Flu

Chapter 57

Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Kate points at the screen of her desk computer. "Babe, do you believe this? Heitner's had a hunting license since he was 12. He was in the Junior Hunters Program. The kids take a class for that. He got an unrestricted license at 16."

So the brilliant crafters of our state laws think 16-year-olds don't have the judgment to drink or vote, but they can run around the woods with a gun. How does that make sense?" Rick wonders in disgust.

Kate shrugs. "I don't know, but if Heitner's been at it that long, he must have gotten to know some of the other hunters in the area."

"And maybe the zombie who hunts for brains," Rick speculates. "That's what he could have been hiding. Perhaps the killer is an old pal – or Heitner himself."

"Come on, Rick. I know you don't like him. I don't either," Kate admits, "but that doesn't make him a rapist or a murderer."

"You have to concede," Castle argues, "that being assigned to investigate a murder would put him in a perfect position to cover up one. Maybe he destroyed evidence or kept it from his partner. Unfortunately, unless you want to borrow Mother's Ouija Board, we can't ask Fletcher what Heitner did. But I've got another idea."

"I'm all ears."

Rick's eyes sweep over his wife's body, pausing appreciatively below her neckline. "All evidence to the contrary, but moving right along. If Heitner took a class to get his hunting license when he was a kid, maybe our killer did also. Or better yet, maybe our killer took a class in brain tanning. He could probably learn it from YouTube now, but not a few years ago. We can check out where he could have found a course like that and who took it." Rick pulls out his phone. "Whoever did it live back then might have video posted now. "Tanning, deer, brain. Bingo! Here we have a basic course in brain tanning. It looks like it's a Native American thing. Of the many things garnered from Alexis' school trips, I happen to know that there's a branch of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in the Customs House. With any luck, someone there should be able to give us the skinny on area practitioners of that particular art. Ooh!" He bounces in his chair. "We're officially in the Christmas season now, and museum gift shops have great stocking stuffers."

"All right, I'll take you to the museum," Kate gives in to little-boy-Castle, "but stay with me and don't get lost."

Rick reaches for her hand. "Yes, Kate."

Arts Director Anna Buck nods. "Yes, I'm familiar with brain tanning. Understand that our people have too much respect for deer and every other gift of the land to waste what we receive. We put every part to good use. That technique is just one aspect of following our beliefs. This facility doesn't offer classes in preparing skins, but I can direct you to the local expert in the field. If you're searching for a leather maker, she should be able to point you in the right direction. If you wait a second, I'll get you one of her cards."

"I'd appreciate it," Kate replies as Rick scans a nearby list of displays. "You just lit up like a Christmas tree," Kate observes after Anna disappears through a door. "Do you see an exhibit about something you want to integrate into your next book?"

"Nothing like that. I just noticed the thing about making wood sing. It must be about Native American instruments, but that's also what Holly and Alexis do with violins. I was thinking there might be a companion book or disc or something Alexis might enjoy."

"So, you were serious about Christmas shopping."

"I'm always serious about Christmas shopping," Rick declares. "Seeing the light in a dear one's eyes at the perfect gift is the best part of the season. I still have video of Alexis on the first Christmas her little fingers could rip through wrapping paper. Every couple of years, I have to get it transferred to the newest media. I keep the current version in my safe."

"What was her favorite gift?" Kate inquires.

"The box her top-of-the-line preschooler activity set came in, but it was her joy that counted. Still does."

Kate pecks his cheek. "I get it. We'll check out the singing wood exhibit and the gift shop before we leave the museum."

With hard eyes, Elu Fox studies her visitors. "Over the years, I've had too many invasions from police looking for one of my students. Most of the time, it's been about some bogus charge. If this is more harassment, I will resist and report it."

"Ms. Fox, we're not interested in harassing anyone," Kate responds. "We're here because an 18-year-old woman was raped and murdered, and the police who investigated the case 15 years ago screwed up. They missed a clue and failed to get justice for the victim and her family. I'm sure you understand the failure of justice."

"Too well," Elu replies, "but what could that have to do with one of my students? I teach them the traditional skills we developed to survive."

"We believe that the killer we're looking for had more than one victim," Kate continues. "Another woman was strangled with leather, and traces of deer brain were found in the wound. Mr. Castle did some research that led us to Anna Buck. She thought you might be able to help us."

Elu turns to Rick. "Your research was accurate, Mr. Castle. Our people developed the brain method of tanning deer hides. I do teach it, but not all of my students are Native American. White hunters and survivalists are also interested in living off the land." Her lips twist. "A few of them are pretty creepy."

"Unfortunately, killers don't always come off creepy. They'd be a lot easier to catch if they did," Kate adds. "But the murderer would have had to take instruction before 1995. That should narrow down the list."

"It does," Elu acknowledges. "I started teaching in 1993. Before that, the old wisdom was primarily passed from one person to another. I've kept all my records and small samples of my students' work. If the killer misused what I taught, that should help you track him."

"Ms. Fox," Kate assures her, "it should help a great deal."

"Sonofabitch!" Rick spits out after leafing through the folders from Elu Fox as Kate drives back to the precinct. "Guess who studied brain tanning?"

"Hugh Heitner?"

"Got it in one. He took classes in 1993 and 1994. Kate, if he isn't the killer, he knows who is and is protecting him."

"Slow down, Babe. We can't be sure of that yet. We know that he lied, but he has a big enough ego to think he got away with it. He's not going anywhere. We'll have to check out everyone in those files and have CSU analyze the pieces of leather that go with them. Once we have that information, we'll be a lot closer to nailing the killer, whether it's Heitner or one of his buddies."

"How do we know that Heitner won't check on what's going on in the lab?" Rick asks. "If he has meetings with the chief, he has the juice. What if Osnitz or one of the techs spills the beans?"

"I'll ask Carl to keep the analysis on the down-low," Kate decides. "He loves intrigue. We'll give him some.