The Third Victim Part 62

"I asked Danny once what he really knew about No Lava. I told him my concerns about him befriending someone who was only an e-mail address.

What if he was really a six-year-old boy or a dirty old man though I didn't put it quite that bluntly."

"What did he say, Richard?"

"He said she wasn't anything like that. And when I tried to explain to him that was exactly my point, she might not even be a she but a he, Danny got this funny look on his face. He blew me off. At the time I thought it was att.i.tude. But after Tuesday I started to wonder. What if it wasn't att.i.tude? What if he was simply positive that he knew the truth for example, if he'd met No Lava in person, so he'd seen for himself that she was female?"

"Why the h.e.l.l didn't you tell us this earlier?"

"It was just a theory!" Mann protested.

"You told us all your other theories."

"No Lava isn't a theory I saw the e-mails! And I was honestly saying what I'd heard about Melissa and her father. How was I to know it was a rumor?"

Rainie blew out an exasperated puff of air. Leave it to an amateur head shrink to f.u.c.k up a critical investigation. She gave him a remorseless stare. He bowed his head.

"Anything else you'd like to tell us, Richard?"

"No," he said meekly.

"That would be all."

"Do you know when Danny might have met this person? Or when they started talking?"

He shook his head emphatically, still not daring to make eye contact.

"Are you on-line, Richard? Have you ever received an e-mail from Miss Avalon?"

"I just bought my first personal computer. I'm pretty good with some of the software, but I'm not that comfortable on the Web yet. In fact, I was thinking that maybe one afternoon I'd have Danny show me the ropes. It could be a way of bonding."

"You never received an e-mail from Miss Avalon?" Rainie repeated.

"No. Why would I?"

That's all. We're done with you." Rainie gave a little shoo-shoo motion with her hands. Richard Mann nodded gratefully, hesitated one more moment as if he thought she might change her mind, then made a beeline back to his companions. No doubt he'd tell them he'd just been an invaluable source of help to the police investigation into this hideous crime. No doubt they'd smooth pretty boy's ruffled feathers and puff him back up to the image of the man he wanted to be.

Personally, Rainie was fed up with his incompetence.

She turned back to Quincy. She rubbed her temples, where she was starting to get one h.e.l.l of a headache.

"Female, huh? Female influence, using Melissa Avalon's own e-mail address to contact Danny. We're not thinking Miss Avalon helped plan her own death with an unmarked bullet, are we?" "No. We're thinking e-mail addresses are a very easy thing to hijack, and what better way to impress a budding young hacker like Danny."

"Oh good. I'd hoped that's what we were thinking. Now, just out of curiosity, who do we think did it?"

"We don't have a clue."

"But he might be a she? I don't know. The kids reported a mysterious man in black, not a woman, and even seven-year-olds ought to know the difference."

"Unless she dressed up as a he." Quincy had a strange smile on his face.

"Cross-dressing psychopaths aren't as uncommon as you would think."

"Great, more ambiguity. That's just what this case needs. VanderZanden next? Maybe Mrs. VanderZanden?"

"By all means. Lead the way."

Rainie had no sooner turned back toward the crowd than she ran into a man. She had just started to apologize when she looked up and realized who he was. George Walker stood before her. His beefy face was flushed red. His cheeks were covered in moisture. He raised his hand to point at Rainie, and she was struck by how hard his ma.s.sive body was trembling.

Rainie's throat went dry. She tried to swallow, muster a coherent greeting. She was pinned by the ravaged look in George Walker's eyes.

"What have you done for my daughter? he bit out.

"We're .. . We're working very hard, sir."

"You f.u.c.ked up all the evidence!" George Walker roared. People glanced their way at the sudden noise. His wife saw them, went ashen, and hurried over.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Walker. I know this is very difficult' "That little b.a.s.t.a.r.d killed my daughter and you're not even trying to put him away.

You think I don't know? You think we haven't heard? He killed our little girls and you're protecting him. He butchered our little girls and you're trying to clear his name."

"George, George." His wife had arrived. She put her tiny hand on his arm as if she could hold him back. She gave Rainie a pleading look.

"I'm sorry," Rainie whispered.

"Sorry! You haven't even come to our house. Our children were murdered in cold blood and you didn't even pay your respects!"

"George, your heart. George ' "Mr. Walker," Quincy tried.

"How many times have you been to the O'Gradys' house? How many times to visit that murdering little b.a.s.t.a.r.d? My girl, my girl. My little, little girl. He killed her and you don't care."

"We're working ... so hard, Mr. Walker ' "You sympathize with him, don't you, Rainie Conner? You're nothing but a murderer too!"

"George!" Mrs. Walker appeared genuinely stricken.

Rainie just stood there and took it. She didn't have a good reply anymore. And she didn't have the strength to move.

"I'm going to sue your a.s.s," George Walker railed.

"I'm going to sue you and the school and Shep O'grady. You harbored a murderer in your midst, and it's gone on long enough. Bakersville deserves justice! My little girl deserves justice! Sally and Alice and Miss Avalon. Sally and Alice and Miss Avalon. Sally and Alice and Miss Avalon -' His voice broke off. His shoulders started to heave. He turned back to his wife, wrapped his giant arms around her frail shoulders, and wept.

And Rainie just stood there and took it.

She was aware of everyone staring at them now. Hundreds of people devouring a scandalous scene, searching for each nuance, already thinking how they'd repeat the story to their neighbors later. And she was aware of Quincy watching her as well. His gaze was kind, understanding. Somehow it hurt her the most.

"You need to go," he murmured.

"I can't."

"Rainie, you aren't doing him any favors."

Rainie nodded slowly. George Walker still sobbed in his wife's arms.