The Killing Ground

Stein got fired. That chick is one brick shy of a load. What’s to say she didn’t orchestrate the whole thing?”

“No, timing’s off.” Rick pointed at the first victim. “He started killing before Stein was canned. It can’t be him.”

“Why not?’ Jordan met Matt’s eyes. “I think I’m following you. She works there and sees couple after couple come in and get pregnant, and she’s still barren. That would make a woman who wanted kids pretty upset. She gets her husband to start killing the women. In some sick, twisted way, she feels she has leveled the playing field. She can’t have a baby, why should they?”

“Nah.” Rick shook his head. “It’s no good. When she makes the deal with Stein, there should have been a break in the killings.”

“Not necessarily.” Rebecca pulled her picture off the whiteboard. “Even with the deal, as long as she doesn’t get pregnant, she is still not getting her way. I agree. It makes perfect sense. I’d say it’s time we bring them in for questioning.”

“Rebecca and I will take the Mrs. You guys take him. I don’t want her anywhere near a guy who could blow at the drop of a hat.”

“I can handle myself.” Rebecca rolled her eyes, but she felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She wasn’t used to someone caring about her like Jordan did or returning the feelings. It was still new and made her feel totally protected. “I made it to thirty-one alive, you know.”

“Just stay close, alright.” Jordan pulled Rebecca’s coat off the chair and held it out for her. “I think we should drop in unannounced. Perhaps a little surprise will give us an edge over Ruth Dawson and right now, we need every advantage we can get.”

Chapter 25

Jordan watched Ruth Dawson’s face as they approached, looking for any sign of guilt. If she was surprised to see them, she didn’t show it. She schooled her features into a look of thinly veiled tolerance. “Detective Foxx. What a pleasure to see you again. And Agent Gray. Where are the other two guys?”

Bingo. Rebecca thought quickly. She was right on about Ruth Dawson. She was just the type that would be interested in two good-looking guys in uniform. Guys who weren’t her husband, and she hadn’t been abused by. Perhaps they would be able to get her to open up and maybe confess. “Ruth, we have a couple more questions about Dr. Stein. We wondered if you would be kind enough to come down to the station.”

Ruth swallowed audibly. “I don’t…don’t think that’s a good idea. Dr. Mercer is out, and I can’t leave the office unattended.”

“We can wait until she comes back.”

“She won’t be back for several days.” Ruth answered defensively. “She’s going to a conference in New York.”

“Can you call her? Let her know you’re going to be gone for a while?” Rebecca studied Ruth’s features. She really was unremarkable. Plain, the fade into the wall type. She did not like the attention that the two women were paying her.

“I don’t think so. Before she left, she had a personal appointment.” Her eyes flicked nervously between the two women. “It’s really impossible for me to leave the office.”

“Where’s her appointment?” Jordan leaned over the desk, her gaze boring into Ruth’s eyes. “This is important enough to interrupt.”

Fear flashed in her eyes. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Dr. Mercer doesn’t like to be bothered.”

Jordan leaned over further, invading her space. “Let me try to be perfectly clear, Mrs. Dawson. It’s imperative that you cooperate. I’d hate to slap cuffs on you for impeding an investigation.”

She shook slightly. “I…I don’t know where she is.”

Rebecca decided to add to her fear. “Don’t lie to us, Mrs. Dawson. Lying to a federal agent is a felony. It comes with jail time. You don’t look like the prison type.” She didn’t add that if she was the one that had orchestrated the murders, she would be facing life behind bars, if not the death penalty. “If you have knowledge of Dr. Mercer’s whereabouts, I suggest you divulge them.”

“No, no. I don’t want to go to prison.” She pulled her calendar up and typed for several minutes before she spun the screen around. “This is her private schedule. She doesn’t know I have access to it. She’s making a house call.”

Jordan took one look at the screen. Julie Keppler’s name screamed at her from the monitor. She stood up quickly. “Why would she make a house call? Why wouldn’t she just schedule an appointment? Has she done this before?”

“No.” Ruth shook her head. “Never. This is the first time.”

A thought so foreign to Jordan invaded the recesses of her mind like a black fog rolling through her, and she forced herself to give credence to its absurdity. When she accepted it for truth, she froze. “What time did she leave?”

Ruth saw the panic in her eyes, and she withered. “A half an hour ago, forty-five minutes tops.”

Rebecca saw the color drain from her face. She put her hand on her arm. “What’s wrong?”

“We need to leave now. Julie’s in danger.” The panic was evident.

Rebecca didn’t question the sudden snap. She just went with it. She had known Jordan long enough to know that if she had a feeling, it was usually right.

Jordan was already sprinting to the car. She started it with one hand and dialed her phone with the other. Seconds later, she slammed her palm against the wheel. “Shit! She isn’t answering.” She dialed another number. “Come on! Come on!” Again, there was no answer. She swore loudly.

“What’s going on, Jordan?” Rebecca hadn’t put two and two together, and Jordan’s erratic behavior was starting to make her nervous.

“It’s Dr. Mercer.” Jordan punched numbers on her phone. “Matt? It’s Dr. Mercer. The killer is Meghan Mercer. Just trust me. She’s going after Julie.” A pause. “We have to get to their house now! Susan isn’t answering. Call in backup. God damn it, Matty, we have to get there. She’s in danger.”

“Jordan, what is going on?” Rebecca’s tone snapped through Jordan’s haze.

“The video from the alley. Something kept bothering me about it. The way the guy stepped back and dropped his shoulder before the punch. It clicked when I heard that Dr. Mercer was making a special house call. She’s a fighter, and she’s used the move on me before.”

“You’re sure?” Rebecca’s brow furrowed. “You’re saying that the perp that everyone thought was a man is actually a woman. How’s she doing it?”

“I don’t know.” Jordan slid through a red light, her eyes flicking to the oncoming traffic. A horn blared to their right, and Jordan gunned it. “I haven’t got that part figured out. But I know I’m right. I can feel it.” She dialed the phone again, hoping against hope, she was wrong, but her gut told her she wasn’t, and as time slipped away, she felt her hope slipping away.

“It’s going to be okay. She’s FBI. I’m sure she can protect herself.” Rebecca tried to sound reassuring, but her voice sounded unconvincing even to herself.

Jordan’s phone rang. “Gray.”

“It’s Matt. Rick has five blue and whites on the way. ETA is five minutes. We’re still fifteen minutes away.”

“Okay, good.” Jordan’s hand was white where she gripped the phone. “We’re almost there.” She ended the call, and as if feeling danger, inched the speedometer towards the red.

Minutes later, Jordan screeched to a halt behind a black Range Rover. There were no other cars. Rick’s backup hadn’t arrived yet, and Jordan prayed they were close. The vanity plate said it all. BBYMKR. Jordan’s instincts had been right, and now she hoped it wasn’t too late. Why hadn’t she seen it before? She knew it was because of their night together. It meant nothing, but acknowledging that Meghan was a killer would eventually make her have to question her judgment.