Page 66 of In Her Wake
Jenna felt a chill at the genuine conviction in his voice.Even now, he believed in the righteousness of his actions, the mercy of his intended method.
“Daniel Greenwich,” she began formally, “you’re under arrest for the murders of Dean Alcox, Marjory Powell, and Kevin Torres, and for the attempted murder of Sarah Fleming.”She recited his Miranda rights clearly, watching his expression shift from relief to resignation.
“They were at their peak,” he said when she finished, his eyes seeking understanding she could never provide.“I preserved them at their happiest.It was a gift.”
“It was murder,” Jenna replied simply.“And you’ll answer for it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Jenna cupped her mug between her palms, enjoying the warmth.The kitchen in Frank’s house held the comforting smell of brewing coffee and the lingering traces of his homemade stew that three people had just eaten for dinner.
“So he just told you where Torres’s body was?”Frank asked, settling back into his chair.His weathered face looked especially lined tonight, the overhead light casting shadows that deepened every crease earned through decades of law enforcement.
Jake nodded.“Without hesitation.Led us right to it—a field about five miles outside of Pinecrest.The body was exactly where he said it would be, covered with a sheet just like the others.”
“Medical examiner confirmed cause of death was the same too,” Jenna added.“Asphyxiation by helium.Quick and painless, just like he intended.”
Frank frowned as he studied them both.“And you say he was cooperative?After trying to run?”
“That’s the strangest part,” Jake said, leaning forward.“Once he knew Sarah Fleming was alive and relatively unharmed, his whole demeanor changed.The panic disappeared.He became almost...helpful.”
“He kept asking about her,” Jenna added.“Wanted to make sure the cut on her forehead wasn’t serious, that she hadn’t suffered any lasting damage from the muscle relaxant or the crash.”
“The man killed three people,” Frank said, his voice tinged with disbelief.“And you’re telling me he was worried about scratches on his fourth intended victim?”
Jenna nodded.“In his mind, he wasn’t a murderer.He kept saying he was sorry that Sarah would have to live with ‘life’s inevitable disappointments’ after achieving such success with her podcast.Said he had hoped to save her from that.”
“He sees himself as merciful,” Jake said.“A preservationist, not a killer.”
Frank’s weathered hands wrapped around his coffee mug, his gray eyes sharp despite the late hour.“What kind of mind can do that?Turn murder into mercy?”
Jenna replied, “We learned more about his background during questioning.He was raised by a single father who was a sculptor.The father was apparently obsessed with his work, neglected Daniel’s basic needs—food, attention, affection.”
“So the boy, in his loneliness, began to make friends with his father’s sculptures,” Jake continued.“He told us they were more reliable than real people.They never changed, never disappointed him.”
“And that twisted into his strange philosophy?”Frank asked.
“Exactly,” Jenna confirmed.“He’d watch someone achieve something significant—Alcox completing his masterpiece, Powell making her big sale, Torres getting featured in that fitness magazine—and decide that was their peak moment.Everything after would only be diminishment in his mind.”
“So he preserved them,” Frank murmured.“In his own way.”
A silence fell over the kitchen.Frank rose to refill their mugs, the coffee pot scraping against the burner as he lifted it.
“Well,” he said finally, setting the refreshed mugs before them, “you two did good work.You caught him, and you saved Sarah Fleming.How’s Morgan taking all this?Can’t imagine he’s thrilled about being wrong about Morrison.”
“He’s not,” Jake agreed with a wry smile.
“And what about how you found Greenwich in the first place?”Frank’s gaze shifted to Jenna.“Another one of your dreams?”
“That’s right.Alcox came to me.Or rather, a mannequin version of him did.Told me he was the killer’s first victim and mentioned the philosophy that led us to Greenwich.”
“And Morgan doesn’t know anything about that part?”
“No,” Jake answered.“Colonel Spelling is dealing with Morgan.He’s good at offering plausible explanations without outright lying.”
Frank’s eyebrows shot up.“Spelling knows?”
Jenna met his questioning gaze.“He figured it out himself.Said he’d suspected since the Harvesters case when we found those girls in the abandoned mine.Called me out on it at Alcox’s cabin.”
