Jason went back downstairs and left, locking the door behind him.

Once back in his car, he called Detective Dan Carpenter in Hondo.

“Hondo Police Department.”

“Detective Carpenter, please.”

After several minutes, Dan Carpenter came on.

“Detective Carpenter.”

“Dan, this is Jason Strong, San Antonio P.D.”

“Jason, long time, how are you?”

“Good, Dan thanks. You?”

“Fine. Ran into Vanessa Layne earlier today.”

Jason's voice turned serious.

“Yeah, I know, and it's because of that conversation that I'm calling. She said you had a torture-murder case involving a Benny Carter.”

“Yeah, that's right, gruesome stuff. What's your interest?”

Jason needed to be careful.

“Do you remember the kidnapping case of the Barton baby, maybe ten years ago?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, the name Benny Carter came up in that investigation. Nothing serious, but just curious as to what happened to him.”

Jason could hear Dan reach over and open a file folder.

“Let me see. He had a blow to the back of his head. It looked like he'd been surprised, tied to a tree, and tortured. He had a cut face and a broken kneecap. A gunshot to the head killed him.”

“Been able to come up with a motive?”

“Not yet. Nothing at the scene gave us a direction. You got anything from that old case that might help?”

“Don't think so. He wasn't a suspect, just a name I remembered.”

“Well, if something comes to mind, give me a yell.”

“You know I will. Thanks, Dan.”

“Sure, anytime.” Dan hung up.

Jason opened his laptop, pulled up a record search and entered Benny Carter's name.

He had a record beginning at age 18. If he had a juvenile record, it was locked. The sheet was long, and extended out several Years, ending with time upstate for car theft. He'd kept his nose clean, except for a DWI, since getting out ten years ago. Jason didn't like the coincidence.

Benny had been out of prison just six months when the Barton baby was taken. Nothing in his record indicated that Benny was capable of something on that scale. The fact was, someone wanted him dead, and Jason's gut told him Michael was that someone.

He started the car. It was time to face the lieutenant.

****

Michael didn't know when Susan Turnbull's shift started, so he was up early, and parked near the employee's parking lot by 5:45 the next morning. The sky was overcast, and a spitting rain would start up every few minutes. He finally saw her about an hour after he arrived.

Short with red hair, she had apparently traded in the van Benny had described for a bright red Mazda Miata convertible. She got out, opened an umbrella, and headed quickly for the entrance.

Michael was already out and almost to the door. He turned abruptly, like he'd forgotten something, and walked back towards the nurse. As they passed, he glanced at her nametag. It read ‘Susan Turnbull’. He continued to his car. He would be back later.

****

Jason Strong knew what he had to do. He didn't like it, but there was no choice. He went in to see his lieutenant. He knocked on the glass that surrounded Lieutenant John Patton's office. The lieutenant was on the phone, but waved him in.

Jason shut the door and sat down. John Patton was a big man. He worked out every morning, including his days off, and it showed. It seemed that every muscle was controlled and toned.

The same could not be said for his moustache or eyebrows. Brown eyes were almost hidden, as was his mouth, by hair. His eyebrows were bushy and unruly. His teeth were almost surprising when he smiled, suddenly appearing from beneath the hair when he laughed.

The call ended and he looked at Jason.

“So, JD. What's on your mind?”

“John, this conversation needs to be off the record.”

His eyebrows knit together, forming a hedge.

“Alright, off the record. What's up?”

Jason went on to describe the situation, including the call from Michael. When he was done, the lieutenant leaned back in his chair and studied Jason.

“What do you propose?”

“I want permission to go to St. Luke’s, first the one in Springfield and then the one in St. Louis, to try and track Michael Barton. It's too strong a coincidence; I want to go check it out.”

“Alright, I'll go along. You check in with me every day. If I think it's a waste, I'll pull the plug and you come back. Agreed?”

Jason nodded and got up to leave.

“And JD, there's still the issue of the improper record search. When this is over, we'll have to deal with it.”

“Yes, sir. Thanks.”

****

Michael was waiting when Susan came out of the hospital. The spitting rain had given way to a full-blown downpour, and she had her umbrella up again. When she pulled out of the parking lot, Michael slid into traffic behind her. The rain made him even harder to spot, and he was able to stay well within range while following her. After maybe ten minutes, she turned and drove into an older subdivision on the north side of town. She stopped in front of a modest one-story ranch style home. Bright yellow with a green roof and green shutters.

Michael parked down the street and turned off the car. Sliding down in his seat, he waited. He thought of Benny doing the same thing, sitting in his car down his street, and watching his family. The image burned at him and fed his anger. He was getting closer every day to fulfilling his promises, he could feel it.

****

  Susan let herself into the house and folded her umbrella up. She liked the rain, and was looking forward to a quiet night of reading curled up in her favorite chair.

  After changing into jeans, she made coffee and grabbed the latest Grisham novel. She read for a while until her eyes started to get heavy. Getting another cup of coffee, she decided to take a bubble bath and continue her reading there.

With book and coffee on the edge of the tub, she slid down into the soapy water. It was her favorite way to relax. She read for a while and finished her coffee. Lathering up, she dipped beneath the water. As she came back up, wiping her eyes, there was a figure sitting on the toilet watching her. He was holding a pistol.

“If you scream, I'll kill you.”

Susan's eyes cleared and she slid down in the tub, hoping that the suds covered her.

“Who are you?! What are doing here?!”

 “Well, I'm not here to rape you, if that's what’s running through your head.”

“What DO you want...and how did you get in?”

“It’s not important how I got in. What I want, now that's a different matter.”

He smiled.

Susan looked around for something to cover up with, but she would have to get out of the tub to reach anything. She turned her attention back to the stranger.

“You don't know who you’re messing with!”

The man just stared at her. His eyes frightened her. When he spoke, it was cold, devoid of emotion.

“What I want is information, and you're going to give it to me.”

“I'm not telling you shit!!” She spat at him.

He picked up her hair dryer and threw it in the tub. Susan recoiled and closed her eyes. Nothing happened. When she opened them again, he was still sitting on the toilet and the cord to the hair dryer was dangling in his hand.

Susan started to get out, but the gun came up and aimed at her chest.

“Don't move.”

She slid back down.

“Now, where's my son?”

“I've got nothing to say.”

She did her best not to show her fear.

The intruder slowly reached over and plugged the dryer in.