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Chapter 29

It had been the worst night of Rick Mathies’ life.

When he had received the killer’s cryptic phone call, Mathies’ had been in shock. Eventually his police instinct had kicked in and he had contacted the cellular company to try and locate the caller. After going back and forth with the company for what seemed like an hour, and dealing with a whiny manager who had seemed more concerned with the legality of his request than the urgency, Mathies had only learned that the call had gone through the closest relay tower, and the caller could have been anywhere within a three mile radius.

Hell, he could have been across the street for all they know, Mathies had thought with anger.

Mathies had then called Patrick Campbell for an update on the investigation of his daughter’s disappearance. Finding nothing at the scene (and the rain hadn’t helped), they had towed her car in to the regional lab. Campbell had assured him that the on-call crime scene and lab tech was currently going over the car with a fine tooth comb and they would keep him updated, but Mathies had insisted on observing.

When he arrived at the lab, he was escorted to the garage when the examination was taking place. The technician, a young, brash man by the name of McIntire that Mathies had regrettably dealt with previously, was explaining his find to Campbell.

“The car is absolutely clean otherwise, so I don’t think it’s an old stain. It gave a positive result with the Kastle-Meyer test, but we’ll check to make sure it’s human.”

Mathies has listened with a sinking feeling as McIntire continued.

“It may take awhile. We’re rather backed up right now, and the new analyst is just getting up to speed.”

“How long?” Campbell had asked, his impatience evident in his deep voice.

“We...we have a new test that will do two jobs at once, but we haven’t quite finished the validation of the instrument for our lab, and—”

“I’m not interested in the details, McIntire. How long?”

“Well, it’ll take at least a day after we get to it. Two to three if it’s human and we have to do DNA. We’ll need something for comparison for the DNA tests, either from the subject or from the parents, and to do the Ks will take...”

“Three days?!” Mathies had exploded. “In three days she could be—!”

Campbell had placed a restraining hand on his arm.

“I’ll talk to the director. He’ll light a fire under these guys, don’t worry.”

McIntire had given a disgusted snort.

“We do the best we can. It’s not like TV, you know.”

“I am well aware of that, McIntire.”

“It could be an old stain.” Mathies had said, almost to himself. “This could all be for nothing.”

“Doubtful, given the condition of the vehicle interior,” McIntire had remarked. “It looked like it had just been cleaned. I didn’t even find hairs from the driver.”

Campbell had raised an eyebrow.

“That’s rather important, don’t you think?”

“Well, I...”

“The Sheriff and I have something to discuss. We’ll let you get back to you job.”

Campbell had led Mathies to a conference room and shut the door.

“Rick, is there something you’re not telling me?” Campbell had asked, his brown face etched with concern.

“I can handle it.”

“That didn’t answer my question. Is there something else going on here? Does this have anything to do with...another case?”

Mathies had known he couldn’t lie to his friend. He had said nothing.

“Damn it, Rick, let me help out here. I can call—”

“No! I have to do this on my own. I have to find Bonnie. Just...help me find the guy who took her. That’s all you can do for now. If we can find him, I can find her, and...a lot of other problems will be solved.”

“Do you need me to send you someone from the office to help on your end? I can—”

“No, I have all the help I need for now.” I hope.

After assuring Campbell that he was dealing with the situation, Mathies had gone home to get a comparison sample for the lab. He had been grateful to find his wife fast asleep in her favorite chair, the cordless phone resting on her chest. He had hated to think what her reaction would have been if she had seen him sealing Bonnie’s toothbrush in an evidence container.

After returning to the lab and submitting his own sample, Mathies went back to the office and checked through his files, local databases, anything that might help him connect to the killer. Finding nothing of use, at dawn he had returned to the spot where Bonnie’s car had been found. It was not as though he actually expected the killer to adhere to the old adage and “return to the scene of the crime”, but it gave Mathies time to think. He went over the killer’s words in his head.

You didn’t think I was finished now, did you? I’ve got lots more...fun planned.

How long, do you suppose, someone can survive in that state? No food, no water. Nothing but darkness...

One’s own family is the most important thing...I guess you’re not the father you’ve been made out to be...

Mathies slammed his fist against the steering wheel.

I WILL find her, damn you, if it’s the last thing I do!

Mathies’ thoughts were interrupted by his cell phone. He checked the number and answered.

“Hello? Yes, Sherri, I’ll be there shortly.”

With a sigh, he started his cruiser, put it in gear, and headed back into town.

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