TOO CLOSE TO HOME
Chapter 7
About 2:00a.m. Don called a halt to the surveillance. They'd stayed two hours past the probable attack window with no luck. "That's it. Let's pack it in for the night. Everybody, we'll reconvene back at the office at 7:00a.m. We need to find out what we missed."
"Maybe the killer hit another campus. Went in a counterclockwise direction," Terry suggested.
"Reverse his pattern? See what fits the criteria. At least I can tell Charlie that the killer didn't strike Calsci," Don told her.
"Do you think this new information will be just the data he needs?" she asked.
"I hope so. This case is really beginning to stress him out. He's hit a dead end but still spends just about all of his available free time working on it. Dad's starting to get concerned that he's not sleeping or eating properly." He started the car and pulled out onto the street.
"Are you heading home?"
"I don't think so. It's too far to head for the apartment. And I don't want to waking anybody up at the house this late at night. Especially Charlie.. I can sleep in my chair, I've done it enough times before."
"Well, I'll bring you breakfast then," Terry promised as they headed back to the office to retrieve her car.
"The killer had to strike somewhere if he's following the time intervals like in san Francisco. But where?"
"We'll find out soon enough."
When they got to the office, Don started on the paperwork for the night's surveillance but soon gave up. Putting his feet up on his desk, he leaned back in his chair in an attempt to grab as much sleep as he could before the others arrived.
Terry arrived shortly before 7:00, bringing hot coffee and breakfast sandwiches. "Any calls?" she asked, setting the food on Don's desk.
He lowered his feet to the floor. "Not yet. You know, something could have prevented the killer from striking tonight. A car accident perhaps."
The phone rang and Terry immediately grabbed the receiver at her desk. "Lake. She took out a pen and began writing. "Yes. We're on our way." After hanging up, she turned to Don.. "There's been another body."
"Where?"
"Calsci," Terry said quietly.
"Call David and tell him to get over there," Don ordered. He was already on his feet and heading for the door.
Terry made the call and hurried after him, the food and coffee already forgotten.
