by Amy Shannon
“Not yet. Robinson is still at work, and he and his partner, still need to be dealt with. You could still be in danger as long as he is walking around. I don’t even know if there are more partners.”
“Partners in stalking or murder?” she handed him a bag.
“Maybe both, or just one. Sometimes there are partners, and sometimes there is a boss and an apprentice. Not sure the dynamics yet. ‘til they are behind bars and we know that there are no more partners or whatever, it’s not over and you’re not safe.”
Nels walked to the door. “Aggie, we need you. The ambulance is on its way back, but we need you.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“We found Mary, in the basement. But that’s not all. Jake, you may wanna look at this as well. It’s worse than we thought.” Nels waved them into the building.
26
Jake followed Aggie and Nels down the corridor that led to the basement door. They carefully walked down the cement stairs that led to a basement that was divided into three sections. “She’s over here,” one of the officers said.
Aggie rushed over to Mary Leroy, and took her pulse. “It’s weak but she’s alive. She’s been stabbed several times,” she looked up at Jake. “That smell.”
“Decomp,” Jake looked around the large room, where he noticed one of the dividers had long plastic strips. He walked over to the divider and used his arm to open the strips. He stared at the dentist chair, covered in broken duct tape. In the corner was a counter with two hot plates, and large pots of water. On a tray near the chair were syringes, scalpels, a bloody bone saw, and empty bottles of adrenaline and morphine. He turned around and saw the defribullator, its paddles hanging off the large machine, sitting on a wheel cart. The paddles had dried blood and were still coated with the electrical current gel. He left the room and walked over to Aggie. “I reckon we were right about the lobotomy.”
She looked up from Mary’s body. “I bet she was next. I just don’t know why they left her here and didn’t finish.”
“Maybe they were late for work,” Jake snickered, as he eyed the rest of the room. “What’s over there?” he pointed.
Another officer walked over to the divider that he was pointing to, and nodded. “Three box freezers, all with padlocks. There’s also a cabinet here,” he was already wearing latex gloves when he opened the cabinet. “Drugs. Lots of drugs,” he sighed. “They all came from one pharmacy. General Memorial Hospital Pharmacy.”
Nels walked over to the officer. “Get somethin’ to open the freezers. We still have a lot of missing body parts.”
“Yes, sir,” the man left the room.
Nels looked at Dina and Summers, who were walking down the cement stairs. “Is the ambo here yet?”
“It’s pulling in now. Is she conscious?” Dina asked.
“She is unconscious, but she was muttering the word Reid,” he sighed. “It doesn’t look good,” he looked at Jake. “I reckon she knew Morrison, by the sounds of it. I just don’t know how. I should but I don’t.”
“It’s not like you can know everyone’s private lives,” Jake watched as the EMTs carried the gurney down the stairs.
“I should. We’re a small community of cops,” he sighed. “I need to get air,” he hurried toward the stairs.
Jake looked at Aggie. “Are you all right here?”
“Plenty of cops around. I’ll be fine. I better stay here ‘til they open the freezers.”
The EMTs and Aggie lay Mary on the gurney, as Aggie covered her up. “Take care of her, and she’ll also need a guard.”
“Yes, doctor,” one of the EMTs said, as they wheeled her gurney toward the stairs.
Jake looked at Aggie. “I better go. I’ve a person to question.”
“Jake, I wanna be there,” she sighed.
“What? No,” he gulped. Did he actually tell her no?
“I need to. Where you gonna talk with him?”
“I was planning on walking up to his door and talking to him. I know he’s at work, and usually he works from seven to three. I don’t know if I should let him go home, or ambush him and Morrison at the hospital.”
“I wanna be there,” she crossed her arms. “He’s not just killing these girls, he’s keeping their heads and their limbs. He’s turning pouring wax on their bodies and creating my tattoo. He’s following me.”
“All right. I haveta talk to Sully, if he’s still at my office. Then, at three, I’ll be going to Robinson’s home. Let him stay comfortable,” he looked at Dina and Summers. “Someone needs to stay on Morrison and Robinson. Let them feel comfortable. I need to talk to this guy. I’ll be at his home at three. Then after I talk to him, search his home. Do what you want with Morrison. I want Robinson. We need to make sure there are no others involved.”
“A serial killer trio?” Dina asked.
“It’s rare, but it happens,” Summers explained. “The one that comes to mind is Dean Corll, who had two teenage boys for accomplices. He was the leader, and paid them to bring victims into his torture chamber. Corll was eventually killed by one of his accomplices,” he looked at Jake. “SSA Jennings mentioned you had your assistant run background checks on the maintenance staff.”
“Yes, I talked with Lou Fisher, who is the man who brings in the contract maintenance. One of the staff members, John Smythe, gave me my initial lead. He delivered a note from Icarus to me.”
Summers took out his notebook and wrote some notes down. “Do you have that list?”
“At my office,” he looked at Aggie. “I haveta get back. Meet me at my place at 2:30, if you can.”
“I’ll be there. I’ll definitely be there,” she watched as the officer returned with bolt cutters. “I wanna see this,” she walked toward the officer in the other room with the freezers.
Jake walked over to Summers. “I can have him email you the list if you want.”
“Thanks,” he said, taking his card out of his pocket. “Here’s my card. He can send it to my phone.”
“His name is Ralph Brennan,” Jake said. “Uh, my assistant.”
“Oh, right, heard of him. Good kid,” he nodded, still writing notes.
Jake looked toward Aggie as the freezers were opened. “What’s in there?” he walked over to her.
“Arms and legs,” she sighed. “And in that one, another whole body. I may be a little busy but I will be at your office at 2:30. Don’t leave without me.”
“I won’t,” he tipped his hat, and turned to leave.
“Jake?” she called toward him as he turned around.
“Doc?”
“Try to get at least a cat nap. I know you’ve been up all night.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll sleep when it’s over,” he smiled and walked toward the cement stairs.
27
Jake pulled his truck into his driveway. He grabbed his go-bag and jacket, and headed to the agency. Sully was still sitting outside on the sidewalk. “You believe in chairs?” he lightly kicked Sully’s feet.
Sully looked up, dropping the silver flask on the ground. “I, uh, screwed up.”
“You’re damned right you did. Get up and get in there, now, or I’ll have you arrested for public intoxication,” Jake pointed to the front door.
“Your assistant is in there.”
“Good, then the food’s here. Let’s go now,” he commanded.
Sully staggered to his feet, swooping up his flask and putting it in his jacket pocket. He dusted off his backside, and took the lead into the building.
“Sit,” Jake pointed to the chair in front of his desk. “Brennan?”
Ralph walked out of the storage room. “Sir, I just boxed up the originals for the police. Did you need somethin’ else?”
“Coffee for me and Ranger Sullivan. Then, send the list of the maintenance staff to Agent Summers,” he handed Ralph the business card. “Send it to his phone.”
“I’ll do that. I got your double order, cinnamon donuts, and the everything bagels.”
/> “Thanks, Brennan,” Jake nodded. “I need to talk with Ranger Sullivan.”
Ralph poured two mugs of coffee and put them on Jake’s desk. He left the room.
Jake took off his Stetson and placed it on his desk. He hung up his jacket, and put his go-bag on the desk. He took his phone out of his pocket and plugged it into the charger.
“Uh, Dalton, uh, Jake,” Sully started to mutter.
“Just drink the coffee. No talking from you yet,” he sighed.
“But ... aw hell,” he picked up the mug and started drinking the black coffee.
Jake sat down, slipped off his cowboy boots, and pulled off his socks. He opened his bottom drawer and pulled out a clean pair of socks. He put his dirty socks into a small plastic bag and tied it. He placed the bag in his go-bag. He put his cowboy boots back on. He leaned back in the chair as he sipped his coffee, and pulled a cinnamon donut out of the brown paper bag. He carefully ate it, savoring each bite. “Damn good donut,” he wiped his mouth and drank down his coffee. He stood up and poured himself another mug of coffee. He turned toward Sully. “So, what’d you do?”
“When you texted, I was in my room above the diner,” he gulped. “I was drinking. I didn’t really think I’d be called last night.”
Jake sat on the edge of his desk. “You do this often?”
“What? Have a drink? Nah, it’s like you having your evening whiskey with your coffee."
“I don’t get plastered, and I don’t carry a flask. You were drinking in your room, OK, not an issue, but you were also out here. Now, you weren’t there when Robinson was spying on my office, taking pictures.”
“He was?”
“Uh huh, I followed the little creep all night. I thought you were gonna check out that clinic.”
“I called Nels with your tip, but his phone was off, so I called the sheriff’s office. I guess they sent the detectives on the case to check it out. They didn’t think it was dangerous. I guess they were wrong.”
“The detectives were assaulted. One is unconscious and both could still die.”
“I know, my fault.”
“How’d ya know?”
“My scanner app. I was listenin’. I’m sorry, Dalton.”
“Go home, Sully. If you didn’t wanna help, why’d you come back?”
“I thought I could do this. You solved it, without me.”
“It’s not over yet. We need search warrants and direct links. There’s a lot of evidence to go through. I’m questioning Robinson this afternoon. I don’t even know if there are others involved. I don’t wanna assume it’s over ‘til I know that it is. You’re not helping. You act like you were, but you weren’t. What’d you even do with that purple flier?”
Sully reached into his pocket and pulled out the crumpled purple piece of paper. “I didn’t do anything with it,” he sighed. “You’re right, I better go.”
“Go home, all the way to Austin.”
Sully stood up. “I’m sorry,” he gulped.
“Uh huh, whatever. I’ve got work to do. I’ve been up all night, walking around this town, and I can’t yet rest. Now, go. You’re in my way.”
“Don’t you need my help? I’ll sober up. I promise. I can help.”
“Not ‘til you are sober. ‘Til then, I’ll deal with the Feds and Sheriff department.” Jake stood up and walked around his desk. He sat down in his chair and opened his laptop, ignoring Sully.
Sully tossed the purple paper on the desk and headed out of the agency. Jake didn’t even look up. His eyes grew heavy as he closed the laptop and opened the folder on Robinson. He started again, from the beginning. He read the twenty pages repeatedly, writing more notes, and then reviewing his own notes. He walked over to the maps on the wall, and scanned the crime scene sketches. He wearily rubbed his eyes and went back to his desk.
“Sir, uh, Sir, uh, Mr. Dalton?” Ralph was calling his name.
Jake popped his head up from his desk. “Oh, sorry. I was just resting my eyes. What is it?”
“Sheriff Olsen is on the phone,” he handed the cordless phone to him.
“Oh, what time is it?”
“Two o’clock.”
“I was asleep for an hour?”
“Dr. Constantine said I should let you sleep,” he pointed to Aggie, who was sitting at his desk, reading a book, and drinking coffee.
“Aggie?”
“You better take that call,” she smiled.
Jake put the phone to his ear. “This is Dalton. Hello? Sheriff?”
“Jake, we’ve issued warrants for Shining Maintenance, and the county building maintenance office. We’ve also got search warrants for Robinson’s and Morrison’s home. We’re ready to arrest Robinson and Morrison. I can’t let you go through with your plan.”
“When are you arresting him?”
“Officers are on their way to the clinic now. He and Morrison are on the schedule at the Camden Clinic. They’ll be arrested within the half hour. Sorry, can’t wait.”
“When’s the search warrant being issued?”
“Officers and the Feds are sending CSU to both homes now.”
“So, I get nothin’?”
“You can question him if you want, when he’s in interrogation, and if he doesn’t ask for a lawyer.”
“Let me know when you got him.”
“I will. You served him right to us. We owe you. I owe you,” Nels hung up.
Jake sighed. “Well that plan is shot all to hell,” he looked over at Aggie. “So, I thought you had autopsies or whatever. You’re here early.”
Aggie stood up and walked over to Jake. She sat on the desk in front of him. “You asked for back up and I got back up.”
“I don’t understand.” Jake raised an eyebrow.
“Your fed friends. They offered me an assistant to help with the testing on the limbs. There was a body but I can’t do anything ‘til he’s thawed completely.”
“What about the detectives?”
“Jan is stable, and Mary is in a coma. I heard that Morrison is actually her ex-boyfriend. You saved them, you know that.”
“I’m glad I made the choice to check out the building and not follow Robinson to work.”
“Me, too,” she said. “So, it’s over?”
“I wanna question him.”
“I wanna be there. I haveta know. I saw the room. I need to know what I did.”
“You didn’t do anything,” Jake said.
“I need to know.”
“All right. Come with me when they arrest him.”
“You still need more sleep.”
“As I said, later.”
Aggie took his hand. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Solving my case and ...”
“And?”
“And everything,” she leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Have some more coffee, and later, you’re gonna rest.”
“I’m not as tired. I’m fine.”
“You’re so much better than I expected.”
“I am?”
“Yes, you solved the case, you work well with law enforcement, and you saved the day.”
“Well, not the day.”
“You saved a lot of lives today. Not just the detectives, but the girls they had their eyes set on but not able to finish the job. You saved my life. I could’ve been next. Jake, I saw the room.”
“Oh, I wish I didn’t see it.”
“You should eat more than a donut. I brought some lunch, but it’s cold.”
“I’ve got a microwave in the storage room,” he grinned. “I look forward to eating.”
“Sounds good. Let’s give Ralph a break, and enjoy lunch ‘til you get the infamous call.”
“You know me too well, and I am starved,” he smiled as she took his hand and led him into the storage room. “Brennan, go to lunch.”
“Yes, sir,” he left the room.
28
Jake looked at his watch and then stared at his phone. Aggie put her hand
on his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“The arrest shoulda been done by now,” he said, as sirens wailed, passing the agency and headed down the road. He looked out the window of the door, as the phone rang. He went to pick up the phone, as Ralph hurried into the office, holding his left arm, as blood dripped down it. “Brennan?”
“A guy. A guy. In the diner. I was leaving,” he tried to catch his breath as Aggie helped him to the chair. She ripped open the sleeve of his shirt.
“He shot you?”
“Yes. He has hostages. I called 9-1-1 as I ran here. I don’t know why he waited ‘til I left. He was ... he was sitting in a booth.”
“Who was it?” Aggie asked.
Jake answered the ringing phone. “This is Dalton.”
“Robinson wasn’t at work. Morrison was arrested, without incident. We hope that there isn’t another one out there. Just got a call that Robinson’s holding hostages at the diner on Main Street,” Nels said. “I’m heading there now. The Feds are right behind me. I don’t know what the situation is yet.”
“He shot Brennan,” Jake said. “He friggin’ shot my assistant. He waited ‘til he left before he did anything. He has a plan. I think this is his end game, not necessarily what he had planned for it, but this is the end, I hope.”
“Well, I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Me, too,” Jake said. “Did you enforce the search warrant on his home?”
“Uh huh, officers think they saw him but he ran away before they realized it was him.”
“I’m going. I’ll see you there.” Jake hung up and looked at Aggie. “How is he?”
“He’ll be OK, but he needs the bullet removed. I can get my bag. He has hostages?”
“I don’t know who, but I’m heading there now. Doc, he needs to go to the hospital.”
“I’ll bring him, go on. I’ll see you there. Be careful.” Aggie stood up, and kissed Jake’s cheek. “Be careful.”
Ralph looked at Jake. “Ranger Sullivan was there. Janice was eating lunch with him. Lorraine was waiting tables. Eddie, the cook, was in the kitchen. I think Joe Abrams was there. I don’t know if there were others, but those I know for sure. Lorraine rang me out and I paid for my lunch. I was walking out the door, when he called my name. He knew who I was.”
