„Probably. Oh, and I’d be careful about that sleep-talking thing if I were you, sugar.“
He paled and went still. „What are you talking about?“
It was too rich for words. „You talk in your sleep, honey. I’m sure your wife knows all about us. Or will soon.“ She tilted her head, her smile patronizing. „Sleep well.“
Friday, February 20,
10:00 P.M.
He’d chosen the next name from the fishbowl. It was a good choice. He stared at the name, thinking of the vileness of the man’s crimes. It would be too much of a pleasure to see this man dead.
He sighed. He really should admit it, if to no one but himself. He’d started this mission to avenge Leah and the countless other victims denied justice. After the second one, Ramey, he’d felt satisfaction, and that was okay. With King it had been more than satisfaction, it had been almost… exhilarating, beating that man’s face to a bloody pulp. But with Skinner… it had been pleasure.
Watching Skinner’s eyes, so horrified. The way Skinner tried to struggle, gasping and gurgling at the very end. And he’d felt pleasure.
Was it wrong? Would God be displeased?
No, he told himself. God’s people often were commanded to kill and afterward, celebrated. There was precedent. Even Skinner would have appreciated precedent.
He stood up to go to the computer when the flickering television caught his eye. He’d been watching it all day, off and on. Watching for mention of himself, gauging public response. He was ahead in the polls if the public demonstration at the courthouse had been any indication, he thought, then stilled when Zoe Richardson filled the screen.
He hated that woman. She was vile also, prancing around, portraying Kristen as an incompetent. He was glad Reagan had taken her videotape earlier this evening. If Reagan hadn’t, he would have done it himself. He sat down, grabbing for the remote and turned up the sound. Richardson was interviewing that murderer, Angelo Conti. „So what was your reaction when you learned of the ‘Humble Servant’?“ Richardson asked and Conti swaggered in place.
„I wasn’t too surprised,“ Conti replied.
Richardson tilted her platinum blonde head. „Why were you not surprised, Angelo?“
„The way she went after me, like she was crazy or something. I was innocent.“
„Actually, the jury was undecided, Angelo. ASA Mayhew could try you again.“
Angelo’s face flushed dark red. „Yeah, and she’ll lose again. She’s incompetent, you know? That’s why she hired this guy. She can’t win, so she takes the fight outside.“
Richardson looked taken aback. „Are you suggesting that ASA Mayhew somehow hired this vigilante to kill the people she was unable to convict? Like a hit man?“
His stomach roiled as Richardson’s accusation rolled from the television. „Wo,“ he whispered, his hand clenching the medallion around his neck. „It wasn’t like that.“
Angelo Conti shrugged. „Call it what you like. I’d just like to see somebody checking her financial records the way she’s checked mine.“
„An interesting perspective.“ Richardson turned back to the camera. „This is Zoe Richardson in Chicago.“
He switched off the television, trembling. He looked at the name on the paper he’d drawn from the fishbowl. It would have to wait. He had another target to eliminate first.
Friday, February 20,
10:30 p.m.
„Where’s Spinnelli?“ Jack grumbled. „I wanna open the box.“
Abe’s smile was wry. Jack sounded like a little kid on Christmas morning. „He’ll be here soon. You’ll have all day tomorrow to analyze what he’s left this time.“
Jack grunted. „Where’s Mia? I would have thought she’d want front-row tickets to this.“
„She had a date. I called her to tell her Kristen was all right, but when I called her a half hour later, her phone was turned off.“
Jack huffed. „Well, at least one of us will be smiling tomorrow.“
Kristen looked up from her seat at the end of the kitchen table. She’d changed into a sweat suit, but her hair was still fiercely pinned to her head and Abe fought the urge to release her curls, knowing it was likely the last semblance of control she possessed.
„Why should Mia be any happier than the rest of us?“ she asked. Then her eyes widened as she caught Jack’s meaning, and her face blushed a pretty pink. „Never mind.“
Jack grinned. „Sorry, Kristen.“ Then sobered. „You know there won’t be a hell of a lot to analyze tomorrow. He wasn’t even here, we know that.“
They did. The bastard must have seen the cameras because the surveillance tape showed only a young boy delivering the box. They had a good picture of the kid’s face and of the name of his high school on his letter jacket, so they could find him pretty easily.
Nevertheless, Jack’s team was currently dusting Kristen’s front porch for prints and combing every square inch of her front yard for anything that might have been left behind. A call to her neighbors revealed the box had been there when they got home from work at five o’clock, and beyond that, nobody had seen anybody.
Jack pointed at the box. „Let’s just open it, okay?“
Abe sighed. „Okay. Go for it.“
Jack had already covered Kristen’s kitchen table with white paper. „I don’t expect to find any prints on this box either, but you never know. Here goes.“ He sliced open the box and pulled out an envelope. And sat down hard in his chair. „Dear God.“
Kristen jumped to her feet, wincing. „What?“
Jack looked up, every ounce of color drained from his face. „It’s Trevor Skinner.“
„Oh, no.“ Kristen sank back down, her face white as the paper on the table. „I was afraid of this,“ she whispered. „He’s added defense attorneys to his target list“
Abe reached for the envelope in Jack’s trembling hand. He’d heard of the man by reputation only. A real piece of work. „Did you know him well?“
She nodded, stunned. „We butted heads quite a few times. He was ruthless. I hated being in the same courtroom with him. He was merciless to the victims, pounding away until they were… nothing.“ She pressed her fingertips against her lips. „I can’t believe this.“
Abe shook the envelope’s contents on the table, found the letter. „ ‘My dearest Kristen, I am so glad the proverbial cat is now out of the bag. I hope you’ve taken comfort knowing these monsters are dead. I’ll continue for as long as I’m able. By now you’re probably wondering why I’m doing this, why I’ve set out on this mission to rid the city of the festering filth that roams its streets. Suffice it to say that I have my reasons. I’ve watched Mr. Trevor Skinner at work in the courtroom, the way he so skillfully turned opinion away from the victim, often rendering them incapable of speaking on their own behalf.’“ Abe paused and looked up at Kristen.
„Yes, that’s very true. I would object and object, but he never stopped. He’s a favorite among the defendants with money. He could make a victim look worse than the accused. The rape cases were so painful.“ Her lips quivered and she pursed them. „He made those women feel so worthless and dirty,“ she finished on a whisper, met his eyes, hers shiny and wet. „I’m sorry he’s murdered, Abe, but I’m glad he can never do that to a woman again.“ She blinked, sending two fat tears down her cheeks and Jack reached out to take her hand.
„We should have done this in my lab,“ Jack said softly. „This is too much for you, after what happened tonight.“
She drew a steadying breath, gently pulling her hand away. „I’m okay, just shaken up. Let’s hear the rest of it.“
„ ‘So in the spirit of an eye for an eye, I devised a punishment that was fitting. Sleep well, Kristen, knowing Mr. Trevor Skinner died unable to say a word in his own defense. Please ensure the criminals of Chicago know that I am watching, I am angry, and I am not bound by the laws of man. I am as always, Your Humble Servant.’“ Abe sighed. „ ‘P.S. You really should finish one job before you start another.’“