Deadly Fate (Krewe of Hunters #19)(40)

“No, there’s nothing that says that it is him. But, there’s also nothing that says that it’s not him. At this point, anything is speculation. We have to keep our eyes open, be exceptionally vigilant and, yes, warn young women,” Thor said.

“We’ll be doing that in a press conference this afternoon,” Enfield told the assembled crowd. “Right now, we’re keeping eyes on the Wickedly Weird Production Company, and—to a lesser extent—the folks who were to be interviewed on the island. Unless all three men with the theatrical company suddenly became sickly homicidal together, they’re in the clear—background checks on the three come up with nothing but clean slates. We’re keeping an eye on them for their safety.”

“You have all received sheets on Tate Morley. They have gone out across the country,” Thor said. “He is capable of being a physical chameleon. He escaped one of his scenes dressed as a nun, one as a clown, and another as simply stoned out. Again, there’s nothing that suggests he did come here, but, again, be vigilant.”

When the meeting was over, they spoke with Brennan and Enfield briefly.

Enfield believed that Thor was right; they needed a representative on the island from now until it was determined to be unnecessary.

“Get techs checking up on Marc Kimball for me, too, please, will you, Director?” Thor asked.

“Kimball?” Enfield was surprised.

“He’s back on the island,” Jackson said.

“I know, of course. Detective Brennan told me that Kimball arrived at the police station soon after the news of a death on the island reached him. Very distraught. You realize that legally, it’s all very complicated. He owns the island. Wickedly Weird rented the island. We can claim parts of it as a crime scene, but—without brute un-American force—we are beholden to him to cooperate as far as searches and use of the Mansion and Alaska Hut are concerned. Legally, I’m not sure what happened with the Wickedly Weird Productions crew’s contract. Best at the moment to get done what we need to get done with the cooperation of Wickedly Weird and Marc Kimball.”

“Sir, with all due respect,” Jackson said, “we understand that. But it is curious that the man showed up so quickly.”

“Amen,” Detective Brennan muttered.

“I simply believe that his whereabouts immediately before the deaths would be nice to know,” Thor said.

“Absolutely. We are running a time check on Kimball,” Enfield agreed.

“When he’s in Seward, he usually heads out to the island immediately—that’s what the tabloids tell us,” Detective Brennan said. “So where was he when the killing was going on?”

“I’m pretty damned sure you’re barking up the wrong tree with Kimball,” Enfield said. “A man like that...odd behavior would have been reported by now.”

“Describe ‘odd behavior,’” Thor murmured.

“Criminal behavior,” Jackson said.

“Let’s face it. He’s on the list of the world’s wealthiest men—he can buy a lot of discretion. Still, it’s not a matter of me suspecting him—it’s really a ‘let’s eliminate him’ quest,” Thor said.

Enfield looked at Jackson curiously. “I’m interested, Crow. You manage your own team of investigators now—several units, I believe. Shouldn’t you be managing them? No disrespect meant, but I have to assume you’re here because of Tate Morley, too?”

Jackson nodded. Watching the interaction, Thor realized that Jackson had reached to the top for permission to come out here and involve himself in this investigation. Enfield had to be wondering what kind of pull Jackson had to get his way so quickly in a Bureau often filled with red tape.

Jackson smiled. “Yes, sir. When it comes to Tate Morley, I have to be hands-on.”

Detective Brennan studied Jackson and shrugged. “If it could be this man and you’ve hunted him before, I say all hands on deck.”

“But,” Enfield asked, “wouldn’t it have made more sense for you to be hands-on in Kansas?”

Jackson gave him a rueful smile. “I can’t say that I do know where Tate Morley is now, sir, but I would bet my eyeteeth that he’s no longer in Kansas.”

“No one is here for a pissing match,” Thor said. “Sir—”

Enfield laughed. “I’ve heard about the Krewe of Hunters. Unorthodox methods—using the dead for witnesses, some say. Intuiting from ghosts or revenants or whatever. Well, I know you are an assistant director—field director—in your own right, taking a backseat here since you know Thor and don’t know the terrain and he knows it especially well. And I don’t care if you talk to walls, dogs or elephants. Get this guy—whoever the hell he is.” He hesitated. “We’ll have forensic teams on the island for another few days. I don’t know why the killer would hang around now, but if you still seem to think it’s important to be out there, I’ll go with your instinct.”

“We found where he butchered Amelia Carson, sir. I think we may find his hideout, as well,” Thor said.

“We’re working on recovery of the video from the hotel—my guys are cleaning it up and enhancing it now. It will be ready in a few hours. You might want to see it before you head back,” Brennan said.