by Kira Chase
The women quickly moved away from the door before it slammed shut. As they walked to the entrance, they heard Carol screaming. “What the fuck have you done now, Harry? What have you been doing with the rent money? Gambling and drinking at the bar, you good for nothing son-of-a-bitch!”
“Looks like Harry's in for it,” Frankie giggled as Johanna opened the heavy blue door and they made their exit.
Before Johanna could reply, she saw the men who had been standing between the buildings were now leaning against her car. She wished now that she'd worn slacks instead of a skirt. But she had placed her gun in her blazer pocket. “There'd better not be a scratch on it,” she steamed as she raced down the steps and over to her car. “Get away from my car.” Her jaw clenched as her eyes evenly met their hard, cold eyes. They were tall, husky, tattooed men and she suddenly realized that her focus had only been on her car. Stupid, she thought. Frankie, with blazing eyes, came towards her.
“Hey, sweet cheeks,” one of the men said leering at her as he walked with a swaggering gait towards her. “How'd you like to take me for a ride?” he winked at his friend. “Ah, let's see if you're as hot as that red hair.” The man smacked his lips and laughed as his friend made catcalls, whistled at her, and then made obscene gestures. His eyes moved to her long shapely legs. “I'm definitely gonna have some of that.”
“Now, now, look at this. Two is better than one,” he said as Frankie sidled up to Johanna. His friend stayed leaning against the car laughing. “Now we won't have to share red. You like brunettes. One for each of us.” His eyes slanted and his voice grew surly. “Maybe we'll take turns. Compare notes. Let's go.” His eyes darkened.
Johanna noticed the abrupt change in his tone of voice. Her guard was on full alert now. “We're not going anywhere. Now get the hell away from my car.” She backed up a few steps, then turned and looked at Frankie. Frankie's eyes were riveted on the long sharp blade of a knife the man held in his hand. She hadn't seen him pull it out of his pants or inch closer to Frankie. He must have done it when she'd turned for just a split second to look at the other man. Damn, how could she have had such a lapse in judgment?
Johanna knew she had to think fast. She had to act even faster. Could Fellows have hired these punks to follow them? She instantly dismissed that thought. They'd had no way of knowing Frankie and she would be coming here. Or had someone known they'd be delivering summonses today? Were they being tailed? No. You're becoming paranoid and letting your mind imagine all sorts of ridiculous scenarios. She was thankful that her gun was in her pocket. She unobtrusively slipped her hand inside and gripped it. She felt calmer the minute her fingers gripped it. She could pull it out with one quick movement. She caught Frankie's eye and nodded.
“I said let's go! You're wasting our time. You two are going to take me and my friend for a little ride,” the man said. “We're going to get to know each other. By the time we're finished we'll be very good friends.” He smacked his lips and made another obscene gesture. “Now move it!” He growled. “Give me the car keys and I'll drive,” he ordered. He glared at Johanna. “Then you climb into the back seat with my buddy.” His eyes moved over Frankie's body. “You'll be up front with me.”
“I don't think so,” Frankie said bringing her foot up quickly and kicking the knife out of the man's hand.
“You're gonna be sorry you did that, bitch” he howled, rubbing his wrist as he turned to look for his knife which had clattered to the pavement.
As he turned, Frankie kicked the back of his legs dropping him to his knees.
“Help me, you idiot!” he called to his friend. “Don't just stand there, you fucking moron!”
Frankie placed her gun to the back of the downed man's head. “I don't think so.”
Johanna's gun was pointed at the other man still leaning against her car. “One move and I'll blow your head off!”
The neighbors who'd been sitting on their stoops rushed across the street. The woman who'd been standing in the doorway of the building hurried over to them. “I called the cops. They're on their way.”
An elderly man beamed at them. “Thank you. They've been terrorizing our neighborhood for months now.”
“They'll never bother any of you again,” Johanna promised him.
Chapter 7
Johanna and Frankie served the rest of the summonses without incident, then drove to their office located in a busy strip mall between a coffee shop and hair salon.
“Want me to grab a couple of sandwiches before we start the paperwork?” Frankie asked. “I'm starved! Besides, you have to print out all the pictures you took for the surveillance we did last week. You can do that while I finish the report.”
“A sandwich sounds good. I'll come with you.”
Frankie frowned. “Johanna, I'm going to go crazy if you follow me everywhere. I'll be fine. I'm only going next door. We're in the middle of a busy strip mall, for God's sake!” She threw her hands up as she stomped across the dark beige carpet to her desk, which was angled to face Johanna's desk.
“Which could give Fellows the perfect opportunity to pop you and then slip away unnoticed.”
Frankie slammed her fist on her desk. “I refuse to be babysat!”
Johanna was startled. She jumped up from her desk chair and then walked to the front of Frankie's desk. She stood with her hands on her hips, shaking. “Maybe you aren't afraid, Frankie, but I am and I'll be dammed if I'll give Fellows a free shot at you. I don't like this intrusion on our lives any more than you do, but I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
Frankie balled her hands into fists. “He won't shoot me. He likes to torture his victims with knives, remember? He'd get no thrill otherwise.”
Johanna couldn't believe her ears. Frankie could be stubborn, but this went far beyond stubbornness. This definitely was a matter of life and death. Frankie's life was in jeopardy and her attitude was wearing on Johanna's nerves. “He could grab you in the blink of an eye. By the time the sheriff or police got here you could be long gone without a trace.”
Frankie's eyes darkened. “Are you kidding me? I'm not stupid! You'll have to do better than that, Johanna.”
Johanna's chest heaved and she let out a mournful sigh. “Frankie, someone's got to be helping him. Until he's caught, I'm not letting you out of my sight. Do you understand me?” Her lips quivered. “I'm scared. Okay, I'll admit it. Maybe you really aren't, but I am. I'm scared enough for the both of us.” Her eyes filled and she blinked. “This isn't some damned movie…this is real life. Until Fellows is caught, we have to constantly look over our shoulders.” Her lips quivered again. She sniffed as she tried desperately to keep her emotions under control, but after the visit with George and what had happened delivering the summonses, her nerves were on edge. She was losing control. Why couldn't Frankie just listen to reason for once?
Frankie was immediately at her side enclosing her in her arms. “I'm sorry, baby. I'm just so damned frustrated.”
Johanna sniffed. “I know, but you have to take precautions.”
The thick double plated glass office door suddenly opened and Kate Allen rushed inside. The women turned in Kate's direction. By the look on Kate's face, something was wrong. Johanna felt Frankie stiffen.
Kate's eyes did a quick sweep around the office, and then settled on them. “Afternoon, ladies. George sent me over to escort you two home.”
“We were going to work here for a couple more hours to catch up on a few things,” Frankie said. “Besides, we don't need an escort. We already promised George that we'd ride to and from the office together.” She nodded to Johanna. “In fact, we were just going to go next door to grab some sandwiches.”
Johanna noticed the worry etched on Kate's face. Kate wasn't one who easily hid her emotions. At least she couldn't hide it from Frankie and Johanna. They knew her too well. Her eyes scanned the office again. She was mentally taking note of everything. Johanna knew the drill well. Frankie and she always mentally took notes whe
never they were on a case. “What's wrong, Kate?”
Kate motioned toward the office door. “I'd start keeping the door locked at all times.”
Frankie lifted an eyebrow. “Might be bad for business,” she quipped.
The young deputy ignored her. “Are you two ready to leave?”
Kate was all business, not like her normal friendly self. Johanna's blood grew cold. “Frankie told you we haven't finished work, Kate, what's going on? Is there some new information on Fellows? Has he been spotted near here?” Johanna asked trying to control her emotions. “Is that it, Kate?” she anxiously asked.
She stood stiffly. “George is concerned after what happened this afternoon.” She shook her pretty blonde head. “I should have gone with you two.”
“Then you might as well tell George to deliver the summonses himself. If I'd been alone I still would have been able to take those punks down.” Frankie scowled. “I told George I don't need all of this added protection. Our home has the best security money can buy and we're carrying our weapons. There's nothing more we need. We'll be fine.”
“That still might not be enough, Frankie. He's slick. Please quit acting so damned tough. It's okay to accept help.” Her petite shoulders straightened.
Frankie's jaw slackened.
Johanna smiled inwardly. Now this was the Kate they knew. She might be a small petite woman, but Johanna had seen her in action. She could take down the biggest perp without missing a beat.
“You will be protected, Frankie. Whether you like it or not,” Kate stated. “Three women are dead,” she continued. “And I'll be damned if I'll let you be added to his count. Not on my watch.”
“Three women?” Johanna choked. “George told us two.”
Kate's jaw twitched. “This afternoon a woman's body was found in Brooklyn.” She looked at Frankie. “He's coming closer.”
Johanna trembled. “Was she—”
“I won't give you the details, but it was gruesome.”
“I thought his victims were being protected,” Johanna said stiffly. “How'd it happen if they were under police protection?”
Kate's forehead furrowed. “She was being protected. She'd gone to the apartment next door in her own building to visit a neighbor. She never made it back.” She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. “One door away. Think about it.”
Frankie's lips curled. “Obviously she wasn't being protected well enough,” she spat out. “How'd they not see him enter her building? Wasn't anyone posted inside of the building? Someone was sleeping on the job.”
“Police were posted at all the entrances and fire escapes. No one entered or left the building without the police knowing it.”
“Then how the hell did it happen? He had to have already been in the building waiting for her.” Frankie shook her head in disgust. “Or like I said, someone wasn't doing his job and dropped the ball. Now they're trying to cover their tracks making him seem cleverer than he is. He's probably sitting somewhere laughing at their ineptness.”
Kate's eyes narrowed. “No. The building had been thoroughly searched. All of the tenants checked out. Everyone is at a loss as to how he made his way inside unnoticed.” Her chin jutted out as she looked at Frankie. “No one dropped the ball.”
“Then someone should have been posted inside near her door.” Johanna swayed on her feet. “Why weren't they?”
“Johanna, the city didn't want to create a mass panic. The woman was aware that Fellows was out of prison. She was assured that she would be protected from him.”
Frankie grunted. “A lot of good that did her. I wonder as she drew her last breath, while that psycho was carving her up, if she was thankful for all the protection she was given.”
“So she was given a false sense of security,” Johanna said disgustedly. “I can't imagine what must have gone through her mind when she stood face to face with him knowing that her life was about to end at his hands.”
Frankie nodded. “Just what I was thinking.” She walked over to a wall, which held an array of modern art paintings and straightened one of the paintings. She stood facing the wall as though she was fascinated by the off white wall.
Johanna knew she was only calming herself. She walked over to her and laid a hand on her arm. “Frankie, I want Kate's protection. I don't want you to find yourself in the same situation.”
Frankie glanced at the tall artificial tree sitting in the corner before turning around. “What good did police protection do for his latest victim?”
Johanna had to admit that Frankie had a point. Something had gone terribly wrong and an innocent woman was dead. “I see your point. If the police can't protect his targets, then everyone on that list is just a sitting duck.”
Kate took her hands out of her pockets and held a hand up palm out. “Hold on, ladies—”
Johanna interrupted. “She went to her neighbor's apartment secure in the knowledge, or so she thought, that police officers were outside the building. As long as she was inside her own building she probably felt, rightfully so, that she had nothing to worry about as far as Fellows was concerned.” Johanna swallowed hard. “Instead she was murdered almost in front of their eyes. Have the officers posted there been questioned? One of them could be an ally to Fellows. I still think an accomplice could be a dirty cop.”
“It makes sense. That's the only way he's getting away with it.” Frankie slipped her arm through Johanna's.
“Look, the police aren't the enemy. Sometimes things happen. If it is a dirty cop, he'll be caught.” Her eyes narrowed. “You two are former police officers. Or have you forgotten?”
Johanna felt guilty for her outburst and tried to put herself in Kate's place. She couldn't begin to imagine the stress Kate was under. She was only doing her job and neither of them were making it easy for her. Then she realized that it went much deeper than that. They were friends. Kate wasn't only doing her job, but she was frightened for her friends.
“I'm sorry, Kate. I don't mean to snap at you. I'm just frustrated.”
“No apology necessary.” Kate ran a hand through her short hair. “You know the standard procedure. The officers are all under intense review as we speak. So far there is nothing to link any of them to Fellows.”
Frankie ran a hand through her hair. “This is nuts. How can this be possible? No one heard the woman scream or caught a glimpse of Fellows? That makes no sense.”
“No. No one heard or saw anything unusual before or after the attack. The victim was found in the basement. There was no sign of a struggle in the hallway. No one heard any screams or scuffles. It looks like she willingly followed her murderer to the basement.” Kate looked at Frankie. “He's slick. And you, Frankie, need to be on guard twenty-four-seven.”
“Who found her?” Frankie demanded. “Maybe that person is the accomplice.”
Kate shook her head. “The neighbor she'd gone to see. The victim had left her purse in her apartment. The neighbor discovered it a couple of hours later and went to return it to her. When she didn't answer her door, she went to the basement to see if maybe she'd gone down to do a load of laundry.”
Johanna was thoughtful. “It has to be someone the victim would trust enough to go down to the basement with. I doubt she'd willingly go with an elderly man…and especially a stranger.” She tossed her hair. “It would be absurd for a total stranger to come into the building and ask her to show him the basement. Besides, the police would have spotted him entering or leaving. A woman has to be helping him. But then again, why would anyone take a stranger, man or woman, to the basement?” Johanna asked. “I still think whoever is helping him, though, has to be a woman. Someone who would be friendly enough not to be feared.”
Kate nodded. “George has been going over this all day. Whoever is helping Fellows has us all baffled. He had no letters or visitors all those years he was in prison. Everyone, including his family, had apparently deserted him. If he has an accomplice, it has to be someone he met right after his release. Hi
s cellmate said he'd never mentioned anyone in all the years he knew Fellows. He was quiet…mostly stayed to himself.”
“Where did he go when he got out?” Frankie asked.
“He knew he couldn't go back to Bradford. His life would be miserable and he'd probably be run out of town if he did. He'd been given permission to move to a small rural area on the outskirts of Elkton. He mostly kept to himself and checked in as scheduled with his parole officer. He found work as grounds keeper for a cemetery and rented a tiny apartment. He seemed to be adjusting well, according to his parole officer, and kept his nose clean. But it didn't take long for his true identity to be known and once the residents of Elkton found out, they made Fellows' life a living hell, again according to his parole officer. They made it clear that he wasn't welcome, even though he'd never tried to socialize with the residents. He only went to the store when he needed groceries and he'd go at odd hours to avoid the locals. He lived a very secluded life.”
“He didn't deserve anything better,” Frankie said bitterly as she ran a hand through her dark hair. “He should have rotted in prison.”
Johanna squeezed her hand. “That goes without saying.” She studied the petite deputy. “So he ran.” Her eyes shifted. “He had to have been in contact with someone even though he'd received no letters or visitors while in prison. Do you think Fellows and his accomplice planned it that way for when he was eventually released?”
Kate sighed. “Thirty-five years is a long time for someone to wait to be contacted. It doesn't seem logical, Johanna.” She frowned.
“No,” Frankie interjected. “He met someone right after he was released. You know how some people are.” She rolled her eyes. “Some sicko that thinks Fellows has been railroaded and had made it his or her aim to help him upon his release.”
“Then why wouldn't this alleged person have made contact with Fellows during his imprisonment to offer support?” Kate asked. “You know, sent a letter of support or something.”
