Griffin had gone to dinner with old friends, members of his unit who were passing through Boston on their way to their home a bit north, in Salem; Vickie hadnt gone with him only because shed already made plans with Alex this evening, and shed invited Roxanneshe had it all set up. She already regretted the fact that shed made previous plans. She really wanted to get to know Griffins friendsDevin Lyle and Craig Rockwell. Craig was known as Rocky, she had learned, and hed grown up in Peabody, Massachusetts, while Devin had grown up in Salem. Now they were a married couple, and though Devin was still a childrens book author, she had also gone through the academy and become part of the Krewe of Hunters unit down in Virginia.
But Vickie had never ditched one friend for another, or ignored a promise of a dinner date with one person to go out with someone else. She had thought of switching dates with Alex. That hadnt worked, however, because she hadnt been able to reach him.
And she couldnt just not show upAlex had been so excited. Hed made what he thought was a pretty amazing discovery about something that had to do with Massachusetts. He was enjoying lording it over herthough he said he couldnt wait to tell her about it.
Even though their friendship was pretty new, Vickie felt she knew Alex. He was often crazy busy, and still, like her, if hed made a date, hed be there. He didnt seem to be the kind of man who would simply forget a friend, under any circumstance. Not that unexpected things didnt happen, but he did have a cell phone, and he should have called.
Naturally, Roxanne was aware that Vickie had been entertaining ulterior motives in insisting that she come with them to dinner at the café.
They were both great people, and Vickie wanted them to get together. She wasnt matchmaking; if they happened to like each other, that would be great. If not, it was just a dinner with friends.
Vickies pretense to have Roxanne join them at dinner was that she was worried; Alex had taken quite a beating when hed gone down. Vickie had said that she was afraid that shed be ridiculously emotional, embarrassing everyone, if they were alone.
Dumb excuse, yes. And Roxanne had finally accused her point-blank of trying to set her up.
You are playing matchmaker, Roxanne said. Never a good thing.
No, not usually a good thing, Vickie had corrected.
But Roxanne had laughed. Lets do it. My last affair fell apart quickly enough. Hot and heavyand over in the two seconds we realized I love a good art show and he loves watching sports in his boxers and guzzling beer. I mean, lots of guys do that, but not twenty-four hours a day or every single second out of work! I dont seem to choose wellmaybe you choosing for me will be the right thing. How could meeting this guy be anything worse than what happened before?
Roxanne had beenfor a brief timegrowing heavily involved with an old boyfriend of Vickies, but in the rising intensity of the case just solved, shed not only been seriously injured, but forced to rethink where she wanted to be in a relationship.
And yes, Vickie wanted to set her up with Alex.
But now, of course, the guy wasnt there.
Vickie dialed his number again. No answer.
Maybe he knew I was coming, Roxanne said. That could scare a guy away.
Dont be ridiculous, Vickie said. Youre beautiful. Her friend was beautiful: blonde, trim, with a great smile. She just didnt have luck with men. Vickie continued. I know he wants to see me. Ive been working on all kinds of things having to do with his assault. I was tracing that rhyme that was left written on his chestand now, the same rhyme that was left on the other victims of this attacker, as well.
Of course you have, Roxanne murmured. She was a visual artist, filled with all kinds of insight and art appreciation, but she was nowhere near as fond of history as either Vickie or Alex.
Bear with me, Vickie said. That saying that was written on himit goes backway back. I dont believe there were really any kind of Satanists running around when the whole thing started. I found reference to a man named Ezekiel Martin, who had studied to be a Puritan minister. He was never ordained, but he practiced his own brand of religion and managed to take a slew of people with him west into the woods to form a new colony and sectone that he ruled through preaching a different higher powerthat, apparently, being Satan.
In truth, he seemingly followed a young woman named Missy Prior, who had left of her own accord, being against the repression of the society. Anyway, Ezekiel had a thing for Missybut she didnt have a thing for him. He managed to blame her for every ill that befell his community. He claimed to have found those words written in the ground near where Missy Prior lived, and that Missy was trying to conjure Satan, and that Satan came to him at night and claimed that Ezekiel would have Missy Prior. Naturally, he saw himself as Satans representative. Satan in the flesh until Satan should appear... His personal religion afforded him lots of benefits.
Wowand yuck! Even way back, people were going on icky Im close to God so I get to have all the sex trips, huh?
Im still trying to find more on Ezekiel Martin, Vickie said.
Isnt Alex a history professor?
Exactly. Hes in a guest position, or whatever they call it right nowand he loves Harvard, so hes hoping to stay on.
And Im sure hes researching all this himself.
He is, but thats also why hes anxious to meet with me. Compare notes.
Their waitress came by, a pretty, gamine-faced young woman with dark brown hair.
You still waiting for your friend? she asked.
Were going to give him a few more minutes, Vickie said.
Is it that fellow youve met here before?
Vickie looked at her with surprise, and then realized that the young woman usually wore her hair down, and thatyes, of courseshed had her several times as a server at the coffee shop.
Yes, Im waiting on Alex, she said.
The girl smiled cheerfully. He was here last night. Im sure hell be along.
Thereshes sure Alex will be along, Roxanne said.
He was here last night? Vickie asked.
Yes, hes always in when the Dearborn duo are playing. He loves them, the waitress said. Ill keep my eye out! she promised as she moved on.
Thanks, Vickie said. Shed been with Alex when hed come to see the Dearborn brother-and-sister performers before. They were talented guitarists and played folk music, ballads and covers of Simon and Garfunkel tunes, John Denver, Carole King and more.
Shed heard that the pair were twins; if so, they were fraternal. He was blond with soft brown eyes; she had extremely dark hair and smoke-gray eyes. They were an attractive pair, and they definitely seemed to have a casual, easy way with a crowd.
I just wish that hed answer his phone, Vickie said.
Vickie!
For a moment, her heart jumped. But it wasnt Alex calling her. She looked through the milling guests in the coffee shop and saw Professor Milton Hanson, one of Alexs closest associates. He knew Vickies father, though was more of an associate than a friend.
Actually, her dad didnt like him very much.
Who is that? Cool-looking guy, distinguished...dignified.
Actually, her dad didnt like him very much.
Who is that? Cool-looking guy, distinguished...dignified.
He was smarmy, according to her dad. A little too good-looking. A little too close to some of his students.
Hello, young lady. How are you? he asked, stopping by the table. He had an attractive woman on his arm; she offered Vickie a big smile.
Professor Hanson, she said, introducing him to Roxanne. He, in turn, introduced his lady friend.
I wanted to come by to check out this café, Hanson said. Our mutual friend, Alex Maple, loves this place. But theres no music.
Yes, Alex loves it, Vickie agreed. But the music is on Saturday nights.
Roxanne opened her mouth; she was clearly about to say that they were waiting for Alex.
Vickie kicked her under the table. A little tiny squeak escaped her.
Saturday night. Ill have to come then. Well, nice to see you! Hanson said, and he moved on.
Hey! That hurt, Roxanne said.
Sorry.
Why didnt you tell him we were waiting for Alex now? Roxanne asked.
I dont know.
Hes still here somewhere, Roxanne said. We could find him.
No, I just dont feel comfortable asking him about Alex.
Okay. But Alex isnt here. So, seriously, maybe something just came up, Roxanne said. Lets face it. Not that I blame youI mean, you were kidnapped and nearly killed recentlybut youre overly suspicious of the world. Im overly suspicious, too, since that wasnt such a great time for me, either. And Im your basic coward, so that adds to me doubting everything. But honestlyarent you getting a little carried away, being so worried just because Alex didnt show up for dinner? Maybe his sister was sick, or maybe he had to rush his dog to the emergency vet or something. Things do happen.
But someone like Alex, Roxanne, he would let me know. You know, maybe I am being ridiculous. I just cant believe hed be so rude.
Im sorry, Vickie. I love youyou really are the best friend and most courteous human beingbut maybe his emergency was just more important than you.
I hope thats true, Vickie murmured.
Just as Roxanne spoke, Vickies phone rang. It was Griffin.
Hey! Hows it going? I wish I could have joined you, Vickie said.
Dinner didnt happen. Barnes was dropping me off at the restaurant when someone called in an attack down the street from where we werewe heard it on the scanner. Anyway, to make a long story short, I gave chase, caught the guyand he took some kind of a suicide pill, Griffin told her.
So, hes dead?
Whos dead? Roxanne demanded, looking at Vickie with alarm.
An attacker, Vickie murmured quickly.
Thats great! Roxanne said. No, I mean, not the dead part. Hes been caught, right? But... Griffin killed him? I mean, we shouldnt want anyone dead. Except this guy really hurt a lot of people, so
He killed himself, Vickie said quickly.
How, what, why? Roxanne asked.
I dont know! Let me listen, Vickie pleaded. Griffin? The attacker is dead?
Griffin didnt seem to have noted her absence from the conversation to whisper to Roxanne; whatever had happened that evening, it was still consuming his mind.
Yes. Strange, he was trying for suicide by cop. I told him I wouldnt shoot him. He took a pill before I could stop him.
But it was the man who attacked Alex, right? I mean, was it? You just said that it was an attack. It was the same kind of attackwith the same words written?
Griffin hesitated on the other end of the phone line.
A guy is dead. A guy who was seen leaving the same note that was found on Alex and the other two victims. Im sure Alex will be glad to hear that. Tell him for me, and that Ill give him details in the morning. Except...
Except what?
Griffin seemed to hesitate a long time.
What is it? Vickie persisted.
I dont think the man who killed himself tonight is the only one in on this, Griffin said. But hey, thats for later. Anyway, Im at the station. Devin and Rocky are going to stay at my place tonight. I told them I seldom use it and they kind of figured that. Salem is only forty minutes awaywell, forty minutes or two hours, depending on traffic! They were actually taking a little personal time to check on their homes up there, see some family and friends. Im glad theyre here, though. I can toss around whats going on with them. You can give Alex the news that weve stopped one of them, anyway.
I cant tell Alex anything. He didnt show, Vickie said. Were still herewere having the cafés Sunday night special and hoping that he will make it eventually.
He didnt show? You know him better than I do, but thats not like Alex, is it?
No, its not like Alex at all.
Did you call him?
At least a dozen times. And Ive left just as many messages, Vickie said.
Griffin was silent for a minute. How long have you been trying to reach him? he asked her.
Um, lets see... I started calling him this morning, when you got the call from Devin telling you that she and Rocky were going to be heading up to Salem, and did you want to meet for dinner. So, Ive called and texted all day.
I can come and join you. Well, in a while. A woman was attackedshes on her way to the hospital. And a man died. Ive still got things to do and, you know, paperwork.
Paperwork.
Shed learned all about police paperwork during the Undertaker case.
Roxie and I will go ahead and have dinner and then head to my place, Vickie said. Well wait for you there. In the meantime, Ill hope that Alex calls me with some kind of an apology!
Is his family near?
He grew up in Massachusetts, but his folks are living on an island off Georgia nowhis dad started getting asthma, Vickie said. He has a little sister, but shes studying in Europe somewhere.
Okay. Griffin was quiet for a minute. I just have to report to the local office, get my statement in. And Barnes has to do the same, but he can kick this over to one of the task force members. Finish eating. Ill get to you as soon as possible.
Ill head home, she said.
Ill see you soon.
She hung up and looked around the room again with frustration, hopingperhaps ridiculouslythat Alex might have appeared. No Alex.
She frowned, though. A young blonde woman was standing at the end of the counter bar, as if waiting for a coffee creation.
But she was staring at Vickie intently, with unusual intensity.
Why is that woman looking at me like that? Vickie murmured aloud.
Roxanne turned to look toward the counter, but at that moment, several young men walked byall of them a fine size to serve as tackles for the Boston Patriots, should they choose.
Thereshe was right there. Really pretty blonde. Young, long hairwhite summer halter dress with a flowy white wrap...
I dont see her.
Shes gone. She was staring at me, weirdly.
Maybe she got a bad shot of coffee, Vickie. Hey, not trying to be insulting or anything here, but its not always about you, Vick! Roxanne said lightly.