Fear For Me: A Novel of the Bayou Butcher(64)

Anthony had realized very quickly that when the DA said jump, the reporters flew into the sky. Right after her call, she’d had the top reporters in Baton Rouge assembled, all ready to go live with a noon broadcast of her story. The broadcast would hit people on their lunch breaks, and maybe the hotline would get a lucky tip—some driver who saw Walker or Hamilton. Something they could use.

Voyt had called back from the scene, and the attendant hadn’t remembered seeing anyone. There were no security cameras. Just jack and shit.

“Are you saying the Bayou Butcher has the judge?” a blonde reporter demanded.

“I’m saying that, at this time, we are searching for Judge Pierce Hamilton, and we would greatly appreciate the public’s assistance in finding him.”

“But you were abducted by Walker just yesterday, were you not?” the same reporter fired. “Is Walker targeting the people who sent him to prison?”

Just yesterday. Walker sure wasn’t wasting any time. A week ago, Anthony had been finishing up a case in Texas. Walker had been locked away in his cell. Now the bodies were piling up—fast. A rising tide of blood and death.

Lauren cleared her throat. “Only Walker can tell us that,” she replied. He knew she was trying to walk the line and not reveal too much information.

Not enough to compromise the investigation, but just enough to get help.

“If the public spots either Walker or Hamilton, we need to be contacted. Manhunts for Walker have been ongoing since his escape.” Her gaze darted to Anthony, then back to the cameras. “Authorities now believe Walker has been working with someone in the Baton Rouge area, someone who has helped him avoid detection.”

The reporters pounced. “A partner?” a male with an artful spray of gray at his temples asked. “The Bayou Butcher has a partner in crime?”

Lauren’s focus shifted to the reporter. “It appears someone is hiding Walker from the police. Walker is an extremely dangerous, unpredictable killer. Even the person working with him cannot be assured Walker won’t turn on him. Walker kills—that’s just what he does, and we need the public to help us stop him.” Her shoulders straightened as her attention spread to the full group of reporters once more. “As I said before, Walker should not be confronted by any citizen. If you see him or have information to share, call our tip line. Do not approach him on your own.”

Anthony backed away as she concluded the press conference. The FBI profilers were there, too, and he knew Cadence would be talking soon. While they were busy milling in the front of the police precinct, he saw an opening. There was someone he wanted to talk with.

Inside the precinct, he found Julia Hamilton huddled in a small office. She had a Styrofoam cup of coffee cradled in her hands. She wasn’t drinking it, though. Just holding it and staring into space.

“Mrs. Hamilton?”

She flinched and carefully set the coffee on the desk. “They said I didn’t have to talk to the reporters.” Her hands smoothed over her pants. “Lauren was going to handle all of that.”

“Yes, ma’am, she is.” He crouched in front of her. “But I was hoping you’d talk to me a bit.”

Her gaze focused on him. “You aren’t a detective. I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“No, I’m a marshal. I’m in town to catch Walker.”

Lines of grief had settled on her face. “Will you catch him before or after he kills my husband?”

He wasn’t going to give her false hope, so he didn’t answer. “You said the gas station was near an old fishing cabin your husband had?”

She nodded. “On Pontraine Lake. It was actually his father’s place. Pierce never seemed to enjoy going there.” Her lips twisted. “His father was big into hunting and fishing. Pierce didn’t like killing.” Her breath expelled in a rush. “That’s why he sentenced so few to death, even when they deserved it. Like Walker did. He should have sent the man to die, but he didn’t.”

The cabin was so close to the site where Pierce had vanished. Could it be a coincidence? Anthony wasn’t sure he bought into those. “Would you mind if I searched the place?”

She blinked. “You think Walker has him there?”

“I don’t know. Walker is familiar with the area.” A little too familiar for someone who’d been sitting in prison for five years. “Maybe he realizes where the cabin is.” Maybe he’d been looking for a quick spot to vanish and found one a few miles down the road. “I’m going to need an exact address.”

While she scribbled down the address, Anthony pulled out his phone. A few seconds later, Voyt was on the line. “Have you checked the judge’s cabin on Pontraine Lake?” Anthony asked.

“What cabin?” Paul barked. “What are you talking about, Marshal?”

He took a few steps away from Julia and lowered his voice. “Judge Hamilton’s father owned an old fishing cabin near the abduction site. It’s possible Walker knew about it. We should search the place. Make sure it’s clear.”

“Send me the address,” Paul said. “I was waiting for Hawthorne to meet me, so I’m still in the area. I can check the place.”

“A marshal and I will be on the way, too,” Anthony said. He needed to be out in the field stopping the bastard. “We’ll be there as fast as we can.” He ended the call and took the address from Julia. With a quick text, he sent the info to Paul.