Chapter Thirty-Four

Olivia leaned against Alex and clung for dear life while they waited for Benson and Kramer to arrive. Ernie was the Vigilante. She couldn’t believe it. She knew his grief was deep, but she had no idea how much it affected him.

The detectives announced their arrival through the intercom and Alex buzzed them in. When they arrived, Alex showed them the postcards and Sawyer gave them the rundown on his research. Soon they were headed to an apartment two floors up.

Olivia convinced them to let her take the lead. Her hand shook as she knocked on the door. “Ernie, it’s me. Olivia.”

Chains slid against metal and locks clicked. Ernie stood in the doorway looking resigned. “I knew you would figure it out eventually. Come in.”

He walked back inside and padded to a table to sit. His guide dog that wasn’t actually a guide dog clicked over to meet them, his tail wagging furiously. She patted him absently. “Where’s Roci?”

“Passed away. A few days after Linda.”

“I’m sorry.”

Ernie shrugged. “Death is inevitable. That’s Roci Two.” He indicated the golden retriever now begging Alex for attention.

“Why did you do it?” Her voice broke as she confronted the man she considered a second father.

He sighed, looking years older. “Decades of reporting on the guilty getting away with their crimes. Bragging about it. A justice system that failed. It festered. Then Linda was attacked and no one was held accountable. She was not only robbed of her purse, but of her life—the life we planned together.”

“How did you do it?” Alex asked.

“It was pretty easy, actually. I approached them, told them I wanted to interview them about people wrongly accused. Every single one took the bait. I altered a small RV into an interrogation room. Set up cameras, pumped them with truth serum and rolled film.”

“You knocked them out with chloroform,” Kramer said. “How did you get them into a chair?”

“Wheeled dollies and pulleys. I actually became really good at the process.”

Olivia’s eyes burned. He was so cavalier about murdering people. Maybe they weren’t innocent, but they were victims none-the-less.

“How did you kill them?” Benson asked. “The coroner couldn’t determine the cause of death.”

“Succinylcholine.”

“Sux,” Alex murmured. “It mimics a heart attack.”

“And is virtually impossible to detect since it breaks down instantly,” Sawyer added.

Ernie smiled sadly. “I was counting on that. They already had a needle mark from the truth serum, so I just used the same one.”

“Mr. Walters, you are under arrest,” Benson said.

He nodded and held up a hand. “I know my rights, Detective, and I waive them. I have two requests for you, Olivia, and one for you, Mr. Mylonas.”

Olivia glanced over to see Alex raise his brows.

The lump in Olivia’s throat prevented her from talking so she simply nodded.

“Before I get to the requests, I want to apologize to you. I never intended for you to become a target and I’m so damn sorry. That’s my only regret in all of this…that you were in danger.” He cleared his throat. “My first request is for you to take care of Roci Two.”

Olivia glanced at the dog, who picked up his head and thumped his tail on the couch. “Of course.” She didn’t know how she would do that in an apartment, but she would figure it out.

“The second request is that you play this after I’m gone.” He held up a flash drive. After he was gone was a strange way to say prison. She nodded again and he smiled, satisfied. Then he turned his gaze to Alex. “Please, take care of her. She brought light and laughter to this old man’s dark days.” He faced her again. “The best move I made after proposing to my wife was to convince the network to hire you.”

Tears were streaming down her cheeks now.

Alex nodded solemnly. “I will, sir.”

Ernie sighed in relief and nodded. “I believe you, son. Goodbye, Olivia. I loved you like a daughter.” Then he pulled an object from his cuff and plunged the needle into his arm.

“Ernie, no!”

“Don’t do it!”

“Freeze Mr. Walters!”

“Drop it!”

“Stop!”

Everyone yelled at once and lunged forward. Roci Two leapt off the couch and barked. It was too late. Ernie slumped over the table and shuddered out his last breath.

“No,” Olivia sobbed. Her knees gave out and she felt herself sliding to the floor. Two strong arms stopped her descent and she was wrapped in Alex’s strong embrace.