Con Game

by Alex Westmore

  Leonard backed away from Jan and sneered hard at Delta. “You’re both nuts. This isn’t your own personal case, Stevens. As usual, you’re breaking all of the rules the rest of us swore to uphold. And those you don’t break, you make up. Well, I swear, this time it’s gonna cost you. This time you’ve crossed the wrong guy. You get in the way of my investigation again, and I will have your badges, hero or not.” Turning on his heels, Leonard stalked out of the room.

  Delta stared, slack-jawed, at Jan. “Is that how you discipline the children?”

  Jan stomped across the room and looked out the tiny window in the door. “Oh, he’s just an arrogant asshole.”

  “Well, thanks.”

  Jan walked back over to the bed and slid her hand on top of Delta’s. “No. Thank you. When Dennis heard the call on our police monitor at home, he said he sat down and prayed. When I called to tell him I was all right, he cried. Right then and there. I’ve never heard him cry like that. He said he didn’t know how to thank you.”

  Delta bowed her head a little. “Leonard was right on one point. I shouldn’t have put you in that position in the first place.”

  “Not true. We went after a perp. A perp, Delta, who strangled a young man in a bowling alley. Don’t blame yourself, Del. It won’t do us any good. I’m your partner, Del. For better or worse, we went into that situation together and came out together. That’s what we’re all about.”

  Suddenly, the door burst open again, and a tall, shapely, red-headed woman strode through with Leonard in tow.

  The moment Delta saw her, a smile slipped easily across her face.

  The emerald green eyes with a hint of gray and the intense gaze were features Delta started admiring long ago. District Attorney Alexandria Pendleton was one of the most striking women Delta had ever met. It wasn’t enough that her beauty stopped people in the street, but her poise and her presence were larger than life. Her confidence and strong sense of self entered the courtroom before she did, and Delta thought that was what made her such a damn good prosecutor. She had gone for, and received, the maximum sentence for Miles’s murderers; a gift Delta held most dear.

  When their eyes met, Delta noticed a slight curl to Alexandria’s lips. They had worked closely together during the trial, and Delta admired the work ethic of the city’s first female District Attorney. Alexandria Pendleton was thorough, efficient, and uncompromising. She dug deep and left no stone unturned. Delta wondered what stone she was turning over now.

  Taking her jacket off, Alexandria nodded to Delta. “I see you’ve gotten yourself into another tight spot, Officer Stevens.”

  Sitting up straighter, Delta looked into the eyes sparkling back at her. These were not the eyes of a woman who had come to tell her to cough up her information to Leonard. Instantly, Delta relaxed. “I suppose one could look at it that way.” Delta did not want to notice Leonard standing at the door. “It’s good to see you again, counselor.”

  Alexandria grinned slightly and motioned for Leonard to step in. “I was going to call a meeting tomorrow morning, but since the Chief and everyone else’s mother has called me about tonight’s incident at the bowling alley, I thought it best we discuss matters now.”

  Delta’s left eyebrow rose. “Matters?”

  Alexandria reached into her eel skin briefcase and removed a familiar-looking file and laid it next to Delta’s good leg. “There seems to be a great deal of action going on in your beat.”

  Delta had seen this look before. Alexandria was setting her pieces in order. “You could say that.” Eyeing Leonard carefully, Delta saw his smirk. Had he called her in?

  “It’s been brought to my attention that you seem to have exceptional knowledge about our serial killer. Is this true?”

  Delta cringed inside at the term.

  “Delta?” Alexandria prodded. “Be straight with me here.”

  Delta looked back into Alexandria’s eyes. “Yes, it’s true.”

  “And I understand you even know who the man is who’s committing these crimes?” Alexandria had her courtroom voice on now.

  Suddenly, Jan was at Delta’s side. “We know now, Ms. Pendleton. I’ve already given my I.D. to Jonesy, and the Identikit’s being copied as we speak.”

  Alexandria smiled at Jan. “Good. But that’s not what I asked.” Turning back to Delta, Alexandria’s eyes narrowed. “Delta?”

  Delta studied Leonard for a moment. How could he risk her telling Alexandria that they had tried to include Homicide, but that he didn’t listen? Perhaps she had misjudged him. He was willing to take the heat just to get Elson off the streets. He appeared willing to accept the consequences of his narrow-mindedness; a fact Delta admired.

  “Yes, I do.”

  Alexandria frowned. “How close are you to catching him?”

  This caught Delta by surprise. “Very. Inches. We just need a little more time.”

  Nodding, Alexandria weighed her next question. “What about now? Now that you’re out of commission?”

  “I don’t have to be.”

  “I think you do.”

  Delta looked deep into Alexandria’s eyes. They were telling her more than her words conveyed.

  “It might be best for all of us if you took the time and used it wisely, don’t you think?”

  Delta suppressed a grin. “I suppose so.”

  Leonard seemed to erupt from behind Alexandria. “Now wait just a minute, I thought—”

  Whirling around, Alexandria towered over him. “If you don’t mind, Detective, I would like to speak with Officer Stevens alone.”

  “But you can’t—”

  “Oh yes, I can. Your department has failed to come up with a suspect; a fact the public is painfully aware of, as am I. When I’m through here, I would like your explanation on how it is that Officer Stevens seems to know more about your case than you do. Until then, please excuse us.”

  His face turning pinker by the second, Leonard glanced helplessly at Delta before walking out the door, his fate now in her hands.

  Alexandria waited a moment before returning her penetrating look to Delta. “I can’t imagine how you know so much, Delta, but right now that’s not my greatest concern. What matters most is that you’re close to catching him.”

  “We are. Inches. Seconds. We’re right behind him.”

  “When will you be in front of him?”

  “With the time off, it could be in the next three days.”

  Gathering her hair back in a ponytail with her hands and then letting it go again, Alexandria paced across the room. “I don’t think I’m making myself clear here. Can you stop him before he kills again?”

  Delta thought about this for a moment before nodding. “I think so. We almost had him at the bowling alley.”

  Alexandria glanced over at Jan. “From what I understand of tonight’s events, he almost had you.”

  “It was my fault,” Jan explained. “I should have closed the back door when I entered the bowling alley, and I didn’t. He faked me out, and I went for it.”

  “I see.” Back to Delta, Alexandria rubbed her hands together. “What does he want?”

  “He’s matching wits with Connie and guts with me. It’s a long story, Alex.”

  “Give me a thumbnail sketch.”

  Delta told her everything except giving the disk to Leonard. When she finished, she watched as the color slowly returned to Alexandria’s face.

  “And what will he do if we intervene?”

  “The game will be over, and he’ll blow up one of the larger buildings in the city. That’s why we didn’t come forward with any of this. There’s more at stake here than whether or not Connie and I went through the proper channels. He’s calling the shots. We’re just playing along until we can gain the advantage.”

  “And you think he’ll really make good on his threat?”

  “He has so far.”

  Alexandria pondered this for a moment.

  “Alex, this has nothing to do with ego or my dislike of L
eonard or anything else. He will either play this game to the end with Connie, or hundreds of innocent people will be blown to bits.”

  Alexandria moved over and sat next to Delta. “And you think he could do it?”

  Delta nodded. “He’s brilliant. I wouldn’t doubt that he already has one of the buildings rigged and ready to blow if anyone gets in his way. He wants to take Connie on, and Connie only.”

  “What about you? How do you figure into all of this?”

  “I’m just the pawn she moves, that’s all.”

  This brought a tiny grin to Alexandria’s lips. “You’re more like a knight, don’t you think?”

  Delta shrugged. “Alex, every day, every hour, Connie gets closer. We’re that far from catching him.” Delta held her thumb and index finger a centimeter apart.

  Alexandria rose and paced over to the window and ran her hand through her hair. “Let’s be frank here, shall we? The public and the media are hounding me for a suspect. If I can get one before re-election, I’ll be a shoe-in. Re-election as a woman will be tough if I can’t reel a suspect in before voting time.”

  “So, what are you proposing?”

  “What I’m proposing is this: it’s clear that Detective Leonard and his people are aware that you have information you’ve withheld. So, I have to insist you give him all of the information you have on this Elson character. That will let Leonard get an APB out on him and help him do his job.”

  Inhaling deeply, Delta nodded. “Then what?”

  “Then, you and your entourage have seventy-two hours to bag him before he kills again. Use whatever resources you need, do whatever has to be done, but stop him. I’ll keep Leonard off your backs for seventy-two hours, but if you lose him, or he murders again, we’ll have to turn the whole enchilada over to Leonard.”

  Delta looked over to Jan, who was nodding. “Seventy-two hours?”

  Alexandria nodded and closed her briefcase. “That’s the best I can do. I need a suspect, Delta.”

  “We’ll take it.” Reaching her hand out, Delta shook the D.A.’s strong grip.

  “I’m counting on you, Delta Stevens. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you my butt is on the line here. Don’t let me down.”

  Delta shook her head. “Not a chance. I owe you already.”

  “Just stop him, Delta. That’s payment enough.” Alexandria started toward the door, then turned with her hand on the knob. “Seventy-two hours, my friend. Good luck.”

  Delta saluted. “There’s more at stake for me than your election, Alex.”

  “I know.”

  “Then do you also know that I’ll give it everything I’ve got?”

  Alexandria smiled wearily. “That’s precisely what I’m counting on.”

  Chapter 37

  Stars were flying everywhere, and Delta hopped about like a cowboy being told to dance. A large-faced balloon hovered over her, its mouth wide, with sickening laughter erupting from it. On the roof of a building, Connie stood with a machine gun, Bonnie Parker style, trying to gun down the hysterical balloon. “Delta, wake up!”

  Opening her eyes, Delta found Connie shaking her shoulders. “What? What is it?”

  “I think we’ve got him!”

  “What?” Sitting up too fast, Delta grabbed her throbbing leg.

  “Megan and I have been combing through these myth books, and I think we’ve pinpointed his next victim.”

  Delta grinned over at Megan, who had just walked through the bedroom door. “Sleep well?”

  Delta shook her head, remembering the balloon. “Nightmares.”

  “You’ve been a little feverish,” Megan said, sitting on the corner of the couch. “The doctor said you might for a while.”

  Delta carefully leaned over and kissed Megan’s cheek. Megan had been a trooper at the hospital, acting brave and strong until they were alone. Only then did she burst into tears as the fear of losing Delta raised its ugly head.

  “How are you?” Delta asked, lightly touching Megan’s cheek.

  “Exhausted. Worried sick about you, my little love.”

  “I’ll be fine. It was merely a flesh wound.” Delta glanced over and winked at Connie, who frowned.

  “Not funny, Storm. That bastard nearly killed Jan and maimed you. He’d better hope like hell I don’t catch him before you do, because if I do . . .”

  “Easy, Chief,” Delta said, holding up her hand. “He didn’t succeed, did he?”

  “No.” Connie’s face was a mask of bitterness. “But he came awfully close. Too close. Next time, let’s see how he enjoys facing me.”

  Delta shook her head. “Isn’t going to happen, Con. We need you to keep your head together. My job is the streets. Yours is here with Gina, Megan and Eddie.”

  “For now.”

  Delta looked over at Megan, who shrugged.

  “Tell her, Connie.”

  “Yeah, what got you so fired up in the first place?”

  “I think we finally have a breakthrough.”

  “Yeah? Tell me.”

  Connie picked up one of her notepads before answering. “Elson had to kill a gorgon to get the shoes, right?”

  “Right.”

  “In the myth, when Medusa—the one with snakes for hair—was killed, Pegasus was born.”

  “That winged horse was made by that ugly broad?”

  Connie smiled. “Sort of. See, Poseidon, god of the sea, was Medusa’s lover before she became the horrid picture we know today. According to the legend, Poseidon gave mankind the horse as a gift. So, when a pregnant Medusa had her head cut off, Pegasus sprung from her head.”

  Delta nodded, turning it all over in her mind. “And where does this information take us?”

  Megan slowly rose and joined Connie at a large piece of butcher paper taped next to the computer. The entire house was wallpapered in butcher paper. “Armed with this knowledge, Dori breezed through the fifth level.”

  Delta’s heart jumped. “You’re already there?”

  Connie and Megan both nodded. “And this time we weren’t fooled. When we reached the battle area, both Pegasus and Poseidon were in it. Pegasus was walking around snorting, and Poseidon stood there waving his trident.”

  “Okay. So, now what?”

  “We think they’re both clues,” Connie answered. “But the best part is, we’re already at the next level and we still have two days to work on it before he strikes again.”

  Alexandria’s words rang in Delta’s head. “We have two days, period. If we don’t find a way to stop him before he strikes again, Alex is going to have to step in and give everything we have to Leonard.”

  Connie shook her head. “That would be a really stupid thing for her to do.”

  “I know, but she doesn’t have any other choice. This is Leonard’s jurisdiction. As much as she may want to, she can’t completely ignore procedure. We either catch him in time, or all hell breaks loose.”

  Slowly swinging her legs off the bed, Delta wobbly stood up and reached for Megan, who helped her limp over to the computer. Every step brought a jolt of pain running the length of her leg. “Okay. Let’s see if I can get it. The first clue has something to do with either horses or wings, right?”

  Connie smiled. “Right. And the second clue?”

  Delta shook her head. “The ocean? Something to do with water?”

  “Nope. More obvious. Think literally.”

  Delta stared at the screen.

  “The trident?”

  Connie nodded. “What else is shaped like a trident?”

  Delta thought a moment. “The only thing I can think of is a pitch-fork.”

  “Bingo. And where will you find both horses and pitchforks?”

  “At a ranch.” Delta thought for a moment and then smiled. She remembered her conversation with Jan earlier in the week. “Or at a racetrack.”

  “Exactly. And the Springtown Stakes are in town this weekend.”

  Delta clapped her hands together. “But tomorrow’s Saturday. The l
ast race won’t be until Sunday.”

  Megan nodded. “Right. But we have to consider all of the Omega options here, right? The last race might be on Sunday, but there could be more lasts involved. I called a jockey who was a . . . personal friend of mine, and he owes me a favor or two. I’m on my way over to his place for the spreadsheets on all of the horses, jockeys, owners, et cetera, so we can see if any match up with our clues.”

  Delta studied the screen and tried to ignore the heat burning her leg. “Good thinking. But tell me how you did it in the game.”

  Connie beamed. “We strangled the gorgon and got the winged sandals. Then a new level appeared. After fighting our way past assorted bad guys, we eventually arrived at Pegasus. The key thing is that we kept the ribbon we strangled the gorgon with, and that enabled us to use it as a rein to catch Pegasus.”

  “So, you caught the horse. Then, what?”

  “What else? We rode him. He took us to a small island, where we wandered around fighting giant lobsters and stuff until we came to Poseidon’s lair.”

  Delta’s eyebrows rose. “You’re already at Poseidon’s cave?”

  Connie and Megan looked to each other and grinned before nodding in unison. “Yep.”

  “Have you killed him yet?”

  Connie shook her head. “Dori doesn’t have anything that would kill a god. Remember, he’s immortal. He’s Zeus’s brother and one of the greatest gods of Olympus. Killing him isn’t like killing Medusa or the others.”

  “So, what do we do with him if we don’t kill him?”

  Megan pointed to the caricature of Poseidon on the monitor. “What else? We get the trident.”

  Delta looked at the screen and thought about this for a moment. “You’re sure we want the trident?”

  Megan nodded. “Positive. That trident can create earthquakes, rivers, and streams. It is a very powerful weapon, and we think it may be the key to getting toMount Olympus and possibly to the end of the game. We need it—we just don’t know how to go about getting it.”

  Connie agreed. “The point is we know where he’s going to strike next, so the next move is ours. If we can stop him at Springtown, who gives a shit about the trident?”