Deadly Visions Part 33

"That's very generous,"he said warily.

"Just our way of showing our appreciation to the Atlanta PD. By the way, Monica has taken a turn for the better."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. She's not out of the woods yet, but it looks like her body is fighting the infection. The doctors say it's a miracle."

"Well, you always said that miracles were her stock-in-trade." Joe glanced back at his father. "If she has any left over, we can sure use one down here."

An hour later, Dr. Dale Fuller emerged. His expression was not encouraging.

Cal moistened his lips. "I hope the news is better than the look on your face, Doctor. Well?"

"She survived surgery, but it wasn't easy for her. Her heart stopped on the table. She was nicked on the anterior branch of the external jugular, and she lost quite a bit of blood."

Cal's voice wavered."What's the prognosis?"

"Difficult to say. If she survives, it could be a long recovery."

"If she survives?"Cal said."You make sure that she comes out of this. She has to live. she survives?"Cal said."You make sure that she comes out of this. She has to live. When Whenshe comes out, I'll take care of her. However long it takes."

"It could be a long road back. She's in recovery right now, and as soon as she's stable, we'll move her up to ICU. You can see her then. Does she have any family?"

"A sister in Savannah,"Cal said."She's on her way."

"Good. If she has any questions, I'll be available to talk to her."The doctor gave them directions to Carla's ICU room and left.

Joe checked his watch. "Dad, I have to pick up Nikki. She's staying with a friend, and I don't want her hearing about this from someone else. Do you want me to bring her back here?"

"No, hospitals scare Nikki. Too many bad memories. Take her home and talk to her."

"Can I get you anything?"

"My toiletries kit and a change of clothes. I'm not setting foot outside this place until I can walk out with Carla."

After all those years, his masterpiece was finally coming to an end.

Rakkan stepped toward the floor-to-ceiling win-dows and stared at the illuminated Atlanta skyline. He'd been looking forward to this day for so long, but now it only filled him with sadness. Funny, he hadn't expected to feel this way. It was a time to celebrate, not mourn, yet there was a terrible emptiness growing in the pit of his stomach.

The original Rakkan wouldn't have let such feelings overtake him. He was the perfect hunter, sleek and pitiless, without need for such simple emotions.

But how could he not feel a twinge of regret? It had been an exhilarating journey. He'd almost been apprehended in SanAntonio, and the experience had so rattled him that he'd abandoned his masterpiece for almost two years. He didn't need this, he'd thought. The risk was too great.

Ah, but he did need it. His magnificent symphony was unfinished, and he needed to compose one final movement to bring it to fruition. It couldn't have gone better-his last-minute embellishments had only improved his masterpiece, surely the mark of a true artist. As if there was ever any doubt.

Even that brutish Russian with the gun couldn't bring himself to disturb such a perfect creation. Once the man had the information he desired, he went about his way.

Rakkan stroked the smooth back of the panther statue on the coffee table. No, there was no cause to grieve.

Not on the eve of his grand finale.

Councilman Talman is missing." Joe gripped the cell phone harder. "What?"

Howe's voice was grim. "You heard me right. He didn't show up for work today, and he's missed all of his appointments. Apparently, that never happened before."

Joe stood outside the hospital's side entrance. It was three-thirty P.M., and he'd phoned to give Howe an update on Carla's condition. Critical but stable."Jesus, you don't think-"

"No idea. I'm about to head over to Talman's office."

Joe thought for a second. "I'll meet you there."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Wait outside for me."

Joe cut the connection and walked back to the intensive care waiting room. Christ.

He'd spent all day with his father at the hospital, save for the few minutes it had taken to pick up Nikki. Despite his father's warning, Nikki had insisted on coming to the hospital after school. It had been a miserable night for her. He'd broken the news to her after they returned home, and she'd cried on and off for hours."Why?" she repeated."Why did it happen?"

If only he knew. Nikki had known too much tragedy in her young life. None of it could ever make sense to anyone, much less an eleven-year-old girl.

Joe walked into the waiting room. Nikki was putting up a brave front, trying to cheer up her grandfather with a story about her triumph in choir cla.s.s. What an amazing kid.

"Guys, I have to take off for a little while. Will you be okay without me?"

Concern etched Nikki's face, but she said nothing.

Cal nodded."Is everything all right?"

"Yeah, there's just something I need to check on."

Nikki obviously knew something was up. "When will you be back?"

Joe kissed her on the forehead."Soon."

She hugged him close and whispered into his ear. "Be careful."

Joe met Howe outside Talman's Colony Square office building, and together they went in and pelted the councilman's attractive young a.s.sistant with the usual missing-person questions. Talman's schedule was packed with appointments, yet he hadn't called to cancel. He was unreachable by phone, fax, or pager, and the a.s.sistant had even driven to his house and found his car missing and home empty. The last time anyone had seen him was at ten the previous evening, when he'd left a social gathering at a Peachtree City restaurant.

The secretary escorted them into Talman's cherry-wood-paneled office. "It's totally unlike him to just drop out of sight like this," she said. "I know you're supposed to wait twenty-four hours for a missing person's case, but I was worried. You know, with these terrible murders. He fits the profile of the victims, doesn't he? Well known and all?"

"Yes, ma'am," Joe said. He glanced around the office and examined a group of tiny origami figures resting on the edge of Talman's desk. "Did he make these himself?"

The secretary stared at them. "I don't know. I've- never noticed those before."

"Look around," Howe said. "See anything else different, or maybe something missing?"

She moved around the office, inspecting each wall and piece of furniture. "I don't think so. Everything else looks the same." She gestured toward the origami figures. "Somebody could have given him those. He gets gifts all the time."

Joe took out his pocket digital camera and snapped a few quick shots of the office.

Howe turned toward the secretary. "How did you know his house was deserted? Do you have keys?"

She nodded."I run errands for him sometimes, and he occasionally has me get things for him there."

"Does anybody else have a set?"

"I don't think so. He's divorced."

"It might be helpful if you took us to his house and let us look around," Joe said. "I know it's getting late, but would you be willing to do that?"

Her only response was to reach into her purse and pull out a set of keys.

They followed her to Talman's large Northside Drive home. It was a two-story colonial, hidden from the street by cl.u.s.ters of oak trees.

Joe turned toward the secretary as they walked through the front door."Keep your eyes open for anything unusual, anything that may have changed."

They went to the kitchen, where Howe logged the answering machine messages. Nothing notable.

They moved through each room, looking for some sign of a struggle. There was none. They finished their tour in Talman's upstairs study.

"Okay," Howe said, "are we absolutely sure there are no girlfriends, boyfriends, love nests, vacation homes, or whatnot? This isn't the time to try to protect your boss from negative publicity."

The secretary shook her head.

"It's the 'whatnot'we really need to find out," Joe said as he raised his digital camera and took a shot of the study."Think about anyplace that he-"Joe froze.

Howe picked up on his startled reaction."Bailey?"

Joe turned to the secretary. "Will you excuse us for a moment?"

She furrowed her brow."Well, I-I let you in here, so I think that I really should stay and-"

"We won't touch a thing." Joe led her to the door. "We just need to discuss some police business. Thanks for understanding."

The "police business" line usually worked won-ders, and Joe was relieved that it did in this case too. The secretary nodded and left the room.

Howe spoke quietly."What is it?"

Joe pointed to a small sculpture on a wood pedestal. "Look at that."

Howe examined it. "Is that a-"

"A panther," Joe said."Mean anything to you?"

Howe nodded. "Rakkan's original form in the legend."

"Am I reaching?"

"Don't underestimate the value of a long reach."

As Joe stared at the sculpture, something occurred to him. He pulled out his digital camera and cycled through his shots on the back-panel LCD screen. "s.h.i.t," he whispered.

"What?"

Joe held up the camera. "Look at the origami figures from his office."

Howe looked at a few of the photos. "I'm afraid you're going to have to help me with this one."

"Those figures represent the various forms that Rakkan adopts in the last town-a horse, a cloud, a whale, a pushcart, a dog, and a tree."

Howe squinted at the screen. "Kind of a bizarre-looking cloud, but I think you're right."

"You have to be looking for them, but they're there. Look." Joe displayed each of the pictures. "They match with the guises in the legend."

Howe looked dazed as he pulled out his cell phone. "Jesus."

Thirty-five minutes later, Joe floored his accelerator and turned onto a small access road. Moments after Howe's call to Henderson, the captain had dispatched manpower to each of Talman's usual haunts. Joe and Howe were heading to Talman's dinner cruise boat, the Carlotta, Carlotta, at its dock on Lake Lanier. Joe drove while Howe talked to Henderson. at its dock on Lake Lanier. Joe drove while Howe talked to Henderson.

Howe cut the connection. "Okay, officially, we're doing this because of the department's concern for the councilman's well-being."

"And unofficially?"Joe asked.

"We're taking him in for questioning. Forensics is going over his house and office. It's incredible.... Talman may be our killer." Howe turned to Joe. "How long has it been since you've been on a stakeout, Bunco Boy?"

Joe frowned."It doesn't seem right."

"What doesn't?"

"Why would Talman just leave those things lying around?"

Howe shook his head. "It may have given him a thrill. You know, a whiff of danger. Some serial killers get bored after they do it a few times. It doesn't give them the same charge, and they need to ratchet up the intensity."

Joe sped down the access road toward the lake. The sun had set behind the forest of tall pines, and lights from the cabins and houses dotted the surrounding hillsides.

Howe looked ahead."The Carlotta Carlottadoesn't do dinner cruises on weeknights, does it?"

Joe shook his head."No. Why?"

"Because it's not here."