Waiting, A Dangerous Game

by Faizal Rahim

  “When was the date of the report made?” It was Shirley’s turn to ask Aisha.

  “The first case is dated almost more than a year back whereas the last case is dated two months before Michelle Rogers was reported missing.” Aisha told Rossi and Shirley.

  “So we need to trace the receipts all the way back to those dates?” Shirley asked.

  “I don’t think so Shirley. Remember, you guys got to know about Michelle Rogers and Neola Ponchos and to some extent Amanda, only because suspect wanted to let you guys know about it. Michelle Rogers might not be his first victim, but I am pretty sure Michelle Rogers is the first victim that suspect wanted to catch your attention with. As what Rossi said, suspect would have meticulously planned everything before putting it into practice. I suggest tracing the receipts back to two weeks before Michelle Rogers went missing will be the best time frame. It might lesser than two weeks but to be safe, we can start filtering the receipts dated two weeks before Michelle Rogers was reported missing.”

  “Aisha has a point Shirley. You send a request to the Patrol Units to collect the receipts on our behalf. Let them know clearly what we need. I don’t want any screw up from them on this. In the meantime, I am going to go through our city’s records to see if there are any places currently under going constructions or maintenances. Once I have found out, I’m going to check on these places. I just hope the girl with suspect is still alive and I hope I don’t find her at any of these places.” Rossi was walking over to his desk to make the necessary phone calls.

  “While you two are at it, I am going to go through our records to see if any past murders were committed with the same MO. Suspect could be a copycat for all we know. If the records do pop up, I think the two of you should visit the scene of crime again to see if any clues could be gathered from those places.” Aisha took her files and waved goodbye to Rossi and Shirley.

  Shirley walked over to her desk and picked up the phone. She was waiting to get connected with the Patrol Unit’s Communications Department. While she was waiting for the call to go through, she looked at Rossi’s blackboard. The message from the suspect was staring away at her: I AM WAITING . . .

  Shirley looked at the message and told herself, you don’t have to wait for long. I’m going to get you.

  CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

  “THERE ARE ALMOST MORE THAN twenty locations under construction or maintenance. This city is getting smaller by the day.” Rossi was looking through the city’s map that he had printed from his desktop. Two hours back, Aisha had got back to Rossi and Shirley and suggested to them that they should also look for the four missing victims whose cases were similar to Michelle Rogers and Neola Ponchos.

  “If, I hope not, but if, the four missing girls are victims of suspect; do you suggest we still look for them at these construction and maintenance sites? I mean, they were reported missing at various times before Michelle Rogers right? For all we know, the construction and maintenance sites may have already been done up. What if our search concludes nothing at all?” Shirley didn’t seem optimistic.

  “What do you suggest then?” Rossi asked Shirley while still looking at the city’s map.

  “Maybe we should talk to the parents or guardians of these missing girls. See what they have to say. They might tell us something that we are looking for or it might not be anything at all. I just feel that it is better than chasing wild goose at the construction or maintenance sites.” Shirley saw her colleagues and fellow detectives entering Crime Investigation Unit. It must be morning already. How long have we been stuck here?

  “Let’s go back to Lake Victoria.” Rossi told Shirley.

  “Reason being…” Shirley asked. Rossi always seemed to be on a different page. It seemed to Shirley that whenever she said ‘x’, Rossi always came up with ‘y’.

  “I want to walk through the crime scene again.” Rossi answered Shirley.

  “Gabby and Forensics have already combed that place and nothing came up. What makes you think you are going to find something there?” Shirley was not fond of Rossi being sceptic of Gabriel but she knew at the same time that Rossi will not do any follow up unless he strongly believes that there might be a chance of finding a lead.

  “Go home and freshen up. I’ll see you at seven at the entrance of Lake Victoria. We will take a walk at the crime scene again.”

  “Aren’t you going back?” Shirley asked but Rossi seemed to be deep in thought. He did not respond to Shirley. Shirley gave a loud sigh and walked out from Crime Investigation Unit.

  CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

  SHIRLEY PARKED HER BLUE FORD at the basement car park of her apartment. She looked at herself in the rear view mirror. I look horrible. Shirley could not remember the last time she had a proper sleep. She could not decide whether she should sleep first or take a bath.

  There were a total of ten units at each floor. Shirley stayed on the eight floor of the apartment. She took the lift to the eighth level trying hard not to fall asleep inside the lift. When the lift door opened, Shirley thought she was dreaming. She closed her eyes shut and opened them again. This time, she knew she was not dreaming.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Shirley asked.

  “I’m waiting for you. What else?” Morris was standing in front of Shirley’s unit. He was holding a bouquet of roses on one hand and a bottle of red wine on the other.

  “How did you know I was coming back home? Are you stalking me?” Shirley jokingly asked Morris.

  “I called your office and they said you were heading back home. So I decided to give you a surprise. Are you going to make me stand here?”

  “What’s the occasion?” Shirley asked him.

  “Happy Birthday to you…” Morris sang.

  “Aw Morris… how did you know? I have forgotten already.” Shirley felt touched by Morris’s gesture.

  Morris gave Shirley the bouquet of roses. Shirley took them and smelled the roses.

  “They smell so good. Thank you so much Morris.” Shirley had drops of tears rolling down her eyes. The last person to give her flowers was her Daddy and that seemed like another lifetime.

  “Hey, are you alright? Did I screw up again?” Morris was worried.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong Morris. I just got reminded of my Dad. Wish he was here.”

  “I am sure he is always watching over you. Maybe he was the one who told me to get you roses.”

  Shirley laughed at what Morris said. She was glad that Morris took the effort to remember her birthday. She felt bad that even after rejecting Morris countless of times, he still took the effort for her.

  “Where are you bringing me for lunch?” Shirley winked at Morris.

  “You are not kidding right! You really meant that? You want me to take you for lunch?” Morris could not believe what he just heard.

  “Ha. Slow down handsome. I am not kidding. Lunch is on you today. Since it’s my birthday, I expect an expensive cuisine.”

  “What are we waiting for? Let’s go. We can have a glass of wine on the way to the restaurant.” Morris could not hide his excitement.

  “Don’t you want me to dress up for the occasion? I look all messed up.”

  “You look beautiful the way you are.” Morris told her.

  “Don’t lie. I know I look a mess. Wait for me at the basement. See you there in 30 minutes.”

  Thirty minutes later, Shirley met Morris at the basement. Shirley was wearing a black dress which was knee length. She wrapped a red scarf over her neck which complemented her brunette hair which was untied. She wore black heels to match her dress. She looked stunning as she walked towards Morris. Morris could not take his eyes off Shirley.

  “Stop ogling at me, will you?” Shirley was feeling a little embarrassed at how Morris was looking at her.

  “You are so beautiful.” He re
plied.

  Shirley did not say anything. She just smiled at Morris and was looking for his car.

  “Where’s your car?” Shirley could not find Morris’s car anywhere in the basement.

  “I told you it got stolen right. Don’t rub it in Shirley.”

  “I didn’t mean that. You wanted to buy a new car right. I thought you would have bought it by now.”

  “I still yet to get my insurance for the stolen car. So in the meantime, I would be happy to drive your car.”

  “If I let you drive my car, you know you are going to lose points with me right?” Shirley smiled mischievously at Morris.

  “I just hope I don’t end up losing all my points by the end of the day.” Morris laughed.

  Morris and Shirley walked over to Shirley’s blue ford. As they were entering the blue ford, Shirley’s mobile vibrated.

  “Hello…” Shirley answered and continued, “At my place… what… where… dear lord… be there in forty minutes.” She saw Morris looking at her disappointed.

  “I am so sorry Morris. I really feel bad doing this to you but I really need to go. Grumpy just called me. Patrol received a call from a worker who reported for duty at a renovation site saying that he found the body of a girl. Your guys went down to scene and they suspect it to be the body of the missing girl who was last seen with suspect.” Shirley was walking to the lift hurriedly. She had to change and be at the location in forty minutes.

  “Where was she found? How would patrol know it is the same girl?” Morris followed Shirley until the lift.

  “The girl’s body has dislocated bones and signs of being beaten up. Above all, the girl’s body is without hair. I need to rush down to the scene.” Shirley entered the lift and the lift doors were about to close when Morris stopped her.

  “You still have not told me where the body was found.”

  Shirley looked at Morris and was silent for a few seconds before she spoke.

  “The body was found at the house belonging to Head Investigations.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

  HEAD INVESTIGATIONS VISUALLY SEEMED DISTRAUGHT and was sitting all by himself. The whole of Crime Investigation Unit has come down to the house of Head Investigations. No one dared to walk past him or say anything to him. Everyone was hoping to see Deputy Head Investigations or Rossi soon to ease the situation. Few patrolmen were told to guard the house from any reporters and curious onlookers. Gabriel and team were busy as usual trying to find lost causes.

  The first one to enter the house was Deputy Head Investigations. He was a tall man who towered everyone in the house. He was big built with big defined muscles. One look at him and you knew he was a man full of experience and had a life dealing with hardcore criminals. First thing he did after he entered the house was to make presence.

  “Where is Rossi? Why isn’t he here yet?” Deputy Head Investigations asked one of the new Investigators who was present. The poor guy was so anxious about the situation that he could only blabber.

  “Speak your words louder young man! I cannot hear you. Do you need me to teach you how to speak in a clear tone?” Deputy Head Investigations was almost to a breaking point.

  “I called Rossi sir; he will be here anytime soon.” The poor guy’s partner answered for him, trying to cover up for his partner.

  “I did not ask you Jack. I asked him and I expect an answer from him. You do not want to make a black guy angry.” Deputy Head Investigations walked towards the new Investigator. The guy was still in a state of shock and he couldn’t move his limbs.

  “Looking for us?” Rossi asked from the entrance of the house. Shirley was right behind Rossi.

  “Where the hell have you been?” Deputy Investigations asked Rossi.

  “Investigating…” Rossi answered him. Rossi entered the house and saw everyone looking at Deputy Head Investigations and Rossi. Rossi saw Head Investigations sitting down on his couch oblivious to the situation in front of him.

  “Investigating? You seem to be taking your own sweet time and all I see are more dead bodies popping up. What kind of investigations are you doing?” Deputy Head Investigations was now starting at Shirley. He looked at her and said,” And you, why were you not in office? You expect me to search high and low for you?”

  Before Shirley could answer, Rossi intervened. “I was the one who told her to go home and refresh herself. If you got any problem with her, you take it out on me first as I am her partner and guider.” Rossi was not going to let Deputy Head Investigations win this argument. Rossi has never backed down from any confrontations, something which was always in his Italian blood.

  “Let it be Russell. They are here now.” Everyone turned to see who it was who said that. It was Head Investigations. He waved Rossi and Shirley to come over while asking Deputy Head Investigations to cool it down. Head Investigations looked like a man who didn’t sleep for hours.

  “There are journalists and news personnel waiting in front of your house. What do you want me to do with them Ashton?” Deputy Head Investigations asked Head Investigations.

  “Tell them, I had a fall and injured my back, that’s why the whole country’s here to visit me. Russell, make sure the patrol asses, don’t say a thing other than what you are going to say. I already have enough on my head. My wife is going to be so upset when she hears about this.” Head Investigations leaned back on his couch and held his head with his hands.

  Shirley wanted to suggest to Head Investigations that it would be better to let the journalist know what is happening as media can play a big part in their investigations. Head Investigations never liked talking to the media about cases as he felt that it only made his officers look awful when the story comes out in the papers. So before Shirley could say anything, Rossi signalled to her to keep silent.

  “He is getting too bold Rossi. There is no telling what he will do next. What’s the progress? I want results Rossi.” Head Investigations told Rossi.

  “We are doing all we can Ashton. We are making use of all the resources available to us. We are…”

  “I am giving you another two weeks. If you are not going to solve it, I am taking the two of you out of this case.” Head Investigations told Rossi his decision.

  “That’s absurd Ashton. You know Shirley and I have been working morning and night on this case. You can’t do this to us.” Rossi was clearly unhappy.

  “Apparently I can do that Rossi. Don’t forget who is in charge. I have my seniors to answer to. I can’t let them know that I am screwing up at a time when I’m about to retire. If you two can’t do the job in two weeks time, then you can forget it. This case is not yours anymore. Now instead of wasting your time over here, go and see Gabriel. He has something for you. Suspect thinks he is smarter than anyone of you here. Prove me wrong or you are no longer in the case.” Head Investigations stood up and went to make a phone call.

  “He can’t do that. We worked our asses off for this case. Did he forget that we almost caught him the other time?” Shirley was amazed at the lack of trust shown to Rossi and her.

  “We almost caught him. We caught him. That’s the difference and didn’t you hear anything he said? He said he apparently can do what he wants. So leave it at that. We got two more weeks so be happy about that. Let’s go and see the old ass Gabriel. I am starting to see him more often than my own father.”

  Rossi went after Gabriel with Shirley following behind. They saw Gabriel in the kitchen having a cup of coffee and some biscuits.

  “Are you not supposed to be working instead of taking a break?” Rossi asked Gabriel.

  “Screw you Rossi.” Gabriel answered back.

  “Ashton’s been spitting fire at you too?” Rossi asked Gabriel who nodded in return. Rossi was looking around the kitchen. Everything seemed to be in order. As far as Rossi knew, the renovation works were happening
at the second floor of the house. The first floor was still being used by Head Investigations and his family.

  “Where’s the guy who reported in the case? I don’t see him Gabby.” Shirley asked.

  “Prick was so shaken by the discovery that he almost had fits. We had to rush him to the hospital. Anyway he is not of much use. I talked to him and it was just any other day. He met Ashton’s wife at her workplace, took the spare key from her and came to the house. He did not see any signs of forced entry. He went straight up to the second floor as usual and was doing his work when he noticed the toilet door being closed. He didn’t recall closing the door when he left work the previous day. So he went to open the door and next thing he sees is the victim on the bathtub. Sorry Shirley for my expletive.”

  “It’s alright Gabby, I understand. Was anything found?” Shirley stopped halfway.

  “You want to know if any evidence was found. Nothing found as usual. I am tired of saying the same thing over and over again. I just hope I can say I found something worthwhile.” Gabriel was upset with himself.

  “You found traces of honey on the victims. That’s a new way of looking at things for us Gabby. You are helping us in a great way.” Shirley was trying to comfort Gabriel. Gabriel gave her a weak smile.

  “Now if all these emotional talks are over, can we see the victim now?” Rossi looked at Gabriel and Shirley.

  “Before you see the victim, the two of you take a look at this. I found it on the bathtub beside the victim.” Gabriel took out a piece of paper from his coat and handed it over to Rossi.

  Rossi opened up the paper and placed it on the table so that Shirley can read at the same time.

  Dear Detectives,

  Thank you for taking your time to read this letter despite your busy schedule in trying to catch me.

  First of all, let me congratulate the two of you for coming close to catching me the other time around. I know it was pure coincidence from your side. If you are wondering who this new victim is, have no doubts. This is the same bitch I took the other day from the nightclub. I enjoyed the pleasures with her the most compared to my previous catches. It was very exciting to see the two of you almost catching me. So needless to say, she suffered the most. Her screams made me do things even I thought were impossible to achieve.