Page 23 of Cold Threat

“I realize that fire can crack bones,” Ray said. “I think you’re right about the cause of death. The MEs I talked to couldn’t commit to anything. Also, the inner organs were destroyed. No way to see if there was smoke in the lungs.” He shrugged. “It’s a mystery. If only we had a body that wasn’t so decimated. All we know is that he soaks the area around them with gasoline and then lights it. By the time the fire department shows up, there’s not muchleft.” He frowned. “River, why do you believe these people were dead before the fire was set?”

“Putting them on the bed and crossing their wrists reminds me of the positioning of a corpse in a coffin. The hands are placed this way out of respect for the deceased. It’s theproperway to display a body. Our UNSUB appears to be giving them this same sign of deference. So, I don’t think he would make them suffer more than he had to. Oh, he wants them dead, don’t get me wrong. He’s angry, exacting some type of judgment, yet his upbringing or his sensibilities have made him sensitive to causing undue pain.”

Ray grunted. “If he had real compassion, he would have allowed these poor people to live.”

“River’s right, Dad. Here’s something else to consider. This guy seems to be carrying out vengeance for someone else. The way he kills shows us his distaste for taking a life. Yet the fact that he’s doing it—and the way he uses fire—comes from the anger inside of him because he believes he is righting a wrong. It’s an odd dichotomy. If you can figure out who he’s trying to avenge, you’ll find your UNSUB.”

Ray sighed. “Like I said, I’ve been over and over these cases. I can’t find one thing any of them have in common. Nothing. Nada. Until I find out why, I can’t find out who.”

Frankly, even though River had seen a lot of things no human being should ever see when she was with the FBI, this subject was disconcerting. She prayed she and Tony were right—that the victims were dead before the fires were started. If they were alive, his rage really was directed toward the victim. But with the wrists and feet tied together, River was comfortable with her and Tony’s assessment. The UNSUB’s main motivation was for someone else. Someone he felt these victims had hurt.

Ray went over to the tray Beth had put on his desk. He poured two cups of coffee and carried them over to her and to Tony.

“Thanks,” River said. She nodded at Tony. “Do you have any questions for your father?”

He shook his head. “Not right now, but stay near, Dad. We might need to talk to you later.”

Ray poured one more cup of coffee and walked toward the door. “I’ll be here. Just downstairs. Holler if you need me.” He smiled at River. “I hope you had a nice lunch.”

River took a quick breath. “Yes, I did. Thank you.”

Ray nodded and walked out the door, pulling it shut behind him.

“Let’s get to work,” River said to Tony. “If your dad’s right and this guy is getting ready to take another life, we need to get this profile done as soon as possible.”

Tony didn’t move, just stood where he was and stared at her.

“Did you hear me?” she asked.

“I’m not doing anything until you tell me what Aimee said to you,” Tony said, his voice low and solemn. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask my sister. I mean it.”

“Look, can’t we work on the profile first? We can talk after...”

“No.”

Tony’s response brought her up short. She knew him well enough to know that there was no way he was going to let this go. What could she do? What should she say?

“Tony, I don’t want to cause problems. Can’t you just trust me when I tell you that you need to leave this alone?”

“No, River. I can’t even begin to think of anything Aimee could say that would upset you so much. I have to know what happened.”

“If I tell you, will you promise not to tell Aimee? I can’t be the cause of problems between you and your sister. I’m serious. Please.”

Tony hesitated a moment before saying, “Okay. If it’s the only way I can get you to tell me the truth, I promise. I’ll keep it between us.”

Although it was against her better judgment, River quickly recounted her conversation with Aimee. As she talked, the color in Tony’s face began to flush. She stopped, afraid of his reaction. Had she made a terrible mistake that would cause Tony’s family even more pain than they’d already suffered?

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

Tony couldn’t believe what he was hearing from River. Why would Aimee say something like that? He’d been so hopeful that River and Aimee would strike up a friendship. They were similar in so many ways. But what Aimee had said made that highly unlikely.

“River, I never told Aimee—or anyone—that I felt something was wrong that night. Because I didn’t. Just like you, I truly thought Jacki wanted us to see something important that affected our profile. I didn’t suspect anything, and I never told Aimee or my parents otherwise.” He shook his head. “I have no idea why she would say something like that.”

“Yes, you do,” River replied. “We study behavior, Tony. You know exactly why she believes that.”

Tony stared at her for a moment, trying to clear his head of the antagonism he felt toward his sister at that moment. “She needs to find someone to blame. And the only way she can do that is to believe I only went to the river that night because you wanted me to.”

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