"Maybe that's not a bad thing."
"Or maybe it's a terrible thing. Maybe we've just lulled every blonde and redhead in King County into a false sense of security."
She suddenly understood Victoria's reluctance to embrace her theory--at least publicly. "Maybe it is premature to give our killer a name. But let's look down the road. Say the killer next strikes a woman who matches Jane Doe as closely as the two male victims matched each other? Or, let's say Beth Wheatley is already victim number four, and Jane Doe isn't just another thirty-something brunette. What if it turns out she's also the wealthy mother of a sixyear-old daughter and was estranged from her high-powered husband--just like Mrs. Wheatley?"
"Not to be difficult, but I don't take anything at face value. I would probably check Mrs. Wheatley's ears." "And if there's a busted eardrum?"
Victoria glanced at the photos on the table, then back at Andie. "Then I'd have to say we're dealing with one scary son of a bitch."
Andie's voice filled with trepidation. "And I would have to say you're right."
Gus didn't really want his daughter to see it. In fact, he hadn't even told Morgan he was going to be on the evening news. Carla had. Gus hadn't explicitly told her not to tell Morgan, but he'd expected his sister to have more sense. The fact that he'd tried to keep it a secret only seemed to make Morgan more determined to watch.
She was parked on the leather couch a good fifteen minutes before the five o'clock local news. He wasn't about to let her watch, even if she was more mature than most sixyear-olds. He did take a few minutes to explain why the reporters had come by the house, what he had told them. He kept reminding her of the zoo story. It was a safe image, her mommy off by herself watching the polar bears. He wished it were that simple.
"Please, can't I watch?" she asked.
"I don't think that's such a good idea."
"But I want to see Mommy's picture."
"I'll videotape it for you, okay? And then we can talk about whether you can see it." "why?"
"Morgan, there's no debate." He spoke in his stern discipline voice that told her he meant business. She pouted but followed him obediently to her room.
"You promise you'll let me see the tape? Please?"
"I promise to think about it," he said, then closed the door.
It was exactly five o'clock when Gus returned to the room.
"Good evening," said the newscaster. "Tonight's top story . ."
It wasn't Beth. He felt let down, though no one had told him it would be the lead story. Still, he couldn't help but feel that his was the important story, far more important than the latest flap over political campaign fund-raising.
He plugged a tape into the VCR, as he promised he would. He felt cold as he waited, doubtful he would let Morgan watch the recording any time soon, dead positive he could never have prepared her for the live broadcast. He wondered if he was prepared.
Finally, the news turned local. "In other news, the wife of a prominent Seattle attorney is reported missing . . ."
Gus went numb at the sight of Beth's photograph on the screen. It was worse than he had anticipated, seeing his wife on television with the dramatic graphic MISSING played alongside her.
The young anchorwoman said, "More on this story from investigative reporter Vince Daniels."
Gus was taken aback. He had never talked to a Vince Daniels. It had been a woman who had come by the house to interview him. The story was taking an unexpected tack.
The screen flashed to a stocky reporter standing live outside the state courthouse. He had a microphone in one hand, papers in the other.
"Judy, this is not the first time alleged acts of violence have touched the Wheatley family. In court documents obtained exclusively by Action News, Beth Wheatley filed this domestic-violence complaint against her husband, Gus Wheatley, the managing partner of Seattle's most respected law firm. The report was filed five years ago, at a time when insiders tell us the couple was contemplating divorce. Although the Wheatleys did reconcile, in this explosive report Mrs. Wheatley alleges a pattern of spouse abuse that lasted over a year. Abuse that didn't end, she says, until he physically struck her."
"Vince, is there any indication that police are investigating a possible connection between the abuse and Mrs. Wheatley's disappearance?"
"So far police aren't talking. But we will be watching this story very closely."
A stunned Gus grabbed the remote control and switched off the television. He was already shaking as a voice startled him from behind.
"That's why you didn't want me to watch." It was Morgan.
He hadn't heard her sneak out of her room, but it was
too late to scold her and tell her to go back. "Morgan--" "Did you hit Mommy? Did you make her go away?" "Morgan, no."
He saw hatred in her eyes, then fear. She ran from the room. Gus hurried after her. "Morgan, please."