Fettering Shadows: A Jake Dalton Investigation

by Amy Shannon

  “Oh, probably in a day or so. After the techs have processed everything, I’ll let you know.”

  “Thanks,” he sighed. “Go ahead.”

  “So, tell me what happened tonight,” Detective Rogers took out her black notebook and began to write his answers.

  Mary stood next to her partner, not saying a word, and her eyes not leaving Jake, as she tried to read the truth behind his answers.

  11

  Jake leaned up against the wall next to the door, labelled Autopsy. He held his Stetson in his hand, and took a deep breath. What a friggin’ long night, makin’ for a longer day, he thought as the door to the room opened.

  Aggie, wearing blue scrubs and a white lab coat, walked out of the room, removing her paper mask, and raising her eye shield. “There’s something you should see.”

  “What is it?”

  “Follow me,” she led him into the room, and over to the table where the latest torso was laying. She pointed to the side of the torso. “His arm was included in the bag.”

  He stared at the Ranger’s tattoo on his arm. “Sully,” he whispered.

  “Uh, I don’t think it’s Ranger Sullivan,” she looked up at Jake as tears swelled in his eyes.

  He quickly wiped the tears with the back of his hand. “It’s not? How do ya know?”

  “I haveta confirm identity, but I reckon it may be someone else who worked for the Rangers. Sully is in his late forties, right?”

  “Uh huh, he’s forty-nine,” he gulped, still staring at the arm that lay on the table next to its owner’s torso. “Why?”

  “This man is in his mid-sixties, or so,” she sighed. “I did a preliminary test on his blood, to confirm gender, and I sent a sample of his DNA to the lab. They’re gonna run it against the law enforcement database.”

  “Did you find anything else?”

  “Some small fibers, no signs of wax, and the stabbings were deliberate but done post mortem. The limbs were removed like the others, manual hand saw of some sort, but the cuts all look the same.”

  “All of a sudden, he changes to males?” Jake rubbed his tired eyes. “No, it's not right. You said you saw him in the shadows?”

  “Last night,” she sighed.

  “So, he knows I was there. Maybe he’s pissed. So, there’s a chance this was a warning to me, or this person,” he stared down at the torso. “Is someone I know?”

  “Or both,” she sighed. “I’m sorry, Jake. I guess ...”

  He shook his head. “Don’t finish that statement,” he looked at his watch. “I should get going. I need food and then to get to the agency. Doc, I still want us to talk later.”

  She covered up the torso and arm with the white sheet. “Jake, let’s get some breakfast together, unless your trips you make the bakery are best done alone.”

  “Does everyone know my schedule?” he stormed out of the room.

  Aggie removed her gloves, tossed them in the trash bin, and headed out of the room. “Jake, wait,” she called down the hall toward him.

  Jake turned around, his hat still in his hand, “Doc?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that. I swear. I just ..,” she walked toward him. “I’m sorry.”

  He touched his index finger to her lips. “Doc,” he sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have walked away,” he put his hand down. “I’m sorry. Please, I’m standing here, my hat in my hand, I’d kneel if ...”

  She chuckled lightly. “Jake, breakfast?”

  “How ‘bout the diner?”

  “I’ll meet you there,” she smiled. “I just haveta wash up and change.”

  “I’ll be there, and please, be careful; you never know who may be watching.”

  “That’s the problem, it could be anyone. Anyone but you,” she stood on her toes and reached up to kiss his cheek. “Ten minutes,” she watched as he left the corridor, heading out of the exit door toward the parking lot.

  Jake walked into the diner and eyed the booths, when Janice stood in front of him. “Jake, you’re here for breakfast?” she smiled.

  “Uh huh, I’m meetin’ Dr. Constantine. Uh, Joe Abrams isn’t here. I thought he had breakfast here every morning.”

  “Usually, well except on Sundays when he goes to church. That man is on a stricter schedule than you are. Wait, you never come here for breakfast, so how do you know that?” she led him over to an empty booth, near the windows that faced the street.

  Jake took off his hat, setting it on the booth, and then slid in beside it. “We usually pass each other on the street in the morning. He comes here, and I go to the bakery, but some days, when it’s sunny out, we stop and talk for a few minutes. He used to be a cop ... a Ranger ... Goddammit!” he stood up quickly. “If Aggie ... uh, never mind. I’ll be right back,” he hurried out of the diner, as he noticed Aggie pulling in next to his truck. “It’s Joe Abrams, isn’t it?”

  “What? Who are you talking about?”

  “The body. The cop, it’s Joe Abrams. He’s a former cop, a former Texas Ranger. I didn’t think of it ‘til I noticed he wasn’t here.”

  “It’s not him,” she sighed. “Jake, I got the identity. Joe Abrams is at the police station. He filed a missing person’s report for his brother, Ted Abrams. Yes, they were both Rangers, but only Joe was a sheriff deputy, too. Ted was shot in the line of duty when they were working as Rangers and went on disability. They moved here, soon after, and Joe got a job as a Sheriff, until he retired about ten years ago. They both had similar tattoos, but Ted had distinctive red coloring in the shield of his Ranger tattoo.”

  “And you just found this out?”

  “I sent a photo of the tattoo to different law enforcement agencies, including the rangers, the sheriffs, and the local PD. They just called me back to give me a formal ID. I was gonna tell you. I’m sorry.”

  He hugged her tightly, and then backed away. “I’m sorry. I was driving here, relieved that it wasn’t Sully but trying to figure out who it was, and why your stalker killed another person.”

  “My stalker, huh?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Uh huh, you did. You’re right. It is my fault. I reckon you should eat breakfast by yourself, and I won’t be seeing you tonight.”

  “Are you firing me?” he stepped back and crossed his arms.

  “Definitely, if it will keep you safe. I can’t let you end up on my table in pieces, too,” she got back in her car, and started it. She looked out the windshield at Jake.

  He shook his head and then knocked on the window, but she pulled out of the parking lot, heading down Main Street, as he yelled. “I just unfired me!” he looked at the diner and the patrons were staring out. He shook his head and then hurried to his truck. Damn woman! What has gotten into her mind to think that she’s any safer than I am? He drove out of the parking lot and headed to the agency. Can’t tell me what to do. I’ll save her, no matter what she says.

  Ralph was standing outside the agency, as Jake got out of his truck. “You’re early.”

  “No, sir, I’m on time,” he said. “I couldn’t go in. Doors locked.”

  Jake unlocked the door. “I need coffee and I forgot to go to the bakery. I need my everything bagels, and cinnamon donuts. Today, I need both. Somedays it’s one or the other, but today, it’s both. Get some for yourself, too.”

  “I’ll start the coffee pot here. Do you want coffee from the bakery, too?”

  “Uh huh,” he said. “Just tell Marla that you want Jake’s regular double order. She knows me.”

  “Yes, sir,” he said. “Uh, will I get a desk or something?”

  “When you get back. Just go,” he said, setting his Stetson on the edge of the desk, and waving Ralph out of the room.

  When Ralph returned, a desk was set up close to the front door, across from the table that held the coffeepot. “Oh, sir, this is nice.”

  Jake looked up as he set the coffee cup and paper-bag on the desk. “Thanks,” he muttered. “I had extra furn
iture in the back room. I don’t use that room much, except for storage and privacy. It used to be the kitchen when this was a restaurant. The john is just off that room.”

  “So, what happens next? I mean, what do I do next, sir?” He placed a second smaller paper bag on his desk, along with a small cup of coffee.

  “You like using computers or whatever?”

  “Yes, a laptop. I’ve got a tablet, but I prefer the laptop. This agency has its own landline, right?”

  “What?”

  “I mean phone that’s separate from a cell phone?”

  “Oh, uh sure,” he patted his cordless phone, on the edge of his desk. “There’s one on the shelf in the corner that is linked to this one. You can set it up so there’s one on your desk, too. Now, you’ll answer all calls. Listen, I know you are pro digital age or Web 2.0 or whatever, but I can’t rely on technology. It’s not that I don’t use it or know how to use it, but if I don’t haveta, I don’t use it. I’ve got a cell phone, but it’s not a smart phone. I don’t want one of those. My phone works well and I make calls or text on it. I only take photos from my camera. I use a digital recorder when I wanna record something, and I use pen and paper to take notes or write letters. I know about email, and have my own email address for the agency and a private email for secured access, as some clients wanna send files or get updates. Now, that’s where you come in. You’ll be responding to my regular emails. You’ll be answerin’ calls and schedulin’ appointments or runnin’ errands. You’ll go through my mail and packages. I also left a list on your desk about what you will do on a daily basis. But first ...”

  “First?”

  “You need to sign a confidentiality clause and contract. All clients and their business is confidential. I don’t disclose my clients’ names, either. I also give you permission to access my mail, both digital and paper, but only business mail. My personal mail comes here, too, so you’ll need to know the difference.”

  “Yes, sir, whatever I haveta do.”

  “Good. If you don’t know somethin’ or are unsure, don’t guess, just ask,” he unlocked his bottom drawer and pulled out a folder. “Read and sign the first three pages. If you last more than a week, I’ll have more papers for you to sign,” he grabbed his lock box that was also in the drawer and opened it. He pulled out a stack of hundred dollar bills. “This is just petty cash. Once I know I can trust you, you may have access to it for things needed around here. You’ll also get a set of keys for the agency,” He handed the bills to Ralph. “I want you to go to the computer store, I forget the name of it, it’s in Lorentown. Buy a laptop for your use here. Also, you may need some supplies, such as pens, paper, message pads, a printer or whatever, stuff like that. Just bring back the receipt. If you see some device you think you need, get that, too. This is for business only. Not your personal use. Now, go, and when you get back, you can set up your station.”

  “Thank you, sir,” he shoved the money in his pocket. He walked over to the coffee pot and turned it on. “Coffee is being made, here, sir. I’ll be back soon.”

  “I’ll be here all day,” he said. “And stop calling me sir.”

  “Yes, sir,” he hurried out of the office.

  “Damn youngins,” he muttered, opening the file on his desk. He stared at the file on Icarus, and then the pile of mail he never got to yesterday. He opened the package from the Department of Public Safety and dumped the files on his desk as the door opened. He quickly shoved the contents back in the envelope and looked at Sal. “Mail all ready?”

  “I thought you hired that kid.”

  “I did, wait, how’d ya know?”

  “I know everything around here. I’ve got a package for you; it was marked urgent so I thought I’d deliver it before my rounds. I’ve got the rest of your mail, too.”

  “Oh, thanks,” he said, taking the mail from his hands. “You OK?”

  “Uh huh, fine,” he sighed. “Everyone is talking about Ted Abrams.”

  “I heard,” he sighed and then stood up quickly. “Sal, you said you know everything?”

  “Well, I hear things. People talk to me like I’m their friend, since I deliver the mail and they see me every day.”

  “But you’re not the only post man, right?”

  “Even Clarksville is too big for just one. We have ten, why? Jake, is somethin’ wrong? Do I need to be worried?”

  “Just be careful. Also, I don’t know if it’s private or not, but is there a way to get a list of new residents in the town, you know like the past two years or so?”

  “Well, that’s not private if you go through the census bureau. You can also check the DMV for new address changes or new license requests, if they moved from other states. Jake, you know all this. What’s wrong?”

  “Now, between you and me, there is a killer running ‘round here, and I reckon he is either new to town or has been here for a year or so. Not sure who it is, but hell, I suspect anyone.”

  “Even me?”

  “Uh huh, even you, that’s why I’m telling you this,” Jake laughed.

  “Oh, right, sorry. Is that why you were fighting with the M.E at the diner?”

  “Does everyone know everything around here?”

  “Not who the killer is,” he sighed. “Or even that there was one ‘round here. I didn’t hear anything.”

  “The cops were keeping it quiet, but with the latest victim, uh, Abrams being dropped at my house, dead, I reckon it’s out in the open now.”

  “I’d say so,” he sighed, heading toward the door. “If I hear anything, I’ll let you know,” he turned around. “As for the good doctor, you like her and she likes you, don’t let this killer ruin what you could have,” he headed out the door before Jake could respond.

  He’s right, but how do I fix this? He sat back down, and stared at the phone.

  12

  Jake was still staring at the phone when Ralph walked in, carrying several large shopping bags. “Sir?”

  Jake jumped slightly. “Oh, sorry. I need to make a call.”

  “Oh, I’ll leave you alone, sir.”

  “No, don’t do that. Get yourself settled. Did you get everything you needed?”

  “Yes, sir,” he sighed. “I know you have a laptop, but do you ever use it?”

  “I’ve got one of those latest state-of-the-art laptops or so I was told by the store clerk who sold it to me, and I use it for some things. It’s in my drawer,” he opened up the middle drawer, pulled it out, and set it on the desk. “Here, you think you need to use it?”

  “Just to connect the two, and make sure I’ve got on mine what you have on yours.”

  “Well, copy everything but the law enforcement folder. There are different links to different databases. I’ve got the credentials and I can’t share that with you, at least not yet.”

  “I understand, sir,” he took the laptop and sat down at his new desk.

  Jake eyed the package that was delivered earlier from Sal, and opened it. The folder was labelled Background Check: Ralph Louis Brennan. He leaned back, and crossed his ankle over his left knee, placing the folder on his lap. His eyes quickly scanned the four pages of documentation about his new assistant. He closed the folder and put it in his middle drawer. He watched as Ralph continued to set up his desk, and work between the two laptops.

  Jake walked over to the coffeepot and refilled his mug, he was about to sit back down at his desk, when she caught his eye outside the large window, that displayed Dalton Private Investigations & Security in red paint. He looked at Ralph, and then walked out the door to the sidewalk. “Dr. Constantine, why are you here?”

  She sighed. “He did it again.”

  “What do you mean? Oh, who did he kill now?”

  “There was somethin’ different about this one, too,” she sighed. “Can we talk inside?”

  “My new assistant is in there. Let’s go to my house, unless you don’t wanna ...”

  “I’d like that,” she sighed, following him in silence to
his home behind the agency.

  He led her up the stairs to his front door, and into the living room. “Uh, have a seat.”

  “I’ll stand,” she sighed. “Jake, I’m sorry about before. If you could please, I’d still like for you to work my case.”

  “I wasn’t giving up on it,” he crossed his arms. “Dr. Constantine, I like you. I like you a lot, as I think you’re a pretty smart woman, and you’re not bad on the eyes. No, not bad at all.”

  She looked into his eyes and sighed. “But?”

  “But nothin’. I’ll work for you. You’re my client, but there’s more to this case, these murders, than just being my client. I was asked to look at these cases before you hired me. I’ve been a Marine, a cop and now, private security. I can handle myself. I don’t need you ... or anyone for that matter ... telling me what I can or can’t do.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry, and I overreacted,” she sighed, backing up until her back touched the door. “I was up all night, and yes, I know you were, too. Jake, I’m sorry. Can we start over?”

  “I guess,” he shrugged. “Doc, this can only be professional.”

  “I thought you said ... uh, never mind, you’re right,” she turned to leave and opened the door. “No, that’s not right,” she turned and faced him. “Dammit, I may be your client, but I like you, too, Jake.”

  “Nothing can ever happen between us ..,” he sighed. “As long as your stalker is killing the people in this town.”

  “Now you believe me that it’s my stalker?”

  “I believed you, always have, but now I know that it is,” he sighed. “I just know that it is.”

  “At least someone believes me,” she sighed. “Nothing but professional, huh?”

  “I’m sorry, but even a friendship with you, is too dangerous for you and for others,” he lied, wondering if this statement would get through to her.

  “That’s bull,” she sighed.

  “Exactly,” he put his hands on her shoulders. “We should be friends. We are friends. We like each other, right?” he leaned down and kissed her cheek.