Part 26 (2/2)

Sikes nodded his large, blocklike head. ”We want to nail Sachs. Trouble is, our bra.s.s has us chasing our tails as usual.”

Ruskin smiled, and finally so did I. We all understood departmental politics. I still didn't trust the Durham homicide detectives. I was certain they wanted to use Sampson and me or at least keep us out of the way.

Also, I had the feeling they were still holding evidence back.

The Durham homicide detectives told us they were mired in an investigation of medical doctors in the Research Triangle, doctors with any kind of criminal record or a.s.sociations. Wick Sachs was the chief suspect, but not the only one.

There was still a strong chance that Casanova would turn out to be someone we hadn't even heard of. That was the way it often worked with repeat-killer cases. He was out there-but we might have no idea who he really was. That was the scariest part of all, the most frustrating, too.

Nick Ruskin and Sikes took Sampson and me over to the suspects board that had been put up. There were seventeen names on it at this point. Five were doctors. Kate had originally believed that Casanova was a doctor, and Kyle Craig did, too.

I read off the doctors' names.

Dr. Stefan RommDr. Francis ConstantiniDr. Richard DilalloDr. Miguel FescoDr. Kelly Clark I wondered again if several people could somehow be involved with the house of horror. Or was Wick Sachs our man? Was he Casanova?

”You're the big guru,” Davey Sikes was suddenly leaning over my shoulder. ”Who is he, my man? Help us local yokels out. Catch the bogeyman, Dr. Cross.”

Chapter 89.

LATE THAT night, Casanova was on the move again. He was hunting again. He had missed the thrill these last few days, but this was going to be an important night.

He easily penetrated the security of the sprawling Duke University Medical Center complex through a little-used gray-metal door in the private parking area reserved for doctors. On the way to his appointed destination, he pa.s.sed several chirping nurses and serious-faced young doctors. Some of the doctors and nurses nodded, and even smiled at him.

As always, Casanova fit in perfectly with the surroundings. He could go anywhere-and he usually did.

As he hurried down the sterile white hospital corridors, his head was busy figuring out complicated, important calculations about his future. He'd had a hugely successful run here in the Research Triangle area and the Southeast, but it was definitely drawing to an end. Starting tonight.

Alex Cross and the other dreary plodders were getting too close to him. Even the Durham police were becoming dangerous. He was was a ”territorial rec.” He knew their inadequate terminology for him. Eventually, someone would find the house. Or worse, someone would probably find him through dumb luck. a ”territorial rec.” He knew their inadequate terminology for him. Eventually, someone would find the house. Or worse, someone would probably find him through dumb luck.

Yes, it was time to move on. Maybe he and Will Rudolph should go to New York City, Maybe he and Will Rudolph should go to New York City, he thought. he thought. Or sunny Florida, which had drawn Ted Bundy? Arizona might be pleasant. Spend the fall season in Tempe or Tucson... bustling college towns filled to bursting with prey. Or maybe they could settle in near one of the huge campuses in Texas. Austin was supposed to be nice. Or Urbana, Illinois? Madison, Wisconsin? Columbus, Ohio? Or sunny Florida, which had drawn Ted Bundy? Arizona might be pleasant. Spend the fall season in Tempe or Tucson... bustling college towns filled to bursting with prey. Or maybe they could settle in near one of the huge campuses in Texas. Austin was supposed to be nice. Or Urbana, Illinois? Madison, Wisconsin? Columbus, Ohio?

He was leaning toward Europe actually, either London, Munich, or Paris. His version of the grand tour. Maybe that was the right concept for the times. A truly grand tour for the whiz kids. Who needed to go watch Dracula Dracula when there were real monsters roaming the countryside day and night? when there were real monsters roaming the countryside day and night?

Casanova wondered if anyone had managed to follow him into the Medical Center maze. How about Alex Cross? It was a possibility. Dr. Cross had relatively impressive staying power. He had bested that unimaginative child molester, that garden-variety psycho killer, up in D.C. Cross had to be eliminated before he and Will Rudolph left the area for bigger and better things. Otherwise, Cross would follow them to h.e.l.l and back.

Casanova pa.s.sed into Building Two of the Byzantine hospital maze. This was the way to the hospital morgue and maintenance, so the foot traffic was usually lighter.

He peered down the long, off-white corridor behind him. No followers. No followers. No one willing to lead in this gutless, witless age, either. No one willing to lead in this gutless, witless age, either.

Maybe they didn't didn't know about him yet. Maybe they hadn't figured anything out. But they would eventually. There know about him yet. Maybe they hadn't figured anything out. But they would eventually. There were were clues. It could all be traced back to Roe Tierney and Tom Hutchinson. The unsolved golden couple murder. The very beginning for him and Will Rudolph. G.o.d, he was glad his friend was back. Rudolph always made him feel better when he was around. Rudolph truly clues. It could all be traced back to Roe Tierney and Tom Hutchinson. The unsolved golden couple murder. The very beginning for him and Will Rudolph. G.o.d, he was glad his friend was back. Rudolph always made him feel better when he was around. Rudolph truly understood understood desire, and ultimately, freedom. Rudolph understood desire, and ultimately, freedom. Rudolph understood him him as no one else ever had. as no one else ever had.

Casanova began to jog down a brightly polished corridor in Building Two of the Medical Center.

As he quickened his pace, the sound of his slapping footsteps echoed in the empty halls. In a few minutes he was in Building Four, all the way over on the northwest side of the hospital.

He looked back one more time.

n.o.body had followed. n.o.body had guessed right yet. Maybe they never would.

Casanova came out into the brightly lit, almost orangish, parking area. A black jeep was parked close to the building, and he nonchalantly climbed inside.

The vehicle had MD plates, state of North Carolina. Yet another of his masks. masks.

He was feeling strong and sure of himself again. He felt wonderfully free and alive tonight. This was exhilarating; it could be one of his finest hours, actually. He felt as if he could fly through the silky black night.

He took off to claim his victim.

Dr. Kate McTiernan was next again. again.

He missed her so much.

He loved her.

Chapter 90.

THE GENTLEMAN Caller was on the move. Dr. Will Rudolph pa.s.sed inexorably through the night toward his unsuspecting prey. His juices were surging. Slos.h.i.+ng. Slos.h.i.+ng. He was going to make a house call, as an outstanding doctor should, at least a doctor who really cared. He was going to make a house call, as an outstanding doctor should, at least a doctor who really cared.

Casanova didn't want him out roaming the streets of Durham or Chapel Hill. He'd forbidden forbidden it, in fact. Understandable enough, admirable, but not possible. They were working together again. Besides, the danger was minimal at night and the rewards far exceeded the risks. it, in fact. Understandable enough, admirable, but not possible. They were working together again. Besides, the danger was minimal at night and the rewards far exceeded the risks.

This next scene in the drama had to be done just right, and he was the one to do it. Will Rudolph was certain of that. He had no emotional baggage. No Achilles' heel. Casanova did... Her name was Kate McTiernan.

In a strange way, he thought, she had become his compet.i.tion. Casanova had bonded with her in a special way. She was very close to the ”lover” he claimed to be obsessively searching for. As such, she was dangerous to his own special relations.h.i.+p with Casanova.

As he drove into Chapel Hill, he thought about his ”friend.” Something was different and even more satisfying between them now. Being torn apart for almost a year made him appreciate the strange relations.h.i.+p. It was more powerful than ever. There was no one else he could talk to, not one person.

How very sad, Rudolph thought. Rudolph thought.

How droll.

During his year in California, Will Rudolph had remembered all too well the searing loneliness he had experienced as a boy. He'd grown up at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, then in Asheville. He was a bird colonel's boy, an army brat, a true son of the South. Right from the beginning, he had been clever enough to keep up a facade: honor student; polite, helpful, social graces to beat all. The perfect gentleman. No one had guessed the truth about his desires and needs... which was exactly why the loneliness had been so unbearable.

He knew when the loneliness had ended. Exactly when and where. He remembered the first dizzying meeting with Casanova. It had taken place right on the Duke campus, and it was a dangerous meeting for both of them.

The Gentleman remembered the scene so well. He had a small room, like any other student on campus. Casanova had shown up one night well past midnight, closer to two. Scared the s.h.i.+t out of him. He had a small room, like any other student on campus. Casanova had shown up one night well past midnight, closer to two. Scared the s.h.i.+t out of him.

He seemed so sure of himself when Rudolph opened the door and saw him there. There was a theatrical suspense movie called Rope. Rope. The scene reminded him of the movie. The scene reminded him of the movie.

<script>