Don't Scream

Chapter 40

Brian hit the button to Sarra's garage door opener.

"Whoa." Said the surveillance cop. New guy. He had come on duty an hour ago."whoa" he said again.

"She works for antique's firm," Brian explained. The third doll had been delivered, as Sarra had anticipated. Brian decided to go in and get the other two as well. Sarra would sleep most of the day, Stard had assured him, but later she would need something to do.

The cop was touching things, a little bit awed." I always wondered what made people pay a fortune for stuff that is just old. I mean look at this bowl. It is a bowl, an old beat up bowl. What is that about?"

"Got me." Brian admitted, looking around for the dolls. His nose wrinkled. The shop had a faint odor of saw dust.

"And this." The cop wondered to a mat where a two piece dresser sat out. one piece was partially covered. and Brian recognized the wrappings. the size. It was the highboy, the one Sarra had been bringing home when they first met. The one she told Evan had a made up back or whatever that meant.

He ran his finger over the carvings on the highboy, bent down and sniffed. Maybe that was it. The smell of wood.

"Wonder what that things worth.?" the cop mused.

"Six maybe eight thousand dollars, tops." Brian said.

"The back is made up."

The guy looked at him. let him wonder.

Brian found the first two dolls by Sarra's computer lying in their boxes."This is what I need, I am good now, lets go. I got a task force meeting I have to go to." It felt good to say that.

"OK." the cop said trailing Brian out "But I wouldn't pay 600 for that thing let alone 6 thousand.

"Is there any word on the missing women yet? FBI agent Henry asked.

"we are still waiting." Dawn said as she joined the group. Dawn, Brian thought recognized her. They flirted once in the elevator and she flashed her shield when he got cocky. he ha flashed his back.

"Stard helped me craft a statement. she thinks we should stroke the bastard a little let him know how smart he is and how many agents are working on him."

Brian  frowned."He will buy it?"

"I don't know" Stard said." I haven't figured him out yet, I can't see a pattern, Sarra Jane, Amy Chaney were stalked. the others weren't. Two women cut up and two missing, and one shot in her van. We don't know what he did to the missing women."

"Don't forget Gloria Michael's" Phil said.

"Right she is a little different, but still looks like Brandon. and they both went to the same college. she was at a frat party the night she was killed."

Henry  turned to Brian snapping his gun." How come you didn't talk to him back then?"

":I talked to every fucking body who was at that party..Brandon James was not there."

Henry scoffed "Good work."

"Hey asshole.."

"Alright" Phil said holding up a hand."Put that away boys. Henry Back off."

He jerked his thumb at Brian."The guy isn't even a agent anymore he don't belong here."

Phil's jaw went tight."That is my decision not yours!"

Henry stepped down with a show of poor sportsmanship.and Phil went on"We have to figure out his pattern. serial killers are smart,  organized, with some powerful reason for every move they make. And they usually keep something from their kills.something so they can relieve their excitement."

"Trophies" Brian said

"Right, so has he taken anything from these women.?"

"Their phone?" Phil asked."He is using their phones."

"Using them. A trophy is is more personal a piece of jewelry an article of clothing, a lock of hair, even a finger."

"Could he be leaving something with them instead of taking something with him?" Henry asked.

Stard stared at him with a what are you talking about look.

 He slid a report across the table to stard. Brian squinted to catch the agents signature at the bottom. Mins."The husband of the soccer mom ID'd her body but he said he didn't recognize her blouse. said she wouldn't wear pink lace. so could he be dressing them up?"

"Check it!" Phil said to stard then pointed a finger to Henry."What was Brandon doing before he started on the road here."

"Before prison he worked in hotels. Started a bus boy in college became an assistant manager of the Ramada Inn  by the time he graduated. then he moved to Seattle in 2005 and took a management job in a upscale hotel the Ritz. Fellow employees were shocked when it came out that he had murdered Chaney."

"Then after he got out of prison he got a apartment and was rehired at the Ritz. He worked there until a month ago. when the state awarded him six hundred thousand dollars in lost salary and damages for his prison term. Then he just quit coming to work."

"Hobbies? Activities?" Phil asked?

"Neighbors are being interviewed, but it sounds like he was low key easy enough to live by. Took a stray dog in once, gave it away to a man at work. and traveled some, a weekend away here and there."

"Where did he go?"

Henry shrugged

"What about his apartment?" Brian asked."anyone been there?"

"They are there now. Looks pretty normal. He maybe let liked to play some music loud.Got himself a surround sound and the walls are insulated."

Phil turned to Stard."What about all that child hood bull you like so much?"

she looked exasperated,"Give me a little time for fuck sake. Right now I'm still trying to figure out this thing with Amy Chaney."

"Can't Sarra help you there?" Henry asked.

"She gave us the rundown. but she is holding back. There is something she hasn't told us."

"So dig it out of her. that is what you do best."

"I will try my hardest."

And god help Sarra Brian thought. Gene Stard was good at ripping open wounds. then lancing them until they bled out.

"OK." Dean said breathing it all in."So we keep the daughter under wraps in Jacksonville  watch Sarra and give her lots of time with agent Stard until we know the whole story of Amy Chaney. Meanwhile get people looking at motels around the district, new apartment  leases, homeless shelter . Hell he has money, so check the upscale hotels.car rentals, everything, Put a APB on his last known vehicle. Henry  you pull yourself together everything on unsolved cases that could of been his, look for connections . agent Chelsea get in Sarra's house mimic her routines ect. " He stood ,"Everyone keep stuffing the files . Phil." he said to Phil."Glad to have you in anything you want from the FBI in order to protect the citizens in panama city, just ask."