Last Call

by Samantha Gordon

  Sally sat down at her desk and started researching Roger Meyers while William went to go get a fresh cup of crappy coffee out of the makeshift station kitchen. Sitting back down at his desk across from Sally, he thought about what they needed to do. Thinking better while he wrote, he picked up his pen and legal pad. They had two white males, both single, both working professionals, and same decision to kill themselves the same way. Both had teddy bears in their driver seats and the exact same suicide note left on the dash. No signs of struggle.

  "Ok, I've tracked down Meyers’ next of kin. His father is deceased and his mother is retired in Florida. There's a brother in California. He's a writer. Also, Roger had a personal assistant, Beth Tyler. If you take the family, I'll go over and see Beth. Sound like a plan?"

  "Sure, why not? Crying and hysterics over the phone is always better than in person."

  Sally smiled and shook her head. William came across like a cold son of a bitch, but he really cared. That was why he hated these cases so much, and why he was such a great partner and detective. "I just thought, Beth might open a little more if it's a ‘just us girls’ kind of thing."

  "No, it's good. I'm on it." William reached for his phone taking the paper with the names and numbers on it from Sally. "We'll compare notes when you get back."

  Sally was almost out the door out of the station when she heard William yell her name. "Hey, go by and see doc on the way out. He's got something for us. Let me know."

  "Will do," and Sally turned and walked outside and down the sidewalk to the next building. She was beginning to get fond of the rookie. He was useful and not annoying.

  ****

  Dr. Hamilton was behind his desk looking grim when Sally knocked on his door.

  "Ketamine," he said.

  "What?" said Sally, her eyes opening wide.

  "Yeah, well given the circumstances, I did an extended tox panel on this one. He had ketamine in his system. Enough to knock out a horse. I've already started the exhumation request for the Harris case."

  "Jesus," said Sally. "Ok, yeah. There was no sign of anyone else at the Harris scene. We'll have to pull all the fingerprints collected in that car."

  "Once I have Harris back, I'll get a tox panel from his hair. But given the teddy bear and note, well…"

  "I know you don't want to speculate, doc, but I'm with you. Damn. Keep me posted."

  "As soon as I know, you will. Trust me. This isn’t any better for me than you. If the State wasn't always breathing down my neck about budget cuts, I would have done a drug panel on Harris too. But with the carboxyhemoglobin level so high in his blood and the circumstances, it was hard to justify." Dr. Hamilton sighed.

  "Don’t beat yourself up too much. Let's just find out what the hell is going on."

  Sally called William on the way out to her car and filled him in. He was just as pissed off as she and the medical examiner was. They had missed something after all. The detectives and the medical examiner already knew without saying it out loud what the tox panel on Harris was going to say. And now someone else was dead. Harris didn't kill himself. He was murdered. And now they had their second murder. A serial killer was on the loose in Buffalo Grove.

  Sally got a picture of who Roger Meyers was as best she could in between the sobs and tears of Beth his personal assistant. Meyers might as well have been Harris's twin. He was divorced with no kids. Definitely a ladies man, and Sally would bet her paycheck he had gotten very personal with his personal assistant more than once. Meyers had three big sales that week and had taken everyone in the office and some friends out to the Moonlight last night. It was an upscale restaurant and nightclub on top of the Hamilton downtown. Everyone had partied. Beth and her husband left about midnight, and Meyers was still there. He had been pretty drunk when Beth left and was mostly spending his time talking to different ladies at the bar. "That was just, Roger," sniffed Beth, "He was a great boss. He worked hard, made a lot of money and shared it with his employees and friends. He was charming and fun."

  "Is there anyone particular you noticed him with or had he been seeing anyone regularly?"

  "Roger? No, not at all. His wife cheated on him, and it was a terrible divorce. Roger was heartbroken for a long time. But that was years ago now. I think he decided after that it just wasn't worth it. He just liked to play, and keep it simple."

  "Do you know of any reason why someone would want to hurt him?"

  "No, why? I thought you said he was found in his car running in the garage. I thought he killed himself?"

  "We're just looking into everything is all, Beth. We consider everything."

  "Oh. Well, hurt Roger? No way. Everyone loved him," and Beth broke down into hysterical sobs again. Sally knew that she had probably gotten all the pertinent information she was going to from Beth right now.

  "Listen. I'm going to leave, but here's my card. If you need anything, or think of anything, please call me or my partner, William, OK?"

  Beth nodded took the card.

  Sally called William on the way back to the station. He had not had eaten yet today either, so she stopped for some burgers and fries. Typical cop food when working on a case.

  "How's the family?" asked Sally setting out the food and looking for the ketchup packets.

  "Oh, swell," said William. "Roger's mother can’t travel because of a stroke a few months ago. The brother, Bill will catch the next flight out. Probably get in late tonight, and we can pick him up tomorrow."

  "Ok, well, I pretty much got the same story on Roger from Beth, his personal assistant, as we did on Harris. Nice guy, bitter divorce turned him into a player, his wife had cheated on him. Great boss. Everyone loved him. He had taken everyone out to the Moonlight to celebrate three big sales this week."

  "So, let's see. We got two single guys who like the ladies. Both are out celebrating and partying with friends. Hours later they kill themselves, leaving notes of apology, and a teddy bear on their seat. What are they apologizing for?"

  "I don't know," said Sally grabbing a fry. “None of this makes any sense. These guys clearly pissed off the same person. There has to be a connection."

  "So we're assuming Harris is going to have the special K cocktail as well," asked William chewing on his burger.

  "Yeah, I would bet on it. I'm going to call the lab," said Sally reaching for her phone. Sally called Robert Forbes, the head forensics technician for the Buffalo Grove crime forensics lab. She filled him in on the Harris and Meyers cases.

  "So basically, we need to pull the Harris case and compare all the collections to the Meyers. It sounds like they pissed off the same person. Maybe we can get lucky and find a common print or sample for you."

  "Yeah, Robert, we need a connection besides the bear and note."

  "Sure thing. I'll get out handwriting guy on the two notes as well. See what he comes up with. I'll get back to you as soon as I have something."

  "Thanks, Robert," and Sally hung up. This kind of thing just didn’t really happen in Buffalo Grove, but Robert was the best. If there was going to be any forensic evidence that could help them, him and his team would find it.

  "I think we should over to Gail's and the Moonlight," said William while Sally finished up her burger. "See if anyone who works there remembers Harris or Meyers with anyone particular. We might even get lucky with surveillance footage. Both of those places are kind of nice. Definitely not on my drinking budget."

  "Agreed. I'll tell LT and meet you out at the car."

  Both detectives were quiet as they headed across town. They were going to start with the Moonlight because that would be the scene that would be in the most recent memory of the bartender or waitress or whomever Meyers had contact with last night. William let the valet park his car at the Hamilton. "Always wanted to do that," he grinned at Sally.

  "I'm sure the city taxpayers do not mind paying for your valet parking," replied Sally sarcastically. William laughed and shrugged, and they went into the hotel and up the elevator to th
e Moonlight. The manager told them that they changed shifts at 1900 and the staff that was currently on was the day crew.

  "Ok, well do you have any security cameras here or surveillance, we can look at?" asked William looking up and around for the cameras. He knew this place had security. Expensive security. Whether they could access it easily would be another matter.

  "Yes, of course. But we cater to clients that appreciate their privacy."

  "I am sure they appreciate not being killed after leaving your establishment too," said William glaring at the snooty manager.

  "Look," he said, "I'm willing to cooperate, but I am going to need the proper paperwork. I am sure you understand. Being professionals and everything." He kind of sneered looking them up and down at their less than designer name clothes, and Sally felt visually violated. Jerk she thought, but kept it to herself.

  "Fine. We'll be back. Loud and proud at your dinner rush hour and announce our presence, wave your necessary paperwork around, and make it very clear why we are here. See ya," said William turning away.

  "Wait! Just wait a minute!," exclaimed the manager. He had clearly visualized that scene in his mind and was having a sudden change of heart. "Fine." He sighed. "Just wait here."

  "Nice," Sally nudged her partner after the manger had walked off.

  "I hate snots," said William, simply.

  The manager returned about fifteen minutes later. "This is last night's surveillance footage from 1900-0700. I hope you will use the appropriate discretion."

  "Oh sure," said William taking the CD. "No worries," and he slapped the manger on the back much to the man's obvious disgust.

  William and Sally headed over to Gail's Place next. Gail, the owner and manager, was there behind the bar. She was a very pleasant, attractive woman in her late fifties. She had opened the restaurant and bar after her husband passed away from a sudden heart attack four years ago. "I needed something to keep me busy and around people," she said simply to the detectives. Gail knew and remembered Leo Harris. "He was a regular around here."

  "Heavy drinker?" asked Sally.

  "Well, no, I wouldn't say that," said Gail. "He worked hard and was very dedicated. He just hadn't outgrown his college frat boy years, I guess I would say. Plus he was a looker and a charmer. The young girls loved him. It's just hard to believe," and she shook her head sadly, "Such a shame."

  "Was he different that night?" asked Sally.

  "No, not at all. I heard about it the next day, of course, and I was actually trying to think if anything was off, but I couldn't. He had gotten a big promotion that week, and he was out with his colleagues and friends celebrating. He bought several rounds, and I even gave out a round for him. He was really happy and excited."

  "Was he with anyone or did you notice him leave with anyone?" asked William.

  "Leo was with every single attractive female," laughed Gail. "Like, I said, frat boy type. I really can’t say I noticed anyone in particular. It was Saturday night and we were packed. I was super busy because I had two staff call out sick. I'm sorry I can’t be more help. I liked Leo. He was cute. And he knew how to make you feel young and sexy," she smiled shaking her head, "So sad…"

  Gail was more than happy to give William and Sally the security camera footage she had. "Anything I can do to help, detectives. And if you want to come by after shift, I can fix you up with a good meal and a stiff drink."

  "Damn. If everyone was like her, we would be out of jobs," said William as they got in the car.

  Sally smiled. It was refreshing to meet a pleasant and helpful person on this job. More often than not they were treated with disdain and distrust…until they were needed. Then that even sometimes backfired.

  "Ready for movie night?" she asked as they pulled into the station.

  "Sure, let me get the popcorn."

  Settling into the conference room, Sally put in the security footage from the Moonlight first. The time stamp started at 1900 the night before just like the rude manager had said it would. The footage had four angles and covered the bar, the hallway leading to the restrooms, the entrance, and the eating areas. They watched the first few minutes and realized that Meyers was not there.

  "Just put on the entrance, and let's see when he comes in," said William.

  Sally started fast-forwarding the footage at the entrance. The time stamp was changing by almost twenty minute intervals when, "Stop! There!" said William leaning forward, "Back it up a bit." Sally hit rewind and play and sure enough at 20:32, Meyers came walking in with another man about his age. They headed straight to the bar and started ordering drinks.

  For the next two hours, William and Sally watched the last few hours of Meyers’ life. Beth had been right. He seemed happy, was celebrating with friends and colleagues, and hitting on most of the single ladies at the bar.

  "OK, let's fast forward to him leaving, and see what's up there," said Sally and she picked up the remote. Scrolling through the tape, she leaned forward watching the entrance and stopped the tape. There at 0110 was Meyers leaving, and he was not alone. He had his arm around a lady with long black hair wearing a black cocktail dress and high heels. She had a clutch in her right hand and her left arm around Meyers' waist.

  "Who is that?" said William, "Back it up."

  Sally rewound the tape to one hour prior and they started watching. Meyers was at the bar at 0002 when the woman wearing the cocktail dress showed up and sat down next to him. She ordered a glass of white wine, and began to slowly sip. It took about 5 minutes for Meyers to notice her, and he turned from his friends and the two of them began to talk. It was clear that he was pretty lit up by now from his body language, and he staggered a little when he got up and headed to the restroom. "I don't know why she's bothering," muttered William, "Unless he has a bottle of Viagra at home, ain't nothing gonna happen tonight."

  Sally laughed, "Well, she is definitely into him. Whether it is genuine or not…I wish we had sound."

  They watched Meyers and the unknown lady get up together from the bar. The bartender Meyers a credit card and Meyers put it back in his wallet. The lady pecked him on the cheek, and they turned away from the bar. The next view on the footage William and Sally could see was the one of Meyers walking out with her.

  "Ok, well. Let's see what's on the Gail's camera shall we?" said William.

  Sally got up and switched out the discs. She settled back in her chair and the monitor lit up with a view of Gail's bar. The footage started around 22:00. It took about fifteen minutes of scanning the packed bar area to see Leo Harris. He was wearing the same clothes they found in him, and he was doing shots with a group of friends at the far end of the bar.

  "See if you can zoom in," said William.

  Sally fiddles with the controls and after a minute or two was able to focus in much more clearly on Harris and his friends. It looked like they were playing some drinking game, but clearly he was having fun and was the life of the party. William and Sally continued to watch. Different people came up to the bar, picked up drinks and left. Harris flirted with every girl who wandered past him. He got a lot of smiles and winks, and he was buying rounds for everyone. Then, just as William and Sally expected, the same lady they had seen with Meyers at the Moonlight, slid up to the bar beside Leo and talked to the bartender.

  "Fuck me," said William as they watched Harris notice her and strike up a conversation. It was the same scene they had just watched, but a month later with a different guy. Same dress, same hairstyle, same earrings, same clutch, ordered the same drink. A glass of white wine.

  "She's picking them up," said Sally.

  William didn't say anything. Now, his callousness at the Harris scene bothered him. This man hadn't committed suicide and left his family to deal with the aftermath. He had been stalked, hunted, and killed, like a deer in the woods. But why? None of this made any sense.

  "No, she's not," said William, "She's hunting them."

  Sally looked at her partner and nodded. "She's not going
to stop. We have to find out who she is. There has to be a connection."

  "Ok, let's think about this," said William sitting back and wiping his face with his hands. "We know they leave with her. She definitely targeted them. But Harris and Meyers have nothing in common. One is a public defender and one is a realtor. Why does she pick them?"

  "Clearly, she is organized and has a plan. What is she telling us that we are missing?"

  "The teddy bear. That has to mean something to her. We've been looking at this wrong. The bear doesn't have anything to do with them, it has to do with her. But what?"

  "And the note," said Sally. "I'm sorry. I deserve this. That's making it personal. They did something to her. But she picked them up. It's not like she got taken advantage of. So what did they do to her?"

  "I don't know. But she's nuts, and unless we figure this out, someone else is going to be eating carbon monoxide in their garage."

  William and Sally were both exhausted. It was now well past 11pm and they had been going since 6am.

  "Ok, look, go home. Shower, eat, get some sleep. Let's get a fresh look at this tomorrow. What is tomorrow anyway?” asked Sally.

  "It's Tuesday the 17th. Ok, yeah that sounds like a plan, I...”

  "Holy shit! William! When did we find Harris?" interrupted Sally.

  "Um, let me think, hold on," said William taking out his phone, "Ok, yeah it was the 15th of last month ...Ok, shit. I'm with you. She's hunting on the 14th of the month."

  "The 14th. That has to mean something to her. That's her trigger."

  "Ok. So the bear. Think about it. She has a day, and she leaves the bear."

  "It's a memorial, William. That's the meaning of the teddy bear. She's avenging the death of a child. Probably her child, and she is turning the scene into a memorial."

  "Come on, I have an idea," and William got up and walked out of the room. Sitting down at his desk, he turned his computer back on. Sally pulled up a chair beside him. They were both on the scent now, and all thoughts of fatigue had left them. William waited for the computer to boot up and then went to a search engine. He typed in a search for minors who had died on the fourteenth of the month for the past five years in Buffalo Grove. Impatiently, the detectives waited watching the searching wheel spin on the computer. Finally, the screen flashed and four popped up. William and Sally scanned the details. One had drowned in a swimming pool accident. One had run away from home and later found dead of an overdose. One had cancer. Then there was the last one. A Matthew Milton. Matthew, age 8 was killed on the way home from soccer practice. He was hit by a drunk driver and killed instantly. The driver had been charged and found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The accident had happened exactly one year before the night of the Harris killing.