“Why?”
“You still look too much like a cop,” Zerr said.
“And you don’t?”
“At least the hookers won’t see you first.” Zerr rolled up the sleeve on his right arm. “Army Ranger tattoo. It’s part of our cover story.”
“What’s that?”
“We’re US military training with the Canadians at Suffield.”
Brad drove toward the southeast. They talked about TSU and the increase in marijuana grow-ops. Brad talked about his new job. They drove in silence for a few minutes.
“Boss. I’ve got something to ask you.”
“Sounds serious. “ Brad snatched a glance his way. “Ask me anything.”
“It’s about dating.”
“You’re having trouble getting dates?”
“That’s not it. You and Maggie both work crazy shifts but you stay together. How do you do that?”
Brad shrugged. “It’s not easy. We dated for a few months about four years ago, but she broke it off. There were a few reasons, but it wasn’t about shift work. With me a cop, and her a paramedic, what we see can be disturbing. We can relate to each other’s bad call and can listen. But I don’t want to bring it home to Maggie. She has just as many—no, she sees more bad crap than we do. That’s the biggest thing—keeping that stuff at work. Don’t let shift work get in the way. When you both have time off, make it count.”
Zerr nodded. “That makes sense.”
“Are you dating a shift worker? A nurse?”
“Yeah, I’m dating. It’s early in the relationship but shift work does get in the way.”
Brad glanced at Zerr’s big grin. Well, I’ll be. Tough, cynical Army Ranger was smitten.
Twenty minutes later they were cruising Seventeenth Avenue.
It was a warm spring night and they drove with the windows down and the eight-track blaring The Wall by Pink Floyd followed by Against the Wind by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band.
They drove a couple of miles down Seventeenth Avenue and then back, pinpointing the hookers. They tended to stay in groups close to buildings. They’d also selected locations where cars could easily park.
The first few hookers were suspicious. When Zerr showed Wolfe’s, picture they stepped away from the car and told Zerr to “fuck off.” It took a while to get their routine right. The ladies seemed okay with Zerr, but gave Brad suspicious looks. They stopped at a liquor store and bought a case of beer. They emptied half of them in the parking lot and tossed them throughout the car. Then they each popped one. That seemed to put the ladies at ease. But for the next hour they struck out. Brad wondered if he’d lost his appeal. He couldn’t even pick up a hooker. Ahead, a group of ladies stood against a building laughing and having a smoke. Brad pulled to the curb and Zerr leaned out the window, beer in hand, and waved. “Hey, you visions of beauty, who’d like to party?”
Two hookers looked up and down the avenue, then approached the car. One was older, with large breasts that threatened to pop out of her low-cut T-shirt. The other hooker was younger, early twenties, but already had the look of someone who’d had a hard life. They crowded close to the window. “What are you boys looking for? You gonna share a girl or are you interested in two. We could all party, if you know what I mean.”
“You guys cops?” the other hooker asked. “You look like cops.”
Zerr laughed and showed them his arm. “See this here.” He pulled his T-shirt up to his shoulder and pointed at a tattoo. “That one’s from the United States of America Army Rangers.”
“You’re bullshitting me,” the second hooker said. “If you’re a Ranger, why’re you here?”
“We’re training with the Canadian army at Suffield Base. I’m Sam. He’s Tommy.”
Brad stifled a laugh and looked straight ahead. He didn’t think Devlin and Steele would think this was funny.
Zerr leaned close to the older hooker. “We got till six tomorrow morning to have fun, then back to the base.”
“Call me Cher.” She nodded over her shoulder. “The baby is Barbie. What do you mean by fun?”
“We’ve got a motel room for the night, what are you offering?”
“Two of us all night for a hundred dollars. Whatever you want.”
“Deal.” Zerr got out of the car and gave her fifty dollars. “You get the rest later.” The hookers slid into the back seat.
“Kinda cramped here,” Cher said.
Zerr climbed in and Brad pulled away from the curb. A couple of blocks up he turned right and then into a dark school parking lot.
“What the hell?” Cher pounded on Zerr’s seat. “There ain’t motels anywhere near here.”
Brad stopped close to the school and shut off the car. They turned in their seats to face the hookers.
Cher stopped pounding on the seat and instead beat her fist against Zerr’s head. “Let us out, assholes. We’re gonna report you to the cops.”
Zerr grabbed her wrists. “Do you think the cops will care?”
“Let me go!” Cher shouted.
Barbie was pressed tight to the side of the car, tears flowing down her face. “I don’t want to die like Gail. Did you kill her?”
“What are you talking about?” Zerr asked.
“Last week, Gail drove off with a guy,” Cher said. “We never saw her again. Heard she was killed.”
Brad turned on the interior light and showed his badge. “We’re cops. We want to know about your friend.”
“We’ve got nothing to say,” Cher said. “Now open the goddamned door.”
“Not gonna happen,” Brad said. “You have a choice. Talk to us about Gail or go to jail for soliciting two cops.”
“You approached us,” Cher yelled.
Brad smiled. “That’s not the way we’ll write the report. Who do you think the courts will believe?”
“If we talk to you, you promise to let us go.”
“Absolutely,” Brad said. “Gail have a last name?”
Barbie sniffled. “Tell them.”
“Fine,” Cher said. “But you’d better let us go. Her name’s Gail Wilson. Last Tuesday we were working the same spot you found us. A car pulls up and I head to the car. At first I thought he’d take me. He was hands all over me. But then he slaps me and points to Gail. I didn’t like this guy. He was big with wild hair and a full beard. There was something off about him. Anyway, Gail got in the car and they drove away. I never saw her again. She was just a baby.”
“Have you seen this guy since?”
Cher shook her head.
Brad pulled Wolfe’s picture out of his pocket and showed it to her. “Is this the guy?”
Cher’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God. That’s him!”
Chapter Fifteen
Tuesday Late Afternoon
Brad’s house was perfect for training Lobo. Brad walked around the house hiding small baggies. When he was satisfied with the location of each baggie, he opened the kitchen door. Lobo raced inside, barking.
“Lobo, sit.”
Lobo stopped just inside the door, tail wagging, body vibrating, and panting. Brad waved an open plastic bag under Lobo’s nose and said, “Lobo, seek.”
Lobo bounded to his feet, spun in circles, then sniffed under the kitchen table, jumped onto the chairs, and then headed to the pantry. He waited. Brad opened the door. Lobo leaped in, nose low to the ground, he sniffed for a second or two, then put his front paws on a shelf and sat back on his haunches.
Brad reached to the spot where Lobo had been sniffing and pulled out one of the baggies. “Good boy, good boy. Look for more. Seek.”
Lobo ran into the dining room and sniffed around the table and chairs. He moved into the corner, sniffed at the China cabinet for a second or two, then padded to the floor vents. He sniffed at one, two, then three floor vents. At the third vent he sat.
Brad reached into the vent and pulled out another baggy, stuffed it in his pocket, and rubbed Lobo’s head and ears. “Good boy, good boy.”
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Lobo found four bags upstairs, and three more in the living room. He pulled at the cushions of the couch and sat. Brad grabbed two more baggies. The front door opened. Lobo jumped and raced to the door. Maggie stepped in. Lobo ran around her excitedly, jumping up and down.
Brad walked over to Maggie and kissed her. “Something smells good.”
Maggie handed him the flat box. “Your favorite: pizza.”
“That’s great.” Brad walked to the kitchen, set the pizza on the counter, reached into the cupboard, and pulled down two plates. “Tonight’s your last night shift. Maybe you can help me train Lobo.”
“I’m not letting him chase me and chew on my arm like he does with Steele.”
“No, not doing attacks, he’s getting pretty good at finding things. The last couple of weeks I’ve been hiding his toys, my shirts, and shoes. He has no trouble finding them. So today I upped his game, I hid bags of marijuana.”
“Where the heck did you get weed?”
“I borrowed some from work. I’ll put it back tomorrow.”
“Lobo better find all your stashes.”
Brad grinned. “He will.”
“I’m starved,” Maggie said. “Let’s eat.”
Brad carried the pizza, plates, and napkins to the dining room. Maggie set two glasses of milk on the table. Each reached for a slice of pizza and began eating.
“You got home pretty late last night. Did you get anywhere?”
“Got a name for our vic. Zerr and I found two hookers who saw our murder victim, Gail Wilson, get into a car with Wolfe. She hung with these two hookers. They kinda looked after her.”
“Not well enough,” Maggie said.
“I can’t imagine what that life is like.”
“Not living. Just surviving.”
Brad nodded. “Now we know for sure it was Wolfe and that he was in the southeast, at least he was a week ago.”
“I’m surprised the hookers would talk to you.”
“They talked to Zerr. He played the military card and they bought it.”
“He must have a way with the ladies.”
“Now that you mention it, he was pretty smooth talking to them.”
“Maybe he’s back there tonight.”
“Oh, don’t think so. He’s got his eye on someone else.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you ask?”
Brad shook his head as he chewed. “He didn’t volunteer and I didn’t ask. He’ll tell me when he’s ready. I got the feeling he hasn’t dated a lot.”
“That surprises me. He’s a good looking guy.”
“Really?” Brad glared at Maggie.
“I’m not blind. I was wrong. He’s not good looking, he’s gorgeous.”
“If I said that about a lady—”
“I’d kill you. Right there, on the spot.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“It’s your fault.”
“How’s that?”
“You taught me to shoot and gave me a gun.”
Brad nodded. “That I did.”
“Do you have any leads on Wolfe?”
“Tina’s sure Wolfe is on a rape and killing spree. These rapes are random, but they fit his type. When a woman fits his type, he’ll attack. Right now, he’s satisfying his perversions, and practicing for the real target or targets. We think Blighe is his target. He threatened her at his trial. Now that he’s out, he’s going to seek revenge on those who put him in jail.”
“Is Annie in danger?”
“Maybe.”
“You need to protect her. Hide her away somewhere.”
“I’ve already got a team with her 24/7. She doesn’t know that. They’ll keep her safe.”
“You haven’t told her?”
“No sense scaring her. Anyway, I’ve got it covered. She’ll be safe.”
Maggie glared at Brad. “Are you serious? Wolfman already killed one girl and hospitalized another, and you say he’s sure to kill again.” Maggie’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God. You’re using her as bait!”
“No. Not at all. You know I’d cover all the bases. She’s been safe for two years.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Brad closed his eyes. I said too much.
“What aren’t you saying? No secrets, remember.”
“Okay. I’ve been taking care of Annie for two years,” Brad confessed.
Maggie’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“I’m covering her expenses—housing, groceries, tuition, books, that sort of stuff.”
“Are you kidding me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t say anything because I worried this would happen. That Wolfman would get out, or other bikers would come looking for her. She’s in a secure apartment complex with security. It’s in Briscoe’s district so he keeps an eye on things.”
“You told Briscoe and not me.”
“The fewer who knew the better.”
“I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“No, but you’d want to see her, to know she’s okay—to do Auntie Maggie stuff. I couldn’t risk that.”
“She comes for dinner several times a month and you didn’t think to include me.”
“She’s well protected. Since Wolfe got out, I’ve hired guys from a private personal protection company. They’re ex-cops or ex-military. They do protection for politicians and CEOs of major corporations. Wolfe doesn’t stand a chance. If he shows up, he’d be taken down by a half-dozen guys before he gets within ten feet. This way she can still go to college, and not worry.”
“Are you sure she’s safe?”
“She’s safer than the prime minister—trust me.”
“Wolfe terrifies me. He’s everything vile. I hope you capture him soon.”
“We have a half-dozen operations looking for Wolfe. This is only one of them.”
“I’m still worried.” Maggie wiped her mouth with a napkin and pushed away from the table. “I need to shower before work.”
“I can help.” Brad jumped out of his chair.
Chapter Sixteen
Tuesday Evening
Brad and Lobo walked to Bowness Park where they met Steele. The plan was for Steele to wander through the trees in the park, zig-zagging, backtracking, and crossing his path. This would be the big test for Lobo.
Brad gave Steele a fifteen-minute head start. Brad sat on a park bench with Lobo at his side. His tail swept back and forth.
It’s funny how you can see clearly looking back but can screw things up in the moment. In his mind it was obvious that Annie’s location was kept secret. He’d convinced himself it was best for Annie. Tomorrow he’d get Annie and have her stay with them.
Brad stood and Lobo bounced to his feet, whimpering. Brad held Steele’s T-shirt in front of Lobo, who sniffed several times, then set off on Steele’s track. Lobo was focused. He ignored a rabbit that crossed their path. A squirrel chirped at him as he walked past—no reaction. In the playground, kids screamed and shouted—Lobo didn’t care.
Steele had set a good trail. For the next half hour Lobo followed Steele’s scent. Finally, they came to a park bench beside the river where Steele was waiting.
“Holy shit!” Steele said. “That’s awesome. I didn’t figure there was any way he’d track me. He’s got this nailed.”
“Yup, that was great. This means we can to go back and work on attacks.”
“Find yourself another victim. Find some keen young cop to get chewed like a raw steak.”
“Maybe I should,” Brad said. “It sounds like this is too tough for you, muffin.”
“Screw you.”
“Does it help if I say I have cold beer.”
“That’s more like it.”
They sat on the back deck, feet on the railing, drinking beer. Lobo lay at Brad’s feet, asleep.
“I love this view,” Steele said.
“I never get tired of it,” Brad said. “It’s a safe place away from th
e world we work in.”
“I may move in with you.”
“I’m not sure Emma would like that.”
“Oh, don’t bet on that. Some days she’d be happy if I was somewhere else.”
“So, the shine is off the marriage. What did that take—four years for her to get tired of you?”
Sam laughed. “You’re a fine one to talk. When are you going to make an honest woman out of Maggie?”
“How’re things at TSU?” Brad asked.
“You are so predictable. You tease the crap out of all of us, but when it comes your direction, you deflect.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re deflecting,” Sam said.
Brad shook his head. “Not so. How’s TSU?”
“And there’s the change of subject.”
“Just answer my question.”
“It’s not bad,” Sam said. “With Knight as our sergeant things are a little—I mean, a lot—stricter, more military. Different from you.”
“A change is good,” Brad said. “Sometimes you have to change the coach.”
“We didn’t need a change. We were coming together nicely as a team. Then you screwed us over to be a bottom-feeding, scum-sucking lawyer.”
“That’s hurtful.” Brad clutched his chest. “Lawyers occasionally have feelings, too.”
“Not the ones I’ve dealt with,” Sam said.
“How’re things with Emma? She must be keeping you on a short leash, not letting you out to play last night.”
“She doesn’t make a big deal when I’m called out or late getting home. Except when she finds out I went drinking with Zerr after work she gets pissed. She needed me home last night. She wasn’t feeling well.”
“Is Zerr leading you astray?”
“I blame it on him, but maybe sometimes I suggest the beer.”
“I’m not sure you two will ever grow up. I had hope when you married Emma, but—”
“We’ve got some news.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m gonna be a dad.”
“Well congratulations. That’s great. When?”
“Well, I think it was after the Saint Patrick’s Day party at Devlin’s.”
Wolfman is Back Page 7
