Safeguarding Kelly(34)
Author: Zoe Dawson
Kelly came farther into their area, a puzzled frown on her face as she studied Allen’s picture. “I don’t normally like to guess, but if I was guessing here, I’d say Allen Smith is most likely the first victim. His wounds are less precise and there are hesitation cuts.”
“The killer was perfecting their process,” Amber said, her eyes going to Kelly.
She nodded. “Yes, something triggered this person to kill. When we find out what that was, we’ll have our answers. Also, Math has positively identified what caused the scalp lacerations. A screwdriver tool bit. I found bits and pieces of metal in the wounds.”
“Let’s get more information on the NMCSD complex and go from there,” Kai said, picking up the phone. “I’ll get the contact information.”
It was after lunch before Kai got back to them. Once again assembled in the main office after everyone arrived, she said, “The complex is managed by the Defense Health Agency but is under the command of a Navy admiral. They use the Genesis Healthcare computer system that connects them to all other military healthcare facilities worldwide, including in combat theaters. I’ve gotten a warrant for the records of all NMCSD patients seen in the facility in the last six months and all records of NMCSD staff assigned to the complex in the last year. Sorry, but mental health records are excluded. If you find you need those, let me know, and I’ll make a specific request. The records are all electronic, but the CO has authorized their data managers to work with you. If you find anything, the commanding officer will approve copies on a case-by-case basis.”
Davis rolled his eyes, “HIPAA is a pain in the ass.”
“It’s not just the patient privacy rights of HIPAA laws we are navigating here, but the military health records of special forces are protected by national security laws. Get the job done but tread lightly.”
Jason left Kelly in the capable hands of the two agents guarding her and with Austin, Derrick, Amber, and Davis, they drove over to the NMCSD complex.
Austin, who was a gifted computer tech, went straight to the data manager’s office. Austin explained they were looking for someone who would have known all of the victims, been treated by all of the doctors, or had a reason to interact with each of them. The rest of the afternoon the other four agents searched and questioned all the professionals, including Kelly’s pediatrician, Dr. Moore, along with all the staff working in the different offices.
Jason had mixed feelings here. Of course, he wanted to apprehend the serial killer and keep Kelly safe. This case was also on their CO’s radar, and he was impressed with their work. It would give a boost to his professional life. But there was a sense of dissatisfaction when he knew he couldn’t acknowledge Kiko. Also, he wanted Kelly in his life, permanently. His thoughts turned to marriage. He loved her and wanted to make it official, and now that he was a warrant officer there was no fraternization violation. He could hide Kiko’s paternity from the Coast Guard and live the lie that she wasn’t his daughter, wait until they left service to acknowledge her, but he didn’t want her to grow up thinking her father didn’t care about her. He planned on being in for the long haul. Or he could leave service—maybe NCIS was hiring—or come clean and accept the consequences of their actions.
The more he thought about marriage, the more he wanted to make that a reality, but not until they resolved the issue with Kiko’s paternity. He wanted her as his fully acknowledged dependent.
They had joined Austin in the small tech office. Amber looked over Austin’s shoulder, Derrick was talking to his wife, Emma, Davis was sitting on a desk, and Jason was near the doorway, leaning against the jamb.
Derrick hung up and said, “What’s going on, man?”
“Takes a minute to write a program to check who accessed our victims’ records,” Austin growled and Mr. Levins, the data manager, just nodded as his fingers flew over the keyboard.
“You are still such a geek,” Derrick said with affection.
Austin took the time to give him the finger, but Derrick just laughed.
Mr. Levins turned the monitor around for Austin to see. “It’s a short list of one.”
“There you are,” Austin said after a few moments. “Dr. Adam Blake, a dentist. He accessed the files for Allen Smith, Emily Thompson, Carla Hudson, and Michael Green.
“Not Dr. Crouch?”
“No. He wasn’t seeing anyone here.”
“Dr. Crouch was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He must have brought Emily to her appointment.”
“Yeah, since she’s a new patient, she may have been trying to keep her pregnancy quiet for the time being. Looks like Dr. Crouch was collateral damage. Could be Blake found out he was a doc, and he became his third victim.”
Jason couldn’t help thinking that it was a fluke for Blake to abduct both Emily and George. If he hadn’t taken a Coast Guard member and murdered him, Jason wouldn’t have reconnected with Kelly. The only reason CGIS was involved in this case was because of George the bigamist.
Jason’s good fortune had been George’s worst and final day.
“His office is two floors up,” Austin said. They filed out of the tech office. Davis went to the lobby in case he tried to get out of the building, with Austin covering the back entrance. Amber, Jason, and Derrick took the elevator. Derrick was on the phone with Kai, and she would handle the search warrant for his home as Derrick rattled off Blake’s address. They had already searched his dental office but had found nothing.
When the three of them came through the door to the office, the receptionist recognized them. She gave them an exasperated look. “What now? As if you haven’t disrupted us enough with your questions and your search warrant.”
“We’re looking for Dr. Blake.”
The woman folded her arms and lifted her chin, protective lights in her eyes. “Why? He answered all your questions.”
“Where is he? Now,” Derrick said, steel in his gaze.
The receptionist’s eyes widened, and she stammered. “He’s g-g-gone home. He was unsettled by this whole serial killer business and canceled the rest of his appointments for today.”
Jason gave her a long, level look. “Do not call him and warn him that we’re coming. That would be considered obstruction of justice. I’ll come back here and arrest you,” Jason said.
Her eyes got even wider, and she nodded. “I swear. He told me he was going home.”
As soon as they got out of the office, Amber said, “Or he’s running.”