Gallery of the Dead

Twenty-Five

Hunter, Garcia and Special Agent Fisher all turned at the same time to face the hoarse, gravelly voice that had come from behind Hunter. Standing just outside the door to their office was not one person, but three.

‘The orders came from me, old buddy,’ Adrian Kennedy confirmed, his eyes fixed on Hunter. He was flanked by Captain Blake on one side and Special Agent Larry Williams on the other.

Garcia’s surprised face was a picture. ‘Oh, I didn’t know that we were having a party. I could’ve gotten us all some party horns.’ His questioning stare moved to Kennedy. ‘And you are...?’

Kennedy didn’t laugh at the joke. ‘My name’s Adrian Kennedy,’ he replied as he stepped into the office. Captain Blake and Special Agent Williams followed him inside. ‘And you must be Detective Carlos Garcia.’ Kennedy walked over to him and offered Garcia his hand. As he walked past Agent Fisher, Kennedy gave her a stern sideways look. ‘It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Detective.’

Garcia stood still, though he did frown at the word ‘finally’. ‘Sorry, but is your name supposed to mean something to me?’

‘Adrian Kennedy is the FBI’s NCAVC’s Director, Carlos,’ Captain Blake explained as she positioned herself by Hunter’s desk. ‘He also heads the NCAVC’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.’

‘Great,’ Garcia replied, unimpressed, before addressing Kennedy again. ‘Congratulations. It sounds like you’ve done well for yourself.’ He threw an even more inquisitive look Captain Blake’s way.

Her reply came in the form of a single shrug.

Kennedy finally retracted his hand, which had been hanging idle in midair until then. He turned and faced Hunter.

‘How are you, old friend? It’s nice to see you again.’

Hunter did shake Kennedy’s hand.

‘This is Special Agent Larry Williams,’ Kennedy said, taking care of the formal introductions. ‘And obviously you’ve already met Special Agent Erica Fisher.’ His gaze found hers. ‘Who should’ve followed orders and waited.’

‘I apologize, sir. I was just trying to—’

Kennedy’s slight shake of the head was enough to bring an early end to Agent Fisher’s excuse.

‘What’s going on, Adrian?’ Hunter asked. ‘Why’s the NCAVC taking over this investigation?’

‘Well,’ Kennedy said, scratching the underside of his chin. ‘It’s complicated.’

‘Simplify.’ Hunter’s tone was firm.

Special Agents Fisher and Williams looked at each other doubtfully. They had never heard anyone talk back to Director Kennedy that way, let alone a PD detective.

Before Kennedy could answer the question, his attention traveled to the picture board to his left and he paused. The expression on his face went from surprised to confused in record time.

That was when Agent Williams also took notice of the board.

‘What the hell?’ he said as he stepped closer, his eyes jumping from picture to picture before settling on Kennedy. ‘He skinned the victim?’

‘Adrian,’ Hunter called in a firm voice. ‘Why’s the NCAVC taking over this investigation?’

Kennedy breathed out as he looked back at Hunter.

‘Well,’ he finally said. ‘What you’re looking at here, my friend, isn’t this killer’s first victim.’