Maybe

17

“AM I ALLOWED to be pissed off?” Lou Kelly says.

Miranda and I are in the rental car, headed south on 81, bound for Sensory Resources, in Bedford, Virginia.

Wait. I know what you’re thinking. Bedford’s east of Roanoke, not south.

You’re right. I mean, that’s what I’ve always told you.

But it’s not true.

I’m trusting you with this because…well, because I trust you. You’ve known me awhile, now, and you deserve the truth. Sensory isn’t near Bedford. It’s eighty miles south-west.

Why did I lie?

We’ve always lied about the actual location. It’s what I programmed my staff and all the workers to say.

Here’s why:

Bedford’s a small town, where everyone knows everything about everyone else. There are people in Bedford who contact us when strangers show up asking questions about Sensory Resources, Donovan Creed, Lou Kelly, Callie Carpenter, Jarvis Kent, Jeff Tuck, Joe Penny, and the various assassins and bomb-builders who work for us, as well as the doctors and security personnel who work at the Sensory facility.

Those who come to Bedford seeking information…stay in Bedford, if you get my drift.

Lou doesn’t know we’re forty minutes away from paying him a surprise visit, but he’s on the phone and pissed because he just learned…well, I’ll let him say it:

“I busted my ass to get you the victim photos, then I hear you spent the morning viewing not only the photos but the victims themselves!”

“Relax, Lou.”

“This is why you had me fly Miranda Rodriguez to Louisville last night? You could’ve saved me hours of work by telling me your plans. It’s not like I’m sitting around, twiddling my thumbs all day.”

“Listen. Twiddling your thumbs all day is hard work. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not.”

“Hilarious. Look, if you want to catch Felix, we can’t do the same things. You’re wasting my talents and resources.”

“I agree. This was a spur-of-the moment decision. I hoped to interview the victims, see if they saw anyone suspicious.”

“Did they?”

“Yes. They saw Felix. And Santa, Elvis, and the Tooth Fairy. They were so drugged up they could barely think.”

“I could’ve told you that before you made the trip.”

“I know. But I wanted to see them for myself, in person. It fuels me.”

I put Lou’s call on speaker. Then ask, “Any news on Felix?”

“If I had anything, I would’ve called you.”

“I believe you. But where would we be if I failed to ask?”

“It’s been less than two days since the fair. You expect him to do something this soon?”

“Yes. This is an angry corporate chemist. Probably lost his job recently, so he’s got free time, fresh supplies, and a whole lot of pent up aggression. If we let him cool off or run out of supplies, he’ll probably quit.”

“That’s a good thing.”

“If he quits, he gets away with it.”

“True. But the world’s a better place.”

Miranda and I exchange frowns. I say, “So he cools off, gets another job, and gets fired again. What then?”

Lou says, “What made you narrow him down to a corporate chemist? Why can’t it be a high school or college professor?”

“Did you see the photos of the kids’ faces?”

“Yes.”

“You think a teacher would do something like that?”

“A crazy one, maybe.”

“This is an angry corporate chemist. He’s been fired recently.”

“Not retired?”

“No. Retirement is something you see coming. Felix is angrier than that. He’s been fired for doing something wrong, or because of the economy. Get your geeks to search that angle.”

“Will do.”

“Keep me posted.”

“I will. By the way, the CFO at Jefferson Memorial said you’re paying the victims’ expenses.”

“After they leave the hospital.”

“That’s a helluva generous offer. But what if Felix does this five or six more times before we catch him?”

“I’ll go broke.”

We hang up and Miranda says, “You know that much about Felix already?”

I frown. “Truth is I know nothing about Felix. I’m just following my gut.”

“You’re certain he purposely targeted kids and moms?”

“I am. Why?”

“Assuming you’re right, you may want to add something to his profile.”

“What’s that?”

“He’s recently divorced, or legally separated. He’s lost his wife and kids to the legal system.”

I look at her and smile. “How about you forget about private practice and come to work for me?”

She laughs. “That’d be a hoot.”

“I’ll make it worth your while.”

“How so?”

“A hundred grand a year?”

“To work for you? No way!”

“Name your price.”

She laughs again. “I’ll think about it.”

“No you won’t.”

“No, I won’t,” she agrees.

“Will you marry me?”

She smiles. “You’re a nut.”

“I notice you didn’t say no.”

Before she can, I get Lou on the phone again. When he answers I say, “My fiancé and I have been talking.”

“Fiancé? You mean Miranda?”

“Yes. And she gave me a clue.”

“Guess that’s better than clap.”

I pause, and Lou says, “Sorry. That was uncalled for. I thought you were joking.”

“About the clue?”

“About her being your fiancé.”

“I was. But the clue is sound.”

I tell him to have his geeks search for a recently divorced father who either works or recently worked as a chemist.

“This is really good, Donovan,” Lou says, excitedly. “It’s highly searchable.”

“Don’t thank me,” I say. “Thank my fiancé. You’re on speaker.”

“Aw shit,” he says. “I’m really sorry for the remark, Ms. Rodriguez.”

“No harm done,” Miranda says. “But Lou?”

“Yes?”

“If I’m not overstepping my bounds, I think your researchers should also look for any crimes against women and children.”

“A woman or child is attacked every second.”

“I’m talking about groups of women or children. Like a teacher and her entire class. Or a day care. Or a church or camp outing.”

“You okay with this, Donovan?”

“Absolutely. In fact, I like Miranda’s profile better than mine. I still think we’ve got an angry corporate chemist, but maybe he’s not recently fired. Maybe he’s recently divorced or separated.”

“I’ll type it all in and see what spits out.”

“Good man.”

A half hour later Miranda and I enter Sensory Resources and walk down the corridor to my office. I punch in my key code to unlock the door, open it, and see Lou Kelly fucking Rachel’s mom, Sherry Cherry. He’s got her bent over my desk, taking her from behind.