Page 26 of Once Hidden
“Probably not,” Riley admitted.“But we’re running out of options and time.I’ll need a quiet room with decent internet.”
Rawley’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she told them, “We’ve got an unused office at the end of this hall.It’s small, but it should work.I’ll show you.”
“Agent Esmer can join you now for Alstead’s interrogation,” Riley told Hodge.“I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
Ann Marie gave Riley a questioning look.“Are you sure you want to do this alone?”
“Lancaster’s conditions were clear,” Riley said.“Just me.”
Rawley led them past several doors until they reached a small office.It contained a desk with a computer, two chairs, and little else.The blinds were drawn over a single window, casting the room in dim, artificial light.
“Take whatever time you need,” Rawley said.“We’ll be with Alstead if you need anything.”
Riley thanked her, and as the others departed, she settled into the chair behind the desk.She unpacked her tablet from her bag, set it up on the desk, and connected to the link Meredith had sent.After a few moments of digital handshaking, the screen flickered to life.
Timothy Lancaster sat in what appeared to be a small conference room within the prison.He wore standard-issue tan prison garb, his hands resting calmly on the table before him.His dark hair was shorter than when she’d last seen him, and he’d lost weight, his cheeks more hollow beneath his sharp cheekbones.But his eyes remained the same—intelligent, focused, observing everything.
“Agent Paige,” he said with a slight smile.“Or should I say Agent Jeffreys now?Congratulations on your marriage.June fourth, wasn’t it?”
How Lancaster knew the exact date sent a wave of unease through Riley.Her wedding had been a small, private affair, deliberately kept out of the press.
“It’s still Paige professionally,” she replied.“How did you know about my wedding?”
Lancaster’s smile widened slightly.“I make it a point to stay informed about your life.Not out of malice,” he added quickly, seeing her expression harden.“Rather out of goodwill.Your career continues to fascinate me.”
“My personal life isn’t relevant to why we’re speaking, Lancaster.”
“Timothy, please,” he corrected gently.“And you’re right, of course.I apologize for the intrusion.”He shifted slightly in his chair.“I understand you’re dealing with a case involving encoded coordinates.Similar to mine.”
Riley studied his face through the screen, searching for signs of deception or manipulation.“Disturbingly similar.”
“Prison changes a person, Agent Paige,” Lancaster said, his tone softening.“In my case, for the better.I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the harm I’ve caused.The lives I took.”He paused, his eyes dropping momentarily.“I especially regret making the case personal for you by killing your high school teacher.”
Riley remained silent.Margaret Whitfield’s death had indeed made the case deeply personal—Lancaster had known exactly what he was doing when he selected her as a victim.
“I know I can’t undo what I’ve done,” Lancaster continued.“But as a gesture of penitence, I want to help you personally with this case.”
Riley couldn’t get a read on his intentions.Was this genuine remorse, or was he playing a game?With men like Lancaster, it was often impossible to tell where the performance ended and reality began.
“How can I be sure you’re not somehow involved with this case?”she asked directly.“That you didn’t create these codes yourself, or direct someone else to do it?”
Lancaster had anticipated the question.“I expected you to ask that.The best I can do is assure you that I haven’t communicated with anyone outside this prison except my court-appointed lawyer.I have nothing to do with these abductions.”
He leaned forward slightly.“The similarity between my methods and this new killer is simply a coincidence—a striking one, I admit.Are you familiar with the improbability principle?”
“Refresh my memory.”
“It states that extremely improbable events are actually commonplace.Given enough opportunities, what seems impossible becomes inevitable.Someone was bound to use mathematical coordinates as part of their crime signature eventually.The fact that it happened so soon after my case is unfortunate timing, nothing more.”
Riley wasn’t convinced, but she knew they needed his help regardless of his motivations.“You said you think you can crack the codes.”
“I’m sure I can,” he said with the quiet confidence that had always characterized him.“I’ve looked them over, and I’ve got some theories about them.But it might take me some time—maybe a few hours.”
“And what do you want in return?”Riley asked, knowing there had to be something.
Lancaster’s expression remained mild.“Nothing you can offer would mean anything, Agent Paige.With three murders to my name, I’ll be serving life regardless.All I want is to undo some small part of the harm I’ve caused.”He paused.“I’ll keep the video link open so we can communicate as needed.I’ll get right to work.”
The call didn’t exactly end, but Lancaster’s attention shifted to a notepad that had been provided to him, signaling that the conversation was over for now.Riley stared at the screen, watching as he began writing equations with quick, precise movements.
