One Murder Too Many

by Terrell Bowers

  Tackling an eel would have been easier. The guy was powerfully built and more than a match for Jason. He kicked and squirmed loose a second time, rose up as far as his knees and walloped Jason hard on the side of his head with a hammer-like fist. The blow stunned Jason and the tussle ended abruptly.

  Groggy and helpless for several seconds, Jason managed to sit up. He was too late, as the shadowy figure had disappeared into the darkness. Gingerly rubbing the bruise near his temple, Jason took a moment to clear the fog from his brain and take a look around. As far as he could tell no cars had left the lot, so the man had not parked near the building. He groaned with frustration, having been thoroughly bested during the short exchange.

  Bloody hell, Keane, he admonished himself. Your attempt to nick that intruder ended in a total lash-up!

  Grady and Hampton were both red-eyed from being rousted from bed. There was no need to call the lab team as the man had been wearing gloves. Kari had fixed tea, which she and Jason were sipping while reclining on the loveseat together.

  ‘So it was a fairly large guy and he ran you over?’ Grady posed the question, but it sounded more like a critical evaluation.

  Jason didn’t conceal his angst. ‘I must be getting past it. I had him in my grasp and let him get the better of me.’

  ‘So that’s all you can tell us?’ Grady continued. ‘You think the man was black, and he was a little bigger than your own height and weight. That’s it?’

  ‘That and he was built as solid as a bloody tank,’ Jason added. ‘Grabbing hold of him was like tackling a bull. He wasn’t athletic, but seemed very fit, very muscular.’

  ‘You said you thought he might be headed for Miss Underwood’s apartment?’ Hampton asked. ‘What’s your reasoning for that?’

  ‘Because someone shot at her,’ Jason replied.

  ‘That could have only been a warning,’ Grady concluded. ‘Both shots were through the passenger side of the car.’

  ‘That’s true,’ Jason said. ‘But I believe that if you check the other residents in this building you won’t find another likely target.’

  ‘Do you think our killer meant to harm Miss Underwood tonight?’ Hampton said.

  ‘That much isn’t clear, Detective. Someone might be afraid Dom and Juno gave Miss Underwood a piece of evidence or information. As you haven’t determined how those two were earning so much extra money, we have no clue as to who is behind these attacks or what they are looking for.’

  ‘Regardless, it’s a good thing you stopped by,’ Grady observed. ‘A few minutes later—’

  He didn’t have to finish the sentence. As for Kari, she ignored the part about the sniper shooting at her and the intruder this evening. Instead, she was worried about Jason.

  ‘You’re lucky the prowler didn’t severely hurt you.’ Kari used a scolding tone of voice. ‘What were you thinking?’

  ‘He was thinking like a cop.’ Hampton took up in his defense. ‘It’s just too bad he didn’t get a look at the guy’s face.’

  ‘I wish I could have pulled off his ski-mask,’ Jason informed them. ‘If’ I had got a look at him….’

  ‘He might have killed you!’ Grady finished. ‘That’s something we don’t need – a visiting cop ending up in the morgue during one of our investigations.’

  ‘I too would have suffered a degree of humiliation if that happened,’ Jason replied.

  Hampton decided they were finished and directed his words at Kari. ‘It’s doubtful the man will return. However, we can post a patrol car to watch your place if you like?’

  ‘No, that won’t be necessary,’ Kari replied.

  ‘It’s almost midnight,’ Grady said. ‘I don’t think there’s anything more to be learned from all of us losing more sleep.’

  ‘Yeah, we’re back on duty in a few hours,’ Hampton complained. ‘I don’t know, Brit,’ he directed his comment to Jason. ‘Seems like every time you show up, we get run ragged for a couple weeks.’

  ‘It’s fortunate for you that I only visit occasionally.’

  Grady laughed and patted Hampton on the arm. ‘Let’s get out of here. With a little luck we can get a few minutes of shuteye before the sun comes up.’

  Kari let them out, locked the door behind them, and returned to sit down next to Jason. Concern shown brightly in her eyes. ‘You might have been killed tonight.’

  ‘The guy only wanted to get away.’

  ‘Yes, but you didn’t know that. You can’t go around tackling possible killers with no weapon but your wits. These people are dangerous.’

  ‘I won’t argue that much, but I would bet money the prowler was on his way up to your apartment.’

  Kari frowned. ‘It makes no sense. I don’t know anything.’

  ‘Maybe you know something without realizing it. Or this guy might believe you can identify him. He might try again.’

  ‘Thank you so much for your insight,’ Kari said drily. ‘I’ll sleep much better knowing a killer is stalking me.’

  ‘Well, you’ve obviously done something to cause this character to be worried,’ Jason said.

  Kari leaned over and kissed him. When she pulled back, she tenderly murmured, ‘Thank God you weren’t hurt tonight. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you.’

  ‘I chose to intervene,’ Jason replied. ‘But I shall exercise more caution in the future.’ He grinned. ‘Like procuring a large club before a second encounter.’

  Kari uttered a sigh. ‘I’ve got to write this up and email the story to Scott.’

  ‘While you do that I’m going to ring up Reggie. He’s probably in bed by this time, but I need to let him know I won’t be returning home tonight.’

  Kari’s expression was unreadable, but she leaned closer and murmured, ‘That isn’t necessary, Jason. Do you think you have to look after me?’

  ‘You better flaming well believe it!’

  At his staunch delivery, a coy smile lifted at the corners of her mouth. ‘In that case, I’ll sleep much better having you here.’

  ‘I’ll be fine on the couch,’ he clarified quickly.

  Her lips parted, as if she might object, but she didn’t. With a slight tilt of her head, she said, ‘All right.’ Then she tenderly touched her lips to his. When she pulled back, a mysterious light danced within her eyes, and she added, ‘… for tonight.’

  The captain was not pleased. If his hard stare could have burned holes through solid objects, Grady and Hampton would have resembled used targets after a long day at the firing range.

  ‘Did we misread the shooting at the reporter? Do we think this guy meant to kill her?’

  ‘If he was armed, he didn’t pull the weapon on the Brit,’ Grady replied. ‘We still don’t know what his interest is in Miss Underwood.’

  ‘We ran the other tenants in the building,’ Ham put in. ‘Most are poor working stiffs who barely get by from payday to payday. It’s reasonable to assume the guy was headed for her apartment.’

  ‘This gets better every day,’ the captain lamented. ‘The public is going to wonder why we weren’t protecting the reporter.’

  ‘A couple of warning shots don’t add up to a second attack, Capt’n,’ Grady argued. ‘We had no reason to think the shooter would actually go to her apartment. We figured it was possible that the shooting was only a ruse to cause us to focus in the wrong direction. And the prowler last night might have only been to throw an additional scare into Underwood.’

  ‘Grady’s got a point,’ Hampton went along. ‘The girl has told us again and again that she doesn’t know anything. Maybe we’re supposed to be chasing ghosts while the real case is something completely different. And there is an outside possibility that the guy last night was only a thief, looking to break into any one of the apartments.’

  The captain was still scowling. ‘We’ve got a hell of a case going. We know exactly nothing, so that makes every scenario a possibility.’

  ‘At least we have a starting point on our perp,’ Hampton sai
d. ‘We know his approximate height, weight, and he’s built like a football linebacker.’

  ‘Could be an ex-con,’ Grady postulated. ‘That’s about all prisoners do while inside, work with weights and bulk up.’

  ‘Add to the profile, the man we’re looking for is an accomplished car thief,’ the captain reminded them both. ‘The first car had the keys in it, but the one used during the killing of Hector Gomez was a hot-wire job.’

  Grady scratched his head thoughtfully. ‘Considering ballistics says the same gun was used to kill Juno and Hector, this doesn’t appear to have anything to do with two gangs and a turf war. However, it might still be about the shipments of drugs coming in from Colombia.’

  ‘The reporter claimed she got nothing from Dom and Juno,’ Hampton reminded him. ‘She put as much in the newspaper.’

  The captain expressed his cynicism. ‘If I’m linked to the cartel and receiving a priceless shipment every month, am I going to believe a reporter is telling the truth?’

  ‘It’s a thought,’ Hampton agreed. ‘We’ll start looking at other angles on these attacks. Shooting a member of two different rival gangs could be a smoke screen, meant to keep us from looking in the right direction to stop those shipments.’

  ‘Broaden your investigation to include any major drug connections,’ the captain directed. ‘Then pull the records of cons on the street, especially those who have stolen cars in the past and have a propensity for violence.’

  ‘You got it, Capt’n,’ Grady replied. ‘We’ll get on it right away.’

  Kari was surprised at the phone call that came while she and Jason were having breakfast. It was from the district attorney’s office, requesting she stop by first thing that morning.

  ‘Probably about your nocturnal visitor, the one I allowed to escape,’ Jason speculated, once she had hung up the receiver. ‘I’d better go along with you and repeat my account of my humiliation in allowing him to get the better of me.’

  Kari grinned. ‘We could embellish it a little, say how the guy took you by surprise and attacked you from behind?’

  ‘We Brits always accept proper due for our own cock-ups,’ he stated smugly.

  ‘I will have to spend some time at my desk today,’ Kari advised him. ‘It might be noon or later before I get out to the field for further interviews.’

  ‘I’m sure I can find something to keep myself occupied. You can ring me up on my mobile when you’re ready.’

  ‘You mean it’s actually working?’

  Jason chuckled. ‘I threatened to start filing for expenses from using pay phones, so the department gave me a new one the day I left. It’s rather an improvement – takes photographs and I can receive information and photos of a suspect. Unlike me, it’s very modern and up to date.’

  A short while later, Jason accompanied Kari to the DA’s office. A pleasant secretary with a name plate ‘Dotty’ greeted them. She punched an intercom button and a woman’s voice answered.

  ‘Kari Underwood and a gentleman from the Sentinel are here to see you.’

  ‘Thank you. I’ll be with her in minute,’ came the reply.

  Dotty said OK and smiled up at Kari.

  ‘I’ve got a daughter who would love to see her team mentioned in the Sports section. She and her teammates are undefeated so far this year.’ She laughed. ‘Of course, the season has just begun, so we’re only talking about three games, but she is very excited.’

  Kari said she knew a couple of the staff writers and, if Dotty emailed her the information, she would mention the team to one of them. Before the secretary could thank her, the door opened. A handsome fellow appeared and held the door for them to enter.

  ‘Tony Martin,’ he introduced himself. ‘I’m one of Mrs. Streisand’s deputy district attorneys. We have both been following the gang related shootings that have taken place in the last few days.’

  Once the man had closed the door behind them Kari introduced Jason to Gloria and the DDA.

  ‘I remember your deposition during the coin killer case last year,’ Gloria said in greeting Jason. ‘I’ve no doubt you are a credit to the Sutton CID.’

  ‘I’ve done my best to make them believe I am indispensable,’ Jason replied.

  Gloria motioned to Tony, who handed her a sheet of paper. Jason observed that they were very comfortable standing close while examining the document. Their shoulders rubbed as Tony pointed out a section for Gloria’s attention.

  ‘You tackled a prowler outside Miss Underwood’s apartment last night?’ Gloria inquired.

  Jason knew how the report read, but explained the details of the short encounter. ‘He was at least thirty pounds heavier than me and very fit,’ he finished. ‘If he had a car near by, I didn’t see it.’

  Gloria eyed Kari with a glowing suspicion. ‘When we last spoke, you said you had gotten no information from Dom and Juno. Why should this man come after you?’ She added a second question, ‘Is it possible you know something but don’t realize what it is?’

  ‘I can only assume this is the guy who was watching Juno and Dom’s place. He must think I got a good look at his face, but I didn’t.’

  ‘And you are not working on anything else that might be explosive in some way?’

  ‘No, ma’am,’ Kari replied. ‘I’ve gone over every story I’ve done in the past few months – the detectives have, too – and there isn’t anything.’

  ‘The killer was looking for something at Juno’s house. He took their phones and computer. During your interview, did you inquire about anything that might have been related to information that might be stored on one of those devices?’

  ‘Nothing whatsoever,’ Kari responded. ‘The two young men pretty much ran me off without telling me anything.’

  ‘It makes no sense why someone is after you.’ Tony spoke up. ‘I mean, if you didn’t get any information, and Dom and Juno didn’t give you anything of value, then why would this guy come after you?’

  Before Kari could answer the DA changed the subject. ‘I was told you were interviewing people about these murders?’

  ‘Only as a follow-up to the police briefings,’ Kari told her. ‘I haven’t spoken to or visited any gang members.’

  ‘Yes, I don’t think that would be wise. The Hard Corps might hold you responsible for getting Juno killed.’

  ‘Same goes for the 39th Street Lobos and Hector’s death,’ Tony interjected. ‘Could have been a member of either of those gangs who was prowling around at your apartment last night.’

  ‘I’ve assured the detectives that I will share anything I find with them immediately,’ Kari promised the DA.

  ‘Do you wish to request police protection?’ Gloria asked. ‘I can call the chief.’

  ‘No, Jason is going to stick close to me until this is settled.’

  ‘How very …’ Gloria searched for the right word and Tony finished it with, ‘… Gallant.’

  Jason grinned. ‘That’s a title I didn’t exactly earn last night.’

  ‘You ran him off.’ Gloria commended his actions. ‘It would have been more beneficial had you captured him, but Miss Underwood is safe. That is the first priority.’

  ‘It certainly is,’ Jason agreed.

  ‘Thank you for stopping by.’ Gloria bid farewell to them. ‘If you should suddenly think of something that could help, my door is always open.’

  Outside the office Dotty greeted them with a professional smile again. ‘Was Mrs. Streisand able to help you?’

  ‘It was interesting,’ Kari replied. ‘Is she a good boss?’

  Dotty flicked a glance at the door, making sure it was closed. ‘She’s …’ looking for the right word, ‘a challenge to work for,’ was her answer. ‘She’s very demanding, which is the very opposite of her husband. He’s one of those easy going sorts, always in a good mood, with nothing bad to say about anyone or anything. They seem an odd coupling.’

  ‘Does he come here often?’

  ‘Not nearly as much as he used to. He used
to visit almost daily, but now it’s only occasionally to have lunch together or something.’

  ‘It was nice meeting you,’ Kari said. ‘Send me that email and I’ll call you after I speak to my friend in the sporting news.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Dotty said. ‘My daughter would be thrilled.’

  As Jason and Kari left the building, Kari expelled a deep breath. ‘That DA is a formidable woman. I felt like I was the suspect in the shootings.’

  ‘Her aide positively hung on her every word,’ Jason replied. ‘And did you notice how they seemed to finish each other’s sentences?’

  Kari gave him an inquisitive look. ‘You don’t think there’s some hanky-panky going on between Gloria and her DDA?’

  ‘I was merely making an observation.’

  Kari’s brow furrowed in thought. ‘If they are more than working together, it would be something of a scandal. Gloria is up for re-election and Tony was wearing a wedding ring.’

  ‘Perhaps I misread their relationship,’ Jason said. Then, moving forward, ‘What now?’

  ‘I have to go in and do a follow-up on your encounter last night. As this is all first-hand reporting, Scott intends to enjoy the scoop.’

  ‘I’ll pop over to see the detectives and compare notes. Maybe I can pick up a bit of fodder for your next article. I’ll have my mobile turned on. Let me know when you are ready to leave.’

  ‘This shouldn’t take long,’ Kari said. Then she looped her arm inside his and they started walking back to the Sentinel building.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  GLORIA FUMED INWARDLY as she walked down the corridor. Lincoln had made another blunder, thinking the reporter was not at home and nearly being caught by the Brit. Tony excused the mistake by saying Lincoln had seen that the Englishman’s rental car was not in the visitors’ lot and he figured the two of them were out on the town. It was a plausible assumption, but one that could have been catastrophic. If Underwood knew anything or had any information, she would be doubly on the alert now.

  The notion stuck in Gloria’s head: Kari must know something. She had been snooping around Juno’s family members. She had also talked to the Westmorelands. Gloria worried that Dom might have said something to cause Kari suspicion about her and Tony’s affair.