“Are you onto something?” Her tone had changed.
He knew he’d got her attention.
“Yes, that’s right, sweetheart.” He turned and waved at the driver as the boy wandered past him. “I’ll wait by the main entrance for you.”
“Okay. I’m on my way.” Maria almost shouted down the phone. “Don’t do anything till I get there.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” He wandered around, trying to stay between the kid and the guy in the baseball cap, who was a few steps behind, all the while trying to give the impression of a lost and confused old man. “Oh, and hurry. I don’t want to miss out on any precious time with the kids.”
Coop disconnected the call and noticed the kid had stopped by a water fountain. He watched as the boy bent down and quenched his thirst, then he diverted himself towards a bench that was positioned at the side of the gates leading into the park and sat down.
The guy in the baseball cap had gone. Coop sat back on the bench and rested his arm across the back so he could still see the boy while casually scanning the area for his suspect.
The kid suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. Another message? He pushed a button and replaced the phone before walking towards one of the parking lots.
Coop’s instincts kicked in again.
Why would a kid turn up at a theme park and head towards the parking lot? his conscience shouted.
He waited till the boy was a reasonable distance away before scanning the area again. Still no sign of the suspect. The kid rounded a corner and was out of sight. Coop sprang from his seat and hurried after him. He reached the corner in seconds and peeked around it.
The guy in the baseball cap was talking to the boy as they walked. He placed a hand gently between his victim’s shoulder blades and started guiding him to a secluded part of the parking lot.
Coop quickly scanned the area. He looked back towards the main entrance, then in the direction of the boy. Both the kid and the suspect had disappeared from sight.
“Fucking idiot!” he chastised himself, and quickly reassessed the situation.
His phone buzzing in his pocket brought him back to the reality of what was about to happen. He knew it was Maria, so didn’t feel the need to check before answering.
“Where are you?” he snapped.
“I’m about three minutes away!” she shouted over the sound of screeching tires. “What’s happening?”
“I lost them.” Coop started moving in the direction his quarry was heading.
“What? Where are you now?” she asked with some urgency.
“I’m heading towards the parking lot west of the main gate.” He picked up his pace.
“Okay. I’ll be there—”
“I see them.” He cut her off.
Coop had spotted the suspect and the boy walking along a line of trees that shielded the parking lot from the park. He watched as they moved away from the trees and started weaving their way between vehicles that were parked.
“Coop, what’s happening?” she pressed.
The kid suddenly stopped and stepped backwards. Without warning, the suspect grabbed the boy by the shirt and put him in a headlock. A struggle broke out and they fell to the ground near a van.
“Maria, you’d better get your ass here!” he demanded. “This is going down now!”
“I’m nearly there!” she shouted. “Keep them in sight, Coop. Don’t do anything till I get there!”
“Too late!” He hung up and raced towards the van, taking his .38 Smith and Wesson revolver out from its shoulder holster as he ran.
He raced between the vehicles and saw that the boy was face down on the ground, kicking and wriggling, with the suspect straddling him, trying to subdue his victim. The kidnapper produced a rubber nightstick and raised it high above his head, readying to land a knockout blow.
“Freeze! OPD! Drop your weapon and let the kid go!” Coop shouted.
The kidnapper immediately got up and dropped the nightstick on the ground before raising his hands in the air.
“Don’t you fucking move!” Coop growled, as his adrenalin rushed through his body. He hadn’t felt like this for years. The rush of catching a criminal in the act was something he always relished. The suspect stood frozen to the spot, looking towards the ground, his face hidden by the peak of his cap.
“Lace your fingers behind your head and get on your knees!” Coop ordered.
Without making a sound, the suspect put his hands behind his head and lowered himself onto his knees.
Coop flicked his eyes between the suspect and the kid.
“You okay, kid?” he asked.
The boy flipped over onto his back, his eyes wild with fear as he stared at his attacker.
“Hey, kid! Get behind me!” he shouted.
The petrified boy snapped out of his daze and scrambled backwards, not taking his eyes off of the suspect until he was level with his savior. Then, without any warning, he sprang to his feet and ran off as fast as he could.
Without taking his aim from the mystery man, Coop quickly looked around in an attempt to follow the kid, but all he could see was the boy’s head bobbing up and down between the vehicles as he scurried away before he vanished behind the line of trees.
“Kid! Come back! I’m a cop!” He shouted, and turned back in time to see the captive attempting to get up.
“Stay down or I will shoot you,” he snarled.
The suspect froze for a moment, then lowered himself back down onto his knees, still keeping his head down, hiding his face.
The sound of squealing tires told Coop the cavalry were on the way. He looked towards the entrance in time to see Maria’s car narrowly missing a white van that was leaving the park. Her car slid sideways for a brief moment. He could see her spin the steering wheel to correct the vehicle. Flashing police lights behind the front grill signaled backup was there.
He looked back at the suspect, who was motionless. Coop waved his arm in the air to let her know where they were.
Maria brought her car to a screeching halt and jumped out. She looked at Coop, who nodded to the suspect. Without breaking her stride, she took out her cuffs.
“Don’t move!” she ordered, as she clamped one cuff around the suspect’s left hand. “Bring your hand behind your back.”
The suspect lowered his hands behind his back, allowing her to cuff the other hand. She grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him to his feet, then pushed him face down onto the hood of the nearest vehicle.
“I think you can put that pea shooter away now,” she said to Coop as she patted the suspect down, looking for any weapons.
Her partner looked at her sarcastically before activating the safety catch and replacing it in his shoulder holster.
“Pea shooter my ass,” he quipped. “You can’t beat a good, old-fashioned .38. It’s never failed me.”
“Where’s the kid?” She looked around
“He ran off in that direction. He’s long gone.” Coop pointed at the line of trees. “At least we got this piece of shit.”
Maria finished searching the suspect and pulled him up off the hood.
“He’s clean.” She pulled his cap off to reveal his face. “What’s your name?”
The suspect remained silent and stared at the ground.
“Where’s your ID?” she pressed.
Still no response. She looked at Coop.
“He was about to knock the kid out with this,” he said, as he picked up the cosh with his handkerchief.
“Okay. Get on your knees,” she ordered the suspect.
The suspect lowered himself onto his knees again. The female detective grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Now, I’m going to lay you face down,” she said.
She lowered him down so he didn’t harm himself. “Stay there and don’t fucking move. You so much as twitch and I’ll shoot you for resisting arrest. Am I making myself clear?”
The suspect didn’t acknowledge. He just lay there.
Maria stood up and walked towards Coop, pushing him a few steps back so she could speak to him out of earshot of the suspect.
“I’m going to call this in. Do you want to take my car and get out of here?” She lowered her voice. “It will be one less thing for me to explain to the lieutenant and Andy.”
He looked a little frustrated and peeked over her shoulder at the suspect.
“I will get this fucker back to the station and see what he has to say for himself,” she assured him, as she took the cosh from him, taking care not to compromise any forensic evidence on it.
“Okay. Call me if you need picking up after work,” he conceded.
Maria tossed her car keys to him.
“See you later, kiddo.” He winked and made his way to her car.
“Hey, old man!” She called after him. “That’s some good police work.”
He waved his hand over his shoulder in appreciation. Maria turned back to the suspect, got her phone out, and dialed dispatch.
Coop jumped into her car and as he pulled away, he got his phone out of his pocket and pressed speed dial number 2.
“Hey, I need a favor, and I need it now . . .”
The Genesis Chamber
Chapter 18
Sergeant Percival methodically tapped the letters on the keyboard, only pausing to peer through his thick-rimmed glasses at the computer screen to make sure he had entered the information correctly. Although he had been the booking sergeant for many years, he had never mastered the technique of typing with more than one finger. His attention was drawn away from his work as the sound of footsteps echoed around the empty booking area. Detective Hernandez had entered via the rear door, followed by a handcuffed male wearing a red baseball cap. Two uniformed officers had a firm grip on the suspect’s upper arms as they led him to the desk sergeant.
“Good evening, Detective Hernandez.” He smiled, and then looked past her at the suspected felon. “And what have you got for me here?”
“Assault and attempted abduction of a minor.” She looked at the suspect, who continued to stare at the floor. The peak of his cap made it difficult for anyone to get a good look at his face.
The booking officer banged his open hand on the desk. “Well, bring him closer and let’s get him booked in.”
The female detective grabbed the miscreant by his shirt and pushed him forward. When he was close enough, Percival leaned over the desk and snatched the cap from his head. The force of the garment being removed in an unduly manner unbalanced the kidnapper, sending him even further forward. Had it not been for Maria grabbing his arm to pull him back, he would have ended up face down on the desk.
“Let’s take a look at this pretty face of yours,” the sergeant said in a condescending voice.
The suspect attempted to bury his face into his chest and turn away, but Percival reached out, cupped his chin, and lifted his head to get a look at him.
“Oh, you really are a pretty boy, aren’t you?” he mocked. “Our other guests in the holding cell are going to really enjoy your company.”
Maria did her best to contain a smile, and managed to compose herself before speaking.
“Is it okay if I leave him here while you do the paperwork?” She pointed to the ceiling. “I have to go upstairs and explain this to Lieutenant Regan.
“Certainly, Detective. I’ll look after him.” Percy grinned.
“When he’s booked in, can you place him in an interview room?” She grabbed a piece of paper and wrote her extension number down. “Call me on this line.”
“Certainly, Detective. It could be a while yet though.” He paused with a big grin on his face. “I mean, you know how I like to be very thorough with my cavity searches before putting any prisoner in an interview room.”
“Of course, Sergeant.” Maria enjoyed the intimidation tactic, especially as the perpetrator looked increasingly uneasy with each comment. “I wouldn’t want you to rush your process, so please be extra methodical on this.”
She winked at Percival, then headed for the homicide office.
***
The Homicide Department seemed eerily quiet. The officers present were occupied with their individual cases. Some talked on their phones. Others filed reports and logged information into the police database. A relaxed atmosphere had descended upon the usually active workplace. Maria had only taken a few steps into the office when the silence was shattered.
“Hernandez!” Regan’s voice bellowed over the entire department, causing the other detectives to jump out of their mellowed states.
The lieutenant stuck his head out of the half-closed door. “My office! Now!”
She stopped in her tracks and rolled her eyes, exasperated at the fact that she had not even got to her desk to prepare a report before being summoned to the head honcho’s office.
She sighed and let her shoulders drop, then turned and made her way to what she thought was almost certainly going to be an ass-whooping, convinced the lieutenant wouldn’t give her the chance to explain herself. She glanced at the other detectives as she passed them. All watched as she entered the private office and closed the door behind her.
“Sit down, Hernandez,” her superior ordered, without looking up from the file he was studying.
She sat and anticipated the onslaught.
“So.” He flipped the file closed and looked up at her. “I hear you’re taking your own cases now?” he said.
She decided that offense was the best form of defense, and prepared herself for a shouting match.
“Sir, I did—” She had barely started before Regan cut her short.
He held one hand in the air to stop her talking. “Before you say something you will regret, Detective, I need to tell you that what you have done today is some damn fine police work.”
Maria was stunned. She blinked in disbelief. Did I just hear right?
She began to relax but kept her guard up, in case the lieutenant had another go at her. The sound of someone else in the room clearing their throat surprised her. She shifted around in her seat to see Andy sitting in the corner.
Confusion set in. What was he doing there? Does this mean he knows about Coop?
She casually nodded at her partner, who acknowledged her with a reassuring smile.
“The details we have are sketchy.” Andy stood up and placed his seat next to her. “What exactly are we looking at here?”
Maria hesitated for a moment, looking between the lieutenant and her partner.
“Basically,” she proceeded with caution, “I caught the perpetrator in the midst of trying to snatch a kid. During the arrest the kid got spooked and bolted, so we don’t have his account of the incident. I’ve got uniforms out looking for him.”
“What do we have on the suspect? Any priors?” Regan inquired.
“He’s not talking, sir. I’m hoping we’ll find out when Booking runs his prints. Until we get them, we have no positive ID,” she answered.
“Has he lawyered up yet?” Andy asked, as he stood up from his seat.
“No.” Maria’s frustration began to show in her voice. “This fucker is literally saying nothing.”
“Right.” Regan clapped his hands together in a show of enthusiasm. “This is what’s going to happen. As soon as he is processed, I want you two in an interview room with him.” He pointed at the senior detective. “Andy, Maria has the lead on this. You back her up. Get him talking, and make it quick. I need you two back on the streets, concentrating on these gangbangers.”
“No problem, sir,” Andy answered.
“Now, get out of my office, the pair of you.” Regan pointed towards the door. “Hernandez, don’t make a habit of doing stuff like this.”
He signaled for her to leave, then buried his head in a file on his desk.
“Yes, sir.” Maria nodded, thankful that she still had her job.
Both detectives left the lieutenant’s office and headed for the booking area.
“So, you kick the s
auce, start eating, and become super-cop?” Andy teased as they walked.
“Can I just ask how you guys found out so quickly and, more to the point, why are you here, anyway?” Maria stopped.
“Ah.” Andy stopped and turned to face her. “Your ‘new partner’ called me from the scene. I was in the car on my way home. He said I had better get back here and give you some support.”
“So much for him keeping it quiet,” she said with a hint of sarcasm.
“He was just worried you would walk into a shitstorm so asked me to clear a path for you,” he said, trying to defend his dad.
They walked on.
When they reached the booking area, they saw Percival with the phone pressed against his ear. He happened to glance around and spotted the approaching detective.
“Well, that explains why I was getting no answer,” he said, replacing the phone on its receiver. “Your suspect is in interview room three.” He paused and peered over his glasses. “Still not talking.”
He pushed a few keys on his keyboard, and the printer in the corner whirred into action.
“Palmer has taken his prints and swabbed him for DNA. He’s also taken his phone to examine,” he continued, as he went to the printer to retrieve the booking sheet.
The ever-thorough sergeant examined the document in its entirety before handing it over.
“There we are.” He smiled. “He’s all yours. Interview room three.”
“Thanks, Sarge.” Maria took the paper in one hand and quickly tapped the side of her temple with index and middle finger in a mock salute.
Andy leaned in to have a brief look at the booking sheet.
“You ready?” He looked at his partner.
“Let’s go nail this bastard!” she replied with confidence.
***
When the detectives entered the interview room the suspect sat bolt upright, causing the short length of chain on his handcuffs to snap tight on the arms of the chair. He sat with his back to the door so had no idea who had entered. He fidgeted in his seat, seemingly unable to get comfortable due to his restraints.
The Genesis Chamber Page 13
