The Coffin Maker

Chapter 9

With the full resources of the FBI at her disposal, Li Li Wu pursued Blackwood's suggestion to investigate the materials the killer had purchased to build the coffins and she left no stone unturned. From the tiny holes left behind by the staples that secured the UPC tags to the lumber, she learned that the killer/DIY coffin maker purchased the pine boards and trim used for the first coffin at Home Depot and that the hinges, screws, and nails were of a brand exclusive to Menard's home improvement centers. Her team was working with the companies to determine whether their computers could identify customer purchases of the items in the past six months across all their retail outlets in the Twin-Cities area. Sheriff Petersen and his detectives focused on interviewing all the soccer players and their parents including those from the visiting team who were at the game the evening Riley Pacocha disappeared.

Blackwood picked up his leased vehicle, a late model convertible Corvette Stingray in a head-turning torch red with a 460 horsepower LT1 engine. He immediately visited a custom cabinetmaker to discuss coffin construction and the choice of hardware. He showed the artisan detailed photographs of the coffins in which the killer had placed his teenage victims. He learned that they were of the European style with a pronounced taper, wider at the shoulders and narrow at the feet.

"The first sample is six sides and the second is eight," said the craftsperson. "You can see from the detail that the creator paid much more attention to the second one." He pointed out some differences. "The piano hinge is a better choice and the corner bracing is more substantial. Overall, he accorded greater care...he is beginning to take an interest, learning as he goes...but we are not talking sophisticated joinery. Both examples are very much the product of a do-it-yourselfer with basic power tools bought at any mass retailer. All of the hardware can be purchased almost anywhere with the exception of the handles which are manufactured offshore but are readily available online."

***

Blackwood spent a restless night in the motel getting up several times to peer into the parking lot to check on the Corvette. A habitual early riser, he was up by 5:30 a.m., fiddled noisily with the miniature coffee maker, shaved and took a shower. He was drying off when he heard a knock, wrapped the towel around his waist, peered through the peephole and opened the door.

"Good morning, James," said Li Li Wu, who gave a signal to the black SUV to drive away. She entered the room, stroked Blackwood's cleanly shaven face, winked approval and headed directly for the night table between the double beds. She picked up the remote and turned off the television. She plucked the tiny Styrofoam coffee cup from the dresser and poured the contents down the bathroom sink. "Put your pants on, I'm taking you to breakfast."

From across the table at the iHop, Wu sipped a coffee while Blackwood worked at three eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns. "So what's with you guys? Neither you nor Craig posted anything to the shared board. How are we to get linkages if I'm the only one posting?" said Wu.

"I'm sorry, Lily. I'm terribly distracted," answered Blackwood.

Wu knew what was on his on his mind. "Is it Craig?" she asked.

Blackwood nodded. "I haven't felt like this for a very long time. She has affected my ability to think of much else. It's like an affliction. I have fallen in love, Lily."

"And you show this love by smothering it in aloofness?" remarked Wu. "You barely acknowledged she was in the room yesterday."

"Was it that obvious? Well, I cannot focus on a case and a relationship at the same time. You of all people should know that, Lily."

Li Li Wu recalled their time together in Chicago living together, when she was a young agent making a name for herself and Blackwood a sought after investigator for his ability to crack impossible missing persons cases. However, during one of James' lengthy celibate episodes, she grew tired of his self-imposed abstinence, met a girl named Leah and expanded her sexual horizon. She and Blackwood drifted apart. She heard he had married and that his wife had died shortly after.