Killing Ways

43

Ren went into Safe Streets at eight a.m. and called Glenn Buddy.

‘It’s Ren — did you get anything on that hit-and-run driver?’

‘Nada,’ said Glenn. ‘Not yet.’

‘She was wearing my jacket at the time, Glenn — she has the same dark shoulder-length hair. She was walking Misty on the street where I used to live. You heard Joe Lucchesi — Rawlins is targeting law enforcement. I’m worried, this was meant for me. If Rawlins was working on old information on where I live...’

‘Sounds to me like Rawlins is not the type to leave a job unfinished,’ said Glenn.

‘That’s my concern,’ said Ren. ‘What if he comes back again? Devin is only—’

‘Ren, my dear, if he comes back again, it’ll be you he targets. And he won’t miss. So, relax.’

‘Thanks, Glenn. Thanks for that.’

Joe Lucchesi appeared in the bullpen.

‘Morning,’ he said.

‘Hey,’ said Ren. ‘Did you enjoy your evening?’

‘Yes,’ said Joe. ‘I went to the movie in the end, took my mind off everything for a couple hours.’

‘I bet it didn’t take your mind off anything,’ said Ren.

Joe paused. Then nodded. ‘No. You’re right.’ He walked out of the room.

Ren looked at Everett. ‘He’s a cheery fellow.’

She went to the kitchen to make coffee. Gary was standing at the machine. She told him about Devin.

‘That’s not Rawlins’ style. You know it isn’t.’

‘I hope it isn’t,’ said Ren. ‘But what if he’s targeting people who mean something to people? I don’t have kids or close family in Denver.’

‘This is a hit-and-run,’ said Gary. ‘Nothing more exciting than that.’ He poured her coffee. ‘So,’ he said, ‘what do you make of Joe Lucchesi?’

‘He’s intense,’ said Ren. ‘Abrupt. But very good. He’s cold, though.’

‘He’s had a hard time of it,’ said Gary. ‘I’m guessing he had a very different pre-Duke Rawlins’ life.’

‘It’s so depressing.’

‘And it’s exactly why you cannot, under any circumstances, personally engage Duke Rawlins if you don’t have to...’

Of course I have to. It’s irrefuckingsistible not to. It’s Duke Rawlins, for fuck’s sake. It’s the Greatest Psycho on Earth.

Gary’s cell phone started to ring.

‘It’s Claire,’ he said. ‘I better take it.’

Ren went into the bullpen. By the time she sat down at her desk, Gary was calling her to come to his office.When she walked in, he was ghostly.

‘Karen didn’t come back from her run this morning,’ he said.

Oh. Fuck.

‘I’ve no way of contacting her, because she doesn’t carry her cell when she runs — she lost her armband.’

‘I’m sure it’s nothing,’ said Ren. ‘She probably met a friend, got stuck into a conversation, lost track of time — it happens.’

He looked at her like he wanted to believe her. They stared at each other. Ren wondered if they were thinking the same thing.

Duke Rawlins.

Then Ren wondered if they shared the same follow-up thought.

What if Karen’s found out about the affair? Because if we put out a BOLO for Karen Dettling and it turns out she’s running away from her cheating FBI agent husband in the middle of a serial killer investigation, well...

‘Where does she normally go running?’ said Ren. ‘Can we go check wherever that is?’

‘I’ll call around her friends,’ said Gary.

When Cheating Attacks.

Fifteen minutes later, Gary called Ren and Joe into his office.

‘That was her,’ he said. ‘I got hold of her. She’s OK. She’s fine.’ His voice cracked.

‘Oh, thank God,’ said Ren.

Joe was perplexed. Gary explained what had happened.

Safe to explain to him now you know it wasn’t your cheating that caused this.

‘It’s not good, guys. It’s... Duke Rawlins.’

‘What?’ said Joe.

What?

Gary let out a breath, struggled to compose himself.

‘Take your time,’ said Ren.

‘Karen was running in the park,’ said Gary. ‘She fell and this guy who had been running behind her stopped and helped her up. She said he seemed like a regular guy. But then he called her Karen, said he and “her husband” went a long way back. Then he gave her an envelope, and ran back to wherever he came from. When he was gone, she looked at it, and it had your name on it.’ He pointed to Joe.

‘My name?’ said Joe.

‘What the fuck?’ said Ren. ‘Where is it?’

‘I’m going home now to get it,’ said Gary. ‘I told her to put it into a paper bag.’

Joe was stunned. ‘Is your wife OK?’

‘She’s very shaken,’ said Gary. ‘But she’ll be fine. She’s made of strong stuff.’

Not from what I saw.

‘He didn’t hurt her...’ said Joe.

‘No,’ said Gary.

There was a short silence.

Are we all thinking how Anna Lucchesi was not so fortunate?

‘Is there anything I can do?’ said Ren.

‘Yeah...’ said Joe.

‘No,’ said Gary. ‘Thank you both. I’ll check on things at home, bring you back the letter.’