"That would mesh with this one,"H declared watching Blair carefully. "The pictures and notes start from when Miss Michelle Denman was twelve years old. She and her twin were kept together and are now 30. They are both talented interior designers and have a small but exclusive company. They have won awards in their field and are very sought after by the rich and famous. According to the file they don't have any serious physical disablities, but big sister notes that they are too dependent on each other and both have very violent tempers."
H halted for a moment wondering how his friend was reacting to them traipsing through the lifes of his siblings. But Blair just looked intensly curious so he continued.
"Over the years big sister has set up situations where Michelle and probabley the brother too, had no recourse but to make hard decisions and deal with problems on their own. She states that she feels guilty for manipulating them, but believes it's the only way she can help them become their own person, not just half of a twin."
As he concluded Rafe took up the tale.
"I have the brother, Nicholas Denman. He has been known to drink to excess, especially when his sister is dating. According to the file notes, it isnt anything incestuous. He is just terrified that if she finds someone then hell be left alone. Something neither one of them has ever experienced. He also used to drive one of his collection of sports cars when he was drunk or depressed. Big sister put a stop to that.
She doesnt state how. Only that he doesnt own any fast cars now…He has dabbles with a few cults etc, but never been truly sucked in. And the company is doing very nicely if these bank records are to be believed."
Rafe paused then looked at Simon.
"There is a lot of detailed work in all these files. She obviously has been well-trained, is disciplined and very determined. She also has the time, money and the contacts."
"I have to agree sir. These are trained observations. She states the relevant information, but discardes the dross," Connor declared.
Simon nodded his head slowly in acknowledgement, but his real focus was on Joel.
Joel who always had something to contribute to disscussions had sat silent while the others reported their summaries. Now it was his turn. And it became very obvious to everone that he didnt want to.
Eventually he stood up and walked to his front room window. But he didnt see his neat little garden or the kids playing ball across the street, he was lost in his own nightmarish memories.
"I have the file on the one your sister believes to behind all the phone calls etc. but I don't really need to read past the front page to know shes right. And to wish to God she was wrong."
Instinctively Blair moved forward to comfort his friend and found him self restrained by Simon. Blair looked up at the big man in surprise but Simon just shook his head and waited.
The short respite was obviously enough for Joel as he began to tell his tale.
"Before I returned to Cascade about 6 years ago, I did a short stint in New York, on the Special Victims Unit. And it was only a short tour, Ill admit that to anyone. I just couldnt handle the faces day in day out. The woman who had been raped and abused the children whos lifes had been smashed…but most of all it was the faces of the perps who would tell anyone whod listen that it was their parents fault or societies or the man-in-the-moons." Joels face was still to the window, so his expression was hidden from his friends, but his disgust and frustration poured through each word.
"While there I was involved in a case that turned the whole units stomach. Everyone knew who the perp was, we just couldnt get the hard evidence needed to put him away. His name was Mitchell Carven and the cases were rape/homocides of young girls. We all knew it was him. 8 victims and we couldnt get him. And he loved it.
He brought in some fancy lawyer and we were told to back off. We did and he left for the UK the next day. We were called out to a crime scene early afternoon. It was a young italien girl, 15. Identical to all the others. She was the last one."
The room was filled with a suffocating silence, that no one knew how to break.
Then Joel turned to face Blair and they all held their breathes at the fear in his eyes.
Fear for Blair.
"Mitchell Carven according to your sister is a alias used by Mitchell Clelland,"he announced. "Blair if she is right, and I think she is, then you can not take any chances. This guy is plain evil, pure and simple. He enjoys fear, pain and control…he has no compassion…no soul..no humanitiy that you can reason with…He is totally empty."
