Page 43 of Go Under

Kate shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure I follow. Is that not you and the other arresting officers?”

“No,” he replied. “If I were the killer, I would want the person who called us and gave us an innocent man’s description.”

The caller. Of course. The burglary had been called in as a tip. The burglars had disabled the alarm system prior to breaking into the building.

“Who was the caller?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have that information, but the department keeps pretty good records, and considering the body count this case is working up, we’re in a sharing mood.”

“Can you connect me with records?”

“I’m calling from home, but I can give you the number.”

“Yes, please. Thank you, detective.”

“You bet.”

While Kate waited for the number, she texted Marcus and Darnell. Potential new lead. Standby for information.

Her phone buzzed, and Kate immediately dialed the number Belton provided.

A spark now shone in the darkness. Kate only needed it to hold for a little while longer to find the answers she sought.

And perhaps save one lamb from the sacrifice intended by an evil priest.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Philadelphia Police Records Department are you a citizen judge court employee press or law enforcement?”

The woman who answered the phone delivered that entire sentence in one breath, absent punctuation. Her tone betrayed the abiding boredom of someone who’d fallen into a career locked inside a windowless room dealing with impatient people all day.

“I’m Special Agent Kate Valentine, FBI,” Kate replied.

“So, law enforcement?” the woman asked drily.

Kate’s eyes flashed, though the records officer wasn’t there to see it. “Ma’am, I am attempting to prevent a serial killer from murdering someone else. I have no patience for your bad attitude. I need the records of a 911 call placed to police on March 19th, 1991.”

“1991? Ma’am, I am absolutely not trying to be rude, but it could take hours to find that information.” Kate’s warning had changed the officer’s attitude from bored and snarky to obsequious and a little intimidated.

“Find it. The call was for a burglary in progress at a jewelry store in Kensington. The suspect eventually arrested for the burglary and the murder of the clerk was Daniel Avery.”

“Daniel Avery,” the officer said. “All right. I’ll look that up right away. Is this a good number to reach you?”

“It’s a perfect number. When does your shift end tonight?”

“Um… in about ten minutes.”

“Try again.”

The officer paused for a moment, then said, “It ends after I find this information for you.”

“Outstanding. I’ll await your prompt return call.”

She hung up and responded to a call from Darnell. “Got something?” he asked.

“Maybe. I’m trying to look up the person who called in the Daniel Avery burglary. I think they might be the next victim.”

“Have you called records yet?”