by Tom Heaven
“I asked you not to leave the house alone. I told you that he would want to hurt me by killing you, and you left the house anyway?”
“Oh Dan, I am sorry you were so worried. But look, I am home safely, and no harm was done.”
“No harm was done? Karen is dead! If he got to her, he could just as easily have gotten to you.”
She threw her arms around him and pulled him close.
“Oh Dan. Oh Dan, I am so, so, sorry. Please forgive me, I will do as you ask until this monster is behind bars. I promise!”
Annika’s embrace helped him calm down. Soon, he was able to think clearly. He still felt a tremendous sense of loss, when he thought about Karen, but also began to feel the strength of determination building within his chest, a determination to make her killer pay dearly for what he had done. Trying to catch him before now had been his job. Now it was personal. He would track The Assassin to the ends of the earth to finish him.
Chapter 52
The funeral service was as somber as expected for honoring a fallen police officer. Officers from every district in San Diego were in attendance. The motorcade started in Escondido and slowly made its way south on I-15. It consisted of four black limousines carrying the Mayor, Chief Gates, Dan as the Chief of Detectives and Karen’s family. Following, were forty motorcycles ridden by uniformed police officers. Chief Gates delivered the eulogy and every member of Karen’s team, including Dan, shared their memories of her. Jerry’s statement expressed his love for her, but it was short as he began choking up.
Things were somber at the wake held at Dan’s house. Everyone had stories to tell about Karen. They started out talking about the successes they had when partnering with her but gradually got lighter when some of the humorous incidents were described.
Jerry said, “That’s the way she would want to be remembered. Thinking about the good times. I remember the time when she was just weeks out of the academy and she reported late for morning brief three days in a row. The chief told her she was going to get a ‘few days on the beach’ if it happened again. Sure enough, she didn’t even show up for work the next day. When the chief got in touch with her that evening and asked where ‘the hell’ she had been, she told him that she had just done what he told her to… since she was going to be late again, she went to the beach all day. ‘No, no, no,’ said the chief, ‘a day on the beach means a day of administrative leave, without pay!’ Karen said, ‘you mean I can’t go to the beach tomorrow?’”
That got a good laugh. Then Jerry looked at Dan and said, “You and I have some very fond memories of her, don’t we Dan?”
Dan looked at Jerry and tried to determine if that was meant in a jealous or hostile way. He finally said, Yes, we do.”
Jerry walked over and shook his hand. “She was one hell of a fine lady, wasn’t she?”
“Yes, she was.” They then shared a man hug and were good friends once again. They were both aware that Karen would have liked that.
Chapter 53
The next morning, to start the brief the chief said, “Okay everyone, settle down, it’s time to start. First off, I need to make a sad announcement. You notice that Ken isn’t here this morning. Unfortunately, Ken’s wife, Jeanette died last night. As you all know, she had been suffering from a prolonged illness. Ken will be on bereavement leave for a while. Her funeral is Thursday and I know I will see you all there.”
Secondly, while we are on the depressing subject of funerals, I want to say thanks to everyone for attending Karen’s funeral. I know that is hard to say good-bye to one of our own and it is especially difficult when it is one who was as greatly admired as she was. She will be sorely missed.
Next, has anyone turned up anything new on The Assassin?”
No one responded.
“Well let’s keep at it guys. If we are ever going to make this son-of-a-bitch pay for what he has done to Dan, and now, Karen, we are going to need some leads. So, stick with your current assignments and let’s find something we can use to catch him.”
After a brief pause, the chief said, “I’m sure you all noticed that there is a new face among us this morning. I would like to introduce Detective Bonnie Atkins. Bonnie has transferred here from vice squad in Eastern Division. Bonnie, would you like to come up here and tell us a little bit about yourself?”
“Sure. First, I just want you guys to know that if you had said aloud what you were thinking when you found out I used to work in vice, I would have you up on harassment charges. Yes, I had to do undercover work as a hooker, but that role has nothing to do with who I am. You will find that no one is more serious than I, about our job, but I’m easy to get along with, as long as you treat me with respect. I’m glad to be here and look forward to working with you.”
“The chief said, “Does anyone have any questions for Bonnie?”
One of the uniforms from the back of the room yelled, “Where’d you find such a pretty detective, Chief?”
“See, now that’s the kind of disrespectful remark we’re talking about, Callahan.”
“C’mon Chief, it was a compliment!”
“Well maybe a few sessions in Social Awareness Class will teach you the difference. In the meantime, zip it!”
To prevent any sadness in the room from growing, he nodded toward the door. “Ok, uniforms dismissed. Detectives hang on for our Assassin case de-brief.
When there were only the detectives left in the room, and Dan in attendance via video conferencing, the chief asked Jerry to take Bonnie under his wing and show her how they did things in homicide. Normally, Jerry would have made a seductive wise crack, but Karen’s memory was still in his heart, so he just said, “Sure Chief.”
The chief brought the topic back on point. “It turns out The Assassin is responsible for thirty-six murders. That total is just for the U.S. Interpol reported that it looks like he killed at least five more in Europe. There is no telling how many more he might be responsible for, if we don’t put an end to him. I need you four to get us some leads.
So, who do we think he will try for next?”
Frank said, “I think he will pick Annika, because he knows that’s whose loss would hurt Dan the most after Karen.
Jerry said “I think that he will save the most painful for last. I think it will be either the chief, Frank or myself next.”
Dan interceded at this point.
“You are both wrong. I found this note in my mail this morning. It is from the Assassin. He says:
I’m done screwing around, Carter.
your time is up.
You’re next,
W.S.
Having had to take that second shot at Karen has left him flustered. He has never missed before, and I think that has affected his self-confidence. He is ready to kill me and get back to killing for pay. Now, all we need to do is figure out how to use me for bait.”
As Bonnie, Frank and Jerry were leaving, The Chief looked directly into the video camera and asked, in a hushed voice, to talk with Dan alone for a moment.
“Benji, would you wait downstairs while I have a word with the chief?”
“Sure thing boss. Give me a yell when you’re ready.”
The chief closed the door behind Benji and said, “Before we start talking about using you as bait, we have to find the leak, or we’ll never be able to lure him into any trap we come up with.”
“I agree, what’s your plan?”
“I don’t have a plan. We don’t even know who it is yet.”
“You’re right. Let’s look at every possibility.”
“Well, it can’t be Bonnie, she’s too new. It has to be either Jerry or Frank or, and I hate to say this, it might even be Benji or Annika.”
“No, it can’t be Benji or Annika, I would know…wait a minute! Benji met Sean just a few days before we arrested The Atlas Killer, and Sean stayed over, the night
we made the plan to trap the killer in that warehouse. Benji has told me that they talk about everything that is going on in their lives. It is Sean!”
“You’re right. We haven’t thought of him. Of our potential leaks, he is the most likely. Now how can we find out for sure?”
“If he has been getting information from Benji, I am confident Benji wasn’t aware of it. Instead of telling him that we suspect Sean, we will just feed him some information and see if it gets back to The Assassin. We can even feed him intel that will lead to a trap.”
“The only thing I know that will draw him out is if he can see you as an easy target.”
“What we need is to set up an easy sniper situation for him. How about finding a low-level setting with only a single high rise available for him to use?”
“I know just the place, The Knights Inn in hotel circle off the 8 freeway. We investigated a homicide there a couple of years back. The swimming pool is surrounded by wings of the inn, and there is a ten story hotel, The Ambassador, right behind it, which would make a great vantage point. The top of the building looks over the pool but is far enough away that you couldn’t see anyone without a sniper scope.”
“Great, I will tell Benji he can have Saturday off because Annika and I will be meeting a friend of hers and I’ll be lounging by the pool at the Knights Inn all day to work on my tan while she visits with her friend in the bar.”
“Won’t that put a lot of innocent bystanders at risk. On a Saturday, the pool should be crowded with hotel guests.”
“Here’s an idea. We’ll post signs in the lobby telling guests that a movie is being shot in the pool area, and it is closed. We can then have plain clothes police officers in and around the pool with instructions to keep clear of my wheelchair
“Sounds like a good plan. Saturday morning, I’ll have Jerry and Frank check the front desk of both hotels for any guests registering with the initial W. S. to see if he holds to form. Regardless of whether that turns up anything, or not, we will have plainclothes officers swarming the place on Saturday paying particular attention to access to the roof of The Ambassador.”
“Obviously, we won’t tell Frank or Jerry anything until then, but I will tell Benji about my plan to lounge by the pool, after I clue Annika in. He will have tonight and tomorrow to talk to Sean. If the word gets back to our killer, we will have our leak and our perp at the same time.”
“Okay, I don’t like the idea of using you for bait, but I can’t think of any other way to draw him out.”
“That won’t be a problem. We’ll have him in custody long before he has a chance to take a shot.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
“Don’t worry, I am looking forward to a long life with Annika, and I don’t intend to let some psychopath cut it short. See you tomorrow Chief.”
Chapter 54
Jerry took Bonnie to lunch at Poki’s to introduce her to the detective’s usual routine. While they ate, he gave her the information on the precinct and how they did things there, that he thought would help her be comfortable in homicide. When he finished, he invited her to talk about herself and why she transferred to homicide in San Diego.
“Well, as the chief mentioned, I worked in vice before. I was getting tired of arresting perverts and scumbags and was considering requesting a transfer but didn’t know what division to ask for. Then, one off duty night, I entered a Quick Stop and saw that the proprietor was being held up by an armed robber. I drew my weapon and yelled ‘Hey shit head.’ When the perp turned toward me, he fired a single shot which struck the door frame behind me. He was dead on the floor before he could fire a second. That experience convinced me, I need to be where the real action is.”
“Wow! Girl, remind me not get on your bad side.”
“As long as you remember I am a woman and not a girl and treat me with the same respect I treat you with, you will never have to worry. I will always have your back.”
“You got it!”
Chapter 55
As Dan switched off the video terminal after the brief, he was staring absentmindedly at his fedora on its hook next to the door. Annika had trained him to not wear the hat when at home or when eating out. She entered the room and interrupted his daydreaming when she said, “How did this morning’s brief go?
“It gets mixed reviews. The chief announced that Ken’s wife died. Everyone knew that she was dying so it wasn’t a big surprise but it was still sad. Her funeral is going to be held this Thursday. Then we talked about Karen’s funeral, so that was another downer.
To change the mood of the meeting, Chief announced that he has hired Karen’s replacement.”
“What’s she like?”
“She’s definitely a looker. Lots of confidence. Worked vice squad over at Eastern.”
“And did you let her know that you are not available?”
“No, I didn’t get a chance to talk to her, I just saw her on the video screen, but don’t worry, when she meets you at Jeanette’s funeral, she will know that she doesn’t stand a chance against your brains and beauty.”
“You sure know what to say in order to get ‘the special massage’ during your P.T. session today.”
“You mean the one with a ‘happy ending’?”
Later, when Dan told Annika the plan. Her initial response was anything but concurrence.
“Absolutely not! You cannot make yourself a target like that. I won’t allow it!”
“I hate to tell you this honey, but you are a physical therapist, not a lieutenant in the San Diego Police Department. You don’t get to tell me what I can or cannot do while I am on the job, but I do appreciate your concern for my safety. We will have this guy in custody long before he can become a threat. I will never be in danger, so don’t worry.”
“Oh Dan, it just seems that you are putting too much faith in your fellow officers. You are pushing the limits of trust here, and if they don’t get him, the price is too high. I couldn’t stand to have anything happen to you.”
“Nothing will happen to me. You have given me a new lease on life, and I won’t let anything get in the way of our future.”
“That’s just the thing. If anything goes wrong, you won’t have a choice. The killer will have the upper hand…wait! I’ve just had a thought.”
Before going back downstairs, Annika told Dan what she had come up with.
After dinner, while Benji was clearing the table, Dan and Annika were making plans for Saturday when a classmate from her physical training school would be in town.
“While you and your friend catch up on old times in the shade of the bar, I will be catching some rays out by the pool. It will give me a chance to get rid of this ‘shut-in tan’. You are sure she is staying at The Knights Inn?”
“Yes, but with all her scheduled meetings, Saturday afternoon is the only time she has free to meet with me.”
“That’s alright. I will use plenty of sunscreen. Benji, you can have Saturday off since we will be busy. Annika can take care of me for the day.”
“Okay boss. Sean and I have been wanting to see the ballet ‘Giselle’ that’s currently at the Spreckels Theater. This will give us the chance.
“I can make reservations for you if you like.”
“I have to wait until I talk to him later this evening to find out if he will be able to make it.”
“Okay, just let me know.”
Chapter 56
When Saturday morning arrived, everyone was in place before eight A.M. Frank had cut his leave short and he and Jerry had been instructed to look at the Knights Inn and Ambassador’s reservation lists for any guest with the initials W.S. There was a Walter Samuels at The Knights Inn, and a William Stanford at The Ambassador.
When Walter and his wife came to breakfast, they were noted to be in their nineties, and he was using a walker.
That left
William who had reserved a single. He was travelling alone and had asked specifically for a room on the tenth floor with a view of the opposite side of hotel circle. A view which would also overlook The Knights Inn pool. He was assigned to room 1022 but had not checked in yet.
“We’ve got him, said the chief after hanging up the call from Jerry. All we have to do now is cover one hotel room and the roof, and we will be able to intercept him before you even have to get set by the pool.”
Dan said, “Sounds good Chief, but I will be ready, just in case.”
Frank had the reservation clerk reassign the guests in the rooms on each side of 1022. He was in room 1020, waiting patiently in a chair pulled up to the desk where there was a monitor connected to a tiny camera which had been planted in 1022. The chief and Jerry were waiting in room 1024. They were all connected by audio comms. The chief also had radio contact with Frank who was leading the detachment on the roof.
After everyone was in place, Annika, and her friend walked alongside Dan’s wheelchair to his spot by the pool. Annika knelt down as if asking Dan if he wanted anything. The two girls then went back inside.
Two hours went by without anything happening.
“Roof top one, anything? Over.”
“Negative Chief. Over.”
“Jerry, anything?”
“Nothing Chief. No one has entered the room. I just talked to the desk clerk, and he says William Stanford never checked in.”
The camera monitor in their room did not register any movement in room 1022 to confirm that it was empty.
“We’ll give it another hour, then pack it in.”
Just then, all hell broke loose as a shot rang out and Dan’s wheelchair began moving slowly toward the pool. The cops on the roof scrambled to the exit door.
The chief, and Jerry rushed toward the doors in their rooms.
“Did anyone see where that shot came from?”
