She wondered when the change had happened. Kate had always looked up to her father and her father’s friends. They had seemed so strong and commanding when she was young. Now Redacker appeared old and frail.
“Then tell me what the note said,” she said.
He lifted his head.
“It didn’t say much,” he said.
She waited for him to continue.
“It was a small post-it note on her chest,” Redacker said. “It said, ‘Did you think I would stay away forever? I will be making up for lost time. LH.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it,” he said.
“Not very frightening,” she said.
“He had it attached to her with a carving knife,” Redacker said.
“Any prints?”
“What do you think?”
“He never left any before,” she said. “He seemed familiar with police procedure.”
“Exactly,” Redacker said.
“And you really believed it was Donald Kilgore? That he stuck a knife through his wife’s chest?”
Redacker looked down.
“Is that it?” she asked. “Is that all?”
“That’s all I know now,” he said. “I…”
The radio in his car squawked for a moment.
“Hang on,” he said and walked back to his vehicle.
“Yeah, I’m out in Ashburn now,” she heard him say. “Yeah, I can head over there. No problem. Five minutes.”
He walked back to her.
“I’ve got to go,” he said. “I’m sorry about before. And maybe we’re wrong…”
“Just be honest with me,” she said. “If not for my sake, then for my mother’s.”
Slowly he nodded.
“Okay,” he said. “I promise I’ll do the best I can.”
“What’s your call?” she asked.
“Not sure,” he said. “Some lady wants us to check out her friend’s house. She said her friend was visited by the police last night and she hasn’t been able to talk to her since.”
“Was she visited by police?”
Redacker shrugged.
“I’ll check it out,” he said. “Usually it turns out to be nothing. I should get over there. Are we okay?”
“Yes,” she said. “Just remember your promise.”
“I will,” he said and walked back to his squad car.
She watched him go. She idly brushed her hair out of her face. She would have to go back to work soon. But she saw her hands were shaking.
Now she knew. Suspecting was one thing, but now that she knew, it felt all the more real. But what had she expected?
It was irrational, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before Lord Halloween figured out who she was. He had a county filled with people to target, but Kate would be on the list, she was sure of it. So she wasn’t going to wait around for that to happen. She had to find him before he could find her.
Chapter 13
Saturday, Oct. 14
Quinn was startled by a loud pounding on his door. He glanced at the clock. It was barely past 5:30 a.m. The pounding became more insistent.
He got up and moved cautiously to the door, wearing only his boxers. He was not sure what to expect. Maybe it was Janus or Bill with some story.
He had no peephole at the door and briefly wondered what to do.
“Who is it?” he called out.
The pounding stopped.
“It’s Kate,” a voice came back.
Quinn opened the door and she walked in.
“Get dressed,” she said, practically ordering him. She breezed past him and went into the kitchen. “You have any coffee?”
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Something bad,” she replied. “Throw on some clothes. We need to get moving before time runs out.”
“Should I call Janus?” he asked.
She thought briefly about it for a moment.
“You might want to,” she said.
“Do I have time to shower?” he asked.
“No,” she said simply and opened the refrigerator. “Can I have this Mountain Dew?”
Quinn waved at her to do what she wanted. He was so tired he forgot to be embarrassed about his lack of clothes. Instead he stumbled back into his room and pulled on jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. He brushed his teeth, but didn’t even take the time to comb his hair.
He came back out to the kitchen.
“Where are we going? Jesus, have you already had the whole thing?”
Kate appeared to be holding a nearly empty can of the soda.
“Anxiety makes me thirsty,” she said.
“Yeah, and all that caffeine should really calm you down.”
Quinn picked up the phone and dialed Janus, who answered like he had been awake the whole time.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Kate gave Quinn directions, who relayed them to Janus. Then the two of them were out the door.
“I got a call from my source,” she said as they walked to his car.
“Who is?” he asked.
She didn’t answer.
“Jesus, Kate,” Quinn said. “Are we on the same side or not? It can’t be a state secret.”
“Johnny Redacker,” she said.
Quinn whistled.
“He’s pretty high up in the department,” Quinn said. “He might have even been sheriff if it hadn’t been for that incident in Stone’s Creek.”
“I know,” she said.
He started driving.
“Before I get there, can you tell me what is going on?” he asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “But we had a talk yesterday. He admitted the Kilgore murder wasn’t done by her husband.”
“Shit,” Quinn said. “I’m not shocked, but still. Is it something we can use?”
“You know, I didn’t even think about the paper,” she said. “I was more worried about me.”
“Okay,” he said. “But that still doesn’t tell me why we are heading out before 6 in the morning to a house in Leesburg. Who lives there?”
“A woman named Mary Louise Fanton,” she said. “Evidently she disappeared Thursday night.”
“A victim of the Horseman?” Quinn asked.
