Speak No Evil_ A Novel - Allison Brennan [90]
“Sounds logical.”
Nick leaned forward, on a roll. “So what if he’s watching her, sees that she takes the wrong drink? What’s his reaction?”
“Anger. Frustration. She’s not playing along.”
“Right. His first instinct?”
“To prove he’s still in control.”
“Which means that he takes the first girl he sees, someone he’s familiar with, at least on the surface.”
“That’s reckless, and he’s been anything but reckless.”
“Yes, but remember what you said the other day?” Nick asked. “That the killer was young? Immature was your exact word. When someone acts immaturely, they’re reckless. Make mistakes. Lash out. He’s an amateur. So he’s mad that Jodi didn’t drink a tainted beverage, and he looks up and sees Becca. He tells her about his dead cat.”
“Matching the MO of Scout online.”
“Exactly. Scout was at the library Wednesday night and because Jodi didn’t do what she was supposed to do, he took the first woman he could.”
“Becca Harrison.”
“The librarian said she’d been talking to him, friendly. He tells her about the cat, she feels sorry for him. Maybe looks at him and smiles, further egging him on. She doesn’t know it, she thinks she’s being nice and sympathetic. He leaves first, waits for her.”
“But any number of things could have happened. Someone could have walked out with her. The library is on a busy street, anyone could have walked past.”
“Yes, but Becca was in the parking lot in the back. More secluded. And if she wasn’t alone, he could have followed her, learned where she lived.”
“Abducted her from her home, just like he did Angie and Jodi.” Dillon nodded. “I see what you’re getting at.
“Crime of opportunity.”
“But why watch the webcam from the library? That’s more dangerous than going home.”
“I don’t know. Maybe the thrill of being in public. Maybe he was working or going to work or school—”
“And couldn’t get home between wherever he was and where he had to be,” Dillon suggested.
“Any number of reasons.”
“So, Jodi didn’t work out, and he kidnapped Becca instead.”
“And he escalated, brought her closer to him so he could feel her die.”
“And kidnapped Jodi at the first opportunity.”
“Because she was his first choice.”
Dillon and Nick realized they’d hit on something important, the reason Becca didn’t fit the victim profile. She was a spontaneous abduction.
“Who’s next?” Nick asked.
“I should be asking you. You could do my job.”
“I don’t envy you. I had enough of serial killers in Montana to last a lifetime. We should bring Carina in, tell her our theory. We need to get back to the library, track down everyone who was there Wednesday night, or any other night Scout was there. Maybe between all the potential witnesses we can get a good physical description.”
Dillon nodded. “I agree, but I didn’t come up here to talk about the case.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“I had breakfast with my dad. He said your knee is giving you some trouble.”
Embarrassment and a touch of anger washed over Nick. He didn’t like talking about his physical problems, and he hadn’t expected the colonel to talk about them, either.
Dillon went on. “What happened?”
“It’s nothing. I have medication, but I don’t like to take it.”
“Medication is to mask the pain, not fix the problem.”
“The problem isn’t fixable.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“I didn’t know shrinks were also surgeons.” Damn, he sounded defensive. He didn’t mean to, he just didn’t feel comfortable talking to Carina’s brother about his limitations.
“I was in sports medicine before Justin was murdered. I’d already finished med school at the time, so yeah, I guess you could say I have some experience with injuries, especially joints and muscles.”
Nick didn’t say anything for a long minute. “I had surgery. It didn’t work the first time. I’m scheduled to go back next month, but I’m not holding out hope that it’ll work.”
Dillon looked