B00CCYP714 EBOK (22 page)

Something was also tickling Rainey’s nose. Since she started living with a woman, Rainey had noticed that she could smell men more readily now. She could detect the lingering odor of a man in her home, long after they had gone. It had been one of those things at which Rainey marveled, the way her brain readjusted to what she now found pleasurable, the scent of a woman. What may have tripped her sexual antennae before Katie no longer held appeal. The human brain was an amazing thing, and hers was telling Rainey that a strong male musk was detected and it did not like it. Under all that cologne, Jason was concealing his manly scent.

Rainey decided her plan of action immediately, and set out to crack Jason’s outer calm.

“Yes, I think I’ve seen you before.” It was a guess, but a good one. “You were at the lecture I gave Monday night, but didn’t Wiley say you were an officer at State College?”

He was about to lie. Rainey looked for the tell tale signs and they were there. It was thought to be nearly impossible to fake a genuine smile. Called a Duchenne smile, it engaged the muscles around the mouth and eyes. A fake smile cannot induce the same effect, especially the wrinkles at the corners of the eyes. Rainey had no doubt that Jason’s smile was forced.

“I heard you were speaking. I thought I could learn something from your lecture that could help me in future investigations, and of course this one, too. It was very insightful. I’m glad I went.”

His eye contact was very intense. Rainey recognized that, too. People who lie a lot know one of the signs of deception is averting the eyes, which they overcompensate for by holding eye contact too intensely. The concentrated effort to focus on a person unnaturally could cause the liars blinking rate to change as well. Correspondingly, Rainey knew he was searching for her reaction to his explanation, watching to see if she bought it. She called that peeking.

Even the most accomplished liars peeked out from the veil of innocence they desperately tried to hide behind, giving themselves away in the split second she glimpsed the real person behind the facade. Jason’s peek was well disguised, but she saw him hiding in the deadness behind those baby blue eyes. Like the blink of a shark’s eye, Rainey saw the same cold, nothingness of an apex predator. Jason Brand was a small Tiger Shark swimming where Great Whites had been. He was no match for the sociopaths in Rainey’s realm; the monsters in boxes with tightly closed lids in the corners of her mind. Jason Brand was out of his league.

Rainey knew how to pry the mask of innocence away for a peek of her own.
Okay, Jason,
she thought,
how good are you?

“That’s great,” she said. “I wish more officers would take the initiative to learn about sexual assault. I’m very happy you could be there.”

Ah, there it was, the mark of deception only the best, most sophisticated of liars could control, the urge to gloat over their successful duplicity. Jason smiled, this time a genuine Duchenne smile. He was demonstrating duping delight, a common phenomenon among liars. They cannot help the smile they produce when they think their falsehood has been accepted as truth. Sometimes it was just a slight upward turn in the corners of the mouth, or like Jason’s, a full grin, but it was usually there.

Now, to apply the heat, Rainey challenged him to tell his version of the recent arrest of Forest Sutton. “It was very fortunate you were on the scene tonight. It wasn’t our UNSUB, but it could have been. Good police work. Do you live there?”

Jason crossed his arms over his chest, positioned himself with his feet facing the exit, and altered his voice to a lower pitch. “To tell you the truth, it was just luck.”

These were all red flags, especially the qualifying language, “To tell you the truth  . . .” While not all those behaviors signaled deception, in combination they were screaming at Rainey, “BIG OLD LIAR.” He confirmed her suspicions even more by the level of detail in his lie, another red flag.

“I’m coming off the overnight shift, switching to afternoons. I’m not used to it yet. Sometimes I just drive around until I can settle down. I was driving by, when I notice this patrol car pulled into the parking lot, kind of at an angle, like he was called there for something and rushed to park his car. So, I pulled over to see if I could help. It took me a while to find him. It also crossed my mind he might shoot me, if he saw me in the shadows. I tried to stay where he would be able to see me clearly, but I couldn’t yell out in case he was about to catch the guy. I saw the suspect running and heard Officer Little yell at him to halt. He ran right past me so I tackled him.”

Little offered more. “I couldn’t tell who I was chasing there for a second. I was responding to a prowler call in the next unit, when I saw the Sutton guy behind another one. I yelled at him, and then this other guy comes from between the buildings. They were both wearing all black. Then Jason tackled Sutton. That’s how I knew which one to cuff.”

Wiley slapped Jason on the back. “Good work. Too bad it wasn’t the right guy, but maybe we’ll get him soon. Word of advice, wear some identifying hat or jacket next time. Would have been a shame if you were shot or mistaken for a suspect while trying to help. I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you on that State Police application.”

Jason relaxed into his duping delight smile. His lies had been accepted. He was clear to continue doing what he was doing without suspicion, or so he thought. They said their good byes, leaving Rainey standing in the hall with Wiley.

As soon as they were alone, Rainey said, “You know that’s him, right?”

Wiley grinned at her. “Oh, yeah. Knew it the minute he walked in. Give Officer Little credit, he suspected him too. He put on a good show in there, all to make Mr. Jason Brand very comfortable. We’re already pulling records and getting warrants in order. While we’ve been occupying him here, his supervisor was checking his workstation and patrol unit computers. He ran the license plates of at least three of our victims that we know of so far.”

“You’re going to find he was stalking someone at that apartment complex.”

“The woman you spoke with at the hospital this morning, she lives there too. He ran her plates three months ago. The 911 call came from her neighbor who heard Jason leaving her unit.” Wiley said, a real Duchenne smile wrinkling his eyes.

“And you needed me, why?” Rainey asked, smiling back.

“Just wanted verification and to show you that your profile was on the money. Thank you, and now, whatever you need, you just call. I know you will be cleared on this murder charge, but I’d worry if I were you. Somebody is out to get you, Rainey Bell. Watch your back.”

“Funny, but that’s the message I seem to be getting from everyone these days.” Rainey remembered that Wiley knew her father. “Do you have any idea what my father did to Rex King?”

“I believe the word for Rex would be cuckold. He managed to wrangle a pretty woman, but she was not the most faithful gal. That I know is fact. I don’t know the details of your father’s involvement, but there were rumors about twenty years ago. They started up again after Billy’s death. Some people thought Rex had something to do with that.”

“Oh, really?” Rainey was intrigued. “We know who killed my father. He was just a kid making his gang bones, wasn’t aiming at anyone in particular. But you say Rex was a suspect, that’s interesting.”

“Only for a bit. Mackie tracked that kid down pretty fast, so the rumors died out, and then you moved back. He’s been hell bent on keeping you away from this department since then. I believe he thinks if he harasses you enough you’ll refuse to consult with us.”

“It takes a mighty small penis to take out your frustrations on the daughter of the dead man that may have screwed your wife,” she said. “Are you sure he has one?”

Wiley slapped her on the back gently, laughing. “You sure as hell are Billy Bell’s daughter, no question about that.”

“Are you okay?” Rainey asked, hoping for a positive reply.

“Yes, I’m just angry that they are doing this to you,” Katie replied through the phone.

“They didn’t make a mess or anything, did they?”

“No. It was a couple of guys who know you. They seemed rather apologetic through it all. They did run into a bit of trouble with Gunny, when they found the Glock in her car. We’re going to discuss that, by the way. She’s a little pissed they took it.”

“I bet she is. That’s her baby,” Rainey said, completely dodging the discussion comment. “Have you heard from Thelma or Ernie? How’s Mackie?”

“Thelma called. She told him about the missing girl and that you’re looking for her, so he understands why you’re not there. Don’t worry about him, Rainey. He’s in the best of hands. Your stepfather is brilliant. Let him take care of him.”

“I’m still going to try and get by the hospital to see him. If you talk to him, tell him—”

Rainey felt the stress crack her veneer, the wall she built to keep emotions in check. The Rainey season was in full swing, hammering at her from all directions, threatening to blow the lids off her boxes. Urging her mind to stay focused, she slapped some mental duct tape on the lids and gathered her composure.

Katie understood and said just the right thing. “He knows, Rainey.”

Rainey collected herself with a deep breath. “So, all is well there, then.”

“Yes, we’re all fine. The grandmas are in heaven and I’m catching up on some paperwork for the women’s shelter. We break ground on the halfway house next month, and Molly still hasn’t decided if the ‘Sarah Harris House’ is what she wants to call it.”

Molly was putting up most of the money for a facility where women recovering from substance abuse could get a fresh start, a roof, employment help, therapy, a new outlook, leaving both the substance and the reasons for its abuse behind. Molly wanted a place that would have benefitted her own mother. “A place like this would have saved Sarah Harris many years of torment. No more women through the cracks, Katie,” Molly had said, as she signed the check over to Katie’s foundation. She sealed the deal with a promise to round up every woman she knew, which was quite a few, for a fundraising reception for the rest. Rainey was looking forward to the reception. She wanted see all the women Molly had slept with in one room, number one, and, number two, watch Molly watch Leslie see them, too.

“Don’t push her, Katie. It’s a big decision, honoring her mother that way.”

“I’m not. I just have to make sure the reception invitations go out on time. I showed her a mock-up today and almost had her final approval, when the trouble erupted with Gunny in the garage. We
are
going to talk about that.”

Forewarned, Rainey ignored Katie’s comment again. “Okay, well, I don’t know when I’ll be home.”

“Take your time. It’s kind of nice to have a crisis so I can work. Built in babysitting, now why didn’t I think of that? Oh wait, I did. A part time nanny, I think it was, but alas, no one could pass the security check.”

Rainey’s reply was a little defensive. “We’re doing fine. We have our mothers several days a week, Ernie helps, Mackie and Thelma, even Junior and his girlfriend babysit sometimes. Those are the people I trust. I stay home as much as I can. If you need more time to work, say so. I’ll adjust my schedule to accommodate you.” That last part came out a bit too antagonistically, Rainey was thinking, but Katie did not respond in kind.

Her tone changed, softening. “I’m sorry, honey. I know you’re stressed. You’re right, we’re doing fine. Be careful. I love you. We’re all safe, and will be waiting here when your job is done.”

Rainey hesitated, but considering the agreement they shared, she said, “Katie, someone close to us could be responsible for framing me.”

Katie’s answer was a quiet, “I know, I’m watching.”

“Good girl. I love you, too. Kiss the babies. You call me if you notice anything, the slightest thing out of order. Got it?”

“I got it. Love you. Stay safe.”

“Always, Katie, always.”

Rainey hung up and headed back to the conference room where Sheila had set them up. It was a familiar space to her, after having been involved in two investigations the BAU conducted out of that very room. Lunch of sandwiches and sweet tea had been brought in, while they began the task of sorting through what they knew and needed to know. A list of vehicles matching the truck’s description was being generated. Colonel Asher was doing his best to keep his own boxes tightly closed. He had to excuse himself for a bit, after reading Jacquie’s autopsy report. Rainey had warned him not to, but he said he needed to know. He understood that in the investigative process the autopsy report was a vital link to ascertaining the UNSUB’s behavior. Rainey had taken the time to step out to call Katie. It appeared the colonel made it back ahead of her.

“Gary Heidnik,” he said to her, as she walked back into the room.

Rainey had decided to respect the colonel’s wishes and treat him like any other investigator. She responded, “Kidnapper, rapist, torturer, held six women captive in his basement. Same general profile, brilliant narcissist, but his goals were different. Our UNSUB is not interested in breeding with his enslaved harem. Torture was a means to an end for Heidnik. This guy,” Rainey pointed at the autopsy report, “is all about the torture.”

The colonel prompted Rainey with, “Narcissism and paranoia go hand in hand with these types, right?’

Rainey nodded her head in agreement. “At his core, he is a narcissist. He’s created an illusion of supremacy around himself, insulating him from insult or humiliation. He must control everything and anyone close to him. He will demand respect and any questioning of his authority will provoke rage and potential lethal consequences for the person who crossed him.”

“And his paranoia is him projecting what he fears and loathes on others,” the colonel added. “He detests women, strong women, if I’m reading the victim profiles correctly.”

Sheila was in the position of dealing with a rogue analyst and a distraught father, while the rest of the Triangle law enforcement agencies prepared to search for the colonel’s daughter. She took notes to present to the task force, as Rainey continued.