A Soul To Steal (13 page)

“What did you do?” Kate asked.

“I told them they could go fuck themselves,” Janus said and grinned.

“This is his usual response to most inquiries,” Quinn said.

“Really?” she asked.

“Oh yeah,” Quinn said, holding up his hands. “Honest to God.”

“So I imagine they took that well,” she said.

“Well, I also showed them my press badge,” Janus added. “That made them calm down, but one of them went running back and brought out Stu.”

“Who’s Stu?”

“Brown’s deputy,” Quinn said.

“What did he say?” Kate asked.

“He didn’t say jack,” Janus replied. “I asked him what the hell was going on. I said I got calls from some locals about the police out here, so I came to take some pictures and I get the fucking Nazis coming down on me.”

“Good, good,” Quinn said.

“No locals called, I assume,” she said.

“Not a bloody one,” Janus replied. “So Stu just glares at me and you can see the hamster wheel running in his head. Then he said something about how it was dangerous and there was a chemical spill in the woods and how I needed to keep away from the area.”

“If it was a chemical spill, where were the masks and suits?” Quinn asked.

“Bingo, man,” Janus said. “Exactly the question I asked him. He just told me to leave.”

“Is that about it?” Quinn asked.

“Well, I got enough art for you,” Janus said. “But I will tell you this. Those kids—the other cops—they were scared. You could just feel it coming off them. I don’t know if they were told the chemical bullshit or not, but I doubt it. Whatever body is back there, I think it’s pretty messed up.”

“Or they didn’t just find a body,” Kate said.

“Meaning?” Quinn asked.

“They found something else,” she said. “Something that is worrying them.”

“Like?”

“A note,” she said. “Lord Halloween’s calling card.”

“Wait a minute,” Quinn said. “We don’t know that yet. I agree it’s a possibility—maybe even a good one, but…”

“How many murders happen in October, for God’s sake?” Kate asked.

“I know,” he replied evenly. “But it is far too early to tell yet. We have to find out more.”

There was a silence between the three of them.

“I might be able to help,” she said finally.

The two men looked at her.

“How?” Quinn asked her.

“Do you trust me?” she asked him and the two of them stared at each other.

 “I said I did,” Quinn replied.

“Then let me worry about it,” she said. “I have some experience with police procedure. And I may have a source.”

“Whoa, hang on, we can’t let this get out,” Quinn replied.

“You have to trust me, Quinn,” she said. “I’m not going to burn you. But if this story is what we think it is, this source will know. And he won’t lie to me about it.”

“How is that possible? You just came to this town,” Janus said.

Kate didn’t answer him.

“You’ve been here before,” Quinn said. “Haven’t you?”

Kate looked at both of them, but said nothing. She looked at her watch.

“I have to run guys,” she said. “But I promise I’ll keep this quiet for you. If he comes through, I’ll let you know.”

She stood up and started to walk away. Suddenly, she came back to the table.

“Quinn?” she said.

“Yeah?” he asked uncertainly.

“Thanks for trusting me. You won’t regret it.”

And she left them both watching her leave.

“Wonderful girl,” Janus said. “Either I’m going to kill her or I’m beginning to like her.”

“
Empire Strikes Back
?” Quinn asked.

“Nah, man,” he said. “Original
Star Wars
. You are off your game today. And if she screws us, you will have blown the biggest story of your life. Return of a brutal serial killer?”

“I know what I’m doing,” Quinn replied.

“I hope you’re right,” Janus said. “We don’t know an awful lot about her, you know. And notice how she didn’t answer if she had been here before? I’m not the reporter, but when someone doesn’t answer a question, it usually means there is a story.”

“I know,” Quinn said.

“You dig her?” Janus asked.

Quinn just looked away.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Janus laughed. “So you aren’t going to answer my questions now?”

“I don’t know how to answer it,” Quinn said. “Yeah, I ‘dig’ her.”

“Good,” Janus said. “God knows you’ve needed a girlfriend in the worst way.”

“Leave my personal life alone,” Quinn said.

“Why start now?” Janus asked. “Just be careful about trusting her too far. She’s holding back. That much is obvious.”

“I’ll be careful,” he said.

Janus grunted and they finished the rest of their lunch in near silence.

*****

Kate stood outside on the curb, uncertain exactly what to do. The barrier between her and the door was little more than 10 feet of grass, but it felt like something infinitely more dangerous. As if the grass would swallow her whole if she stepped on it.

Finally, with what felt like a momentous effort, she stepped forward and crossed quickly to the door.

Maybe no one will be home, she thought, ignoring the fact that she would have to come back at some point. Or did she? She could just tell Quinn it hadn't worked out. Her source was no good.

You aren't doing this for him, she told herself. You know damn well why you’re doing this.

Kate rang the doorbell and waited an eternity before it finally opened.

An attractive-looking woman in her late 50s stood there.

“Can I help you?” she began, and then stopped abruptly. “Oh my God. Katrina? Is that really you?”

Kate nodded and the woman hugged her violently before escorting her through the front door.

“I can’t believe it,” the woman said, though Kate could hardly hear her.

She was too busy looking around. She had thought some of this might seem familiar to her, but either the house had changed or her memory was refusing to kick in.

“I can’t believe it,” she said again.

“Hi, Mrs. Redacker,” Kate said finally, still looking around the room. She felt no tingle of familiarity. Her brain's insistence that there must be something here, anything that she should remember only made the place feel more alien and this meeting more strange.

“Call me Sue,” the woman gently said. “Calling me that makes me feel so old.”

And then Kate spotted it. A large photo was on the back wall in the family room they had just walked into. It was an old picture of four adults and two little girls. She didn’t need to look hard to see one of them was herself.

“Well, my goodness,” Sue Redacker continued. “When did you get into town? Your father didn’t say anything about coming down here and Johnny just spoke to him...”

“My dad isn’t here,” she said, more abruptly then she meant it. “I came down here on my own.”

“Oh,” Sue said. “Of course. It’s so hard for me to think of you as all grown up, you know. Are you in town on business, or just touring Virginia? You should have told me. We would have been happy to have you stay here.”

“It’s okay, Mrs. Redacker,” Kate said. “I’m all right. I was offered a job here, at the
Chronicle
.”

“And you took it?” Sue said.

“Yeah,” Kate said, and smiled grimly. “I took it.”

There was silence in the room as Kate continued to look around. There were a few other photos—mostly of the Redacker’s daughter Julia—that looked familiar. But nothing else.

“I’m sorry, dear,” Sue continued. “It’s just your father never wanted to hear the word ‘Leesburg’ mentioned, so I’m surprised...”

“It’s all right,” Kate said and smiled. “Really. I know it’s weird.”

“Then why, if you don’t mind me asking?” Sue asked, and looked at Kate intently.

“I don’t know, to be honest,” Kate replied. “Maybe it was to see the place again. I'm not sure.”

“Well,” Sue said, and let out a breath. “I’m certainly glad you’re here. Will you stay for dinner? I don’t think Johnny will be much longer.”

“I can’t,” Kate said. “It’s my first week and I have a lot of stuff to do.”

“Well, come by later this week then,” Sue said. “I’m just so happy to see you. I talked to Julia last night and I know she would love to see you.”

“That would be great,” Kate said. “I hate to cut right to the chase, though, but I need your help.”

Kate hated herself a little. The Redackers were good people, but being here—standing with this woman—felt intensely painful. Now that she was through the door, she just wanted to leave.

Sue looked startled, but nodded her head.

“Anything, dear,” she said. “You know that.”

“My dad doesn’t know I’m here,” she said. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell him.”

“But...”

“Please.”

There was a long pause.

“I was your mother’s friend for most of her life and I respect your father a great deal,” Sue replied. “I don't think it’s a good idea to lie to him.”

“I’m not asking for that,” she said. “Just don’t bring me up.”

Slowly, Sue nodded.

“Okay,” she said. “For now. But that’s not what you came for, is it?”

“It’s not, no,” Kate replied. “I need Mr. Redacker’s help.”

Sue waited, but turned slightly away.

“With what?” she asked, and Kate could see she was looking at the photo of Kate’s mom on the far wall. “Did you know he was promoted just a few months ago?”

“There was a dead body found today,” Kate said suddenly. “Out past Leesburg.”

“Oh my God,” Sue said, inhaling.

“Or it might have been found earlier. I’m not sure.”

“How could Johnny help you with something like that?” Sue asked.

“We are working on a story about it,” Kate said.

“Well, he isn’t allowed to talk to the press, dear,” Sue said.

“This isn’t a normal murder, Mrs. Redacker.”

“Then what is it?”

“We don’t know, exactly,” Kate said. “But we hear rumors. That there may be more than a single corpse.”

There was a long pause. Sue looked uncomfortable and Kate fought the urge to just leave the room. She hated doing this, having this conversation. It felt like she was watching herself from a million miles away. She was handling this poorly.

But she had to know.

“Well, I don’t know how he can help you with that.”

“Is it him?” Kate asked her.

“Who?” Sue replied, but she was walking into the kitchen.

Kate followed her.

“You know who I mean,” Kate said.

Sue stopped and slowly turned around.

“Trina,” she said, and Kate winced at the use of her mother's nickname for her. “They caught that man. You can’t just....”

“Does Mr. Redacker really think Holober was the guy?” Kate asked. “He’s told my father that, but does he really believe it?”

Sue didn’t answer.

“I didn’t think so,” Kate said. “And I don’t either. Which means he could still be out there.”

“He’s not,” Sue said.

“Maybe,” Kate said. “But I need to make sure. I need to know what else was found by that body. Notes, clues, anything. Do the police think it’s him?”

Sue walked back into the kitchen.

“I don’t know anything about this,” she said.

“But you can ask Mr. Redacker,” Kate said. “He would know.”

“It’s not that simple,” Sue said. “This is crazy. I’m sure it isn’t that man… they caught him.”

“They didn’t, Mrs. Redacker,” Kate said, and moved closer to her. “They didn’t. You know it, I know it, my father knows it. And I feel like I’ve just been waiting for him to show up again.”

“Trina, he’s not coming back. And you can’t expect Johnny to…”

“I know I don’t have a right,” Kate said. “But I think my mom does. Don’t you understand? He murdered her and he’s still free.”

“No,” Sue said adamantly. “They caught him.”

“What if they didn’t?” Kate asked.

“It’s not him,” Sue said.

“If it’s not him, I need details,” Kate said. “There are rumors a note was found by the body. I need to know if that is true.”

There was no rumor of any such thing, but Kate had to go out on a limb. If it was Lord Halloween, there would be a note. There was always a note.

“Tell him it’s me who wants to know,” Kate said.

“So you can put it in the paper?” Sue asked. “That the murderer is still out there?”

“To warn people,” Kate said. “Don’t you think my mom would want that? Wouldn’t you? If this guy really is back and we don’t tell people, someone could die who doesn’t have to.”