‘‘It appears so. Have you any leads on Mayberry?’’
‘‘None. We still don’t know if he’s dead or alive.’’
‘‘Where’s Ross Kingsley?’’
‘‘He’s in his motel room working on his profile.’’
‘‘What’s his thinking?’’
‘‘Different from mine, especially with the new infor mation. I think our boys were into something with the three Cobber’s Wood victims. They had a falling-out, and Edwards and Mayberry hung them. Then Mayberry and Edwards had a falling-out, and Mayberry killed him. I’m thinking that Edwards tied the knots for the Cobber’s Wood victims and Mayberry tied the knots that strung up Edwards.’’
‘‘What about Kacie? Mayberry do her too?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘Either that, or this really is a coincidence. She was raped. This could be a rapist who also steals.’’
‘‘That sounds reasonable,’’ said Diane, ‘‘but there’s one thing.’’
‘‘What’s that?’’
‘‘Who’s calling me? I spoke with Mayberry at the Cobber’s Wood crime scene, and it wasn’t him.’’
Garnett winced. ‘‘Maybe that’s someone else too. You said you get lots of E-mail every time they run that interview.’’
‘‘Yes. That’s true. I do.’’
‘‘Damn, all this is too complicated.’’ Garnett ran a hand through his thick hair.
‘‘What’s the profiler saying?’’ Diane asked.
‘‘That the Cobber’s Wood victims were done by a serial killer who’s probably done some people before. We’re looking for similar killings in other states now.’’
‘‘And the other murders?’’
‘‘Separate. He said something about Cobber’s Wood being an organized scene and Edwards’ scene being disorganized. He thinks Raymond Waller was killed for his collection. He talked to one of your curators or conservators, or whatever you call them, and it seems that the collection is real valuable. We ran a check on Waller’s finances, and all his spare money for as far back as we can check has gone into the collection.’’
‘‘That makes sense too,’’ said Diane.
But something she couldn’t put her finger on both ered her. Looking at all the crime scenes was like looking at an illusion and not being able to perceive the alternate point of view. If she could just see through the illusion.
‘‘You’re right,’’ she said. ‘‘This is too complicated. Perhaps we should quit looking for a connection and look at each scene as separate until we know better.’’
As she spoke, Jin showed up at the door. ‘‘Hey, Boss. I thought you’d like to know, I’ve connected two of the crime scenes.’’
Chapter 33
Jin gathered up his hair and doned a cap just before he stepped into the room. He picked up a pair of latex gloves and put them on. ‘‘I just finished with the Crown Vic, and I tell you one thing, we can find this guy by looking to see who’s walking around with a handheld vac. He’s cleaned that sucker up. Obviously been watching too many crime scene shows.’’
‘‘You said you’ve discovered a connection,’’ said Garnett. He sounded a little testy, but Jin ignored that.
‘‘Sure did. You know the bloody glove print with the tear we found at the Chris Edwards crime scene? Well, I found that same glove print on the left front fender and on the left front door of your car, Boss. He’s the guy who attacked you.’’
Diane must have looked dumfounded. Garnett certainly did. He stood there in his suit that he’d worn to Raymond’s funeral, his mouth hanging slightly open.
‘‘I thought you’d be surprised,’’ said Jin.
‘‘Are you serious?’’ said Garnett.
‘‘As a heart attack,’’ said Jin. ‘‘It’s the same glove.
Still had traces of blood on it.’’
‘‘Well, now we’ve got something,’’ Garnett said.
‘‘Okay, where does that leave us?’’
‘‘The person who attacked Dr. Fallon is the same
person who killed Chris Edwards,’’ said Jin. ‘‘He is
also the same person who stole the Crown Victoria.’’ ‘‘That means, if you’re right on the voice recogni
tion, Diane, that it was not Mayberry who killed Ed
wards. This is beginning to get as complicated as one
of those logic problems that my daughter likes to work
in her game magazines,’’ said Garnett.
‘‘I love those,’’ said Jin. ‘‘Can’t get enough of them.
I’ve even had a few of my own published in those
mags.’’ Garnett looked at Jin as if affronted by his
intelligence. Jin, obviously enjoying the moment,
