenthall doesn"t be$ause (ou belie*e she lo*es hi#. I hope he"s $lear.+

+So do I.+

+I"ll let (ou &now+ )*e said and left.


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-----------------------------------------

Chapter ust better than he"d e*er i#agined. And now it"s her turn.+

She $ould see it all but s#ell the blood.

+He sa(s her na#e. I bet he said her na#e and his. He wanted her to &now hi#. It"s fa$e-to-fa$e it"s his

hands on her throat so he $an feel her pulse going wild then slowing slowing slowing while her e(es

bulge and her bod( beats itself against the floor. !hile that pulse stops and her e(es fi0 and her bod(

goes li#p.+

+Christ >esus )*e.+

+That"s how it happened.+ Inside she was as $old as the i#ages fi0ed in her head. +That"s $lose an(wa(.

He"s not done. It"s too funn( and thrilling. He doesn"t use the &nife. He ta&es a s$alpel out of his sat$helbe$ause he ta&es pride in the wor&. Now he #a&es a point. An ear an e(e her tongue. The("re a trio

aren"t the( li&e the #on&e(s. Hear no see no spea& no.+

+)*il+ Roar&e finished. +e$ause he is. !hat (ou"*e 'ust des$ribed is e*il.+

+a(be #a(be e*en to hi#. ut he li&es it. 9i&es the taste of e*il the s#ell of it. He 'ust $an"t get

enough so he brea&s the pla$e up what little the( had. Destro(s it. He stages the# against the wall.

Then he uses their blood to lea*e us a #essage.+

Roar&e studied the wall. +It too& ti#e to do that. His letters so $arefull( for#ed. Not dashed off but

$learl( printed. He ga*e it so#e thought.+

+He"s so $le*er a real 'o&er. Dr. Chaos. I bet he slapped his &nees o*er it.+

She paused a #inute. +Arianna said so#ething. How the("d found their 7uiet. )spe$iall( Darnell. That

addi$tion steals the 7uiet. That"s what he brought ba$&. The un7uiet. The $haos. So that"s the na#e he

pi$&ed.+


46/81

She wal&ed awa( into the ba$&. +He ta&es off the prote$ti*e gear. Turns it inside out to &eep the blood

off his $lothes and he $li#bs ba$& out shuts the window. He laughs and he dan$es 'ust so full of the

fun of it he $an"t $ontain it. He stuffs the gear in the re$($ler properl( disposing of it li&e he tells us to do

with the bodies. A little $lue so we"ll be sure to find it. And that has hi# doubled o*er with laughter.

Then he dan$es awa( high on the un7uiet. Dr. Chaos had the ti#e of his life.+

+Did (ou learn an( #ore fro# this re-$reation3+

+a(be. ?eah.+

+Then (ou $an tell #e about it o*er the drin& I find I want *er( #u$h right now.+

-----------------------------------------

Chapter

)*e loo&ed around the bar as the( went in. uiet and $o( with a neighborhood feel she obser*ed. A

$ouple of gu(s sat at the bar deep in their brews and $on*ersation. She bet the( were regulars bet the

seats of the stools all but $arried the i#print of their asses.

The bartender bright (oung fe#ale 'oined in with the# idl( swiping the bar with a rag as she laughed

at so#ething the( said. A $ouple sat at a table%had a first-date drin&-afterwor&-to-see-how-it-goes loo&

about the#. Another four had a booth s$arfing down bar $hips while the( held one of those 7ui$& $oded

$on*ersations of inti#ate friends.

Roar&e too& a booth s#iled at her o*er the table. +Satisfied3+

+About what3+

+That (ou won"t ha*e to arrest an(one in here.+

She s#iled ba$&. +?ou ne*er &now.+

She opted for a beer when the waitress $a#e o*er and Roar&e held up two fingers. +Now as we"re a bit

earl( tell #e what (ou learned ba$& there.+

+It was the girl. It was >en. She was the pri#ar( #oti*e. He wanted her to see what he did how he &illed

the others too& awa( what #attered #ost to her in the $ruelest wa(. She was the easiest &ill of the

three but he sa*ed her for last be$ause she was the #ost i#portant. Then he &illed her with his hands

so she $ould see his fa$e and he $ould see hers. The others didn"t #atter as #u$h e0$ept for their

$onne$tion to her. He wanted her and she said no%or worse didn"t see hi# as a #an.+

+He didn"t rape her. I loo&ed at (our board.+

+It had gone past se0 or rape as power and $ontrol and he got off on the &illing. ut ta&ing the bod(

parts%the("d seen or heard so#ething he $ouldn"t afford the# to tal& about. !hate*er it was it was

re$ent.+


47/81

She waited until the waitress ser*ed the beers. +See that group o*er there.+ She lifted her $hin toward

the booth of four. +Two gu(s two girls. ut the("re not $ouples.+

+Aren"t the(3+ Roar&e said en'o(ing her.

+9oo& at the bod( language. The("re tight but it"s not se0ual. als. And the( ne*er run out of$on*ersation. lah blah blah. The( tal& all the ti#e hang all the ti#e. !hen the("re not together the(

tag ea$h other. He too& their "lin&s be$ause he got that he &new the( $onne$ted that wa( when the(

weren"t together and had to $on$lude the("d tal&ed about whate*er the("d seen or heard *ia "lin&.+

+All right.+

+He wor&ed alone. He doesn"t $onne$t he doesn"t ha*e that $loseness with an(one. So that bu#ps the

two fe#ale suspe$ts down the list for #e. It wasn"t Arianna !hitwood or arti 6ran&. The( #a( &now

so#ething #a( not &now the( &now it but this one had to ha*e all the fun for hi#self. He"s s#ug and a

show-off whi$h is wh( I li&e illingsl( 'ust on prin$iple.+

+Arianna said no to hi#+ Roar&e pointed out.

+ut he still belie*es he $an get her. She"s also on his le*el. How hu#iliating would it be for a #an li&e

that to want an addi$t a s7uatter a nothing and be re'e$ted b( her3+

+That"s a great deal for a se$ond loo& at the $ri#e s$ene.+

+ut not enough. Here"s 9ouise and Charles.+

Roar&e stood greeting 9ouise with a &iss Charles with a handsha&e. As Charles for#er li$ensed

$o#panion turned se0 therapist slid in beside his wife he grinned at )*e. +How"s it going 9ieutenantSugar3+

+I"*e got three bodies and a short list of suspe$ts. It $ould be worse. Sorr(+ she said to 9ouise.

+Insensiti*e.+

+No. !e both deal with death all too often but at least I $o#e into it when there"s still a $han$e.+

+?ou loo& tired+ Roar&e $o##ented.

+9ong da(. /ood da(+ she added +as I didn"t deal with death.+ oth she and Charles ordered a glass of

the house white. +!hat $an I tell (ou about (our short list of suspe$ts3+

)*e drew out the s&et$h laid it on the table. uled 9ouise leaned $loser. +!e"*e still got a #onth till

Halloween.+

+This is who the witness saw outside the $ri#e s$ene.+


48/81


49/81

+5&a( we"ll set the# aside for now. Did Rosenthall e*er #o*e on (ou3+

+No, He was with Arianna when we #et then I was with Charles not long after. He"s in lo*e with Ari and

added to that his wor& doesn"t gi*e hi# a lot of ti#e for #o*ing on other wo#en.+

+It doesn"t ta&e that #u$h ti#e. She"s the one ba$&ing his resear$h and wor&%or the /roup is. If she $ut

hi# loose it"d be a big loss.+

+She"s in lo*e with hi# and the("re bonded o*er the wor&+ 9ouise began. +If so#ething went wrong

between the# it would be a blow for both of the# personall( and professionall(.+

+ut s$ientists are easier to find than ba$&ers li&e the !hitwood /roup. If his wor&"s i#portant to hi#.+

+)ssential I"d sa(.+

+Then he"d do a lot to prote$t it.+

+Not this Dallas. Ne*er this. Not >ustin.+

+I"# going on the theor( the three *i$ti#s &new so#ething about the &iller. So#ething he &illed to

prote$t. Has >ustin e*er sa#pled produ$t3+

+Absolutel( not.+

5&a( )*e thought as long as 9ouise spo&e in absolutes the( wouldn"t get an(where on Rosenthall.

+How about illingsl(3+

+I $an"t sa(. I"d $ertainl( doubt it but I don"t &now hi# well.+ 9ouise s#iled a little o*er her wine. +That"s

a deliberate $hoi$e.+

+He put #o*es on (ou.+

+He puts the# on e*er( fe#ale he finds attra$ti*e or belie*es $an enhan$e his $areer. ut Ari"s the gold

ring.+

+How"d he rea$t when (ou brushed hi# off3+

+9i&e it was #( loss. He has a te#per but I"*e ne*er seen an(thing to indi$ate he"s $apable of #urder or

real *iolen$e. He"s rude and de#anding but fro# what I"*e heard *er( good in therap(.+

+And if Arianna $ut hi# off%fro# the Center3+

+He has #one( of his own and should ha*e a lot of $onta$ts. ut it would be hu#iliating and he

wouldn"t ta&e it well. That"s 'ust opinion Dallas. I ha*e as little to do with hi# as possible.+


50/81

+5&a( than&s.+

+Not #u$h help.+

+?ou $onfir#ed and elaborated on ira"s opinion on the &iller"s fa$e. ?ou ga*e #e a few #ore details ontwo of #( suspe$ts and #eeting (ou here ga*e #e another wit who tells #e the &iller went up to >ane

before heading toward )ighth. That"s prett( good o*er one drin&.+

!hen the( left Roar&e too& her hand as she wal&ed. +?ou did *er( well #anaging nearl( a half an hour

on non-wor&-related topi$s after (our inter*iew with 9

robb j.d. - chaos-in-death

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