I grumbled all the way back to our office, where we would part ways for the night only to begin the process again first thing in the morning. During tomorrow’s meeting, I planned to suggest that a press conference might be in order. Five murders in one night and probably within minutes of each other, whether the victims were homeless or not, was a significant event. The public needed to be informed of the danger since homeless people rarely made front-page news. Somebody had to have seen or heard something, just like Ray had. If only more people were as brave as he was and would come forward with what they knew.
I thought about Erik as I drove home. Even though he’d said he was sleeping at eight yesterday morning, that didn’t mean it was true. I was sure he would have denied being on Hemmer Street, too, if we hadn’t have had the pictures to prove it.
That’s it. There have to be cameras near that duplex since stores are sprinkled throughout the area on Greenfield. If Erik was asleep at eight in the morning, there wouldn’t be a chance in hell of seeing him exit the duplex or even catching an upstairs light on. Seeing him on camera walking down the street, leaving in a car, or even waiting in a bus shelter would prove he’s lying. Kyle said we had to find irrefutable evidence before we could move on with him or Lucas as suspects.
I finally had something to hope for, and I looked forward to tomorrow. We would head to West Allis after our morning updates, ask around, and do our best to locate an outdoor camera that could put Erik Smalley awake and upright during the time Brandon Dalton was murdered.
It was closing in on eight o’clock by the time I arrived home. Another twelve-hour day and another weekend shot to hell. I prayed for a lottery win that would afford me a cabin on a lake with twenty acres in northern Wisconsin. I’d be as happy as possible unless the image in my mind could include my dad being there. I let out a wistful sigh, parked in the garage, and lowered the overhead door.
A bowl of soup or leftovers from Amber and Kate’s dinner would be fine with me. All I wanted to do was go to bed, drift off, and hope my dreams wouldn’t involve criminals.
Luckily, a pot of chili was still on a low simmer on the stove. That, a few pieces of thick garlic toast, and a beer would be my supper, and I couldn’t think of anything better. The three of us had some small talk while I ate, with Spaz cozied up on Kate’s lap, the perfect ending to a long day. After putting my bowl in the sink, I gave all three of them a kiss on the forehead and headed down the hallway. My king-sized bed was calling my name.