The three of us were just heading out when McGregor corralled us.
“There has been a shooting. Maynard Jones the SWAT team captain was shot. It looks like an ambush.’
“That can’t be a coincidence, first Wilkerson and now Jones. Someone is seeking revenge on the SWAT team. We need to find the connection,” I said.
“Then get going and quit talking,” he said.
We headed downstairs and I checked out an SUV so we would have ample room for the three of us. It was a long drive and the traffic didn’t help. It was almost an hour before we pulled up to the mass of humanity milling around.
Of course the news people were there along with a hundred or so rubberneckers. We fought our way through the crowd and slipped under the yellow tape. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve walked under that stuff, I would be a millionaire.
It took some doing but we finally found the assistant team leader. He looked shaken which is unusual for these guys.
“Are you Rawlings?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m Rawlings.”
“I’m Detective Bartoni. This is Detective Roberts and Brock.”
I didn’t differentiate that Brock was a PI. I figured why confuse the issue and besides, it made no difference.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“It was an ambush, pure and simple. We were told it was a hostage situation. We put listening devices on the windows and could hear voices. When Maynard and Jake, our negotiator, went out to talk to them they shot Maynard. Once would have been bad but they nailed him three times.”
“Is he still alive?”
“As far as I know. We haven’t heard different.”
“They didn’t shoot him in the head?” Garrett asked.
“No. Hip, knee and elbow.”
“Ah,” Garrett said.
“What?” I asked.
“They didn’t want him dead. They want him to suffer same as with Wilkerson. He could have killed her any time but he wanted to make it last.”
“Back up a second,” Rawlings said, “What is this about Jane?”
“She was abducted. Someone dropped her in the middle of the reservoir with an anchor around her feet. Lucky for her a citizen saw it and saved her,” I told him.
“Man. We had no idea where she was. Maynard was really mad that she wasn’t here. She didn’t answer her phone and he was seething,” Rawlings told us.
“Kind of hard to do that and keep your head above the water,” I replied.
“What about the other guy?” Dan asked.
“Jake? Nothing. They didn’t even try to hit him from what I could tell. He was just standing there and Maynard is the only one that took the slugs,” Rawlings said.
“Where did the shots come from?” Garrett asked.
“That third building over there,” he said pointing.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“Lance from CSI said they found some scuff marks where the gun had rested.”
“Humm,” was all I uttered.
“Look, I need to go check on Maynard,” Rawlings said.
“You do what you have to do. We will go over and see what Lance has found,” I told him.
“We aren’t going to wait for the official report?” Garrett asked.
“She has a sweet spot for Lance,” Dan chimed in.
“Knock it off jerk-face,” I said turning and poking him in the chest with my finger.
“See,” he said.
I could absolutely strangle that boy sometimes. He just can’t keep his nose out of my private life. Man, he irritated me.
“I can’t wait to meet this Lance guy,” Garrett said.
“That’s enough. Both of you, just stop,” I said raising my voice.
My face was turning red and I didn’t even know why. Lance was a cop and I don’t date cops so why was I letting them get to me? It finally dawned on me. Men are pigs.
***
The assassin smiled as the first bullet tore into the knee of the SWAT man. He went down as if someone had kicked his leg out from under him. The second shot into his pelvis was meant to inflict as much damage as possible. The last one was so he would never be able to use his right arm again.
It had been so easy it was like stealing candy. He had searched for the perfect spot for over a week before he found a tall enough building that overlooked a few private homes.
The rest was simple. He had gone into the house late at night and set up the amplifier, phone and microphone. All that was left was to call in the tip and wait. Sure enough, the SWAT team rolled up and there was his target as big as life.
His only real concern at this point was that the Wilkerson woman had lived. She could describe what he looked like. While it wasn’t a major concern, it was a lose end that he needed to tidy up.
After he had made the shot that effectively ended the career of Maynard Jones, he had gotten out of the area quickly. He was determined to finish the job with Jane Wilkerson.
He drove to the Hospital and strolled around inside until he found a utility closet. He quickly jimmied the lock and slipped inside. Among the usual sheets, pillow cases and other items he found a janitor’s uniform. It was slightly too big for him but he rolled up the pant legs. No one looks at the janitor anyway.
He gathered up an armful of toilet paper and slipped back into the hall. He stopped at the first men’s room and pretended to change the rolls of paper.
He never hurried. Working steadily, he went from floor to floor. He would look in each room and then go on to the next one acting like he was just doing his routine job.
It was on the fourth floor that he found Jane Wilkerson. He glanced in and saw that she was asleep. Quietly he slipped into the room and closed the door. He placed the rolls of toilet paper on the floor next to the bed.
He had a razor sharp garrote with wooden handles on each end. He grabbed her by the hair, yanked her head up and slipped it over her head. Her eyes opened and she immediately recognized her attacker. Before she could scream he yanked the two handles as hard as he could. Blood immediately started seeping from the wire as he continued to keep the pressure on. She tried to flail and make him loosen his grip but it was no use. Finally a spray of blood covered the pillow as he cut through her carotid artery.
Her eyes rolled back and she dropped her hands. He continued to pull the wire as tightly as he could. When he was sure she was dead, he loosened his grip. Her head was nearly decapitated from the garrote. He pulled it from around her neck and took off the janitor’s uniform. He washed the garrote in the sink and placed it in his pocket before opening the door and looking out.
He could see two nurses headed his way so he slipped out and walked the other direction. When he got to the stairs he went down them two at a time and out the exit. Within a minute of killing Jane Wilkerson, he was starting his car and driving out of the lot.
***
We got the call about Wilkerson as we were driving back to the station. It would be safe to say we were more than a little shocked.
“What the hell?” Dan exclaimed.
“I hate to sound like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but who is this guy?” Garrett asked.
“How in the hell is he getting around so fast and how does he know where these people are? Something is rotten about this whole damn thing,” I replied.
“So he just walked into the hospital, went up to her room and almost cut her head off and no one saw or noticed him?” Garrett said.
“Apparently.”
“Is he invisible?” Dan asked.
“To us he is. We still don’t know what he looks like. She was going to meet with the sketch artist this afternoon,” I informed them.
“Well isn’t that just great,” Dan said.
“Day late and a dollar short,” Garrett chimed in.
“Why didn’t they have police protection on her?” Dan asked.
“That, my boy, is a really good question. There should have been someone guarding
her,” I said.
“What does that tell us?” Garrett asked.
“Hell if I know,” Dan replied.
“It means we have someone inside the police working with this guy,” I replied.
“No way Angie,” Dan protested.
“Really?”
“No one is going to help a crazy man go around killing cops. Certainly not if they work in the police department,” Dan still insisted.
“Then you explain how all of this is happening? How does he know the patrol route? Why was there no protection on Wilkerson, where the SWAT team would be. I’m telling you right here and now, as I have suspected all along, he is getting inside help.”
“Oh Lord. Please tell me she is wrong,” Dan said turning to Garrett.
“Hey, don’t look at me. I thought she was wrong too but now I’m not so sure. I don’t believe in coincidence and like she said. Something doesn’t smell right.”
***
The three of us traipsed into the captain’s office. That creates two problems. First, the captain is very territorial. He invites people in or summons them but he really hates it when someone just barges in. The second problem is simply one of space. The office isn’t much bigger than a postage stamp to begin with and with his oversized desk and an old leather couch, there isn’t much room. It can hold three sitting as long as you don’t mind being close.
He laid his pen down, folded his hands across his stomach and looked at us over his reading glasses. He just waited.
“Well?” he finally said.
“Captain, I know you don’t believe me but don’t you realize now that we need to re-think this whole someone on the inside is helping business?” I started.
I saw him roll his eyes.
“Someone abducted Wilkerson and tried to kill her. Fortunately for her, Doctor Johnson was able to save her. She is the only one who could describe him and she practically gets decapitated while in the hospital. How could that happen? Then there is Jones. He was shot less than an hour and a half earlier. How did the assassin know where the SWAT team was going be and how did he get it set up?” I continued.
“Was Wilkerson shot?” McGregor asked.
“What? No. You know she was dumped in the reservoir.”
“Was Jones shot with the same weapon?”
“We don’t know yet. It just happened an hour or so ago.”
“So you don’t really have anything new to go on; is that what you are telling me.”
“Come on captain,” I said angrily, “You know damn well they are all connected.”
“And your proof is?”
“They are all cops, damn it.”
“Back up a minute Bartoni. The first shots were fired at you and Dan if I am not mistaken. How are you connected to all of this? I said before that you do not do routine patrols so why did he shoot at you?”
“I don’t know. I think he was just…”
“Stop,” he said slamming his hand on the desk. “You think. You think. I’m asking you what you know, not what you think,” he said.
“Dennis,” Garrett said, “She may have a point.”
It was totally still in the room. Dennis? Hell, I had forgotten that was his first name. Everything just says Captain McGregor. Now Garrett was calling him by his first name. Dan and I kept looking straight ahead.
“Well Garrett, that is comforting but it still doesn’t mean we have one of our own helping some scumbag kill other cops. Have you ever heard of such a thing happening?”
“No, I can’t say that I have, but there is always a first time, if there is a compelling enough reason.”
“Listen to me all three of you. If you find a common link I’ll let you tear this place apart. But until then I am not about to let you get everyone all up in the air and looking over their shoulders every time you come around. I am not about to have you investigating our own personnel. Angie, you make sure you understand that. I know how suborn you are. Find a connection and I’ll let you do whatever it takes, until then, I have a police department to run so how about getting your butts off my couch and back where you belong,” he said sternly.
Why had he singled me out? Goodness, surely he didn’t think I would just barge ahead. I know how to follow rules.
“You are going to do what the captain said?” Dan asked.
I glanced at him to see if he was being funny. He wasn’t.
“Up to a point,” I replied.
“Oh Lord,” he said shaking his head.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I was glad it was the weekend. It had been one hell of a week and I needed some down time. I finally dragged my butt out of bed, went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and took a good look at the woman staring back at me in the mirror.
I certainly wasn’t getting any younger. The ticking of my biological clock was louder every day. I was starting to develop lines around my eyes and that is certainly something I didn’t like. I was going to have to take better care of my skin if I didn’t want to look like an old hag by the time I was forty-five.
I looked at my hands. My once nice fingernails were long gone. Most were ragged where I had chipped them doing something in my chosen line of work. I can’t remember the last time I actually filed and painted them. We won’t even mention my toenails.
What I needed was some Angie time where I could pamper myself. The problem was if I did too much I would get a load of crap from Dan or the captain so it always had to be subtle.
I sat down backward on the toilet and looked into my make-up mirror. I was surprised when the light came on. It had been so long. Ugh, using the magnifying side was a bad thing to do. The lines around my eyes looked even worse. I saw two long hairs on my chin. Gross. I grabbed the tweezers and plucked them out along with a couple that had sprouted between my eyebrows.
Looking at myself, I made a major decision. I needed to take better care of my skin. At the breakfast counter I made a list of things I needed to purchase to improve my skin. Cleanser, exfoliate, moisturizer, sunscreen, and some make up; things that I hadn’t used in quite some time. Well, if I was going to go this far, I might as well make a real change. I got dressed, gulped down a Diet Coke and headed out before I lost my nerve.
***
“What the…” McGregor said stopping dead in his tracks.
“Morning boss.”
“Angie?”
“Well yeah. Who else would be sitting here?”
“I know but …”
“What?”
“What have you done to yourself?”
“Nothing much. Why?”
“Nothing much? Holy smokes, I hardly recognized you,” he stammered coming over to look at me.
“I decided to make a little change.”
“A little change is when you put on some lipstick. This is…it sure isn’t a little change.”
“You don’t like it?” I asked.
“It is just so not you. You look great, terrific in fact, but it is such a shock.”
“It was time for a change.”
“That is certainly some change,” he said.
He stopped halfway to this office, turned, and looked at me again. I wasn’t sure what to think. A few minutes later Dan walked up the stairs and immediately headed to the break room for his coffee. He stopped halfway there, spun around, and looked at me.
“Geez, is that you Angie.”
“Yeah Dan, it’s me.”
“What have you done?”
“I had my hair cut and highlighted. I just got tired of pulling it back in a ponytail all the time.”
He stood there looking dumfounded.
“Dan?”
“Yeah. It takes some getting used to. I don’t mean it like that. You look fantastic but…I just don’t know what to think. What brought all this on?”
“Just wanted a change.”
“Lipstick is a change.”
“That’s what the captain said. I wanted a little more than that.”
“You certainl
y did,” he said before heading off to get his coffee.
When he came back, instead of plopping down he just stood there looking at me. It was making me very self-conscious.
“Wow. I really do like it. You look ten years younger. Oops. I don’t mean it like that but…hell you know what I mean. You look great.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you approve,” I replied.
We had just finished that conversation when Garrett came up the stairs. He squinted his eyes and walked over to my desk.
“Angie?”
“Holy smokes people, of course it’s me.”
“But.”
“I know, I look different.”
“Not just different but like a different woman. You look fantastic.”
“So the old Angie was butt ugly; is that what you are saying?”
“Oh hell no. I just meant I really like the change. Wow. You look really, really nice.”
“Wow,” Dan said looking up at me.
“Wow,” Garrett replied.
“Wow,” Came the booming voice of our captain from his office.
If I had known it would make this big an impact I would have done this years ago. I hate to admit it but all the attention was kind of flattering.
“So what is on the agenda for today?” Garrett asked.
“I understand that Cain gets released tomorrow. We need to talk to him one more time and see if he has any insight or can fill in any of the missing blanks,” I said.
“You don’t need me for that,” Garrett said, “I think I will read through the files of all the officers involved and maybe poke around in their backgrounds a little.”
“Be careful. Don’t let McGregor find out. He has already warned us about stirring things up.”
“Hey, I’m a PI. I can do things that you can’t.”
“Not in McGregor’s house,” I warned him.
***
“Two more to go.”
“Alright. I want to finish this up quickly. They may not have put it all together yet but at some point it will click and then the pieces will start to fall in place. I want to be long gone before that happens.”
“I understand. Ames Parker and Calvin Krishner are the last two. Ames is retired and lives in Carmel, Indiana. Krishner is working narcotics now. I don’t know exactly where he will be but here are his known CI’s. Maybe one of them will know what he is up to. Just be careful. All snitches are loose lipped.”
Payback (Angie Bartoni Case Files Book 13) Page 10
