CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

 

Ashley had called everyone Detective Cramer asked her to, except one. In talking to the relatives of the strangler’s victims, she came to the conclusion that none of the women had known Julian McKenzie. Some of the family members had heard of him from church or the community, but didn’t know him personally. Ashley did her best not to alarm anyone, and told them it was strictly routine follow-up. In reality, McKenzie had suddenly gone from practically invisible to the leading suspect in a serial killer case that had been officially reopened, due to her efforts.

Ashley dialed the home of Quinn and Selene Herrera. It’ll be kind of weird talking to Selene as a police officer and not as a victim of domestic violence.

The line was busy. Not too unusual in a busy world, Ashley thought. She would try again later.

* * *

“Sorry for bothering you, Quinn, but it’s important,” Detective Cramer said. “I’m looking for Julian McKenzie. I know he’s a buddy of yours. Have any idea where I might find him?”

Quinn sensed something was up. “Haven’t seen or spoken to him today. What’s going on?”

Cramer paused. “Well, you’ll hear about it soon enough. We’ve reopened The Woods Strangler case...”

Quinn flinched. “What does Julian have to do with it?”

The detective sighed. “I don’t quite know how to say this, but we now believe that Julian McKenzie is the killer...”

“What—? I don’t understand,” Quinn said, trying to come to grips with the shocking news. “I thought Michel Giovanni was the killer? Were they were working together?”

“I don’t think so,” Cramer muttered. “It’s starting to look like McKenzie set up Giovanni to take the fall. Under another name, McKenzie served time for a similar attack on a woman that resembled the strangler’s victims. Only that woman survived her ordeal.”

“Is that all you’ve got?” Quinn wanted to give Julian the benefit of the doubt that his past sins had nothing to do with the present.

“His prints were in Giovanni’s room and in the apartment of one of the victims,” Cramer told Quinn. “The bottom line is McKenzie could be a walking time bomb who could go off again at any moment—attacking any pretty lady whose path he crosses. We need to find him...fast!”

Quinn tried to digest Cramer’s words. Julian McKenzie a serial killer? The more he wanted not to believe it, the more Quinn had to open his mind to the stark possibility.

Then a darker thought entered his mind. Selene was home alone.

What if Julian tried to go after her?

He wouldn’t dare...

Fear surged through Quinn at the mere possibility. He had to get home. Now!

Quinn relayed his fears to Cramer and ran as fast as he could toward home, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t be too late to prevent someone from murdering his wife for the second time in his life.