Page 16 of Their Wicked Games

“You came.” He offered his hand and clasped hers, dragging her forward. “This way.”

She followed him, weaving through pastoral tracks until she could hear the rushing of water in the distance. He led her to a sunny clearing. A rock formation alongside the falls had created a deep rock pool. Water trickled into it at one end from the falls thundering down the valley to overflow at the other end, creating a clean swirling rock pool.

“See, didn’t I tell you it was magic?” He sat on a boulder and pulled off his boots. “Come on, it’s perfect for skinny-dipping.” He gave her a long look. “You’re not a tease, are you?”

She kicked off her shoes and unbuttoned her blouse. “No, this isn’t my first skinny-dip.”

“Good.” He removed his belt and laid it on the rocks surrounding the pool. The hilt of the substantial hunting knife he always carried poked out of its sheath and glistened in the sunlight. “Last one in the water buys the coffee.” He jumped into the rock pool.

She followed and shivered at the icy cold water, but he just laughed and splashed her. Ducking away, she turned back to splash him when sunlight sparkled on the blade of his knife. The smile died on her face as he waded toward her, his face frozen in a blank expression. “What are you doing with that knife? You’re frightening me.”

“It’s your time to die, Bear.” He moved closer. “There’s no escape. Come here and I’ll make it easy on you. Run and I’ll slice you like a turkey on Thanksgiving.”

Panic gripped her and she glanced over one shoulder, searching for a way out of the pool. If she climbed over the rocks, it was a sheer drop to the falls. She must make him see reason. “Don’t be stupid. Everyone saw you with me today in Aunt Betty’s, and why me? What have I ever done to you? I thought we were friends?”

“It makes no difference.” He moved closer, crowding her back against the rocks. “When it comes to the kill, it’s all about me.” He raised the knife.

She screamed and ducked away but the blade sliced through her shoulder. All around her the water filled with red ribbons. Uncomprehending, she blinked and gaped at him, slapping at him with both hands, but he just smiled and struck again as if he’d planned each move and was enjoying her suffering. His expression had fixed into a horrific smile as he slashed at her. The swirling water slowed her down as, terrified, she turned her back on him and tried to scramble over the rocks. There was no escaping his vicious attack. Behind her, he grunted with effort, one hand wrapped around her arm to prevent her escape. Each stab he inflicted vibrated through her like punches rather than stabs. Suddenly there was no pain, but the water ran red all around her. In one last effort, she tried to raise her arms to fight back but they refused to move. The next moment, her numb legs came out from under her. Helpless, she lay floating on her back gasping for air and stared at his ruby-splattered face. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth and all around her seemed to be slipping away. She forced out a breath. “Please… stop.”

“Not yet.” He leaned over her and grasped her hair. “I need to see you smile, one last time.” He held the knife in front of her eyes and then drew it across her throat. “Goodbye, Little Bear.”

SEVENTEEN

Back at the office, Carter had made all the necessary calls. Bobby Kalo, the FBI IT whiz kid, was hot on the trail of the parents of the victims. If they’d had a parking ticket anywhere in the US, he’d find it. Carter leaned back in his chair, waiting for Jo to finish her call. She’d been requesting information about Jimmy Two Cents from every source available. Kane had hunted down where and when Jimmy Two Cents had committed his crimes and requested all case files. It was a hive of activity, with Jenna issuing instructions like a general. She was a petite woman, who people who didn’t know her underestimated, and yet she had the presence of a giant. He turned as Jenna returned to the long desk in the center of the conference room. “Okay, now it’s a waiting game. Did Rowley or Rio leave a list of details for our suspects? Once Jo is ready, we can get at it.”

“I have the list. I’ll send it to both of you.” Jenna tapped away on her phone. “If you take the top two, Alicia Palmer and Bill Ripley, they’re both in town, we’ll start on Jesse Davis and Geoff Bannister, they are out of town. Rio and Rowley are handling the others.” She gave him a long look. “Check in and out with Maggie. If you need to talk to me, use the phone. The radio isn’t secure.”

To experienced officers, that was a given, but as Jenna covered all the bases, all the time, Carter just smiled. “Copy that.”

“I’m expecting a ton of information.” Jo disconnected and pushed her phone into her pocket. “Apparently, Jimmy Two Cents has come under the interest of a number of different psychologists since he was first arrested. The local PD was very forthcoming and put me in contact with the first doctor who analyzed him. He in turn was able to give me the names of others.”

Raising his eyebrows, Carter frowned. “Is sharing medical information legal? What about doctor-patient privilege?”

“The HIPAA privacy act, which is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, is much the same, but it allows medical providers to share information for the good of the patient. It keeps us all on the same page and is essential in following treatment patterns.” She gave him a long look. “This is how your physician knew about your PTSD episodes because you discussed them with your shrink. I’m able to obtain this information because, as a psychologist in the field of criminal behavior, I’m planning on interviewing Jimmy Two Cents and need to be updated on his condition.”

Astounded he hadn’t taken notice of such an important change in the law, he rubbed his chin. “I just figured the FBI knows all.”

“No, they don’t.” Jo collected her things from the desk. “That’s not saying they don’t have means and ways of obtaining information. Bobby Kalo isn’t the only cybercrime whiz kid working with us. They are recruiting more every day.” She looked at him. “I’m done here. Let’s go. We have a ton of things to do.”

They headed downstairs and took Jenna’s cruiser from the parking lot out back. Carter settled Zorro in the back seat, slid behind the wheel, and started the engine. He looked at Jo. “Okay, who’s first on our list?”

“We have Alicia Palmer, twenty-three years old, out of Fallen Rock Crescent. She works as a dental hygienist here in town, and Rowley suggests we try there first.” She added the address to the GPS and smiled when it popped up on the screen. “It’s not far, on Main in the middle of town.”

They found the dentist above one of the stores in town and Carter went straight to the counter and rang the bell. The smell inside the dentist’s put Carter’s teeth on edge and brought back memories he’d rather forget. Although he had to admit he’d received first-class treatment during his time at Quantico, and the childhood mishaps were a thing of the past, but the bad memories always seemed to creep back the moment his next checkup was due. When a man in white stepped out from the back room and smiled congenially, Carter nodded and showed him his creds. “Agents Carter and Wells. We’d like to speak to Alicia Palmer. I believe she works here.”

“She does indeed but not this afternoon.” The dentist looked concerned. “Has something happened?”

Shaking his head, Carter took a card from his inside pocket and handed it to him. “No, we’d just like to speak to her. She might be able to supply us with some information we need on a case.” He wanted to obtain any information he could on Alicia and drummed his fingers on the counter. “How long has she worked for you?”

“Four years.” The dentist’s brow furrowed. “She’s very dependable.”

“That’s good to know.” Jo nodded and smiled as if attempting to allay the man’s fears. “We hear she is a marksman with the crossbow.”

“Yeah. She often brings in her trophies to show me.” He looked from one to the other. “What is this all about?”

Carter smiled. “Oh, nothing to concern you. Do you have any idea where we can find her?”

“She’ll be at home, I guess, or shopping.” The dentist took one of his cards from a holder on the counter and scribbled a number on the back. “These are her cell and landline numbers. She could be anywhere around town. I have no idea. She didn’t mention anything about going anywhere when she left this morning.”

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