Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [144]
“Eddie’s mom—a single mom, by the way—worked two jobs just to send him to Catholic school, all the way through high school.”
“I don’t know, Nick.”
She didn’t look convinced. It didn’t surprise him. He went on with the rest.
“He would have had access to the evidence in Jeffreys’ case and could easily have framed him. He’s also had access to the morgue. In fact, he was there yesterday afternoon picking up the autopsy photos. He could have easily snatched Matthew’s body when he realized the teeth marks in the photos might ID him. Plus, it would have been easy for him to make a few phone calls, use his badge number and get information on Albert Stucky.”
There was the twitch, the slight grimace at just the mention of the bastard’s name. He wondered if she was conscious of it.
“The morgue is never locked,” Maggie countered. “Anyone could have had access. And much of what happened with Stucky was publicized in the newspapers and tabloids.”
“There’s still more.” He’d left this for last. The most incriminating evidence was the most questionable. “We found some stuff in the trunk of his car.” He let her see his skepticism. Was it Ronald Jeffreys all over again? They were both thinking the same thing.
“What kind of stuff?” Now she was interested.
“The Halloween mask, a pair of black gloves and some rope.”
“Why would he have all that in the trunk of his abandoned car if he knew we were hot on his trail? Especially if he was responsible for framing Jeffreys in the same manner? Also, how did he have time to do all this?”
It was exactly what Nick had wondered, but he wanted desperately for this to be all over.
“My dad just more or less admitted that he knew someone may have planted evidence.”
“He admitted that?”
“Let’s just say he admitted to ignoring the discrepancies.”
“Does your father think Eddie could be the killer?”
“He said he’s sure it’s not Eddie.”
“And that makes you even more convinced that it is?”
Jesus, she knew him well.
“Timmy has a lighter the guy gave him. It has the sheriff’s department emblem on it. It’s a reward type thing that my dad used. He never handed out that many of them. Eddie was one of about five.”
“Lighters get lost,” she said. She stood up and slowly made her way to the window.
This time her mind was clearly far away. She even forgot about the slit in the back of her hospital gown. Though from this angle he could only see a sliver of her back, part of her shoulder. The gown made her look small and vulnerable. He imagined wrapping his arms around her, wrapping his entire body around hers. Just lying with her for hours, touching her, running his hands along her smooth skin, his fingers through her hair. He simply wanted to get lost in her for a very long time.
Jesus, where in the world was this coming from? He dug his thumb and forefinger into his eyes, feigning exhaustion, when it was really that image he needed to dig out.
“You still think it’s Keller?” he asked, but knew the answer.
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s just hard for me to realize I’m losing my touch.”
Nick could certainly relate to that.
“Eddie doesn’t fit your profile?”
“The man in that cellar wasn’t some hothead who lost his temper and sliced up little boys. This was a mission for him, a well-thought-out and planned mission. Somehow, I really do think he believes he’s saving these boys.” She stared out the window and avoided looking at him.
He had never asked what had happened in the cellar before he got there. The notes, the game, the references to Albert Stucky—it all seemed so personal. Perhaps he could no longer count on Maggie to be objective.
“What does Timmy say?” She turned to him finally. “Can he identify Eddie?”
“He seemed certain last night, but that was after Eddie chased him down the ridge and grabbed him. Eddie claims he spotted Timmy in the woods and went after him to rescue him. This morning Timmy admitted he never saw the man’s face. But, it can’t all be just coincidence, can it?”
“No, it does sound like you have a case.” She shrugged.
“But do I have a killer?”
CHAPTER 96
He stuffed