“I wonder if I might ask you a few questions,” Lisa said, the smile remaining on her stiff lips. “I’d like to get Adam’s side of the story.”
Virginia’s face softened noticeably, but she remained quiet.
Lisa was used to that. It always helped to stroke their ego a little to get her subjects to loosen up, and then when their guard was down, hit them with the tough questions.
“Mrs. Thorburn, I’ve done some research on you and your son,” Lisa lied. “Your undying dedication during some of his rougher periods must have been pretty hard on you.”
Virginia Thorburn nodded. The woman was loosening up.
Lisa continued. “Other newscasts have portrayed your son as some kind of monster. I know for a fact that isn’t true.” She paused. “Will you tell my viewers what Adam is really like?”
Virginia opened her mouth for the first time. She appeared to be thinking as she stared at the microphone pushed under her nose. “Adam is … a good son. He’s never caused any trouble to me, and I believe the stories about him have been exaggerated.”
“You believe he never killed anyone, Mrs. Thorburn?”
“I … I didn’t say that.” The woman fumbled for words, probably unsure how best to defend someone Lisa knew was a true barbarian. Adam was one of the most vicious killers Lisa had ever run across, but she wasn’t about to tell his mother her feelings. At least, not yet.
“I understand he has a brilliant mind,” Lisa said.
“Yes, he does. He hasn’t been allowed to reach his full potential. Maybe someday.”
Lisa smiled inside. Adam would reach his full potential all right—in prison. If he lived long enough. She stifled her thoughts and said, “We’d like to see that.”
Virginia bit her lip and remained silent.
“Perhaps if he gave himself up, things could be different,” Lisa said.
“Adam has to make up his own mind about that,” Mrs. Thorburn said, glancing at the camera. “Since I have no contact with him, I can’t persuade him either way.”
“You haven’t see your son since he became a fugitive?”
Virginia shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since Tuesday morning.”
“How’s he been surviving without some help?” Lisa asked.
“He’s resourceful.”
“Are you concerned he might kill someone else?”
The woman glanced away, took a slow breath, then looked at the camera, her eyes narrowed. “My son deserves a fair trial. If and when they find him, I hope the law will be unbiased.”
Lisa cleared her throat. It was time to get nasty and perhaps get something interesting for the viewers. “Your son’s a vicious and violent killer, Mrs. Thorburn. Surely you don’t think it’s right to protect him?”
Virginia Thorburn’s eyes flashed and her face darkened. “You have no right to condemn him and no right to accuse me of protecting him.” She leaned in, her voice becoming more frantic. “I told him to give himself up, but I can’t force him to. He doesn’t remember killing those people.”
Lisa took a small step back. Mrs. Thorburn was angry, but anger was good. In fact, Lisa did her best to get any emotions she could from her targets. Emotions kept people at home glued to their screens.
“Mrs. Thorburn,” Lisa asked, “are you harboring Adam inside your house? Is he in there right now?”
Virginia’s body stiffened at the question, a deep frown appearing on her brow. She pointed a finger across the street and scowled at Lisa. “The police are watching my house and they have searched it already.” She stood back, her hands on her hips, and gave Lisa a black look. “I already told you, I haven’t seen Adam.”
This was getting good. Lisa had caught the woman in a blatant lie. She raised her chin and looked down her sharp nose at Virginia Thorburn. “So let me get this straight, Mrs. Thorburn. You haven’t seen Adam since Tuesday morning, and he told you he didn’t kill those two people.” Lisa cocked her head. “How can that be? Are you telepathic? Mr. Ronson was killed on Tuesday evening.”
Virginia gave Lisa a blank stare. She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again.
“You’ve been meeting with your son, Mrs. Thorburn,” Lisa stated flatly, moving in a step. Her tone became accusing. “How can you condone what this raging lunatic has done?”
Virginia’s face reddened, her eyes firing hatred at Lisa. “This interview is over.” She turned, brushed past Don, and strode up the street toward her house.
Lisa chased after her, Don hurrying behind, the camera still running. “Come back, Mrs. Thorburn,” Lisa demanded.
Virginia didn’t answer. She hurried up the driveway, digging her key from a pocket. She unlocked the door and turned toward Lisa, who was fast approaching, and pointed a finger. “Get off my property.” The woman stepped inside the house, slamming the door behind her.
Lisa turned toward Don, drew a finger across her throat, and the red light on the camera blinked off.
“Let’s go, Don,” she said, striding toward the van. “We have some great footage here.”
Don placed the camera carefully in the back of the van and jumped into the driver seat. Lisa climbed in the passenger side, well pleased with herself and the interview.
Of course, she would edit out the mushy stuff at the beginning of the interview. Its only purpose was to put the woman off her guard. The good stuff came later, and she would be sure to give it the treatment it deserved. Once she edited in other footage she had obtained elsewhere, her little exposé of Mrs. Thorburn was bound for the top of the news; there was no doubt.
Chapter 35
Thursday, 11:16 a.m.
ANNIE WORKED her way down Mill Street, talking to the Thorburns’ neighbors in the off chance someone had seen Adam Thorburn in the area.
Though most of the residents were at work this time of day, she talked briefly to a handful of people who were at home for one reason or another—either didn’t have a job or worked at odd hours. Thus far, her efforts had been unrewarded. Everyone she talked to knew Adam and was aware he was a fugitive, but no one had seen him recently.
She paused in front of the Thorburn house, attempting to come up with an excuse to visit Virginia Thorburn. She glanced across the street. The car parked there was unmarked, and the officer inside was out of uniform. She doubted if Adam would venture to the house, the presence of the car likely more of a deterrent than a trap.
Annie hesitated a moment, then went up the driveway to the side of the house, opened the screen door, and knocked. The door opened a crack, revealed Virginia’s face, and then opened all the way.
“Good morning, Mrs. Thorburn,” Annie said, smiling pleasantly.
The woman showed a faint smile.
“May I come in a moment?”
The door opened and Annie stepped inside.
Virginia motioned toward a chair as she took a seat at the table and leaned her arms on top.
Annie sat and laid her handbag on the table. “I came to talk to you about Adam. I’m rather worried about him.”
The woman sighed deeply. “So am I.”
Annie cleared her throat. “Adam called me on the phone yesterday,” she said.
Virginia’s eyes narrowed. “Why would he call you?”
“I’m not sure,” Annie said, watching Mrs. Thorburn closely. “He said he killed another person but can’t remember it clearly.”
Virginia’s mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide, then she leaned forward. “Did he say who it was?”
“He didn’t know, but he seemed to be struggling with it. Perhaps struggling with himself, looking for some help.”
Virginia reached for her cigarette package, pulled out a smoke with a shaky hand, and managed to get it lit. She took a long drag, inhaling it deeply. Puffs of smoke came from her mouth as she spoke. “I don’t know if anyone can help him.”