The Killing House

39

The monocular’s thermal-imaging technology, while state of the art, couldn’t penetrate multiple walls or floors. Fletcher had searched the buildings for nearly half an hour and failed to find a single heat signature, not even a blip of swirling colour from a heating vent or a computer monitor or tower unit. He suspected the buildings were void of actual business.

There are three others. At least, Corrigan had told him.

If Rico Herrera and the other victims were locked somewhere inside one of these buildings, Fletcher couldn’t see them — at least not at this angle, seated behind the wheel of his car. He couldn’t see the Lincoln either. The car was still parked somewhere in the back, possibly in a garage. Behind the wind he had heard the distinct sound of a garage door opening and closing. He didn’t know where they were or what they were doing. He did, however, know he wasn’t being watched. There were no heat signatures outside the buildings, which suggested he hadn’t been spotted.

Jenner had entered the back of the Lincoln. Either the passenger’s seat was occupied or the man had to speak with someone sitting in the backseat. Including Jenner and the driver, that left the possibility of two, maybe three additional bodies inside the car — two in the front, three crammed together in the back. A maximum of five men — or four, if the woman in the fur coat was inside the car.

In order to investigate, Fletcher would need to leave his vehicle. That meant leaving Nathan Santiago alone inside the Jaguar. The car doors could be opened only from the outside, and the bulletproof windows had been treated with a special coating that prevented anyone from breaking in — or kicking their way out. Such a risk would have been acceptable if the man lying in the backseat didn’t require medical attention.

Fletcher picked up his phone and called Karim. ‘Did you locate a doctor?’

‘I did,’ Karim said. ‘But not in Baltimore, I’m afraid.’

‘Where?’

‘Manhattan. She’s already on her way to Cape May, New Jersey. Boyd is driving her. This woman has performed a number of services for me over the years, so you’re guaranteed discretion. Santiago will be in good hands — and well protected. How is he?’

‘Still sedated.’ Fletcher rubbed a finger across his bottom lip as he stared at the dark buildings.

What are you doing in there, Mr Jenner?

‘Do you have an office in Baltimore?’

‘No, not any more,’ Karim said. ‘The closest office is in Trenton, New Jersey.’

‘I followed the Lincoln.’ Fletcher gave Karim his address and then told him about Jenner setting fire to the house in Dickeyville.

‘Looks like they’re shutting down their operation,’ Karim said.

‘Corrigan told me there were at least three other victims. They could be somewhere inside these buildings, but I don’t see any heat signatures. And I don’t want to leave Santiago alone in the car.’

‘It will take my people at least two hours to arrive. Baltimore PD would be quicker.’

‘Agreed. I’m assuming you’ve already culled someone from your vast network of contacts.’

‘A homicide detective.’

‘Is he discreet?’

‘He is, and he’s good with sharing,’ Karim said. ‘But to ask him to go inside the buildings and take a look around without a warrant is a tricky business.’

‘Tell him you’ve come across information from a credible source that one or more missing children are being held there. Say “missing children”. That will give him probable cause to enter — and it will garner a faster response.’

‘Any sign of our lady friend?’

‘Not yet.’

Karim gave him the address of the house in Cape May.

‘Malcolm, before I let you go, your passenger… has he seen you?’

‘He’s unable to see much of anything in his condition.’

‘Make sure he doesn’t see your face,’ Karim said. ‘I can’t afford for him to connect you to me.’