After a long discussion on how they plan to work the case, Joe heads back to the station, and Jerry leaves to grab a bite to eat. A security officer is posted outside Rachel's door while he's away.
A few minutes of peace and quiet. Rachel thinks, snuggling down in bed. She's getting comfortable when her cell rings. I'll let it go to voicemail. Rolling over, she fluffs her pillow again. The phone grows quiet after the fourth ring. Much better. She sighs, closing her eyes. Rachel is nearly asleep when the phone chimes again. Terrifying thoughts flood her mind. Scooping it up, she anxiously exclaims, "Hello?" Her hands begin to tremble as she waits for a reply.
"Did you enjoy your visit with the girl's family Sergeant?"
Hearing the familiar voice she pushes the record on her phone hoping forensics will be able to pick something up since the signal didn't tell them anything. The forensic tech claims he's using a scrambler which causes the signals to bounce around. "How do you know where I went?" It was one thing knowing she was out of town, and another to know her location.
"Big brother is always watching, Sarge. You should know that. I am sorry about what happened to you, nose diving off the cliff like that. But I'm glad you made it out alright."
Fury boils inside her. She clutches the phone tighter and asks, "Are you?"
"Of course I am. pipsqueak. I'd never want any harm to come to you."
"So why did you drop something from the tree knowing we'd wreck? Huh, why?" She demands.
"That wasn't me."
"And I'm supposed to believe you, why?"
"Like I've told you before, killing law-abiding citizens isn't what I'm about. My goal has been and always will be to clean up the streets."
"Then why did you threaten to harm my children if you only go after criminals like you claim?"
"That wasn't a threat, Sergeant, it was a warning to always be aware of your surroundings and to never let your guard down. You and Joe have made quite a few enemies working on the force. Rivals who are looking to settle a score."
"You've been taunting me for weeks and now you want me to believe you have my best interests at heart?"
"I know you probably won't believe me, when I say this, but I miss you, Rachel. I miss being a part of your life the way I was back when you and Emma were young."
"So let's assume for a second that I believe it wasn't you."
"I do wish you would, for your family's sake."
"If you didn't do it, then who did? And what proof do you have to substantiate your claim?"
"It was the kidnapper, sergeant. He probably would've gotten you several times if I hadn't stepped in. Unfortunately I didn't get to the tree in time, but I did call the paramedics when I saw what he'd done."
"So you're claiming that you've been saving my life?"
"Numerous times. Some came at a personal cost to me, but wounds heal, bones mend and my beautiful Rachel is safe once again."
"So you know who it is?"
"I don't know him by name, or where he resides. I just know him by sight."
"Can you describe him to me?"
"I'll do you one better, I'll send you a photo. I'm using a secure line and a victim's account so don't bother trying to trace it. Like I said before, I'm too smart to get caught especially on minuscule things like that."
That's what they all think. Rachel smiles, recalling the last perp she took down.
"You should be getting it any time now. And this my darling will prove my case."
Her phone alerts her of an incoming text. Pulling up the photo, Rachel studies it for a second then says, "He's the kidnapper?" She's seen him around town through the years. Like the caller, she knows him by sight, not by name.
"I didn't realize who he was until recently when I caught him trying to nab a homeless kid off the street. I guess that's his new thing these days, nabbing the children who've slipped through the cracks."
"I'll run his face through facial rec and see what I can find."
"It'll help the ME ID him when I put him in the morgue. How is Sharon these days? I do hope she's happy with her new man."
"No, don't do anything. Let the police handle it from here, alright."
With a hint of sadness in his voice, he asks, "You don't want me to take care of him for you, Sergeant?"
"We need him alive so he can tell us where all his victims are buried, to give the family closure, put their child to rest."
"I think it's only fair to make him pay for all the things he's doing to those kids, don't you?"
"Oh, he will, trust me. Once the others find out what he's in for. I guarantee he'll suffer to the end."
Assuming he won't get off on a technicality. No, I'll just have to get to him first, to ensure justice is done. "Any luck Identifying your Jane Doe?"
"We're still working on it."
After all the clues I gave you and you guys still haven't figured it out. Shoddy police work like that is why the world has gone to hell. The reason I'm doing what I do. Taking care of the scum that you guys free. Back in the day, Berryville PD had a seventy percent clearance rate, top in the state. And unlike today, the criminals weren't set free only to victimize again." Clicking his tongue he adds, " I so wish the guys were still around to teach you rookies how to do your job."
Gripping the device tighter, Rachel yells into her phone, "We do the best we.."
"Your best isn't quite good enough though, is it, sergeant? Be expecting two more soon. Hopefully you can get your head out of your ass long enough to figure this one out." The call disconnects.
She brings up the trap call app on her phone, only to find it couldn't be traced. "He outsmarted me again." Tossing her cell, she slams her feet on the bed.
"What's all that about?" Jerry asks, hobbling into the room.
"The trap call didn't work like you thought. Said he's using a secured line."
"That would explain a lot."
"He sent me this." She pulls up the new message, and hands it over to Jerry. "The caller said he had nothing to do with our wreck. That it was the guy on the screen. He claims he tried to stop him but didn't get there in time."
"Who's this supposed to be?"
"According to the caller he's the 2012 kidnapper. He claims he's the one who's been after me and that the thing he said about my kids was a warning about letting my guard down. He also said that the man would've gotten me numerous times if he hadn't intervened."
"You believe him?"
"I think it's worth looking into at least. He said something that strikes me as odd. Well, actually the whole conversation was a bit off."
"How's that?"
"He seemed sweeter and more compassionate towards me in the beginning, claiming he helped Emma and me when we were young."
"He told you that before though, right?"
"No, he claimed he was around, but not that he helped us out. Which is why I assumed he was one of mom's lovers, but her flavor of the week wouldn't lift a finger to help us. We were just a nuisance to them always in their way. So instead of focusing on her boyfriends, I need to make a list of people who helped. He also seems to know a lot about the judicial system, often using shop talk only the police would know. Bosting about how the Berryville PD had a high clearance rate back in the day. So I'm thinking he might be a cop who was either forced to retire or resign."
"I'll look it up, see what I can find." Jerry's phone rings Seeing it's the captain, he says, "What's up, boss?"
"I thought you should know that two more women were found at the park. I sent Kirk and Jeff out to investigate."