I shrugged a shoulder and took another muffin, handing the last to Declan.“I can’t see him.The energy is the same, though.This is the camp killer.He’s older now.He’s the boss with the impressive office and an assistant.Jerome was scared, having to confront him, having to ask those questions.It felt like Jerome was worried he was tanking his whole career.”
“The red and white stripes you mentioned behind the killer’s head,” Kaknu began.“Was that an American flag?”
I closed my eyes and thought back to that office.“I think so.”I opened my eyes.“It was hanging from a pole, so it draped in a way where all I saw were the stripes.I think so, though.”
“He got his assistant pregnant, then killed her,” Hernández said, checking that her notes were correct.
“I believe so, yes,” I told her.
“And he still has that baseball souvenir he used to kill Aaron in the shelter?”she asked.
“Yes.”My stomach was still a little iffy, so I passed the muffin to Declan and brushed off my gloves.
“He used the terms opponent and fundraiser?”Osso asked.
“Yes,” I said again.
Hernández turned to Osso, who nodded.
I pointed between the two of them.“You know who it is.”
Hernández took out her phone and tapped the screen.She waited a moment, then turned the screen to Osso and Kaknu.Both men sighed, looking resigned.
“What is it?”I asked.
She turned the screen in our direction.“Our killer is John Michael Monroe.Our mayor.I’ve seen that damn baseball.”
Osso growled.“We were called to the mayor’s office for a handshake and photo after we caught those two prep school killers.There’s a flag behind his desk and a baseball in an acrylic box on the corner of it.He has—or had—a young female assistant.”He turned to Hernández.“Remember?He asked her to get us both coffees, but we said no.”
“The guy gave me the creeps,” she said.“He didn’t do or say anything wrong, but he’s one of those people who smiles and laughs with cold, dead eyes.”
“Yeah,” Osso agreed.“I just figured he’s a politician.”
Kaknu pocketed his phone.“We’ll keep digging.Once we have more bodies identified and placed in his orbit, it’ll be easier to tighten the noose.All reports will be kept in-house with the feds.We can’t let anything slip to local police or the mayor’s office.”They stood.“Thank you for your help.”
“Sure.”
They took off quickly, their jobs now easier and more difficult.
Declan put his arm around me.“Nap?Work?Lounging on the deck?What’s our plan today?”
I tipped my head onto his shoulder.“I have octopuses to make, and you have cribs and changing tables.”
“True,” he said.“But that puts us in different locations, and I wanted to stay with you, at least for a little while longer.”He stared out at the ocean a moment then checked the time.“How about if I take you to an early lunch so we can get some real food, and you can draw me pictures of our kids.Then we’ll both get to work.”
“I don’t know.My stomach’s a little—you know what?Yes.I want Mexican.We’re early enough to get a table at Mariana’s.”
“Perfect.”He stood, but I stayed seated.
“I’m a little worried,” I told him and he sat back down.
“About what?”
“I haven’t seen Otis, Daisy, and Jasper in about a week.I’m not sleeping here anymore, so I’m worried the little raccoons think I abandoned them.I can’t stop picturing them coming and knocking on my door for muffins and my not being here.”
“I’ve been feeding them,” Bracken said.
I looked toward where his RV was parked.“You have?”
