One day earlier...
Warrenton, 9:20 a.m.
“I thought staying the night would be prudent,” Jess explained to her boss. Calling in this morning was essential since she’d opted to stay in the field and follow up with Delia Potter.
As he rambled on about the case, she sipped her coffee and surveyed the snowy parking lot outside the IHOP. The white stuff had started coming down hard as she’d driven away from the meeting with Potter late yesterday afternoon. With every radio station she perused forecasting a possible ten to twelve inches of snow overnight, staying put had seemed the best plan. Considering the Christmas rush would only add to potential travel issues, she hadn’t wanted to take any chances.
Sunrise had confirmed she’d made the right decision. The roads were a mess. Since Delia Potter planned a trip to Cincinnati this afternoon to spend the holidays with her family, catching her this morning was imperative.
Jess glanced at the sky. Puffy white clouds with a hint of gray threatened more of the same. She wondered how many flights would be cancelled. Potter might not be going anywhere after all. Jess was a little surprised she’d been able to obtain permission from the local authorities for the travel despite the ongoing investigation. A quick call to the lead detective who didn’t understand Jess’s surprise had confirmed Potter’s assertion. It was, after all, almost Christmas, he’d reminded her.
As long as she got what she needed from the lady before she left town, Jess would be happy. She was on the case now and she wasn’t about to allow this to be the one she failed to wrap up with a nice, neat bow.
“What’s your take on Potter?” Gant wanted to know. “You get the feeling she knows more than she’s shared so far?” He didn’t bother trying to camouflage the hope in his voice.
Any margin for optimism was minimal at this stage but what little there was Jess owned it. Delia Potter had asked her to come back this morning. She had presented the impression she wanted to talk but said she needed time to think. Not exactly an appropriate reaction for someone who had nothing else to say and nothing to hide.
Jess had spent last night going over the case file Gant had provided and mulling over the meeting with Potter. The woman had exhibited no apparent discomfort during their brief conversation, at least not once she got passed the I-don’t-want-to-go-to-court attitude. Her demeanor suggested reluctance and impatience. What the woman really wanted was off the hook with her former lover’s troubles.
“I think,” Jess weighed her words carefully, “Delia Potter believes she knows something relevant but doesn’t want to get mired any deeper than she already is.”
Gant hummed a noncommittal note. “I’m counting on you, Harris. Chances are those women are dead. I have no illusions this is going to have a happy ending. Either way, we need to know what he did with them.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Jess assured him again.
Delia Potter walked in. She looked from one booth to the next.
“She’s here. I’ll call when I have something.”
Jess shoved the phone into her purse and waved. Potter strolled toward the table, her stride unhurried. She set her purse on the brown faux leather and removed her coat before scooting into the booth.
“I’m glad you could make it.” Jess gifted her with a smile as she motioned for the waitress.
Potter ordered coffee, then announced, “I want this over. No offense to you, Agent Harris, but I don’t want any more visits from cops. I’d like to move on with my life.”
“I can certainly understand.” There were four families out there who wanted their loved ones back. Jess had no sympathy for the woman but it was best not to mention as much.
The waitress dropped off a fresh carafe of coffee and moved on to the next table.
“This might be nothing,” Potter began, “but it’s been nagging at me.”
“The smallest detail might be just the one we need,” Jess prompted.
Potter seemed to brace herself. “I didn’t mention anything about Dale because it didn’t seem right to burden him with all this. Frankly, I’ve had moments when I wished I’d just walked away and never said a word.”
How selfless of her. “Who’s Dale?”
“Dale Pritchard. He was in Nam with Melvin. They were prisoners of war together. Shared the same cage.” She shook her head. “You have no idea what those two suffered. The stories Melvin told me.” She shuddered. “I can’t help wondering if that’s what turned him into what he is today.”
Jess had read Aniston’s file. He was a decorated veteran. Despite being a POW, there was no history of diagnosed or treated post-traumatic stress disorder in his file. No history of any sort of trouble, legal or otherwise. Those who knew him considered him a nice, quiet man who kept to himself. Evidently Aniston’s still waters ran deeper than anyone suspected.
“Does Dale live in Warrenton?”
Potter cradled her coffee with both hands. “He lives on the other side of Ruckersville. About an hour and a half from here. Dale doesn’t get out much. He spends most of his time in a wheelchair nowadays. Like I said, they both came back from Nam in bad shape. I guess I just didn’t want to see how bad.”
“The two kept in touch?” Jess’s instincts had started to buzz.
Potter nodded. “Melvin has visited Dale about once a month for as long as I’ve known him.”
Nothing particularly suspicious about visiting a war buddy. “Do you believe Melvin may have shared information with Dale about the women?”
Potter stared at her coffee for a moment. “I honestly don’t know,” she took a big breath, “but about six months ago he started spending a lot more time with Dale. Going over a couple of times a week. I guess I got a little jealous. Seemed like he was never around for me anymore.”
Now they were getting somewhere. “Did you ask about this sudden change? Maybe his friend was sick and needed his attention?”
“He wouldn’t talk about it. Said it was none of my business.”
“Have you contacted Dale since Melvin’s arrest?” Aniston was taken into custody three weeks ago. Surely the other man had wondered what was going on, whether he watched the news or not. “Has Dale called to see why Melvin hasn’t visited him lately?”
“That’s what got me to thinking.” She set her coffee down and leaned toward Jess, her face a study in concern. “He hasn’t called or anything. I guess that was the part that started to nag at me. It didn’t feel right.”
“Does Dale live alone? He may be ill.” Or dead. If there was no one to check on him anything could have happened. “Have you attempted to get in touch with him?”
“I tried to call but he didn’t answer.” She frowned and shifted in her seat as if growing uncomfortable. “Melvin told me once that no one knew him the way Dale did. I’m worried now that Dale figured out what Melvin was doing and he did something awful to him.”
Jess took a pad and pencil from her purse. “Write down Dale’s address and phone number and I’ll check on him. See what I can find out for you.”
Potter glanced out the window. “His place is off the main highway. You might have trouble getting to him if this weather keeps up.”
Abrupt winter storms were just something you got used to in northern Virginia. Jess had learned to be prepared. Boots and a blanket in the trunk along with a change of clothes and a spare toothbrush. Her work took her away from home regularly, being equipped for an overnighter was just part of the job. Since moving to BAU she’d missed the field work. Maybe that was part of the reason she’d stayed last night. It felt good to be back in the game at this level.
“You just enjoy the holiday with your family, Ms. Potter. I’ll get an update on Dale.” Jess studied the older woman as she jotted down the information. “Is there anything else you remembered?”
Potter passed the notepad and pencil back to Jess. “Nothing.” She sighed, more of that worry in her expression. “I hope I’m not wasting your time. Dale’s sixty-eight and his health isn’t very good. I keep wondering if maybe I made a mistake by not mentioning him sooner. If he’s part of this, those women could all be dead because of me.”
Interesting about face from yesterday’s attitude. Her tone and demeanor appeared genuine. Maybe too much so. Jess offered a sympathetic smile. “You did remember and that’s what matters. After I’ve paid Dale a visit, how about I give you a call and let you know how he’s doing?”
Potter looked relieved. She pressed a hand to her chest. “That would be so thoughtful of you. Are you going today? I can call him again. Leave a message. He always checks his machine.”
Really? But just a few minutes ago she claimed to have tried calling Dale and he hadn’t answered. Why hadn’t she left a message if he always checked his machine?
“Yes, I’m going today.” Jess finished off her coffee. “I’ll drive over as soon as we’re finished here. Why don’t I take your sister’s name and number? You said she’s in Cincinnati? What time’s your flight again?”
Jess had a feeling Ms. Delia Potter was planning a disappearing act of her own.