Kill for Me

Ed’s eyes widened. “The guy ru

“The very same,” Chase said grimly.

“Haynes wanted a blonde,” Luke said. “And a blonde helped bring him down. Ashley Csorka’s escape changed everything.”

“How is she?” Talia asked.

“Sitting up and talking to her dad,” Luke said with a smile. “Who sends his thanks, and his wish that the man who tried to buy his child gets the same treatment in prison.”

“We have a lot to be proud of this morning. Every one of you did well.” Chase went on, soberly. “Granville killed the five girls in the bunker, but Monica told us it was at Rocky’s-aka-Kate’s command, and that Kate said, ‘Bobby said so.’ When we find her, we will be charging Bobby Davis with those five counts of homicide, in addition to the ten who’ve died directly at her hand. Add to that the attempts on the lives of Ryan Beardsley and Monica Cassidy-”

“And the abduction of God only knows how many minors and interstate forced prostitution and child pornography in that catalog we found,” Luke inserted.

“And she’s looking at about a million years behind bars,” Chase finished.

Chloe frowned. “Wait. Ten? There’s Rocky/Kate and Je

“And the nurse’s sister,” Susa

“Okay,” Chloe nodded, “that’s three. Helen Granville is four.”

“Chili Pepper and his girlfriend make six,” Nancy said.

“The boy at the rest area and Ta

“Oh, gosh, I’m sorry, Pete,” Chloe said to Pete, distressed that she’d forgotten.

“It’s okay,” Pete said, fiercely, “but we have to catch this bitch and make her pay.”

“Tenth is the guard Corchran found dead at the back of her house,” Luke finished.

“If we count Darcy, she’s just one shy of an even dozen,” Susa

“And we will count Darcy,” Chase said quietly. “I’m sorry, Susa

Everyone was silent, then Luke sighed. “I hoped Bobby wouldn’t harm her own children, but seeing what she did to that kid today… She’s capable of anything.”

“So what do we know about her?” Mary McCrady asked. “My psych profile is simply a ruthless, intelligent, soulless monster. I’d like to be able to help you more than that.”

“The man driving the pickup was Roger Ta

“How does he link to Barbara Jean Davis?” Mary asked.

“The two counts of murder were Bobby’s parents,” Susa

“Ta

“Everybody assumed he’d done it,” Susa

Luke shrugged. “The local PD says her story just didn’t match up with the evidence, but there was no evidence to implicate her. Now, knowing she’s been in league with Ta

“How did they end up in Dutton?” Nancy asked.

“Who knows? Maybe Bobby knew who her real father was and forced the aunt to bring her back. Maybe the aunt blamed Susa

“I never heard anything about Bobby’s parents being murdered or her being the daughter of the old pastor,” Susa

“Her aunt moved away from Dutton shortly after Bobby married Garth Davis,” Pete said. “And that’s where the trail dries up. No job, no credit cards, no utilities.”

“Maybe Bobby killed her, too,” Talia said.

“But where are her two children?” Mary asked. “Who took care of her kids while she ran truck stop whorehouses and sold young girls to rich men?”

“The Davises have a na

“Her only other relatives are Garth’s uncle, Rob Davis, and his family,” Chase said.

“I asked Rob Davis if they’d seen her,” Pete said. “I never searched the house.”

“But would Rob hide Garth’s kids?” Chloe asked. “I thought they hated each other.”

“That’s what Kate told us when she came here Thursday afternoon.” A piece of the puzzle fell into place. Luke looked at Chase grimly. “Kate led us to Mack O’Brien.”

Chase rubbed his forehead. “We were played like a cheap harmonica.”

“Kate would have wanted the spotlight off of Garth and the rest of the club, because the closer Daniel got to exposing them, the closer we got to their bunker operation. Kate gave us Garth so that she and Bobby could keep their secrets. We were played.”

“Kate also told us that Garth’s wife had fled with the children after Rob Davis’s grandson was killed by Mack O’Brien,” Ed said. “Hell.”

“We took her at her word,” Luke finished.

“Why wouldn’t you?” Susa

“Next. We got a tip an hour ago,” Chase said. “A call to my cell from Kira Laneer, Garth’s mistress, the one who works at the airport. She says she knows where Bobby is, that Garth knew all the places she might hide. She might just be angling for publicity, but I’ll assign someone to check it out, just the same. Nancy, you’re frowning. Why?”

“I’ve been thinking about Bobby. We’re saying she’s murdered ten people in the last two days. Logistically, she had to have had some help.”

“Ta

“I don’t know,” Nancy said. “Unless the creepy butler has some major muscles, he didn’t slit the throat of Chili Pepper. Chili’s a big dude. Was a big dude.”

“Maybe she has other minions,” Pete said dourly.

“Others,” Susa

“And so was Ta

“ ‘I was another’s,’ ” Susa

“We sent the artist’s sketch based on your description up to Manhattan,” Chase said. “The ADA’s office is going to show it to Darcy’s killer. For now we focus on Bobby Davis and her two missing kids. Pete, go to Rob Davis’s and find those boys. Hank, you and Nancy search the Davis house again. Talia, find out anything you can about Bobby’s friends, now and in the past. Chloe, how much longer can we keep Garth?”