Page 17 of A Touch of Murder
"It's just so…" He searched for the word. "Insane, crazy, unbelievable. I mean, why him? Why is he given this talent while millions of others can't do the same thing?"
"There are others out there like him. It's called psychometry and there are a few people around the world who claim to have the ability. I've seen television shows about it. It's considered a pseudoscience because nobody can prove it's true, but once you've seen or heard about Adam's success rate, you can't deny there's something to it," Steller told them. "If Adam said he saw the guy who took Trina, he did."
"He thinks there might have been two men." Barret went on to tell them about the reading and everything he'd seen. "In fact, I should have the recording by now." He pulled up his email and nodded. "Listen to this." He turned up the volume on his computer and hit play. While everyone in the room listened, Barret looked at the other things Adam had sent. There was a color swatch of an almost lime green color that he'd seen from the tattoo on the man's arm, and there was an image of a black mechanic's glove with a small message that the glove was like it, but he couldn't be sure of the brand. Barret sent the color swatch and the glove image to the printer. He'd add a new area to the whiteboard and label it as possible evidence since they couldn't confirm anything Adam had seen was fact.
When the recording ended, Vance looked pale. "Man, I don't want to think about what Trina went through. That was troubling."
"Add in what the M.E.'s report said, and it makes it even worse," Little agreed.
"We need to catch these men." Steller stared at the whiteboard. "Doesn't sound like anyone I know locally, but I hardly know everyone."
"The fact the body was left over five-hundred miles away makes me think they aren't local," Barret said. "I'm looking forother cases in surrounding states that are similar. I've only come across one. A teen in Oregon went missing a few months ago and her body was later found in Washington. I'm hoping we can get a D.N.A. match on the evidence from that case and Trina's. I've got a call in to speak to the detective on that case."
"Was there D.N.A. found with Trina?" Little asked.
"Hairs, and possible semen, but the body had been out in the rain. They aren't sure if it will be enough to get a profile on it. I'm hoping for the hair to at least come back with something," Vance told the others.
Barret stood and went to the printer. He pulled the pictures he'd printed from the tray and went to the whiteboard. He quickly wroteunverified evidenceat the bottom and attached each picture with tape. "First man that Adam saw was wearing a glove like this one, and the second man he saw had a tattoo. While Adam couldn't see what it was, he did notice the color." He wrote a short description under each photo so others would know what they were looking at. "Once Adam gets done with the sketch artist, we'll start showing the drawing around town. Hopefully, someone knows who these men are."
"Until then, we keep digging. I refuse to let this one go cold. I want to catch whoever killed that poor girl and watch them hang," Vance announced to the room.
Barret agreed. Now they just had to make it happen.
CHAPTER NINE
Adam smiled as Maggie Crenshaw walked into his shop. "Afternoon, Maggie. What brings you in today?" He knew the woman from brief interactions around town, but he didn't know her well.
"I was told you needed a sketch artist." She patted the large bag she carried. "Police called me. I'm the department's artist when the need arises." She looked around. "Nice place. I can't believe I haven't been here before now." She turned to look at the essential oils they sold. "I've tried a few of these. Really help my hay fever when it kicks in. But that's for later. You got time to sit down with me right now?"
"Sure. My assistant Jacey just ran down the street to get a late lunch, but he should be back soon. We can get started, but I may have to stop if anyone else comes in before he's back." Adam led her to his back office.
"That's fine. I hear we're working the Wilson girl's case. You get a vision?" Maggie asked.
"Family brought me something of hers. I was able to see a man's face when she was attacked. I'm hoping it's someone somebody knows." He gestured to the table. "Will that give you enough room? If not, we can go upstairs to my apartment. There's a bigger table there."
"This is perfect. The way I work is I do two images. I've got my computer that has software many of the police departments use to piece together a face, but I also like to do it the old-fashioned way and draw. I find that those computer images miss the little things, a scar, a wrinkle, a slight bump on the nose. I can draw those in better than the computer can create them. I always like to start with the drawing first, if that's okay?"
"Whatever works for you. I'm just glad to be helping. Can I get you a bottle of water while you set up?"
"Sounds good. It's not too hot out there yet, but summer's coming. In no time we'll be sweating our butts off.'' She pushed back her braids so they laid behind her shoulders, then opened her bag and started pulling out items.
Adam pulled two water bottles from the small fridge and went to sit with her. "I knew you were an artist, but I had no idea you worked with the police."
"Been doing it for years. Thankfully, they don't need me often. Most of the time I spend my days painting at home or sometimes doing a mural on one of the business windows. Speaking of which, when are you going to let me paint something on yours?" She set down a large sketch pad and some charcoal pencils.
"Anytime. I'd be proud to have your work displayed. What would you paint?"
"I'm not sure. You have anything big happening you want to promote? A sale or something you have planned?" She pulled a laptop out and set it aside.
"I have a woman coming in for a few weeks in June who does aura readings. Would that count as something interesting?"
"Oh, auras, now that could be fun. I could paint a human body with an aura around it. Make it as tall as your window. That would help attract people to the shop while she's here. Let them know you've got something special going on. When we're done here, you can give me the date she's arriving, and I'll come in a few days before and get it done." Maggie reached for a pencil. "Okay, let's get started. Tell me first in simple terms what he looks like, then we'll get more detailed."
Adam spent the next two hours working with Maggie. He tried to remember everything he could about the man and evenwent as far as playing part of the recording to make sure he'd not said something during it that he'd forgotten.
"What do you think? She turned the drawing around to him.
Her talent was evident. Though he'd only given her tiny pieces of information, she'd taken it and created an almost eerie drawing of what he'd seen. She'd even drawn the hat and the Marlin's logo on it. He was stunned and a bit creeped out to stare at the face of the person he knew hurt Trina. "That's him. Exactly how I saw him."
