"What's wrong?"Lisa asked, watching Vic's expression.
"The locations don't connect."Vic set her phone down on her lap."The other two victims were found in completely different areas.If this killer is using the same method for all three attacks, he's launching from different points each time.And those points don't seem to have anything in common."
"Maybe he's just picking random places?"The slurring of her speech made it clear that whatever was in the IV was making her drowsy…and she was ready for sleep.
"Maybe."But Vic doubted it was that simple.Serial killers, even ones as delusional as Kane's disciples, usually followed some kind of pattern.They had comfort zones, preferred hunting grounds, routines that made sense within their twisted logic.
“Lisa, thanks again for your help.Just one more thing, if you don’t mind.”She pulled up the pictures of their suspects, one by one.
“Do you know either of these men?”
Lisa studied them closely but eventually shook her head.“No.Should I?If one of them is the man who abducted me, I…God, I don’t know that I could clearly describe him…”
“That’s.Just checking.”
“Is it them?
"Maybe.We don't know yet.Again, thanks for your time."
Vic offered her a smile and then left the hospital room.As she exited the building and made her way back to her car, she tried not to feel too defeated.No, the locations where the bodies had been found didn’t line up in any way, but at least she now knew one area where the killer had absolutely been to, if they counted the climbing gym.
She may not have gotten the clear answer she’d been hoping for, but she at least felt like she was taking a step in the right direction.She hoped the same was true for Kim and Miles.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Miles’s Uber pulled up at exactly 7:00 to the address Sarah Kim had sent him. The house was a single-story ranch style with pale yellow siding and a neat front yard.The street was mostly quiet but starting to come alive with a typical morning buzz.A silver Toyota sat in the driveway, and on the covered porch, a man in running gear was stretching against the railing.
“Any chance you can wait for me for about twenty minutes?”Miles asked the driver.“It would reflect in your tip.”
The driver, an older Hispanic man with a dark pair of shades covering his eyes, thought about it for just a moment before nodding.“Aye.Twenty minutes, but no longer.”
Miles got out of the car and walked up the front path to the porch.The man on the porch looked to be in his mid-forties with salt and pepper hair cut short—pretty much an exact match to the photo Kim had shown them at the diner.He wore moisture-wicking shorts and a technical running shirt that was soaked through with sweat.He had one leg propped up on the railing and was leaning into the stretch.
"Terry Sullivan?"Miles asked as he approached.
The man straightened up and turned to face him."That's me.Can I help you?"
Miles flashed his badge and ID."I'm Special Agent Miles Sterling with the FBI.I was hoping to ask you a few questions.”
“Um…okay.But what’s this about?
“For starters, I’d like to know about your work with hot air balloons."
Sullivan's expression shifted from casual curiosity to something more guarded."Sorry, but I’m still very confused.”
"There have been some recent deaths in the Los Angeles area that we're investigating,” Miles said as he stepped up onto the first of the porch steps.“Some very weird murders.I'd appreciate a few minutes of your time if you can spare it."
Sullivan studied Miles for a moment, then gestured to a pair of wicker chairs positioned near the front door."I just got back from my run.I'm pretty sweaty, but if you don't mind talking out here, we can sit."
"That's fine."
They settled into the two old chairs.Years of sunlight had robbed them of most of their color.The morning air was already warm, promising another hot Los Angeles day.Miles could hear birds chirping in the trees that lined the street and the distant sound of traffic from the main road a few blocks away.
Sullivan grabbed a water bottle that had been sitting beside his chair and took a long drink."So, what kind of deaths are we talking about?"
"Two people have been killed in the past week.They worked jobs that had them encountering heights.A skydiver and a window washer.A third attempt was made on a rock-climbing enthusiast who survived the attack.So right now, we're looking into anyone in the area who works with aerial equipment or has expertise in sending people into the air."
Sullivan set down his water bottle.The color had drained from his face but he seemed to understand."Yeah, I guess that makes sense…but you think someone who works with balloons is actually killing people?"