“Well, that explains the poker fetish,” Kim said. “But why kill Miss Winters? Torturing a rat is pretty different from cutting open a human being.”
“Torturing and dissecting animals was his way of exerting control when he was younger, just as he did with the poker. Sociopaths’ compulsions often escalate as they get older. They seek better ways of establishing control and satisfying their impulses. From what you told me over the phone, Detective Newport, it sounds like by not only killing and mutilating Miss Winters but forcing others to witness her passing, Fulton had established the ultimate method of control.”
“Now that is truly twisted,” commented Alex, who was helping himself to more coffee. “Can you believe I spent 24 hours with that guy? I would write a screenplay about it if I didn’t want to forget that it ever happened.”
Jacob cut in. “What’s been bothering me, Doctor, is that Fulton specifically chose a young woman both times to be his victim. That can’t be a coincidence.”
“Yes, that makes sense, too,” Dr. Stewart said wearily. “I’m not sure if you remember from his case file, but the person who reported him was his biology teacher, a young woman who had just started teaching. You must understand that his own parents were frightened of him. He’d been very careful to make sure no one would find out about his tendencies. His teacher disrupted this situation and took away that control. She didn’t come up often in our conversations, but I could sense his hatred towards her, even after so many years. I believe that she died a number of years ago in a car accident. It makes sense then that he was searching for a proxy to punish.”
Kim and Jacob nodded slowly at each other. “This is making a lot of sense, Doctor. Too much sense. I’m only sorry that Virginia Winters had to bear the brunt of his hatred.”
“Me too. Officers, please let me know if you need anything further. I’m happy to put Fulton’s file to rest.”
Chapter Twenty Three
Captain Woodside skimmed through Oliver Fulton’s case file slowly, a frown spreading over his face. Detectives Daniels and Newport stood rigidly in front of him, waiting for the inevitable tongue-lashing. Eventually the captain threw the file on his desk and exhaled forcefully.
“I don’t know whether I should kiss or punch you two,” he said, glaring at the detectives. “This is a hell of a plot twist.”
“Can we have a third option, Captain?” asked Jacob. “I don’t feel comfortable with the first two”.
“And I don’t feel comfortable with you cowboys chasing a non-suspect into the woods and nearly getting killed in the process. I won’t even mention that Kane somehow got mixed up in this. You realize that if he’d even had a hair shaved off his head I would have had you two demoted to traffic cops?”
Woodside leaned back heavily. “This whole thing is a huge mess. That said, this exciting piece of reading,” he said, pounding on the case file, “means that we are finally going to close this case for good. So as it turns out: you nabbed the bastard, Detectives. Congratulations. Now don’t ever, ever play a trick like that on me again, you hear?”
The detectives nodded silently, trying not to look pleased. They’d finally closed a case. And despite Woodside’s bluster, they knew he was pleased. After all, he could cover up their antics and trumpet away about the results to his superiors. In the end, that was all he cared about.
Newport and Daniels got up, ready to escape.
“Now just a moment,” Woodside said. “I had a long interview with Kane. As you can imagine, I wanted to see if the department was going to incur some sort of liability for almost getting his ass killed. Turns out that, though the man can’t act, he’s definitely fair. He praised both of your dedication to the case, unique problem-solving skills, and efforts to recover him from his, er, situation. Especially you, Daniels,” he said, shooting her a look. “Though I don’t know if his thing for redheads factors into that.”
Kim stiffened. “I like to think my performance is based on my intellect alone, Captain,” she said curtly.
“Of course it is. The man’s just a damn scoundrel. Anyway, since you three seem to get along so nicely and Kane’s so adamant that he’s getting mountains of material out of his little experiment, I’m putting him with you indefinitely. Have fun, kids.”
Kim gaped at the Captain. “But, but…”
Woodside shot her a dark look. “Congratulations on closing the case,” he said meaningfully. “Now get out of my office.”
**
“First round, and every round, is on me!” Alex proclaimed as the officers bellied up to the bar later that day.
Craig clapped him on the back. “Now you’re getting the hang of being a detective.”
“I really think we should be finishing our paperwork right now,” Jacob sniffed.
Kim shook her head. “Normally I’d agree with you, Newport. But after the run we’ve had, I think it’s time to celebrate our success.”
The cantankerous barkeep brought over four mugs, and they clanged them together enthusiastically.
“To Virginia Winters,” Kim declared. “May she rest in peace.”
“To Virginia!” the crew chorused.
“So, Kane, I hear you’re staying on board,” said Phillips after taking a hearty gulp of his beer.
Alex beamed. “Sure am. And here’s something else to celebrate – I got a callback for New York Vendetta. They heard about how I helped crack your case. They’re impressed by my commitment to the role and they want to try me again.” He nudged Daniels. “If I get the part I’m going to be around here a while. For the sake of creative inspiration and all.”
Kim groaned. “Why can’t you just try out for a romantic comedy instead?”
Alex leaned closer, grinning. “Who says I’m not?”
She shot him a disgusted look and inched way. “I’m trying to enjoy myself, Kane. Don’t put me off my beer.”
The actor shrugged. He knew she’d warm up to him eventually. After all, time was on his side. The Commissioner was happy to have him on the team. The role on New York Vendetta looked like a sure thing. He wasn’t going anywhere – not until he knew Detective Daniels better, a lot better, in fact. All he needed was for her to trust him. That was a challenge he was definitely up for.
Kim was oblivious to Alex’s line of thinking and continued to ignore him. She finished her beer and excused herself, eager to be alone. Although she was happy to close the Winters case, something was still bothering her. The fact was that the case she really wanted to close was her sister’s. Until then, she’d always feel like something was missing.
She drove slowly along the quiet New York streets, reminiscing. She thought about the times she and Nancy used to bike the streets together at night, whizzing through intersections, laughing their heads off, looking for trouble. Her sister had always been the renegade, the heartbreaker, the creative one. A true original. Now she was gone. A waste for the world, or so Kim thought. She couldn’t bring her back, but at least she could bring Nancy justice and a sense of peace to her family. More than anything, she wanted that.
Kim’s phone blipped, disrupting her serious thoughts. She glared in its direction.
“Probably Kane looking for a ride home,” she muttered as she fished about in her purse.
She opened the text message, and what filled the screen set her heart racing immediately.
It was a Queen of Hearts playing card. Underneath it said: “I know what happened to Nancy.”
###