Dan got to headquarters about ten thirty to speak with the Captain about James and a possible wiretap. He wasn’t surprised when Bolton told him they didn’t have enough circumstantial evidence or just cause to warrant one, since Tracy had told them she had placed the call. It was obvious to Dan that Bolton was just as disappointed and angered by this morning’s activities as he was.
While Mory was looking for Starr to serve the suppression papers, Dan pulled Alan McCleary’s and Glenda Darnell’s case files, collected their evidence boxes, and returned to his office. Before he started going through them and his new case notes, Dan called downstairs and requested a police car go over to the Darnell’s and keep Starr and other media away from the family until he could arrive to question them tomorrow morning. He gave strict orders that no one was allowed to approach the house without his permission. Parents, a younger brother and a boyfriend were listed in Glenda’s report.
Dan cleared his and Mory’s desks to spread out items concerning both old cases. His gaze and fingers went back and forth as he learned Alan had pleaded insanity at the hearing, was ruled incompetent to stand trial and had been confined in a mental institution. He was released a week ago after undergoing treatment for the past three years. Reading further, Dan realized Alan could have gotten off anyway. Paul Cannon had been the one to arrest him that night. The ex-police officer had been drunk on duty and had not Mirandized him properly. A good attorney would have gotten the charges dropped on a technicality and Alan would have been walking the streets again a few hours later. Damn! This case was driving him crazy. Was Paul somehow involved in this string of murders? He might not have been the one to pull the trigger, but had he been the one to supply the Avenger with the details of the cases? Was it only coincidental Paul’s name was connected to two of the cases?
Mory returned about noon. He told Dan he’d found Starr in his editor’s office and neither man was pleased about the judge’s order. “They’re planning to see the judge in an hour to try to change his mind. All we can do is hope we don’t see the Avenger’s note and crime scene photos in tomorrow morning’s paper. At least the TV media doesn’t have copies or Tracy’s exclusive interview to blast across the airwaves. Why don’t we grab lunch before you catch me up on all you’ve learned? Looks like we have a lot to go through,” he said, nodding toward their cluttered desks.
“I’m more than ready for a break and food. Before we return, we’ll get Ray’s file on the Darnell/McCleary cases and trial. We’re also to pick up some other files Andi had pulled for us. The Avenger may be tricking us about retirement so we’ll let down our guard. Or he could pass along his list of targets and their copied files to a chosen successor or current partner.”
“Lordy, Dan, let’s hope to God he’s finished and nobody takes over for him.”
“Even if both are true, partner, we still have a killer to catch and crimes to solve.”
“Or a ghost returned to his grave and a bunch of future cold cases.”
––––––––
At eight o’clock, Dan drove home slowly as he continued to try to sort out the pieces of the puzzling cases. His lunch with Mory had been relaxing and nourishing, with no shop talk. Both Andrea and Cindi had been out on errands for Raymond when they went to the DA.’s office. But the requested files were waiting to be picked up by him. He and Mory had returned to their office and worked for hours on the old and new cases. They had halted briefly at four to get partial reports from Henrietta and Harold. The two detectives had exchanged scowls when the reports failed to shed any new light on their mystery vigilante and his killing spree. Since there was no convenient stopping place, all they could do was quit work for the day at six.
After treading a path in his carpet with a scotch in his hand, Dan gave up and decided to go to bed. He needed to get some sleep for a clear head tomorrow, but he couldn’t settle down. His gut instinct was usually right, just as it had been in Vietnam and New York. Back then, he had followed his feelings and done what he must, but look where it had gotten him. He knew who the guilty bastards were in New York and why, but he couldn’t prove it. Those same instincts were telling him something, something vitally important about this blend of cases. He just couldn’t seem to put his hands on what they were trying to tell him. He needed to talk to Andrea. She always understood how he felt and always made him feel better but it was too late to call. He guessed she had had a late, busy night last night and tonight with her company, and a long busy day at work. He had eaten dinner on the way home, then taken a long, warm shower. Why did Cindi have to fight with Brian now and steal my time with Andi? he moaned.
––––––––
Wednesday morning, August 22nd
Dan smiled when he saw the number on his caller ID, just the person he wanted and needed to talk to right now. He mouthed for Mory to give him some privacy, who quickly complied. “Good morning, Ms. Arquette. Sorry I didn’t call or come by for drinks. I’m sure you and Cindi kept busy yesterday and last night. Sorry, too, I missed you at your office. Those files you left for me kept me and Mory swamped until we were exhausted and called it a day. I ate, showered, and crashed, after help from two scotches.”
“Almost sounds like my day and night. We got one case settled, then caught another one this afternoon: a violent B&E. Had to work late.”
When he stayed quiet, she asked, “I saw the paper this morning, Dan. Are you okay?”
“So-so. Captain Bolton was in the Sheriff’s office early this morning. Several people said they heard him all the way down the hall. Starr really outdid himself on this one. We were lucky to get the judge to keep him from printing the last note the Avenger left, but we couldn’t justify withholding everything. The interview with Tracy Daniels was powerful. She must have really hated her brother.”
“I think that’s an understatement. Not that I blame her after everything he’s put her and her family through. Have you talked with her anymore?”
“No. The Captain requested to handle that one personally. I’d hate to have been in her shoes after he finished with her. She withheld crucial information and betrayed our trust in her. Then she gives Starr a huge scoop. She won’t be allowed to work here again. Can’t trust her not to be Starr’s new tipster. Claims she doesn’t know how the Avenger knew she’d be out yesterday and last night.”
“Have you interviewed Glenda Darnell’s parents and others yet?”
“Do you know them? Did you know her?”
“Never met any of them. That case was before my arrival in Augusta. I bet it’s going to be hard on her parents to rehash that time in their lives. Have you considered taking a female officer with you? It might make it easier on them. If one’s not available, do you want me to go along? I can take notes for Ray and to update our files. Plus, I have to add McCleary to our Avenger file.”
“I’d love to have your help and company, Andi. I’m sure Mory won’t mind you taking his place on this one. This is going to be rough. Especially since I feel so damn guilty about Tracy being involved on this one. The woman whose brother mutilated their daughter was supposedly helping me! I still can’t believe it.”
“Me, either. What time do you want to pick me up?”
“Is ten okay? Then we can grab lunch before we both return to work.”
“Both are fine with me.”
“Andi, are you sure Ray doesn’t mind if you go?”
“I’m sure it’s fine with him, Dan.”
“Andi?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. This really means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome, Dan. I’ll see you in thirty.”
“See you then.”
––––––––
“I brought notes with me to study on the way,” Andrea said as she got into Dan’s car. “Her parents are sure to be devastated. Do they know we’re coming and why?”
“I called to ask Mrs. Darnell if I could come by and ask them some questions. I didn’t tell her what was going on, but if she’s been reading the papers or watching the news, she knows what’s happened. I did assign a squad car to keep the media at bay.” Dan frowned as he mentally kicked himself for not going to talk to them yesterday.
“I hope they missed the news and haven’t read the paper yet.” Andrea glanced over at him and asked, “How did the Avenger know that monster had been released? How did he select McCleary as a target? The paper said he was only out for a week.”
“No idea, Andi. We didn’t have his file with the others.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Dan, because we didn’t go back that far. Even if we had, he was still in custody when we pulled the first batch of files. Another thing, he didn’t get off scot-free like the other victims. He was found guilty and confined for years, just not in prison. I studied as much of that case and trial as time allowed since yesterday. I can’t believe they released him this soon. How could he be healed in three years after what he did to her? You’ll probably think I’m terrible, Dan, but I can’t say that I’m sorry he’s dead. I just hate for the Darnells to have to face this nightmare again.”
“If they’re like almost everyone else, they’ll be glad he’s gone, too. Tell me what you learned before we get there.”
“What happened to that poor girl was horrible. The photos and reports were heartrending, Dan. If she hadn’t killed herself, plastic surgery could have repaired some of the facial and body damage. But you can’t grow a new ear. You can’t grow a new clitoris. You can’t conceal all those cuts and scars. You can’t re-grow hair that was yanked out in patches more than skin deep. How do you ignore what you see in the mirror? It makes me ill and angry to think of what that bastard did to her. He’s as responsible for her death as if he killed her. He should have been charged and imprisoned for murder.”
“You think her brother or boyfriend would avenge her?”
“I don’t know, Dan. I never met them. But I think they would have done something closer to the time of the attack rather than four years later. When she committed suicide, he was locked away in an institution.”
Dan stopped in front of the Darnell’s. “Are you sure you’re up for this, Andi?”
“I’ll be fine, Dan. I’ve seen a lot of violence and evil in my job, especially lately with the Avenger case. I just hate this rehash for them.”
––––––––
Dan noticed several pictures of Glenda displayed on the walls as they were guided down a long hallway to the den where they were now sitting. She had been a beautiful girl—nothing like the pathetic creature he had seen in the old crime photos yesterday. How in the world, he wondered, did Harold take such an abundance of close up gory photos and Henrietta do autopsies on so many mutilated bodies, and not go insane? How could they be so up close and personal with such grisly crime scenes and get any peace and sleep? Vietnam had been horrible. Gory. Grisly. Mutilations. Bloody. Cruel. Insane. Pure Evil. On the other hand, Harold and Henrietta didn’t normally have this many murders and such brutality to deal with in such a short time span. Neither did he nor Andrea.
After they were seated, Mrs. Darnell revealed, “Tracy Daniels called and told us that maniac was being released. We couldn’t believe it. I’ve had nightmares every night since then. I’m glad he’s been sent to the hell he deserved. He won’t ever be able to do that to anyone else again,” Mrs. Darnell wiped at tears racing down her face. “I still can’t believe it ended this way. Have you found out who this mysterious Avenger is?”
“No, ma’am, we haven’t. Do you know of anyone who would want to avenge your daughter’s death?”
Mrs. Darnell smiled through her tears. “Is that a nice way of asking me if I know who the Avenger is? No, sir, I don’t. Daddy isn’t the Avenger, and I doubt Steve would go after his sister’s killer. Besides, I didn’t even tell him that demon had been released. I didn’t want to upset him.”
“Did you feel he might take action if he knew?”
“No, I just didn’t want Steve to have that horrible past dredged up again. It was a very painful time for him, losing his older sister that way. He’s married now, with a small daughter of his own. It’s taken a long time for him to get over everything and I didn’t want to put him through that again.”
Mr. Darnell wiggled in his wheelchair. Rumbling noises came out of his throat, but no words. His complexion was pale, but his cheeks were ruddy. His mouth was contorted; his lips, thin. His hair was thin, straight, and gray. Yet, there was a gleam in his light blue eyes that told them Mr. Darnell understood all or most of what was said. He was clean and groomed by a loving and attentive wife.
“The stroke paralyzed his right side and vocal cords. He can’t speak anymore. He was right handed, so writing is impossible now. But I can imagine what’s going through his head. You’re thinking he got what he deserved, aren’t you, dear?”
The sickly man nodded as best he could, saliva easing down his chin.
“I guess Daddy wishes he’d been the one to kill Alan McCleary and avenge Glenda,” Mrs. Darnell tried to clarify for her disabled husband.
With that, the old man began to shake and cry, unintelligible sounds that tore at the visitors’ hearts. His wife quickly dabbed at his tears and spittle.
“I think it’s time we leave,” Andrea said. “We appreciate your help and kindness today. I know this visit and talk have been hard on you. I’m sorry it was necessary for us to do our jobs. I know losing your daughter has been difficult and we hated to refresh your pain. I’ll pray for God to give you comfort and peace. If you think of anything that might be helpful, please, give us a call.”
“Sure, dear. Thanks for coming with the Lieutenant today.”
“You’re welcome, Mrs. Darnell. Goodbye, Mr. Darnell. We’ll show ourselves out while you get your dear husband calmed down. I’m sorry for what that evil man did to Glenda and your family, but it’s over now. With him dead and punished, I hope all of you can have peace in your hearts and lives.”
“We will, Ms. Arquette. Thank you. God bless you, dear.”
––––––––
As Dan drove away from the Darnell’s home, he said, “That was tragic.”
“Yes, it was. Considering Glenda’s mutilation, maybe it’s a blessing she’s passed on. I can’t imagine having to live in that condition. I hope I didn’t say anything wrong or bad in there. After I saw their open Bible, I just felt I needed to say those things so they wouldn’t feel guilty or wicked for thinking and feeling them. I honestly can’t blame them for wanting that monster tortured and slain. In these cases, it’s like justified retribution. Do I sound like a horrible person? My heart aches for these women and their families, and friends.”
“Cry, Andi, if you need to. I can see this visit was hard on you. Why don’t I take you home and call Raymond, tell him you won’t be in the rest of the day?”
“I have too much work to do. I was off a half day Monday for my doctor’s appointment. Then a half day yesterday with Cindi, and running errands for Ray most of the afternoon. You need me to go through our excluded files again. Since we missed McCleary, maybe we need to widen our parameters. I just don’t know who to include and eliminate anymore. Our only definite clue is victims who were extremely violent and cruel to their victims. We can add those who served a short or light sentences to no sentences. With the Avenger changing years on us and Justice escapees, there’s no telling who his next victim will be.”
“Just slow down and relax, Andi, I don’t think he’s going to kill anyone in the next twenty-four hours. The files can wait until tomorrow. You take care of your work for Ray. I have plenty to follow up on for now. Besides, I need to visit Glenda’s brother and old boyfriend to see if they can shed any light on this.”
When they arrived at the District Attorney’s office, Dan parked the car and walked Andrea inside to her office. He hoped Raymond would be available so he could ask him a few questions about the trial and what he remembered about Alan McCleary. He also wanted to ask Cindi to keep an eye on Andrea and to call him if she needed him.
After Dan closed the door behind him, he asked, “Why didn’t you give me McCleary’s name when I asked if there were any cases that stuck out in your mind? You went through the files with us that afternoon. Why didn’t you include a criminal who was particularly brutal?”
“I didn’t consider him, Dan, because his case was so long ago. I have several other cases in the works, and a lot of other things going on. I didn’t omit his case because it wasn’t pulled for consideration. I don’t have all the answers you’re looking for and need. It didn’t correlate to your case requests. He served his sentence, much too short and easy if you ask me. I don’t think the world is worse off for the death of Alan McCleary. He’s one that I’m glad is off the streets. I have no doubt he would have raped and tortured again. Probably killed to prevent a witness against him. He was a nut case. When I tried him and when the Avenger killed him. There’s no way those shrinks cured that rabid animal in three years.”
“I hope you don’t know more than you’re telling me, Ray. I know it’s frustrating when these killers are released. But I hope I don’t find out you’re involved in any way.”
“You won’t, Dan. I’m not your Avenger or his accomplice. I have a serious problem at home that’s taking up a lot of my time and energy. My wife’s been diagnosed with cancer. Since she lost her mother at a young age to lung cancer, it’s an emotional time for her, and me. I guess I haven’t been my usual self. I’ll go through the other files personally and see if there’s anything I can recall that’s important or suspicious. I know it doesn’t help matters now, but I am sorry, Dan. Honestly, not about these beasts being off our streets, but because I’ve been too distracted by personal matters. That lapse causes mistakes. And mistakes help free criminals.”
“I’m sorry about your wife, Ray. I didn’t know.”
“No one does. It’s been a well-guarded secret for a lot of reasons. I hope you’ll keep this matter between us. I haven’t even told Andi yet. I had her running all my errands yesterday afternoon while Jenny and I met with an oncologist. I don’t know what I would do without her as my assistant. I hope she was helpful this morning. People find it easy to talk to her, especially concerning private and painful things. I haven’t told her about Jenny yet, because I couldn’t allow us both to be distracted and to fall apart. I need her clear headed and rested to keep this office running until I get myself back up to par. I’ll help you all I can to get this Avenger, I promise.”
“I can come by late tomorrow afternoon to pick up the files or your notes. Will that give you enough time?”
“Be here by four and they’ll be ready,” Raymond promised, as he held his right hand out to Dan, who shook it.
Dan left the DA.’s office and walked straight to Cindi’s desk. Near a whisper, he said, “Hey, Cindi. I hear you and Brian are having some problems. Give him some time and he’ll work it out. Men sometimes get jealous and make fools of themselves.”
“Thanks, Dan. Andi’s a lucky girl to have you.”
“I’m a lucky man, Cindi. Call me if there’s anything I can do.”
“I will, Dan. I’m sure Brian and I will work this silly mess out soon and I’ll be out of ya’ll’s hair. Meantime, solve this Avenger case, so you can have something to celebrate when you get your privacy back. Andi’s been a great friend and help to me.”
“Me, too, Cindi. Tell her I’ll call her tomorrow. We’ve both had a busy day, so we both need rest tonight.”
“Sure. Bye, Dan.”
Back at his office, Dan called Glenda’s brother and the man who was listed as her boyfriend at the time of her attack. Both were married and had children, but agreed to speak with him if he would wait until the small ones were in the bed.
Mory returned as he finished his last call. Dan told his partner, “I don’t think either of them have anything to do with the Avenger, or knows anything about him. I still want to look them in the eye and gauge their reactions to my questions. My appointments are late this evening, but I can handle them by myself, so you can get home to Janie at a decent hour. We’re making more progress going in different directions at the same time. You know you’re the only partner I trust to go separate ways. What did you learn from Henri and Harold?”
“Nothing good, I’m afraid. Until we find something new, none of our evidence or the autopsies is helpful. This batch of cases may go unsolved if the Avenger is out of business. Can’t say I’ll mind putting these boxes in evidence storage.”
“What about Starr? Any progress there?” Dan asked.
“Finish what you were telling me before we start on him.”
“Glenda’s brother is upset that his parents didn’t tell him McCleary was being released. He understands they did it to protect him, but he feels betrayed by their withholding that information.”
“What about the old boyfriend?” Mory questioned.
“He’s married and they had a baby a few months ago. I got the impression that Glenda’s tragedy had made a big impact on his life, but he’s picked up the pieces and moved on. I definitely got the feeling he’s very much in love with his present wife and satisfied with the way things have turned out for him. I didn’t get the feeling he was still hanging on to the memory of Glenda. I can confirm those impressions tonight, then strike them off our suspects list. Now, give me the news on Starr.”
“I found out something today I thought was rather interesting. James Starr’s daughter was killed in an automobile accident five years ago. His wife was in a coma for several months until he convinced the doctors to pull the plug. She died within thirty minutes. Are you ready for the clincher?”
“Yeah.”
“The man at fault in the accident was DUI but not jailed for vehicular homicide or involuntary manslaughter for either of the females. It seemed like a clear-cut case, but I checked a little further. One of our boys was in pursuit when the DUI ran into their car. The officer was a rookie, his first night on a car chase. He forgot to Mirandize the driver and had a blood alcohol test done in the EMT’s without the perp’s permission or legal counsel. The rookie was so blitzed by a child and mother dead at the scene, he didn’t do a breathalyzer test. He took him to county lock-up, and the bastard was near sober by the time our boys realized the errors. So the courts fined him for speeding and set him free. His lawyer convinced the judge a rookie did an unnecessary and dangerous high speed chase that caused the accident.”
“Damn!”
“You heard me right. The man who killed Starr’s wife and daughter was never charged with their deaths because of technicalities. Seems coincidental to me. But that doesn’t link him to killing these rapists. I’ve got a friend digging a little deeper. I’ll be making a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina tomorrow—that’s where they lived. I’ll see what I can learn about Starr’s past. I’ll call you if I find anything.”
“Damn, no wonder Starr hates cops and wants to embarrass us on the front page every chance he gets. Much as I dislike and distrust him, I can’t blame him for wanting to spite us. He plays dirty, but hell, he’s a reporter, out for the big scoop. I might be at Andi’s tomorrow night. Hopefully, Cindi can get her relationship with Brian straightened out, so we can spend some time alone. Damn, Mory, I miss that woman. And yes, I’m in love with her. She’s wiped Kristi totally out of my mind.”
“About time, but don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Well, that leaves the field wide open now, doesn’t it?” Dan teased his friend.
Mory laughed. “I wonder what Charlotte holds for me tomorrow?”
“I don’t know, Mory, I just don’t know. I’ll be here early in the morning to go over the files again. Raymond Harris is personally gathering more for us. Maybe we can find something in there to point us in the right direction.”
“Try to get some sleep, Dan. That’s what you need.”
“I will, after I finish my meetings.”
“All right. I won’t see you in the morning, pal; I’ll head out early.”
Dan stared at the receiver for a long time after Mory left. He wanted to call Andrea, to hear her reassuring voice at the end of this miserable day. Hell, he wanted to see her beautiful face. Run his fingers through her silky blond hair. Gaze into those intense emerald eyes. Touch her. Smell her. Taste her. Have hot sex with her. Sleep with her. Tonight. Every night. Put a ring on her finger. Bind her to him in heart, body and soul. Forever. But with Cindi there, real talk was impossible. He had two meetings, and they were having girl time, so he wouldn’t disturb them. But, if Cindi and Brian didn’t patch things tomorrow, he’d have to place a man-to-man call to Brian.
––––––––
A black clad figure walked wearily, resolutely through dense trees. Only the faint crackling of drought dead leaves and thirsty underbrush was heard. No birds. No crickets. As if Mother Nature was asleep or gone, unable to watch this burial ritual. Finally, after five long and agonizing years, Justice had been served to Tippi’s vicious attacker. The rabid animal who had stolen her life, brutally defiled and disfigured her, taken away her sanity and will to live without artificial support, had been justly punished, sent to Hell where he belonged. The same was true of the other vermin. The overpowering desire to be judge, jury, and executioner for the abused innocents had waned, then vanished, with the destruction of the mutilator who had evoked a fierce hunger for retribution, for revenge. A heart had been torn out, but necessary evil and true love had returned it. Death. Guilt. Disbelief. Grief. Vindication. Release. Rebirth. Understanding. Forgiveness. Salvation. Freedom. Soon, forgetfulness. There would be no more tortures, no more killings. It was time to dispose of the evidence, to let go of the hate and to start living again. The promise of Justice had been fulfilled. Setting a large green trash bag aside, the retiring vigilante began to dig.
A whispery voice talked to the grave as if it was Lieutenant Dan Mallory. The detective who had tried to discover the identity of the one who had become known as the Avenger. A killer born of a desperate need to find and punish the man who had mutilated and destroyed a kind and beautiful sister and best friend. “The sperm is the key to resolution, Mallory. It’s lucky for me you and the others didn’t put that piece of the puzzle together. I put it there on purpose to throw you off the track. It worked better than I’d planned. I’ll let you in on the secret, Mallory. It’s not mine. I stole it from LifeCo months ago, then deleted the donor’s file from the computer. He had no kin. No DNA on file anywhere. None of it ever used; and he’s dead, buried far away. The perfect quantity needed. A match in every case. Since I’ve worked in a medical lab before and knew the systems, it didn’t take long and I was out of there. I knew an innocent person wouldn’t go to jail for the crimes I would commit.”
The shovel blade continued to pull dirt from the earth. Deeper the hole became. “I could never touch their nasty bodies with mine. No telling what kind of diseases and germs those vile animals had been exposed to with their lifestyles. A diving suit helped to assure me no hairs or fibers would be left behind. No flesh to flesh contact. How did I rape them, you ask? You would be amazed at what you can find in those sleazy mail order catalogues and adult novelty stores along highways. The first time I saw that ‘foot long double dong’, I knew it would be the perfect thing to punish those men. To dupe the cops and ME. It even had a bulb to hold the sperm and a squeezer to dispense it at the right moment. The texture was so lifelike. I had a harness to hold it in place. They didn’t realize it wasn’t a real cock until it was over. You should have seen their shocked expressions when they saw the ‘Cum For You Penis’ and realized what had happened to them. More so when they saw who had...punished them: a woman.”
The Avenger paused for a minute to stare into the gathering shadows. “Now that Tippi has been avenged and I no longer need this stuff, it’s time to get rid of everything that can link me to the crime scenes. This land has been deemed contaminated, toxic, off limits, so no construction company will ever be able to build anything here. The perfect burial place for the perfect crime. Here’s the container I used to store the sperm to keep it alive.” The empty liquid nitrogen holder was placed in the freshly dug hole. “And the things I needed to end those bastards' lives so they could never identify me to anyone.” The KCL, syringes, surgical gloves, candles, sulfuric acid, blindfolds and other items were arranged around the canister. The diver’s suit and cap were positioned with the towels used to dry the showers and tubs after the clothed baths in the victim’s homes. Everything had been sterilized. Even if this stash was ever found, nothing carried any clues to the disposer’s identity. The trash bag was settled on top of the items before dirt began to cover the once key evidence that Dan Mallory so craved and would never find. Pine straw was scattered over the site to conceal it until the freshness of the grave was gone.
“I knew I had to act fast when you started looking into the more dated files. You would have eventually stumbled onto Alan McCleary’s, maybe before I’d been able to exact my revenge. I couldn’t have handled that after all I’ve done and been through to punish him. After all Tippi has been subjected to over the last five years. Her heart and organs are getting weaker all the time. She won’t survive much longer. She’s willing herself to die, to find peace. Once I give permission to turn off life support and disconnect feeding tubes, she will fade away. Thank God, our parents had enough insurance and a trust fund to pay for your meds in that private care facility. After you’re gone, dear one, those monies go to charity. They can’t be traced to me. You will be cremated and placed with Mom and Dad, as the Garrett’s only child. I must believe that somehow, even though she’s in a coma, my words get through to her. Now that her destroyer is dead, I can release her to the angels. As for you, Mallory, you’ll never be able to link Alan to Tippi, so you’ll never be able to link me to Alan. Tippi’s case is unsolved in Atlanta, resting at the bottom of a huge stack of folders or filed away in some forgotten cabinet somewhere, a lost, misplaced cold case.”
The Avenger checked the site to make sure its breach wasn’t noticeable to an inspector. “I stole the contact lens you found on Manuel Greene the last time I saw Dr. Wellesley. It’s not my prescription and my eyes are naturally green, so again there’s no link to me. Lucky for me, I was always able to stay one step ahead of you and know which curve balls to throw you.”
The Avenger turned and headed for home. “You’ll never find out about me, Mallory. I’ve made sure of that. You’d probably be more shocked than my victims were to learn who I am. Who and what I was. Impossible, some would say, but anger has a way of making a person stronger than she might appear. Chloroform and Valium mixed with the other drugs the men had taken on their own, and even I could handle them. Some of them, I had to knock over the head. They were bigger and possibly stronger than the others and I had no intention of getting myself hurt by this scum. Whitehead gave me the biggest problem and just about broke my arm, but he paid dearly for that. Hopefully, some good will come out of all this and the laws will change to protect the innocent instead of the guilty, as the writers of the Constitution intended. Then, there won’t be any need for someone like me. My identity must and will remain a secret forever. You can look all you want, Mallory, but I didn’t leave any clues for you to track me down with. I have to forgive myself and forget what I’ve done. It was all necessary evil.”
She stopped at the edge of the woods and vowed, “You can rest now, dear Tippi, my beloved best friend. At last you have your justice, thanks to me, your Avenger. I did all of this for you. I love you as if you were my own flesh and blood. Without you and your family to take me in when all became lost to me, my life would have been worth nothing. No one else cared. Now, your parents, my foster parents, are gone, lost to a DUI. Soon, sister to me, you will join them in Heaven. I would be alone except for my new found love. Oh, Tippi, if only you could have met him. If only he could have known you, before Alan McCleary took you away.”
She stripped off the protective suit and gloves and disposed of them in the hazardous waste incinerator. A covered index finger pressed the ignition button and soon, all evidence of intrusion was gone, only ashes remained. “I’ve been very careful, but if I’m ever exposed or arrested, I’ve already mentally prepared my case for trial. One of those convenient loopholes in the law. Or an insanity plea if all else fails. Just like my victims used to get themselves turned loose. It will be an easy out for the jury. They won’t want to convict the heroic Avenger after my attorney brings out all the details. But if the flawed law or clever shyster fail me, I have a few trick cards up my sleeve. After all, Justice is blind.”