"As yet, his identity is unknown to us," Kerry said.
"Unknown?" May asked, surprised. She'd thought the Sunnybrook team had known who the criminal was that they were chasing down.
Kerry silenced her with a look that said, louder than words, 'I'm getting to that.'
May flushed red, subsiding in her chair as Kerry continued.
"He has killed three previous victims, using the same technique - a bomb blast. So we are referring to this unsub as the Bomber. The Bomber has killed a female lawyer, a restaurant manager, and a schoolteacher. The cases only recently came to our attention, as the crimes have been committed in different counties and a couple of them were first thought to be accidental explosions. So until a few days ago, nobody realized it was a serial killer at work."
May's eyebrows shot up. Three kills, apart from today’s explosion? All innocent people, pillars of society too. How had he managed that? And why them?
There was a tap on the door, and Ella brought in a tray of coffees. She placed it quickly on the table and left. Everyone focused on the coffees as Kerry continued. "The kills have taken place over the past few weeks. His technique changes, but it is always carried out by means of explosives. One of the more deplorable methods he used, with the lawyer, was that he captured and held her in an unused warehouse for a couple of days. During that time, he actually wired her phone up to the bomb, to be detonated when a certain number called in. Her husband tried to call her a few times over the days, but the phone was off. Once the killer had linked it, her husband’s next call connected, and actually triggered the explosion."
May felt even more shocked as she heard this.
"Any links among the victims?" she asked.
"Not that we have ascertained," Kerry told her.
"What about the cabin in the woods? Who did that belong to then?" Owen asked.
"It belongs to Marc Sudbury, a man who moved off the grid a few years ago, and uses it as a base for taking YouTube videos of birds and mice, for cats to watch, believe it or not. That is how he makes his money. Through the advertising royalties.”
“Cats?” Adams asked in surprise.
“Yes, cats,” Kerry confirmed. “It was well set up with solar panels and wi-fi inside, which is probably why the bomber used it as the location to lure the police there. Therefore, police rushed to the cabin looking to capture the criminal, and walked straight into his trap," Kerry said, her voice solemn.
"So Sudbury was not there at the time?" Owen asked.
"He's on vacation in Florida. We've just been in contact with him and he had no idea this was even happening. He was horrified to hear it. Since the threats were undoubtedly sent from the premises, we surmise that the intention of the killer seems to have been, in this case, to lure police to the place and then detonate the bomb."
May shook her head. This evil was indescribable.
"And we know nothing more about him?"
"Only that he has been operating within Minnesota State, but this is the first time he has struck in Tamarack County. We're going to do everything we can to catch him before he strikes again."
“If he knew the cabin was there, and so well equipped, he must know the area quite well, or else have researched it thoroughly and recently,” May suggested.
She saw nods all around the table at that observation.
May felt a chill run down her spine. The thought that the killer was familiar with Tamarack County, and could be anywhere in this area, perhaps planning his next attack, was very disconcerting.
"Of course, we are doing everything we can to catch him, and to protect all citizens in the area," Kerry finished.
"Well, obviously one good place to start will be to look into that email address, and see if we can find any links to it," Ross decided. “At some stage, the killer would have had to provide some information to set it up. It’s just a case of how fast we can obtain it, and if it’s still valid.”
"Agreed," Kerry said. "I think we should set up base in this meeting room and connect with head office IT, and try to find more details on that."
"Billings and Chris, when the scene has been declared safe, you two are probably our biggest disaster scene experts," Ross then said. "I would suggest you two head back there and see what trace evidence can be found. Perhaps he left something behind while setting up the bombs."
"Will do," Chris snapped out.
That left May and Owen. She stared inquiringly at Kerry and then Ross, wondering what role she would be given, if any.
Clearly, Kerry didn't want to give her anything that the FBI could do better, and Ross didn’t seem to be taking her or Owen into account at all. But May decided to come forward with a suggestion.
"Shall we take another look at the previous cases?" she suggested. "Perhaps there's more information to be gained from them now that we know the bigger picture, since the FBI has only gotten involved now? We could re-interview the lawyer’s husband, for a start."
Kerry nodded. "That's a good idea. You could start with that case, and then look at the others. See what the local police reported, and then you go out and add to it. Perhaps you'll find a new piece of the puzzle," she suggested, in a way that told May she didn't think she would, and that ultimately the FBI, in consultation with their techs, would be the one to solve this.
“I’ll get head office to send you the details on the recent case, involving the bombing of a criminal lawyer, Sheila Craig,” Adams confirmed.
As she got up from the meeting table and headed out with Owen, May felt determined. This might be a small role, but she felt certain it would lead somewhere.
Three victims before this recent blast. Perhaps there was a link. And if there was, May promised herself she would find it.