WHAT GOES AROUND - ANGIE BARTONI CASE FILE #4 (ANGIE BARTONI CASE FILES Book 1)

by Marshall Huffman

  “This really stumped me at first,” he said.

  “What? That she isn’t breathing?” I said.

  “She isn’t? Well damn. There goes my theory,” Sorenson replied.

  Brad looked at us like we had lost our minds. He was probably right.

  “You are such a ditz Bartoni. Why they don’t assign you to the meter maid squad is beyond me.”

  “Everything is pretty much beyond you Sorenson.”

  “Does anyone mind if we just get on with it?” Brad asked.

  “I don’t. Do you Angie?” Sorenson asked.

  “No. Please go ahead.”

  Brad just shook his head and rolled his eyes.

  “Gasses in the body dissipate over time. This includes anything in the blood stream. It makes it hard to determine if you accurately get a reading on some blood gasses as you can imagine. Because of that we take samples from several areas. Primarily we use HB, FB and the kidney. The redistribution of gasses isn’t eliminated but it gives a better picture.”

  “HB and FB?” Dan asked.

  “Oh, heart blood and femoral blood samples.”

  “Ah.”

  “Anyway, I found a considerable amount of Fentanyl in her system. I checked the other two victims and found abnormal levels in them as well. It wasn’t only Fentanyl however, it seems to have been mixed with Halothane.”

  The three of us looked at him. He probably thought we were the three stooges.

  “An anesthetic.”

  “Oh,” I said.

  “Got it,” Brad replied.

  “So, I’m thinking that with the two gases mixed it would make a fast acting anesthetic. A knock-out drug for lack of a better term.”

  “How fast?” I asked.

  “Three, maybe four seconds depending on the concentration and area it was dispersed in,” Sorenson replied.

  “Like a car interior?”

  “Well, it would have to be very finely dispersed to act quickly. It would take a pretty sophisticated device to instantaneously distribute the gas in sufficient quantity to render a person unresponsive.”

  “Something as fast acting as an air bag?” Brad asked.

  “Why yes. That would do quite nicely. By the time they got their seatbelts off they would be feeling the effects. Disorientation is one of the side effects,” the ME said.

  “Where would you get such a drug?” I asked.

  “That is a good question,” he replied.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Our board was starting to look a little better. We knew where he was ditching the cars. We had a pretty good idea about how we was controlling three women at one time. While it might not have seemed like a lot we were making progress and that lifted our spirits.

  Captain McGregor came over to my desk and Dan and I filled him in on what we had found. He was glad to have something positive to report back to the commissioner but I could see he really wanted us to say we had a suspect. I just wish we did.

  I strolled down to the lab and…wait. Strolled? I walked, okay? Anyway, I walked down to the lab to see what they were doing with the two vehicles. I was amazed at how destroyed the cars were. They were literally in pieces. Tony Henson was the head tech and was lying on his back underneath the dash of a car I didn’t recognize.

  “Hey Angie,” he said looking up at me.

  “Having fun I see.”

  “Oh yeah. I’m actually glad you came down. I have a couple of things I want to show you,” he said wiggling out from under the dash.

  I followed him down a short hall to a small room that had a workbench and various tools lining one wall.

  “This,” he said, indicating a small metal bottle, “Was found behind the front air bags. It is connected to this box that went to the ignition switch. When you activate the ignition, it sends a signal to this bottle. The bottle has a small explosive device that inflates the air bag. See that little tube on the other side?”

  “Yeah.”

  “The mixture is atomized and distributed by the explosion of the air bag. The contents are vaporized. We have determined that one of the agents was Fentanyl. We are working on the other.”

  “Look for Halothane.”

  He looked at me for a second.

  “How do you know that?”

  “The ME, Doctor Sorenson.”

  “I’ll be damned. There was a rumor that the Russians had used such an agent in a theater where over 700 hundred hostages were being held captive. I guess the negotiations fell apart so in desperation they pumped in a mixture of Fentanyl and Halothane. It creates some serious side effects and a number of the hostages died but they saved over 600 hundred,” he told me.

  “So he rigs this up while they are off doing something else and when they come back, they put on their seat belts and when the driver switches on the ignition, the explosion is activated, the gas is disbursed, and essentially they are put to sleep.”

  “Exactly,” Tony confirmed.

  “How fast does it act?”

  “It would depend on several factors. How much it is atomized, the space, and the mixture itself. We know the amount of space. I can determine the nozzle size and figure out the atomization level. The mixture will take a little longer. We will have to run a lot more tests but now you know how it is being done.”

  “Anything else? Wait, I didn’t mean that like it sounded. I mean anything else pop up? I said.

  “The car alarm was deactivated and a small tracking device was attached behind the license plate.”

  “I guess so he could get in the car and place the mixture.’

  “That would be my guess,” Tony replied.

  “Thanks a ton Tony. You guys do great work.”

  “I appreciate that. Not many detectives take the time to say thanks. Oh, by the way. We have two hairs we found in the rear of the Mercedes. I think one or both will produce DNA. They are being rushed so we should have the results by tomorrow.”

  “Excellent,” I said excitedly.

  I want away much happier than I was on the way down. When I got upstairs I brought the team up to speed. We were all pumped again, even the captain managed to put on a smile.

  There comes a point in a case when a detective can almost feel the turn around. You beat your head against the wall over and over and then suddenly a small crack appears. Eventually that crack turns into a slit in the door and finally it all comes together.

  I knew we were right on that edge. Just a few more things needed to fall our way and we would nail this sucker.

  **

  Lauren knew it was almost over. She couldn’t hang on much longer. The beatings had taken their toll and she knew it was a matter of time now. She had lost all perspective of time. She tried to remember how long she had been captive.

  Betty had died on day two. No, it was Linda. Betty. She could no longer even remember. Did it even matter? What it did do was occupy her mind and let her think about something besides her misery. It kept her from thinking about the rodents that had found a food source in her two dead friends.

  They would come in the barn and scurry across the large beam and down the rope where they would feast on the flesh and blood of Betty and Mary. She could feel them crawl across her sometimes at night and she would yell and move as best she could to make them go away.

  But it was getting harder each night. Last night one actually bit her on the leg before she managed to move enough to get it to leave her alone.

  She heard the van coming up the driveway. This had to be the day. She didn’t see how she could endure even one more day and night with the sadistic, perverted, heartless bastard.

  As always, he opened the door and looked in first. Then he went around back someplace and started the generator. The lights came on and moments later he was in the room and closing the door.

  “Ah, my love is doing well. You have missed me, have you not?” he asked.

  “Oh, yes sir. Very much.”

  He frowned for a second. Had she gone too far?<
br />
  “Really?” he said skeptically.

  “Yes sir.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  I have had better days. Of course I’ve had a lot worse ones as well. This one fell someplace in between. The TR acted up on the way in this morning and that put me behind schedule. The vending machine ate two dollars and wouldn’t give me my donuts. Of course that could be a way of letting me know my rear was going to get fat if I didn’t slow down on those things.

  My desk chair wasn’t at my desk. Someone had used it last night and not bothered to put it back. All were just minor things but after a while they start to add up and get on your nerves. Just as I was starting to settle down Dan came bounding up the stairs whistling. He sailed right on by not even noticing the looks of death I was sending his way. It must be great to be clueless.

  “Goooood Morning Bartoni,” he said, plopping down like always.

  What? Did he think he was on Good Morning Vietnam or something? But I was cool. I didn’t walk around to his desk and strangle the life force out of him.

  “Good morning Dan. Listen do me just a tiny little favor this morning please.”

  “Sure Angie. Anything for you.”

  “Shut up and get to work.”

  “Ooooh, someone isn’t in a very good mood,” he replied.

  Just about that time I heard Detective Farmington say, “Nothing unusual about that. She is always in a crappy mood.”

  Instead of getting upset I simply got up, went to the vending machine and beat the hell out of it for stealing my two dollars. I was just about to kick it when the captain looked in. It is easy to see how he made captain. He took one look at me, looked at the vending machine, gave a quick nod and went to his office.

  I guess that sort of defused my anger because I calmed down and went to the ladies room and splashed some water on my face. I knew it wasn’t the donuts, or Dan, or even that stupid moron, Farmington. It was about the case. I cannot stand just waiting around for something to break. I’m a proactive type person. Desk work had never been my forte.

  I took a few deep breaths and went back and sat down. I had just picked up one of the returned queries we had sent to Ohio when Brad Pendergrass came over.

  “Detective Bartoni, do you have a moment? I would like to speak with you in private.”

  I’m sure I showed some surprise because he said, “Nothing earth shaking I can assure you,”

  “Yeah, well, how about now?”

  “That would be excellent. The interview room okay with you?”

  I wanted to make sure he didn’t have a rubber hose or phone book with him but decided that would be tacky on my part. We went to the first interview room.

  “Would you like anything?” he asked.

  Yeah, my damn donuts, but I didn’t say that.

  “The coke will do fine.”

  He sat down across from me and said, “I would like your professional opinion on a few things.”

  “Sure. I’ll help if I can.”

  “Well it’s a couple of things actually. I would like to know how you think Ned is performing.”

  Whoa. This was not my call. I mean I had opinions but they were my own and not necessarily intended to be shared. Ned doesn’t work for me so I really don’t have any incentive to evaluate him.

  “Geez Brad, that’s kind of putting me on the spot here. I’m not sure why you are asking me.”

  “The thing is, I have to determine if he continues on with the FBI or is dropped. I like Ned and I’m afraid that is influencing my evaluation. I know he is raw but I think he has potential.”

  “I appreciate that but how would you feel if I asked you what you thought of Dan?”

  “I would give you my honest answer,” he said.

  I looked at him for a second. Maybe he could do it but I just didn’t think it was my place to discuss Ned unless he did something that endangered Dan or I. So far I had seen nothing like that. I personally didn’t think much of him but I wasn’t about to ruin someone’s career over my personal feelings.

  “I’m sorry Brad but it really isn’t my place. If I saw him doing something that endangered the team or one of the members I would certainly tell you but I’ve seen nothing like that.”

  “Alright. I can certainly accept that. The second thing I wanted to ask you was have you ever given any thought to joining the FBI?”

  “Me?”

  “Absolutely. I work with law enforcement agencies all over the area and you are the best detective I have seen anywhere. You are proactive, smart, not afraid to speak up and we could use people like you,” he said.

  It isn’t all that often that I am taken by total surprise. The FBI actually wanting me to work for them. The look on my face must have told him the story.

  “I don’t need an answer right this minute. I just wanted to let you know that the offer was on the table if you were interested. You can take as long as you want to think it over. I know it’s a big decision and you need time to think it through,” Brad said to me.

  “Big shock is more like it. Brad, I don’t know if I’m cut out to be an FBI agent. You know I tend to pretty much lay it on the line and that doesn’t always go over well in a political environment,” I told him.

  “Things are changing for the better in the FBI. We have new policies, better communication, and less politics. They had to make those changes if they were going to attract the kind of people the FBI needs,” he said.

  “Well I appreciate the offer. Actually I’m terribly flattered but this is something I would really have to think through,” I replied.

  “Of course you would.”

  “Look, if I have any questions, can I come to you for answers?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Should I keep the offer to myself?”

  “Angie you can share this with anyone you want.”

  “Alright. I really am flattered by the offer,” I said.

  “We would benefit if you decided to come on board. I meant it when I said you are the best we have worked with.”

  “Thanks Brad. That really means a lot.”

  See? I told you this was a good day. I didn’t need those stinking donuts anyway.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  “If you are up to something I will kill you.”

  “Yes sir. This is something my ex-husband taught me.”

  “You think I’m stupid you stupid cow?” he said, spit hitting her in the face.

  “No sir. You must be very smart. Look at all you have done.”

  “Yes. That’s true. The cops are the ones that are stupid,” he said.

  He had taken off his clothes when he came in the barn and looked ridicules in only his tennis shoes. The first time she had seen him like this it was all she could do to keep from laughing. Now she no longer laughed because she knew what followed.

  He was watching her as he paced back and forth. He was intrigued but distrustful. She was working hard and trying to show excitement. This had to be the day. She knew her strength was at an end. She was sure she had broken ribs, probably a broken wrist or at least hairline fractured and the bite marks were becoming angry looking where he had broken the skin.

  She had worked it out in her mind after he had abused her the last time. While he was amusing himself she had been able to use her foot to move a small piece of the broken cane over so she could reach it when the time came. If she was going to survive she was going to have to be as brutal as he was or he would kill her.

  The thought of never seeing Timmy again and what would happen to him was the most important reason to survive.

  “I’m telling you girl,” he said suddenly coming over and grabbing her face so hard she thought he was going to break her jaw, “One movement that I don’t like I will finish you off in the most painful way possible. Do you understand me?”

  She could only barely move her head. She couldn’t get any words out because of his hands on her face.

  “Alright. Show me this trick you’re
ex-husband taught you to do. I had better enjoy it,” he said letting her go.

  “I swear sir, it will be like nothing you have ever experienced before,” she said.

  He unlocked her shackles, watching her closely. She walked over to the center of the room, aware that her every move was being thoroughly scrutinized. It was not going to be easy but she was determined that she would rather die trying than be slaughtered like Betty and Linda.

  She got down on her knees and beckoned him to her.

  “Please sir. Stand in front of me.”

  He walked over but stopped a foot or so from her.

  “If you try anything…”

  “Yes sir. I understand sir.”

  “I mean it.”

  “Yes sir.”

  He hesitated and she thought that he was not going to get close enough. Everything depended on him being in exactly the right spot. She willed him to come to her but he just stood there.

  “Sir, this will please you in a way you have never experienced. Even with all the things you have done to us, nothing will be like this,” she cajoled, trying to get him to make up his mind.

  “I…”

  “Yes sir, I know the consequences,” she said trying to smile.

  Finally he took a step forward, right in front of her face. He put his hand on her head and grabbed a handful of hair. It didn’t matter. She was committed.

  She put her hands on one side of his thighs and pushed his legs a little further together. She felt him shiver a tiny bit. That was what she needed. All he had to do was relax for just one second. She let her hands slowly creep up his inner leg.

  He shuddered again. Now. She had to do it now. She swiftly grabbed the piece of broken cane and brought it up as hard as she could into his crotch. He yelled, letting go of her hair and reaching down but before he could get his hands all the way down to protect himself she stabbed in again.

  He staggered back and Lauren jumped up. She jabbed the bloody stick in his face, aiming for his eye but he pulled back just enough to make her miss. She felt the point go in, under his eye. At least she had made contact.