River was happy to finally be returning to their office, but she had to admit that knowing Joseph Baker’s partner was out there, waiting to take her life, made her feel apprehensive. Would this ever end? He’d followed them from Arizona to Missouri. It was clear that he was committed to completing what Baker had started. Although River was his main target, she was convinced that Tony was also in danger.
Tony had insisted on picking her up. In fact, he had declared that he was going to be with her wherever she went . . . at least for a while. The police were made aware that the Strangler’s associate had threatened River’s life. However, since there was no way to know when . . . or if he would ever strike . . . they could only do so much. They weren’t even certain that the person who’d killed Brian was the Strangler’s colleague—but River knew it was. No one except the FBI, Tony, and River believed the Strangler hadn’t worked alone.
The FBI had taken over the investigation once all of the bodies had been recovered at Hedgecliff. They found eight altogether. They also oversaw Brian’s autopsy. The bullet removed from Brian was from a Smith and Wesson 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
Almost all of the bodies found buried at Hedgecliff had been stabbed, but autopsies revealed that a couple had been shot first. The bullets retrieved matched Brian’s gun. The one he took from his father.
Tony and River had been right about his MO. It looked as if he’d choked most of his victims until they were unconscious . . . even dying . . . and then he brought them to Hedgecliff so he could finish them off. The place he hated. The hospital where his parents had left him all those years earlier.
Since a couple of the bodies had broken hyoid bones, River was certain they’d died before Brian transported them. But cuts on the ribs of the victims showed that he’d stabbed them anyway. Even though they were already dead. Brian Walker needed to be close to his victims. He’d wanted to experience taking their lives. His rage at anyone who may have offended him in some way had to be satiated. He truly was a monster—mentally unstable or not. He needed to be removed from the world for the sake of the innocents he would have continued to torture and kill.
A hunting knife had been found hidden in a room at the hospital. It was what he’d used to kill his victims. He’d been camping out in an abandoned office. It seemed he wanted nothing to do with the rooms where patients were housed. It was understandable.
River wondered if burying the gun on the property at Hedgecliff and digging it up once he was released was connected to his reason for burying his victims there. It probably was, but she wasn’t certain. Since Brian was dead, she’d never be able to completely understand his motives and actions.
The FBI’s Evidence Response Team Unit combed over the scene, not only in reference to the bodies found buried on the property, but also hoping to find some kind of trace evidence that would point toward the man who had threatened River. There were probably tire tracks from a vehicle, but after the police had converged on the scene, any visible tracks were hidden and then further corrupted by slushy snow.
Even though she was still dealing with the knowledge that the Strangler’s partner was out there—waiting to kill her—River was determined not to allow fear to lead her life. She’d given God that place, and she intended to keep Him there. It was a work in progress. Nightmares continued to plague her. And memories of being trapped, alone, and drowning in the Salt River still slithered around in her brain like poisonous snakes. How long would it continue? Would it ever stop?
Tony was quiet during the ride to the office. They’d spent hours talking about what had happened. About God, faith, and the Bible. At first, her mother only knew that River had been injured. When Tony brought her home from the hospital, they’d sat down with her mother and Hannah. River hadn’t told her mother about the Strangler, and she didn’t go into details about him during the conversation, but she did tell Rose that someone might be targeting her daughter. River, who was conflicted about moving back into her mother’s house because she didn’t want to put her in danger, was touched when her mother insisted that she stay.
“You’re my child,” she’d said with tears in her eyes. “Of course you’ll stay here. I may be old and losing some of my faculties, but I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
Her words made River cry. But this time it was because they were healing words—not words of anger.
Hannah made certain that River got the rest she needed. She stayed late the first few days, and when she started going home earlier, it was only after she made sure River and her mother had something to eat.
“You leave those dishes in the sink when you’re done,” she’d said. “I’ll take care of them in the morning.” And she did.
Tony moved in during the first weekend. He even brought Watson with him. Strangely enough, Scutter and the chubby puggle got along pretty well. Watson seemed intrigued by Scutter, and her mom’s cat was at least patient with the fun-loving pug. All in all, their meeting was a success.
Tony installed outside cameras and a security system. It made River feel a little safer. She made certain Hannah understood the system. Then she made her promise not to open the door to anyone except her and Tony. No delivery men. No one from a utility company. Not even the mail carrier. That was how several serial killers gained entry into houses—by dressing up like someone the homeowner would trust.
“Every single one of these people should only come if you call them,” River told Hannah. “And don’t even open the door for a police officer. They will be watching the house, but no officer will ever come to the door without calling first. If anyone dressed in a uniform shows up but you haven’t contacted them first, call the police immediately. Then call me, okay?”
River had given Hannah the opportunity to quit her job if she didn’t feel safe staying. They could find someone else to care for Rose, but Hannah was just as stubborn as River’s mother.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, shaking her head, her brown hair swaying back and forth. “Unless God himself tells me to leave, I’m here for as long as you’ll have me.”
River’s mother had reached over and taken Hannah’s hand when she said that. “I pray God never tells you to leave,” she’d said. “You’re family.”
This last weekend, River had finally felt good enough to do some cooking and cleaning. She and her mother got along very well. Although Rose had a few memory lapses, all in all, things were good. And although her father still wanted to see her mother to ask for forgiveness, River had told Dan to tell him he’d have to wait until River was stronger. She knew she was going to have to forgive her father at some point, but she wasn’t quite there yet. She wanted her forgiveness to be real. From the heart. She just needed more time.
She was sorry for being angry with God for her father’s transgressions. It was stupid. God hadn’t forced her father to cheat on her mother. He hadn’t directed him to leave his family and shack up with CeCe. Human beings had free will. Not everything that happened in life was orchestrated by God. Why had she blamed Him? It didn’t make any sense now that she looked at it with reason and not anger. She was sorry for pushing away the One who’d loved her through it all and had never stopped calling her His child.
“We’re here,” Tony said.
River had been so lost in thought she hadn’t realized that they’d pulled into the parking lot. She smiled at Tony. She was looking forward to life returning to normal. Or as normal as it could be knowing someone was out there who wanted to kill her.
Brian’s father had moved out of the rooming house and was living in an apartment. The police were questioning him. River hoped he wouldn’t be charged with anything. He really hadn’t been certain his son was killing people, and he had come to River and Tony once he was convinced something was wrong. Besides, he was mourning the son he wasn’t able to save. He would be dealing with guilt and sorrow for a long time.
River got out of the car and waited for Tony. Together they walked in the front door and headed for the elevator. When the doors opened, River had a quick feeling of unexpected panic. There was a voice whispering in her mind that she should run—get out of there. But she knew that wasn’t God—and it certainly wasn’t the person she wanted to be. She took a deep breath and stepped inside.