Serial Games (Virginia Justice Book One) (14 page)

“We’ll be back.” Doug whipped out his shades and marched outside.

“Thank you for your time, Mr. Gilbert.” Maggie slipped her business card onto the counter. “Please call me if he contacts you, or if you happen to remember anything else.”

Happy Gilbert nodded but his eyes remained cold.

****

“He knows something.”

“We don’t know that for sure, Doug.”

“Don’t we?” He jerked the gearshift into reverse and sped out of the parking space. “All those, ‘you ain’t found no bodies,’ and ‘you ain’t got no warrant.’”

Maggie put a hand to her forehead. Just thinking about the conversation with Happy Gilbert gave her a headache. “I admit he’s hiding something, but his evasiveness could be out of loyalty to the family.”

“I admit I’d like to do a profile workup on him.”

“Whoa, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“No, let’s. There is a serial killer on the loose, Maggie.
A serial killer
,” Doug repeated with more grit in his voice. “This man acts like Burrows is some poor Oliver Twist who’s been so mistreated by this world. Sure, he grew up without a father, but he didn’t grow up wanting. Even that’s beside the point. Burrows is a killer, and that fact doesn’t faze Happy Gilbert one bit.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Maggie whispered, worried over how that truth could affect the investigation. Or another victim. “Okay, let’s do it: a full workup on Happy Gilbert. As soon as we return to the hotel, I want the team back at the Washington office to start a profile portfolio on him. Let’s get everything. How long he has known the Burrows family…what the nature of their relationship was… I want to know his financial situation, and what pets he owns.” Maggie could see an excited smile spread across Doug’s face. “If he is an accomplice in any way, I don’t want to be blindsided in the end. We’ll fax what we have to the office so they can get started.”

“Now we’re talking!”

****

“I see no way around this, Mayor.”

Brandon and the mayor of Culpeper had been going back and forth for an hour. The next day would be the first in an annual three-day county fair. The fair would draw a larger than normal population to the area, and the potential for Burrows to slip in and lure someone out would increase dramatically.

“Look, Marshal, you know I’m behind you one hundred percent when it comes to catching this lunatic.”

Here it comes
.

The mayor rose from his chair to his full height; his bulk added to his authoritative stance. “I can’t see how I can possibly cancel the fair. The vendors are in the process of setting up as we speak. We’ve had canons and horses for the Civil War demonstrations bused in. Those demonstrations are a sight to see, believe me.” The mayor puffed his chest and straightened his tie. “We are talking hundreds, if not thousands, of people who come from all over the state — the nation — to see these reenactments. The Battle of Brandywine. Do you know how strategic that battle was in winning the war? Not to mention the commerce traffic we will undoubtedly have. Besides, it will only last a couple of days.”

“Mayor—”

“Those vendors… These are hardworking farmers who spend the entire
year
preparing for this event. With the nation’s economy as it is, I can’t deny those families the opportunity to sell their merchandise. They grow some of the finest crops in Virginia.”

Brandon stood with his arms crossed. He would not be guilt-tripped into allowing a few merchants to make money while a killer continued to run free. “Sir, with all due respect, we have extensively covered this territory. I understand the risks to the farmers, and the re-enactors, as well as the potential drain canceling this fair would have on the economy of Culpeper—”

“I doubt it,” he muttered.

“The fact remains, though, you have a man loose in your town who has killed
multiple
women. Do you want to see another one disappear over a few dollars?”

The mayor flushed. Perspiration beaded his forehead and he leaned forward on his desk. His light eyes turned dark. “
I
have a man loose? No, Marshal,
you
do. Whose job was it to secure Burrows for a simple bus trip to the pen? I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself. This isn’t just a few dollars we are talking about here.”

“Sir—”

“No, you listen to me, Marshal. The fair will not be canceled, and that’s my final word.”

Brandon’s fists clenched from beneath his arms. For a few seconds he stared at the mayor, but he sensed the man wouldn’t relent. “Then I’m going to need complete and unfettered access to all parts of the event.”

“Of course.” He stood straight, a small but victorious smile on his lips.

“I mean
complete
access. If I so much as get a word that any of my men were stopped at all during the course of our duties, then I’ll shut those parts of the event down, and I’ll have people escorted from the area.”

“What? Now hold on—”

“My team will flush Burrows out in any way we can, with the utmost care and concern for the safety of your citizens.”

“Do you really think he’ll be there?” Doubt filled the mayor’s voice as he plopped into the swivel leather chair behind his mahogany desk.

How the mayor could suggest otherwise was incredulous to Brandon. “Could you think of a more perfect opportunity? With a large population, he can easily choose a victim and disappear with her long before law enforcement would ever be aware of it. The fair will be a logistical nightmare for us. Burrows could come and go as he pleases, virtually unnoticed.”

“We can have signs put up so the people can be informed.”

“And start a mass panic? It’s bad enough your own residents are conscious of this, but what about those from out of town? You could have hysteria on your hands. No, you have your fair, Mr. Mayor, but let me do my job the way I see fit.” Brandon stomped to the mayor’s desk. “This will ensure minimum risk to your residents and guests, greater efficiency for my people, and the best-case scenario for catching a killer like Burrows, who won’t be able to resist roaming free in a population that size.”

The mayor leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin. Brandon moved his hands to his hips as he waited for him to agree. For Brandon, he could accept no other outcome. Neither could he have been clearer, nor the facts presented any plainer. Although Brandon preferred the mayor cancel the fair, it offered a unique circumstance. Burrows would be free to move about, a chance he wasn’t likely to have again, and his capture could happen without further incident. All in all, not terrible odds, except for the patrons indirectly being bait for a killer.

The mayor nodded his head and sighed. He waved his hand in the air. “I agree. I’d like to be kept in the loop throughout the day either by you or the sheriff.” He leaned into the desk. “And I want in on the decision to shut any part of the event down, if it comes to that.”

“If I can get word to you beforehand, and if no one is in any immediate danger, then I’ll include you, absolutely.” Brandon dipped his head in agreement.

“Good, good.” The mayor rubbed his hands and his eyes brightened. “It’s going to be quite a show tomorrow. The festivities will be tremendous.”

“Excuse me, Mayor, but there are some investigative details I have to see to.” Brandon turned away.

“Oh, of course, Marshal, yes, of course. You do what you need to do.”

Brandon continued to make his way to the door.

“We all want Burrows back where he belongs,” the mayor called after him. “Behind bars.”

Brandon wished he could believe him.

****

Maggie set the phone on its receiver and turned to her business laptop. She continued to type her investigative notes. She had just gotten off the phone with her office and the workup on Happy Gilbert was under way. Deckker left to interview neighbors in Happy’s neighborhood in the hopes of getting useful firsthand information, while Doug stayed behind to run more telephonic investigative leads.

A loud groan and a huff made her stop, and she looked up. Brandon landed with a thud in the chair across from her. Frustration clouded his gray eyes. Once they focused on her, they softened a bit. He gave her a lopsided smile.

“Tell me you’re having a better day than I am.”

Maggie raised her brows. “If you mean not getting anywhere with Burrows’s business partner Happy Gilbert, then yes, I suppose I am having a better day.” Brandon snorted. She chuckled. “I take it things didn’t go well with the mayor.”

“Understatement of the year. There’s a county fair here tomorrow.”

“Oh yeah, I think we saw a sign for it on the way in yesterday. Plus, Deckker mentioned it to Doug and me before we left to interview Gilbert.”

Brandon rested his elbows on the table, his chin in his hands. “Try convincing the mayor to let go of the year’s highest tourist draw, let alone the profits the local businesses will gain from the extra commerce. Not happening.”

Maggie stifled a sigh. “That’s going to be a headache for us. The prospect of having so many people around for him to move freely will be a temptation too great for Burrows to resist.”

“I said the exact same thing to the mayor. All he could see, however, were diminishing dollar signs at even the slightest hint of shutting down any or all of the fair.”

“We’ll at least be able to operate from within the event, right?”

Brandon’s eyes turned challenging. His gaze swept her and a smooth smile expanded his square jaw. “Do I
look
like I’m right out of the academy?”

For a moment, Maggie couldn’t help scanning his all-too appealing form in dark blue jeans and a fitted black polo shirt. No, he didn’t. Maggie’s cheeks burned. He looked…

“I told the mayor he could keep his fair, but we’d have full authority to use whatever law enforcement means we deem necessary. He had no choice but to agree.”

Maggie nodded and looked down at her laptop screen. She tried to focus on her notes but the spread of goose bumps on her arms dared her to rub them away. She wouldn’t. She refused to give Brandon any indication that her unguarded observation of him had affected her physically.

“You look nice today.”

Maggie’s head came up quickly. The smile was gone, but his eyes were warm as his gaze assessed her again.

“Yellow is definitely your color.”

Maggie could only wonder how her top looked when paired with the pink in her cheeks. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Maggie didn’t look away. The atmosphere changed. Gone was the playful arrogance that just a moment ago permeated his features. Now she received a cool, restrained look, and a chill went through her. His quick mood adjustments disturbed her, but his stare unsettled her more. Maggie could only guess the concentrated look was an effort to decipher something hidden about her. She had nothing to hide.

Brandon cleared his throat. “What happened with Happy Gilbert?”

She gave in and rubbed her arms. As her skin calmed, she answered. “He’s the managing owner of Burrows’s photography store. Doug and I went in, and tried to question him regarding his connection to Burrows. All he would give us is he knew the family. He spent the rest of the time either sidestepping our questions or outright not answering.”

“Wow.”

“I have the Washington office doing a full profile on him. Deckker is out right now interviewing neighbors. His motive for being secretive is our main goal in investigating Gilbert.”

“Has he seen Burrows?”

“He wouldn’t answer the question. He kept asking if a warrant was needed, and Doug,” Maggie shook her head, her lips itching to grin, “Doug almost leapt behind the counter to wring his neck. I wouldn’t have blamed him, if he did. The man was infuriating.”

“Great. So, we have a maniac on the loose, and a possible accomplice.”

“We’ll find something on Happy, and as soon as we do, we’ll press him for more information. I gather he has a long history with Burrows, and he wants it kept hidden.”

Brandon nodded. “I want a warrant as soon as possible. Any hint of exigent circumstances?”

Maggie frowned. “Right now, no. All we know is he’s legally part owner and operator of the photography shop. We can’t force him to tell us anything just yet.”

“Right.” Sarcasm dripped from Brandon’s mouth. He pulled out a cell phone from his pocket and pushed the touch screen.

“Who are you calling?”

“The magistrate’s office. I’m going to make sure I have clearance as soon as the preliminary investigation on Gilbert is accomplished. After that, would you care to join me for lunch? I need to ride into the old downtown area to check out where the farmers’ market will be set up.”

Maggie nodded. Her cheeks heated. “Sure. If we could also stop by the Burrows house again, that would be great.”

Brandon gave her a look of concern. “Anything I should know about?”

“Not yet, but I’d like to take another look around the property.”

“Absolutely. Surveillance teams on his house haven’t reported anything special. Not even the neighbor has been by to cut the grass. According to the guys, it’s growing about half a foot a day.”

“I suppose surveillance is like watching grass grow,” she said with a laugh, but the humor was short-lived. If their investigation lasted much longer, the trail would grow cold and time would allow Burrows to hide forever.

Parts of Main Street were cordoned off in anticipation of the next day’s farmers’ market and fair festivities. Brandon parked the car in a metered spot and both he and Maggie stepped out to view the scene. Fair volunteers erected large canopy tents and collapsible tables on open public parking lots. The giggles of kids who ran around their busy parents and the chatter of merchants filled the air. Brandon pointed out a local police cruiser with an officer posted outside. The uniform engaged in a conversation with a bystander, who gestured in the area of the fair.

As Brandon and Maggie approached the officer, the unidentified individual left. Brandon introduced himself, and then Maggie.