Hank sat back. It appeared they were finally getting somewhere. He glanced at King, removed a pen from his jacket, and wrote down the name.

“What did you do with the body?”

Adam looked up, tears in his eyes. “I … I put him in the dumpster behind the store.”

That’s why the body had never been found. It was probably long gone, perhaps buried under a mountain of trash in a landfill somewhere.

Adam breathed rapidly, erratically, the tears now escaping from his eyes. He tried to speak, his body shivering, the cuffs rattling as he shook. Through sobs, he managed to say, “There … there’s another one.”

“Another victim?” Hank asked.

Adam nodded furiously, tears dripping off his chin. He dropped his head and wiped them away with a cuffed hand. “I can remember some of it now, too. It happened this morning.”

“Tell me about it.” Hank was shocked, but he kept his voice soft, encouraging the young man to continue.

“Richdale Pizza.”

Hank waited until Adam recovered enough to continue.

“Ira Toddle.”

“Was he a bully too?”

“Yes,” Adam whispered. “He was.”

Hank wrote the name down before asking, “He worked at Richdale Pizza?”

Adam nodded.

“Where did you kill him?”

Adam could barely speak. “Behind the store. I … I shot him. In the face.”

“Where’s the body?”

“I hid it behind a parked car.”

Hank spoke in a low voice. “Were there any more, Adam?”

Adam shook his head. “That’s all. I’m pretty sure.” He raised his eyes toward Hank, pleading, “Please help me.”

“We’ll get you some help.” Hank closed the folder, picked it up, then looked over at King. “That’s enough for now. We’d better check out these bodies and continue from there.”

King nodded, bounced off the wall, opened the door, and Hank followed him out. King wandered back to the precinct while Hank stepped into the next room.

Jake and Annie turned toward him as he entered. Hank glanced at Annie. Her eyes were moist, but he said nothing about it and turned to Jake.

“He’s a pretty messed-up guy,” Hank said. He glanced through the glass where Adam still shook, his head in his hands. The man’s sobs came through the speaker. Hank turned back to Annie. “Thanks for your help on this one. Diego will be extremely pleased.”

“I’m just happy it’s wrapped up,” Annie said, her voice shaking.

Jake turned to Annie. “Shall we go?”

Annie nodded and followed Jake from the room. Jake turned back, leaned through the doorway, and grinned at Hank. “I’ll let you tell Teddy White the news,” he said, then closed the door.

Hank watched the prisoner a few moments longer before going back to his desk. He was disturbed about the news of a fourth victim, but relieved it was finally over.

Chapter 45

Thursday, 3:52 p.m.

ANNIE SAT QUIETLY in the passenger seat as Jake pulled the Firebird out of the precinct parking lot. Adam would finally get the help he so desperately needed, but his life was about to undergo a drastic change.

His mother would be brought in for questioning before long, and when she heard the news of Adam’s arrest, she would be devastated. She had protected him through it all, but she’d broken the law in doing so.

Annie’s heart ached for everyone concerned, and other than her drinking buddy next door, Virginia Thorburn had no one to talk to.

She turned to face Jake. “I want to drop by and see Mrs. Thorburn.”

Jake glanced over and raised an eyebrow. “It’s over, honey.”

“It’s not over for everyone. It’s just starting.”

“I’m not sure if she wants to see me,” Jake said. “I didn’t get a very warm reception last time.”

“She’s under a lot of stress,” Annie said. “Besides, I have a few things I’d like to talk to her about. She’s going to be in a lot of trouble once the police bring her in and I don’t think she realizes it. I want to get some facts straight before she gets a lawyer and clams up.”

Jake gave a soft sigh, pulled to the side of the street, and made a U-turn. “You’d better call Chrissy.”

Annie took out her phone, called her friend and told her they would be awhile yet, asking if she would watch Matty a little longer. Chrissy informed her it was no problem and Annie hung up the phone.

In a few minutes, they turned onto Mill Street and drove toward the Thorburn residence. The police car that had sat across the road from the house was now gone. The officers hiding in the garage were likely relieved as well and would move on to the next task.

Jake pulled the Firebird to the side of the street in front of the house. They stepped out, went to the side door, and opened the screen. Jake knocked on the inner door and waited. After a few moments, he knocked again.

“I don’t think she’s home right now,” he said.

Annie peered through the window in the door. “She might’ve gone to work.”

“It’s a little early for that,” Jake said, looking at his watch.

Annie stepped off the porch. “Maybe we can come back later.”

Jake shrugged and followed Annie out to the street. Annie glanced down the sidewalk. A woman was walking toward them from some distance away, carrying a large handbag, and it looked like Mrs. Thorburn. “I think that’s her,” Annie said, pointing. “I wonder if she knows about Adam yet.”

Jake squinted up the sidewalk. “That’s her,” he said, leaning against a tree. He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “And I’m pretty sure if she’d gone to see Adam, she’d still be there wondering why the place is filled with cops. Besides, she’s coming from the wrong direction. I don’t think she knows yet.”

“She’ll find out soon enough,” Annie said. She walked a few feet toward the woman, waved a hand, and waited. “We wanted to see how you’re doing,” Annie said, when the woman drew closer.

Virginia frowned at Jake and then gave Annie a faint smile. “I’m doing fine.”

“May we come in a minute?”

The woman hesitated, adjusted the handbag on her shoulder, then motioned toward the house. “I can spare a few minutes, but I need to get ready for work soon.” She turned and walked up the driveway.

Annie and Jake followed the woman to the house. Virginia dug her key from her handbag, unlocked the door, and swung it open. They stepped inside and the woman motioned for them to have a seat at the dining room table.

“Do you want anything? Coffee? Beer?” she asked.

Jake looked at Annie. “I’ll have a coffee.”

“Coffee, thanks,” Annie said.

The Lincolns sat at the table while the woman went to the kitchen. Annie glanced around at the assortment of items on the table. It was no tidier than last time and she wondered if the woman ever did any cleaning at all. An ashtray bulging with butts sat at the end of the table—Virginia’s favorite spot.

“I hope the coffee’s drinkable,” Jake whispered. He had noticed the mess too. He pushed back a plate that sat in front of him and brushed away some bread crumbs.

“Don’t be rude,” Annie said.

Jake chuckled. “She didn’t hear me.”

Virginia came in the room a moment later carrying a cup in one hand and juggling two in the other. She set them on the table and pushed one toward each of them. “I hope you like cream and sugar,” she said.

“It’s perfect,” Annie said, taking a sip. Jake agreed.

Mrs. Thorburn sat down in her spot, pulled a cigarette from a pack, and used the tip of it to rearrange the butts in the ashtray to make room for more. She lit it, closed her eyes and took a deep drag, blowing the smoke into the air above Annie’s head.

“What did you want to talk about?” she asked.

“About Adam,” Annie answered. She hesitated and studied Virginia’s face. “Do you know he’s been arrested?”

Virginia Thorburn stopped halfway through another drag of her cigarette, her eyes bulging. Her mouth dropped open and the smoke worked its own way out. She waved it away with a hand and leaned in, speechless, her mouth still open.