Summer of Blood by Dave Warner

Author:Dave Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Published: 2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

14 IT’S A HAPPENING THING

Xeroxed sheets of Martin Davis’ butcher’s paper spread over the floor. New base, the Marquis, a hotel up near the Whisky that Janis and crew had mentioned. Nearly new carpet, modern prints on the wall. More than the three-star the budget allowed but they’d saved on the motel. Ray laughing at himself. Could have been relaxing but instead he’s kneeling on the floor, the familiar pump of adrenaline, a case lifting off like a jet airliner. Might have lied to himself, said he was doing it for Gordon, but knew better. He’d been to Disneyland and Barney’s and now it was time to work.

McKnight was a killer. He was a cop. A bent cop, a cop who’d fucked up plenty of lives including his own. But they had time on their hands and as pretty as the Californian coast might be, Ray would be happy in the corner of a diner with shit coffee and a good lead. So, he was working like was in his blood, paying his way in this dumb stupid life where he had fuck all to contribute of any value. Except this. And it felt good. Davis’ chart on the floor in front of him.

Francine Leach 19 – Jan 14 Human Be-In Golden Gate Park.

Jenny Wallace 18 – Feb 19 Airplane-Big Brother, Fillmore. Hitchhiking from San Fran to L.A. for concert.

Pauline Gerschaff 21 – Mar 26 Elysian Park Love-In.

Sherry Linden 20 – April 7 San Francisco Buffalo Springfield and Jefferson Airplane concert St Ignatius High School. Body found Hollywood Hills April 11.

Mary Gannon 20 – April 11 Long Beach, Scherer Park. Local bands.

Spring – April 5, hitchhiking to L.A.

It was Tuesday now, checked in, checked out the pool, the terrace, quick lunch and down to work. First thing he did was take a textacolour.

‘Here, between Pauline Gerschaff, March twenty-sixth and Sherry Linden, April seventh, we add …’ He wrote: Judy Ikin, April 2, Tenderloin. ‘So, let’s get our theory straight in our heads.’

Maybe it was already, but experience had taught him best to talk it through.

John Gordon ran it. ‘Larry McKnight is a multiple murderer like the Boston Strangler.’

‘Victims?’

‘Young women.’

‘More specific.’

‘Young women in California who go between concerts and events. The advantage for him is that nobody takes too much notice, even their friends. Most of them are constantly moving, sleeping on a floor, heading off at the drop of a hat.’

Ray agreed. ‘McKnight is in the perfect situation, works with the bands. The women all hang around the groups, he’s there, offers them a lift or just gets an invitation over to their house.’

‘Looking at this chart though, Judy Ikin. Why her? She’s not like the others. She has a job and a flat and a boyfriend. You think we’re right?’

‘We better be, or the only body is Sherry Linden. But you saw those photos.’

‘Same killer,’ said Gordon.

‘So we don’t know why yet but every chance he knew her from somewhere. Okay, if – and it is a big if

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