Free John: The Senior Killer by Robert Waggoner

for
information that might lead to a clue where this madman might
strike next; Brad with his map studying each kill site looking for
a needle in a haystack. Math, the answer to all questions, lay
before him. The formula is all he needed. Mike did his best work
analyzing where he had been, what he saw, what he heard and Brad
had told him to try and understand why the house was empty save the
books and kitchen stuff. He’d also told him after the FBI had
looked for clues and fingerprints to have the books sent to
Oregon.
    The plane landed in the dead
of night to the calm after the storm, but just a pause as another
one lurked just over the horizon. Mike took his car to Port Orford
to check in at home and Steve took his car and the rest of them
piled into a van for the trip to Bandon.
    Sandy was happy they were
home and didn’t pay much attention to the newcomer in Wendy. Rocky
would have told her to be aware if there was any danger, but he
renewed his love with a standoff stance while she played the role
of female making sounds of love and happiness by dancing around.
Earie had the welcome mat out and hot bowls of noodles sat on the
low table for the hungry team and guests. The smell of onion and
garlic rising off the noodles made all mouths water with
hunger.
    Wendy was totally impressed
by what she could see and what she imagined the house and grounds
looked like in the daylight. So sterile, but so homey she thought.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. But what felt like
independence of the team members, but yet a bond made it all feel
warm and comfortable. No evidence of touching or hugs upon
returning, but just an order of business and the comforts of home.
The look and aroma of the noodles made her want to sit down and
eat, as Sujin led her downstairs to her bedroom where she could
freshen up. Billy and Steve followed them down to their respective
rooms and a few minutes later all were sitting on the floor sucking
up a homemade U-dong, a Korean noodle soup. To Wendy it tasted
wonderful and she was impressed with the surroundings having peeked
into the computer room and wondered what the other rooms looked
like. Her room was austere but comfortable. She thought she would
enjoy staying here and maybe she would even learn
something.
    Earlier she had received a
document on her laptop one paragraph long about her inquiry about
who Brad Pratt was and is. Sitting at the table eating this
wonderful food she gazed at him thinking about what the document
said. He was an Oxford scholar and after graduation entered the
Navy. After retiring six years ago it was vague about what he was
doing at the present time. In it was nothing about his personal
life or why he had retired early when she knew he was supposed to
be a career man following a long line of military men such as his
retired father who was a general up until a few years ago. Vague
was not the word she thought about, secrecy was more like it. Why I
need to know, she thought, it seems like he knows more than he is
letting on. How to crack that knowledge base was her intention.
Must be careful as if I come on too strong or too curious he will
clam up tight and like a fool I will have lost his confidence. No
doubt he was held in high esteem in some circles and Jake knew more
than she did about this strange and powerful team of seemingly
misfits.
    Then there was his Korean
wife. Where did he meet her and how does she fit into this team.
She hadn’t heard her say ten words since she met her. But she
always noticed the two of them looking at each other like telepathy
was going on between them. She moved like a cat. No sound and
fluidity marked her movements. Watch and learn she heard her father
say. There is nothing worse than a person putting their nose where
it doesn’t belong. Gain their confidence and tread lightly. She
liked Mike, but he was gone and who knows when he will return. Then
there was Billy who had gobbled down the noodles and ran outside
with a pack of