Agnes Hahn Read online

  “Not a word. That was my first question, and that’s when she went silent. Sorry, but we don’t have a clue about where she might be.”

  “I have a hunch. Could you send someone out to check Agnes’s house again? I have a bad feeling about it.”

  “Good idea. I’ll have Wilson stop by on his way to the U-Store. I want him to secure the garage. What space was it?”

  “E-24. I didn’t touch anything, but I did look inside. I don’t think you’ll find much.”

  Bransome shook his head. “This is weird.”

  “What’s weird?”

  “I’ve never been on a case like this. Where I’ve been so schizophrenic about the suspect. It’s Agnes. It’s Lilin. It’s Agnes. It’s Lilin. I’ve always had a clear suspect in mind. On a few occasions I was surprised, but even then, there was the surprise and then it was done. None of this back and forth crap. And I’m still as confused as I was weeks ago.” He took a deep breath. “You know about the prints from Inverness?”

  “Sorry. I saw the printout on your desk.”

  “I left it there for you to see. Even with Agnes’s prints, I’m having trouble running with my initial gut feeling about her. Even if she was involved in Inverness, I’m not so sure she did the other murders.”

  “Sounds like a flip-flop to me.”

  “Yeah, but ten minutes from now, I’ll probably be back on the other side of the fence.”

  “When do you plan to talk to Lilin again?”

  “After the shrink gets here and has a go at her.”

  Jason fingered his chin. “If nothing else works, you mind if I have a try?”

  “I’ll go with anything that’ll get some answers. But first, we want to make sure of who we have. The computers are down right now. They probably won’t be fixed until tomorrow morning some time. Can you be here first thing?”

  “Is everything around a pig’s ass pork?”

  CHAPTER 34

  JASON PEERED THROUGH THE ONE-WAY WINDOW OF THE interrogation room. He felt like a Peeping Tom.

  Lilin looked disheveled. Her hair was pulled straight back, but wayward strands fell from the tie like frayed fibers in a worn rope. Her jail jumpsuit hung on her, buttoned to the very top, just under her chin. Her eyes looked unfocused, vacant, peering at a focal point somewhere beyond the interrogation room table.

  Bransome appeared angry, or frustrated. Jason knew the look—balled fists at his sides; intense, squinty eyes; reddened face. He’d been on the receiving end of Bransome’s look several times. And he had to admit it was intimidating.

  Lilin didn’t react. No matter where Bransome paced—in front of the table, behind it—she just stared through the table. He leaned toward her and barked a question. Turned away for another. He came right up behind her and whispered in her ear. She just stared.

  Bransome threw his hands upward and stomped out of the room, into the hallway. He saw Jason at the twoway mirror and shook his head.

  Jason stepped in Bransome’s direction. “Has she said anything about where Agnes is?”

  Bransome’s voice boomed. “That is Agnes.”

  “What?”

  “The prints. From her booking. It’s Agnes.”

  Jason slumped against the wall. His knees nearly buckled. Flashes of information danced in his mind, but a knot of surprise choked off any hope of consolidation. He couldn’t speak. His mouth moved, but nothing came out.

  Bransome shoved his hands into his pockets. “The answer is no.”

  Jason squeaked a single word: “What?”

  “No. She hasn’t said anything. Not a word. It’s like no one’s home. We don’t know where Lilin is. Being nice doesn’t work. Threatening her doesn’t work. I’m about to pop.”

  Jason turned back to the two-way mirror. His eyes flicked to one of Agnes’s hands, then to the other. He rubbed his eyes into a blaze of fireworks. “Can I talk to her?”

  “Not yet. The shrink’s coming back in. She thinks she made some kind of a connection last night. She didn’t get any information, but she thinks Lilin, I mean Agnes, was about to talk.”

  “I can’t believe Agnes nearly ran me over.”

  “If she could carve up Eddie Hahn like that, she could put a couple of tire treads across you without blinking.”

  “I’m still having a problem with Inverness. It’s all too convenient.”

  “Maybe so, but at least we have one of the sisters. That’s more than we had this time yesterday.”

  Jason and Bransome pressed close to the window side of the two-way mirror. Agnes hadn’t moved. The cheap audio system hissed at them through the small, overhead speaker.

  CHAPTER 35

  AGNES SLUMPED. HER SHOULDERS BARELY MOVED WITH her breathing. The rest of her body was frozen in mannequin stiffness.

  “Agnes, do you remember me? I’m Dr. April Leahy. I spoke with you last night, and once before, some time ago. Are you feeling all right?”

  Agnes didn’t look up. Her eyes burned, but she refused to even blink.

  “I know you’ve been through a lot in the last few weeks. I’m here to help you. But first, you have to help yourself.”

  Psychiatric double-talk.

  “You’re in serious trouble now. What you need more than anything is to let someone help you. I can do that.”

  She felt invisible.

  “We know you were in Inverness, in Eddie’s cabin. And we know he killed Ella. Is that why you were there?”

  Agnes glanced up in time to see Dr. Leahy look up into the mirror on the wall and nod. Agnes tilted her head back down and finally blinked to keep the tears that filled her eyes from falling.

  Dr. Leahy reached across the table and put her hand on Agnes’s hands, which were folded together, flat on the table.

  “I’m so sorry about Ella. She didn’t deserve that. And neither did you.”

  The tears let go and ran to Agnes’s jaw.

  “I understand how upsetting that must have been. You must’ve been very angry. And sometimes when we’re angry, we do things we ordinarily wouldn’t do. I can understand that.”

  Agnes dropped her head and her shoulders heaved forward. She gripped Dr. Leahy’s hand.

  “You’ve got to talk about it, Agnes. It’s the only way to get through it.”

  Agnes lifted her head and returned her gaze to the middle of the table.

  “Can you talk about it?”

  You can do it.

  She bobbed her head.

  “You were in Eddie Hahn’s cabin in Inverness the night before last, right?”

  Agnes sighed and bobbed her head.

  “Did you do something to Eddie?”

  Another bob.

  “Did anyone help you?”

  Agnes shook her head side to side.

  “Lilin wasn’t there?”

  You can do it.

  Agnes lifted her head and made eye contact with Dr. Leahy, then dropped her head and shook it. She peered upward, under her brow, and watched Dr. Leahy glance at the mirror again.

  “Agnes, do you know where Lilin is right now?”

  Agnes froze.

  “You don’t have to tell me where. I want to know if you know where she is.”

  She shook her head.

  “Thank you, Agnes, you’re being very helpful. I have a few more questions, then I’ll let you get some rest.” Dr. Leahy thumbed backward through the pages of her steno tablet. “Are you all right to go on?”

  She bobbed her head.

  “The other murders. Did you have anything to do with them?”

  Agnes bobbed her head.

  Dr. Leahy leaned forward. “Was Lilin at any of the other murders with you?”

  Agnes cringed then looked up at Dr. Leahy. She shook her head and lowered it.

  Good girl.

  “Are you telling me that you committed all of the murders?”

  Agnes didn’t respond.

  “It’s okay. We can help you. But we have to know all the details. It’s the only way.�
�� Dr. Leahy stared. “Did you hurt all of those men?”

  Agnes slowly bobbed her head.

  “All of them?”

  A single bob.

  “And that woman in Benicia?”

  Agnes looked up, her brow furrowed to deep creases. She dropped her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

  “You killed a woman, too?”

  Yes.

  “Yes.”

  Dr. Leahy drew out the next exhalation. “And Lilin didn’t have anything to do with them?”

  She shook her head.

  Dr. Leahy gripped Agnes’s hands again. She shifted in her chair. “Now, I have to ask a few difficult questions. Please try to answer them. They’re really important.”

  Agnes felt muscles throughout her body tense and hold.

  “Was Eddie going to be the last?”

  The tension didn’t let go.

  “Is Eddie the one you were after all along?” She squeezed Agnes’s hands. “This is important.”

  Bastard got what he deserved.

  Agnes pulled her hands away.

  “Please, Agnes. This information will help you.”

  No response.

  “Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll stick to the specifics of the murders. What did you use? A razor?”

  Agnes bobbed her head.

  “On all of them?”

  She raised her head and squinted at Dr. Leahy. “Yes.” Her voice was soft, quiet.

  “The men were all pretty big. How did you get them to relax?”

  She kept her stare on Dr. Leahy, her reply emotionless. “Sex.”

  “You seduced them?”

  “Yes.”

  “And the man and woman in Benicia?”

  Agnes paused. “Sex.”

  “And you didn’t do anything else before you cut them?”

  “No.” Agnes dropped her eyes back to the table and picked at the wood grain. “I just waited until they relaxed or fell asleep.”

  “And then you cut them?”

  “Yes.”

  “Didn’t any of them struggle?”

  She looked into Dr. Leahy’s eyes and squinted. Her hands balled into fists. “Eddie.”

  “None of the others?”

  Her hands relaxed. “No.”

  “So you didn’t subdue them in any way?”

  “No.”

  Dr. Leahy took a deep breath. “You’re being very helpful. Thank you.”

  Yes, thank you.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Can I ask a couple more questions?”

  Agnes shrugged, but maintained eye contact.

  “Why did you kill all those people?”

  Agnes held her expression. She shrugged her shoulders.

  “You don’t know?”

  She shrugged again.

  “Why did you kill Eddie?”

  She felt her eyes well again. Tears released. She looked down at the table.

  “Can you tell me?”

  Agnes’s shoulders bounced with her sobs.

  “I’m sorry to upset you, but I have to ask once more. Do you know where Lilin is?”

  “No.”

  “Would you like some time?”

  Her sobs continued.

  “Thank you, Agnes. I’ll give you some time now.”

  Good girl.

  CHAPTER 36

  JASON LUNGED FROM THE TWO-WAY MIRROR TO THE interrogation room door before Dr. Leahy turned the knob. He couldn’t believe what he had heard. Agnes killing all those people? Using sex? No way.

  Dr. Leahy walked into the hallway and let the gas piston close the heavy interrogation room door. She turned and faced Jason.

  Bransome hurried to their sides. “Great job. You remember Jason Powers?”

  Dr. Leahy smiled and lowered her eyelids partway. She held out her hand, knuckles up, like he was supposed to kiss it instead of shake it.

  Bransome shoved his hands into his pockets. “She didn’t do them?”

  Dr. Leahy shook her head. “No. I don’t think she did. Except for Eddie. She could have done that one. Did you see the way she reacted to the questions? No emotion with all of the others. She broke down when we talked about Eddie.”

  Jason feathered his hair with his fingers. “You don’t think Agnes was involved in any of the murders except Eddie’s?”

  Dr. Leahy and Bransome answered, “No,” in unison.

  “What do we do now?” Dr. Leahy inquired.

  Bransome pulled his hands from his pockets. “I’ll get with the DA and see what he suggests. We have a confession. Let’s see what he wants to do with the case.”

  “Does Agnes have to stay in that room?” she said. “It’s intimidating to her.”

  “Do you think a cell’s any better?”

  “Yes. It’s probably a safe place to her. Besides, she can lie down. She’s very emotional.”

  Bransome shoved his hands back into his pockets. “Please don’t sedate her like you did last night. We’ll have to talk with her again later today. I’d like the DA to hear her confession.”

  “Wait.” Jason edged back into the conversation. “I don’t get it. Why would Agnes cop to several murders she didn’t do? Even if she did kill Eddie, why would she claim the others?”

  Bransome huffed. “Good question.”

  “I have a theory,” Dr. Leahy said. Her eyes met Jason’s and she smiled.

  Both men stared.

  “Okay.” She tugged on her jacket lapel. “Look what Gert did for Ella. Gert was driving the car the night they had the accident that took Ella’s leg. Agnes said Gert rejected suitors because there wouldn’t be anyone to look after Ella. Gert gave her life to her sister, Ella.”

  “And you think Agnes is doing the same thing for Lilin?” Bransome said.

  “Holy shit,” Jason said. “That sounds like the Agnes I know.”

  “Guilt is a powerful emotion,” Dr. Leahy said.

  “Why should Agnes feel guilty?” Jason said.

  “She had a good life,” Dr. Leahy said. “Maybe Lilin didn’t. Maybe Agnes felt partially responsible.”

  Bransome smiled. “But do you think she killed Eddie?”

  “Yes,” Dr. Leahy said. “I think she did that one.”

  “She could have been manipulated by Lilin.” Jason’s voice elevated an octave. “Or Lilin could have planted the fingerprints. I talked to her. That sounds like Lilin to me.”

  Bransome smiled.

  CHAPTER 37

  DISTRICT ATTORNEY SCOTT GRAYSON JOINED BRANsome, Dr. Leahy, and Jason in a conference room. They all remained standing.

  Jason scanned the little man—midforties, with dark, intense eyes that moved slowly, as if he were decelerating everything into slow motion.

  “Who’s this?” he said, pointing at Jason.

  Bransome waved his hand in Jason’s direction. “This is Jason Powers. He works for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Jason, this is District Attorney Scott Grayson.”

  Grayson looked down at Jason’s hand but didn’t shake it. “Are you crazy? A reporter? Come on, Art. You know these discussions are privileged.”

  “He’s okay. We hired him for part-time work. He’s been helping process the data. A good part of the information we have in this case came from his research. He helped break it.”

  Jason fingered his ID badge and smiled.

  Grayson eyed Jason for what seemed like minutes. “Conflict of interest, wouldn’t you say?”

  Jason broadened his smile.

  Grayson didn’t blink. “Everything said in here is off the record. Got it?”

  “Agreed,” Jason said. He wanted to salute, but thought better of it.

  “If you leak one word, I’ll have your ass.” He looked at Dr. Leahy. “Sorry.”

  She looked at Jason and giggled.

  Jason glanced at Dr. Leahy and smiled. “You have my word.”

  Dr. Leahy’s eyes went to the floor, then back up to Jason’s.

  Grayson shot ferret like glares at Dr. Leahy and Jason, then
fixed his stare on Jason. “You two want to get a room somewhere?”

  Bransome’s voice boomed. “So what do we do with Agnes?”

  “This is a tough one, but I think I have a solution.” Grayson kept his eyes on Jason. “You have the evidence to convict on the Edward Hahn murder, right?”

  Bransome puffed his chest. “Yes.”

  “Solid?”

  “As granite.”

  “Good. With that, you could tie in the other murders, too. Right?”

  Bransome nodded, bending at the waist. “It would be circumstantial, but with the Eddie Hahn tie, we may be able to pull it off.”

  Grayson turned his gaze to Bransome. “Doesn’t sound so solid.”

  “No. A sharp jury would probably throw out the others.”

  “That’s what I think, too,” Grayson said. “And what about Lilin Hahn? You said you don’t think she’ll kill again, that this was all about getting Edward Hahn. Right?”

  Bransome looked at Dr. Leahy and then at Jason. “That’s the consensus.”

  “Normally, I’m not one to risk that, but we do have to think about the public. Other than the Edward Hahn murder, which ones have the most complete forensic evidence?”

  “From our point of view, that’d be the Anchor Bay, Point Arena, and Fort Bragg murders.” Bransome tapped his lips with his right forefinger. “Only because we worked those scenes from the start.”

  “Perfect. We let Agnes confess to Anchor Bay, Point Arena, and Fort Bragg as well, and keep the other ones open, in the inactive file. If Lilin decides to kill again, or if we catch her, we can work the other murders on her, and then bring those three back from Agnes to Lilin.”

  Jason slapped his thigh. “That’s not fair to Agnes. You let her confess to murders you don’t think she committed, and then say you’ll pull them back later if you get Lilin? That sucks. It’s not ethical.”

  Jason felt Grayson’s stare burn through him.

  “There’s a clear benefit to Agnes in this plan,” Grayson said. “If we do it this way, I won’t seek the death penalty. She’ll get life without parole. She could get death from the Edward Hahn murder. The public is that worked up about it.”

  What a weasel. “It doesn’t sound so fair to me.”

  Grayson frowned and exhaled through his nose. “I have to answer to the people of this state. The public is on edge. They need to have some closure on this case. They’ll take the confessions and not want blood, as long as they know the murderer will be behind bars for the rest of her life.”