Page 35 of The Murder Between Us
“What about Bart and Frank?” Noah asked.
“Interruptions. Disruptions to his fantasy. His afterglow, as it were, was ruined by both men. That may be why there’s so much overkill with each of them. His rage was fully unleashed on the fathers. For those moments, when Bart and Frank came to check on their daughters, he was completely out of control. He lost all his discipline. And he absolutely destroyed both men. In Bart’s case, he destroyed Bart’s identity. Destroying someone’s face is a sign of erasure and hatred.”
“The Coed Killer killed every four months,” Noah said. “And then he disappeared. Now, six years later, he’s back. And he’s killing more frequently than before. Why?”
“One of two reasons: escalation or disintegration. He’s either gaining confidence from these murders and is escalating his kills, or he’s coming undone. In that case he’s disintegrating, and he’s desperately reaching for what he thinks he needs to feel normal again. Killing is his addiction. It’s how he calms the urge inside him, which builds up and builds up until he’s overcome with the need. After each kill, he has a cooldown period. Those cooldown periods may last anywhere from several months to several years. The memories sustain him through that period and keep his fantasies in check. He can replay, if you will, the last murder instead of needing to commit another. Now, his cooldown period has changed—several times. This change is significant. Are his urges taking over? Is he losing control? Or is he mocking us? Are his pride and confidence urging him on?”
“How will we know?”
“If he’s disintegrating, he’ll make mistakes. He’ll slip up. If he’s escalating, things will get worse.”
“Great,” Jacob rumbled. “That’s exactly what we need.”
“There’s a reason he’s killing faster. We have to find it. And there’s a reason he’s killing now, again. There was something that started this. With each recent murder, of Kimberly and now Jessie, he’s rediscovered howgoodhe is at what he does: at killing young women, and now their fathers. He’s regaining his confidence. He’s successful, even when he’s interrupted, which has a dual result in both frustrating and angering him and filling him with confidence and pride. Despite being thwarted, look how he succeeded. Even though he wasn’t able to enjoy his kill the way he wanted to.”
“You’re saying we should expect another murder soon?”
“Yes. He will strike again. Sooner than his pattern, whether he’s escalating or disintegrating.”
Noah’s hands fisted on the conference table. “So who is he? How do we find him?”
Cole pulled Noah’s notepad across the table toward himself. He started scribbling as he wrote, making two columns:WhoandHow. “He’s a mirror of his victims’ race: white male. Midtwenties to midthirties, the period when most men who murder are at their peaks. He’s educated enough to blend into society and appear unobtrusive. He lives normally, at least from the outside. He has a respectable job and has people’s respect. He’s nonthreatening, or even safe, for most people. Lots of people know this man.” He moved from theWhocolumn to theHowcolumn and started scribbling again. “He hunts in the darkness, late at night. He knows how to move in the dark. How to fade away. Where to hide. He’s local, or very familiar with the area, and, he’s getting bolder. He’s moved from public places—college campuses and parking lots—to homes. He’s bold enough to break into someone’s house and strike on their home turf. He gains complete control over his victims, murders them, and gets away cleanly.”
“An organized killer?” Jacob asked.
“It’s not an either-or determination. It’s a blend between the two. Our killer is organized in that he has above-average intelligence—he has to, in order to target his victims, hunt them, and plan these murders so meticulously—and he shows signs of control before, during, and after the murders. The fathers, however, are sinkholes of his rage, and that implies disorganization and a major loss of control. However, purely disorganized killers usually are socially and sexually inadequate men who lash out when they are in crisis. They act suddenly, kill abruptly without preplanning or organization, and show no signs of control, utilizing whatever is at the scene. They have no plan, either before or after the killing. There are elements here that are both organized and disorganized.”
Jacob frowned. “What’s that mean?”
“It means he’s more on the organized side of the continuum. But he’s motivated by intense rage, and the hunt for victims is a symbolic search for the woman who wounded him so deeply. Through killing these girls, he’s able to feel, for the briefest moment, the satisfaction of revenge. But that moment fades, the satisfaction is fleeting, and he has to hunt and kill again.”
“We have to stop him,” Noah said.
“You already know he’s a ghost. He’s deliberately normal. He will blend in with everyone else. He might even be attractive,” Cole quipped.
“Well, he’s not me,” Jacob rumbled. “I don’t put anyone at ease. Least of all, women. And I’ve never been accused of being handsome.”
Noah tried to smile. “What do we do?”
“Rock his world. Make him feel threatened. Make his world feel small. Make him feel the pressure of the investigation. Make him think we’re closing in. Increase his panic. Increase the focus on him. Narrow his safe spaces.”
“Another press conference?” John had already held one the night Cole arrived. The press had bubbled nonstop about Jessie and Bart Olson, and they couldn’t keep quiet about what had happened and what they suspected. At the least, the FBI had a duty to warn the public, to warn everyone to remain vigilant. Monday night was the first time the FBI had acknowledged they were looking into the Coed Killer again. That they feared he’d struck again. Maybe even twice.
“Yes, another press conference. Keep the pressure on him. Get the public to help you. Get them to keep their eyes open. He’s left a trail here. People know this man. Somewhere, someone knows something.”
11
At noon,Noah stood outside the FBI office, facing a gaggle of local reporters. Damn it, where was John? He was the guy who talked to the press. But when Noah had tried to reach him, he got no answer. Noah wasn’t half as personable as John was, nor did he have a quarter of his experience. John could answer a reporter’s question and make them feel like a trusted friend, a confidant. Noah was stiff, and he looked every bit the stereotyped G-man, right down to the polo shirt beneath his FBI windbreaker.
Of course, Cole at his side didn’t help matters. Noah had only himself to blame for that. Cole had said he’d keep out of the press conference, but Noah insisted he join in. Cole was the one who had put the profile together.
Nearly all the reporters directed their questions to Cole, if not by name, then by giving him all their attention. The female reporters were the most obvious, eyeing Cole up and down before vying for the next question. Each time, Cole deferred to Noah with a gentle smile.
“No, at this time, the FBI is not requesting Des Moines or the surrounding counties implement a curfew. We are asking everyone to remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings and to report anyone suspicious in your neighborhoods. This killer is part of our community. You may know him. You may have seen the signs that he has committed these crimes. We especially want to talk to anyone who knows someone who may have unexplained absences the nights of these murders. Or any unexplained wounds, especially scratches or bruises to the arms. We want to talk to anyone who has noticed someone hanging around or watching you where you work or live. Cars out of place. If you think something is even a little bit weird, call it in. We want to hear from you.”
They were going to be swamped with tips. The task force was already assembled upstairs in the bullpen, phones at the ready, for when the lines started to ring after the conference. Most of the tips would be duds, neighbors reporting gossip or trying to cast aspersions. Many would truly think they were helping but would only be reporting garbage collectors or meter readers or gardeners people had never noticed before.
“We are doing everything we can to bring this killer to justice. The families of his victims need justice. We’re closing in on this man, and we will catch him, especially with your help. The killer believes he is above the law, but he is not. He will be caught. He will be punished. There is no escape for him.”
