“Uh, I can’t be sure, but I’d say it was around eighteen months ago.”
“Truth.”
“I’m going to show you a picture, Mr. Romano. It’s a drawing of a symbol and I want you to tell me if you’ve seen it.” Bell pushed the sketch across the table.
Romano looked at it. “It kinda looks like something that was on the wall of the tunnel. Dave thought it might be an old smugglers’ mark. He was fascinated by the historical connection.”
“Truth.”
“Do you think Frederics has been into the tunnels again?”
“Can’t say. I would guess so, because he got really into Boston’s history after that, but I don’t absolutely know.”
“Also true.” Bryn’s hand was shaking. He closed his eyes, the strain of what he was doing evident.
“Bryn needs to take a break,” Gunnar said.
Bell nodded. “We have what we need for now, Mr. Romano. If you’d be so kind as to go with one of my agents, they’ll take a statement from you. Anything you can remember from your conversations with Dave Frederics would be helpful.”
“Am I going to need a new security manager?” Romano asked as he stood.
“That remains to be seen, but if he turns up at work or contacts you in any way, you need to let us know immediately.”
“I will.” Romano left with the same agent who had announced his arrival.
“I need something sugary for Bryn,” Gunnar said.
“Way ahead of you.” Emmett extracted three candy bars from his satchel. “I brought these with me, just in case.”
“My head hurts,” Bryn muttered.
“I’m sure it does. You’ve done too much again.” Gunnar got growly. He thrust a bottle of water into Bryn’s hand then unwrapped one of the candy bars. He broke off a piece. “Open.”
Bryn opened his mouth, accepting the chocolate Gunnar shoved between his lips. “Hmm, good to know that’s one order you respond to,” Gunnar whispered, his voice low enough that only Bryn would hear amidst the chatter in the room. Several agents on the investigating team had joined them to hear the results of the readings.
Bryn blinked and gulped. “I’m okay, but I’d like to get back to the apartment so I can take a nap. Is that okay?” He was utterly drained.
“We sure can.”
Emmett was already packing his things. “This was fascinating. I’m glad Warden let me come along.”
Fifteen minutes later, after saying their goodbyes to Bell and his team, Gunnar, Bryn and Emmett were in the car and heading for home. Emmett took shotgun so that Bryn could get horizontal on the rear seat.
“That was a lot for Bryn to handle today, wasn’t it?” Emmett said.
“Yeah. I think it paid off, though.”
“Sure sounded like it. I hope Bell tracks the security guy down fast. Do you think he’s made a run for it?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. This killer isn’t stupid. He’ll have a backup plan. He was right there in the security room with us and I didn’t pick up anything suspect. He was helpful. Normal. He has to be a sociopath.”
Emmett shuddered. “Those poor people. I hate thinking about what he did to them.”
“Try to put it out of your head. When it sneaks in, think of something happy.”
“Will Bryn have to read Dave Frederics when they catch him?”
“Not if he confesses or if they find enough evidence to convict him without a confession. I can’t imagine he thought his kill site would be found so it must be full of forensics. In the image Bryn saw, the killer wasn’t wearing gloves.”
