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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Wednesday, 27 January, 00:05 a.m.
––––––––
I focused on the victims who were murdered with an organophosphate poison. Their autopsy reports contained the same note – damage to the epiglottis and oesophagus. I researched organophosphate poisons and realised it wasn't something our victims would've consumed without knowing it. It has a chemical smell and a bitter taste. Grateful that the victim in Abu Dhabi survived, I couldn't help to wonder why she still breathed. None of the twenty-five victims before her had evaded death.
"The damage to the victims' epiglottis and oesophagus, what can cause it?" I asked Aidan when he returned to the command centre carrying a mug in each hand.
"Educated guess – the killer pushes a pipe down their throats and uses a funnel to pour the poison into their bodies. He knows the correct dosage for it to be lethal and purchases it in each country. Organophosphate is used in several pesticides, insecticides, nerve agents, and medications. An estimated 200,000 people die from organophosphate poisoning every year. Some ingest it by accident, others commit suicide, and it's used to kill more than just insects." Aidan drank his coffee while staring at my murder board.
"The Perspex boxes, do you think he buys them in country as well?"
Aidan nodded. "He used a thinner variant in Buenos Aires than what he used in Perth. Eli's trying to run down possible suppliers in each of the countries, but I doubt it will lead anywhere. The killer may have paid with a fake credit card and had it delivered to a random address."
"The premeditation with each murder is unlike anything I've ever seen. I wonder how our killer finances this murderous globetrotting of his. And how he's able to convince, or coerce, others into supplying him with victims. Consider Sanchez, after the murders in Santiago he would've known what would happen in Majorca." I placed my hand on Aidan's shoulder and made no attempt to suppress my tears. "Sanchez has to pay for his involvement. You need to leave the room at some point and let me avenge the victims. Please."
Tears spilled down my cheeks. Over the years I saw far too many victims. Every murder, every rape, every photo taken of a child and shared with millions of paedophiles still gets to me. It will never change, and the day it does, I'll be in serious trouble.
The darkness inside me will never let me be free of the lust for vengeance coursing through my veins. I hope it never gives up the fight, and will always remind me that I can, and must do whatever is necessary to avenge the victims.
Aidan turned to face me and dropped his mouth to my forehead. "I'm not leaving you. Whatever you do, you'll do it for the greater good. I love your heart, Finley. Don't ever think the same thoughts, the same lust for vengeance isn't something I feel every day. I'm just less vocal about it than you are. Fortius, this life we chose, I'm doing it to make the world a better and safer place. If breaking Sanchez allows us to stop this killer, then I'm all in. No matter what."
Aidan pulled me closer and held me as I cried for twenty-five human beings. And for a woman lying in a hospital bed in Abu Dhabi.
Safe in my husband's arms, I realised Rowan and Liam weren't murderers. They are like Aidan and me. Warriors. Protectors. "I can't believe Liam's penis might help us catch a serial killer."
Aidan laughed and held me tighter. "To be honest, I never expected it would be of any use to anyone but him. I hope the victim is able to tell them something, but more than anything I hope she doesn't suffer from any long-lasting effects. A person shouldn't survive a serial killer to only suffer for the rest of their lives."
"Why did he kill Ignas? He worked across Europe – he could've supplied an endless amount of victims. Unless Ignas realised that an investigation will lead back to him, making him the prime suspect." I pressed my lips to Aidan's, wiped my face and took a step back. "Perhaps Ignas didn't want to be a part of it anymore. Earlier you said the killer might've seen him as a loose end, or a potential whistle-blower."
Only the killer held the answers to my questions about Ignas' murder. With Alejandro Sanchez arriving in less than an hour, there were things I needed to take care of. But first, I memorised every detail of the four people whose murders he had a hand in. If not for Señor Sanchez's greed, they might not have met death so soon.
––––––––
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Wednesday, 27 January, 00:45 a.m.
––––––––
The two-way earpieces in Rowan and Liam's ears gave Aidan and me full access to whatever they heard while in Abu Dhabi. Through the contact lenses in their eyes, we saw what they did, but on the screen in the command centre.
The nurse wasn't of much help, although she gave Rowan and Liam scrubs to sneak into the victim's room. A police officer stood sentry outside her door; he refused to let either of them in. It had been foolish of me to think anthing will be easy with this investigation.
Rowan spoke to the police officer in Arabic, and then he and Liam left. I turned to Aidan and asked what Rowan had said. "He said they understood and will ask a female nurse to attend to the victim."
The nurse stood as Rowan and Liam entered the staff's break room. "Thank you for trying." Liam pressed his lips to the unnamed nurse's cheek.
"I can go in. What do you need me to do?" she asked. "First, I need you to tell me the truth. I knew you were lying when you told me you're a businessman. Why are you here? Is your name even Logan?"
Liam pulled her down on the couch and held her hands in his. "Yes, Nina, my name is Logan. For the record, I never told you what I do for a living, you drew your own conclusions. The truth is I came here on holiday, and the week we spent together wasn't a lie. As I told you then, I wish things were different, and I still do."
Rowan stood by the door. "We need your help. That woman survived being attacked by a serial killer. Somehow, she survived. None of his other twenty-five victims did. That's all I can tell you about this investigation. Logan told me about you, and the time you spent together. The last thing we want is to put you in any danger. If you can take some time off, we can arrange accommodation for you in a hotel in Dubai, under a different name. You'll be safe there."
I turned to Aidan. "Is there a mandatory class called 'Lying 101' all operatives are forced to take?"
"No, they're good at their jobs. If lying to this woman gives you the opportunity to take out a serial killer, then nobody gets hurt."
Through the contact lenses in Liam's eyes, I noticed the confusion and fear in Nurse Nina's eyes. "Tell her you work for Interpol," I instructed Liam.
He did, and Nina let out a deep breath. "Okay, that makes sense. Serial killer? Twenty-five people? Why isn't it being reported in the news? Interpol?"
"He has killed in multiple countries, that's why we're involved."
Nina shook her head. "Why didn't you tell the police officer at her door that you're with Interpol?"
Clever woman. Not clever enough to not have slept with Liam Walker – or Logan – whoever he had claimed to be. Not that I faulted her for it. He's an attractive and charming man. Maybe we've all met a Liam Walker at some point in our lives, or we were a Liam Walker.
Rowan moved forward. "It's pointless to inform the local police. The killer doesn't stick around and never kills more than once in the same city. Nina, please we need your help. This victim is the best chance we have of identifying the killer and bringing him to justice. I promise, we will keep you safe. No one will ever know you helped us by talking to the victim for us."
"Her name is Alicia Rideout."
I pulled my laptop closer and searched for an Alicia Rideout in Abu Dhabi. Nothing. I expanded my search and found an airline ticket in her name. She had arrived from Ireland the day before. Her passport number made it easier. Miss Rideout was an actress, who performed in historical pieces in castles around Ireland. I relayed the information to Liam and Rowan. Not that it mattered, as they weren't going to talk to the victim. No, the survivor.
Nina rose and glanced between the two men she would never know shared the same surname. "What do you need me to ask her? If she's awake. I will not wake her. She needs the rest after what she's been through."
Liam stood and placed his hands on Nina's arms. "How did the killer find her? What does he look like? Is someone helping him? Anything. Thank you, Nina. And as my colleague, Rocco said, your safety is important to us. We won't let the killer get to you."
I tried not to laugh, knowing Rowan would hate anyone thinking his name is Rocco. When Aidan and his brothers were children they had a dog with that name.
"That won't be necessary, my fiancé is a police officer." With that, she left the room.
"Liam, did you know about her engagement?" I asked.
"No. I'm many things, but not a homewrecker. She told me she had called off her engagement a month before we met. Guess they patched things up. This was six months ago."
Aidan placed his hand on my leg. "Our guest has arrived. Are you ready?"