Until Dark - Mariah Stewart [47]
“At first glance, they hardly appear to be the same man,” she told them before one of the reporters could make that observation on their own. “You can see how the hair, the glasses, the baseball cap, all combine to make the subject appear older than he looks in the more stripped-down, bald version of himself. There’s nothing for him to hide behind here.”
“What are the chances that in the first sketch he was wearing a wig?” one of the television reporters asked.
“Chief Rosello?” Kendra stepped back to allow him to respond.
“He could have been,” Rosello agreed. “No one was really close enough to him to be able to make that distinction. And we have no way of knowing that he isn’t wearing a wig today. He’s not going to be easy to identify. He’s clever and he’s demonstrated that he will alter his appearance and very well may have again. Keep in mind that facial hair doesn’t take all that long to grow for some men. A week from now, he could be sporting a mustache. And now you’ve seen him with and without hair.”
“Do you think it’ll be that long before he strikes again?” someone asked.
“The FBI is steering the overall investigation,” Rosello turned to Adam, “so I think I’ll let Agent Stark respond to that.”
Adam spoke with the press for almost ten minutes before he decided to pull the plug on the discussion. It still had not been determined how much information would be released to the public.
Before stepping back from the microphone, Adam added, “One more thing. The suspect may be driving a sports car. He—”
“What makes you think that?” the reporter closest to Adam’s right asked.
“There’s a possibility that he might have used that as a lure to draw Annie McGlynn into the parking lot. He clearly watches his victims long enough to know their habits, what will draw their attention.”
The press digested this bit of news silently before erupting with a barrage of questions.
“Anything else pertaining to this particular case, you’ll have to go through Chief Rosello.” Adam waved aside the flood of questions.
“Thanks,” the chief muttered under his breath as Adam escaped.
“Don’t mention it.” Adam smiled as he passed.
“Stay and have dinner with me.” Adam grabbed Kendra’s arm as she was about to get into her rental car.
“Is it dinnertime already?” She looked at her watch.
“Well, it will be, in about an hour or so.” He tugged on her sleeve. “Don’t leave yet.”
“I’m finished here and . . .”
“Okay, so you’re finished. I’m not finished.” He did a poor job of keeping the exasperation from his voice. “I’m going to be here for a few more days, so I can’t offer to drive down and pick you up for dinner. You’re here now. I’m entitled to one meal a day, dammit. And I want to have that one damned meal with you.”
“Oh,” she said, startled by his outburst. “Okay.”
“Thank you.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I apologize for the tantrum. I usually handle rejection much better.”
“That wasn’t a rejection. And for the record, I understand there’s a lot of pressure associated with this case.”
“Pressure from the locals, pressure from my boss, pressure from the press, the families . . .” He leaned back against the car.
“And pressure from yourself to find him before he kills anyone else,” she said softly.
“Knowing that unless we get very lucky, he will most likely find his next victim before we find him.” He met her eyes straight on.
“How lucky do you feel?” she asked.
“Not lucky at all,” he told her. “And very, very tired.”
“Then I’ll drive,” she said, pointing to her rental car, a sensible, late-model sedan.
“Nah.” He smiled and pointed to the Audi that was parked two houses down from Grace Tobin’s. “I’m not that tired.”
“Now, that was entertaining.” The man grinned broadly. “Very entertaining, indeed.”
He tapped his fingers on the arms of the chair and processed all the information that had just fallen into his lap.
Such a lovely pair they made, Kendra and Adam.
Kendra and Adam, he mused. Adam and Kendra.
He’d have to play with them a bit more. Perhaps it was time to give them something