She didn’t even have to knock on the door. It opened as they stepped onto the front porch. Standing inside was a man in his sock feet wearing a Bears sweatshirt and a battered pair of jeans. On his face he wore weary resignation.
„Miss Mayhew,“ he said softly. „We’ve been expecting you.“ He opened the door wider and they entered. Abe looked around the room where nine more adults sat. All studied him with curiosity, then lowered their gazes to look at Kristen with hostile accusation.
Which made Abe madder than hell. He drew a deep breath and reminded himself why they were there. Their children had been horribly victimized, not only by King, but also by the judicial system that failed to give them justice. Standing behind Kristen, he touched her shoulder lightly. She flinched at the contact, then cleared her throat.
„This is Detective Reagan. He’s been assigned to this case.“
Which case didn’t need to be said. Not one of the parents said a word.
Her shoulders rigid, Kristen continued. „Ross King was murdered. We’d planned to spend the morning informing the families of his victims, but you’ve made our job easier by being here all together.“
„So happy to make your job easier, Miss Mayhew.“ The sarcastic sneer came from one of the men on the sofa and Abe again had to remind himself of why they were there.
Kristen ignored the jab. „You all have obviously been informed.“
Reston gestured to the coffee table where five envelopes sat in a neat row. „We all received these yesterday morning. And we saw that reporter on the news last night.“
Kristen searched the room. „Where are the Fullers?“
„They got divorced last year,“ Reston answered. „She moved back to L.A. with their boy. His company moved him to Boston. Their marriage just couldn’t take the strain.“
A woman rose from the love seat and came to stand beside Reston, sliding her arm around his waist in the way of a supportive wife. „We knew you’d been to see those women yesterday. We figured it was only a matter of time before you came to us.“ She looked up, met Abe’s eyes with challenge in hers. „We used to be a normal, happy family, Detective Reagan. Until Ross King. Not one of us is sorry to see him dead.“
Abe searched the faces of each parent, choosing his words carefully. „I won’t insult your intelligence by acting as if I assumed otherwise. I won’t debase my own integrity by acting as if Ross King deserves my compassion. But it’s my job to investigate murder, regardless of how I feel about the victim. I don’t expect you to accept that, but that doesn’t make it any less of a reality.“
There was absolute silence in the room. Then one of the women started to cry. Her husband stood, helpless rage on his face. „Tell us this, Miss Mayhew. Did he suffer?“
The woman looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks. „You owe us that much.“
Kristen looked up at Abe over her shoulder and for a moment the sobbing mother’s anguish was reflected in her eyes. Then it was gone. She looked back to the waiting parents. „I can’t give you details on an ongoing investigation.“
„Goddamn you to hell!“ Still another father jumped to his feet. „We did what you said. We put our boys through hell because you said you could put him away.“ Dropping back into his seat, his chin dropped to his chest and his shoulders started to shake. „Goddamn you,“ he whispered.
Abe could feel her hesitate, then her breath left her in a silent sigh. „I can’t give you details,“ she repeated. „But…“
The father looked up and Abe felt his own eyes sting at the man’s sheer misery. „But?“ the man whispered.
„He suffered,“ Kristen said simply.
„A lot,“ Abe added flatly, wondering what the parents would do next. They looked at each other, grim relief the predominant theme. „I realize that when we find King’s murderer you all are likely to send him a thank-you card, but – “
„Try a twenty-year-old bottle of scotch.“
„A week in my Florida time-share.“
„Season tickets to the Bears.“
Abe held up a hand to quiet them. „I get the picture. Still, I hope you’ll give me your cooperation. Did anyone see anything that would help establish the time the notes were delivered?“ No one said a word and Abe sighed. „You are obviously smart people. You know from the news that King is not the only one that’s been killed. You also know that we can’t condone vigilante justice. If you did condone it, you would have offed King yourselves.“
„How do you know we didn’t?“ Reston asked carefully.
„I don’t,“ Abe said. „But like I said, you’re smart people. You know you’re all on my suspect list. You also know your being there won’t make this any easier for your kids. They’ve already been through hell. Now, I’m thinking the only reason you didn’t off King yourselves three years ago was because you didn’t want your kids to grow up visiting you in Joliet.“ He saw them flinch at that and knew he’d made his point. „I need to know when you got the notes, then I’ll need to know where you were the night King disappeared.“
„What night did he disappear?“ Mrs. Reston asked.
„First things first.“ Abe took out his notepad. „Since I only know the Restons here, I need to know your name, where you found the note, and when did you receive it?“
Mr. Reston shrugged. „I fell asleep on the sofa the night before last. I woke up at three a.m. and opened the front door to lock the storm door and saw the note stuck in the frame.“
„Good.“ He wrote it down. „Next?“ All the other parents said they’d seen the notes when they woke up. One at six, then others at seven a.m.
He’d gotten responses from all but the man who’d shouted at Kristen. That man was still sitting with his head hung low. Abe waited, but the man didn’t say anything.
Kristen had said nothing since during the questioning. Now she bent over and touched the man’s shoulder. „What time did you get home, Mr. Littleton?“
He looked up, narrowed his red eyes. „What are you talking about?“
His wife sighed wearily. „You know what she’s talking about, Les. He got home about one-thirty.“ She glanced up at Abe. „Les and Nadine Littleton.“
„Was the note there then, Mr. Littleton?“ Kristen asked.
„Yes.“ Littleton turned away. There was more, Abe knew it.
„Did you see anyone deliver it?“ Kristen pressed, but gently.
Littleton hesitated, then nodded. „He slid the envelope through the mail slot.“
Abe waited, but the man said nothing more. „And? What did he look like?“
Littleton shrugged tightly. „Dressed in black. Average height. Nothing else.“
„A car?“ Kristen touched his shoulder again. „Please, Mr. Littleton.“
„White van. That’s all I know.“
Kristen straightened. „Can I speak to you alone for a moment, Mrs. Littleton? You can start on whereabouts,“ she murmured to Abe. „We’ll be right back.“
As she led Mrs. Littleton into the kitchen, he turned back to the group. To a couple they all swore they were at home with each other on the night in question. Kristen returned with Mrs. Littleton and pulled on her gloves.
„I have the Littletons’ whereabouts, Detective Reagan.“
He shot her a puzzled glance, then closed his notepad and bagged the five envelopes on the table. „I’d like to ask you all not to speak to the press.“
„And if we do?“ Reston asked.
Abe sighed. „It’s your right, of course. But Zoe Richardson isn’t interested in anything more than a sound bite. You kept your kids’ names out of this the first time. I hope your priorities are still in the right place.“ He left them with that and he and Kristen walked back to the SUV in silence. When they were both buckled in, he started the engine. „I’m waiting.“