I Can Kill: An FBI Thriller (The O'Reilly Files Book 1) Page 24

  Her eyes shined with tears as she gazed at Aidan.

  “Sir.”

  Aidan looked up to see one of the agents appear in the living room.

  “There’s a locked door.”

  “That’s his office,” she said. “He’s very particular about his privacy. He gets confidential information from work and tells me to stay out. He says it’s for my safety.”

  “Do you have the key?” Shaun asked.

  She shook her head.

  Shaun nodded at the agent. “Break it down.”

  Aidan followed the agent to the back room while Shaun stayed with Mrs. Ory.

  The agent connected the heel of his foot to the office door and it splintered open. They had their weapons ready in case Kent was inside waiting but now slipped it back in the holsters.

  Aidan stepped into the office and looked around the small room. It held camera equipment, files and a bookshelf of tapes. They were labeled by dates. Aidan retrieved one of the tapes and stuck it into the TV/VCR combo.

  It played automatically, and he recognized one of the victims. Her name was Nora Drake. She was the one found in the Hudson River a few weeks after he’d killed Candace.

  Nora was chained to the wall of what looked like a cabin. She’d already been abused for some time. Her legs held deep gashes and her abdomen had a large cut over her belly button. Nora’s eyes were swollen shut.

  Kent stepped in front of the camera and stared at his helpless victim hanging against the wall.

  “Are you ready for some more?” he asked.

  “Please. Somebody help.”

  The words sounded rash.

  Weak.

  Kent laughed.

  “Help?” he repeated. “Oh honey, no one’s going to help you. We’re alone, you and me.”

  He walked to the woman and rubbed his hands on her cheek. He leaned in close. Aidan couldn’t tell if he said something before pulling away.

  “Tell me you love me.”

  The woman cried harder.

  Kent connected the tire iron he held against her stomach. Blood shot out onto the floor.

  Aidan heard the agent next to him gasp and from the corner of his eyes, he saw him cover his mouth with both hands.

  “Tell me!”

  “I love you!”

  He swung the tire iron across her knees, requesting she tell him she loved him over and over again. She did until she shouted it out from the top of her lungs and he leaned over, panting from exertion.

  “Oh, my goodness!”

  Aidan turned to see Mrs. Ory standing in the doorway, eyes wide, hands covering her mouth.

  “Oh, my—”

  “Get her out of here!” Aidan hissed.

  One of the agents obliged, leaving Shaun standing next to Aidan. The other agent had turned away, his head lowered to the carpet. Aidan was afraid he’d get sick.

  And Aidan understood the feeling.

  He turned back to the video.

  Kent had released Nora from her chains and used the fishing wire to choke her.

  According to the time stamp, it took two minutes for his victim to breathe her last.

  After there was no movement left from Nora, Kent ran his hand across her body. He whispered something, but it was too low for the camera audio to catch. Slowly, Kent rose and strolled to a wooden trunk. He opened it and brought out the black dress.

  “You’re going to look so—”

  Aidan turned off the television, his eyes closed. He knew he wouldn't be able to stand to see more.

  He now saw firsthand how his sister's best friend, Candace, died at the hands of The Carnations Killer.

  And that was how he was treating Cheyenne right this second.

  Aidan needed to find her.

  Shaun told the remaining agents to collect the tapes and they left the room to find Mrs. Ory in the living room, tears streaming from her face. “What’s going on? I don’t understand! Who was that man in the video?”

  Aidan sat on the couch next to her.

  “Your husband’s real name is Grant Rivers,” he explained. “He changed his name a few years back, so he could get a fresh start.” Aidan told her about his time during foster care, the troubled teens program and being sent to the hospital when nothing else worked. He told her about the assault with a deadly weapon charge.

  Mrs. Ory put her head in her hands as her body shook more violently with each word Aidan spoke.

  “Mommy?”

  Aidan looked to see her daughter standing in the doorway, holding her bear. Her eyes drooped, and her lips turned to a quivering frown.

  Shaun led the girl out of the room, telling her they needed to talk to her mom for a little bit longer.

  Aidan put his hand on Mrs. Ory’s shoulder.

  “We need your help now. He has another woman. And if we don't find her—,” Aidan swallowed, then cleared his throat. “—If we don't find her, he’ll kill her. The same way he murdered that woman on the tape. Please. Do you know where your husband is?”

  She looked into his eyes, blinking back tears. Finally, she shook her head. “He said he’d have to run out for a little bit. But he didn’t tell me where. I assumed he and Jordan were working on a segment.”

  “Can you call him?”

  “Is there any chance you’re wrong?”

  Aidan could tell in her eyes she knew the truth but needed to hold onto the hope that the father of her child wasn’t a serial offender.

  “I’m afraid not. I’m very sorry you’re going through this right now. And I'm sorry to be insistent, but time is running out. If you call him, we can run a trace on his cell phone to find out where he is.”

  Mrs. Ory put her head in her hands again and let out a tearful groan. Aidan heard her mutter something underneath her breath, then she lifted her head.

  “Okay.” Mrs. Ory wiped her face dry of the tears and pushed to her feet. She went into the kitchen and then reappeared with her phone. “What do you want me to say?”

  74

  JORDAN HAD WATCHED Kent leave his house earlier and then followed him to the West Lake subdivision. Despite the woman in the booth, he gained entry easily. After Kent went on his way, Jordan stopped to speak to the woman.

  Flashing his best Jordan Blake smile, he said, “Good evening, ma’am. I’m with the guy in front of me. He’s my cameraman.” Jordan showed off his credentials.

  “Ah, I’ve seen you on TV,” she gushed in a thick southern accent. “You’ve been reporting on The Carnations Killer.”

  “Right,” Jordan said with a chuckle. “Yeah, I’m actually on the way to interview one of his victims. So, can I get through?”

  “Sure!”

  The arms blocking his way lifted. Jordan thanked her, then took off to catch up with his cameraman.

  He spotted Kent before he turned left, then a right and into the driveway of a large house.

  Jordan pulled to a stop at the edge of the street to watch as Kent parked next to a golden Camry. He climbed out of his car and went inside.

  Jordan got out of his own car and jogged toward the house.

  All the shades were drawn, so he wasn’t able to see inside. Slowly, he turned the knob and opened the door. He kept his ears out for sound but heard nothing.

  The house was dark.

  Where did Kent go?

  It was cold inside, but he wasn’t sure if that was why his back crawled with shivers.

  He paused to listen carefully for any noise.

  He still didn’t want to believe his friend was The Carnations Killer, but the evidence he’d put together told him that he was.

  After all these years of working with someone, you never know what they're capable of.

  Murder.

  Torture.

  Evil.

  All wrapped up in a man who showed his charismatic and good-natured side.

  He considered the killers of the past that seemed normal: Ted Bundy, H.H. Holmes, John Wayne Gacy...none of them seemed like killers to the outside w
orld.

  Now added to the list was his friend and colleague, Kent Ory.

  After a few minutes of surveying the house, Jordan began to wonder if Kent left. But why would he? And how?

  He stood in the master bedroom upstairs when he heard a faint scream.

  “Help me! Somebody, please!”

  The words were laced with tears.

  He tried to figure out where the screams were coming from, but he couldn’t tell. He followed the sounds downstairs until he spotted a door by the staircase.

  Jordan reached toward the knob but froze when there was a tap on his left shoulder. He turned slowly until he was face-to-face with Kent.

  “Boo.” Kent smiled. “Did I scare you?”

  Before Jordan had a chance to react, Kent reached toward Jordan’s neck.

  A shock of electricity exploded in him, and he released a strained groan, unable to stop the involuntary convulsions of his muscles.

  Jordan fell hard to the ground.

  “I really wish you hadn’t followed me,” Kent was saying. “You really need to learn to mind your own business.”

  Kent grabbed Jordan’s arms and dragged him down a few steps, then after a few minutes, he found himself being chained to the wall.

  “Wake up, buddy.” Kent patted his cheek. “Can you hear me?”

  Jordan began muttering and Kent grabbed his chin, shaking his head.

  “Wake up, brother. We’ve got to have a little chat.”

  Slowly, Jordan’s vision began to clear. “Kent. What are you doing?” He tried to jerk his hands from the wall.

  “I hate having to kill people that interrupt my work,” Kent frowned. “Why couldn’t you have just left it alone?”

  Jordan looked around and saw a woman hanging next to him. Her head hung loosely, but she was alive and alert. Her body shivered either from pain or the cold. Maybe both.

  “That’s the agent’s girlfriend,” Kent said proudly.

  He walked over and grabbed the woman's neck, turning her face toward him. She was full of tear-stained dirt.

  “Beautiful, isn’t she?”

  “Why are you doing this?” Jordan asked.

  Kent shrugged. “It’s all part of the game. I was just going to kill her. Leave her for our FBI friend to find. You know, after he got home from looking at your dead dog. I mean, she isn’t really my type, you know?”

  He walked back to Jordan, his eyes shining with excitement.

  “But then I saw her in bed, so beautiful, so peaceful. I figured why not?”

  “What about Elaine?”

  “What about her?”

  “She loves you. And Jamie. How could you do this to them?”

  Kent tilted his head back, erupting in a manic laugh.

  “They won’t know. I’m too good at my job, Jordan, my pal. I am way overrated for my uses, and everybody knows it. All we have to do is leave. Trust me. I can always get a job taking pictures. Or maybe something technical. Or something low key such as a waiter. Kent Ory always has a plan.”

  Jordan jerked at the chains binding him. “Kent, this isn’t who you are, okay? I know you. We go to bars after work. You’re my wingman, right? I’m your daughter’s godfather for crying out loud.”

  He put on a mock frown. “Unfortunately, I’m going to have to fire you from that job. I’m so sorry. It’s because I’m going to have to kill you. Can’t leave witnesses, you know.”

  “Just tell me why. Why are you doing this? If you’re going to kill me, I think I deserve that much.”

  “Yeah,” Kent replied. “Guess I could give you that much. It’s all because of my sister. She’s the one who said I was crazy.” Kent paced the basement speaking in manic. “Can you fathom that? So what, I threw the cat across the yard. I was only playing. Having a little fun. Isn’t that something children are supposed to do? And then when I heard her tell Mom what I did, I was sent to bed without any supper.” Kent let out a laugh. “But don’t worry—I got even. I always do.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Killed her dog. I buried him somewhere.” He laughed again. “I forget where. My sister was oh, so frantic, trying to find him. I think she cried for weeks.”

  “They’ll catch you,” Jordan warned. “You know that, right?”

  “No, they won’t. Aren’t you listening? I told you I’m going to leave. Get your head out of the clouds for once and pay attention, buddy. I already got offered a job in South Dakota. So, I’ll be moving. I told you, I always have a plan.”

  Jordan decided to play a bluff. “They’re onto you now, Kent. They know where I am. They’re coming for you.”

  Kent walked toward him. “Really? Is that so? Well, in that case, I have no choice but to kill you and the girl right now.” He looked over at her. “Do you want me to do her first?”

  He stepped away to grab a tire iron from the table. Holding it tightly in his hand, he stood in a batting position.

  “Batter up!”

  “No, don’t!” Jordan cried out. “I lied. They aren’t coming. Please don’t hurt her.”

  Kent frowned. “Why do you have to spoil my fun? Aren’t we friends?”

  “Listen, you can put a stop to this, okay?” Jordan said. “Please.”

  “My sister was beautiful, you know?” Kent told him. “But she was always so jealous of me. That’s why she convinced my parents I was crazy. She wanted me out of the picture. And her little scheme worked. But I got my revenge. I stabbed her to death. Her white-trash boyfriend got the blame for it, too.”

  “Okay, so you killed your sister because she hated you. What did the other women do to you?”

  Kent smiled. “They reminded me of her. I just couldn’t escape dear sweet Georgia. Then I soon found something out.”

  He walked back over to Jordan and leaned into his ear to whisper the words.

  “I rather liked it.”

  75

  “KENT,” JORDAN PLEADED. “Stop what you’re doing.”

  “Why?” Kent asked, pretending to whine. He stamped his foot. “Why is it every time a prisoner knows they are going to die, they have a tiny bit of hope that if they beg like worthless dogs, they’ll be freed?”

  Jordan didn’t respond. Despite the cold, beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

  “I really want an answer,” Kent said. He went to work at unchaining the FBI agent’s girlfriend’s wrists.

  Jordan’s own wrists were sore from trying to break his own chains.

  Kent tossed the girl onto the tarp like she was nothing but a rag doll. He grabbed the tire iron from the table and turned to stare at her. She tried to roll to her knees, but each time, she fell back down.

  “Don’t do it, man,” Jordan said when Kent began to near the girl.

  Kent ignored the plea and connected the edge of the tire iron to her knees. The only sound the woman made was a sharp, agonizing gasp.

  “Stop it!”

  Kent landed another blow against her temple. She fell backward, hitting her head on the cemented ground.

  “Kent!”

  “Will you shut up?”

  Kent ran to him and slammed the tire iron against Jordan’s temple.

  Stars exploded in front of his eyes.

  Kent hit him again and now Jordan could taste blood in his mouth.

  Jordan fought against the pain and looked into Kent’s angry face. He forced a weak laugh, which was even more painful, but he didn’t care.

  “Is that all you’ve got, friend?” He lifted his head to see the chains. “You’ve got me chained to the wall and you’re beating me. Why is that? Are you afraid I’ll manage to defend myself? Come on, man. You want to act all macho and everything, fight me like a man.”

  “I’m going to tape your mouth shut.” Kent grabbed a roll from the nearby table and began to draw out a long slip of tape.

  “That’s right, I forgot,” Jordan said. “You’re not a man. You kidnap women, beat them until they can’t take anymore, then you murder them.”
>
  Kent jerked the piece of tape from the roll.

  “You want to know the real reason you never could find a happy family?” Jordan taunted. “It’s because even at a young age, they knew you wouldn’t grow up to be a man. They knew you wouldn’t be worth it. That you weren’t worth loving.”

  Kent placed the tape over Jordan’s mouth.

  “I said shut up,” he grumbled.

  He turned to face the girl.

  “Reporters ruin all the fun, don’t they? I’m sorry about that. Where were we? Ah. Yes. Now I remember.”

  He swung the tire iron against the woman’s shoulder.

  Kent’s laugh began to fade as Jordan fought against the pain. He couldn’t pass out. He refused.

  He looked around the dark basement, trying to figure out a way to save the girl and himself.

  But unless Kent unchained him, he was helpless.

  Something vibrated against the far table. Kent stepped over to retrieve the phone.

  “Y'all sit still, all right? I’ll be back in a second.”

  Kent disappeared up the stairs and then the door closed behind him.

  Jordan watched as Agent O’Reilly’s girlfriend lay on the ground.

  She turned to face him, her face shining with blood and tears. She crawled to the table where the keys were, but she couldn’t stand to grab them.

  Come on, you can do it, he thought.

  As though she read his mind, she tried to lift herself but again failed.

  This time, she stayed on the floor and continued to cry.

  He spoke through the tape but knew she wouldn't be able to understand him.

  “I can’t do it,” she cried. “I think he broke my knees.”

  He wanted to tell her that if she could get him down, he’d protect her.

  The woman’s eyes skirted to the door before she tried to heave herself to her feet again. Finally, she was able to grip the keys in her hands.

  Jordan watched, silently urging her not to give up.

  O'Reilly's girlfriend crawled to where Jordan hung, but she still couldn’t stand long enough to unchain him.