I’m very concerned about you,” Richard said. “You have to protect yourself. Get away from here.”
The sun cast a reddish glow over the park as it climbed into the sky. Kaely loved autumn in Forest Park. The park was a retreat. A place to go when she wanted to be alone. To think. To pray. Or to seek Richard’s advice. Now the specter of death hung over this special place, like an invisible noxious gas hovering above the incredible beauty that surrounded her. “I can’t do that, Richard. I won’t. Maybe at some point I’ll be forced to leave, I don’t know. But I have to do everything I can to stop this guy. He’s killing people because of me.”
“He’s calling you out, Kaely. A Eulogy for Kaely Quinn? I’m truly worried.”
She twisted around to face him. “What’s your take on him? You know almost everything there is to know about me, and you’re a trained therapist. Is this someone who believes I wronged them in my capacity as an FBI agent? Or is it something else?”
Richard stared down at the paper again and sighed. “I honestly don’t know. It’s . . . confusing.”
She heard the hesitation in his voice and noticed he wasn’t looking directly at her. From his body language, it was obvious he was thinking something. Something he wasn’t sharing with her.
“You’ve got an idea,” she said simply. “Tell me.”
Richard took a drink of his coffee. “Please hear me out before you say anything. It’s probably someone you encountered through your job but . . .” He paused as if trying to pull strength up from somewhere inside himself. “I spoke to Jason the other day.”
Kaely almost dropped her Styrofoam cup. “You talked to my brother? How? I mean, even I don’t know where he is.”
“You never tried to find him, did you?”
She shook her head. “He said he didn’t want me in his life, so I gave him what he asked for. Besides, I wouldn’t use FBI databases for personal use.” She frowned at him. “How did you figure out where he was?”
“I didn’t, Kaely.” Richard looked down at his feet. “I hope you won’t be angry or feel betrayed, but Jason contacted me. He’s done it a few times. Not a lot. Just from time to time.”
He raised his head and met her eyes. Kaely could see compassion in his expression. “I cared for both of you kids, you know. When your father was arrested, I promised . . .” Richard’s eyes widened, and he looked away. “I promised myself I’d look after you since your father couldn’t.”
Kaely felt a shiver of revulsion move through her body. “You’re lying. What did you promise, Richard? And don’t lie again. You know I can tell when you do.”
Richard stared off into the distance as the glitter of sunlight spread slowly throughout the park. “Look, Kaely, just because you think one way, it doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else agrees with you. You need to allow the people in your life to have their own opinions. You can’t make us into your own image. We won’t be able to help you if you do that.”
“What did you promise, Richard?” she asked again, dread giving way to cold fury.
His voice broke as he said, “I promised your father I’d watch over you kids. Make sure you were okay.” He inhaled deeply and then quickly blew air out, his breath looking like smoke in the frosty air. “I didn’t do it for him, Kaely. I did it for you and your brother. And before you ask, no. I’ve never contacted him since he went to prison. Not once. I knew you wouldn’t want me to.”
“How could you say anything to him about us?” Kaely fought back angry tears. “He doesn’t care about us. He never did. There’s no humanity in him.”
“I’m not saying there is,” Richard said softly. “I’m just telling you what happened. It was right after he was arrested. When we believed they had the wrong man. Once I knew the truth, I cut off all communication.”
Kaely could feel the surge of resentment she’d felt at Richard’s revelation diminish some. “Don’t you ever tell him anything about me. I mean it.”
“I won’t. Like I said, I’ve never contacted him.”
“Has he tried to communicate with you since he’s been in prison?”
Richard nodded. “Once. Not long after he went away. He sent me a letter. I didn’t even open it. Just threw it away.”
Kaely pointed at the newspaper. “Richard, are you telling me you think Jason might be behind this?”
Richard clasped his hands together so tightly his knuckles turned white. “No, I mean . . . I don’t think so. His anger toward you and your mother has escalated for some reason. Most of it is directed at you. He says the nightmares you had since you were a kid prove you knew something was going on with your dad. He’s younger than you, you know. I think he feels you should have protected him.”
“Being angry and suspicious doesn’t make someone a serial killer, Richard.”
He nodded. “You’re probably right. Sorry. I guess our phone conversation shook me a bit. I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn’t listen to me. Told me he wasn’t going to contact me again. That he was getting rid of the phone he had so I couldn’t call him back.” Richard sighed. “I hope he changes his mind at some point, but I don’t know if he will.” He gave Kaely a stiff smile. “Forget I said anything. I’m just worried about him.” He reached over and took her hand. “I love you, Jessie. If Bella and I had been blessed with a daughter, we’d have wanted her to be just like you. If anything ever happened to you . . .”
Kaely didn’t correct his use of the name he’d called her as a child. She understood the lapse. Instead, she put her other hand over his. “I know. Thank you.”
“So why did you want to see me this morning?” he asked, changing the subject. “Is it because of your nightmare?”
Kaely turned to gaze out at the Basin. “I want them to stop, Richard. I haven’t had that particular one for a while. Does it mean something that it comes now?”
“Of course it does,” he said softly. “And you know it. Every time you take on a new case, that dream resurfaces. It’s trying to tell you something. Something you’re not ready to see.”
“You told me when I understand it, it will go away.”
“It will. But you have to be ready first. Once you are, and you face the message in the dream, I think the other nightmares will eventually cease.”
“Like the one where I’m tied up and all the serial killers I’ve written profiles for are murdering me with the techniques they used on their victims?”
“Kaely.” Richard shook his head and looked away. “I wish you’d chosen some other line of work.” He pulled his hand away from hers and waved it at her before she had a chance to respond. “I know, I know. You feel called to do what you do. But now you’re the target of a very clever killer.”
Kaely could see the tension in his face. She knew he was afraid for her, but there wasn’t anything she could say to take away his fear.
“I just want you to be happy. Free of the past,” he continued. “I have a bad feeling about this one. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
A tickle of fear ran through her at his words. Georgie had said almost the same thing. As she tried to reassure Richard, her friend’s words echoed in her head. “Something’s coming, Kaely. I don’t know what it is, but I feel it. Don’t you?”