Margie Entzel looked crushed. She nodded and wordlessly opened the door wider. She shuffled deeper into the house, to a small family room. The television was on. The Weather Channel.
She picked up the remote, hit Mute, then looked at them. “I like watchin’ it ’cause I don’t have to think.”
Kitt murmured her understanding and leaned forward. “Mrs. Entzel, I’m Detective Lundgren. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
The woman’s throat worked; she struggled to speak. “I seen you on TV the other night. Today, I seen where another girl got killed.”
“Yes.” Kitt glanced at her partner, then back at Margie Entzel. “We are going to catch him. Soon. You can help us.”
The mother clasped her hands on her lap, expression growing determined. “How?”
“We’re trying to find a link between your daughter and the other girl who was killed. Did you know her or the family?”
She shook her head that she didn’t. They ran through the list of possible places their paths intersected: school, church, pediatrician, the places they shopped, restaurants they frequented. M.C. took notes while Kitt listened and prodded the mother’s memory.
“Any out-of-the-ordinary stops or events in the past few months?”
Margie Entzel thought, expression tight with effort. “Girls’ softball tryouts. My uncle Edward’s seventieth birthday…Julie’s birthday party.”
“When was that?”
“Her birthday was January 21. It was a Saturday. She was so…excited to be having her party on her birthday. That doesn’t happen that…often.”
Marianne Vest’s tenth birthday had been in February.
Kitt glanced at M.C. She hadn’t made the connection yet.
“You had a party for her? Where?”
She plucked a tissue from the box and dabbed her eyes. “The Fun Zone. She loved it there.”
This time M.C. looked at Kitt. Kitt sent her the slightest nod, which she returned. M.C. closed her notebook and stood. “We’ll talk to the other girl’s family, cross-reference this list. Hopefully, something will intersect.”
Kitt stood and held out her hand. “Thank you, Mrs. Entzel. We’ll be in touch.”
Margie Entzel took her hand. Hers was damp. “I wish I could have helped more,” she said.
“You helped more than you know. If you think of anything else, don’t hesitate to call.”
They waited until they were in the car to speak. Kitt started the car, then looked at M.C. “Julie Entzel’s birthday was in January, Marianne Vest’s in February. Coincidence?”
“I bet not. Or maybe I should say, I hope not.”
Within the hour, their hunch proved correct. Marianne Vest had also had her tenth birthday party at the Fun Zone.
19
Friday, March 10, 2006
5:40 p.m.
The Fun Zone was an indoor play place that catered to children from ages two to fourteen. For the little ones there were rides, a ball pit and maze; for the older ones, laser tag, a rock-climbing wall and a game arcade the size of a small university. As an added incentive, the Fun Zone mascots, Sammy and Suzi Squirrel, roamed the place, handing out hugs and signing autographs.
They showed their badges to the teenager manning the front door and asked for the manager. She pointed toward the ticket counter, located just inside. A Mr. Zuba.
M.C. cocked an eyebrow at the name. “What?” Kitt asked.
“My brother Max went to school with a Zuba. Zed.”
Kitt shook her head. “What kind of a sick puppy names their kid Zed Zuba?”
The other woman shrugged. “Called himself ZZ, for obvious reasons and because he was crazy about the rocker ZZ Top. It’s probably not the same guy, ZZ was a hell-raiser. Gave his parents never-ending shit.”
“No doubt getting back at them for the name.”
They waited in line behind a family with four kids under the age of six, all four of them talking at once. Since the noise and activity level inside was mind-boggling, the four youngsters fit in just fine.
They reached the front of the line and asked the bored-looking teenager behind the counter for Mr. Zuba. The kid nodded and called over his shoulder, “ZZ, you got visitors!”
A man standing at the other end of the booth turned. His gaze landed on them and recognition lit his features.
“Oh, my gosh! Mary Catherine Riggio?”
“ZZ.” She smiled. “I haven’t seen you since Max called and begged me to come pick you guys up in Beloit.” Beloit, Wisconsin, a quick, thirty-minute trip across the state line from Rockford, was a college town and favorite of Rockford teens. “You were drunk off your ass.”
“And you were a saint for picking us up. An angel of mercy.” He shook his head. “Those were some crazy days. I’m settled down now. Got two kids. Boy and a girl.” He looked past her. “You here with your family?”
“No.” She showed him her badge. “This is my partner, Detective Kitt Lundgren. Can we speak to you in private?”
He paled slightly. “Sure. Hold on.”
He gave strict orders to the teen, exited the booth and motioned for them to follow him.
“Is it always like this?” M.C. asked, nearly shouting to be heard.
“Friday nights are big. Second only to Saturdays between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon.”
He unlocked a door that led into the stockrooms, which were considerably quieter. M.C. said a silent thank- you. When they reached his office, he invited them to have a seat.
She saw a photo of his wife and kids on the desk. Pretty lady. Cute kids. She told him so and he beamed.
“Judy and I met at Rock Valley. Isn’t she great? And that’s Zoe.” He pointed to the picture of a pretty, dark- haired toddler. “She’s two now. And the baby. Zachary.”
Zoe and Zach Zuba. She ran the nickname possibilities through her head: ZZII, Zgirl, ZZ-redux, Zuper-kid.
She wanted to shake him and demand, “What were you thinking?”
Instead, she asked, “The noise level doesn’t drive you nuts?”
“Nah. I love kids. Besides, they’re just having fun.”
ZZ. Who would have thought?
“What’s up, M.C.?”
“We’re investigating the recent Sleeping Angel murders. Apparently, both victims had their birthday parties here. The Entzel girl in January. The Vest girl in February.”
He moved his gaze between them, looking uneasy. “When I saw them on TV, I thought they looked familiar, but I see so many kids. Now that I know they…Oh, man, this is really horrible. How can I help?”
“What kind of screening do you put prospective employees through?”
“Criminal-background check with the state police and a drug test. We ask for references, which we check.”
“You get many adults in here without children?”
“We’re real careful about that. The Fun Zone prides itself on being a safe place for kids. We advertise it.”
He opened the top drawer of his desk and took out a package of wristbands. “They’re numbered-a family or group all have the same number on their bands. We check wristbands as people exit. A child is never allowed to leave without the adult they registered with.
“In addition, an adult walks in solo, without a kid, my door employee is instructed to ask what party or group they’re meeting. If they’re not, they call me or one of my assistants and we suggest they’ve come to the wrong place. I mean, what kind of adult would come here for fun? Get real.”
