Part 26 (2/2)
”Sorry, honey. Duty calls.”
Frowning, she backed away from him. ”If I give you my number, will you get in touch later?”
”Sure.”
She recited the number and then frowned when he didn't make any attempt to write it down.
”I've got it memorized,” he told her as he walked away.
By the time he reached his car in the side parking lot, he had forgotten her number. But that was just as well, because he couldn't remember her name, either. Knowing that the Fire and Brimstone Killer had struck again, the only name that mattered to Jack was Catherine Nelson Cantrell, the woman whose life would be turned topsy-turvy by the news that her husband's killer had struck again.
Chapter Twenty
”Reverend Kelley is still alive,” Mike said as he met Jack outside Chief Richard Donaldson's office at Decatur police headquarters. ”Just barely.”
”What kind of shape's he in?” Jack asked.
”From what I've been told, he has third-degree burns over seventy-five percent of his body, his neck and the back of his head. He's unconscious, and the odds of him living twenty-four hours are slim to none.”
”Then there's no way to question him?”
Mike shook his head. ”The only reason he's alive is because neighbors heard him screaming and then heard his wife's caretaker screaming. They got to him pretty fast right after it happened and called 911. He was airlifted from Decatur General straight to Vanderbilt. They're a Level One Trauma Center with a top-notch burn center.”
”Did any of the neighbors see anything, see anybody?”
”Nope. But they thought they heard a car in the alley, so the entire alley is being considered part of the crime scene.”
”Have you contacted Wayne Morgan?” Jack asked about the ABI agent who headed the Fire and Brimstone Killer task force.
”He's got a unit on its way to the crime scene right now.” Mike inclined his head toward the exit. ”Leave your car here and ride over to the reverend's house with me. Chief Donaldson's given us the green light since two of the four murders occurred in our jurisdiction and you're on the task force.”
”We both know that I wouldn't be anybody's top pick to represent your department on the task force. It just worked out that way because you'd put me in charge of your cold cases.”
”You're as qualified as any man on my force,” Mike corrected him. ”I don't kid myself about my people or myself. We're a group of honest, down-to-earth country folks who seldom have to deal with murders and certainly not serial killers.”
Jack shrugged. Mike was right. It wasn't as if anyone on his team had ever dealt with a serial killer. And only the ABI guys were actually trained, at least to a certain extent, to deal with this type of crime.
”Reverend Kelley's death is bound to be on the local early morning news,” Jack said. ”Don't you think somebody should contact the families of the previous victims?”
”Do you want to contact Cathy and tell her?”
”Yeah, I do. This is going to hit her hard. She managed to hold it together when the Catholic priest was murdered, but...Maybe we should call Lorie and have her go over to Cathy's.”
”Sure. As soon as we get on the road, go ahead and call Lorie.” Mike pulled keys from his pocket and headed for the exit. Jack followed. ”Ask her to contact Cathy and then inform Cathy's in-laws.”
Once settled in Mike's SUV and en route, Jack checked the stored numbers in his cell phone. But before he could dial the first number, Mike asked him a pointed question.
”Where were you when I called?”
”Some dive called the Purple Mustang in Huntsville.”
”Please tell me you didn't drive here under the influence.”
”I had two beers,” Jack said. ”It would take more than a six-pack for me to feel the effects.” When Mike gave him a skeptical glance, Jack added, ”Believe me. I've built up a tolerance over the years. I know when I've had my limit.”
”What were you doing at the Purple Mustang-trying to drown your sorrows?”
”Something like that.”
”Looking for a little TLC?”
”Yeah, why not?”
”Did you find any?”
”What is this, the frigging third degree? You're not my father, and I'm not some disobedient kid who needs reprimanding.”
”Call Lorie,” Mike said, letting the matter drop.
Jack brought up her number on his phone, hit SEND and waited for her to answer. Considering that it was close to three in the morning, he was surprised she picked up the phone after the second ring.
”Jack?” she asked in a sleep-hoa.r.s.e voice.
”Yeah, it's me. Sorry to wake you, but I need you to go over to Cathy's as soon as you can.”
”What's happened?”
”Our Fire and Brimstone Killer has struck again, this time in Decatur. The victim is a Presbyterian minister named Kelley, and for now he's still alive.”
”Oh G.o.d! Can he ID his attacker?”
”He's unconscious, and that's all I can say.”
”Yeah, sure. I understand. Are you calling Cathy or do you want me to tell-?”
”I'll call her,” Jack said. ”But you get your cute little b.u.t.t over there ASAP. She's going to need you. And call her in-laws later, before the news. .h.i.ts the airwaves.”
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