The Rainy Day Killer Read Online Free PDF Page A

guys into celebrities and anti-heroes, and that’s not what I want to do, by any stretch of the imagination.”
    “I understand, Ed. How long will you be out of the country? Do you think you’ll be able to help us with this?”
    “I’m flying back on Friday. Unfortunately, I’m not as young as I used to be, so when I get home I’m going to have to crash for a while to deal with the jet lag. You’re not far from Quantico, an hour and a half, I think it is, so I could drive over on Saturday. Will that be soon enough?”
    “I’ll take it,” Hank said.
    “Sandy can explain what you need to do in the meantime. Tell me something, have you had any contact yet with anyone claiming responsibility for your victim?”
    Hank frowned. “Contact? No, not at all. Why?”
    “Oh. Yeah. It just happened this morning, right? Sorry, I’m a little tired. I’m like a good French wine, Hank. I don’t travel well. This guy tends to contact local law enforcement, but it’s still too soon for that. I’m getting ahead of myself. Just continue your regular investigative process, work with Sandy on the service request, and I’ll see you Saturday. Sound okay to you?”
    “Sounds fine, Ed. Thanks.”
    “No problem. Hand me back to Sandy, and take care of yourself.”
    Hank returned the phone to Sandy, who listened and nodded as Griffin explained what he wanted in terms of first steps.
    When Sandy ended the call, he exhaled loudly. “Okay, Hank. Let’s get started.”
     

 
    5
    Wednesday, April 24: afternoon
    Grateful that Hank was the one stuck with the paperwork and red tape, Karen and Horvath made good their escape and drove down to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Springhill. Karen drove the unmarked Taurus . Horvath, because he’d agreed to attend the autopsy of Theresa Olsen at four o’clock, followed in his personally-owned vehicle, a red 1974 Triumph Spitfire. School buses lined the curb in front, waiting to pick up their loads when the bell rang at three o’clock, so Karen took the narrow alley between the school and the rowhouse next door, parking in the lot at the back. Horvath pulled in next to her and got out. As they strolled toward the rear entrance, Horvath buttoned his suit jacket and self-consciously touched the knot of his tie.
    “Got your invitation,” he said. “Thanks.”
    Karen rolled her eyes. “You mean Lane’s invitation. You’d think she was the one getting married.”
    “ Hey, it’s nice of them to pay for everything. You have to admit. My parents wouldn’t do that.”
    “Whatever ,” Karen shrugged. Their buck, their wedding.”
    “I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it.”
    She whacked him on the elbow. “No problem. They only invited a thousand frigging people.”
    He opened the back door for her with his other arm, flexing the one she’d hit. “Sorry to hear that. What a nightmare.”
    “I know. They must have me confused with Princess Kate.” Karen stepped into the corridor and held up her badge to the middle-aged woman who was minding the door in anticipation of dismissal time. “Detectives Stainer and Horvath, GPD. Where’s the principal’s office?”
    “I’m Assistant Principal Miller,” the woman said, leaning forward to stare at the badge. “May I help you with something?”
    Karen shook her head. “What’s the principal’s name?”
    “Mrs. Audrey Humphries. She’s likely busy right now.”
    “Where do I find her?”
    Miller pointed. “Down the hallway and turn right, all the way to the end. The office is on the right.”
    They walked past a couple of closed classroom doors and turned right at the main hallway that ran the full length of the building.
    “I hated school,” Horvath said. “Grade school, anyway. Little kids can be really vicious.”
    “Yeah. Anyway, I thought you and Mandy would jump at the chance for a weekend getaway. It’s only three or four hours from here.”
    “Mandy and I, we’re not doing so hot right now .” Horvath