The ponytailed boy sat on the curb with his head between his legs. When he did occasionally look up, usually to lean over and vomit, his pale face was streaked with the red and blue strobe lights of the police, fire, and ambulance vehicles nearby.
The boys had found the geocache all right. It was a large ten-by-ten ammo box sealed in a plastic bag. When they opened the box, a horrific smell greeted them. When they jerked away, ten bloody fingertips tumbled onto the ground.
Tommy didn’t understand. But later, waiting for the police to wrap up the crime scene, Kelly told her that it was one of the details the coroner’s report had left out. A detail that only a killer would have known.
In addition, the notebook log where people either signed in or left their stamp, had one stamp on the last page. A skull-and-crossbones stamp that looked like it’d been dipped in blood.
“It looks like the killer wants to be caught and wants to be tied to the other slayings,” Parker said. “I think he got sick of getting away with it. The other deaths appeared to be accidental and that must have irritated him to no end. That’s why he made this one so obvious. And still, nobody found this until now.”
Tommy listened, nodding. Parker was on to something.
Kelly was on his way, but he’d already shared information about the geocache link and detectives were working to see if the other dead boys had that connection.
Tommy looked around, searching the crowd for the arrival of Kelly. For once, Tommy was on the inside of the crime scene tape. People three deep stood against the yellow tape staring at her and the emergency personnel. Many talked among themselves like it was a neighborhood party. Most were college kids pumped up on the illicit thrill of the gruesome discovery in their own backyard. A few were older people who lived in the neighborhood. The redheaded cop was talking to the other detectives. He gave Tommy a barely perceptible nod.
Parker was telling her some story about geocaching. Tommy was barely paying attention when her phone rang. The screen said unidentified caller.
“St. James.”
There was a second of silence that should have warned Tommy, but the hair on her arms didn’t stand up until she heard the high-pitched voice.
“You look very lovely in that gold blouse. Much like a randy wench who wants to go below deck with the handsome pirate.”
Tommy whirled back around to the crowd, searching for anyone who met her eyes. Any movement. Anyone with a phone to his or her ear. She heard a small sound and knew he had disconnected the call. She searched the crowd, but most of the faces were in the dark. Then, toward the back, she saw a figure slipping way into the darkness. She grabbed her bag and ran.
She was only a few feet away when Parker tried to grab her arm, but she struggled free.
“Tommy? Who was that? Who was on the phone?”
She’d just made it to the police tape, startling the people standing there.
“Move! He’s getting away!”
Her words had the opposite effect from what she had intended. The crowd drew closer and became fluid as people began to panic.
“Who?”
“Who is she talking about?”
“The killer? He’s here?”
She struggled to duck under the tape when she felt a strong grip on her elbow.
“Let me go Parker.”
She turned. It was Kelly.
She was filled with relief. She held up her phone. “He just called me. He’s here. He was watching me. We have to go get him. I just saw someone leaving.”
Kelly put his palm up.
“Tommy, you can’t go after him by yourself. And look, there’s nobody there.”
She turned to face the darkness and saw an empty sidewalk.
“He got away!”
“He’s gone.”
“He was right there.”
Kelly called over a few officers. They took off at a run. Tommy watched them dejectedly.
Kelly took off his blazer and hung it over her shoulders.
“You’re shaking.”
“What?” Tommy hadn’t even realized the tremors running through her body. She did notice Parker eyeing her with Kelly, though.
“Doctor, so glad you could make it out,” Kelly said turning to the forensic pathologist ducking under the crime scene tape. “I thought it was important for you to handle this one from the get go. Make sure we don’t tromp all over the crime scene or miss something.”
“My pleasure,” Dickinson said. As he emerged from his crouch on their side of the tape, he gave Tommy a fleeting glance.
“Hi-ya doc,” she said to be friendly.
He just grunted, keeping his eyes down.
Kelly excused himself, saying he would lead the doctor to the scene.
“Wait here. I’ll drive you home. You are not to be alone. Ever. Got it?”
Tommy nodded and watched his broad back as he hurried to catch up to the doctor, who was already starting to head down the steep bank.