The Collector

By Tallulah Grace

A serial killer, twenty years in the making, terrorizes small communities in the Great Smoky Mountains, seeking trophies for his collection.

The FBI sends a unit from its Special Serial Crime Division to track the killer. Led by Jeri Forbes, with assistance from Ethan Barnes, the SSCD team face their most bizarre case yet; a sexual sadist who hides in plain sight, selecting victims from unsuspecting tourists who happen to remind him of a love, lost long ago.

Not for the faint hearted, this gritty crime thriller will take you deep into the mind of a deranged predator. Enter at your own risk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kalyko Creations
• Release date: Dec 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311055569

Tallulah Grace

Raised in the foothills of the mystical Blue Ridge Mountains, I attribute my love of beautiful landscapes and fascination with all things paranormal to my environment. The settings and characters in my novels reflect my appreciation for natural beauty as well as a desire to explore the what-if’s of things unseen. Throw in a degree in Psychology paired with a strong interest in the workings of the criminally insane mind and you have a breeding ground for a psychological thriller.Becoming an author was not a conscious decision; I've always been a writer. Channeling a passion for story-telling into my livelihood required a giant leap of faith, one that I'll never regret as I truly love what I do.When I'm not writing, I enjoy antiquing, bead-weaving and sharing time with my incredible daughter and our two spoiled-rotten cats.

Book preview

The Collector

By Tallulah Grace

Copyright 2013 Tallulah Grace

Smashwords Edition

The names, places and events contained within this book are fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including recording, photocopying or any other information storage and retrieval system without prior, written permission of the Author.

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Prologue

Excuse me, Ma’am? He couldn’t believe his luck, happening onto this lovely young woman as she stopped at a deserted restroom. Are you heading into Lambreth? Flashing the badge that always put them at ease, the man also gave her a disarming smile.

Yes, I’d planned to. Is something wrong? She was hesitant, at first, but the man seemed so nice, and he was carrying a badge, so he must be safe. She waited as he walked towards her.

Yes, Ma’am. The weather service just issued a fog alert. You should wait here until it lifts. That road can be dangerous, especially if you’re not accustomed to it. The man tipped his hat, put on his best concerned officer imitation, and stopped beside the girl. Inspecting her face, he saw that her eyes were perfect, just the shade of blue that he preferred. And her hair, well, that was a few shades lighter than the deep chestnut he loved so much, but hair color was easily changed. It was long, though. A definite plus.

Thank you, officer. I’ll wait here, then. The hairs on the back of the girl’s neck started to tingle at the intensity of the officer’s gaze, giving her goose bumps. She looked around for someone, anyone, who might be in the vicinity. There was no one.

The fog he stopped to warn her about rolled in as the man held the badge closer to her face.

It’s Sheriff, Ma’am.

As the young woman glanced down at the hunk of metal, he took the opportunity to slide the syringe from his other pocket. Quickly, using the technique he’d perfected over time, he pierced the skin on the side of her neck and injected the fluid into her system.

She never saw it coming.

Chapter One

Why did you wait so long to call us? Jeri Forbes cleared the stairs leading from the small, private plane to step onto the tarmac. Hand extended in greeting, she questioned the tall, lanky man sporting a Sheriff’s uniform.

We didn’t know we had a serial, not until last week. Gregg Davis shook her hand, disliking her on sight.

Jeri Forbes, she introduced herself, then picked up the interrogation. That’s my point, you knew last week. I’ll ask you again, why did you wait so long to call us? Patience had never been one of Jeri’s virtues. Her tolerance level decreased dramatically in the face of blatant stupidity.

This guy’s smart, he’s crossing state lines. The one in Tennessee didn’t show up in the database until Clarkston updated their systems. The Sheriff’s gaze, level with Jeri’s, did not reflect the animosity he felt for the abrasive FBI agent. He’d expected as much; give a woman a little power and it goes straight to their heads.

He’s dumping the bodies on Federal land, correct? That makes it our jurisdiction, no matter how many killings you have. You should have notified us much sooner. Jeri frowned at the vibe she felt from the Sheriff. It definitely did not match his cool, respectful, exterior.

You’re here now. What would you like to do first? Sheriff Davis looked up as two more agents descended the stairs.

Sheriff, meet Adam Gold and Jackson Smythe, part of the team. Jeri waited until both men were on the ground.

Sheriff, Adam shook hands quickly, stepping aside for Jackson to do the same.

Gentlemen, thank you for coming. The man’s demeanor shifted slightly, enough so that Jeri noticed the change.

So, he was one of those, she thought, barely hiding a smile. It always helped to understand who you were dealing with. There were few things she loved more than proving a chauvinist wrong.

Where’s Ethan? Jeri asked Adam, preferring to wait for an update until the entire team was assembled.

On the phone, I think it’s Interpol, trying to persuade him to come back. Adam looked up, just as Ethan appeared at the top of the stairs. I’m guessing it didn’t work.

Sorry, what did I miss? Ethan’s eyes met Jeri’s as he joined the group. He nodded his head once in silent communication.

Nothing, we waited. Relieved to know that he’d been given the go-ahead to stay in the country, without losing his status with Interpol, she turned her complete focus on the Sheriff.

Sheriff, meet Ethan Barnes, the last member of our team. She waited while the men acknowledged each other. Have there been any new developments since we spoke this morning?

No, Ma’am. We’ve had no reports of any missing persons, in this county, or in Clarkston, last I checked. Davis noticed the exchange between Forbes and the new man, Ethan. He would bet his last dime that there was something going on there.

That’s something, at least. Have you identified the victims yet?

Not yet. We’ve run their prints through the system, but no hits, so far. Without a head, the bodies are next to impossible to identify. Like I said, the guy’s smart.

They all think they’re smart. We’re here to prove him wrong. Jackson pulled his coat tighter around him.

As he spoke, a large, black SUV pulled up next to the plane.

This is our ride, Jeri explained. Sheriff, we’ll follow you to the drop zones. Start with the latest one first.

Yes, Ma’am. Sheriff Davis nodded congenially, grateful that he wasn’t expected to haul the feds around.

Adam beat Jeri to the driver’s side, grinning as she scowled at him.

Hey, don’t give me that look. The last time we were in the mountains, you nearly drove us off the cliff. It’s my turn to drive. Years of working together as partners put Adam in a unique position to challenge Jeri, his boss. Which he did, frequently.

Sorry if you can’t handle it, Gold. Jeri answered as she signed the necessary paperwork. After thanking the rental agent, she turned back to Adam. If you’re more comfortable in Granny mode, be my guest.

Granny mode, my ass, Adam grumbled and started the car. Jackson and Ethan piled into the back, slamming the doors in unison.

Looks like the Sheriff’s in a hurry, Jackson commented as the lawman’s car peeled out of the parking lot.

Just then, Jeri’s phone chirped.

Forbes, she answered before the second ring.

Dammit! Lead the way. Ending the call, she turned to her team. They found another body, sans head. Same stretch of road as the last two, so we’re close.

That makes five in four weeks, as far as we know. Adam threw the car into gear and sped off after the Sheriff.

More importantly, that makes two in three days. He’s escalating. Jeri turned to stare out of the window, processing the new information.

Male or female? Ethan asked softly, knowing that Jeri was already three steps ahead of them. It was one of the many reasons that he loved her.

Female, mid to late twenties, best guess.

He’s staying true-to-type, at least for the last four kills. The first and only male could have been practice. Jackson added.

Or, he’s trying to throw us off. The Sheriff was right about one thing, this guy is smart enough to know how to stay off of our radar, at least for a time. Switching between states made him more difficult to pinpoint. Jeri shot a text to Jimmy, asking for an update on missing persons in North Carolina and Tennessee.

You’d think that when even one headless body turns up, you know you have a problem. What were these guys thinking? Why wait for more, especially after finding the second one? Adam fell into line, directly behind the Sheriff.

According to Davis, Clarkston County only recently upgraded their systems, so the two in Tennessee weren’t on the grid. Jeri answered, looking up from her phone.

But neither County performed an autopsy, at least on the first three victims. Why not? Now we have to wait for the M.E. before we can make comparisons. You would think they could have done that much already. Shaking his head, Jackson flipped open his tablet.

Any news from Jimmy on the missing persons? Ethan asked, knowing that Jeri would have already asked.

Nothing. She told him, reading Jimmy’s response. So where is he finding the victims? After requesting that Jimmy expand the search to the entire Southeast, she put down the phone.

We know that they aren’t in the system, so they are technically not criminals. They don’t work for the government, they’ve never been fingerprinted for any reason. Jackson ticked off the list on his fingers.

The victims could be homeless, Ethan added. Or they could be upstanding citizens who somehow landed on this guy’s radar.

Upstanding citizens would likely be missed, at least the first three. The Smoky Mountains are a big tourist draw, maybe they’re on vacation, and haven’t been missed yet. Jeri scrolled though her phone, looking for descriptions of the victims.

Most people don’t take vacations for a month, Adam threw in, concentrating on the winding road.

No, but retired people might. Or maybe the first victim lived alone, had no family. According to the report, he was in his sixties. So that fits. Jeri read.

I think we’ll learn a lot when we learn more about the male victim. Jackson scanned his notes. All of the female victims were sexually assaulted, but not the male. If today’s victim was also assaulted, then at least we have a tighter profile.

You’re thinking that the male victim was someone close to the killer? Someone who might have been in his way? Jeri tapped one finger on her tablet.

It makes sense, Jackson continued. If you wanted to go on a killing spree, but needed privacy, or a place to keep your trophies, then it’s possible that you would need to remove the person standing in your way. Maybe the killer’s father, or brother. My bet is on the father.

That’s good, Jackson. And once Daddy’s out of the way, then you have the house to yourself. Also, if you are the only close relative, then you are the only one to report him missing. Jeri nodded as she considered the facts.

So, we profile the killer based on the female victims, but look to the male as our best chance to identify him, Ethan summed it up.

It’s a good working theory, Jeri said, looking at him over her shoulder.

Looks like we’re here, Adam told them as he pulled onto the shoulder of the road.

Flashing lights from a single ambulance and a lone police car lit up the gray afternoon. Sheriff Davis was out of his vehicle before Adam came to a full stop.

The Sheriff joined four men standing by the side of the road, each with their backs turned away from the partially visible lump at the top of the incline.

The M.E. is on his way. Jeri heard the young officer tell Sheriff Davis as she exited the car.

Thanks, Rudy, the Sheriff answered, then waited for Jeri’s team to join him.

Jeri reached him within a minute. Is this how the others were found, barely off of the asphalt? Though she had seen pictures of the other victims, she prepared herself mentally to see the latest victim in person.

Yes. It’s as if he pulls over, tosses them out of the vehicle, then drives away. He doesn’t even try to hide them.

How heavy is the traffic on this stretch of road? Jackson wanted to know.

It depends. On the weekends, it’s heavier, especially this time of year. People come up for a chance to see snow, or to hike. On a day in the middle of the week, like today, the traffic is much lighter.

So she could have been there since last night, or early this morning, without detection? Adam asked.

"Yes. Or he could have dropped her off within the hour. Hard to say without the M.E. taking a look at her.

Jeri forced herself to look down at the headless corpse that, so recently, was a vibrant young woman. Seeing no obvious evidence of animal attacks, she had to ask the question.

Aren’t there bears in the area?

Yes. A lot, in fact. Sheriff Davis cut his eyes to Jeri. Also mountain lions, bobcats, rats, any of which wouldn’t hesitate to make a meal of the body.

So it’s reasonable to assume that she has only been here a short time. Jeri nodded. Who found her?

A truck driver spotted her on his way out of state. He called it in, but kept going. I have his information, the Sheriff’s deputy spoke up.

Text it to me, please. Jeri handed him her business card.

A CSI team from Raleigh is on the way. No one but the M.E. goes near the body until they arrive, Jeri told the Sheriff and saw his face harden.

It will be dark before they drive all the way from Raleigh. We can’t leave her laying here until morning, when they can see. He protested.

Of course not. I need you and your deputy to round up portable lights, set them up around the area. Close off the road to local traffic only.

Do you have any idea what you’re asking, Lady? We’re talking overtime for six men, practically my entire staff. The Sheriff glared into Jeri’s eyes.

She was not affected.

Sorry, Sheriff, but it has to be done. CSI needs room to work if we’ve any hope of getting tire tracks. We’ve already got enough vehicles to rule out, we don’t need any more. Get it done. She spoke with quiet authority, making it clear that she expected complete compliance.

What’s his problem? Ethan joined her as the Sheriff walked away, grumbling.

Manpower, Jeri answered, dismissing the Sheriff’s concerns from her mind. The killer had given them an opportunity. She had no intention of wasting it.

Chapter Two

That was about as close to useless as anything we’ve ever done. Jeri tossed her jacket on the bed, sat, and kicked off her shoes.

Maybe, but we had to try. Ethan inspected the room, then the bathroom, of their home-away-from-home. Worn, but apparently clean, the space had definitely seen better days.

What I don’t understand is why he takes a chance on being seen, dumping the bodies? He’s smart enough to pick victims that, so far, no one misses. He knows enough to leave the bodies clean, no prints, no DNA. So why, then, does he risk exposure, dropping the bodies in broad daylight, on a well-traveled road? It doesn’t make sense. Jeri watched Ethan’s inspection, expected it in fact, as he always gave their accommodations a thorough once-over. The man just could not become accustomed to the less-than-stellar lodgings that often accompanied her cases.

Maybe he’s taunting us, or perhaps he wants to get caught. Well attuned to the fact that Jeri’s mind would remain on the case until it was solved, Ethan was fully prepared to see her through it. Just as he planned to see her through everything, for as long as she let him.

Taunting, I buy, but this one is not ready to get caught. Which tells me that he knows the area, quite well. Knows that the road he uses as a drop zone is relatively safe, during the week. Just in case, I imagine that he has a vehicle that blocks the view, like a van. He could pull over to the side, roll out the body, without anyone who happened along seeing him. It’s not like there’s traffic on that road, twenty-four-seven. If someone drives by, he simply waits until they pass.

Satisfied with his room check, Ethan came to stand behind her, placing both hands on her shoulders. Kneading the tight muscles, he feels her relax, just a little. Smiling slightly, he refocuses on the case.

So, we’re looking for a van, maybe an SUV with tinted windows. That narrows it down, some.

Not enough, but it’s a start, Jeri sighed and leaned back, giving in to Ethan’s ministrations. That feels great, thanks.

You’re welcome. Pushing her forward, slightly, he continued massaging her shoulders, then worked his way to the center of her back. She held her tension between her shoulder blades. He aimed to help it go away.

Closing her eyes, she gave herself over to his expert hands, while her mind remained focused. She was missing something, something she couldn’t put her finger on. Not yet, anyway. Setting the notion aside, she recalled the phone call from Interpol Ethan had taken as they arrived.

Did they extend your leave? She asked, with no explanation.

Accustomed to the way her mind jumped around, Ethan was not surprised by the question.

Yes, but only for another month.

We have to make a decision, soon, then, Jeri frowned.

The most important decision has already been made, Ethan pressed deep into her muscles. I’m with you, wherever you wish to be.

But I can’t let you throw away your career for me, that won’t work at all. And the Bureau hasn’t budged an inch on hiring you as a consultant. I was barely able to secure approval for your being with us on this case.

I’m not worried about the Bureau, or my career. You know that. I’m only extending my leave in case you decide that you want to come and work in Europe.

I honestly can’t see doing that. Jeri leaned into his hands.

That’s fine, no worries. There is another solution that would work for both of us. We can start our own firm, here in the States. With our combined experience, we could track down anyone, or anything, without the hassle of bureaucratic nonsense.

I like the no-hassle part, but I’ve always worked for the FBI. Hard to imagine stepping out on my own.

You wouldn’t be alone, we make a helluva team.

"I know that we do. But there’s more to it than legwork. We’d need to find someone to back us up, technically speaking. The Bureau won’t take kindly to my leaving and luring their best tech guy away at the same time. I can’t imagine that we would find anyone as good as Jimmy to handle that part of the workload."

Don’t be so sure. A lot of hackers would jump at the chance for legitimate work. I’m sure we can find someone.

But what about Adam, and Jackson? After losing Cara, I don’t know if the team can take another major change, this soon.

Who said anything about ‘soon’? We can wait as long as you like. Stay with the Bureau for as long as you’re comfortable. Just know that I’m not going anywhere, unless you’re there, too.

You keep saying that. One day I might believe you. Jeri smiled at him over her shoulder. We can talk about it when the case is over. Switching gears, she concentrated on the facts of the case.

Taking heads as trophies is so bizarre. I wonder what he’s doing with them. Jeri tried hard not to envision the body of the young woman, now lying on the M.E.’s table in the morgue.

What would someone do with a head? As a trophy, he’d need to preserve it. Jars with formaldehyde? That’s one room I would just as soon not see." Ethan shuddered involuntarily.

I’d like to forget the image of the body on the side of the road today, Jeri agreed. But I can’t. We know that all of the females were sexually assaulted, prior to decapitation. Combined with the other torture, we know he’s a sadist. He may have a record as a rapist. Most serials work up to killing, as we know, so maybe this one is already in the system.

Yes, but how do you cull out the run-of-the-mill rapists, from the ones predisposed to becoming a serial killer? Ethan was always fascinated with the way Jeri’s mind worked. As an agent with Interpol, profiling was a small part of his job. He did not have the skills Jeri employed on a daily basis.

Good question, I wish that I had an answer. Jimmy can give us a list of convicted rapists who fit the profile we’ve already established, but narrowing it down to our killer is next to impossible, unless we find something else to go on. It’s also possible that this guy has never been caught, not all women report being raped. Jeri spoke with disgust, and with a particular personal knowledge of why some women remained silent after an attack.

You had your reasons, Ethan reminded her softly, knowing the direction her mind had taken.

I know. Shaking off the past, Jeri stood up quickly, stepping away from Ethan’s magic hands. Sometimes, without even realizing it, she didn’t want to be touched.

Ethan recognized the behavior, expected it, even. After months of being together, and years apart before that, where he kept an eye on her from afar, Ethan knew Jeri. Knew what made her tick, what ticked her off, and most of all, knew how to give her shelter, or space, when she