Free Family Night by Tim Miller Page B

husband caught them together?” Johnson asked.
         “If I were a betting man, which I am. I’d say that’s exactly what happened.”
         “Where is the husband? Eddie is it?”
         “We’re not sure. They have two kids too. Brandi and Jeffrey, fourteen and five. They’re gone too.”
         “You think he killed them too?”
         “Doesn’t look like it. Only sign of anything is in here, and some blood in the other rooms, but that was tracked. He didn’t tr y very hard to cover his tracks.” Lopez said.
         Johnson just couldn’t get over why he couldn’t reach Castillo. Sylar he could see not answering when he’s on call. He’s probably passed out or hung-over somewhere. But Castillo was always on the ball. Hell, half the time, she had her radio on and came in before anyone had to call her.
         “Yeah, I can see that.” Johnson said. “Put out an APB on him and the kids.”
         “How about an Amber alert?” Lopez asked.
         “That’s not a bad idea. Look around, there has to be pictures of him and the kids around here. Let’s get their faces all over. Hopefully they’ll turn up quickly. Find out what kind of car they had too.”
         “Got it boss.” Lopez said as he walked out.
         Jesus H. Christ. What kind of animal would do this? He wondered if the kids were here when he killed their mom; or if they eve n saw it happen. On the dresser was a photo of the Mason woman, back when she had a face. There was a man in the picture with her; they were on a beach with their arms around each other. It looked like she was a little taller than her husband. Mr. Mason looked like he was balding and a little thick around the middle as well. Not exactly what you pictured in a vicious killer, but Johnson had seen all kinds.
         One of his last cases before his promotion to lieutenant was a little old woman who stabbed her son to death with an ice pick. She stuck him at least thirty times in his sleep. All because he stole her food stamp card. He’d learned long ago to never underestimate the horrible things people will do to each other, especially those closest to them. He was looking at it right now.
         As he went outside to his car, there was an older man standing at the end of the driveway, just beyond the crime scene tape.
         “So he finally killed her, did he?” The man said.
         “Who killed who?” Johnson asked. “And who are you?”
         “Oh yeah, hi. I’m Roger, Roger Castro. I live across the street there.”
         “So who do you think killed who?”
         “I figured Eddie finally kille d Margie. She’s a crazy bitch, or was anyway. Am I right?”
         “I don’t know if she was a bitch. But yes, Margie was murdered, so was some young guy she was in bed with.”
         “Oh yeah. She was real fucked up that way. I don’t even think she liked the guys she brought home. I think she did it just to fuck with Eddie’s head.”
         “Did they fight a lot?” Johnson asked.
         “Heh, you shittin’ me? They were never not fighting though it was usually just her. She’d run around telling him what an idiot he was. He’d just sit there with his face fire engine red, but not saying a word. I knew eventually he’d lose it if he didn’t leave. Looks like he did.”
         “It’s pretty ugly.” Johnson said.
         “How’d he do it?”
         “Excuse me?”
         “How’d he kill her?” Roger asked. He was one fucked up old geezer.
         “I can’t go into that just yet. Do you know if Eddie worked anywhere?”
         “Oh no. He lost his job almost a year ago, been home ever since. Margie been working but that’s it.”
         “Any idea where he’d go? Have you seen him at all last day or two?”
         “Nah, I didn’t see nuthin’. I stay inside and keep to myself. Only came out when I saw all the commotion over