City of Endless Night

9

Howard Longstreet’s office in the big FBI building on Federal Plaza was exactly as Pendergast remembered it: sparely decorated, lined with books on every imaginable subject — and computerless. A clock on one wall told anyone who was interested that the time was ten minutes to five. With the two dusty wing chairs and small tea table arranged on a hand-knotted Kashan rug in the middle of the room, the space looked more like the parlor of some ancient English gentlemen’s club than a law enforcement office.

Longstreet was sitting in one of the wing chairs, the omnipresent Arnold Palmer on a coaster on the table. Shifting his large frame, he ran a hand through his long gray hair, then used the same hand to silently gesture Pendergast to the other seat.

Pendergast sat down. Longstreet took a sip of his drink and replaced the glass on its coaster. He pointedly did not offer one to Pendergast.

The silence stretched on and on before the FBI’s executive associate director for intelligence spoke. “Agent Pendergast,” he said in a clipped tone, “I’ll have your report now. I want to know your opinion, in particular, if the two murders were done by the same person.”

“I’m afraid I have nothing to add to the case report you already have on the first homicide.”

“And the second?”

“I haven’t involved myself with it.”

A look of surprise crossed Longstreet’s face. “You haven’t involved yourself? Why the hell not?”

“I didn’t receive an order to investigate it. It doesn’t appear to be a federal case, sir, unless the two killings are linked.”

“Son of a bitch,” Longstreet muttered, frowning at Pendergast. “But you’re aware of the second murder.”

“Yes.”

“And you don’t think they’re linked?”

“I prefer not to speculate.”

“Speculate, damn it! Are we dealing with one killer — or two?”

Pendergast crossed one leg over another. “I will review the options. One, the same killer did both; a third would define him as a serial killer. Two, the killer of the first victim dumped the body, and the head was removed by an unrelated party who then went on to try his own hand at a murder-decapitation. Three, the second murder was a simple copycat effort imitating the first. Fourth, the killings are entirely unrelated, the two decapitations coincidental. Fifth—”

“That’s enough!” Longstreet said, raising his voice.

“My apologies, sir.”

Longstreet took a sip of his drink, put it down, and sighed. “Look, Pendergast — Aloysius — I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t assign you that first murder as a form of punishment for your rogue performance on the Halcyon Key case last month. But I’m willing to bury the hatchet. Because, frankly, I need your peculiar talents on this case. It’s already blowing up, as you surely know from the papers.”

Pendergast did not reply.

“It’s vital we find out the connection between these two homicides — if there is one — or conversely prove there’s no link. If we’re dealing with a serial killer, this could be the start of something really terrible. And serial killers are your specialty. The problem is, despite the noise we made about the first body being brought in from Jersey and dumped in Queens, there’s really no proof it was an interstate crime — making our investigation delicate in terms of protocol. I can’t officially involve anybody else from our office — not until the NYPD asks for help, and you know that won’t happen unless terrorism is involved. So I need you to get in there and take a close, hard look at the second homicide. If this is the work of a nascent serial killer, I want to know. If it’s two separate killers, then we can back off and let the NYPD handle it.”

“I understand, sir.”

“Will you please quit with the ‘sir’ business?”

“Very well.”

“I know Captain Singleton, he’s a stand-up guy, but he’s not going to tolerate our involvement for long without a clear federal mandate. I also know you have a long history with the commanding lieutenant…what’s his name? D’Agosta.”

Pendergast nodded.

Longstreet gave him a long, appraising gaze. “Get to the scene of that second murder. Figure out if it’s the same guy or not — and report back to me.”

“Very well.” Pendergast prepared to rise.

Longstreet lifted a hand to stop him. “I can see you’re not your usual self. Aloysius, I need you operating at 100 percent of your game. If there’s anything that won’t allow you to do that, I have to know. Because something about these homicides feels…I don’t know… strange to me.”

“In what way?”

“I can’t put my finger on it, but my radar is rarely wrong.”

“Understood. You can be assured of my best.”

Longstreet sat back, using the raised hand to make a dismissive gesture. Pendergast stood, nodded dispassionately, then turned and left the office.