Tunnel Vision Part 11

aMore like an electrical shock. I was putting the file away when I noticed the picture and thought how sad it was for Mrs. Garcia and her kids. Then I noticed the necklace and remembered Daryllas key ring. I commented about how beautiful it was and that must have spooked him into attacking me before I could put it together.a aGuess weall have to have another chat with Mr. Chambers, too.a aHeas supposed to be out of state for a job interview back east somewhere,a Maggie said as she looked out the side window. aMaybe the girlfriend will know when heas supposed to return.a aDepending on what we find out, Iall have Nicholls get a search warrant for his home and work area in Rothas office.a The admissions office was open when they arrived. A clerk at the reception desk announced, aWeare not really open. Itas spring break, ya know.a aYeah,a Brodie said, holding her badge up to the woman. aWe need to see the university file on Daryll Chambers, one of your graduate students.a aItall take me a few minutes. Iam here alone today trying to catch up on some provisional admission paperwork.a aWe can wait.a aIs Karen Dietrick working today?a Maggie asked.

aAll of our student workers are off for the break,a the woman said as she turned away from the counter.

aWeall need to see her personnel records as well,a Maggie said.

Brodie and Maggie cooled their heels for over twenty minutes before the woman re-appeared carrying two files. Chambersa file contained transcripts for his undergraduate work, personal data sheet, letters of recommendation from previous professors and other pieces of aadministriviaa.

aThereas nothing from Clarkson University,a Brodie said. aAccording to his records, he did his undergrad at Boston College.a aThis canat be right, Royce,a Maggie said as she looked over the paperwork. aI know heas our killer.a aNothing in this folder helps prove that.a aWe need to talk to Karen Dietrick,a Maggie said. Flipping open Dietrickas personnel file, Maggie jotted down the address. aMaybe she stayed in town over the break.a Brodie closed the files and started to get up when Maggie stopped her. aWait. Is there a permanent address for Daryll, a home of record, next of kin or anything like that in his file?a Brodie reopened the file and found the original admission application. aThereas a Mildred Chambers in Potsdam, New York. Probably his mother,a she noted. Pulling her notebook from her jacket pocket, she wrote down the name and telephone number for Mrs. Chambers.

Smiling, Maggie said, aPotsdam. Thatas where Clarkson University is.a A grin Maggie remembered spread across Brodieas face. It was almost feral-looking, as if she had her prey in her sights. aYouare right. He may not have gone to college there, but he d.a.m.n sure lived in the town.a aWe need a little more to ask for a search warrant,a Brodie said as they left the Administration Building and walked to their car. aAll we have right now is a bunch of conjecture and coincidences. We need something more tangible.a aWe need that medallion. My word that I saw it isnat good enough.a Maggie said with a frown. Brodie noticed that she was looking a little deflated.

aTired?a she asked.

aA little,a Maggie smiled. aThis is the first exercise Iave had in almost two weeks, if you want to call a hundred yard stroll exercise.a aIt takes some time to get back in the swing when youave been out for a while,a Brodie said as she turned the key in the ignition.

aYour leg still bother you?a Maggie asked, glancing at Brodieas thigh.

aOnly when I dance too much. Youall be back in shape before you know it. Call Nicholls and have him contact Boston College. Letas see if Mr. Chambers was really a student there. If he was, have them fax us a copy of his transcript.a aDid you notice something in his file?a Maggie asked as she punched numbers into her cell phone.

aMaybe.a After Maggie finished her call, Brodie handed her notebook to Maggie and said, aDial this number, then let me have the phone.a aItas ringing,a she said, handing the phone to her a few minutes later.

aMildred Chambers, please,a Brodie said to a person at the other end of the line. Holding the phone with her shoulder, she took her notebook back from Maggie and set it on her thigh, pulling a pen from the sun visor.

ah.e.l.lo? Mrs. Chambers? Maaam, my name is Regina Bruce. Iam the Director of Personnel for Southeastern Pharmaceuticals in Savannah, Georgia,a she lied.

Maggie smiled and shook her head at the fake accent as Brodie continued. aIam hoping you can a.s.sist me, Mrs. Chambers. Your son, Daryll, has applied for a position with our company and I havenat been able to contact him in Texas.a She listened for a moment. aI see. Well, maaam, wead be interested in scheduling an interview with him. Would it be possible for you to give me a little information. Iam on the road right now and donat have his file with me at the moment. He did his undergraduate work at Clarkson University near your home, didnat he?a She smiled and nodded as she looked over at Maggie after receiving the answer.

aWe havenat received a copy of his undergrad transcripts from them yet. I called their admissions office and they didnat seem to have any record of him as a student.a In response to whatever was being said, Brodie began scribbling down information. aAh, that makes sense, maaam. When did he do that? Guess he just got used to using your name. After all it has been a few years.a She laughed as she continued a congenial conversation with Chambersa mother until she finally said, aYouave been very helpful, Mrs. Chambers and I certainly appreciate it. Rest a.s.sured that we are extremely interested in Daryll. Heas exactly the person weare looking for. Weall keep trying his phone in Texas until we reach him. You have a good day now, maaam.a Punching the disconnect b.u.t.ton to end the call, she handed the cell back to Maggie. aCall Nicholls and have him contact Clarkson again to see if they have a record for a Daryll Griffin, Jr., which they will. Have them fax us whatever they have on him and then contact the Potsdam Police Department for their file on the murder of one of the university janitors during that same time period.a aHe changed his name?a aTook step-daddyas name two or three years ago.a aBut all the paperwork at the university here lists him as Chambers,a Maggie said as she redialed Nicholls.

aI think the girlfriend can solve that mystery for us. Probably changed the name on incoming transcripts and re-Xeroxed it over another studentas transcripts. Iam betting his undergrad grades werenat good enough to get him into Podunk U., let alone our modest little university here. Tell Nicholls to get the paperwork started for another search warrant for the girlfriendas address and workplace.a As Maggie filled Nicholls in, Brodie suddenly felt deliriously happy. This was the best part of her job, putting the pieces of the puzzle together and squeezing the bad guy until he choked. When they walked into the squad room, Nicholls was looking over the faxes he had received and smiling, too.

aGood work, ladies,a he beamed. aThe warrants will be ready by the time we get to the courthouse.a aDid you fill Donaldson in?a Brodie asked.

aYep, and needless to say heas relieved the crimes have been solved,a Nicholls responded. aIt seems that Chambers or Griffin or whatever you want to call him was a well below average student at Clarkson. In fact, I think youall find this part particularly interesting.a He smiled as he handed Brodie the faxed transcript. Maggie looked over her shoulder as they both glanced over the doc.u.ment. aWhen was the janitor at Clarkson killed?a she asked.

aDuring Chambersa senior year,a Nicholls said. aI called up there and talked to his old advisor who described him as a pain in the a.s.s. Seems the only reason he graduated was a sudden burst of brilliance on his final exams.a aProbably courtesy of the murdered janitor,a Brodie frowned.

aThe fax from the Potsdam PD should be coming in any time. I spoke to one of their detectives who also remembered Chambers. He said the packet on him was pretty thick and might take a while to be transmitted.a aBut they never considered him a suspect in the killing at the university there?a Maggie asked.

aMost of his s.h.i.t was petty juvenile stuff plus a few more serious offenses involving dead pets in the area. His daddy was stinkina rich and most of it got swept under the proverbial rug. They canat send us everything because some of itas in a sealed juvie file. But, the detective gave me a phone number for a retired cop up there who tried unsuccessfully to nab Chambers for a lot.a aA career criminal in the making,a Brodie said. aI knew he wasnat a beginner. Grab your coat, Nicholls, and call the lab boys to meet us. Maybe we can turn up something more concrete.a aWh.o.a.re we gonna hit first?a he asked as he picked up the receiver.

aThe girlfriend,a she answered. aI want to confront her with the records she falsified and get that part wrapped up. Weall meet you at the car.a Brodie started the car as Maggie slid into the pa.s.senger seat. aYou know youare not officially back on duty yet,a she said.

aVictimas rights. Iad really like to be there when you bust him.a aYou will be, Maggie. I promise,a Brodie said as she smiled warmly at her. aThe b.a.s.t.a.r.d almost cost me a very good detective. Youare thorough and you know how to work your hunches. Youave dealt with my s.h.i.t better than anyone would have expected.a aI knew there would be issues when I applied for this position, Royce, and sooner or later I knew we had to deal with them. Itas hard to plan a future when thereas still past unfinished business,a Maggie said.

aWeall work on it, Maggie,a she said, shifting the car into drive as Nicholls jumped into the back. He pa.s.sed Maggie a slip of paper as he fastened his seatbelt.

aI already told the backups where to meet us,a he said.aKaren Dietrick lives at the El Dorado Apartments on North Grand,a Maggie said. aYou know where it is?aaYeah,a Brodie said. aNot far from the university.a Two black and whites were already in the parking lot of the apartment building when Brodie brought her car to a stop.

aSend a couple of these officers to cover the back and have the other two come with us,a she ordered as she walked toward Apartment 128. aMaggie, find the apartment manager in case she isnat home.a She and Nicholls drew their service revolvers as they approached the door. He stood to one side of the door while Brodie stopped on the other side.

She struck the door soundly with her fist. aCedar Springs Police, Miss Dietrick. We have a warrant to search your apartment,a she announced loudly. She had made the announcement twice when Maggie rounded the corner of the building with a stocky man in his mid-sixties. She held her hand up to stop them.

aMaggie, get the key,a she ordered.

Maggie took the key from the apartment manager and tossed it to Nicholls. Drawing her revolver, she moved closer to the apartment door and crouched down. Brodie nodded at Nicholls as he slipped the key into the lock and turned it. Turning the k.n.o.b, he pushed the door open, but it was stopped by a chain lock.

af.u.c.k it,a Brodie said as she stepped in front of the door and landed a solid kick to the door, popping the chain from the doorframe.

She entered the apartment, followed by Nicholls. Within a few seconds of entering, she knew they would need the forensics team and the coroner. Breathing through her mouth, she signaled Nicholls to move to the right and they began checking to make sure no one else was in the apartment. Down a short hallway, the bedroom door was partially closed. Standing to the side, she crouched down and nodded again to Nicholls before cautiously pushing the door open. She swept her gun quickly around the room before reholstering it.

aJesus Christ,a Nicholls breathed.

Karen Dietrickas bloated naked body was spreadeagled on her bed, hands and feet tied to the headboard and footboard, her head encased in a plastic bag. It was obvious she had been dead more than a few hours. More like a few days. Brodie could feel her gag reflex begin to kick in as she and Nicholls backed out of the room.

Walking quickly out of the apartment, she said solemnly to one of the patrol officers, aCall forensics and donat let anyone else near this apartment.a Although she was taking in deep, cleansing breaths, she knew it would be a while before she got the scent of death out of her nose and her mind.

aAre you all right?a Maggie asked, resting her hand on Brodieas shoulder.

aBetter than Karen Dietrick,a Brodie said as she exhaled. aThis f.u.c.keras not leaving any loose ends, thatas for d.a.m.n sure.a aHe has to know heall be the primary suspect for her death,a Maggie said.

aDidnat you say he was going out of town for a job interview?a aThatas what he said.a aWeall have to wait for the medical examiner to determine her time of death. If he was out of town, then he couldnat have killed her and will be the luckiest f.u.c.ker on the planet. Have this whole area, front and back, cordoned off until Frank and his guys finish. Thereas nothing more we can do here for now. Whereas Nicholls?a When Nicholls finally joined them, he was wiping his face with a handkerchief. aBoy, that was nasty, RB,a he said softly.

aYou okay?a aYeah, but I think Iall burn these clothes as soon as I get home,a he answered, attempting a weak smile.

aIam betting we wonat find the same thing at Mr. Chambersa residence. Since he knew this victim, Iall take what we have and ask for a warrant.You up for it?aaOnly if we can ride with the windows down,a Nicholls said as he pushed his handkerchief into his pocket.

DARYLL CHAMBERS RENTED a small twobedroom house on the north side of Austin. Brodie requested back up from Austin PD via a secure frequency to the Austin dispatcher. Parking a block away from Chambersa house, she briefed the patrol officers and instructed them to cover front and back entrances to the house. When no one responded to her call to open the door, a patrol officer broke the door open. It was quickly determined that the house was empty. The three detectives spread out through the small house. The second bedroom had been converted into a study. Brodie looked through the drawers of an old desk without finding much of interest. A desk calendar was filled with scribbles, notes and phone numbers. A calendar entry for the previous Sunday showed what appeared to be a flight number and times and she jotted down the information in her notebook. The airline might be able to tell her when his return flight was scheduled.

aRoyce!a Maggieas voice called from another part of the house.

She found Maggie in Chambersa bedroom. aFind something?a Maggie backed out of the closet and held up a shoe. aLook familiar?a Moving closer, she examined the pattern on the sole of the shoe. aLooks like a match for the pattern in the pictures we have.a aIad like to wear these when I kick his a.s.s,a Maggie fumed.

aWell, bag them and weall let the lab determine if they match. Hopefully they wonat be the most popular shoe ever sold,a Brodie said.

The remainder of their search didnat reveal much to indicate that Daryll Chambers had been involved in any type of criminal activity. If he had the key ring, it was probably with him and it was the only solid evidence they had against him, but he could argue he had found it. Lying to Maggie about where he got it was the only incriminating thing they had. Conveniently, any witnesses to his academic misdeeds were dead. With Daryll Chambersa shoes in hand, the three detectives left Austin and drove back toward Cedar Springs.

aNow what, RB?a Nicholls asked as he seemed to be getting the color back in his face from their earlier discovery. aThe only other place covered by the warrant is his work area at the university. Want to try there?a aYeah,a she said. aMight as well check that and get it out of the way.a Reaching into her jacket pocket, she pulled out her notebook and handed it to Maggie. aSee if you can find out what date and time Chambersa flight will return to Austin. There was a lot of doodling on his calendar, but he traced over a couple of things several times to make them bolder. I think he used United Airlines. Either that or heas planning something at the University of Alabama.a aOr Arizona,a Nicholls added.

aOr Arkansas,a Maggie said.

aOr Alaska,a Brodie laughed.

As Maggie called directory a.s.sistance for the phone number, they all laughed. It had been a horrendous day, but their laughter broke the tension they were all feeling about the spiraling murder spree in Cedar Springs.

PRESSING THE WARRANT into the campus security guardas chest, Brodie took the master key from him and entered the outer office belonging to Malcolm Roth. aUnlock the inner door,a she ordered Nicholls as she began rummaging through the desk used by Daryll Chambers while Maggie pulled open the top drawer of the first of six four-drawer file cabinets.

aIall have to contact Dr. Roth about this,a the security guard said.

aKnock yourself out,a Maggie answered, thumbing through a row of horizontal files marked examinations. aWhat are we looking for specifically?a she asked.

aNo clue,a Brodie muttered. aMaybe weall get lucky and find a stolen copy of Brauneras exam.

aYouave been watching too much Perry Mason.a aWaiting for the one piece of evidence to fall in her lap always worked for Nancy Drew,a Brodie chuckled. aYou find anything in there, Nicholls?a aJust remnants of some pot smoking,a he called back. aWhat do you want me to do with it?a aLeave it. Itas not listed on the warrant.a As Maggie moved to the second file cabinet, Brodie got her knees and felt along the bottom of the desk drawers, but found nothing more than cobwebs. Standing, she joined Maggie. aIall start on this end and meet you in the middle. This is probably a waste of time anyway.a aAbout half of what we do is a waste of time,a Maggie said. aBut you never know until you look, right?a aYou shouldnat even be here, Maggie.a aIt beats watching my bruises turn a lighter shade of green and purple.a Half an hour dragged by and the three detectives had nothing more to show for their efforts than they had when they began the search. By the time she reached the final file cabinet, Brodieas back was beginning to tire from bending over. Kneeling in front of the bottom drawer, she tried to pull it open, but something inside caught and stopped it less than half way open. aWell, d.a.m.n,a she mumbled. The drawer rested at a slight angle.

aWhatas wrong?a Maggie asked.

aThe drawer came off the roller and thereas too much d.a.m.n weight in it.a aIf you can lift it while I pull, maybe we can get it back on track,a Maggie said, joining Brodie on the floor. Rising to her knees, Brodie put her hands under the drawer and lifted slightly. Maggie put a foot against the adjoining file and tugged at the drawer. It inched forward accompanied by the screech of metal against metal.

aWell, h.e.l.l,a Brodie fumed. aScoot over.a Sitting in front of the drawer, she placed a foot on the cabinets on either side of the stubborn drawer. Jerking it up and toward her, they heard a loud pop as the drawer broke loose and off the rollers, landing in front of Brodie.

A quick look through the files revealed nothing of interest. aOkay,a Brodie said, taking a deep breathe.

aYou grab your side and Iall take mine. Weall lift it onto the rollers and hopefully it will close.a Maggie nodded and on the count of three they lifted the drawer. After three tries, Brodie gave up.

aNicholls! Give us a hand out here!a Grinning as he knelt in front of the drawer, he said, aFinally needed a little manly muscle, huh girls?a aWhatever,a Maggie laughed. aWatch your fingers.a Two tries later, Nicholls said, aCheck the rollers. It feels like it catching on something.a aSo much for Mr. Manly,a Brodie said. She took her penlight from her inside jacket pocket and shined the light under the cabinet. aWhat the h.e.l.l? Looks like a piece of plactic that has lodged on the track. Move the file cabinets away from the wall,a she said as she stood up.

aWhat?a aJust move the d.a.m.n thing,a she ordered. When Nicholls was out of the way she went to the end file cabinet and, with Maggieas help, walked it away from the wall.

Three file cabinets later they were looking at what appeared to be a utility door hidden behind the file cabinets. Brodie flipped the latch and pulled the door open, using her back to move the file cabinet farther away from the wall. Clicking on the pen light, she peered into the opening. aCall the lab,a she said.

aWhat is it?a Maggie asked.

aAn entrance into the tunnels,a Brodie said as she stuck her head into the opening. aThe original entrance used to be in this hallway. I can see where it was bricked up.a Pulling her head back, she said, aGet the Mag-Lites from the car and bring some gloves.a aITaS AN OLD utility entrance for the wiring in this part of the building,a a university maintenance worker said as he wiped his hands on his pant legs.

aHow many more of these are there?a Brodie asked.

aProbably one on each floor.a aWe searched those tunnels. I didnat see any evidence of these then,a she groused.

aIf you go inside the tunnel and close the door, you can barely see the seam. Itas just cut into the plaster. Over the years and about twenty-odd coats of paint it sort of blended in. I doubt anyone would be looking for a way out of the tunnels now, only in, for maintenance,a he explained.

aThese werenat on the original blueprints we were given,a Nicholls said.

aThey wouldnat have been on the originals,a the technician said. aThey were more than likely added after the tunnels were shut down in case they needed to get to the wiring inside.a aGet some people over to the other original buildings. Tell them to look for openings near the original entrances for the tunnels. Then padlock the d.a.m.n things,a Brodie said.

Chapter Eleven.

IT WAS FINALLY the weekend and Brodie was exhausted and wired at the same time. They discovered Daryll Chambers was booked on a flight scheduled to arrive in Austin at 1:42 Sunday afternoon. The forensics lab hadnat been able to contribute much to their investigation. Bruising on her body indicated Karen Dietrick had been s.e.xually a.s.saulted. Deep bruises and bite marks around her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and thighs suggested it had been more than rough s.e.x and had taken place over a period of time. Her exact time of death was difficult to determine due to the condition of her body. The best guess they could make on the preliminary report was she had been dead between four and six days at the time her body was found. Six was good for their case because Chambers would have still been in town at the time of her death. Four was bad because, according to the airline, he would have been out of town. All they could hope for was that he would still be carrying that d.a.m.ned key ring.

a.s.suming he was the killer of three people in less than a month, leaving virtually no evidence pointing directly to him, she was sure he wouldnat suddenly become careless or arrogant enough to keep physical evidence as a trophy. Like Maggie, she was absolutely certain Daryll Chambers was their killer. She just couldnat prove it conclusively...yet.

Maggie wouldnat officially be back on duty until Monday, but Brodie promised she could be at the airport when Chambers would be arrested the minute he stepped off the plane. What she really needed was a mindless day off.

Getting up early, she kept a promise she made to Max and the two of them set off for a run through the woods not far from her house. It was two miles to a nearby small lake and she soon fell into a comfortable rhythm as she maneuvered through the trees and light brush that were beginning to leaf out. Occasionally Max would discover a hapless squirrel and chase the small animal up a tree, barking exuberantly before racing to catch up with his owner. Once they reached the lake, she sat down to catch her breath before making the return trip, watching as Max dove into the lake to retrieve sticks she threw for him. She loved spending quiet time with the long-suffering Labrador. He never judged her and always forgave her when she neglected him due to a new case.

In spite of the still cool spring air, by the time her house came into view, sweat soaked her t-shirt. Max collapsed on the back deck and she smiled as the big dogas eyes drooped, indicating the beginning of a nap. Stripping off her damp shirt and sweatpants, she tossed them into the clothes hamper and slipped into drawstring shorts and a white t-shirt. Fifteen minutes later she was spraying water over the Camaroas hood. Besides Max, the vintage vehicle was the only other thing she loved. It had begun as a project car before she moved to Cedar Springs and shead invested hundreds of hours of her time and a considerable chunk of her savings into restoring it. Except for the engine, most of the vehicle was original. She had been forced to replace the engine two years earlier and enjoyed tinkering with the vehicle, which ran better than many newer cars shead driven. She had been offered fairly serious money for it, but couldnat bring herself to part with it.

Brodie was chamoising the top of the vehicle when Maggieas Subaru pulled into the driveway. She was surprised as she watched Maggie step out of the vehicle.

aWhatas up?a Brodie asked.

aNothing much,a Maggie said, shoving her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. aJust got tired of sitting around the house waiting for tomorrow to get here.a aYouare looking better. How are you feeling?a aFine, thanks. Need help?a aIam about finished with the outside. You can clean the windows if you feel up to it.a Grabbing a roll of paper towels and a bottle of gla.s.s cleaner, Maggie opened the driveras side door and began spraying cleaner on the windshield, watching the muscles in Brodieas arms flex and relax as she moved the chamois over the hood of the Camaro. Working silently, the two women cleaned the vehicle until it sparkled inside and out.

An hour later Maggie followed Brodie into the house. aWould you mind getting some coffee started?a Brodie asked. aEverythingas in the bottom cabinet. Iall be right back.a aNo problem.a Brodie returned to the kitchen barefoot, wearing jeans and a UT t-shirt, her dark hair still damp from the shower, as the coffeemaker beeped. When Maggie glanced at her, she smiled to herself. It was obvious from the outline of hardened nipples under the t-shirt that Brodie hadnat bothered with underwear before dressing.

aSorry, but I had to get cleaned up,a Brodie said as she took a deep relaxing breath and pulled a mug from the cabinet next to the sink. aBeen a long day.a Maggie looked at her watch. aI should get going and let you get some rest. Big day tomorrow.a aI wasnat hinting for you to leave, Maggie,a she said.

aRoyce...,a Maggie started. Staring at the ceiling and clearing her throat, she said, aIaumaI wanted to thank you.a aFor what?a aFor believing me about Chambers.a aThe medallion started us looking in the right direction, and you found it,a Brodie said, reaching out and placing her hand on Maggieas shoulder.

aYouare going to be a good detective. Iave already told Donaldson that so start thinking about who youad like to work with as a partner.a aI wish I could work with you.a aIave got my hands full with Nicholls. You might get lucky and get Romero.a Maggie laughed, aIs he always such a Don Juan wannabe?a aYeah, but heas a good investigator.a Maggie turned and rinsed her mug out. aAre we going to be friends, Royce?a aI hope so. Iad like that.a aMe too. Well, Iad better shove off. I need to hit the grocery store before I go home.a As Maggie walked by her, Brodie brought her hand to rest in the small of her back and escorted her to her car. She reached around Maggie to open the car door. Stopping before she got in, Maggie asked, aWould you pick me up tomorrow?a Brodie was partially bent at the waist. When she turned her head toward Maggie she found their faces were within inches of one another. There had been a time when being that close to Maggieas lips would have been more temptation than she could handle.

aAround noon,a Brodie nodded as she straightened and stepped away from the Subaru. CHECKING HER WATCH, Brodie turned onto Highway 71 and headed south toward the Austin airport. Hitting the speed dial on her cell, she had to wait only two rings before she heard Nichollsas voice.

aWhere are you?a she asked.

aIam at the gate waiting for Chambersa plane,a he answered cheerfully.

aMaggie and I will be there in about fifteen minutes,a she said. aIs the flight on time?a aThe arrival/departure board says it is. See you in a few,a he said as he disconnected.

Nearly ten minutes later, Brodie brought the Camaro to a stop behind a Cedar Springs patrol car parked in front of the terminal. Another glance at her wrist.w.a.tch told her it was one twenty-five. Another fifteen or twenty minutes and Daryll Chambers would be out of circulation and the citizens of Cedar Springs could fall asleep safely in their beds again. Even though she doubted the events on the university campus had kept many of them awake, she knew the student body had been edgy since the first two murders and they wouldnat know about the third until the next day when cla.s.ses resumed.

Brodie and Maggie flashed their badges at the security gate leading to the arrival and departure gates for United Airlines. An airport security officer met them and escorted them to the waiting area where Nicholls was seated, watching planes take off and land.

aI just checked with air traffic control,a he said as Brodie sat down next to him. aHeas on the pa.s.senger manifest. The flight is on final approach, actually a couple of minutes early.a aLetas try not to scare the other pa.s.sengers to death as they deplane,a she said. aWeall just meet and greet him when he enters the waiting area and escort him to airport security for the actual arrest. Understand?a aBetween us and the additional security guards, I donat think heall put up much of a struggle,a Nicholls smiled.

The walkie-talkie held by one of the security guards squawked briefly. The man touched Brodie on the shoulder. aTheyare on the ground and it should take about ten minutes to taxi to this gate.a The three detectives stood up. aMaggie, I want you to stand here in the waiting area where Chambers will see you. Nicholls and I will stand on either side of the ramp entrance. Give us a signal when you see him. Hopefully when he sees you, heall be distracted long enough for us to grab him.a Maggie nodded as they watched the plane roll slowly toward the exit portal. Brodie winked at Maggie as they moved to a.s.sume their positions. Just in case things didnat go as planned, Maggie unsnapped her holster and took the safety off her revolver, resting her hand on the b.u.t.t of the gun. Slowly, pa.s.sengers began making their way up the ramp, some pulling carry-ons, others carrying laptops and briefcases. Periodically, there would be a large s.p.a.ce between one group of pa.s.sengers and the next. Maggie tensed every time she caught a glimpse of a younger man, only to be disappointed when the man looked up or came closer to the entrance to the lobby. After nearly fifteen minutes of deplaning pa.s.sengers, three stewardesses pulling rolling airline luggage walked through the door. Brodie reached out and stopped them before they made it to the waiting area.

aAre there any other pa.s.sengers on the plane?a she asked as she produced her badge.

aNo,a one of the women answered. aThereas no one left except the c.o.c.kpit crew.a She thanked the women and she and Nicholls rejoined Maggie to ponder their problem.

aWhat the h.e.l.l happened, Royce?a Maggie asked, clearly disappointed.

aBeats me,a she shrugged. aLetas check with the airline and see what we can find out. Maybe he changed to a later flight at the last moment.a At the main terminal for United Airlines, the detectives explained their problem and the missing pa.s.senger. The ticket clerk called for her supervisor, who escorted them to his office. After introductions, Brodie explained their situation again.

aWeare here to apprehend a suspect who was scheduled to arrive in Austin on your 1:42 flight from Boston. He was confirmed on the pa.s.senger list. Is it possible he changed to another flight?a aHe could have missed the flight. I can check our pa.s.senger lists to see if heas on a later flight,a the supervisor offered. aWhatas the name?a aDaryll Chambers,a she said.

The man punched information into a computer terminal at his desk and checked all flights arriving in Austin the remainder of Sunday and until Monday evening.

aIam sorry, Detective, but we donat have a pa.s.senger with that name listed on any incoming flight for the next forty-eight hours.a aHow about earlier flights? Maybe last Friday?a she asked.