BackTrek

by Kelvin Kelley

“We’ve got a nasty one." Howe said as he stepped up to Jack’s desk. Jack held up a finger as he finished the call he was on and hung up. He looked up. “Looks like another execution case.” Howe said.

  “How bad is it this time?” Jack asked.

  “Another slaughter.” He said as he handed Jack a piece of paper. “Just got the call ten minutes ago, and Penelli is already on the way. I need you over there pronto.”

  “On the way, Cap’n.” Jack responded as he quickly headed towards the exit. He looked at the address on the paper, and knew that Penelli would already be there, as the address was only a few blocks away. He hurried downstairs, and jumped in his unmarked gray car. He started the car and activated the carefully concealed emergency lights. As he peeled out of the parking lot, cars slowed and pulled to the side of the road. Jack slowed at the intersection, and then accelerated through the red-light, as he cautiously watched for any citizens that were not paying attention. When he arrived at the scene, there were already a half a dozen black and white units that blocked the street. He eased his car to a stop behind Penelli’s, and turned the vehicle off. Jack jumped out and quickly surmised that the uniformed officers were already blanketing the area, as they asked the neighbors if they had seen anything. Two officers guarded the entranceway of the tenement where the crime had happened.

  As he walked towards the entranceway, he couldn’t help but wonder just how bad this one would be. The last one had been the worst that he had ever seen. A family of three. And the girl, only ten, had been the youngest victim. The entire family had been summarily executed, each with a single shot to the head. No motive, no evidence except for the bullet’s themselves, and no suspects. The Evidence Technicians had not found a single scrap of DNA anywhere that didn’t belong to the victims. Even today when he thought of what they had found that day, his stomach became queasy. There was simply no limit to the depravity that man can inflict upon his fellow man. But whomever was responsible for these crimes was no man. Jack wasn’t even sure if he could be called an animal.

  “Jack, good to see you.” Penelli called out from the second floor window. “Hurry up, I need your help.” Jack waved to Penelli, nodded to the two officers at the entranceway, and walked up the steps and entered the building. He bounded up the narrow stairs, and turned towards the opened door on his left. As he walked into the room, the floor began to spin, and he grabbed the door jam to steady himself. It was worst than the last one. Much worse. A group of bodies sat slumped on a large sofa, as though they stared at the blank TV across the room. A middle-aged man sat slumped next to his wife. Next to her, almost sprawled in her lap, was what appeared to be her daughter. Almost pretty like most teenagers were, yet not quite of age. His heart sank as he realized that she had made it so close to becoming a woman before this had happened, just another year or two to go. He thought of Bella, and his stomach flipped. At the other end of the couch sat two boys, young boys, possibly ten or eleven. Each of them had a single neat little hole in the middle of their forehead. As Jack approached, Penelli checked the body that appeared to belong to the father.

  “The best that I can tell, Jack, the single entrance wound is all that’s on the rest of them, but Dad here, has another one behind his ear. See?” He said as he pointed out the tiny hole behind the mans ear, careful not to smudge the wound with his gloved hands.

  “So the perp popped Dad first?” Jack asked.

  “Maybe...but he was definitely caught by surprise. The others were head on shots.”

  “Have you checked the rest of the apartment?”

  “Just to clear it. You go ahead. Let me know if you find anything.” Penelli said as he turned to the Evidence Technician and began to discuss the arrangement of the bodies on the couch. Jack surveyed the rest of the living room briefly, then headed down the hallway. He stopped at the first door, and peered inside. A bathroom. He then walked further back into the apartment, glanced into a bedroom that obviously belonged to the teenager, and then continued past the parent’s bedroom. As he looked in the next bedroom, which had to belong to one of the boys, he noticed the covers on the bed appeared to have been hastily laid out, and entered the room to further investigate. Grabbing one corner of the comforter, he pulled the covers back, and uncovered the pillow closest to him.

  “Penelli! I’ve got something!” He yelled as he stared down at the small puddle of blood that stained the otherwise white pillow. Penelli entered the room and Jack pointed out the stain.

  “Have the E.T. do a DNA scan on this blood, as well as the bodies. I’m interested to know who was in this bed and why they were moved.” Jack said, as Penelli nodded and left the room. As he waited for Penelli to return with the E.T., Jack nosed around the room, looking for any small shred of evidence that might help explain this apparently senseless killing. Whoever had done this was a professional, and Jack held little hope that he would have left any trace of himself behind. Ever since DNA scanning had been implemented on a national basis, professionals were all but impossible to catch. However, your average homicide was a breeze to solve. DNA scanners had shrunken in size to that of a wireless phone, and were able to transmit across the same airwaves giving instant access to information nationwide. Scanning even the smallest bit of hair, blood, or even a skin flake would instantly produce a DNA code, which when matched in the national database, would divulge the identity of the owner. Then it was a simple matter of finding them. But professionals were different. They were quick, thorough, and extremely careful. If this was a pro, the chances of them finding even the tiniest bit of DNA was slim, if non existent.

  Penelli reappeared with the E.T. who immediately began to scan the puddle. Jack stepped back into the hallway and looked for the last bedroom, but the only other door in the hallway led into a closet. Puzzled he walked back into the room where Penelli and the E.T. were and surveyed the room again.

  “We’ve got one kid too many.” Jack said.

  “What do you mean?” Penelli asked.

  “The girl, her room’s back that way. Mom and dad, across the hall. And this is junior’s room. So who is the other kid?”

  “Maybe both of them shared this room.”

  “Not without starting world war three, they didn’t. There’s only one bed.” Penelli thought for a moment and then turned to the E.T.

  “He’s right.” The E.T. said. “This blood type is different. We’ll have positive identities in just a few minutes, then we’ll know.” Penelli was shaking his head, and then turned to Jack.

  “Come on, let’s get some fresh air.” He said to Jack.

  The two exited the apartment. They both desperately needed some fresh air, and a chance to clear their heads. As they stood outside, Penelli lit a cigarette and offered one to Jack.

  “I know you quit, but...” Penelli began as Jack reached over and took one from the pack, then accepted the light that he was offered.

  “Thanks.” Jack said as he took a deep draw off of the cigarette, held it briefly and then exhaled.

  “Jack, that’s the sickest damn thing that I’ve ever seen.”

  “You and me both, Penelli. I don’t know who this bastard is, but we’ve got to get him, before he does this to anyone else.” As Jack spoke, Penelli watched down the street as a black unmarked car pulled in behind where they had parked. Jack turned as he realized that his partner was fixated on something specific. He watched as a man in a black suit exited the car, and began to walk towards them. Suddenly Jack had the feeling that he should know this man, but his identity was just out of reach. As the man came closer and closer, the feeling increased, and Jack began to become uncomfortable. He knew this man, but the distance that separated them made it impossible to place the face. As the man approached them more swiftly he lowered his face, which totally obscured Jack’s view. Finally within earshot of the two detectives, the man looked up and began to speak.

  “Jack! Long time no see. H
ow are you?” The man asked, his tone friendly.

  “Ted? Ted Truman? What the hell are you doing here?” Jack exploded in anger as he realized who the man was.

  “Hey. Is that anyway to treat an old friend?” Ted said. He smiled as he extended his hand for Jack to shake.

  “You’re no friend of mine, you bastard!” Jack spouted, as he intentionally ignored the man’s outstretched hand. Ted left it there for a moment longer before he dropped it. He turned to Penelli and offered his hand to him, which Penelli shook, though not enthusiastically.

  “I see that you haven’t let go of the past, there, Jack. I never thought you’d be one to hold a grudge.” Ted said, a slight smile entered his expression.

  “You can kiss my ass, you liar!” Jack said.

  “My card.” Ted said, as he handed a business card to Jack. Jack ignored it as he began to approach Ted. He backed him up a step or two before he got right in his face. Penelli couldn’t believe Jack’s sudden aggressiveness, and stood silently in shock as Jack continued to verbally assault the other man.

  “I asked you a damn question, and I want a damn answer. What in the hell are you doing here?” Jack yelled, only inches from the man’s face.

  “Get out of my face, Jack.” Ted said calmly, making no effort to push him back, nor to step back any further himself.

  “Get me out of your face, you stinking maggot!” Jack screamed, his eyes wide with hatred.

  “This is not a pissing match, Jack. Back off.” The man replied calmly, but Jack stayed his ground.

  “Get your lying ass back in your damn car, before I rip off your damn head and spit down your neck!” Jack was clearly out of control as spittle spewed from his mouth and struck Ted in the face. Penelli finally shook off his paralysis, and moved in to contain Jack, just as he saw him begin to raise his arms. Jack went wild. He shook off Penelli, and lunged for Ted in a single move. Ted had foreseen this inevitable physical confrontation, and coolly stepped to one side, and lightly struck Jack in the back as he flew past and hammered himself into a black and white police car parked at the curb. Ted’s business card fluttered to the ground, now forgotten.

  “Cool it Jack!” Penelli hollered as he began to move towards Jack.

  “Stay out of this Penelli! This is between me and this...this...this puke!” Jack said as he regained his balance, and spun around to once again charge at Ted.

  "Jack. Don’t do this." Ted said calmly to deaf ears as Jack once again lunged at him. Ted used Jack’s own momentum, spun him around by the arm, and slammed him to the ground. He reached into Jack’s jacket, and pulled Jack’s own weapon on him. Ted placed the barrel of the Glock nine millimeter pistol against the base of Jack’s neck, while he still held his right arm pinned behind him and pressed his face to the sidewalk. Penelli reacted on instinct when he saw the blue steel of Jack’s gun as it slid out of his jacket. He drew his own weapon, and aimed it directly for Ted’s head.

  “You bastard!” Jack screamed, as he spat sand out of his mouth.

  “Drop the weapon!” Penelli yelled at Ted.

  “Stand down, soldier!” Ted yelled at Jack, as he ignored Penelli, and raised his voice for the first time. Jack continued to struggle. “Stand down!” Slowly the tenseness faded from Jack’s body as he admitted defeat, and followed the orders that had been ingrained in him after years in the army. Penelli began to approach Ted from the side, but quickly stopped when he found Jack’s gun now pointed at him. "Mr. Penelli, I presume?" Clearly baffled by everything that had just happened, Penelli hunched down, and continued to point his weapon at Ted’s head.

  “Drop the fucking weapon!” He repeated.

  “You can relax, Penelli, the safety is still on.” Ted said as he dropped the gun to his side, and released Jack’s arm. Jack rolled to his side, and began to slowly get up. As he stood up, Ted grabbed Jack’s gun by the barrel and handed it butt first to Jack, who looked at it for a moment without reaching for it. He looked up from the gun and into Ted’s eyes, and then slowly took the gun from him and put it back in his holster. Though clearly still upset, Jack had relaxed tremendously, almost to the point that Penelli was concerned that if he needed his help to take this guy, Ted, that Jack wouldn’t be up to it.

  “Who are you?” Penelli asked, as he lowered his own weapon, and slid it back into it’s holster.

  “As our friend just said, I’m Ted Truman.”

  “What are you doing here?” Jack demanded sarcastically.

  “Business, Jack. I’m not here to make your life miserable or drum up bad memories. I’m here on a Federal matter.” Ted said as he brushed his coat off, and straightened his tie.

  “Federal? You mean Army?” Jack asked.

  “Not exactly, Jack. I’m not with the Army anymore. Let’s just say that it’s a Federal matter. Your superior has been advised, and I’m not at liberty to discuss it.’

  “You’re not trying to pull jurisdiction on us are you?” Penelli intervened, as he remembered the bad experiences in the past when the FBI took charge.

  “On the contrary, Penelli. I want you to solve the case on your own. My reason for being here is just to inspect the crime scene, and compile what evidence or clues that you already have. I have no intentions whatsoever of interfering with your investigation, I assure you.”

  “Well, we’re still waiting on the M.E. to arrive, but you can look at the scene now, if you don’t touch anything.” Penelli offered. He knew that the Medical Examiner that was on call would blister them all if the crime scene was contaminated.

  “That’s fine.” Ted said as he started to turn towards the front of the building. Suddenly he stopped and looked back at Jack. "If that’s all right with you, Jack?" Jack stared at him for a moment, in total silence, with only a slight hint of the anger that had previously controlled him.

  “Yeah. Go ahead.” He said, and then gestured for Penelli to show him the way. Penelli walked towards the front of the building and Ted began to follow, but stopped and turned back to Jack.

  "Thanks, Jack. I owe you one." He said. Then he turned and followed Penelli into the building, and left Jack alone on the sidewalk. Jack walked back over to the black and white and slowly leaned against it. He stared back at the building that Penelli and Ted had just disappeared into. His mind reeled with all the emotions that he had just been through. The surprise that Ted had shown up out of nowhere after all these years, and the explosive anger that the bastard was back in his life again. Ted had been the friend that had testified against him in the Army. He had been his closest friend. At times, he had been more like a brother than a friend. Ted had always seemed to work until all hours of the night, on some top secret project or other. And the last year, Jack had seen him rarely, but even when they did get together Ted had been distant. He had been as preoccupied with his work much like Jack was with his own. Jack never suspected a problem between them, he just assumed it was a natural occurrence. That all friends drifted apart as their interests changed. But when he had been hauled before the C.O. on drug charges, he just couldn’t believe that Ted had been the one. That he was framed was mind boggling enough, but by his friend and confidant was just impossible.

  Even in the first set of hearings, Jack still believed that it was all a mistake. Until the day that Ted gave his testimony. Total lies about how Jack was a user. That he had asked him to find a source where he could buy cocaine. Lies about how Ted had tried to talk him into getting help for his addiction. More lies about how Ted had warned him that it would come to this one day. Just lie after lie. Jack’s world fell apart before his eyes, and he’d tried his best to pick up the pieces ever since. He didn’t know why Ted was here now, nor did he know who Ted really worked for, but in a way he felt some relief. It was like he had crossed a plateau in dealing with his past. That he finally had an opportunity to confront Ted after all these years made him feel better about himself, even if Ted had taken
him down. He hated the fact that Penelli had to see him lose his cool, but Penelli had seen him go off on perps before. He had seen his anger, just never in a situation like this.

  Jack took a few more moments to gather himself and straighten his clothes before he finally headed inside. As he walked up towards the front of the building, he saw Ted’s business card on the ground, hesitated, then stooped down to pick it up. No business name was printed on the card, just Ted’s name, email address, and a single toll free phone number. He pocketed the card absentmindedly and then as he headed up the stairs, he passed the two officers guarding the building without a word. If they had seen the confrontation on the sidewalk outside, they kept silent. As he entered the apartment, Ted came back into the living room from the hallway. Jack couldn’t help but notice the white sheen over his face.

  “It’s as bad as I’ve seen.” Jack commented.

  “This is one sick perp, Jack.” Ted said, as he shook his head.

  “By the way, Jack, the E.T. said that you were right again. The last kid on the end is the one that was shot in the bedroom. He was sleeping over last night. He lives down the street.” Penelli said.

  “He wasn’t expected to be here. That’s why he was killed back there. The others, they belonged here.”

  “What are you saying, Jack?” Ted asked.

  “This guy is a pro, but he wasn’t just after Dad. He came in with the intention of executing the entire family. He knew where they were, who they were, and how many there were.” Jack replied.

  “So he did his homework.” Penelli interjected.

  “No, I think it’s more like he had a shopping list. Whoever wanted this guy dead, wanted to erase his whole family, and probably gave our perp a list to check off as the job was done.”

  “This is the second one in a week, with the same M.O., is that right? Any idea on a connection yet?” Ted asked.

  “None, but it’s too early to tell with this one.” Penelli replied.

  “The only real connection that we’ve got at all is the lack of any DNA evidence on the perp, and the execution style headshots. That, and the fact that it appears to be a professional job.” Jack answered.

  Chapter 11