Crush - Alan Jacobson [25]
“I put in a call to Quantico and we should have a report on the VICAP results later. Meanwhile, let’s make use of our time.”
“How about we start where all crimes start? Motive.”
Vail knew that motive for a serial killer was a much different animal from that which a traditional criminal exhibits. But she decided to go with Dixon, see where it would lead. “Keep in mind that most murders are between individuals who know each other. Serial offenders are traditionally stranger on stranger crimes, which makes it harder. Motive isn’t always visible to us.”
“Noted,” Dixon said. “But we have one thing going for us.
Victimology—in this case Victoria Cameron and the Jane Doe. Start with basic investigative policework: Who would want her dead? Had she had any arguments with anyone? What was her relationship with her husband like? Do any of these things have to do with the Jane Doe lying in the morgue?”
“All good stuff,” Vail said. “We may want to extend that to looking into where Victoria shopped, places she frequented on a regular basis, people she did business with, and so on. Once we get an ID on the corpse Brix unearthed, we’ll do the same for her. That’ll generate a suspect pool and then I can be a little more helpful.”
“I thought your info was pretty helpful.”
Vail tried not to let the surprise show on her face. “Thanks, Roxxann. I appreciate that.”
WHILE DRIVING, Dixon activated her visor-mounted Bluetooth and called her office. She spoke with the deputy district attorney and explained why they needed a search warrant drawn for Silver Ridge Estates, and told her that Brix would be drafting the probable cause statement. She was promised an executed warrant within the hour.
“So what’s the scoop on the guys on the task force?”
Dixon chuckled. “What am I, the school gossip queen?”
“It’s best to know who I’m dealing with so I don’t put my foot in my mouth.” Vail threw up a hand. “Scratch that. I’m gonna put my foot in my mouth anyway. But I’d still like to know who these people are.”
“Haven’t you profiled everyone in that room already?”
Vail couldn’t help but let a smile tilt her lips. “I try not to do that. Makes it hard to get along with people.” She shook her head. “Scratch that, too. Guess it doesn’t help. But to answer your question, yeah, I can’t help but do it. Like Scott Fuller. He seems like a know-it-all.”
“Oh, yeah. Boy Wonder, everything handed to him on a gold platter. He’s read all the books, can probably even recite what chapters that shit comes from. But he’s light on experience.”
“Book smarts, not street smarts. He’s certainly got the profiling stuff down—but it’s textbook stuff, dated info, like he read all the Underwood, Douglas, and Ressler books and committed them to memory.”
Dixon nodded. “But here’s the wrinkle. He’s the stepson of Stan Owens.”
Vail tilted her head. “Really. See, now that’s good to know.”
“Which is how he’s ascended the ranks so quickly.”
“And one to be careful around,” Vail said.
“But Ray Lugo’s a good guy. Been here all his life, started out as an underage migrant field worker picking grapes. Parents were illegal, but he was born here, so he’s a U.S. citizen. He worked hard, did well in school, and went to the Academy, became a cop.”
“And here he is, a sergeant. Very impressive.”
“Whereas Fuller had it handed to him, Ray’s earned it.”
“And you?” Vail asked.
“Me? I don’t like to talk about myself.”
“Neither do I. But—”
“But if you had to draw conclusions about me—”
“I’d say you’re intuitive. You’re diligent, detail oriented. You’ve been doing this job awhile but you’re not bored with it. And . . .”
Dixon slowed for a stopped truck in front of her. “And what?”
“And you’re intimidated by being a woman in a male-dominated profession.”
“Is that some sort of . . . what do they call it, projection?”
Vail laughed. “Maybe.”
“But you’re right. Sort of. Still, I have no trouble putting one of these guys in their place if they get out of line. But it really hasn’t been a problem.”
“But it was, once.”
“Once.”
That’s all she said, and Vail