“Thank you, Abe.” Brook sat up a bit straighter in the recliner, wondering if he was as good at reading body language as she’d become over the years. She did her best to turn the discussion back around to the reason for her visit. “Since you looked into my past, I’m sure you know that I use a profile to apprehend serial killers. Each unsub has a different depiction, and the one involved with these women has certain aspects of his personality that would stand out against others.”
“And those would be?”
“The unsub is a Caucasian male, late twenties to early thirties, and is very methodical. The latter is proven by how he stalks his victims prior to abducting them. It’s as if he needs to make certain that he is targeting the right victim. He is on the low percentage of serial killers in that he does feel remorse…in his own way. He somehow forces his victims to leave a bloody handprint at the very place that they were last seen in public so that their families have closure. Family life is very, very important to him. I don’t believe that his crimes are sexual in nature, either.”
Brook might have gotten ahead of herself in speculating the latter point, because they wouldn’t know for certain until the bodies were found…specifically, Jenny Capshaw. The other remains would most likely be too decomposed to know much of anything other than cause of death.
“And you believe that I know such an individual?” Abe asked, seemingly having lost his appetite. He even closed the lid on the Styrofoam container, making sure the plastic fork had been caught in between the top and bottom lips so that he could use it later. “No one that works here would be capable of such a thing, Brook.”
Brook refrained from explaining that his response was that of almost every single individual after discovering that a neighbor, friend, or even a family member was guilty of such a crime.
“I’m not saying that the unsub works here,” Brook explained as she leaned forward on her seat. “While I do believe that this nursing facility is how the unsub is choosing his victims, we’re uncertain of why. He could be a relative of someone who resides here. He could be part of a corresponding business, such as a sales representative. For all we know, you’ve never met him, because he could work across the street and chooses his victims at random.”
“That’s highly unlikely, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes,” Brook replied with a short nod. “Yes, it would. I was just making sure that you were paying attention, Abe.”
“You give one hell of a presentation. I would have passed you with flying colors.” Abe’s smile began to diminish when the seriousness of the situation began to hit home. “Do you think that my daughter could be in danger?”
Someone walked slowly past Abe’s room.
Brook had been keeping a close eye on the doorway for any signs that they were about to be interrupted by Amelia. It was odd that she hadn’t checked on Abe after Brook had basically wheeled him down the hallway.
Could the woman be standing just outside the door listening in on their conversation?
It was possible, but the male subject who’d walked by had caught Brook’s interest more.
“I’d like to say no, but the victims don’t fit a particular pattern. Different race, hair color, eye color, height, professions, you name it.” Brook’s attention was drawn once again to the doorway. “Abe, who is that man out in the hallway?”
Abe didn’t have to unlock the wheels of his wheelchair. She’d pulled him in at an angle, affording him the ability to glance over his right shoulder without too much strain.
“That would be Cody,” Abe shared as he turned back around to face her. He smoothed the black and gold blanket over his lap after lifting the Styrofoam container and setting it on the small nightstand next to his bed. “Cody Jennings.”
“Amelia’s son?”
“Yes, but Cody isn’t capable of harming a fly,” Abe said in dismissal. “I know what you’re thinking, but you’re wrong. Cody is in between jobs, and he stops in to see his mother from time to time. Volunteers some of his time here, too.”
Sure enough, Amelia finally revealed herself as she quickly approached her son. They spoke in hushed tones, but Brook was comfortable enough in her evaluation of the situation. Ameliahadbeen listening in on their conversation.
Brook wasn’t going to press the issue of Cody with Abe. It was clear that the older man couldn’t accept that the unsub might be someone close to the residents. She would have Bit run a background check on the man. Considering that Bit had already gotten a list of the entire staff, she would have a lot of late-night reading material.
“Amelia, Mr. Risner was looking for you. He said that he had an appointment offsite.” The sound of Noah’s voice drifted through the hallway in such a way that it suggested he was getting closer in proximity to Abe’s room. The way that Cody shot a look of contempt at Noah as the aid finally entered Abe’s room was an interesting turn of events. “Abe, I have your—“
“Good morning, Noah.”
“Ms. Sloane, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I wasn’t even aware that Abe had company.” Noah held a tray of food in his hands, but it was the way he hesitantly glanced behind him toward the doorway that gave Brook pause. He’d realized what had been taking place out in the hallway, as well. “Can I get you anything? Coffee?”
As much as coffee sounded like heaven, Brook was going to have to pass on the man’s offer. She noticed that Cody and Amelia were no longer in sight.
“No, thank you. Do you happen to know if Mr. Risner is still in his office?”
“He was heading out to some appointment a few minutes ago,” Noah replied as he set the food down on the rolling tray that had been on the other side of the bed. “Amelia might know when he’s due back. I can ask her if—“
“No, thank you.” Brook waited a heartbeat before taking the opportunity that was being presented to her. “Noah, how long have you worked here?”
“Oh, going on eight years now.” Noah shrugged, as if what he was about to say wasn’t anything of significance. “I flunked out of nursing school in my early twenties. I’d learned enough that I was an asset to a place like this.”
“So, you were employed here when Jack Ridgeway worked here three years ago.”