We figured the wife left it. Then the second woman disappeared and we found an identical rose and note.
"After the fourth disappearance, all with notes and black roses, Sandra and Melody Lake were murdered.
Sandra was the wife of Peter Lake, whom I believe you know. Melody was his daughter."
"That was tragic," Colby said. "Pete's been a supporter of mine for some time. I appointed him to a board last fall."
"He killed them, Governor. He murdered his wife and daughter in cold blood. Then he framed a man named Henry Waters by bringing one of the kidnapped women to Waters's house, disemboweling her in Waters's basement, planting some roses and one of the notes in Waters's house and calling the police anonymously."
It was four a.m. and pitch-black in the car, but Turner saw Colby blanch as the car passed a streetlight.
"Peter Lake killed Sandy and Melody?"
"Yes, sir."
"I find that hard to believe."
"What I'm going to tell you now is known only to Chief O'Malley, Detectives Frank Grimsbo and Nancy Gordon and me. The chief created a task force to deal with the disappearances. It consists of Gordon, Grimsbo and me, plus a forensic expert. We suspected Lake might be our killer, even after we found Patricia Cross's body at Waters's house, so we set him up. Gordon told Lake she suspected him but had kept the incriminating evidence to herself. Lake panicked, as we'd hoped he would. He broke into Gordon's house to kill her. She tricked him into admitting the killings. We wired her house and we have his confession on tape. Grimsbo and I were hiding and heard it all. We arrested Lake."
"Then what's the problem?" Merrill asked.
"Three of the women are still alive. Barely. Lake's been keeping them on a starvation diet-he only feeds them once a week. He won't tell us when he fed them last or where they are unless the governor gives him a full pardon."
"What?" Merrill asked incredulously. "The governor's not going to pardon a mass murderer."
"Can't you find them?" Colby asked. "They must be in property Lake owns.
Have you searched them all?"
"Lake's made a good deal of money over the years.
He has vast real estate holdings. Most of them aren't in his name. We, don't have the manpower or time to find and search them all before the women starve."
"Then I'll promise to pardon Peter. After he tells us where he's holding the women, you can arrest him. A contract entered into duress won't stand up."
Merrill looked uncomfortable. "I'm afraid it might, Ray. When I was with the U.S. attorney, we gave immunity to a contract killer for the mob in exchange for testimony against a higher-up. He said he was present when the hit was ordered, but he was in Las Vegas on the day the body was found. We checked out his story. He was registered at Caesars Palice.
Several other witnesses saw him eating at the casino. We gave him his deal, he testified, the higher-up was convicted, he walked. Then we found out he did the hit, but he did it at fifteen minutes before midnight, then flew to Vegas.
"We were furious. We rearrested him and indicted him for murder, but the judge threw out the indictment.
He ruled that everything the defendant told us was true.
We just didn't ask the right questions. I researched the hell out of the law on plea agreements trying to get the appellate court to rule for us.
No luck. Contract principles apply, but so does due process. If both sides enter into the agreement in good faith and the defendant performs, the courts are going to enforce the agreement. If you go into this with your eyes open, Ray, I think the pardon will stick."
"Then I have no choice."
"Yes, you do," Merrill insisted. "You tell him no deal.
You can't pardon a serial killer and expect to be reelected.
It's political suicide."
"Damn it, Larry," Colby snapped, "how do you think people would react if they found out I let three women die to win an election?"
Raymond Colby opened the door to Nancy Gordon's bedroom. Frank Grimsbo was seated next to the door, holding his weapon, his eyes on the prisoner. The shades were drawn and the bed was still unmade. Peter Lake was handcuffed to a chair. His back was to the window.
No one had treated the cuts on Lake's face and the blood had dried, making him look like a badly defeated fighter.
Lake should have been scared. Instead, he looked like he was in charge of the situation.
"Thanks for coming, Ray."
"What's going on, Pete? This is crazy. You murdered Sandy and Melody?"
"I I had to, Ray. I explained that to the police. You know I wouldn't have killed them if I had a choice."
"That sweet little girl. How can you live with your self?"
Lake shrugged his shoulders. "That's really beside the point, Ray. I'm not going to prison, and you're going to see to that'."
"It's out of my hands, Pete. You killed three people.
You're morally responsible for Waters's death. I can't do anything for you."
Lake smiled. "Then why are you here?"
"To ask you to tell the police where you're keeping the other women."
"No can do, Ray. My life depends on keeping the cops in the dark."
"You'd let three innocent women die?"
Lake shrugged. "Three dead, six dead. They can't punish me anymore after the first life sentence. I don't envy you, Ray. Believe me when I say that I wish I didn't have to put an old friend, whom I admire deeply, in this position. But I won't tell you where the women are if I don't get my pardon. And, believe me, every minute counts. Those women are mighty hungry and mighty thirsty by now. I can't guarantee how much longer they'll last without food and water."
Colby sat on the bed across from Lake. He bent forward, his forearms resting on his knees and his hands clasped in front of him.
"I do consider myself your friend, Pete. I still can't believe what I'm hearing. As a friend, I beg you to save those women. I promise I'll intercede on your behalf with the authorities. Maybe a plea to manslaughter can be worked out."
Lake shook his head. "No prison. Not one day. I know what happens in jail to a man who's raped a woman. I wouldn't last a week."
"You're expecting a miracle, Pete. How can I let you go free?" 'look, Ray, I'll make this simple for you. I walk or the women die. There's no other alternative, and you're using up valuable time jawing with me."
Colby hunched his shoulders. He stared at the floor.
Lake's smile widened.
"What are your terms?" Colby asked.
"I want a pardon for every crime I committed in New York State and immunity from prosecution for every conceivable crime the authorities can think up in the future. I want the pardon in writing and I want a videotape of you signing it. I want the original of the tape and the pardon given to a lawyer I'll choose.
"I want immunity from prosecution in federal court…"
"I can't guarantee that. I have no authority to "Call the U.S. attorney or the attorney general. Call the President. This is non-negotiable. I'm not going to get hit with a federal charge for violation of civil rights."
"I'll see what I can do."
"That's all I ask. But if you don't do what I want, the women die.
"There's one other thing. I want a guarantee that the State of New York will pay any civil judgments if I get sued by the survivors or Cross's husband. I'm not going to lose any money over this. Attorney fees, too."
Lake's last remark helped the governor see Lake for what he was. The handsome, urbane young man with whom he had dined and played golf was the disguise worn by a monster. Colby felt rage replacing the numbness he'd experienced since learning Lake's true nature.
Colby stood. "I have to know how much time those women have, so I can tell the attorney general how quickly we must act."