The Other Path
Chapter 22
Kate's settling in at her desk in the bullpen when an email alert flashes on her computer screen. Rick glances over her shoulder. "Oh, CSU. The identity of our mysterious tunnel walker."
"No such luck," Kate replies, scrolling through her message. "The lab found prints matching David Palomar, but we expected that. There were a few belonging to someone else on the handrail in the stairs. But they don't match anyone on record. And the only ones on the panel leading to David's office were his. Somewhere along the line, the killer must have put on gloves. But without a match, it doesn't matter. Until we get something from DNA, forensics are no help."
"All the more reason to proceed with the investigation of the Slasher Murders while we have the chance," Rick notes. "If we're both going to track down hires during critical periods, I'll need a computer."
"You can use Ryan's," Kate advises. "He and Espo are both off today. Javi's got a race, and Kevin is cheering him on."
"Right. Ryan's machine doesn't have any powdered sugar in the keys, and any other hazards springing from his feeding habits have had a chance to dissipate. I thought the atmosphere in the elevator was more pleasant than usual. Since we're looking at employees from three companies, I can take Hebron and Giles if you want to take Piebold.
"If I finish Piebold before you finish Hebron, I'll take Giles," Kate offers.
Rick shrugs. "Whatever the detective desires. You want coffee before I get started?"
"Absolutely."
"I checked out the hires at Hebron," Rick announces, massaging the back of his neck. "I found three that might have caught the attention of the killer and are still in New York. One of them, Zepora Miller, still works there. She might be able to fill us in on any threatening crazies that escaped Craddock's attention. Got anyone from Piebold?"
"Maybe. I have a Miriam Halpern. But she didn't start to work there until a month after the murders. So she might not fit the pattern. Still, I'll want to talk to her. You want to split the Giles records with me?"
Rick flutters his eyelashes. "I would be delighted."
"Yeah, I remember the murder," Zepora replies to Kate's questioning. "Who could forget when the person who hired you gets his throat cut? But no one's asked me much about it before. I wasn't a witness or anything. I don't know how I can help you."
"I know it's been a long time, but was there anyone back then who objected to you going to work, maybe your family or your church?"
"Both, actually," Zepora confides. "My family lives in what I guess you'd call an enclave. Everyone in the neighborhood moved there to be close to the Temple of Truth."
"What kind of truth?" Rick inquires.
"Bible stuff, sort of. It's a version of rules from the old and new testaments. But actually, it's whatever Jonah said it is."
"Who's Jonah?" Kate queries.
"Founder and Leader-for-Eternity of the Temple of Truth. He drew my parents in when they were trying to find themselves. So they raised me according to Jonah's teachings."
"Which didn't include going to work for Hebron?" Rick prompts.
"God, no! Several of the men from the congregation worked here. But according to Jonah, women were created to serve their husbands so that their husbands could better serve God."
"And serving their husbands didn't include getting a job," Kate assumes.
"No, it didn't," Zepora confirms. "But I wasn't interested in becoming the happy homemaker. I made good grades in high school, and I wanted to go to college. My parents wouldn't even consider that. But Matt Fleming, the man who was killed, said that I could work nights for Hebron and attend school during the day. The New York City colleges aren't that expensive, and Hebron was willing to kick in on my tuition in return for a promise to work there and take the night shift for at least five years. I wasn't all that special. It did that for many employees, and most of us stayed a lot more than five years. According to the company reports, it more than got back the investment by having a dependable workforce and not having to pay training costs."
"And the men from Jonah's congregation who worked for Hebron, how did they feel about Matt Fleming hiring you?" Kate queries.
"They worked the day shift, so I didn't see them. But I heard they were claiming that Matt spoke with the voice of a demon." Zepora shakes her head. "Insane, right? But that's the kind of sick garbage Jonah spouts."
"Would you know if Jonah ever had anything to do with a cult called North Star?" Rick asks.
"Wow, yeah," Zepora responds. "The elders from North Star were part of a group he met with. All the families would have to bring food for a feast to welcome them. After that, they would go into retreat with Jonah and his inner circle."
"All men?" Kate questions.
"You know it! Jonah claimed women couldn't understand anything except taking care of their husbands and children. From what I heard, the elders from North Star agreed. And following his meetings with North Star, Jonah would give sermons reminding everyone of women's subservience to men. After the last one I heard, I wanted to throw up. But what does all of that have to do with Matt's murder? You think Jonah and North Star were involved?"
"We're just exploring the possibilities," Kate explains. "A recent murder was connected to North Star."
"So you want to find out if there were any more, maybe from the Temple of Truth," Zepora surmises.
"Yes," Kate confirms.
"Well, I wish you luck," Zepora responds. "Matt was a good man. He deserves justice. And his family deserves some peace."
"I heard a text alert from your phone while we were talking to Zepora. Are you going to check it now?" Rick inquires as he and Kate leave Hebron.
Kate pulls her cell from her jacket pocket. "Yeah. It's from CSU. Only one DNA sample wasn't from David Palomar. They didn't get anything from CODIS, but their preliminary analysis shows it's from a woman. They're still working on a phenotype."
"A woman." Rick considers. "Could that be the mysterious Dana?"
"David's parents said that David broke off communications with Dana," Kate reminds him.
"Communications they knew about," Rick muses. "David was obsessed with not letting anyone know what he was doing. Maybe Dana, or whoever that DNA belongs to, was one of his secrets. How else would she have known about the tunnels?"
"I don't know," Kate admits. "But now that we have another clue on our priority case, I think it's time to pull some yearbooks. We can start with Danas and see where they lead."
"How about leading us on a trip to Remy's first?" Rick suggests. "I'm starved. And if Leah wants something, there's enough stuff from Goldstein's at the loft to feed her for at least a week."
"Sounds good," Kate allows. "I've been dying for one of Remy's strawberry shakes."
"And I have a similar yearning for one of their cheeseburgers. Definitely not kosher, but a gift from the gods nonetheless."
"And double fries," Kate adds. "Let's go.
