The Beholder, a Maddie Richards Mystery (32 page)

“Maybe nothing more than he was not pleased with something she reported about him. You might study all her reports about these killings to see if you can find something like that. It could give you a clue about the guy, but I doubt that. I think the microphone’s about him being sexually frustrated. Probably has never had an orgasm that wasn’t self induced. That’s why he’s stealing the breasts. He wants to do more, but hasn’t been able to. The microphone was a phallic symbol. That event was likely unplanned. He saw the instrument, sensed the symbolism, and wham.”

“Could it mean the Beholder is a woman?”

“Possibly, but statistics say no. Then again nearly every case departs from the stats in some manner.”

“Okay,” Maddie said, “putting the woman angle aside for the moment, are you saying this guy’s a virgin?”

“It does seem that way. Yes. Up until this microphone thing, despite his having taken total control over these women, he’s stayed away from their vaginas. Now, let me ask you something. You think this Steve Gibbs could be a virgin?”

“Yes. I’d say it’s likely.” Maddie knew the admission further argued that Steve was the Beholder.

She told Linc about suspecting the Beholder could be close to the department, maybe even in it. She told him about the common denominator that connected all the victims; they each had the same bust size. What she didn’t share with Linc was that 36-C was also her size and she further fit the suspected criteria of being connected to the police department.

Caution had never been Maddie’s middle name, but she also had to think about Bradley and her mother. If she was killed, those two would suffer, and her ex-husband would get custody of Bradley.

“You want me to come out there?” Linc asked her.

“Thanks, but no. I got nothing to show you or tell you that you don’t already know. I’m just missing something. A piece. One damn piece. I feel like I’ve got it somewhere in my head, I just can’t find it. If this were a jigsaw puzzle, I’m at the point where I’d start looking for a piece dropped on the floor. It’s driving me crazy, but I’ll find it.”

“I know you will. … Maddie, I don’t need to tell you that his coming after you personally would fit with each victim being closer to your department. And you match his bust size criteria.”

“Oh? Have you developed your skills to the point where you can determine a woman’s bra size with your hands?”

“I loved the research part, but I’m being serious. I’m not trying to be an alarmist, but you do fit his pattern.”

“I know. I’m being careful.”

“I’m coming out there. I’ll call you when I arrive.”

“No. No, you’re not, Lincoln Rogers. I appreciate your concern, but I want things to continue to appear normal and regular. You stay put. But I do appreciate the offer, very much. I gotta get after it.”

“Okay. I’ll play it your way. But be careful … and call me soon.”

Linc had not contributed anything that pointed her anywhere new. If anything, his observations strengthened the circumstantial evidence against Steve Gibbs. As did Steve’s dead mother’s bra size matching up with the busts of the victims. Still, hearing Linc’s voice had been reassuring. She also knew that while they talked he had been rubbing his chin the way he always did when deep in thought.

“I have to go,” she said. “I need to call the M.E.’s office again for the autopsy report on the latest victim. Dr. Ripley is working slower now without Gibbs.”

“Oh, I forgot. Listen, I’m so sorry about your friend, Katie Carson. Sometimes our work touches us personally. Is there some way I can help?”

“Meet me in that hot tub in Scottsdale again,” she said. “That’d help.” Maddie felt a brief rush recalling snuggling up against Linc, the water jets pounding their bodies.

“When this case is over,” Linc said, “you insist on some compensatory time. I’ve got so much vacation time built up that, well, I’ll meet you on any beach in the world you pick. The tickets and accommodations are on me. What do you say?”

“First I need a normal week with my family, and then you’re on. And I mean that literally. Bye hunk.”

***

Maddie went to Lieutenant Harrison’s office to give him one of the two daily briefings he was now insisting she give him, which consisted of a lot of words that said nothing. Then she asked him if he had noticed anything during KC’s autopsy.

“No. Just like I tol’ ya after I got back, nothing. We should have Rip’s protocol on it by day after tomorrow.”

“I just spoke to him,” Maddie said. “He promised to work late to get it done.”

“Ripley’s a good man. He’s been here two years and seems to have settled in really well. I like him better than our last examiner.”

“Did you have him show you Carmen?”

“He didn’t bring her up. I left it that way.”

“That was good judgment, sir.”

“Sergeant, are you holding something back?”

She remained afraid that if she told Lieutenant Harrison that she feared being a target herself, that he’d smother her with police protection. If the Beholder was coming for her, she had to assume, given her belief that he was somehow connected to the department that he would learn of the protective surveillance, pull back and wait longer than the department could maintain that coverage. And that would be after Bradley and her mother had returned home. No, she just needed to keep her wits and be ready.

“Nothing,” she answered, looking the lieutenant straight in the eyes.

“Are you still thinking about Dinkins or Brackett? If so, I need more, and I need it now.”

“Yes, they’re still on the list. No, I don’t have anything more. Have you given any more thought to putting a tail on them?”

“Dink would be easy to follow, Brackett’s another story. He’d spot the tail right out of the box. In any event, I’m not about to put a tail on Chief Layton’s relative. Not on either of them until you bring that bone back with some meat on it.”

“I’m not anywhere close to being able to provide that, but I am certain the Beholder is hooked to us somehow. Stirring us up is part of his game. Both Brackett and Dink have issues with women. That’s about as deep as it goes.”

“Then no Internal Affairs.”

“I agree, sir.”

***

Maddie carried her small suitcase into the Embassy Suites on Thomas Road and checked in, then went to her room. After taking a shower she crawled into bed.

The hotel was likely a needless precaution, but there was no purpose in taking chances with her life. If she was to be the next target, she wanted smaller confines to control, and only one door through which she could be reached. Tomorrow, after a good night’s sleep, she would design a plan to disclose her whereabouts to her suspects. Right now, she needed sleep. Tomorrow would be soon enough to use her butt for bait.

Chapter 48

Maddie’s skin baked chocolate in the Caribbean sun, glistened with sweat and baby oil. The easy breeze off the sea tightened her skin, puckering goose bumps. The week had gone by quickly, but it had been a week jam-packed with sun, sex, food and fun. It had been a week to remember, a week to do again next month. Then a shrill ring brought her back from the Caribbean.

The hotel room was dark. She recalled having drawn the blackout curtains. She wasn’t sure whether her eyes or her ears had first found the hotel phone.

“Is that you, Maddie?”

She recognized the voice: Steve Gibbs. “Yes. How are you doing?”

“I’m going to give myself up, but only to you.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m in your hotel lobby. I can come up to your room right now, if it’s all right.”

How had Steve found her? She had told no one, but that could come later. First, she needed to take him into custody. She swung her legs over the side, sat on the edge of the bed, and ran her hand over her face. “Sure. Come on up.”

She pulled on her slacks, letting her sleep T-shirt fall over the top, and ran into the bathroom where she doused her face with water and patted it dry, then ran a brush quickly through her hair. She had just gotten her shoes on, without stockings, when she heard a knock on her door.

She grabbed her S&W .38 and looked through the peephole. It was Steve, but he was not alone. There was a woman with him, a woman Maddie did not recognize.

“Stand back and put your hands on the rail.” She said, loud enough for him to hear her through the door. He did. His hands were clear. She opened the door and backed up into the center of the room, asking him to come in and close the door behind him.

Steve was pale and unshaven, but otherwise looked okay. “Thank you, Maddie. This is Linda. Linda Holstein, my friend. I was with her the night Abigail Knight was killed, also the nights Ms. Diaz and Katie Carson were killed.”

“That’s true, Sergeant Richards,” the thin woman said. “We can prove it if you don’t believe us.” She extended her hand. “I want to thank you for believing in Steve. He was very despondent when he called you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Maddie said. “You could have been cleared right away.” Maddie turned and motioned. “Sit down, both of you and tell me all about this. And I’m going to want to know how you knew I was here?” She turned on the table lamp and sat across from them.

Linda took Steve’s hand, holding it on her lap. “Tell her, Steve. You said you could trust her.”

“Sergeant Richards … Maddie, I was hurt,” he said, “and shocked. I thought I would be above suspicion. I mean, you knew me. All the detectives knew me. In my own limited way, I helped you solve crimes. I never imagined I could be a suspect. Linda has made me realize that no one can be above suspicion. Still, it feels lousy.”

“He didn’t want to involve me,” Linda added, “or bring any shame or embarrassment to my family.”

Maddie turned on Linda. “You understand that if you’re making any of this up to help your boyfriend, it won’t work. You’ll hurt him more and make yourself an accessory.”

“If it wasn’t the truth, Steve wouldn’t let me do it,” Linda said, gripping Steve’s hand in her right, a small tight smile on her lips. Her left hand held several pieces of paper. “Steve’s a good man,” Linda said. “I know he could not do these horrible things. I would have known that even if he had not been with me, but he was and we can prove it.”

They looked nervous and frazzled, but sincere. Still, Maddie knew she had to dig deeper. “Tell me about your proof.”

“I had a used television for sale in that little throwaway newspaper. You know the one.” Maddie nodded. “It was six when Steve got to my place, and the woman who bought my TV was there with me. Here’s a copy of the receipt.”

“Put it on the table between us,” Maddie said, “and continue with what you’re saying.”

“Steve carried the TV out and put it in her car. She really fussed over him for doing that. Then around seven-thirty we had a pizza delivered, two actually. The small ones. Here’s my credit card receipt from ordering the pizzas. We did the same thing the two nights before. We’re addicted to pizza. Steve answered the door both nights.”

“When was that?”

“The night Mrs. Knight was killed. See. Right there.” Linda pointed at the dates on the slip of paper and reached out to hand it to Maddie, who pointed at the table. Linda put it there with her copy of the receipt she had given the woman for the TV.

“This only proves you bought pizza.”

“You talk to Tony, the delivery guy. He’ll remember Steve was at my place.”

“What about the night Carmen Diaz was killed?”

Linda sat forward on the sofa. “That night’s even better. It was the three-month anniversary of our first date. We went out for Chinese to my favorite place. I’ve been going there for years. Madam Wong knows me really well. We were there from six-thirty until nearly nine. I used to eat there alone all the time. Madam Wong will remember. She made such a big fuss over our little celebration.”

“Steve, your Aunt said that you and she spent Thursday nights watching musicals. Now I’m hearing that you were with Linda at her place and out having Chinese.”

Steve looked at Linda, then Maddie. “My aunt thinks we watch those old musicals, but we don’t.”

“Your aunt lied?” Maddie asked, thinking that Ms. Gibbs could have been using Steve as her alibi.

“Not exactly.”

“I need exactly,” Maddie said firmly.

“We eat dinner,” Steve said. “I pick at mine because I’m going over to Linda’s for pizza. I’ve put all my aunt’s favorites on DVD’s and I rigged the TV so when the movie’s over the set switches to the news. After dinner, my aunt sits down in her TV chair. I put in the movie, and then I go back in the kitchen to clean up. When I come out, my aunt’s fast asleep in her recliner. I leave and go to Linda’s. When I get home, her musical is long over and the Fox News channel has been on since the movie ended. I wake her up and she goes to bed. The next morning she’s sure she watched the DVD, that we watched it together. She knows all those musicals so well. She remembers the story just like she had watched it again.”

Linda blushed. “We know it’s a bit screwy, Sergeant. But his aunt really loves the idea of watching those old musicals with Steve. I know he’s fooling her, but I think he’s sweet to do it so she’s happy and we still have our time.”

“Steve. Linda. How did you guys find me here at this hotel?”

They both smiled, then glanced at one another before Steve said, “We followed you.”

“You followed me, from where?”

“The police department. You have detectives staking out my home and work, but not Linda’s place. No one knows about us. After we decided we had to trust you, we had to find you. The one place where you weren’t looking for me was at the police department. I showed Linda your car in the lot at the station and she had seen your picture on TV and in the papers. No one at the police department knew Linda, so I stayed on the floor in the back seat while she watched for you.” They grinned at each other again.

“Pretty smart,” Maddie said, grinning with them.

“It worked, Sergeant,” Linda said. “We had expected to follow you to your home. We were surprised when we ended up at this hotel. I hope you’re not angry at us for what we did. We weren’t trying to show you up. We just needed to find you. Steve didn’t trust anyone else.”