Moving on to Devonshire, they found less material, but it was just as interesting and even more significant as far as David was concerned. Clyde Devonshire had been treated for sexually transmitted diseases on several occasions in San Diego. He’d also had a bout of hepatitis B. Finally he’d tested positive for HIV.
“This might be really important,” David said, tapping the computer screen and making reference to the AIDS virus. “The fact that Clyde Devonshire has a potentially terminal illness himself could be the key.”
“I hope I’ve helped,” Nicole said.
“Could I get copies of these records?” David asked.
“That might take some time,” Nicole said. “Medical records is closed on Sundays. I’ll have to get a key to get access to a printer.”
“I’ll wait,” David said. “But I’d like to use the phone first.”
After much grumbling and a few tears, Nikki finally accepted the fact that it was not in her best interest to traipse around the neighborhood trick-or-treating. The day that had started out so clear had turned gray. A distinct threat of rain was in the offing. But Nikki still dressed up in her fearful costume and derived enormous fun from going to the door and scaring the handful of children who showed up.
Angela still hated Nikki’s costume, but she held her tongue. She was not about to detract from Nikki’s enjoyment.
While Nikki hovered by the door waiting for more trick-or-treaters, Angela tried Calhoun one more time. Again, she got his answering machine. When she called earlier that afternoon, she’d left a message as David suggested, but Calhoun had never called back. Angela began to worry. Looking out the window at the gathering gloom, she also began to worry about David. Although he’d called many hours ago to say he’d be a bit later than expected, she thought he should have been home by now.
Half an hour later, Nikki was willing to call it quits. It was growing dark and getting late for trick-or-treaters. No one had been by for some time.
Angela was thinking about starting dinner when the doorbell chimed. Nikki had already gone upstairs to take a bath, so Angela headed for the front door. As she passed the table in the front hall, she picked up the glass bowl with the chocolates. Through the side light window she caught a glimpse of a reptile-headed man.
Angela unlocked the door, opened it, and began to say something about how great a costume it was when she noticed that the man was not accompanied by a child.
Before Angela could react, the man lunged inside, grabbed Angela around the neck with his left arm, and enveloped her in a headlock. His gloved right hand slapped over her mouth, suppressing a scream. Angela dropped the bowl of chocolates to the marble foyer floor where it shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Angela vainly struggled with the man, desperately trying to pull free. But he was strong and held her tightly in a vise-like grip. The only noises she could make were muffled grunts.
“Shut up or I’ll kill you,” the man said in a raspy half whisper. He gave Angela’s head a fearful shake; a sudden stab of pain shot down Angela’s back. She stopped struggling.
The man glanced around the room. He strained to see down the hallway toward the kitchen.
“Where’s your husband?” he demanded.
Angela couldn’t respond. She was beginning to feel dizzy, as if she might black out.
“I’m going to let you go,” the man snarled. “If you scream I’ll shoot you. Understand?” He gave Angela’s head another shake, bringing tears of pain.
As promised, the man let Angela go. She staggered back a step but caught herself. Her heart was racing. She knew that Nikki was upstairs in the bathtub. Rusty, unfortunately, was out in the barn. He’d been a nuisance with the trick-or-treaters.
Angela looked at her attacker. His reptile mask was grotesque. The scales appeared almost real. A red forked tongue hung limply from a mouth lined with jagged teeth. Angela tried to think. What should she do? What could she do? She noticed the man had a pistol in his hand.
“My husband is not at home,” Angela managed to say at last. Her voice was hoarse. The headlock had compressed her throat.