Chapter 14

The press already had the police station surrounded when Officer McGill showed up for his shift. The media hounds dogged his steps from the moment he got out of his car until the second he shoved his way into the plain building. Detective Glass stood waiting by the metal detectors.

“Officer McGill, I’d like to speak with you please.”

Eric went through security and followed the pudgy investigator. They entered the conference room and Glass shut the door. McGill looked at the crime scene photos taped on the large dry erase board. One of the profilers sat at the head of the table and nodded her greeting to both.

“What can I do for you, Detective?” Eric McGill inquired.

“Agent Wales and I would like to go over your statement about the Jones girl’s murder.”

“Anything I can do to help catch this guy.” McGill answered.

“Well, by now I’m sure you’ve heard this was the work of a serial killer. Most likely, this girl was the first victim.” Agent Wales asked.

“I heard about that. How can I help? I gave my statement and haven’t remembered or learned anything new since then.”

“Please have a seat Officer McGill.” Wales said as she motioned to the open seat to her left.

Eric slid into the seat but sat as rigid as a sinner in church.

“What we want to know is if there is anyone who used to jog that trail before the murder who stopped recently?” Wales explained.

“A couple of people have quit going to the park; they’re afraid of becoming another victim.”

“Anyone in particular come to mind, McGill?” Detective Glass asked.

Eric furrowed his brow and began to list the people he could think of.

“Well, there was Mr. Logan who ran around 6AM, a couple who jogged together with their dog around 6:30, Jenny Grand who always got done just when I was arriving, and the homeless vet who used to sleep in the park and go to the shelter for breakfast around 7ish.”

Agent Wales wrote the names down and compared the list to the sheaf of witness statements beside her.

“Mr. Logan signed into his office building by 7 that morning, so I doubt he could’ve been in the park when Miss Jones was stabbed.” She crossed his name off the list.

“The homeless gentleman was in the hospital for pneumonia and has since been reunited with his family. That leaves us with the couple or this Jenny to talk to again.”

Agent Wales put down the ballpoint and looked Eric in the eye.

“I understand Internal Affairs has given permission for you to assist in the case. Do you have a conflict of interest in re-interviewing these people, Officer McGill?”

“No ma’am. I will say that Jenny was pretty shaken up by the girl’s murder and tried to jog the park a few more times, but she always carried a little can of mace. I think she just got tired of being scared to exercise out there in the open.” He replied.

“Well, we still need to get updated statements from all three people; just in case they may have remembered something since then. These individuals may think it was a tiny detail, but it could be one of them witnessed something that can help us catch this killer.”

Officer McGill rose to his feet.

“I understand, Agent Wales. I’ll head out right now.”

“Officer?”

“Yes, Agent Wales?” Eric asked as he held the door handle.

“One of them may be the killer so do not allow yourself to lose focus.”

“I won’t Ma’am. I want this killer caught and out of my neighborhood.”

***

The statement from the couple was nearly identical to their previous statement. Eric shook the two men’s hands and strode back to his cruiser with the revised statements in hand. He straightened his uniform shirt and checked his hair before calling on Jenny. The young woman answered the door on the fourth knock.

“Hello again, Officer.” She said as she cracked the door. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes, Jenny—may I call you Jenny?”

“Of course.” The killer blushed and held up one palm. “Give me a moment to take off the chain and invite you in.”

She closed the door and fumbled with the chain bolt before welcoming Officer McGill inside.

“Thank you, Jenny. I promise I won’t take too much of your time. I just needed to get a new statement from you about the incident in the park.”

“Okay.” She paled and went to the fridge. “Would you like a drink? I’ve only got water, tea, and coke.”

“Thank you but no. Could we just sit and go over the events of that day?” He asked.

Jenny joined him on the couch. While he retrieved a pen and statement form from his bag, she stole a look at her prizes on the bookshelf. She prayed he didn’t notice them.

“I’m afraid I won’t be of much help, Officer. I haven’t thought of anything I didn’t tell you before.”

“That’s okay, we just need to go over these things from time to time to make sure we didn’t miss anything. Sometimes it’s the small details that crack a case. And please call me Eric.”

“Okay Eric. So, as I said before, I just went for a jog like I do every day. Back then it was the same trail in the park; same time each day.”

“But you don’t run there anymore?” He asked.

“No. I tried to keep my routine, but it was unnerving having to be so alert and carry mace to feel safe. I exercise at home now. If I jog, it’s on a treadmill in the complex’s gym or during the afternoon when there is a lot of people around.”

The killer hoped her voice and body language didn’t betray her. She attempted to add some minor fidgeting to appear frightened instead of dishonest. Eric put his hand on hers.

“I understand. You have to do what you need to feel safe.” He removed his hand. “That day you said you hadn’t seen anyone unusual; what about in the days leading up to the murder?”

Jenny shook her head.

“I don’t remember anyone. It was just the same people we always see on the trail. I was always in my head when I ran, I barely noticed the people around me.”

The entire day was recounted and after half an hour Eric was at a loss for questions to ask to stretch out the interview.

“Thank you for your time and help with this, Jenny. I know it’s not a pleasant conversation to keep having.”

He stood and stowed her signed statement in the bag. She rose to show him out. Silently the murderer was ecstatic that the meeting had gone so smoothly; the police had nothing on her. The only problem had come from her cat scratching McGill’s finger when he tried to pet him.

“Happy to help any way I can, Eric. And it was nice to see you again.”

They stopped at the door. The killer was eager to have the cop out of her home. Officer McGill adjusted the bag over his shoulder.

“I know this is inappropriate since I’m on duty and you’re a potential witness, but would you like to grab dinner sometime?” He asked.

Jenny was taken aback. She was more startled to hear herself blurt out.

“Absolutely.”

Eric smiled sheepishly.

“Pick you up Friday night around 7:00?”

“Sounds good. See you then, Eric.” Jenny answered nervously.

As the lawman strolled to his cruiser the murderer locked the door and knocked her forehead against the frame.

“What am I thinking? I cannot go out on a date with a cop who is trying to lock me up. This is freaking crazy.”

She looked at Figment.

“Figment, sweetie, I think mommy may have just lost her ever-loving mind.”

Inside the cruiser, Eric McGill was berating himself for letting his personal interest jeopardize his ability to work the case. And he was thinking of restaurants for Friday night.