Into the Dark

48

Alhambra and Downey, California

Tanner and Zurn left Camarillo where the death doll had been placed and drove to Alhambra for an emergency briefing with detectives there.

It started in the afternoon and lasted into the early evening.

Ed Belinski had led the meeting. He and his partner, Norm Seeton, were running the investigation into Amber Pratt’s disappearance. While Tanner was hopeful about the break, he was careful to protect the integrity of his case when Belinski asked him for an update summary.

“Key fact evidence found at our scene in Camarillo is linked directly to Amber Pratt and our five cold cases,” Tanner said.

“And what’s the evidence?” Belinski asked.

“That’s holdback, Ed.”

Belinski snapped his gum.

“We’re all trying to catch the same guy, Joe.”

“You know how it goes, Ed.”

“I know you’re friendly with the press.”

“We had a strategy and it worked. We got a killer to go public.”

Belinski stared at Tanner for one cool moment.

“If that’s how you want to play it,” Belinski said. “Let’s get to work.”

Belinski said Amber’s psychologist, Claire Bowen, had reported her missing after she’d failed to make an appointment or respond to calls. Alhambra police had not yet detected any activity on Amber’s cell phone, bank, credit cards or personal email account.

“She’s made no contact with relatives, friends or her employer,” he said, adding that her car had not been moved. The residential alarm system had been defeated and there was a lot of blood in her bedroom. They were still processing the property.

“Looks like foul play and Eric Larch is a good place to start,” Belinski said.

After reviewing the history of the case to date, the group agreed all the signs pointed to Larch. Belinski then summarized the canvass and tip reports. Finally, before wrapping up, he agreed to Tanner’s request for Alhambra to join the task force.

* * *

It was nearly midnight when Tanner got home.

He’d stopped off at his office first to collect files.

As soon as he got to the kitchen, his cell phone started ringing with a call from his lieutenant.

“We’re getting squeezed by the politicians, Joe. People are scared. How did it go with Alhambra, is Larch our guy?”

“He looks good for it.”

“Get some sleep. The captain’s talking about a news conference tomorrow to blast Larch’s face and that of his missing wife.”

Tanner got a box of cold pizza from the fridge and a beer. Piling his files on top of the pizza box, he settled at his sofa to eat and read. The files were thick with court records, transcripts, complaint histories, statements and reports about Larch. In a short time, Tanner became very familiar with Larch’s life.

Eric Fenlon Larch, aged thirty-six, was born in Daly City, south of San Francisco. His father, Chet, was a trucker who’d abandoned Eric’s mother, Lana, an alcoholic heroin addict, and their sons. Eric’s mother frequently beat Eric and his older brother before giving them up to be raised by Eric’s aunt and uncle across the bay in Oakland.

Eric had wanted to be a police officer. But he had a drug problem and anger issues which he seemed to overcome with the help of his aunt’s church group. He studied electronics in community college and worked at installing industrial and residential security systems, finding work in the L.A. area.

But his drug problem returned and he started drinking heavily.

Women Larch had known complained that he had a violent temper and had abused them. Several made 9-1-1 calls, a few pressed charges, which were usually withdrawn because he was skilled at talking the women out of pursuing them. Larch cleaned up, got counseling. Eventually he married Amber and moved to Long Beach. After he’d abused her, she sought a divorce, underwent therapy and started a new life.

But Larch couldn’t let her go.

So here we are, Tanner thought, before turning to statements from Amber’s psychologist, Claire Bowen. Again, he’d read how she’d pepper-sprayed Larch in the parking lot of her office when he’d attacked both women.

Tanner liked how Bowen had gone to war with this guy.

Bowen knew Amber’s state of mind before she’d disappeared and she’d had recent dealings with Larch’s rage.

We need to talk to her tomorrow.

Tanner finished the last of his beer and dragged himself to bed. As he passed Sam’s empty room, he felt a sudden longing to hold her. It seemed like a lifetime ago they were at the dentist’s office.

He reached down for one of her stuffed toys, a lion, and touched it to his cheek.