Page 27 of See How They Hide

After Ryder stepped out, Matt said, “Catherine, what do you think?”

“That Ryder is one of the smartest people I know.”

Matt smiled and nodded his agreement. He said, “Do you think these people wanted to disappear?”

“It makes sense from what we know, though with the time differences, I am less inclined to believe they witnessed or were involved in a singular event that prompted them to change their identities,” Catherine said. “What’s also clear is that Crossman was central to the organization.”

Sloane said, “Even if Crossman didn’t graduate from college in math, he was known to be a gifted substitute teacher. I don’t have documentation of his computer skills, but his colleagues all said he was their go-to guy to help with computer problems.”

He could be like Ryder, naturally gifted in electronics without advanced training, Matt thought. Or he could have superior skills.

“You’re suggesting,” Catherine said, “that Crossman may have created these identities.”

“It’s possible,” Sloane said. “His computer is on its way to the lab here at Quantico. If there’s anything there, they’ll find it.”

“It’s one more piece,” Catherine said, “but we need the information from Colorado. There should be a trail leading to when and where they were created. If, as Ryder said, an individual has to go in person to the SSA, those records could be vital. The victimology is important to every case, but here, it’s critical. Why were these three people targeted? What do the poppies mean to the victims and to the killer? Is Riley Pierce a threat or in danger?”

“Catherine,” Jim asked, “are these killers a threat to others? Meaning, other than their specific targets, which you earlier said were premeditated and well planned, are they a threat to, say, someone who might stop them from achieving their goals?”

Catherine thought on that. She rarely spoke without thinking through what she wanted to say. “I can’t give a definitive answer, but based on their methodology and detailed planning, I think they will avoid indiscriminate violence. They don’t want to be caught. This isn’t a killer who has remorse for his actions. They are intelligent, especially the organizer. That individual would understand if they kill wantonly, they will have more eyes on them, more law enforcement involved. They don’t want that.”

“Excuse me a second,” Jim said and stepped off camera.

“Then why the theatrics?” Kara asked.

“Theatrics?” Catherine asked.

“Yeah. Leaving the bodies where they’ll easily be found. The flowers. It’s bold. It feels like a statement.”

“It may well be a statement,” Catherine said, “but also consider how quickly the murders happened. No one heard anything. No scream. No fight. No defensive wounds. There was far more time and care taken in planning the murders than the act itself, which was quick and efficient.”

Kara leaned back, thought. Michael said, “Matt, you want us in Colorado?”

“You read my mind,” Matt said. “Are you wrapped up there?”

“There’s nothing we can do that the local team can’t,” Michael said. “They have a task force, and they’re following through on each piece of evidence. This afternoon we received Riley Pierce’s college file, which includes her family’s address in Denver. We can help Agent Stewart follow up. And if anything breaks here, or they locate Riley, they’ll call us.”

Matt agreed. “Ryder will have tickets for both of you out of Medford tomorrow morning. Probably early, so get a good night’s sleep. Sloane, you and Jim need to meet the Evidence Response Team from the Albuquerque office at Crossman’s place tomorrow morning. Anything they learn, you learn.”

Jim came back in view. “We got something else. Sloane noticed food in the trash—pasta and frozen broccoli. The ME just got back to me about Crossman’s stomach contents. His last meal was four to six hours before his death, and it wasn’t pasta. He ate stew—beef, potatoes, carrots, onions—along with red wine. Suggests dinner. Doesn’t mean he didn’t have the pasta earlier, but the trash was empty except for those items.”

“You think someone came in after he was killed,” Matt said. “The killer?”

“Possibly, but why clean up? Nothing else was out of place. They still don’t have a clear TOD because of the temperature and animal activity, but they have an entomologist from the university coming in to analyze insects and larvae, so they should be able to narrow it down. However you slice it, my professional opinion is that Chris Crossman died at most twenty-four hours before Merrifield and Benson.”

Matt asked, “Do you think that’s how the killers found Benson and Merrifield? That maybe Crossman had their locations? A full day would be enough time to travel from New Mexico to Oregon and Virginia.”

“Possible, but we didn’t find anything in the house. Might be in his computer, or the killers took the information, or they tortured him—though there is no evidence of physical torture. If Crossman was involved in creating the false identities, then it’s plausible he was killed first.”

Matt wrapped up the video chat. He said to Catherine, “I’ve never had a case like this.”

“Neither have I. Kara is correct that Riley Pierce is a person of interest.”

Matt rose, paced his office. “Do you think she’s a threat?”

“I couldn’t say, but I would be cautious,” Catherine said. “She was informed of Jane’s death, but never contacted the police. She was seen near Jane’s apartment, but ran from law enforcement. She might be scared if she knows who the killers are, but then why would she have left France? If she thought there was a threat against her here, why not stay across the Atlantic?”

“I need to be in the field,” Matt said, “but there’s too much to do here. The lab hasn’t given me the results on the poppies, and they should know more by now.”

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