DEAD AIM - Angie Bartoni Case File #3 (Angie Bartoni Case Files Book 1)

by Marshall Huffman

  “Ready when you are.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  When Alice woke up she couldn’t grasp what was happening. She tried to move but something was all wrong. She was totally disoriented. Everything was upside down. It took her several seconds to realize she was hanging upside down by her ankles.

  “Hey, what...”

  “Ah, you’re back. Glad you could join me,” a voice from someplace said but she couldn’t locate it.

  “Who are you? What are you doing?”

  “All in good time. All in good time, Alice.”

  “You know me?”

  “Of course. You are very popular at all the parties on campus. You have quite a reputation you know.”

  “Look, I don’t know what you want but you don’t have to do this. I’m pretty easy to get along with.”

  “Really? Why do you think you are here?”

  “You know.”

  “No, what?”

  “Sex. You want to rape me.”

  “You are so wrong. Alice from what I hear getting in you pants isn’t much of a challenge.”

  “That’s a lie. I’m not a slut.”

  “Could have fooled me and probably half the campus. Besides that is not why you are here.”

  “I don’t understand. Look, let me down and let’s talk. I won’t try anything I promise.”

  She could hear him laughing and it didn’t sound good. He was crazy and she knew she was going to have to be very careful with what she said.

  “Is this about money? I mean my dad has some money but he is hardly what you would call rich.”

  “Money. Sex. Want to try again?”

  “Just tell me what you want. I’m getting sick, hanging like this. Please let me down.”

  “Can’t. It would spoil my experiment.”

  “Experiment? What are you talking about? What kind of experiment?”

  “I’m going to give you the privilege of testing out my new invention. A revolutionary new medical marvel.”

  “Look. I don’t know what you are talking about but I don’t want to be an experiment for anyone or anything,” Alice said.

  “I don’t think I asked if you wanted to be. It’s a moot point. You’re here and I’m just about ready.”

  “Please. Look, there are other ways of doing this. I can talk to my dad and he can set you up with a chance to do a real demonstration of your new invention. With documentation you could get rich,” she told him.

  “Alice, Alice, Alice. I am not stupid. I would really appreciate it if you didn’t act like I was. You would go immediately to the police and tell them some crazy man captured you and wanted to use you as a test. Don’t make me angry or it will be very unpleasant for you.”

  “I know you’re not stupid. Anyone who can find a better way to help the medical field has to be very smart. But just doing this to me won’t get you discovered. It has to be done under proper conditions,” she said trying to reason with him.

  “Maybe next time. I wouldn’t want to go public without testing it now would I?”

  “Please. Don’t do this. I can’t tell anyone who you are. I haven’t even seen you.”

  He stepped in front of her and bent down to look into her eyes.

  “See. I’ll bet even upside down you would be able to recognize me. It wouldn’t take you long to identify me.”

  “Why are you doing this? I never did anything to you.”

  “Well Alice, I guess it was fate. I was there and suddenly you just came along, stoned to the gills. I didn’t even plan it. You were just at the right place at the right time. It had to have been fate.”

  “Please. Don’t. Please,” she begged.

  He was gone for a few moments then suddenly reappeared. He had a large pair of scissors in his hand.

  “No. Oh please. No, no, no,” she wailed.

  He slid the scissors in the top of her blouse and started cutting it off. When he finished he cut off her slacks. He stood back and looked.

  “I think it would be better if you had nothing on,” he said and cut through her bra and panties. She hung there naked.

  “Why are you doing this? Please. It’s not too late to stop this. You haven’t done anything to hurt me. Not really. Please just stop,” she pleaded with him.

  “Yes. That’s much better,” was all he said.

  The blood was rushing to her head and she was feeling dizzy when he came back.

  “Now, you will feel some pressure at first. Maybe a little prick. It shouldn’t amount to much. I am going to give you a numbing agent to help with the insertion.”

  “What are you talking about? What insertion?”

  “Why my new invention of course.”

  “What invention?”

  “My revolutionary chest drain. Well, actually it does a lot more than that. I am hoping to develop a universal drainage tool that can be used in various situations.”

  “You’re crazy. You can’t just shove something like that in me. Stop this. This is crazy.”

  “Now, now. Everyone that invents something new has people that think they are crazy. It goes with the territory,” he told her.

  “Ouch,” she suddenly cried out.

  “Oh quit being such a baby. That was just a little shot. You want me to forget the numbing agent?”

  “No, I want you to stop this and let me down.”

  “Not going to happen Alice. We have come too far. We are kindred spirits from this point on.”

  “Kindred spirits? Are you nuts? We have nothing even remotely in common. Let me down,” she screamed at him.

  “How does that feel,” he said as if he hadn’t heard her, “Numb?”

  “Hell no.”

  “Really? Humm. I have cut a small opening just under your thoracic cavity. Not very big. Just a few millimeters. See you are numb. Now this next part may be a little uncomfortable for a few moments but I’m pretty sure it will pass.”

  “Stop,” she screamed.

  “Oh for heaven’s sakes, I haven’t even started yet.”

  “You will kill me. Please. Stop. Don’t cross that line. You will be a murderer,” she pleaded.

  “Now Alice, I told you, we have already passed the point of no return. Let me know if this hurts,” he said.

  He had a long thin spike that looked like an oversized needle that was three feet long. It had a clear tube attached to one end. He started shoving the point under her ribs up toward her heart.

  She screamed as she felt the point slicing through her chest. At some point she fainted which he was thankful for. He was tired of her whining. What a little baby. He opened the clamp that held the tube closed and blood started flowing out into a gallon jug attached to the other end.

  He watched fascinated. She stiffened once and her eyes popped open.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. It was almost a whisper.

  “I think you would be pleased to know I think this is going to be a huge success. I am very pleased,” he said.

  “I hope you go to hell,” she said and closed her eyes.

  “What the...” he suddenly said, “Why isn’t more coming out? What’s wrong?”

  He started wiggling the needle around trying to jab another spot to get the blood flowing.

  “What?” he screamed. “I don’t understand. Everything was going so well. What the hell is wrong?”

  “He pulled the needle out and then moved it over an inch and shoved it back up into her chest. Nothing. He yanked it out again and again, trying to find another spot that would drain the rest of her blood.

  He sat down on the floor and looked at the gallon container. It was only a little over half full. This was wrong. His invention was perfect. Something had to be wrong with her, he decided.

  Okay. No problem. He would refine his technique, maybe make a few changes to the invention and then try again. He let the lifeless body of Alice drop to the floor. Now all he had to do was get rid of her. Not a problem. None at all.

  CHAPTER SEVE
NTEEN

  “Where do you want to start?” Dan asked as I pulled out of the parking lot.

  “Let’s take a look at the guy who doesn’t understand what no parking means.”

  “Name's Bud Moore. Lives in Pine Wood Estates.”

  “Pine Wood Estates? That’s a trailer park.”

  “Doesn’t say.”

  “Off of West Washington?”

  “That’s the one,” Dan replied.

  “Ever wonder why trail parks have such fancy names? Pine Wood Estates. A trailer. Wow, that’s some estate alright.”

  “Geez Bartoni. Pine Wood Trailer Park doesn’t sound to inviting. It’s their way of compensating.”

  “Yeah, like that really helps. You pull up and go ‘hey look', estates. That will sure fool people.”

  “You’re in a grumpy mood today,” Dan muttered.

  “I just want to get this guy before he kills again. I don’t think we have heard the last of our vampire or whatever the hell he is.”

  “Up here on the left,” Dan said, pointing to the sign that said ‘INE WOOD ES ATES’. Yep, that will really fool people.

  “Number 1117.”

  We pulled up in front of a pretty rundown trailer. Part of the siding was missing on one corner. An old pickup truck was parked on the concrete pad. It had a carport but one leg support had a pretty good dent in it.

  “Bud Moore, right?” I asked.

  “That’s our guy.”

  We got out and walked up to the door. The glass had a long crack in it. I was hesitant to knock very hard, I didn’t want it to fall out. I unholstered my weapon just in case.

  “Who are you?” a big burly guy in nothing but shorts said, flinging the door open.

  “Detective Bartoni and Roberts, IPD. You’re Mr. Bud Moore?”

  “IPD? Now what?”

  “Now what? You get a lot of people from the police here?”

  “A fair share. Someone is always pissing and moaning about something. They call the cops if you even look at them crossways. So why detectives this time?”

  “Do you own a 1987 Chevy Blazer?”

  “Aw crap. Don’t tell me it’s another fine for parking at IUPUI.”

  It pronounced it like most Hoosiers. Uh-e-poo-e.

  “So that’s a yes?” I said.

  “My daughter’s car. She goes to school there. She works full time then tries to beat feet over to the college. She is usually late so she parks wherever. She is costing me a bundle in fines and towing fees.”

  “So she drives the car?”

  “Yeah. I let her use it so she can get to work and school. She is trying real hard to get an education. I just hope she gets a good job once she gets finished.”

  “Do you ever drive over to the college?”

  “I’ve dropped her off a few times when the Blazer wouldn’t start. That’s about all. No, that’s not true. I had to go jump start her after one of her late night classes.”

  “When was this?” I asked.

  “Don’t remember right off hand. Last winter sometime. During that real cold snap we had. January I think.”

  “Alright Mr. Moore. Thank you for your time. I don’t think we have the right vehicle,” I said.

  “What’s this all about?”

  “We are investigating a murder and a red Chevy Blazer was possibly seen at the time. We are just checking out leads.”

  “The girl at the college. I heard about that. Made me real nervous about Cindy. She has some late night classes and I don’t much like it but she has to do what she has to do.”

  “Thank you for your time,” I said as we headed back to the car.

  “Seemed like a nice guy,” Dan said.

  “I take it back about what I said about the trailer park. It’s not where you live but what you are like. Seemed like a good person and father. My bad.”

  “Gosh, I never thought I would hear you say something like that?”

  “Like what? I didn’t say anything. Anything that you had better repeat. Get my drift?” I told him.

  “Uh, yeah. I get it.”

  “Next on the list?”

  “James Pointer. Lives on West New York Street.”

  “That’s not far from here. Pretty close to the river as well. Let’s go visit Jim.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “Mr. Ashton. I would like a word with you after class.”

  “I’m a little short on time. How long will it take?”

  “As long as it takes.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  Terrence Ashton took his usual seat and opened his laptop. Now what, he wondered. Professor Hilton was always on his butt about something.

  The professor started exactly as the clock struck eleven. He never started one second before or one second after. Always right on time. Of course he never let them out early either. Everyone knew by now, you didn’t even start to put your things away until the clock hit 11:50.

  He would always save something important until the last few seconds of class to make sure you were paying attention throughout the entire lecture. He had an uncanny knack for calling on people just as they were starting to drift off or daydream.

  In spite of this, his classes were always full. Even the least motivated ended up learning something from his classes. He had a way of explaining that actually made sense to the students.

  As usual at exactly 11:50 he ended his lecture. Terrence loaded up his backpack and decided to get it over with as quickly as possible.

  “Professor.”

  “Ah, Mr. Ashton. I would like you to follow me to my office.”

  “Sir. I have to get to work pretty soon.”

  “Yes. I believe you're scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today. That should give you ample time,” Professor Hilton said and turned and walked off.

  ‘How in the hell did he know that?’ Terrence wondered. Did he actually call and check on his schedule? How did he even know where I worked?’

  “Please, take a seat,” the professor said tossing his notes on the desk and taking his seat behind it.

  “Mr. Ashton. Would you mind opening that window behind you?”

  “Uh, sure,” Terrence said and stood to open the window. It slid up easily.

  “Nice view don’t you think?”

  Terrence looked out. It was a nice view of the Riverwalk and White River.

  Terrence stared out the window for a few seconds before he turned back to face the professor.

  “I sit here at times just looking out the window and watching the world go by. It’s very peaceful.”

  “I’m sure it is. It’s a nice view.”

  “Yes. One of the very few perks of my job.”

  “Yes sir. What did you want to see me about?”

  “Oh yes. That,” he said looking out the window again.

  “Your father is Bentley Ashton isn’t he?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Bentley Ashton the third actually I believe.”

  “That’s right. Why?”

  “He owns several construction companies along with heavy equipment production facilities.”

  “I don’t know everything he owns but, yeah, it’s a lot.”

  “Here, let me show you something,” the professor said, pulling a camera out of one of his desk drawers. “This is really quite something. It has a 300mm built in lens and the ability to take pictures in extremely low light conditions. Sometimes when I can't sleep, I’ll come over to my office and just sit and look out the window. You never know what you might see.”

  “Hold it. I don’t want to be here. I need to get going,” Terrence said, standing up and grabbing his backpack.

  “Sit,” the professor bellowed.

  Terrence dropped his backpack and sat down.

  “It’s not polite to run off in the middle of a conversation. Especially when I hold your future in my hands. My camera does actually,” he said and chuckled.

  “I don’t have any money. My dad isn’t going to help me. I don’t know what you h
ave exactly but if you think you can get money for it, you’re wrong. My dad will never pay up for something I have done.”

  “Well. That is very unfortunate. I’m very sorry to hear that but I'm afraid that things are looking very grim for you. Would you care to see some of the pictures?”

  “No. Look Professor Hilton. It wasn’t like it looked. Nothing really happened.”

  “I see. Well in that case I guess we have nothing else to talk about. You may go Mr. Ashton.”

  “Please, Professor Hilton. You can’t show anyone those photographs.”

  “Well, I guess I will think about that for a day or so. Say until Monday. Maybe you should talk it over with your father and see if he has any suggestions.”

  “He won’t help me. He never has.”

  “You may go. I have another appointment. Good day Mr. Ashton.”

  “Please don’t do this.”

  “Strange, I believe that’s just what she said.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “Not much better than the trailer park,” Dan observed.

  “Doesn’t look as safe. This is a pretty high drug traffic area. We did a sweep through here last year that netted fourteen dealers in this area alone.”

  “Whoa. In just this one area?”

  “Yep. If we had gone after the prostitutes we wouldn’t have been able to hold them all at booking.”

  “That’s it there,” Dan said pointing to a house that looked like a good wind would blow it over. It had a definite lean to it and it hadn’t seen paint since the 70s from the looks of it.

  Trash littered the yard and a fence must have run around the yard at one time. Now it was just rusted wire and not much of that remained.

  “Watch your step and your back,” I said as we got out of the car.

  It was like walking through a mine field. Bricks, broken glass and several bags of trash were in what could loosely be called the front yard. A red Chevy Blazer was parked out front. It was in a lot better condition than the house.

  “Just keep your eyes open,” I warned him again.

  Just as we were about to the door, it burst open and a tall man of mixed race stood in the doorway with a shotgun in his hands.