I was transferred to Frank Vasapolli by the After switchboard. When he spoke, he had encouraging news on another matter.
"I figured these abductions mirror some old case, and then there's a time break of a few years, like he was away. Was he maybe doing time? These latest grabs started up last fall so I'm looking at prison releases of sex offenders and going over them one by one. It is hard work but we might get lucky. That and the damned electric bike; checking that shit is real pick and shovel work but I'm sure it was purchased in California."
He related details of a recent aborted abduction in Vermont. Betsy might have picked it up on her daily internet search if Howie hadn't been out of action. Then again, attempted abductions prompted far less news coverage than the real thing so she might have missed the obscure item. The intended victim was named Annie Gauthier, of Barre. She screamed when she saw a figure at her bedroom window and her father chased him. He saw the man ride away on a bicycle! We both agreed there were definite similarities to our Delabama killer. Unfortunately, it was a rural location, difficult to pin point other than a general location. The time, of day however, was precisely known.
"I've been trying to figure this guy's route. We know he was in the Cleveland and then Ontario. Lake Erie sits north of Ohio for a long stretch so to get into Canada going east; he'd enter in New York State, around Niagara Falls. If this Vermont attempted abduction is his work, he re-entered the United States in that state. We have a pretty close time frame of entrance and exit. I'm checking ports of entry for vehicles that made that crossing. It's not easy information to pull up but I have a friend." I was impressed and told him so.
To kill further time, I telephoned Ethel Reagan.
"I don't suppose you know Gladys Gillespie of Sow Creek, Idaho do you?" When I said no, she continued. "Elderly Gladys has stepped into the limelight to announce that she was the Psychic Tipster but she has seen God and will no longer practice the devil's work as she calls it. She experienced a revelation that fooling around prying into folks private business, regardless of the purpose, is sinful. That's why the tips have ceased."
"Are the G-men buying it? After all, she fits the bill. . . Idaho and old."
"No, but let's hope so. Some defense attorney is trying to subpoena her to get his pervert off. The defense bar is gung ho to stymie evidence in any cases where they figure a tip was involved. The police are getting wise and keeping their mouths shut."