After the Evil – A Jake Roberts Novel (Book 1)

by Cary Allen Stone

  Could we fall in love again?

  It’s funny how distracted I have become from the trauma of the shooting, because of Lori and Mika. I must be healing. I can still smell the scent of Lori’s perfume on my hand. Mika’s eyes are more alluring than ever. I drift until Mika brings me back home again.

  “What did they have to say?” she says.

  “What did who have to say?”

  “The Powers woman, and the others I asked you to question?”

  She keeps staring at me making me feel uncomfortable.

  “Jake, tell me you did what I asked you to do.”

  “I only got to Ms. Powers. I didn’t get to the others by the time you called to meet here.”

  I shuffle the silverware and saltshaker. Because the case means so much to her, she is disappointed, I didn’t finish my assignment.

  “What did she have to say?”

  “Just that everything was normal, nothing out of the ordinary, no interruptions, phone calls, or any distressing events during her session.”

  I sound too defensive.

  “What was she wearing?” Mika says.

  * * *

  Flying at thirty-three thousand feet, and looking down at the blue-green earth, you could see concrete cities, majestic mountains, snaking rivers, and green fields. As the world rotated beneath your feet, you had the sensation you weren’t moving. You also had the impression the world was right, and full of peace. What you couldn’t see were the people, or the crimes they were committing. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center pushed the airline industry into complete disarray. The Federal Aviation Administration had mandated new security procedures that ran the gamut from the simple-minded, to overkill.

  While some concepts improved safety and security, others had to be trashed. Anyone observing a newborn, or handicapped, elderly person being “wanded” at a security checkpoint, had a difficult time accepting the changes.

  In flight, the rules had also changed, with an increase in the use of Federal Air Marshals riding on board flights. Flight attendants were receiving self-defense training. Passengers were offering their assistance to crews if needed to overpower terrorists.

  Captain Nicholas Parker was old school. Even before the attacks, he was fearless when it came to defending his ship. “Pilot-in-Command” to Parker meant he was in total control. He only trusted the man flying the plane, and he was that man. The down side to his courage and authoritarian attitude was that he used it to abuse crewmembers. The new reinforced cockpit doors were pure nonsense to Parker. As far as he was concerned, the door was only another barrier preventing him access to the female flight attendants. A perverted profiler, Nick profiled the female members of his crew to fulfill his sexual needs.

  His requirements included young women, and the younger the better. Those in their late twenties were okay, as long as they had young girl features. Pretty was acceptable to him, but drop dead gorgeous was prized. Fortunately, for Parker that’s what the air carriers sought out as well, young and hot, for the discriminating business traveler. Megan fit the Parker profile. She had just turned twenty-one, and was new to the airline. Although she wasn’t on the drop dead gorgeous side of the scale, she turned heads. The road kill neighborhood she had grown up in taught her early that life could be devastatingly harsh. She came from the wrong side of the tracks, and her future looked bleak. Nevertheless, she was determined to get out any way she could.

  Megan’s parents couldn’t afford to help her out of the misery. The schools failed her as well. She knew it was only a matter of time before she would rise up and get out. She worked hard and managed to be hired as a flight attendant. She believed that all it would take to complete her story was that one pilot who would sweep her off her feet. She considered sleeping her way into a secure financial future, but believed she could get by with teasing. Keeping her eyes and ears wide open she too profiled targets. Upon being introduced to the captain, she recognized his potential and waited for her moment. All she had to do was hook up and play the game. In the end, she thought she would find the happiness she longed for.

  “You’ve got the airplane, I’m going to the back,” Parker said.

  The First Officer took command of the aircraft. After being introduced to Megan before the flight, he had locked his sights on her. Undoing his harness and seat belt, Parker got out of the left seat and swung a leg over the center pedestal. Standing in the tight cockpit, he looked in the mirror on the bulkhead wall to check his best captain smile. The first officer had flown with him many times before, and actually admired the old man for his virility.

  “Good hunting,” the pilot said.

  He reached for his oxygen mask, which was required by the regulations when one flight officer left the cockpit. Parker grabbed the front of his pants, and pretended to squeeze signaling his concurrence with the junior officer’s remark. His sneer said it all. Turning one hundred and eighty degrees, Parker exited the cockpit locking the door behind him. It was only a short distance, and a brief moment, and there was Megan. The bustling commotion inside the galley area seemed disjointed to unseasoned passengers, but was actually part of a well-played third act. Alcohol was served to frequent and first-time flyers with the intention of settling their nerves by keeping them well sedated. After all, though it wasn’t advertised, anything could go wrong at any time while they were held captive inside a manmade machine that screamed through the sky.

  “Everything okay back here?” he said.

  Parker turned up the concern and charm. Megan was the only flight attendant in the galley. The others were serving passengers from the cart. He glanced down the aisle appearing to survey the situation, but was really looking to see if any of the other flight attendants would interfere with his next move. They had already noted his presence, and were very much aware of his reputation.

  “Yes sir, everything is under control. Is there anything I can get for you, captain?”

  She added a few playful looks, and a sweet, elevated, innocent tone.

  “Some orange juice please, if it’s no trouble.”

  He loved her deference to his authority. His eyes never left hers.

  Is there anything I can get for you, Captain Parker? Why yes!

  “Megan, have you any plans for the layover?”

  “No sir, I’m still on reserve, the pay isn’t much. I plan to stay in my hotel room, and watch some television, or read a book.”

  She strategically turned away to fill another drink order. Parker pressed on.

  “Well, I was planning to go out to a nice restaurant. No one else in the crew wants to go. You’re welcome to go along. It would be my treat.”

  Food, he knew all too well, worked for junior flight attendants. They made so little money the first few years that they had to sacrifice meals. She flashed her bright eyes at him. Her excited, enthusiastic reply bounced off the galley walls.

  “I’d love to go.”

  As she finished preparing drinks, she stopped and looked at him fluttering her long eyelashes and adding a tilt of her head.

  “That’s very kind of you for asking captain, thank you.”

  “Nick. There’s no need for the captain thing, unless we’re flying.”

  Of course, that only applied until he got into her pants, after that he would be Captain Parker again, and she would have to understand the difference.

  “Okay Nick.”

  She cooed back as she hunched her shoulders and played the game.

  “What should I wear?”

  “Well how about something that will show off the beautiful woman that you truly are,” he said.

  She knew the just-in-case miniskirt she carried was perfect, and well worth the money she paid for it. If she could ensnare him, she was certain she could recoup the cost.

  “I just might have something that will do.”

  “Great, we’ll have a wonderful time, I promise.”

  He couldn’t stand the pressure building inside his pants, so he
smiled, excused himself, and returned to the cockpit. After he left, Megan glanced down the aisle to see if anyone had noticed the captain’s hit on her. One of the male flight attendants pantomimed a hysterical laugh back at her, but she wasn’t at all affected by it.

  She knew if her plan came to fruition, she’d be out next to Parker’s pool enjoying the sunshine, while the catty flight attendant in mid-cabin sucked in the thin air at altitude.

  Back inside the confined cockpit, appropriately named he thought, Parker watched the first officer remove his oxygen mask. He placed himself back in command. Nick looked at the first officer.

  “Signed, sealed and delivered, all that’s left is the crying.”

  The copilot gave his best compensatory laugh, and a thumbs-up.

  “How old do you think she is, boss?”

  “What difference does it make? Old enough.”

  The junior officer actually felt a tinge of sympathy for Megan. He knew that she like all of the others, had come into the airlines with stars in their eyes, seemingly unaware that piranha like Parker swam around them. Megan for some reason seemed extra young, extra innocent, and naïve to him.

  What a shame.

  * * *

  A menacing eclipse appeared over our table. Harmon slides his large frame into the booth next to Mika. He knows we won’t fit on one side of the booth.

  “Who you cheesin’ fo’?” he asks.

  He normally speaks in perfect English, but every now and again, he lets out his brotherness. He was great at it when the bad guys were around. Harmon and I reach across the table and do a fist bump.

  “Yo, sup dawg. You feel me?”

  I abuse the phrases, because I like the game. My inner-brother can’t stay silent. Mika watches us hoping the nonsense will be over soon. Her fingers separate her flowing raven hair into strands. Her Asian features from her mother’s side, complement her father’s European complexion.

  “We need another flood,” she says.

  “A what? A flood?” Harmon says.

  “Another flood like the first one you know––Noah, the Ark, two of each species? Except this time, we need to leave the males behind.”

  She takes us down without breaking a sweat. Glaring at Harmon, Mika drops her chin, and raises her eyebrows.

  “Do you have anything for me, anything the least bit encouraging?”

  “You think it’s that easy, don’t you. You come down here, from the F-B-I, with all of your high-tech gear, and straight away, you want results. Well, in case you ain’t noticed, this here ain’t no F-B-I. We’s just po’ poleese fokes tryin’ to do ourin’ bes’, missy,” Harmon says.

  He opens his eyes wide to emphasize.

  Mika’s shakes it off.

  “No wonder I’m jammed up. I’m working with comedians.”

  She queries the room.

  “Pardon me, ah excuse me, can anyone find me a real cop please?”

  “Hey, you have the precinct’s best, and second best, sitting right here,” Harmon says.

  Harmon deadpans at me.

  “Which one is you?”

  She continues with head bobs.

  “You’re absolutely correct. I have to say that you two, are the biggest dicks in here.”

  “Did you say the two biggest dicks? Now baby, you know which one has that birthright,” Harmon says.

  He pats my shoulder.

  “How you doing, man?”

  Harmon has saved my life on the streets on more than one occasion, and my butt with Fairchild many more. I watch Mika laughing. She's trying to decide which one of us is the biggest dick. I fall back in time.

  Her hair fell to her shoulders after she loosened the braid. Her eyes radiated with confidence and pierced deep inside mine. Her face was soft as I stroked it. Her scent was inviting me. I leaned forward, took her in my arms, and kissed her.

  “I did find a clue,” Harmon says.

  Mika’s head snaps in his direction. I’m pulled back from my daydream.

  “Harmon Blackwell!”

  “Well it’s not really a clue, in the clue sense.”

  She waves her fist at him and follows with a threat.

  “So help me I’m going to smack the shit out of you. Come on, what have you got?”

  He answers with a small shrug attached.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Abrams weren’t a happily married couple. She told me in so many words, you know like she forgot play the good wife. She was distracted for a moment, and let it out. It’s got to mean something don’t you think?”

  “A struggling marriage. That could be why she spends so much time at charitable functions. Do we have any proof he fooled around?” she says.

  “It might support the fact he knew his assailant,” Harmon says.

  “Knew his assailant? I should say so. I think it’s safe to assume he wasn’t on the clock giving good therapy, more like he was receiving some.”

  “Did we check his e-mails, or regular mail, maybe there’s something there. Maybe that’s the connection. Maybe all those gentlemen were soliciting sex over the Internet?”

  Mika bites her lower lip while our orders are placed on the table. She is famished so she picks up a fork. With a big smile, the server turns to take Harmon’s order. He asks for chips & salsa, with a cherry Coke. The young, black woman brushes against my partner leaving him the impression she finds him irresistible. He gives her one of those brother-type smiles. As she walks away, he turns to me.

  “Did you see that? I could get into some kind of trouble with her, feel me?”

  He is glowing hot, red hot.

  I shrug, and continue trying to figure out what it is I have been served. It doesn’t look like the picture in the menu.

  “And I thought nothing would ever come between us Harmon, I’m really hurt,” I say.

  Mika’s eyes dart between the two of us. She has consumed her meal while we played with our food.

  “I’ll check the phone records of our victims to see if anything matches. I’m leaving now so that the two of you can have a moment.”

  Harmon stands to let her out of the booth. With her purse in hand, she stands over us.

  “I’m so glad I work alone. Thanks for lunch Jake. I’m going back to the house and review some phone files. Harmon, Harmon, over here, hey! She’ll be back. You’re burning a hole in her behind with your superhero laser vision.”

  “She’s so fine.”

  I slide out of the booth.

  “Wait I’ll walk out with you.”

  I point at Harmon.

  “That leaves him with the bill, I thought the Feds were paying for lunch.”

  Harmon turns in my direction.

  “You going to be all right? Want to get together later and watch the Sopranos?”

  His concern is real and appreciated. He is sitting down so I pat him on the shoulder.

  “No man, but thanks, I’m looking forward to a quiet night of introspection and self-doubt.”

  As we walk out, Mika has that look in her eyes. I’m sure I know why.

  “Lori Powers?”

  I already have my delaying question on my tongue.

  “How come you never ask how I’m doing?”

  “Because, you forget, I know you Jake. I know if you want to talk to me about something, you will. I know when your inner child wants to speak. I’ve been there and done that, remember?”

  Her arms rise to punctuate.

  “And I know you just tried to dodge my question again.”

  I look back with one of those stupid male looks.

  “So Jake, what’s up with this Powers woman? Did you interview her, or are you in love again?”

  I know what my desires are with Lori Powers, but I’m getting some weird signals from the Planet Mika. I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting any emotional conflict over lunch.

  “It got personal, didn’t it Jake? And now you’re headed back to do a follow-up with her, right?”

  She looks down at the pave
ment.

  “Well Detective Roberts, with that kind of dedication, I’m sure you’ll crack this case wide open, so to speak.”

  She waits, but I have nothing to say.

  “Well I’ve got to get back to the house. I want to go over the phone records. I also told Fairchild I’d touch base with him, keep him up to date.”

  She looks past my shoulder at the city.

  “There’s a killer loose out there. Just help me find him that’s all I ask.”

  It would have been the perfect time to say something meaningful, intelligent, but instead, I watch her walk away. She slams the car door shut, backs up, and drives off. I hear Harmon come up behind me.

  “She still loves you, man. Where you headed now? I thought I’d hang with you, you know, and do the partner thing. You see, we, the two of us, are supposed to spend time together, that’s what they mean when they say ‘partners,’ get it?”

  I smile back, but my thoughts are about Mika, and Lori.

  “Not this time, but I promise we will. Did you get anywhere with the girl?”

  “I was doing real good right up until she found out I was the heat. Some people just can’t seem to take the heat, you know what I mean?”

  5

  He was considered a visionary by those close to him, but somewhat off-center by the rest of the population. His enemies despised him, and were envious of his success. They called him Ironman, a reference to the comic book hero and Robert Downey. Hardball was definitely his game. He had the balls. His shouting could be heard all the way down the corridor. He scowled at those attending the meeting.

  “My head is pounding with all of the science. This is too much to download, I believe that’s the correct term.”

  He shifted to his left then swiveled away from them, brooding and annoyed. He contemplates.

  Scientists, what a pain in the ass!

  He rotates back to face them with a disgruntled look.

  “All right, what you’re saying Dr. Caldwell, if I understand this properly, is we have gone from Tesla theory, to Tesla reality?”

  “Correct sir,” Caldwell said.

  Dr. Patricia Caldwell, mid-thirties, was giving a presentation on weapons of the future to her CEO. Her hair was pulled up tight in a bun. It was her nature to hide behind the walls of science and research. It helped to prevent any sign of emotion.