SHADOW MAN - Angie Bartoni Case File #6 (ANGIE BARTONI CASE FILES Book 1)

by Marshall Huffman

  “What? All day, why?”

  “Seems that your daughter is a liar. Lying to the police is not in her best interest. Perhaps you should teach her that.”

  “Lying? What are you talking about?”

  “We asked if you were here and she said you were gone and she didn’t know when you would be back.”

  “Kari, is that what you told them?”

  “Why not? What good are they? Mom is dead and what good did they do then? Instead of coming around here now they should have been doing their job. I hate them all.”

  “Kari. Detective Bartoni is the one that caught them and helped put them away. If it wasn’t for her they might still be out there killing.”

  “I don’t care. I hate all of them,” she said.

  “It’s okay, Mr. Fisk. I guess I sort of understand where she is coming from,” I told him.

  “She has been angry for a long time. I was hoping that time would take some of the sting out of it. Unfortunately she just seems to grow more angry with time. I have her in anger management classes. She has become quite a hand full.”

  “I understand. Everyone reacts to a situation like that in their own way. Some can put it behind them, others simply cannot.”

  “Are you going to take her in for lying to the police?”

  “No. She has enough to deal with. What we need to do is talk to you for a few minutes if you don’t mind.”

  “Sure. Come on in,” he said, opening the door and letting us step inside his immaculate show house. It was definitely not a home, just a house. It emanated no warmth. No wonder the girl was so screwed up.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Fisk took us out back to the pool area and offered us drinks. I requested a Diet Coke and Dan asked for a Dr. Pepper. I swear that boy has absolutely no taste.

  “I know this is both difficult and somewhat unusual but I need to ask you a few questions.”

  “Sure. About the assholes getting knocked off? What can I tell you? Damn glad to see it happen. I’m just sorry it has taken so long. I was hoping they would get shanked in prison.”

  “So you don’t mind that some vigilante is killing these men?”

  “Mind? Hell no. I applaud him. I hope he gets them all,” Fisk replied.

  “But surely you see the dangers of someone taking the law into their own hands.”

  “Why? The law is a joke. The fact that they are even back on the street tells you all you need to know about the law. The law is only for servicing the criminals. The victims and their families are left to deal with it on their own. Do you think the courts care one iota about the victims? Hell no they don’t,” Fisk replied.

  “Still, we can’t have people running around extracting personal revenge. If we allow that we will become a lawless society.”

  “Would that be any worse than what we have now? You know the symbol for law, the lady holding the scales? Well I think she has her finger on the scales and the blindfold focused on the criminal. They have more rights than the victims or their families.”

  “Mr. Fisk I need to tell you that you are a potential person of interest in these cases.”

  “Big deal. See what you can find out about me and what I am up to. Investigate all you want. I frankly don’t give a rat's butt what you do. To some extent Kari is right. You are good at going after the victims but not too keen on catching the real criminals. Now if you have specific questions for me, I’ll be glad to come down to the station with my attorney. Right now, this conversation is over unless you intend to arrest me. Of course a false arrest with no probable cause will not go down well with me or my attorney.”

  “Mr. Fisk, this doesn’t need to be adversarial. We just have a few questions and then we will be on our way.”

  “Talk to my attorney. I want you to leave now. This conversation is over,” he said standing up and heading to the door.

  He held it open as we walked back outside. It closed quickly before I could say another thing.

  “Well that didn’t go so well,” Dan said.

  I shot him a ‘put a sock in it' look and he was smart enough to get it.

  **

  Jakes' place wasn’t as nice. It wasn’t a total pit but it was knocking on the door. The siding had areas of mold and the roof looked like it was at least 30 years old. One of the door's glass panes was broken.

  Dan did the honors of knocking. Jakes was hardly recognizable. He had grown a full beard, gained probably 50 pounds or more, and looked like he hadn’t seen the sunlight in years.

  “Mr. Jakes?”

  “Who wants to know?”

  “Detectives Roberts and Bartoni.”

  “Bartoni? Bartoni? You the same Bartoni that put Stillwell away?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Well hell, why didn’t you say so? Come on in. Want a beer or anything?” he asked.

  “Nothing for me,” I replied.

  “Something for you young feller?” Jakes asked.

  “No sir, I’m fine.”

  “So what do you want to talk about? Stillwell and his boys getting offed? Hell, you’re looking at a happy man. Whoever is behind this, I hope they get all the bastards.”

  “That seems to be the general sentiment,” I said.

  “So you’re talking to the other victim’s survivors? That means you must think it is one of us,” Jakes said.

  “We’re looking into that possibility.”

  “Why?”

  “Why? I don’t follow. Why are we looking into it or why are we looking at the victims' families?”

  “Both I guess. Just let whoever is doing it, finish it. It isn’t like they will continue on killing once they finish off those bastards. Let them get the job done and then put the damn case in the cold case file.”

  “Mr. Jakes, you know we can’t do that. What is happening is illegal. It is premeditated murder. We can’t just turn a blind eye to that.”

  “You ever watch the movie, ‘A Time to Kill?’ This is no different. Every one of them deserves to die. The more painful the better. I hope they beg for hours before they are dead. Do you know how long my Beverly was tortured and abused? Do you? I’ll tell you. Twenty-four hours. You think about that. Twenty-four hours of absolute hell. Do you honestly think I have any compassion for those animals? Hell I just wish I knew who it was so I could help.”

  “Mr. Jakes, I’m sure you don’t really mean that.”

  “The hell I don’t. I swear to God, if I knew who was behind this I would do everything in my power to help them get the last three. I won’t be happy until every last one of them is dead.”

  “You aren’t making this any easier. Mr. Jakes, I’m going to need to know where you have been every night for the last week. I will need details, times, and witnesses who can vouch for your whereabouts,” I told him.

  He just laughed.

  “Hell, that’s easy. I was in Tampa all last week at a convention for the Zoren Company. That’s who I work for. I have about two hundred witnesses that can vouch for me since I was a presenter on two of the nights. Here,” he said writing a phone number on one of his business cards.

  “This is my boss’s phone number. Call him and ask him where I was. Sorry Detective, you and your partner are barking up the wrong tree.”

  “And you have heard nothing about who could be behind this?”

  “I told you. Even if I knew for sure who it was I would never tell the police. Sorry, that’s just the way it is.”

  “I could always depose you. You would face jail time if you didn’t tell the truth.”

  “Oooh, I am so scared. Jail time. Hell, the way the courts are today it would only mean a slap on the wrist. I’m not afraid of your threats Detective. I appreciate the fact that you put the bastards in jail but I don’t owe you anything for doing your job and I sure the hell don’t owe the courts anything.”

  “Alright Mr. Jakes. We’ll check out your alibi with your boss but I may want to talk to you again.”

  “You know where to f
ind me,” he said showing us out.

  “Well that went just as well,” Dan said as we walked to the car.

  “These guys are really angry and honestly it is hard to blame them. I don’t condone what they are doing but I do understand it.”

  “What would you do?”

  “Meaning?”

  “If something like this happened to someone in your family.”

  “I would let the law handle it,” I told him.

  “Honestly?”

  “Hell I don’t know Dan. I don’t have anyone that something like that could happen to.”

  “What about your sister?”

  “Oh hell, she lives in New York.”

  “So what? What if someone abducted and tortured her? Would you let the law handle it then?”

  “Geez Dan, I would have to. I’m an officer of the law. I would have to do the right thing.”

  “Even if they got off on some technicality?”

  “You are asking an unanswerable question.”

  “No I’m not,” Dan pressed, “It is the same question these guys are facing. Whoever is doing this isn’t just going around murdering people for fun. They have a specific target and once they are done they will go back to being normal citizens.”

  “So you’re saying under special circumstances we should allow things like this to just go?” I asked.

  “No, what I am asking is what would you do in a similar circumstance?”

  “I guess the answer is I don’t know. I want to believe I would take the high road and let the law handle it. Would I? I honestly don’t know.”

  “There ya go. That’s how whoever is doing this arrived at this point.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “So basically you still don’t have anything, is that what you’re telling me?” the captain said.

  “That’s correct. Jakes' story checked out as did Fisk's. Miller is no longer capable of doing such a thing. The only thing we can do is to continue to look at the survivors during the day and watch Sanders, Peters, and James at night.”

  “You’re running out of time. I meant it when I said you had three days. Not four or five but three.”

  “Sir, I can’t help it if no one tries to kill the other three. It’s not like it’s my fault.”

  “Three days Bartoni. I don’t have the budget for more time than that.”

  “If we pull them off and someone gets killed we will get slaughtered in the papers.”

  “Not we, you. What I suggest you do is go get this guy and wrap the case up.”

  “Oh sure, why didn’t I think of that?” I shot back.

  “That’s why I’m a captain and you’re a detective. Now get out,” he said.

  Damn that man. There are times that I really, really like him and other times I want to rip his guts out. This was not a time of liking.

  “Who is next on your list?” Dan asked.

  “Honestly? I don’t have a clue where to look next. I guess a guy named Mark Myers. He was pretty vocal but I remember him as the all talk and no action kind of guy.”

  “We might as well check him out. What other leads do we have?”

  “Good point.”

  **

  Mark Myers was pretty much as I remembered him. Five eleven, maybe one ninety, good build. He had kept himself in reasonably good condition. His hair was a tad more gray but it didn’t detract from his overall good looks.

  “Mr. Myers. I’m...”

  “Yeah, Detective Bartoni and you’re her sidekick Tonto.”

  “Actually, Detective Dan Roberts,” Dan said.

  “Whatever. Look I don’t mean to be rude but I know why you are here and all I can tell you is good riddance to bad rubbish. Don’t go expecting me to help you find out who is doing this. I’m just grateful someone is doing it.”

  “You don’t seem surprised to see us.”

  “Nah, I got a phone call as soon as you left James Jakes. He called and told me you would probably be paying me a visit at some point. I’m honored to be so high on your list.”

  “It’s not intended as an honor,” I said tensely.

  “Still, for you to think I could be the one doing this makes me feel all tingly inside.”

  “So happy we could make your day. Since you seem to know what this is all about you must know that I am going to want to know where you have been the past week.”

  “I work from home. I’ve been right here and no, there is no one who can vouch for me all the time. Part of it for sure. I do a lot of conference calling so those times are available. The other times are just something you are going to have to forget about because no one can account for my whereabouts.”

  “Not even your company?”

  “I don’t see how. I don’t talk to them but once a week. I guess they can verify that but that’s about it. I can’t do what I can’t do. I can’t have anyone vouch for my constant whereabouts.”

  “So no one knows where you were at night either?”

  “Of course not. I stay at home but who can tell if I’m really here or not?”

  “Would you be willing to take a polygraph test about your whereabouts on specific dates?”

  “No. I don’t see any reason to do that. Polygraphs aren’t admissible in court unless they've changed the law recently. I don’t see any advantage for me in taking one.”

  “It could help clear you as a suspect.”

  “Ha. Like that would help. Those polygraphs are nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Detective, the answer is a definite no.

  “You’re not doing yourself any favors by declining,” I told him.

  “Big whoop. I don’t care one little bit what you guys think.”

  “Hey, a little respect,” Dan said taking a step towards him.

  “Easy dude. I don’t want to have to kick your butt.”

  “You know what? Let’s just throw down and see how it all shakes out.”

  “Sure and get arrested for hitting a cop. I don’t think so.”

  “No cop stuff. Just you and me. Let’s settle this the old fashion way.”

  “Forget it Rambo. I know how you guys work.”

  “Easy Dan. He is just being his usual jerk self. He was like that at the trial as well. Acting all tough but he is actually a coward.”

  “Hey bitch, you can say what...”

  He never finished the sentence. Dan had him by the throat and was shoving his knee in Meyers' groin.

  “Don’t use that kind of language. Do you understand? If you do I will rip your throat out. Got it?”

  Meyers shook his head.

  “Good. Now tell Detective Bartoni you are sorry.”

  “Sorry,” he croaked.

  “I accept your apology. Now I still want as much information as you can provide about your comings and goings.”

  “Okay,” he squawked.

  Dan was slow to anger but once he did he was explosive. I wasn’t worried about Meyers complaining. He wasn’t the type who wanted us to come down on him again.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  We were just about ready to go on stakeout when the phone rang.

  “Hey Angie, Ben here.”

  “Hi Ben. Listen I just have a second. We have a stakeout tonight.”

  “Well this won’t take but a minute. I found a really nice Austin Healey 3000 that I thought you might be interested in.”

  “Really? I love those things. The problem is they are too expensive.”

  “I believe I can get one a lot cheaper than you think. I have a line on one that a widow has had in her garage for ten years ever since her husband died. She is going to an assisted living facility and is getting rid of the car.”

  “So it would need some money put in it to make it drivable?”

  “Probably. Gas lines flushed, breaks worked on, probably a few seals but it is a heck of a car. I went and looked at it.”

  “Solid?”

  “Rock solid. The guy used it as a show car. It is really detailed well. His wife has kept it c
overed in the garage all this time.”

  “What does she want for it?”

  “She said just make her an offer.”

  “Hell Ben. I don’t know what to offer her. I have always wanted one of those but I see them listed from twenty-nine thousand to a hundred and twenty thousand. I don’t know what a fair offer is.”

  “Well, a fair offer is what you can afford and what she is willing to take. As long as you both agree that is what the car is worth.”

  “I understand that but I still don’t know what to offer.”

  “Can you afford thirty thousand?”

  “Not really. Maybe twenty-five thousand. No one is going to sell an Austin Healey 3000 for that price.”

  “How do you know? Let me make the offer and see what she says. I’ll make it dependent on your looking at the car. I will put a deposit down if she is willing to take the twenty-five grand.”

  “I can put the deposit down. You don’t need to do that.”

  “It would be easier for me to do it. I’ll be there and can sort of lock up the deal right on the spot. All you will have to do is decide if you want it,” Ben insisted.

  “Ben, it’s sight unseen. How can I say yes without at least taking a look at it?”

  “I take it you don’t trust my judgment,” he said.

  Ouch. That was a pretty vicious comeback but I guess if the shoe was on the other foot I might feel the same.

  “Okay. Look it over and make the offer. I can go as high as thirty thousand if I have to and you feel it is worth it.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m a good at dickering on price. Besides I’m the first one to find out about it.”

  “Okay. I have to run. Let me know how it turns out. And thanks.”

  “No problem. Glad to help,” he said.

  “I take it that was your main man,” Dan said.

  I gave him one of my hairy eyeball looks that stopped him in his tracks. That was the last thing he said about that subject.

  **

  “What happens if we don’t turn up anything tonight? The captain seemed pretty adamant that he was pulling the other guys after this shift,” Dan asked.

  “Then it is just you and I. Protective custody is out of the question so all we have is the two of us.”