Page 45 of Once Hidden
“Didn’t he?Are you sure that wasn’t part of the design?”
Riley frowned.The idea that Tony might have intentionally let McLaughlin escape seemed far-fetched, but she couldn’t dismiss it entirely.
“But I suppose it’s more likely that his plans simply went awry,” Timothy admitted with a shrug.“If so, then you can be sure that his pride has been wounded.And that makes him all the more dangerous.There’s something else you should understand.Despite our rational, mathematical minds—or perhaps because of them—people like Tony Bartlett and myself often harbor deeply irrational beliefs.”
“Meaning?”
“Superstition.The human brain is designed to find patterns, even where none exist.Those of us who excel at pattern recognition are, ironically, even more susceptible to seeing meaning in coincidence.”
Riley considered this.“So, while he’s planning methodically, his motivation might be completely irrational.”
“Exactly.The contradiction defines us.Mathematical precision in service of magical thinking.Logical steps toward illogical conclusions.”
She considered his words : the human brain's need for order (mathematics) to satisfy its need for meaning and comfort (magical thinking)
“Thank you,” Riley said after a moment.“This helps.”
“Happy hunting, Agent Paige.”
The connection ended, leaving Riley alone with her thoughts.She pulled up Google Maps on her tablet and entered the coordinates Timothy had deciphered: 37.2741° N, 80.0657° W.
The location appeared on her screen—Quayle Hill on the outskirts of Westminster, Virginia.Riley zoomed in, examining the terrain.Unlike the previous coordinates, which had led them to buried victims, she knew there would be no body here.McLaughlin had escaped.But something about this location was significant to Tony Bartlett.She needed to find out what that might be.
She stood, gathering her notes.The drive to Westminster would take over an hour, and it was already evening.And every hour they delayed gave him time to advance his plan.
She wanted to see this place tonight.Not to find a body, but to understand.To get inside Tony Bartlett’s mind the way she had with so many killers before.
As she headed for the door, Riley felt that familiar shift within herself—the subtle reorientation of her thoughts as she began to see the world through the eyes of her quarry.Although she wasn’t much of a chess player, she was good with puzzles.Solving them was her life’s work, after all.And despite Timothy’s warning, Riley had no intention of letting Tony Bartlett win this game.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Riley’s headlights cut through the gathering darkness as she pulled into the Westminster police station parking lot.Ann Marie had been quiet during the hour-long drive from Bundydale, apparently giving Riley time to think—too much time, perhaps.She felt closer to understanding Tony Bartlett’s twisted mind, but her speculations about the coordinates Timothy Lancaster had provided were useless without more information from a local who knew the area well.
The police station was smaller than Riley had expected, a brick building that looked like it had been constructed in the seventies and hadn’t been significantly updated since.When the two agents went inside, a middle-aged man with graying hair and the solid build of someone who’d spent decades in uniform looked up from behind the front desk.His badge read “Sergeant Davis.”
“Can I help you folks?”he asked, eyeing them with the wariness of a small-town cop.
Riley pulled out her credentials.“Special Agent Riley Paige, FBI.This is Special Agent Ann Marie Esmer.We’re here to see Chief Autrey.”
The sergeant’s demeanor changed instantly, a mix of respect and curiosity replacing his caution.“The chief mentioned you’d be coming by.Let me get him for you.”
As the sergeant disappeared down a hallway, the station’s front door swung open again.Captain Travis Hodge strode in, his familiar presence comforting to Riley in this unfamiliar territory.
“Made good time,” Hodge said by way of greeting.“Traffic was light.”
Before Riley could respond, a broad-shouldered man with a close-cropped haircut emerged from the back.He moved with the purposeful strides of someone who’d spent his life in authority, but his face held the lines of a man who’d seen his share of darkness.
“Captain Hodge,” he said, extending his hand.“Been too long.”
“Bruce,” Hodge replied, shaking his hand firmly.“Appreciate you making time for us.”
Chief Autrey turned to Riley and Ann Marie.“I’m Chief Bruce Autrey.Welcome to Westminster.”
Riley took his measure as they exchanged handshakes and introductions.Autrey struck her as the type who knew his jurisdiction like the back of his hand – the kind of cop who could tell you which families had feuds going back generations and which teenagers were likely to cause trouble on Saturday nights.
“Does the name Tony Bartlett mean anything to you?”Riley asked.
“Sure does,” Autrey said.“Why do you ask.”
