“Well, the offer stands. Don’t take too long to let me know if you need me to alter a few things. Once things get processed, it will be out of my hands.” Wyatt was about to respond but stopped himself because the waitress brought them their servings of pancakes.
“Thank you. These look absolutely delicious,” Wyatt said to the waitress who responded with a smile and a sultry wink. Once she was out of earshot, Wyatt responded, “I’ll let you know as soon as I can,” and took a large bite of his syrupy pancakes. “Wow, these are great!” he exclaimed. “I told you.” Wilcox laughed.
“Listen, I have to piss. Don’t touch my pancakes.” When Wilcox had left, Wyatt pulled out his phone and opened the tracking app of the device in Ness’ car. 397 Riverview Road, Northbrook . . . that’s a rather far distance from campus, Ness, Wyatt returned his phone to his pocket when Wilcox returned, and the two ate in practical silence as they devoured their pancakes.
“This was delicious. Thanks for introducing me to this place, Robert.” Wyatt said as he mopped up the last bit of the syrup with his pancakes. “Anytime, my friend,” Wilcox said and dropped cash onto the table before they drove back to the station.
“Thank you for everything, Robert,” Wyatt said as they pulled into the parking lot.
“Don’t mention it but do let me know how you want me to take this further.” Wyatt nodded and climbed out the vehicle. “There are just a few things I need to double-check first,” he said as he shut the door and headed toward his truck.
40 minutes later, Wyatt parked his truck across the street of 397 Riverview Road, and he could see Ness’ Civic parked in the driveway. He watched the house for several minutes until he decided he wasn’t going to get much done here. He started up his truck and drove toward home. He needed to find out everything that he could about the person who lived at 397 Riverview Road.
14
Eddie emerged from his room at 4:00 P.M. and had changed into different clothes. He wore a skintight, black, cotton long-sleeve shirt with dark cargo pants and SWAT boots.
“You look very fashionable, Dexter,” Ness smiled as he came down the stairs. Eddie tossed a duffel bag at her, “Those should fit.”
Ness unzipped the bag and could see that Eddie had purchased clothes exactly like his for her to wear, but they all appeared to be in her size. “I’ll go get changed,” Ness headed to the bathroom where she stripped her clothes and donned the new clothes. They all fit perfectly, and she wondered how Eddie guessed her sizes so well. A few minutes later, Ness emerged from the bathroom.
“The look suits you.”
“Thanks.”
“You ready?” Eddie asked, picking up another duffel bag from the ground. “Have you memorized all of the information that you needed to?”
“I have.”
“Good, let’s go to the garage. Bring the folder with all of the contents,” Eddie turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Ness grabbed the folder and followed Eddie. They walked through the kitchen and passed through the door into the garage. Eddie turned on the light, and Ness could see two vehicles parked in the garage. One was an expensive-looking Mercedes G Wagon, where the other was a much cheaper looking Ford Contour. Eddie turned toward her,
“The first rule of killing—always be invisible. People will remember an expensive vehicle in an area that’s filled with students. A cheaper car will blend in much more easily and remain inconsequential.” Ness simply nodded.
Eddie walked to the tool section of the garage and pulled the light switch away from the wall. Behind the false light switch was a keypad. Eddie typed in a code, and the tool cabinet moved away from the wall, revealing a large furnace with several weapons, piles of cash, multiple passports, and plastic explosives on the side. “Woah . . . Bruce Wayne would be proud of something like that,” Ness commented.
Eddie turned toward her but didn’t smile. He grabbed the folder from Ness’ hands and tossed it in the furnace. He turned on the gas and activated the pilot light. The folder was engulfed in flames in a matter of moments. “Whatever you take from the scene tonight, including your clothes and anything else you touch there, will need to be taken and destroyed in here when we return. Serial killers are always tempted to hold onto a keepsake from their victims, but you will not—that is the second rule that you will follow.”
“Understood. Where did you get all of that stuff?” Ness pointed inside the hidden room.
“That’s a story for another day,” Eddie answered. “What would you like to take tonight? I’m familiar with all of these weapons, but you’re going to have to take something that you’re comfortable with.
Ness removed a Beretta M9 and a black carbon steel suppressor, a hunting knife, and a scalpel. “These.”
“You certainly are full of surprises,” Eddie commented while looking slightly impressed.
Ness placed the items in the duffel bag. Eddie added black latex gloves, a roll of duct tape, an alarm scrambler, a set of lockpicks, rope, plastic Ziploc bags, cable ties, masks, and safety goggles, and then zipped the bag closed.
Ness frowned. Eddie noticed her questioning look and stated, “You’ll see.” He picked up the duffel bag, walked to the Contour, and opened the door with Ness getting into the passenger seat. Eddie pulled the visor down and the keys fell into his lap, and then he started the ignition. They drove in silence as they moved toward West 33rd Street and Ness watched the setting sun glint off the buildings in the city. She expected to be more nervous, but there was a strange sense of calm that had washed over her.
“Are there any more
