Page 41 of Good Girls Don't Cry

At a signal, Zorro moved forward and then stopped and sat down. Kane looked at Carter when the dog turned around and moved back to Carter’s side.

“He smells explosives, a cache likely C4 or Semtex. If it were an IED, he gives a different signal.”

Kane nodded. Carter’s voice had come through his earpiece at just above a whisper but he could hear it just fine. He indicated to keep going. Ahead was an unknown quantity who liked to play mind games.

As screams echoed around them, Kane dropped deeper into the zone and embraced the cold unemotional state. Nothing would stop him taking down this killer. He moved forward keeping his back to the wall, behind him Raven retraced his steps. As they moved through one open metal gate and then another, the single bulb hanging from the roof illuminated a young girl tied to a chair wearing an explosive vest. The girl’s eyes looked hopeful at the sight of him but she shook her head and tipped it sightly toward the right. He stopped midstride and glanced at Carter before scanning the small space. It hadn’t changed since the last time he was here, an office type space, a shower, and cells. The mind-altering screaming of tortured souls finally stopped and a man’s voice replaced it.

“There you all are, ready to take me down.” The man chuckled. “I didn’t figure you’d make it past the tripwire. The last deputy didn’t.”

Unfazed, Kane indicated toward one of the open cell doors and then looked at the girl, who gave him a slight nod. “Sheriff’s department, why don’t you come out and we can discuss this? No one needs to die today. So far, we have you only on kidnapping Olivia. If she’s okay, then it won’t be so bad. I’ll put in a good word with the judge if you cooperate.”

“You won’t need to, Deputy Kane, because I’m walking right out of here, but first you need to hear my story.” The man walked out of the cell, dressed in black and wearing a balaclava. In one hand he held a device, and his other rested on a Glock pushed into his belt.

“Why would we care?” Carter was aiming his weapon at the man’s head. “You put down that detonator and we’ll talk.”

“No way.” The man shook his head. “This is my guarantee of freedom.”

Keeping his M18 pistol leveled on the man’s chest, Kane stared into eyes like empty sockets. “So you wanna deal?”

“I want the truth, is all.” The man waved the detonator. “Didn’t you understand my notes? All those murders and people you put in prison, but you got it wrong one time. I’m putting the record straight and then I’m out of here.”

“How did you know the details of the murders you copied?” Raven moved closer.

“Easy. I read the true crime series about the murders in Black Rock Falls.” He shrugged. “The author went into great detail, which made them a breeze to copy, but I mixed up a few to make life difficult for you.” His posture suddenly changed. “No more talking. Put down your weapons. I’m walking out of here.”

Kane didn’t move an inch. “That’s not gonna happen. I don’t make deals in caves. Come down to the sheriff’s office, we’ll get you a lawyer, and then we’ll talk.” He read him his rights.

“You’re wasting your breath.” The supremely confident man’s mouth curled into a smile. “I win. You’ll never risk Olivia’s life.” He chuckled. “I know how you think. If I didn’t, why do you figure I kept Olivia alive? Look at her, she’s perfect and I want to kill her so bad, but then I’d lose my bargaining chip.”

“So you want to confess your sins?” Carter gave a cynical laugh. “Sorry, we didn’t figure we’d need to bring a priest.” He looked at Kane. “Remind me to add one to our team the next time we’re hunting down scum.”

“I’m no fool. I’ve seen the bodycam. Whatever happens here will be recorded. I’ll tell my story and then I’m leaving.” The man waved the device. “This detonator has a long range and you’ll never figure out how to disarm the vest, so you’ll let me go and then maybe hope to catch me later—but don’t hold your breath. I’ve been enjoying myself for a long time and nobody’s caught me yet. Well, not for murder. You see, I’m in and out before small-town cops like you discover the bodies.”

“Why did you try and shoot the woman with me at the crime scene out at Glacial Heights?” Raven stepped closer his weapon drawn. “She hasn’t done anything to you.”

“You and she were in the way.” The man shrugged. “I knew if I took you out, the sheriff would come running.” He moved his black eyes to Kane. “I needed to put things right.”

Examining the detonator, Kane recognized the improvised type, and the man’s thumb hovering above a red button. He flicked his fingers at Carter to stand down. “Okay, we’re listening. So the murders in the bathrooms were yours. Is that the message here?”

“Yeah.” The man’s grin spread under the gap in his balaclava. “I like to kill in threes on Halloween because it leaves a lasting memory. People get scared when they believe I’m coming back, but in truth I move around. I don’t kill every so many years. I kill all the time. I just make it three on Halloween in the same town. Not just here but all over the good old USA.”

Frowning, Kane stared at the delusional man. “So you’re saying we arrested the wrong guy for the Halloween shower murders? If I recall, you were in jail over that time.”

“Yeah, I was but I met this crazy guy in jail.” The man leaned against the wall as if he had all the time in the world. “He was on remand for killing dogs. We talked about killing. You know, we recognize each other. Psychopaths have a kinship—a respect for each other. I let him run his mouth and the conversation went onto my kills. They’d been all over the media. He didn’t know I was the killer, but I told him how neat it would be to record the murders and place them in the graves.” He sighed. “He raved on about how much he’d love to become famous like the Halloween Killer. The next thing I know, this guy is copying my shower kills right down to the recordings and burying them in threes.” He stabbed a finger in his chest. “The first ones you found were mine. He messed up and got caught. I’m setting the record straight.”

“You could have sent us an email.” Carter shook his head. “All this is drama queen overkill.”

“So you believe, but it seems to me I have the upper hand here.” The man waved the detonator. “I’ll make it simple for you. I walk out of here and she lives.”

The threat was real but this guy was a master manipulator playing out a scene in his deluded mind. Kane rolled his shoulders. “You figure I’m gonna allow you to walk out of here when you’ve threatened to kill my wife? I’ll give you one chance. Place the detonator and the weapon on the ground, put your hands on your head, and you leave here alive.”

“I press this button and we all die.” The man held up the detonator, his thumb poised over the red button. “I’ve got nothing to lose.”

The deafening sound of a shot came from beside Kane as Carter discharged his weapon. The bullet hit the man in the shoulder, throwing him to the ground. The detonator slid across the floor stopping at Olivia’s feet. The girl screamed in terror as Kane dashed forward to disarm the perpetrator. In a split second, the man went for his Glock. On instinct, Kane aimed center mass and fired. The gunshots reverberated through the mineshafts in endless echoes. He stared down at the man, as a patch of blood spread across the massive hole in his chest. It wasn’t necessary to check his vital signs, but Kane kicked the Glock from his hand and then bent down. He removed the balaclava and pressed fingers to the man’s neck. He shook his head. “This is Silas Thorne. I interviewed him. He was a ranch hand out at the Silver Buckle.” He straightened. “You okay, Olivia?”

“Get this vest off of me.” Olivia stared at Kane with terrified eyes. “He was going to blow me up. Get me out of here.” Her entire body shook and her teeth chattered. “I don’t want to die. Please help me!”

“Calm down.” Carter placed a hand on her shoulder. “Keep shaking like that and you’ll trigger the bomb and we’ll all die. I can get you out, but you must sit still.”

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