The Third Victim Part 80

Richard wasn't worried, however. Danny was too browbeaten by his father to ever do something bold. That had been half the fun.

Now Richard bent over and, with some difficulty, hefted Rainie onto his shoulder.

"You squealed on me, didn't you, Danny? Didn't I tell you that smart boys don't squeal? Smart boys stay quiet, if they want to keep their families safe."

Danny remained wordless.

"Well, there's only one thing to do now," Richard said with a sigh.

"We're going to have to kill your sister. Rules, Danny. Just ask my old man. You gotta live by the rules."

Quincy's flight didn't touch down in Portland until nine p.m. Luke met him at the gate and started briefing him as they both half-walked, half-jogged to his illegally parked car. "Her neighbor reported hearing a gunshot a little aftereight p.m.,"

Luke was saying.

"Frankly, we didn't get that call until nearly nine p.m."

"Why so late?"

"Because we had our hands full with another shooting, and dispatch got confused. Daniel Avalon had disappeared as of yesterday afternoon.

Today he surfaced in Bakersville, trying to blow off Steven VanderZanden's head."

"Casualties?"

"Not yet. VanderZanden ended up bruised and battered, but fortunately Avalon's a lousy shot. On the other hand, VanderZanden's wife figured out what it was about from all the cursing and swearing. I don't know yet how VanderZanden will fare with her."

"h.e.l.l hath no fury like a woman scorned," Quincy murmured. Someone came barreling toward them with a cart filled with luggage. They both swerved wildly and kept running.

"When did officers arrive at Rainie's house?"

"Fifteen minutes ago. So far there's no sign of Rainie, but there are blood splatters on the deck. Sanders thinks he got her."

"Any phone calls, any gloating? He loves games. This whole thing has been one giant adventure for him."

"Yeah, well, we're trying to cut off his amus.e.m.e.nt ride. In the good-news department, Sanders opened up the personnel file for Richard Mann around six-thirty. First thing he saw was a black-and-white photo of the real Richard Mann, which certainly didn't match our favorite counselor. He'd already called for a couple of uniforms to descend upon Mann's house when the shooting started at the VanderZanden residence."

They arrived at Luke's patrol car. Quincy threw his bags on the floor and climbed in. Luke flipped on the sirens. Off they went.

"What did they find at Mann's house?" Quincy asked, gripping the dashboard as Luke took a corner hard.

"We found one computer. A cop hit the s.p.a.ce bar. The monitor came up with a screen that said: Love you too, Baby. Then the whole thing blew up. Luckily, it was a small charge and no one was hurt."

"f.u.c.k!" Quincy slapped the dashboard.

"We've spent this whole dance two steps behind."

"Yeah, and now the dance floor is getting crowded. In other news, Danny disappeared at five-thirty this evening. Two Cabot County cops were transporting Danny to a mental facility when they ran off the road. Supposedly when they regained consciousness, he'd already stolen the keys to his shackles and disappeared into the mist."

Quincy looked at Luke. He said, "Shep."

Luke said nothing, which coming from him was a yes.

"Is he in custody?"

They're still questioning him. But there's no sign of Danny, and I know Shep. He'd do anything for his son, probably even this. But something's gone wrong. He looks like a giant bowl of jelly. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's scared out of his mind."

"You think Danny ran off on his own?"

"I don't know."

"You think he went to Rainie's house?"

"We're dusting for prints. Ask me when the reports come back."

"How well does Danny know the area?"

"He's hunted here all his life. He'd do all right."

"Get your hands on Shep. Have him meet us at Rainie's place."

Luke didn't bat an eye.

"Okay."

"Ask Sanders to send two state troopers to the O'grady house. I want Sandy and Becky under full police protection. According to the preliminary information, Richard Mann -or whoever he is has done this three times. On each occasion it's been a ma.s.s shooting. And on each occasion there have been no witnesses. I don't think he's going to start now."

Luke paled but nodded soberly.

"Luke, do you have a vest?"

"Yes."

"Put it on. Make sure everyone puts theirs on." "You don't think he's left town.""I know he hasn't left town. It's the nature of the beast. Each time, he has to raise the stakes in order to get the same thrill. And, heaven help us, he's tired of being bored."

Sat.u.r.day, May 19, 10:05 PmAbe Sanders ran up to meet Quincy the minute he arrived at Rainie's house. The CSU was tearing up floorboards, dissecting the deck in search of trace evidence. Giant floodlights illuminated the grounds, while men in navy blue windbreakers swept the premises inch by inch with bobbing flashlights. Quincy had seen this scene hundreds of times by now, and it still struck him as surreal.

He'd never even been to Rainie's home. There should be nothing here to connect to her in his mind. But when he saw the back deck framed by soaring trees, he could picture her at once, and pain socked him in the gut. Her vulnerable eyes, her stubborn chin. So much unfinished business.

He had to reach out a hand to steady himself. Then he got on with the matters at hand.

"What have they found?" he asked Sanders.

"It's under the deck."

Quincy followed Sanders around. Shep was back there as well, hunched with his chin tucked in the top of his coat against the night's chill.

Luke was right. Shep looked on the verge of being ill. If he'd been behind the jailbreak, things had not gone as planned.

Then Quincy noticed that men were furiously working the dirt beneath the deck like a promising archaeological site. They dusted, fluoresced, and categorized. They carted away piles of dirt.

"It looks like a fresh grave," Sanders was saying.