The Face of Fear: A Powers and Johnson Novel

by Torbert, R. J. ;

  “That’s right,” she answered, “you tell the voice to call me this morning or I will show up where and when you least expect it.” The phone disconnected.

  Ashley was still with Cronin in his office when the Detective Lieutenant picked up the phone and called Healey’s cell phone. The officer answered the phone, “Healey.”

  Cronin said, “Keep the kid home from school today, understood?”

  “Confirmed and noted,” was Healey’s answer. He knocked on Lindsey’s bedroom door and as she answered he told her she would be staying home from school today. She questioned him as to why when Cronin called the cell of Healey again.

  “Put her on, please.”

  “Hello Detective Lieutenant Cronin,” Lindsey said. He continued, “Have you done it yet?”

  “Yes,” she said. He replied, “does it match the photo you showed me?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “OK, I want you to put it in a manila envelope, seal it with tape and give it to Healey.”

  “OK,” she said, “but if they ask me for it?” He answered her, “Tell them you are doing what I told you to do.”

  “OK I will,” she answered.

  “Good,” he said, “give me back to Officer Healey.”

  “Yes, sir,” Healey said. Cronin told him she would be handing him the manila envelope, sealed and it was not to be opened by anyone other than himself or Assistant District Attorney Ashley in case anything happened to him.” He disconnected the phone and looked at Ashley. The assistant district attorney just shook his head as he spoke.

  “If you think you are going to leave me to handle all this bullshit you have another thing coming.”

  “You heard the chief,” Cronin replied. “I’ve now got 24 hours.” Ashley stood up to leave, “I believe in you, Kevin. See you tomorrow.”

  As the assistant district attorney left, Cronin whispered to himself, “God willing.” He then went to Gina and asked her what time Lynagh was back on duty. Gina told him since he was on the 2am to 6am shift, he would be back on duty about 7:00 pm.

  “Tell him as soon as he is on to check on Saunders and report to me before going back to the Wilkerson house.”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied as she made a note in her book to call Officer Lynagh around 2:00 pm.

  “OK,” Cronin said, “where are Powers and Johnson?” he thought it had a nice ring to it. “Sounds like a Starsky and Hutch episode but only better.”

  “Sir,” Gina said, “they are here in the precinct. They were worried about you since the Long Island Pulse released your statement.”

  “Yes Gina, thanks, I know you were also, please send them to my office.” He walked in and shut the door which he rarely did in his office when he was alone. He checked his voicemail and it was District Attorney Steinberg.

  “Kevin, I really don’t know what to say other than I wish you had warned me what you were going to do, but it’s behind us now. I know you think you know what you are doing and I hope you are right. Take care.” As he cancelled the message, Paul and Bud came in.

  “Good morning again Powers and Johnson, I just noticed how good that sounds.” There was no comment from either one of them, so Cronin continued. “Any problems last night?”

  “No,” they both answered at the same time but Bud continued, “All’s quiet on the Belle Terre front.”

  Cronin replied, “I don’t know what you have planned for today, but I’m going to give you a schedule if you don’t mind. I want you guys to check on Saunders this morning and see what she is doing. I know the FBI is watching her but I still want to know. Then get yourself over to Rachelle’s house and make sure she’s not going anywhere for the next 24 hours. Tell Chapman or whoever is in the cruiser to be alert. Check on Healey and Lindsey by 2:00 pm today. I want people to see police going in and out of the house all day. In between, I want you to go to the school where Lindsey was supposed to be today. Let me know if you see anything unusual. Get yourself in bed by 5pm so you guys will be ready to rock and roll by midnight tonight. Keep in touch with me at least every hour today ’til you catch some shut eye.”

  “What about you?” Paul said. “When are you going to catch some sleep?”

  “I’ll pull the drapes and catch ninety minutes here and there,” the Detective Lieutenant answered. “Gina will be keeping an eye on me. Any questions? OK, good, see you later, Bud stay here for a moment.” The door shut behind Paul and Cronin started to speak immediately.

  “What’s up Detective?”

  “I think,” Bud said, “when this is all over, it will be best to have a new partner.”

  “What is the issue?” Cronin asked.

  “Trust,” Bud answered. “We used to tell each other everything, now it’s different, this case has changed us. I can’t remember the last time I smiled or cracked a joke to control the levity.”

  “It’s your decision,” Cronin replied. “We will see when it’s over, in the meantime, you better work together for the next twenty four to forty eight hours or more lives could be lost.” Bud nodded as he walked out of Cronin’s office and sat down at his desk. Finally, Paul stood up and said he was going to Patty Saunders apartment and if he wanted to tag along he was welcome.

  Bud answered, “I’m coming, but I’ll take my own car.”

  Deborah Lance went out to the mailbox to get the mail and was very excited to see something had arrived from Bud. She dropped the rest of the mail on the kitchen table and took the envelope to her bedroom to insure she would have total privacy. She pulled out the 8 1/2 x 11 sheet that had a post it note attached to it. It read, “The song is for my mother but it’s you that inspired me to write the words. Deborah read the lyrics to the song called “I’m Missing You.”

  “I’m Missing You”

  Verse 1

  If you could feel my heart

  And touch the tears to my pain

  Then you’d know how much you were a part

  Of dreams that never came

  Verse 2

  Life is never fair...to some of us it’s true

  But I feel you in my prayers at night

  When I am missing you

  Chorus

  I’m missing you

  I’m missing you

  I’m missing you

  I’m missing you

  I miss your smile

  I miss your touch

  I miss the way

  You loved so much

  Verse 3 (Violin Verse)

  We never said goodbye

  After all these years I cry

  So when I smile with a tear in my eye

  It’s when I think of you

  Verse 4

  The gift you gave to me...was a heart that could see

  So I know that you’ll be with me...

  Even though I’m missing you

  Chorus

  I’m missing you

  I’m missing you

  I’m missing you

  I’m missing you

  I miss your kiss

  I miss the nights

  I miss the way...you held me tight

  Solo Instrumental

  Verse 5

  Life must go on

  And it’s you that makes me strong

  So my gift to you is this song

  'Cause I ammissing you.

  Verse 6

  Wherever I may go

  Or whatever I may do

  Just know I will always love you

  Cause I’m missing you

  Yes, I am missing....you.

  Deborah cried as she read the lyrics that were so touching to her. She picked up her iPhone and sent a text to Bud.

  “You are a kind and gentle soul. Thank you for sending me those beautiful lyrics.” She held the paper to her chest as she closed her eyes and let her thoughts run free with what she was feeling at th
is moment. She got herself together and went back downstairs to where her father was reading the morning newspaper.

  “Father,” she said, “when do you think we are going back to Long Island?” He answered without even looking up at her.

  “By the looks of this new tweet from Rachelle, maybe within a few days.” Her tweets were now carried in over three hundred newspapers across the country and her face was becoming more and more recognizable simply by her having over one hundred thousand followers and growing every day since Newsday started giving her a featured presence in the paper. He showed her the paper and said that maybe she would call her later to see how she was doing. She did try her about ten minutes later but was told her number was disconnected. She sent Bud a text to ask her about her number and if he saw her. He acknowledged that he would and told her he was on his way to see Patty Saunders. She wrote back, “don’t tell her hello from me.” Bud pulled up to Patty’s Fair View apartment and was not surprised to see two FBI agents sitting across the street. He went over to the car as Paul pulled in and parked near Bud.

  “What’s going on folks?” Bud shouted as he approached the car. “Just doing our job, Officer Johnson. Hey, isn’t Johnson slang for dick?” one said as they started laughing.

  “Never heard that one,” Bud replied, “and it’s Detective and I wouldn’t do jokes about dicks if I were you because according to Officer Lynagh, you two don’t have any dicks.” As Bud started imitating them in an exaggerated way only he could do.

  “Here’s my identification! I’ve got it here officer! Don’t shoot me! Please don’t shoot me! I’ll miss my Mommy!”

  “That’s not the way it went down!” Agent Barnes yelled.

  “Well,” Bud said “watch the funny jokes about dicks then or I’ll do a YouTube video you wouldn’t believe. Paul walked up to the car, “Any problems here?”

  “No, Detective Sergeant,” Bud said as he walked away. Agent Barnes spoke up again.

  “You got a pretty sick partner.”

  “Yeah,” Paul answered. “It’s what we like about him.” Paul caught up with Bud as they knocked on Patty’s door. She answered within a couple minutes and invited them in.

  “How’s it going?” Bud asked.

  “It’s fine,” Patty answered. “I don’t think I need everyone watching so close. Why would anyone come out for me at this point when they know I’m being watched?”

  “Well,” Paul said, “let’s see how much someone wants you dead.” Bud looked at Paul and thought the remark was strange coming from Paul.

  “Ms. Saunders,” Bud spoke, “do you wear your vest when you go out?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “I’m wondering if I should be back in jail, there is no privacy, and how do I know the apartment isn’t bugged?”

  “If it is, it’s for your safety,” Paul replied. Patty just shrugged it off.

  “If I want to get laid, I don’t want the whole world listening to my screams and moans.”

  “Well,” Bud said, “just be happy there isn’t a camera here,” as he laughed and continued, “or is there?”

  “Very funny,” Patty answered. Paul’s BlackBerry as well as Bud’s buzzed at the same time. It was another tweet post by Rachelle. This time it was a photo of Ghost Face imposed over a mountain of money. The caption read, “You may think it’s FUNNY, but I don’t want the MONEY. It’s TRUE, I only want YOU.”

  “What the,” Bud caught himself and looked at Paul who was surprised he didn’t finish the sentence. Bud replied to his look, “I’m trying to watch my language.”

  “Lindsey has an effect on you like that.” Paul nodded.

  “Who the fuck is Lindsey,” Patty asked.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Paul answered her. “You have our numbers, just be careful. Come on Bud, we have to go to our other assignment.” As they left the building, they looked at the tweet sent in from

  Rachelle again. It was the Ghost Face costume from Fun World posing with its arms out on a pile of money. There was a legal description in the bottom left corner that read sightingsghostface.com . Paul called it in for Officer Franks to find out information about the web-site. Normally he would have called a detective to find out but he was instructed from Cronin to try and limit the involvement to those already working the case. Bud looked at Paul as he made the calls about Sightings Ghost Face and was getting more and more curious about why Rachelle would send a tweet like that. It was obvious the money at the Lance mansion was an issue and the statement YOU in capital letters was meant for someone that Rachelle knew.

  “See you at the school,” Paul said without even turning around to Bud. Paul walked to his car, got in and drove away as Bud stood in front still entertaining his thoughts. The two FBI agents were sipping coffee as Johnson walked by. Agent Barnes asked him how it went. Bud continued to walk by saying, “Kiss my ass.” Barnes said to his partner, “No thanks, dickhead.” Bud drove away and headed down to Port Jefferson High School. Paul was already waiting for him by the front door when they walked in and visited the principal and asked if there had been any problems. There had been none. They visited with the teachers and found out what time recess was and when the kids normally went outside since the school year was coming to an end and it was the last week of session. The kids were also allowed to go outside during their lunch break. Paul and Bud stayed and looked at the outside area where Lindsey would normally be.

  Eric Pierson waited patiently with his binoculars waiting for Lindsey and her guardian officer to pull up in his unmarked car so he could take her out. He decided he would take out Officer Healey for free as well. After about an hour and all the school buses came and went, he slammed his binoculars down and made a call to Ron Buckner.

  “The little angel didn’t come to school today.”

  “OK,” he answered, “Let me call the voice and see what he wants to do.” He called back Eric within five minutes to tell him they would all go to the house tonight and eliminate all of them. He told Eric the plan was for tonight. Elimination of Lindsey and her family, the same with Phil Smith and Patty Saunders as well as Bud Johnson and Rachelle Robinson. Tonight the bloodbath would take place. Eric asked Ron about Deborah Lance and the answer was, “Who gives a shit about her as long as we get the cash and we frame the right person to take the fall.” Eric disconnected from his call and drove away. He was never observed or seen by Paul and Bud. They left the school and were each on their way to see Rachelle when Bud got a text from Paul that he was going back to his apartment and it was probably best if Bud checked on Rachelle himself. Bud received the text when he parked his car on Prospect Street as he was walking toward the front door. He waved to the officers sitting in the police cruiser about twenty yards away and knocked on the door. Rachelle had just blow dried her hair and was quite stunning with no makeup and blue jeans. She invited him in and he asked where Madison was. She laughed and told him.

  “Remember she has to work,” and told him she had dancing classes and that some school districts were already out for the summer so her busy season was almost in full swing. Rachelle asked where Paul was and Bud told her the truth.

  “He thought you would be more comfortable without him being here.”

  “Oh,” she answered. Bud could see the look of disappointment on her face.

  “Rachelle, Cronin has sent us here, I mean me, to insure you stay put inside the house for the next twenty-four hours.” She folded her arms and shook her head.

  “Yes, I know. I’ve been here writing. I only go out to the hospital to see my therapist and Sherry.”

  Bud replied, “I know, Sherry is being released today but you can’t see anyone, just for a day or so, and speaking of writing, we have been talking about your tweets in the past, but this time, now you put the Ghost Face character with a message from a website called Sightings. What’s this about Rachelle? Let me help you please.” Rachelle’s head looked down on the floor an
d with a broken voice said, “I can’t, I simply can’t right now.”

  “Rachelle,” Bud replied “don’t tell me you are involved with this.” She looked at him.

  “Don’t you understand? In order to protect everyone, I can’t tell you. Not yet.”

  “Rachelle,” Bud answered, “I’m going to pray tonight as I have the past few nights. My prayers tonight will be about you. I have been praying that no more innocent people are killed. My prayer tonight will be that you are one of those innocent people. Do you know what I’m trying to say?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “You are telling me if I’m not innocent, you won’t lose sleep if something happens to me.”

  “No,” Bud said. “Not true, but I’m putting my faith on the line for those who are not up to their asses in being worried about the money. There is a twelve year old girl mixed up in all of this. We have lost Victoria, Timothy, Allan and almost lost Sherry and you. My priority will be saving the lives of those innocent. By the way, how did you find this Sightings website?”

  Rachelle looked away from Bud and spoke, “I think it’s time you spoke to Detective Lieutenant Cronin.”

  Bud replied, “I was wondering when we were going to get to that. OK,” he continued, “stay inside.” He went to the door and looked back at Rachelle with her arms folded and looking away. “Bye Rachelle.” She turned her head to look at him and he could see the tears of pain in her eyes as she said goodbye. As the door shut, she spoke aloud to herself.

  “I’m only doing this to help prove his innocence.” She walked to her room and fell on her bed and curled up like an infant in her mother’s womb.

  Bud was going to drive over to Z Pita and see what Paul was up to but decided to go to the Wilkerson house in Belle Terre without him. He drove up, waved at the cruiser and was let in the house by Lindsey’s mother Sharyn. He wasn’t in the door two minutes when Lindsey walked up to him and gave him a big bear hug. Healey came up behind her and waved to Bud.

  “Lindsey,” Bud spoke, “can we speak for a few minutes?”

  “Sure, let’s get some breakfast,” she answered. They sat down at the kitchen table and Bud was asked if he wanted coffee and breakfast from Sharyn Wilkerson.