Fancy Gap (26 page)
They all laughed heartily. As they emerged from Leroy’s car in front of Quinn’s house, Quinn asked, “We’d love to have you and Laneisha join us for dinner sometime soon, Leroy, if that would work for you both we could dine with Chef Ed in Maples restaurant at Olde Mill. Check with your better half and let me know when we can break bread together.”
“Why, thank you, Quinn. I’ll check with the boss and let you know.”
Quinn shook his hand. “Perfect. Talk to you tomorrow.”
Louisa changed into shorts and a tank top and went down to the lower deck swing. Quinn joined her shortly, carrying two glasses of wine. In the same moment, the fog lifted.
She took a sip and said, “I do believe I’m growing very accustomed to your wine. Then again, it may be the server I like…Nah, it’s the wine.”
Quinn was silent for a long time. “You know, I really believe the killer was out there tonight. He was somewhere, watching us and looking for any weakness he might be able to exploit. I just know he was there.”
“Oh, he was there, all right. And I think he was very close to us, but he knew we couldn’t see him through the freakin’ fog. It just didn’t work out for him tonight. I hope he doesn’t go back to the hole he lives in and take it out on poor Katie. By the way, that was nice of you to ask Leroy and his wife to share dinner. Can I suggest we invite the Prestons, as well as Father Tony?”
“You know,” Quinn answered, “I think it would be best just to keep it to Leroy and his wife. We might get to know him better if it’s just the four of us having drinks and a quiet dinner. What do ya’ think?”
“Works for me, Quinn. Now do tell me something: Do we have time for a soak in the hot tub, or is it way past your bedtime?”
Quinn got up, walked over to the hot tub, and folded the top over and off. Louisa watched him as he slowly turned, undid the top button of his shorts, and slowly dropped them to his ankles. His T-shirt came off next as he walked back to Louisa, who was still in the swing. He stopped the swing and knelt down in the grass in front of her. His hands slowly found their way to her shorts, as he slipped his fingers through the empty belt loops and slid them down to her ankles and off.
Louisa leaned forward, tore off her tank top, and buried her hands in his hair as he kissed her belly button and nibbled his way down to her upper thighs. She obligingly spread her legs open as he worked his magic in all of her favorite places. She squirmed and twisted her hips as the very first orgasm hit and sent a shudder through both of their bodies.
The second hit without warning, and she almost bit her lip as her body convulsed with lust. He suddenly stopped as she caught her breath. He slipped his hands under her buttocks and slowly lifted her off the swing as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He ever so gently lowered her onto his fully erect manhood and then lifted and lowered her buttocks until they were gliding as one in a rhythmic motion.
She looked up as she hit another orgasm and saw a shooting star cross the clear night sky right in front of her. She let out a mighty yelp as her groin tightened around him and felt him start to thrust his hips harder and harder. He slowly walked to the hot tub with her wrapped around his body. He set her down gently on the side of the tub.
Their moans of joy carried into the valley below and resonated over the adjacent ridges. Her legs went limp as she slid into the warm water. Her body quickly submerged as she gazed at the stars above.
Quinn leaped over the two steps to the top of the tub and turned to face the horizon. A million lights twinkled below as he let out a primal scream that Louisa had never heard before. He raised his arms and danced in the moonlight before he finally slid into the tub. Louisa smiled as they held hands.
They were not alone. He hid in the tall grass of the adjacent lot and watched them in their primal coupling. He was limp as he tried to excite himself.
He knew he had to kill them.
Levi was happy. He had this Sunday all to himself and a football game to watch on TV. The experience at Devil’s Den was as bad as he had seen in his life as a detective. Having to deal with that poor boy’s death was a challenge he had never expected. While he had seen his fair share of dead people, the sight of that poor child wired to that grate gave him chills. He already knew what he would do if he ever got the killer in the sights of his gun.
Bang, bang!
No questions asked. What frightened him even more was the thought of what the pervert was doing with the little girl.
He finished making the BLT sandwich that he planned to enjoy while watching the Carolina Panthers play a pre-season game at one o’clock. His girlfriend had gotten up early to work the early shift at the CVS in Hillsville. Lorene sure was good in bed, but she was a constant talker, and that was never good when he was trying to watch a football game.
The Panthers won the toss and were about to kick off when his cell rang. He looked over and saw that it was Freddy Jones.
Oh, shit, this football game is history,
he thought.
“Freddy, I know this ain’t no Sunday afternoon social call, brother,” Levi said as he answered the phone.
“Brother Levi, you are so darned right. I’ll bet your sorry butt is planted in your La-Z-Boy and you’re fixin’ to watch the Panthers lose. Well, I’m going to save you from that misery, ’cause we just got a hit on the tap we had on Wilton Tubbs mother’s phone. Our boy called her an hour ago. I just confirmed with his mommy that it was her dearly perverted son on the phone. Seems he finally needs some money.
We traced the line to a place in Raleigh County, West Virginia. I called the sheriff up there, and the address we got is located in a remote part of the county. The detective I talked to knows of the sicko who lives in the trailer parked at that location. He sent someone out to take a look. Guess what he found. Yep, you’re right; Wilton Tubbs’ car is parked right behind the trailer. I asked them to keep the area under surveillance and wait for you to call a Detective Stone. He’s expecting your call,” he finished.
“Well, Freddy, ain’t that some shit? You’re a good man, after all. Appreciate all of this. I owe you one, brother.”
“Not a problem, Levi, and I pray that Wilton is the one you’re looking for and the little girl is safe.”
Levi hung up and immediately dialed the sheriff ’s number.
“Good afternoon, Levi. I thought you might be watching a football game by now.”
“I was until Freddy Jones called. It seems that Wilton Tubbs has been located in West Virginia.” Levi told the sheriff what Jones had passed along. They decided to meet in the sheriff ’s office in half an hour. The sheriff then called Jim Craig and filled him in. Craig asked the sheriff to call him if the Raleigh County sheriff ’s office called with any new information.
“By the way, sheriff,” Jim said, “the lab report came back on the piece of twine Quinn found at Devil’s Den. It’s an exact match to whatever was wrapped around the boy’s neck.”
The sheriff then called Quinn’s cell number.
Quinn answered on the second ring. “Sheriff, I cringe when I get calls from you on a Sunday.”
“Well, Quinn, it looks like our Surry County person of interest has been located in Raleigh County, West Virginia. That’s about a hundred miles from here, straight up I-77. Beckley is the biggest city there. Sounds like he’s holed up with some sick friend of his in a trailer. I’ve asked Levi to be here in half an hour. I’m going to call Leroy too. Can you and Louisa be here in half an hour?”
“ We sure can, sheriff.”
As he hung up, Louisa came back into the house from a trip to the garden.
“Let me see. I’ll bet that was the sheriff or Leroy,” she guessed.
“It was the sheriff, and we’re going to his office in half an hour.” Quinn filled Louisa in on the news. On the way to the sheriff’s office, Louisa looked out the truck window.
“I’ll bet he’ll ask us to go to West Virginia to check this out. Let me remind you of the special prayer Mass Father Tony is having today for Katie’s safe return.” she said.
“I do. Let’s see what the sheriff has to say.”
They greeted the sheriff and Leroy as they walked into the office. Levi was right behind them. The sheriff looked at them with a somber look.
“Have you called the detective in Raleigh County yet, Levi?” he asked.
“No, I haven’t. I wanted to do it while I was here with you. “I’ll call him right now.”
Levi connected with Detective Stone, who told him that they had a deputy hidden in the woods about a hundred yards from the trailer. The deputy had just called in and reported that he saw two white males walking around, along with a very small person. He couldn’t determine if it was a little boy or girl. Levi thanked Stone and told him he’d be there within two hours.
“Boss, it looks like Wilton is there with a little person. I’ll be ready to leave in ten minutes. Who’s coming with me?” he asked.
Louisa stood up. “I’m in. Are you coming, Leroy?”
“We’ll take the new Dodge hemi cruiser and light it up,” said Leroy.
* * *
As Levi, Louisa, and Leroy left the parking lot, the sheriff called the dispatcher and asked her to alert both the Virginia and West Virginia state police.
“Well, what do you think?” he asked Quinn. “Is there any way that this idiot is the one who has Katie?”
Quinn shook his head. “I have no idea what they’ll find up in Beckley. But I just don’t think they’ll find Katie in West Virginia. My every instinct tells me she’s within ten miles of Fancy Gap. The killer is close and has been watching us.
Sheriff, this killer is no buffoon. He’s held off giving in to his psychosis for a long time. He lost the battle when he started to plan for this abduction. His intellect has kept him on track up to now. He’s acting alone and leaving no clues behind, but he will, sheriff.”
“Quinn, I hope you’re wrong and Louisa and the boys find her in West Virginia. I almost forgot. Jim Craig said the lab confirmed that what you found in the woods is an exact match to what was wrapped around the little boy’s neck.”
“That’s not a surprise, sheriff. There’s more to be found. We just have to find it. Do you plan to go to the special Mass today? I think it would be helpful if the faithful saw the sheriff there.”
“I’ll be there, Quinn. I think the Prestons need to see me and for me to give them a progress report. I also know that the media will be there, and it’s important that the good citizens of Carroll County see their sheriff on the job and ready to be reelected. This is about working hard for a job that I really like. Do you understand that, Quinn?”
“Sheriff, I do understand. And as far as I’m concerned, you’re the right man for this important job. The citizens of Carroll County need a hardworking man who’s well versed in law enforcement and who’s a leader. You meet all of those important criteria.”
They headed over to the church for the service. Most of the spaces were already full. The news teams were already set up in the parking lot. Quinn pulled into the parking space next to the sheriff. As the sheriff got out of his car, many members of the news teams rushed toward him.
“Sheriff is it true that members of your department are now in West Virginia, looking for the person of interest from North Carolina?” the first reporter asked.
The sheriff was taken aback by the question and chose his words carefully. “ We are working with West Virginia law enforcement authorities on a lead that we are following up on. We do not as yet have any new information on what they found in West Virginia.”
“Sheriff, this is Sid Roland from the
Washington Post.
My sources tell me that you’re being assisted by Louisa Hawke, who recently retired from the FBI as the director of the criminal division. Is that true, sheriff ?”
That question really threw the sheriff for a loop. He immediately knew that Libby Thomas must have tipped Roland off. None of the other supervisors had the balls to do it.
“I’m sorry. What did you say your name was again?” said Sheriff Pierce. The sheriff was buying time, and Roland knew it.
“Sheriff, its Sid Roland, and I asked about Louisa Hawke.”
“Well, Mister Roland, I understand that Miss Hawke is vacationing in Fancy Gap, and according to my sources she’s enjoying her vacation in a secluded location.”
Quinn decided that further questions might come up if the press knew who he was. He slipped around the back of his truck and headed to the back of the church, which was already overflowing with people. Father Tony stood at the back of the church, looking somewhat agitated. Quinn soon realized what had the priest in a lather.
The altar boy came running around the side of the church toward the side entrance. The young boy was late. Quinn kept walking around the back of the church and ended up near the door that the boy had entered. The door to the sacristy was still ajar, and Quinn heard Father Tony having words with the boy. Father Tony shook the boy’s shoulders, his mouth close to his right ear. The boy was visibly upset.
Father Tony quickly regained his composure. He looked at the door and saw Quinn watching. As soon as the boy put on his robe, they walked into the main church together. Quinn circled back around to the front of the church and met up with the sheriff.
“Where the hell did you disappear to? I could have used your help out there, Quinn.”
Quinn laughed as they entered the church. They had to stand in the back. The Prestons and Mary sat in the front. The room fell silent as Father Tony proceeded to the altar. The altar boy sat to the side in a solitary chair. Quinn noticed a look of concern on the boy’s face.
Father Tony stood very still and began. “Let us pray. We gather as one in the community of the Lord as we share our prayers today during this holy Mass for Susan and Tim Preston and their beloved son, Pete, who now has his place at the side of Jesus. We also hold hands and pray for the safe return of their daughter, Katie. Lord, may your sacred hands guide her to the safety of her family.”
As Father Tony continued to pray, Quinn’s eyes focused on what he had seen but hadn’t really noticed before. He also felt the vibration of his cell in his pocket. He slipped the phone out and saw that he had a text message from Louisa. He scrolled down: “We are in place, watching the trailer.”
