maybe he was trying to send us a message – to let us know he was in control.’
Evan’s face took on a stillness that Darby found unsettling. ‘Traveler’s a very smart, highly organized psychopath,’ he said. ‘He abducts women from different states and mixes up the methods of abduction so he won’t attract any attention to himself. The victim selection is totally random so we can’t find a pattern. He can hide underground for several months, which shows a remarkable amount of restraint. And as I’ve learned, his plans are well thought out.
‘Everything Traveler does is about exerting control over his surroundings – that’s why he sent the package to Carol’s mother, why he placed the call to her. He wants us to know he has Carol and can kill her whenever he wants.’
‘Which is why we need to use the listening devices to bait him,’ Darby said.
‘With what?’
‘You,’ Darby said. ‘We use the Herald reporter, tell him you’re here because Rachel Swanson woke up and told us some key piece of evidence and you want to take a look at the house. That way we can guarantee Traveler will be listening.’
‘If he reads my name in the paper, he might panic and decide to kill Carol and the other women and move on. He’s done it before.’
‘Only this time he made a mistake at Carol’s house,’ Darby said. ‘He left his blood behind – and one of his victims. Rachel Swanson could be the key to finding Traveler. He’s going to want to stick around to see what we know about Rachel before he moves on.’
Banville checked his watch. ‘I’ve got fifteen minutes left to call the reporter,’ he said. ‘I’m open to suggestions.’
‘We could wait until the sepsis is under control,’ Evan said, ‘and then move Rachel Swanson to a controlled setting at a psychiatric facility, take off her restraints and have Darby talk to her again.’
‘She may not want to talk again,’ Darby said. ‘You listened to the tape. She stopped talking to me. Have you found listening devices at any of the other victims’ homes?’
‘No, this is a first.’
Darby looked at Banville. ‘I say we plant the story about the FBI wanting to go through the house to search for key evidence. Traveler will want to know what Agent Manning has found. If Traveler shows up, we’ll corner him. We’ll have all the streets blocked off so he can’t escape.’
‘And if he doesn’t show up?’ Evan asked.
‘He’ll kill Carol – he may have already killed her,’ Darby said. ‘We need to use the listening devices. They’re our best shot.’
Evan was now looking at Banville. ‘This is your investigation. It’s your call.’
Banville rubbed a finger across his mouth. ‘Two missing women and a missing teenage girl… I agree with Darby. I say we go for it.’
Chapter 37
All the florists in Beacon Hill were closed for the day. Darby was forced to pick through the anemic-looking flowers left inside the hospital gift shop. She took her time selecting the brightest colors she could find and made a nice arrangement.
ICU was quiet and calm now. Dr Hathcock was gone for the day. Darby checked in with a nurse. There was no change in Rachel Swanson’s condition.
It took some wrangling to convince the nurse to allow the flowers in the room. Darby placed the flowers on the sill underneath the TV. That way, when Rachel woke up, she would see the flowers. Maybe they would help convince her that she was no longer trapped in the dark room where Carol Cranmore now was.
Bleary-eyed and weary, Darby stumbled into her mother’s room. Sheila was asleep.
A peculiar sadness gripped her. On the way over here, Darby had hoped her mother would be awake. Darby needed to talk. The selfishness of a child needing her mother. Darby wondered if she would ever outgrow it.
Sheila’s eyes fluttered open. ‘Darby… I didn’t hear you come in.’
‘I just got here. Can I get you anything?’
‘Some ice water would be nice.’
Downstairs, Darby filled a plastic tumbler with ice and water. She sat on the bed and held the cup while her mother sucked from a straw.
‘Much better.’ Sheila’s eyes were clear and focused, but she was having trouble breathing. ‘Did you eat? Tina made something resembling egg salad.’
‘I grabbed a sandwich at the hospital.’
‘What were you doing there?’
‘Visiting Jane Doe,’ Darby said. ‘Her name is Rachel Swanson. She woke up today.’
‘Tell me about it.’
‘Why don’t you rest? You look tired.’
Sheila waved it off. ‘I’m going to have