It’s a Saturday morning when I get up the nerve to return to Patient Number Three; Richard Wilkes.
I remember Joanna saying that his father owned a hunting cabin of sorts in the forest, so I fully expected to see log walls, a woodfire stove, and an endless ocean of trees outside the windows. To my surprise, I instead saw the insides of a small apartment with flowery wallpaper, old glass cabinets full of ceramics, an old couch covered in embroidered pillows.
The sun was shining brightly outside, however thick curtains drawn over the windows muted the sunlight.
Richard Wilkes was pacing impatiently about the living room. Every now and then, he would silently stand by the windows, carefully pulling the curtain back a fraction to look outside, before huffing and returning to his pacing. After about ten minutes of this, the sound of a key and a door opening sounded.
An old woman, looking to be in her 60s, entered the living room carrying grocery bags and with a worried expression on her face. She walked slowly, and was hunched over, obviously struggling with the bags. She looked like she was about to speak, but a glare from Wilkes made her sigh and continue into the kitchen to put away her shopping.
“What took you so long?” Wilkes demanded.
“It’s a Saturday, dear, most people do their shopping today. There were just long queues.” The old woman replied.
Dear? Who in world would call this murderer ‘dear’?
Wait… Joanna said something about Wilkes’ mother. Is this her?
“Whatever.” Wilkes grumbled. “Did you get everything?”
“Yes… but… Richard, your name was in the news again this morning. The police want to question you about the deaths of those two poor women. Richard, you told me you didn’t have anything to do with that. You promised me.” Her voice seemed small and weak, a hint of desperation in her eyes.
Richard didn’t seem to deem it necessary to respond.
“Richard…”
“Enough! I told you it had nothing to do with me, didn’t I? You should trust me! Jesus! If my own mother doesn’t trust me at my word what hope do I have against the cops?!” Richard shouted, causing his mother to flinch away. Seeing her flinch, Richard sighed. “You shouldn’t be so scared all the time. It makes you weak, like father said.”
His mother sighed, and continued to put the groceries away. Her movements were slow and stiff, and obviously pained her. Richard Wilkes did nothing to help, instead going to sit on the couch and turn on the TV.
I’d seen enough.
I went to Joanna, who was currently sorting through a box of evidence with another cop. I waited for a while, until Joanna was alone, before speaking.
Joanna, Wilkes isn’t at his fathers’ cabin.
Joanna stilled. “You saw him? Where is he?”
He was in an apartment. I don’t exactly where, but there was an old woman with him. He called her ‘mother’. She was scared of him. She’s seen the news, she knows he’s a suspect, and I think she knows deep down that he murdered those women. She just doesn’t want to admit it to herself.
Joanna went straight to her computer. “Ok, then. Time to properly track down his mother, then. Candace Wilkes, 65, widowed. Hmm… I can’t find any records of her after her husband’s death. Maybe she went back to her maiden name? Candace Flint… aha, I’ve got a Candace Flint who inherited a decent sum of money and an apartment from her uncle. The address is in Seattle, pretty close to Wilkes’ place.”
Joanna wrote down the address on a post-it, and grabbed her phone. After a couple of rings, someone answered. As usual, I only heard Joanna’s side of the conversation.
“Hey, Bobby, I’ve found Wilkes’ mother. She went back to her maiden name after her husband died. I’ve got the address, we can check it out!... Oh, come on! What’s so dangerous about going to ask an old woman some questions? Especially since Wilkes is likely in the National Forest somewhere.”
That’s a lie and you know it.
Joanna swatted at her ear, as if trying to swat my voice away. “Come on, Bobby, I found the address! Please let me come and help question her?”
There was a long pause. Then Joanna sighed heavily. “Yeah, sure. I’ll text you the address. Make sure you have backup just in case.” She hung up, sent the text, then sighed and leaned back heavily in her chair.
You know Wilkes is there, and yet you wanted to go anyway? Why are you so reckless?
“I’m not reckless.”
Just a few days ago you admitted that you wanted to protect people until your dying breath. Are you so anxious for that day to come?
An annoyed expression passed over Joanna’s face. “Look, I just like being out there, being right in the action where I can actively help! I can’t help anyone while I’m stuck here.”
You’re already being punished for reckless behaviour. If you go out in the field without permission again, what if they fire you? Another few weeks and you’ll be back in the field anyway. Just be patient.
Joanna chuckled softly. “Patience has never been my strong suit.”
No, I never would have guessed! I replied with obvious sarcasm, making Joanna laugh.
While Joanna was laughing, a strange look suddenly appeared in her eye. “You’re right though, I can’t go into the field without permission. But, what about when I’m off the clock?”
What do you mean?
“It’s been a while since I went out and had fun. I’ve been meaning to check out that new club.”
It took me a second to catch on.
You’re gonna try and catch Wilkes in the act?! So much for not being reckless!
“I’ve got an advantage to catching him that no one else has! I’ve got you! You can tell me where he goes, where he’s looking for his next victim! Who knows how long it’ll take to catch him otherwise?”
Detective Platt is headed to his mother’s place right now. He’ll catch him then.
“And if he does bring him in then, it won’t matter. But if Wilkes gets away we’ll have to act fast. I can’t let him kill anyone else. Can you?”
Guilt tripping. Classy. I’m silent for a moment, my exasperating palpable. Fine!
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