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  “Got it.”

  Kacey opened the door and stood by it so she could shut it as the Captain walked through. He began his soliloquy.

  They stood in the living room a good while as they both casually glanced around. He followed Kacey as she led the way into the kitchen, through the dining room. She began to make a pot of coffee and handed him a travel cup and the creamer and sugar. They sat down as he continued to talk.

  “I think it’s in the bedroom.” Kacey said, continuing the act.

  Kacey stood and gestured toward the bedroom. As they entered, she went to Dan’s dresser and rummaged through the top drawer and handed Captain Wells an envelope. He opened it and pretended to read what was in it.

  They went back into the kitchen and filled their travel cups before leaving the house.

  “Jack, you and Thor get in the car and we’ll go to Mike’s house.”

  Jack didn’t question or hesitate, she just opened the back door for Thor and she lifted him in to the car. She gingerly got in to settle beside him.

  “You ok?” Captain Wells said with his brow furrowed in worry.

  “Yes, just a little tender.”

  He shut the door for her and went over to the passenger side and also got in.

  “One in the DVD player and one in the frame on Dan’s dresser.” Kacey noted.

  “Also, the counter over the coffee pot. I didn’t see any other ones.”

  Captain Wells was trying with difficulty to control his temper. The vein in his left temple was pulsing so hard, it was visible.

  Kacey was also struggling. Her knuckles were white on the steering wheel.

  “What a piece of work.” Jack began as she looked over at Thor. “Some judgement you have, little guy. You were all over him ... disgraceful.”

  Kacey had to laugh and soon they all joined in.

  “Ok … thanks for putting it all into perspective.” Captain Wells said. “Kacey, you need to get to the station to talk to Gabriella’s mother. I’ll take Jack to Detective Parker’s house and then go get a warrant to search Bill Front’s home, office, and car.”

  As Kacey pulled into the lot, she got a text telling her that their newest victim’s mother had arrived.

  “With all due respect, sir. Mike isn’t home. He’s with his sister and I’d just as soon stay with you and help search.”

  At the look on his face, Jack continued.

  “I promise, I’ll just look with you or stay in the car. I feel good enough for that.”

  “Fine. But you had better behave.”

  At that, Kacey rolled her eyes. Fortunately, Jack was the only one who saw it and winked back at her.

  “As soon as I talk to Mrs. Meecham, I’ll catch up with you.”

  Chapter 98

  Mike knocked on the door and after a few minutes, his mother answered. She had clearly been crying and Mike was shocked at how frail she looked.

  He walked into the house and gave her a hug. They walked into the kitchen, Mike’s arm around her.

  Sandy was sitting at the kitchen table with a cooling mug of tea sitting in front of her. She sat with her hands around it and tears rolling unheeded down her face. They splashed on the table and into her mug.

  Mike left his mom and rushed over to kneel by her. She turned her head towards him.

  “Sandy … what is it?”

  “He won’t even talk to me, Mike. He just came in and went downstairs. When I tried to go down, the door was locked. He won’t answer when I yell down to him and he is not answering his phone.”

  Mike stood up and kissed her on the top of her head. He walked over to the top of the steps and called down.

  “Tom? … answer me.”

  No answer.

  “Tom … I will bust down this door.”

  No answer.

  Mike looked at his mother and she nodded her head.

  He stepped back, lifted his leg, and kicked with all of his strength.

  The door smashed upon and he began to walk down the stairs.

  Tom was sitting at his desk. The one that Mike knew he used to put model cars together with the boys. He was twirling a knife around in his hands. Mike warily watched him and then went to sit across from him.

  “What’s going on, Tom?”

  He didn’t even look up … just kept twirling the knife.

  “I can’t seem to do anything right, Mike.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Finally, Tom looked up at him. His face was gaunt and his eyes seemed hollow. Mike sat back hard. Shocked.

  “I lost my job, Mike. I lost it a month ago. Sandy looks at me with these doe eyes and I can’t tell her. The kids annoy the heck out of me. I want out.”

  “What do you mean by ‘out’? Are you going to hurt yourself or Sandy? Get a divorce? What?”

  “I don’t know … Mike, I’ve done things. Things that make me happy, but ashamed.”

  “What are you talking about, Tom.” Mike stood to his feet as the hairs on the back of his neck tingled. Gently removing the knife from Tom's fingers.

  Tom sat up straight, looked up at Mike and seemed to shake loose of something.

  “Hey, Mike. What’s up?”

  Chapter 99

  Kacey studied the woman sitting across the table from her. She was very thin with straggly gray hair hanging down between her protruding shoulder blades. The spaghetti strap top she wore under her cardigan did her no favors.

  Her eyes were so gray and bloodshot that it broke Kacey’s heart. Those same eyes were very kind.

  “I’m sorry you had to wait for me, Mrs. Meecham. Please tell me about your daughter.”

  “Gabriella was never an easy child, Detective Yates. From newborn to three months old she cried every evening for an hour. I’ll confess, there were days that I would put her safely in her crib and just sit on the screened in porch. When she had cried herself out, she was the sweetest thing. She would coo and smile ear to ear.

  “It was surely a sign of things to come. She would throw a temper tantrum and then act as if nothing had ever happened. As a teenager she was so belligerent and then sweet as pie. One day I had had enough and grabbed her stuff and tossed it on the front porch. I told her to go live with her grandparents until she could come home and get along with the rest of the family. It was the last I ever saw of her.”

  The woman broke down and cried with regret and loss. The same feelings her daughter had felt as she looked into the eyes of the monster who had seemed so kind at first.

  “I didn’t think the next time I saw her would be like this.”

  “Mrs. Meecham, I’m so very sorry.” Kacey reached out and put her hands over the grieving woman’s own hands.

  “Are you ready to see your daughter?”

  “I am.”

  The two women left the room for the longest walk Mrs. Meecham would ever take in her life.

  Captain Wells had no trouble getting an all-inclusive search warrant for Bill Front … home, vehicle, business, property. He and the recovering officer drove by Home Front Securiy to make sure he was at the office. He was, so they proceeded to his home. Captain Wells called a car to sit there and keep an eye on him.

  They pulled into his driveway and Captain Wells entered through the screen door on his front porch. It was a simple thing for him to get into the house at that point. He drew his gun and Jack waited. The house was clear, so he gestured to Jack to come in and they began their search.

  Bill Front heard the first alarm immediately after they opened the screen door.

  It didn’t take the Captain and Jack long to find Bill Front’s treasure trove. Jack looked in disgust as Captain Wells called in a forensics team. He hadn’t even bothered to try to hide it. So confident in his ability to avoid being caught. The knife was covered in dried blood flakes from tip to hilt. Probably with blood from each victim.

  Next to the knife were several locks of hair, banded together with tiny rubber bands. They reminded her of the kind orthodontists us
ed on braces. Made her teeth ache to look at them. The most telling item on the desk was a deck of cards. She knew that when the techs looked at it, they would find all but the cards at the crime scene, in the box.

  Captain Wells asked Jack to go wait in the car since she wasn’t there in an official capacity.

  Within minutes of their gruesome discovery, they could hear police car doors slamming shut. The cavalry had arrived. Captain Wells met them in the front yard and briefed them as they walked towards the front door.

  “Check that deck of cards first.” Captain Wells began. “I’m going to call to get an APB out on Front and get a warrant for his arrest.”

  One of the techs picked up the deck with his gloves on and began spreading them out one by one. As he got to the end of the deck, the cards were indeed missing.

  Captain Wells nodded at the tech and began dialing his cell phone. The officers had what they needed to go arrest Bill Front. He just had to get an arrest warrent quickly.

  He was glad that he had sent a car to watch the office. Surely, there were cameras in the house broadcasting everything to his office. Hopefully, he wasn't watching them.

  The Captain went out side to make the call and have the officers go in and secure their suspect.

  "What do you MEAN he's not in there?!" The Captain yelled.

  Jack turned around in her seat and stared. His face was so red he looked ready to burst!

  He paced back and forth, lowered his voice, and finally shoved the phone back into it's holster on his belt.

  Chapter 100

  Mike left his sister’s home with a heavy heart. Something was clearly wrong with Tom. He gave his mother and Sandy instructions to call him as soon as anything changed. If Tom left, he told them to just let him go, follow him, and call immediately.

  He was so deep in thought, that when his phone vibrated in his pocket, he jumped. He snorted a laugh at his own expense and looked down to see Kacey’s face.

  “Hey, Kace.”

  “Mike, they found evidence at Bill Front’s house that makes it look like he’s our makeamatch guy. I’m walking out of the office. Where are you?”

  “I’m almost there. I’ll pick you up in the front.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll be there and fill you in.”

  He tossed his phone on the passenger seat, put his siren on top of the car, and floored it.

  When he slowed down enough to turn into the parking lot, Kacey walked quickly towards the car. He had to smile at her cute little waddle.

  She opened the door and sat down with relief.

  “Why did I just do that?”

  “Not sure, Kacey, but it was fun to watch.”

  “Fun? You mean hot, right?”

  “Uh, right.” Mike thought she was just the cutest pregnant woman he’d ever seen.

  “So, what did they find?” Mike asked, as Kacey struggled to get the seat belt around her huge belly.

  “They found banded locks of hair, apparently from each victim. Also, a pack of cards missing the top 4 and a knife with dried blood. It doesn’t look like he barely bothered to clean them after each victim. Not only that, but Captain Wells and I found three hidden cameras in my house. He’s been watching Jack and I the entire time. A detail went through and removed them and I didn’t hear back yet, but they were doing a sweep to make sure we didn’t miss any.”

  “Geez.”

  “I know. Captain Wells sent officers to Home Front Security, but he had already fled out the back, apparently.. He had cameras in his house and on the property. Bossman is pretty angry at himself. He should’ve known and had officers around back to stop the guy, but didn't realize there was a back. But what’s done is done. There’s a warrant out now.”

  “Well that’s something. Let’s hope our Mr. Front gets careless.”

  The detectives pulled in front of the house and got out. Kacey stopped halfway up the sidewalk and stopped with a pained look. She bent over slightly and then straightened quickly and looked around to make sure no one saw.

  She walked into the house and was met by Officer Hobbs.

  “You ok, Detective?”

  “Yes, thank you. Just a good kick.” She smiled at him, assuring him. “So what do we have?”

  He gave her the nickel tour and showed her what they had found. There wasn’t much doubt that Bill Front was their guy. He hadn’t even tried to hide anything. But why would he?

  “He was such a nice psychopath. Even Thor loved him.”

  Mike joined them.

  “Let’s go to the office. They need us out of the way so the techs can do their job.”

  A few minutes later, they were looking around an office that had been wiped clean. There were no cameras, computers, or even a phone. The Captain was right. They should’ve dispatched more officers to watch him.

  “I bet there’s not so much as a fingerprint. It still smells like cleaning products.” Kacey looked green and rushed outside for some fresh air. Bleach had been her nemesis from the beginning of this pregnancy.

  Mike followed her out, his brow furrowed in worry.

  “What’s going on, Kacey? I saw you on the sidewalk earlier, and you look terrible.”

  “Thanks a lot. I got a good kick earlier, and bleach has made me sick from the beginning. Relax.”

  “Ok, I just don’t want to have to deliver this thing. We aren’t that close.”

  “I’m not that close with anybody, Detective. You’re safe. This little angel will only be born at a sterilized hospital with gloved, professional hands.”

  “You look better now. Let’s go back to get Jack and I want to take my two ladies home.”

  “I won’t argue. Let’s go.”

  Chapter 101

  Mike and Kacey left to get Jack from Captain Wells' car. When she got in the car, she leaned back into the seat and closed her eyes … asleep in seconds. Kacey sat facing forward, cradling her belly. One hand rubbed it, smiling when she felt a good strong kick. Baby Yates was a future athlete, for sure.

  “I think Jack is done for the day, Mike. Can you drive through and get me some Italian? I have salad stuff at home and we can warm our food up later when we feel like eating. I’m ready to sit in my chair and call it a day.”

  “Will do. I’ll drop you two off and help find this guy. You guys just take it easy. You, Kacey, are officially on maternity leave.”

  “I won’t argue.”

  They arrived at Kacey’s house with the makings for supper. While Thor was taking care of business in the back yard, Mike fixed their plates and called them into the dining room. He let Thor in and they ate. Kacey was practically falling asleep in her plate, so he settled them on the couch and kissed them both on the forehead. And left.

  If only he had known.

  Chapter 102

  Mike was on his way to meet Captain Wells to plan a way to put a net out for Bill Front when he got a frantic call from his sister.

  “Mike! We lost him! He ran out of the house muttering about how it was ‘all her fault’ and that he was going to ‘make her pay’.”

  She could barely get the words out between sobs. He could hear her pass the phone over to her mom.

  “Mike, we don’t know where he is. We followed him and Sandy didn’t want to bother you right away until we found out where he was going, but he turned too fast and we couldn’t get over to the turn lane so we could keep following him.

  “Something is terribly wrong and we don’t know what to do.”

  Mike cursed.

  “Where exactly did you lose him?”

  He listened intently and made a decision.

  “I’m putting an APB out on him. We will find him and I’ll call you. Get Sandy home and safe. You guys just try to relax, ok?”

  “Alright, baby.”

  Mike made the call, hating himself that he didn’t stay with them. The women in his life were all facing things no one should have to deal with. He wished with all his heart that he could fix everything.

  �
��One thing at a time,’ he thought.

  His phone vibrated and fell onto the passenger seat floor. He pulled over and reached for it.

  “Yep?”

  No answer. Kacey must have accidentally dialed him. He put the phone to his ear and was just about to hang up when he heard,