the killer had some direct line.
Harper, Kasper and Levene made their way down to the Forensic Unit’s photography labs. They checked in the evidence and walked through the corridors.
‘We need to stick with the evidence,’ said Harper. ‘If he comes, it has to be tonight. Tomorrow would be too late if we had the film.’
‘What about me?’ said Denise.
‘I want you to sit in the parking lot, keep an eye on who’s coming and going. Try to give us some warning.’
The three of them walked to the photographic lab and looked into the room. ‘That’s the in-tray over there,’ said Harper. ‘In thirty minutes that’s where our lure will be sitting.’
Chapter Ninety-Seven
The killer threw open the door of the lock-up and went inside. Several dogs were around his feet. He stared into the cell where Lucy was lying and snarled, ‘You hid things from me!’
Lucy turned and shivered. ‘I didn’t do anything on purpose,’ she cried out.
The dogs ran into the room and darted up to the Plexiglass and the door of the cell. They could smell the new intruder and sense their master’s anger. The killer crossed to the cell and smashed the Plexiglass with his fist. ‘Think, Lucy, or I’ll cut your veins and let these dogs in.’
‘Think about what?’
‘
‘I… there weren’t… you made me destroy them.’
‘I thought I did, but you lied — you had more.’
‘No.’
‘Think, Lucy. You have three minutes to let me know what was on that film.’
‘What film?’
‘Yellowstone. Our trip. What was on that film.’
‘I…’
‘Three minutes.’
The killer left and the dogs continued to circle and bark and jump up against her cell.
A moment later, he returned with a large package. He heaved it into the corner. It was a white powder. A chemical with a big hazard sign emblazoned on the side.
‘This is going to end badly, Lucy,’ he shouted. ‘They think they’ve got me cornered, but I’ve got something in store for them.’
‘What is it?’
‘Ammonium nitrate, Lucy.’
‘What for?’
‘You’ll find out one way or another.’
The killer left again and returned with another sack of the same white granules. He hauled it across to the corner. Lucy was staring, petrified. He left again and returned with two bags of nails and threw them on the ground next to the sacks.
‘I didn’t take any pictures of you. You didn’t allow me.’
‘Secret pictures, Lucy. Did you take any secret pictures?’
‘Only pictures of the park, and the marmoset and the moose. Not you. I promise.’
‘Not good enough. One minute and they’ll eat you alive.’
The killer brought in two three-foot pipes that had been sawn down. He threw them to the side, then shut the door.
‘Things are changing quickly, Lucy. The world is changing quickly too. It’s not enough to live, you have to make a difference, leave a legacy. I could’ve gone on for years, but things change. They want this to end badly? Well, that’s what it’s going to do.’
‘I can’t help,’ she said.
The killer marched across to the door and grabbed a large German Shepherd by the scruff of its neck.
‘Let’s see how honest you’re being.’ He opened the bolt and entered the cell. The dog saw Lucy. She was weeping and crying and shaking. The German Shepherd barked and bared its teeth.
The killer kicked the door shut and moved across, holding the dog firmly. ‘Now, Lucy, what was on that film?’
He moved the dog’s snapping jaw close to Lucy’s face. The teeth flashed and the bark was high and persistent. She shook and held her hands to her ears.
‘You!’ she shouted. ‘A picture of you!’
The killer moved back. ‘You were always a liar and a coward. What faith did you ever show me? None. I loved you so much and you gave me nothing, and now this. You betray me to the cops.’
‘I didn’t do anything on purpose. I really don’t know. I really don’t.’
‘It’s over now,’ he said. ‘It’s all going to change. It’s going to be big. It’s going to change the world for good.’
Chapter Ninety-Eight
The CSU photography lab was built of slabs of cinder block which were painted black. Rows of computers ranged one wall, while the rest of the room was lined with different lenses, enlargers and projectors. To the right, a room with a red light held the developing lab.
The majority of photographic work undertaken by the team was digital. Fewer and fewer jobs involved film, and when they did, the team soon uploaded the pictures on to a screen to enlarge and manipulate.
Still, most cops liked big glossy prints and the unit processed hundreds of prints each day, collecting the vast array of disturbing images from crime scenes across the city and sending out prints for the files.
The analysis work was complicated too. Working out locations from the merest details or the time of day from the detail of a single shadow. It was a busy, round-the-clock office except for now.
The last of the team had clocked off at 11 p.m., leaving Harper and Kasper alone. As agreed, Denise was stationed outside in a car.
Inside the building, the corridors went quiet. The night lights flickered on, providing just enough light to allow the security guards to walk the long tour of duty through the facility. The security guards were still patrolling, but tonight they had been told to leave any lone intruder to Harper and Kasper.
Harper had placed the package on the counter by the far wall. He figured that the killer would see it from the corridor, through the big plate-glass window. But to put his hands on it, he would have to walk into the lab and past the three-tier shelving units.
Behind the first unit, Harper was sitting with his gun on the shelf. He had moved the boxes and books to give him a vantage point. Kasper was on the opposite side of the room. They could just about see each other to signal.
They waited, sitting on uncomfortable boxes, listening out and wondering if their plan would work.
Harper hunkered down, his eyes peering out through the shelves, his phone on vibrate.
He called Denise.
‘How’s it looking out there?’
