Page 44 of Possession

“Guys, you probably want to stick around,” he threw over his shoulder. “I think I have something.”

Turning on the balls of our feet, we raced back to Kurt’s desk looking over his shoulder at the large 35” monitor, one of many displayed around the room.

“I sent out an APB on a 1997 GMC Savana Cargo Van as well as the plate number. I just got a hit from a State Trooper who says he spotted the van entering the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests near Goshen, Virginia about two hours ago. He radioed in for an unmarked car and they followed them until he turned off of an old service road no longer in operation outside Hot Springs, Virginia.”

Nat stood from his leaned over position. “What the fuck? The Washington and Jefferson is four hours from here. Why there? Does he know where the service road ends? Or what’s at the end of it?”

“He said there’s nothing at the end of it. There used to be one of several working hot springs that kids would sneak out to, but it’s long since dried up. It’s barren forest out there.”

I shook my head completely disagreeing. “No. There’s something out there. Otherwise why would he take her there? Think about every note Casanova has written to his victims. He’s in love with them. The whole purpose of each of those letters is to let them know they belong together, and that he’s coming for them. Think about it. Every last letter those women received before being killed were ones of anger that she wasn’t who he thought she was. I really believe that in his head, those women were a substitute. At least until he found the real Madeline. She’s been his target all along. Now he has her. And he’s expecting her to love him back. There’s always been a desperate tone to his notes when it comes to her loving him like he loves her.”

Nat pondered my words. “You’re right. Madeline is smart too. She’s been studying this guy for months. Knows how he thinks. What makes him tick. She’s going to play along with him, placate him, get inside his head and know exactly how to act and respond. She also trusts us to find her, which means she’s going to do everything she can to stay alive.”

Kurt turned in his chair, stood, and reached into his desk drawer, withdrawing a Glock 9mm standard issue gun, surprising the hell out of us.

Who knew the IT geek could handle a weapon?

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go get your woman and bring an end to this piece of shit.”

His words startled us into action and we raced out of the office, Kurt keeping up with us every step of the way.