The Darkness of Evil (Karen Vail #7)(85)

“That’ll work.”

He moved behind Oliver, as if he was examining the car, then put his forearm around the man’s neck and pulled, held it firm. Oliver squirmed and grabbed at Marcks’s meaty limb, but a moment later, Oliver lost consciousness and stopped resisting.

Marcks supported him while he opened the Chevy’s back door and pushed his limp body onto the seat.

He walked around to the front, turned over the engine, and drove Oliver to the office. After making sure no one was watching, he shut off the dome light and offloaded the body. He carried him to the desk and set him in the chair, Oliver’s head resting on the blotter. He found a length of rope and strung it around the man’s neck, tied it tight.

He grabbed Oliver’s winter hat, black calfskin on the outside with a lamb’s wool lining and large ear flaps, and pulled it over his own head. Warm, yes, but it also obscured more of his face than the ball cap. And given the temperature, no one would question it.

Marcks stopped and considered his course of action. If they found Oliver’s body, they would know he had returned and taken another car, then killed him. Maybe Oliver kept an inventory of vehicles. Maybe he didn’t—but Marcks could not take the chance. The cops did, after all, track the Buick back here, so there were records of ownership somewhere. Of course there were.

If Oliver had family and reported him missing, it might be a day or two or three. And the police might just think Oliver was scared about Marcks coming back, so he disappeared for a while. That uncertainty was better than his body being found—which if he left him in the office would happen in the morning as soon as the first customer came knocking and saw him through the window, unresponsive at his desk.

Taking Oliver with him was definitely the better way of going about it.

Marcks looked around the office and found Oliver’s old cell phone in the bottom of the cash drawer—which contained $900—and shoved both the money and the handset in his pocket. He found the charger dangling from the wall outlet and took that as well.

Marcks lifted Oliver off the seat and put him in the car. He would find someplace to discard him later tonight, when potentially inquiring eyes were fast asleep.

Problem solved. All in all, a productive evening.

But body disposal aside, he was not finished.





45


Jesus Christ.” Robby tossed the messenger bag off his shoulder and ran over to Vail, who was sitting on the couch, a gel pack by her side. “What happened?”

“I got slugged a few times by Roscoe Lee Marcks.”

“You caught him?”

Vail chuckled sardonically. “More like he caught me.”

Robby squinted confusion. “He kidnapped you?”

She sucked her bottom lip and nodded. “Yep.”

“Where?”

“Mason District Police Department parking lot.”

Robby sat there a long moment staring at her, apparently realized she was serious and said, “How the hell does that happen?”

“He’s a smart son of a bitch.”

“Are you okay? Your face—”

“Is swollen. But it looks redder than it really is because I’ve been icing it.”

“Did you see a doctor?”

“No fractures. Mild concussion.” Or maybe two.

“Headache?”

“Oh yeah.”

“So you’re off work for a few days?”

Vail harrumphed and grabbed her temple. “Ow, don’t make me laugh. But before you give me a speech on following doctor’s orders—”

“How’d you know that’s what I was gonna do?”

She looked at him. “Did you really just ask me that?”

“Fine. But you really should listen to the doctors.”

“It looks worse than it is.”

“Does my father know?” Robby asked, referring to Vail’s boss, ASAC Thomas Gifford.

“Negatory. And neither does my unit chief.” Vail placed a hand on Robby’s. “And it’s going to stay that way. I didn’t go to one of the Bureau’s medical facilities. I just went to a doc in the box, told them my fiancé punched me around a bit. A cop should be by in half an hour to talk to you.”

Robby shook his head. “This is not funny, Karen. You need to take care of yourself.”

“I’m not having any problems thinking, concentrating, or remembering. But if you notice me getting angry or emotional, that could be a bad sign.”

“I’m not sure I could tell the difference.”

Good one. “Look, this could all be better by the morning. And I’m taking the rest of the evening off.”

“It’s 7:30, Karen. There’s not much left of the evening.”

“As long as Marcks is still out there, none of us can let up. Because he’s not going to let up. He’s going after Jasmine, I’m sure of it. And I haven’t heard from her in almost two days.”

Robby sighed. “It’s hard to argue with you when I’d do the same thing in your place.”

“Come lie with me on the couch.”

He kicked his shoes off and unhooked his holster, then snuggled up to Vail.

She had just gotten comfortable when her phone rang.

“Leave it,” Robby said.