Its your call, sir, Ellington said. Mackenzie was rather surprised by how flippant he was being about the call. But I do think my history with the Oregon case could benefit MackenAgent White. Plus, two heads and all of that
McGrath contemplated it for a moment, looking back and forth between the two of them. Ill allow it, but this might very well be the final case the two of you are partnered on. I already have enough people uneasy with an engaged couple working together. Once youre married, you can forget about it.
Mackenzie understood this and even thought it was a good idea in principle. She nodded along with McGraths explanation as she took the papers from Ellingtons hand. She didnt take the time to read them right there, not wanting to appear rude. But she scanned them just enough to get the gist.
Five bodies had been discovered in storage units in 2009, all found within a span of ten days. One of the bodies seemed to have been killed rather recently while one had been killed so long before its discovery that the flesh had started to rot from its bones. Three suspects had been brought in but were ultimately cleared thanks to alibis and a lack of any real evidence.
Of course, were also not prepared to say theres a direct link between the two, right? she asked.
No, not yet, McGrath said. But thats one of the things Id like you to figure out. Look for connections while trying to find this guy.
Anything else? Ellington asked.
No. Transportation is being handled as we speak, but you should be in the air within four hours. Id really like this wrapped up before this maniac can net another five people like he did before.
I thought we werent saying theres a direct link, Mackenzie said.
Not officially, no, McGrath said. And then, as if unable to help himself, he smirked and turned to Ellington. You get to live with that sort of scrutiny for the rest of your life?
Oh yeah, Ellington said. And I look forward to it.
***They were halfway back to his apartment before Ellington bothered calling his mother. He explained that they had been called away and asked if she would like to try to get together sometime after they got back. Mackenzie listened closely, barely able to hear his mothers reply. She said something about the perils of a romantic couple working together and living together. Ellington cut her off before she could really get going.
When he ended the call, Ellington tossed his phone on the floorboard and sighed. So, Mom sends her best.
Im sure.
But the thing she said about husband and wife also working togetheryou prepared for that?
You heard McGrath, she said. That wont happen after were married.
I know. But still. Well be in the same building, hearing about each others cases. There are days where I think that would be awesomebut others when I wonder just how weird it could get.
Why? You afraid Im going to eventually overshadow you?
Oh, you already have, he said with a smile. You just refuse to acknowledge it.
As they rushed to the apartment and then through the chore of packing, the reality of the situation hit her for the first time. This could be the last case she and Ellington ever worked on together. She was sure that they would look back on their cases together fondly when they got older, almost as a sort of inside joke. But for now, with the wedding still looming and two dead bodies waiting on the other side of the country, it was felt dauntinglike the end of something special.
I guess well just have to go out with a bang, she thought as she packed her bag. She peeked over at Ellington, also packing a bag for the trip, and smiled. Sure, they were about to head into a potentially dangerous case and lives were likely on the line, but she couldnt wait to get on the road with him one more timeperhaps one last time.
Chapter Five
They arrived in Seattle with two crime scenes to visit: the location of the first victim, discovered eight days ago, and the location of the second victim, discovered just the day before. Mackenzie had never visited Seattle before so she was almost disappointed to see that one of the citys stereotypes appeared to very much be true: it was drizzling rain when they landed at the airport. The drizzle held up until they were in their rental car and then grew to a steady pour as they headed out to Seattle Storage Solution, the location of the most recently discovered body.
When they arrived, there was a middle-aged man waiting for them in his pickup truck. He stepped out, unlatched an umbrella, and greeted them at their car. He handed them another umbrella with a lopsided smile.
No one from out of town really ever thinks to bring one, he explained as Ellington took it. He popped it up and, as chivalrous as ever, made sure Mackenzie was fully underneath it.
Thanks, Ellington said.
Quinn Tuck, the man said, offering his hand.
Agent Mackenzie White, Mackenzie said, taking the offered hand. Ellington did the same, introducing himself as well.
Come on, then, Quinn said. No sense in putting it off. Id rather be home, if its all the same to you. The bodys gone, thank Jesus, but the unit still gives me the heebie jeebies.
Is this the first time youve ever had something like this happen before? Mackenzie asked.
Its the first thing this terrible, sure. I had a dead raccoon caught in a unit one time. And this other time, wasps somehow got into a unit, made a nest, and dive bombed the renter. But yeahnothing this bad before.
Quinn brought them to a unit with a black 35 plastered above the garage-style door. The door was open and a policeman was milling around in the back of the unit. He carried a pen and notepad, jotting down something as Mackenzie and Ellington entered.
The policeman turned to them and smiled. You folks with the bureau? he asked.
We are, Ellington said.
Pleased to meet you. Im Deputy Paul Rising. I thought Id be out here when you arrived. Im taking notes on everything stored in here, hoping to find some sort of clues. Because as of right now, theres exactly none.
Were you on the scene when the body was removed?
Unfortunately. It was pretty gruesome. A woman named Claire Locke, age twenty-five. Shed been dead for at least a week. Its not clear if she starved to death or bled out first.
Mackenzie slowly took in the sight of the unit. The back was stocked with boxes, milk crates, and several old trunkstypical things to be found in a storage unit. But the bloodstain on the floor made it quite different indeed. It wasnt a very large one, but she guessed it could have resulted in enough blood loss to lead to death. Perhaps it was her imagination, but she was pretty sure she could still smell some of the stench the body had left behind.
While Deputy Rising went on about his business with the boxes and bins in the back, Mackenzie and Ellington started to investigate the rest of the interior. As far as Mackenzie was concerned, a bloodstain on the floor pointed to something else worth finding. As she looked around for any clues, she listened to Ellington as he asked Rising about the case details.
Was the woman bound or gagged in any way? Ellington asked.
Both. Hands tied behind her back, ankles tied together, and one of those ball gags in her mouth. The blood you see on the floor there came from a small stab wound high in her stomach.
Both. Hands tied behind her back, ankles tied together, and one of those ball gags in her mouth. The blood you see on the floor there came from a small stab wound high in her stomach.
Being bound and gagged at least explained why Claire Locke had been unable to make any noise to alert people on the other side of the unit walls. Mackenzie tried to imagine a woman locked in this crammed little space with no light, food, or water. It pissed her off.
As she slowly made a circuit around the unit, she came to the corner of the doorway. Rain drummed down in front of her, slapping at the concrete outside. But just along the inside of the metal door frame, Mackenzie spotted something. It was very low to the ground, at the very base of the frame that allowed the door to slide up and down.
She dropped to her knees and leaned in closer. When she did, she saw a splotch of blood on the edge of the groove. Not muchso little, in fact, that she doubted any of the cops had seen it yet. And then, on the floor just beneath the splotch of blood, was something small, ragged, and white.
Mackenzie gently touched it with her finger. It was piece of a torn fingernail.
Somehow, Claire Locke had managed to try to escape. Mackenzie closed her eyes for a moment, trying to envision it. Depending on how her hands had been tied, she could have backed up to the door, knelt down, and tried lifting the door upward. It would have been a futile attempt due to the lock outside, but certainly worth trying if you were on the verge of starving or bleeding to death.
Mackenzie waved Ellington over and showed him what she had found. She then turned to Rising and asked: Do you recall if there were any additional injuries to Ms. Lockes hands?
Yes, actually, he said. There were a few superficial cuts on her right hand. And I think most of one of her fingernails was missing.
He came over to where Mackenzie and Ellington were standing and let out a little Oh.
Mackenzie continued looking but found nothing more than a few stray hairs. Hairs she assumed would belong to either Claire Locke or the owner of the unit.
Mr. Tuck? she said.
Quinn was standing just outside of the unit, perched under his umbrella. He was doing everything he could to not be standing in the unitto not even be looking inside. At the sound of his name, though, he stepped inside reluctantly.
Who does this unit belong to?
Thats the fucked up part, he said. Claire Locke had been renting this unit out for the last seven months.
Mackenzie nodded as she looked to the back, where Lockes belongings were stacked to the ceiling in neat little rows. The fact that it was her storage unit did add a degree of eeriness to it, but, she thought, might work to their advantage in eventually establishing motive or even tracking down the killer.
Are there security cameras around here? Ellington asked.
I just have one right up at the front entrance, Quinn Tuck said.
Weve watched all of the footage from the last few weeks, Deputy Rising said. Theres nothing out of the ordinary. Currently, were speaking to everyone who showed up here anytime during the last two weeks. As you can imagine, its going to be tedious. We still have a dozen or so people to question.
Any chance we could get our hands on that footage? Mackenzie asked.
Absolutely, Rising said, though his tone indicated that she was nuts to want to go fishing through it.
Mackenzie followed Ellington to the back of the unit. Part of her wanted to rummage through the boxes and bins but she knew it would likely not lead to much of anything. Once they had leads or potential suspects, they may find something worthwhile but until then, the contents within the unit would mean nothing to them.
Is the body still with the coroner? Mackenzie asked.
To the best of my knowledge, Rising said. Want me to call and let them know youre coming?
Please. And see what you can do about getting us that video footage.
Oh, I can send that, Agent White, Quinn said. Its all digital. Just let me know where you want me to send it.
Come on, Rising said. Ill lead you to the coroners office. Its just happens to be two floors below my office.
With that, the four of them exited the storage unit and walked back out into the rain. Even under the umbrella, it was loud. It came down slow but hard, as if trying to wash away the sights and smells the unit had seen.
Chapter Six
As it turned out, Quinn Tuck was extremely helpful. It seemed he wanted to get to the bottom of what had happened just as badly as anyone. Thats why, when Mackenzie and Ellington got to the police station, he had provided a link for them to access all of his digital files from the security system at the storage complex.
They decided to start with the security footage rather than the body of Claire Locke. It gave them a chance to sit down and somewhat collect their bearings. It was nearing nightfall now and the rain was still coming down. As Deputy Rising got them set up with a monitor, Mackenzie looked back on the day and found it hard to believe that she had been standing in a picturesque garden and thinking about her wedding less than nine hours ago.
Here are the relevant time stamps, Rising said, slipping Mackenzie a piece of paper from his notepad. There arent many. He tapped his finger at one entry in particular, written in slanted handwriting. This is the only time we see Claire Locke enter the complex. We pulled her DMV info and got her license plate number, so we know its her. And this, he said, tapping at another entry, is when she left. And these are the only times she shows up on the footage.
Thanks, Deputy, Ellington said. This helps tremendously.
Rising gave a little nod of acknowledgment before backing out of the tiny spare office the agents had been given. The monotonous work took a while, but as Rising had indicated, the local PD had already done some of the work for them. They were able to fast-track the footage when there was no activity on the screen. They started by checking the time stamps on the sheet of paper. When the car said to belong to Claire Locke came onto the screen, Mackenzie zoomed in but was unable to see a driver. She waited, watching the featureless entrance of the complex for twenty-two sped up minutes before Lockes car was shown leaving. In the time she had spent there, no one else had arrived and no other cars had left.
You know, Mackenzie said, its entirely possible that she was not attacked at the storage unit.
You think someone killed her elsewhere and brought her to the site?
Maybe not killed her somewhere else, but potentially abducted her. I think seeing her body will help determine that. If she shows signs of starvation or dehydration, that basically tells us that she was dumped there.
But according to the report, the lock was bolted from the outside.
So maybe someone else has the key, Mackenzie suggested.
Probably someone in one of the other cars on these days and days of footage.
Most likely.
You want to stay here and roll through this while I go check out the body? Ellington asked. Or the other way around?
Mackenzie pictured the poor woman, alone in the dark and unable to so much as scream for help. She envisioned her stumbling in the dark to try to find some way to at least try to get that door open.
I think Id like to check the body. You good here?