Redheaded Neil blushed slightly, shook his head at her. “All right, assuming O transferred here two years ago so she could kill Charlene, how’d she know Charlie would be in Boston? Charlene didn’t even move to Cambridge till last year.”
“O probably didn’t know Charlie would be in Boston, and probably didn’t need to. Think about it: by moving to Boston, O arrived in the heart of New England. From here, it’s an easy day trip to New Hampshire, Rhode Island, half a dozen other states. She would’ve had to fly to Atlanta for Jackie Knowles, but even that’s just a couple of hours out of Logan Airport. Meaning regardless of wherever Charlie or her other victims would be on January twenty-one, O would have easy access.”
“I checked with her supervisor,” Phil spoke up. “Right now, looks like Detective O didn’t work January twenty-one last year, or the year before. She’s technically on duty today, but we can see how well that’s working…”
D.D. nodded, made another note for her presentation to Horgan.
Neil spoke up. “Why kill Randi Menke first? Why not just kill Charlie?”
“I think Abigail is looking for something more than a quick kill. If that were the case, you’re right, she could’ve driven up to New Hampshire and dispatched Charlene with a double tap to the forehead, just as she did with the pedophiles. I think she wants to torture Charlie first, make her feel just as alone and vulnerable in the world. As for why Randi versus Jackie…” D.D. shrugged. “Abigail had to start somewhere, and Randi probably seemed the easiest target. Lived only an hour outside of Boston, already traumatized by an abusive relationship. I imagine O drove down, maybe flashed her badge and said she was investigating Randi’s evil ex-husband. And just like that, Randi would’ve let her in.”
“But still didn’t fight back while she was being strangled,” Phil pressed.
“Details, details,” D.D. muttered, acknowledging his point. “As for Jackie Knowles…O would’ve had to fly to Atlanta, but no big whoop. She could’ve performed a routine background check in advance, determined Jackie’s occupation, place of residence, favorite restaurants from her Visa bill. Or just sat outside Jackie’s office, then followed her to the bar and set about introducing herself. She bought Jackie a drink or two, let one thing lead to another.”
“Got invited back to Jackie’s home,” Neil filled in. “Took out BFF number two, moving closer to final target.”
D.D. thought about it. “If you think about their mother’s psychosis, what these girls grew up with…Their mother didn’t just hurt them, she hurt them, in a highly ritualized manner. Maybe that’s what Abigail understands best. She’s not looking for death for her sister. She’s looking for suffering and acknowledgment. That’s something they both can relate to. Maybe, for Abigail, suffering even signifies love. Why does Mommy hurt you? Because she loves you so much.”
“But in both cases, Randi and Jackie didn’t suffer,” Phil said with a frown.
“Because it’s not their attention she wants. It’s Charlene’s. And the mysteriousness of those murders—no sign of forced entry, no sign of struggle—definitely added to Charlene’s mental anguish, while helping capture her attention.”
“I don’t think Charlie will be that lucky,” Phil said.
“No, I don’t think she will be either. At least she has some training on her side.”
“So does O,” Neil pointed out.
D.D. pursed her lips. “True. And O stole Charlie’s gun earlier. Though maybe that’s for the best. That will lower her expectations of resistance, which might help Charlie in the end.”
“So now it’s a race?” Phil asked. “Do we, or does O, find Charlie first?”
“You didn’t offer Charlene police protection?” Neil asked in surprise.