Until Dark - Mariah Stewart [23]
“Wouldn’t it take a great deal of control to commit a rape in such a way?”
“Absolutely, and there’s no question that he’s a very controlled individual. He wants a minimum of resistence, hence the stun gun. Wants to exercise his power and make certain that his victims know that he holds the power.” Adam hesitated, then added, “Except, again, for Karen Meyer, where things apparently did not go according to plan. Now, do you have a copy of the statement from the guy who was parked next to the Tilden van in the lot behind the school the night Amy disappeared?”
“Yes. Jack Wilson. Forty-three years old, turkey farmer.” Kendra shuffled through her notes. “He was late arriving at school to meet with his son’s teacher, couldn’t find a spot in the visitors’ lot so he parked in the employee lot.”
“And just happened to be returning to his car after his appointment in time to see a man coming from around the back of the dark van that was parked on the other side of Amy’s car.”
“And just happened to get a glimpse of him in his headlights before he hopped into the driver’s side.” Kendra read her notes aloud. “Longish dark hair, curly in the front . . . a nose he described as a ‘ski jump’ . . .” She glanced up at Adam. “Which isn’t a terribly unusual feature, by the way. All the Smith men had one.”
She studied the sketch she’d made as she slipped off her shoes and pulled her legs up onto the sofa.
“Mr. Wilson actually got a better look at our suspect than anyone so far, but he was out of town when the investigation started and only spoke to the police on Thursday afternoon, when he returned. I think that’s one reason why the original sketch is so far off the mark,” Kendra murmured. “They didn’t know they had a good witness.”
“And then we had those kids come forward—the boys who played on the opposing soccer team that afternoon—to report that a dark van had been parked near their bus at the field.”
“It’s too bad the boys didn’t get a better look at the driver.”
“Well, their general description matched Max Spinelli’s. About six feet tall, dark hair.”
“Which probably describes about half the men in Windsorville.”
Kendra lined up the photos of the three victims side by side on the table in front of them.
“But why these women?” Adam frowned. “So often, you see serial killers targeting prostitutes. But these women are about as far from being hookers as you can get. Devoted mothers. Single women, all of whom worked, contributed to their communities, were totally involved in their kids’ activities. The ultimate soccer moms. None of them women whose lives should have ended this way.”
“No one’s should.” Kendra stared at the photos. “Do you think their physical appearance was a factor in their being chosen as victims?”
“You mean because they are all tall, slender, and blond?” Adam nodded. “Hard to believe that could be a coincidence, isn’t it?”
He slid the photos into a small stack, like a deck of playing cards.
“Miranda Cahill is joining the investigation,” he told Kendra. “She should be here by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.”
“Is she the profiler—excuse me, the criminal investigative analyst—you spoke of earlier?”
“No. That’s Anne Marie McCall. Miranda’s joining the investigation to help with the interviewing process; specifically, to interview the families. One thing we’re looking to determine is whether these women knew each other or were connected in some way. I’ll be interested in seeing what she comes up with.”
“So will I.” Kendra leaned back against the sofa, her eyes half-closed with fatigue. “She’ll want to take the sketch. Maybe someone will recognize him.”
“I’m one step ahead of you,” Adam said as he returned the photographs to their respective folders. “I also want to speak with the state police about replacing that first sketch that was circulated with the one you did this evening.”
When she did not respond, he turned back to her, and found her head resting against the back of the sofa. Her eyes were closed and her breathing rhythmic, her face soft with sleep.
“Kendra?” he asked softly.
Her eyes flickered