Tracking the Butcher

by William Joiner

  “Yeah, but that was all a big misunderstanding. The agency didn’t know that Michelle was my girlfriend and we just broke up that’s all.”

  “Who broke up with who?”

  “It was a mutual decision. We just weren’t compatible.”

  “So why did you keep calling her and following her?”

  “I didn’t…I mean I didn’t follow her. I did call, but that was just to get things straight between us so we could be friends.”

  “Is that something she wanted?”

  “Yeah, I mean no…I don’t really know. She had a habit of saying things that she didn’t mean, so I wasn’t sure.”

  “Were you paying her each time you went out?”

  “Yes, but that’s only because I met her through an escort agency and they wouldn’t let her see me if I didn’t pay them. I never paid her directly.”

  “And you offered to buy her a car?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And that’s when she broke up with you?”

  “Yeah, that’s right.”

  “You just said the break up was mutual. Why are you lying?”

  Mr. Bennaderick began to raise his voice. “I’m not lying. It was mutual, Michelle just said it first that’s all.”

  “So, you’re saying that you wanted to buy her a car, but you still wanted to break up with her?”

  “You’re making it sound like something it’s not. I never tried to hurt that girl!”

  “Who said you tried to hurt her? I never mentioned you hurting her.”

  “You’re insinuating it.”

  “No, I wasn’t but since you brought it up, did you hurt Michelle?”

  “No, I never hurt her. I never would hurt her.”

  “Where were you at around twelve-thirty this morning?”

  “I was here, asleep.”

  “Alone?”

  “Of course, I was alone. I just broke up with my girlfriend!”

  “Why didn’t you ask what happened to Michelle, since you two are so close?”

  “I don’t know. It just didn’t occur to me. What happened to her?”

  “Have you been watching the news?”

  “No, I never watch the news.”

  “They’ve been talking about a girl who was thought to be dead.”

  “Oh, I heard about that. Was that Michelle?”

  “I think you already know it is.”

  “How should I know?”

  “Because you did it.”

  “No, I didn’t. Why would I do something like that?”

  “Because she dumped you. You’ve been thinking about killing for a long time. You killed that girl in West Hollywood, then you tried to kill Michelle.”

  “I’ve never killed anybody or even thought about killing anybody. I think it’s time for you to leave.”

  “Alright, but we’ll be back.” Elgie stopped at the door and said: “By the way, how tall are you?”

  “Six-one, Why?”

  “Just a follow up question.”

  As they left Norman’s apartment, Elgie addressed his teammates. “He’s the approximate height that the man at the condo building reported.”

  When the team returned to headquarters, they found that Captain Greer had assigned them the conference room for the task force. The conference table and chairs had been removed. In their place were ten metal desks in two rows of five and three wooden desks that faced them. On the whiteboard up front was a phone number identified as the Butcher Task Force. To the right of the wooden desks was another metal desk with a computer and laser printer on it and a metal file cabinet in the corner.

  After checking out their new digs, the team again turned to doing paperwork. While Elgie was sitting in his office, he got a phone call on his cell phone at six-fifteen, right after the Butcher Letter was read on the air for the third time.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello, is this Lieutenant Reynolds?”

  “Yes, this is Lieutenant Reynolds, and you are…”

  “This is the front desk. I have someone on the line who insists on speaking to you. He says he’s the Butcher.”

  “Have you put a trace on the call?”

  “Not yet, I wanted to talk to you first, sir.”

  “Have a trace put on the call and patch him through…this is Lieutenant Reynolds, who am I speaking with?”

  “This is the Butcher.” The voice sounded distorted, like the voice of one of those villains in an online fantasy game.

  “If this is the Butcher, tell me something only he knows.”

  “I stabbed those women twenty-two times. No one else knows that except you and the medical examiner. And I suppose the doctor that treated that other girl. I should have stabbed her in the heart like I did with the girl in West Hollywood.”

  “Okay, I believe you. What do you want?”

  “I just wanted to say hi and let you know I’m thinking about you. I appreciate the fact that you allowed the news to read my letter and I want to thank you. Oh, and you can go ahead and start your task force. I don’t mind.”

  “Why don’t you just turn yourself in? Aren’t you tired of killing?”

  “No, I’m enjoying it too much. I love it when they beg for their lives. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I’ll keep my word and not kill anyone tonight. But after midnight it’s no longer Friday, it’ll be Saturday, and I can hunt all I want then. Just to let you know, I’m planning on killing one more whore, and that’ll probably be early Saturday. Then again, I might kill my first housewife, or is it my first? I guess you’ll have to catch me to know for sure. All I have to do is find one in a bar who cheats on her husband. You know, just like I said in the letter.”

  “You mean you’re so petty that you want to find a loophole to back out of your deal?”

  “I’m not backing out. I’m wise to you, I know you’re trying to keep me talking to trace me down. I just thought, saying ‘I’m wise to you’ sounds like I’m from an old black and white movie. Anyway, I’m going to hang up now, but we’ll talk again soon. Have a wonderful day.”

  Elgie quickly called the front desk.

  “This is Lieutenant Reynolds. Did you get a trace on that call?”

  “Yes, but it’s a cell phone. The computer room was able to triangulate the cell phone signal, and dispatch has patrol units trying to find the caller.”

  “Tell them that the man they’re looking for is Caucasian, around six feet tall, and between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-five.”

  “Who was that on the phone?” Connors asked. “It sounded intense.”

  “It was the Butcher. I need to call Channel Three News and tell them to give out the phone number for the task force.”

  “Hello, this is Lieutenant Elgie Reynolds of the Butcher Task Force. Let me speak to Geraldo Lopez.”

  “Hold on a minute…I’m putting you through to Mr. Lopez.”

  “This is Geraldo Lopez.”

  “Mr. Lopez, this is Lieutenant Reynolds. I want to let you know that right after you read the letter we received a call from the Butcher here at LAPD Headquarters. We have started the Butcher Task Force we’ll provide your producer with the number and post it on the LAPD website. Tell your viewers to call if they have any information regarding the Butcher. Don’t mention the phone call over the air. As soon as I clear it with my Captain I’ll let you know. You can do a phone interview or an in-person interview in the task force office, but it must be taped before nine. For now, just get that phone number out. We can see about the rest before the eleven o’clock broadcast.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell Chet about the phone number at the next break.”

  Elgie went to his office, picked up his office phone and called the front desk. “Have they found the caller yet?”

  “No Sir, but they’ll continue looking.”

  “What area are they in?”

  “East Hollywood.”

  “Okay, let me know if they find something.”

  Elgie then called Captain Greer to
inform her about the phone call from the Butcher and the need to staff the task force as quickly as possible.

  “Okay, I’ll call the watch commander and tell him that the task force needs to be manned immediately. But let’s not call it a task force. The only thing you need people to do is to answer phones and take down messages for your team to follow up. We can use some clerks and call it a tip line. That way we won’t need to assign any detectives like we would for a task force. If you want some uniforms let the watch commander know who you want. Also, you can mention the phone call on air on the eleven o’clock broadcast, but not before. We need to make sure that we’re up and running before we tell the public about the phone call. I’m sure that information will get a lot of people to call. Most will be bullshit calls, so just look for the reputable ones for in-person follow-up and do phone follow ups on the rest. You can use the uniforms for that.”

  “As to the uniforms I want to request Sergeant Pool, Officer Neil, and Sergeant Rance Johnson to join the tip line. Pool and Neil were the first responders following the attack on Michelle Chambers and Johnson is Detective Kim’s former partner.”

  “Alright, you’ve got them.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  Elgie left his office, grabbed his two partners and headed for the Butcher Tip Line Office.

  “Kim,” Elgie said, “I requested some uniforms to join us on the tip line, and I requested your former partner, Sergeant Johnson.”

  “That’s great,” Kim said, “but how did you know he was my partner?”

  “I read your file,” Elgie said. “I read both of your files. I figure you know a lot about me I should know something about you too.

  “The phone number for the tip line is about to be announced on the Channel Three News, so we better be prepared. We should have some assistance in a short while. I’m going to call the station and tell them to call it the tip line rather than the task force.”

  Once they arrived at the tip line office Elgie, Kim, and Connors took their seats behind the wooden desks. Elgie called the computer room.

  “Ms. Nixon, can you turn on the phones at the front desks of the tip line office, but only the front three?”

  “Yes, we can do that, Lieutenant.”

  “Please do.”

  The computer room chief, Julia Nixon, activated the requested phones and they began ringing almost immediately. The calls received were in the general nature of, “my next-door neighbor seems odd and talks about the Butcher like he’s an old friend.” “My wife has been missing for about a week now. I’m wondering if the Butcher got her.” And “I live in an apartment building, and I think the Butcher lives across the hall from me.”

  There were also calls from people who were worried about being attacked and wanted to know what types of people the Butcher was targeting. Women especially wanted to know “…how the Butcher would know if a woman was cheating on their husband?” “How would he even know if she’s married?” “Does this mean that all women should watch out for the Butcher?” On the last question, Elgie instructed the team to say yes and would tell the others the same thing when they arrived. He thought it was imperative that all women be careful interacting with men that were unknown to them.

  None of the tips appeared to be solid leads, but they still needed to be followed up on. That could be accomplished by a telephone call, review of records, or a personal visit. Elgie called the front desk to find out if the patrol units had found the person that called LAPD Headquarters. They found no signs of the caller but stated that they would continue looking for the next twenty minutes, but it didn’t look promising.

  Within the hour, the tip line office was completely staffed, all the phones were on, and Sergeant Pool, Officer Neil, and Sergeant Johnson were front and center. Once they were manned, they got a visitor.

  “Are you Lieutenant Reynolds?”

  “Yes, I’m Lieutenant Reynolds, what can I do for you?”

  “Actually, I was wondering if I could help you. I understand you are putting together a line for people to call in their information about the Butcher. I’d like to work with you.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Detective Justin McBean, sir.”

  “Where are you assigned?”

  “Robbery-Homicide, sir.”

  “You should stay at Robbery-Homicide, we’re not looking for any detectives at this time.”

  “Alright, sir, thank you for your time.”

  Elgie got a call on his cell phone.

  “Hello, Lieutenant Reynolds?”

  “Yes, this is Lieutenant Reynolds.”

  “This is Geraldo Lopez, I just wanted to let you know that I’d like to interview you live on the eleven o’clock broadcast. A phone interview will be fine. Are we on for releasing the information about the phone call?”

  “Yes, the Captain has approved the release of that information, but only say he called LAPD Headquarters. Don’t mention that I talked to him to anyone. That includes your producer and Chet Atkins.”

  “Alright, I’ll keep it quiet.”

  Next, Elgie called Emily Kendricks, the girl who a trick had pulled a knife on. She stated that she would be available to identify the man that attacked her and she would be waiting for Elgie to pick her up. The team stayed taking phone calls until nine at which time Elgie spoke to Kim and Connors.

  “It’s nine o’clock, we need to go pick up Emily and go meet with Senior Deputy Seals to start the sting operation. The tricks busted for solicitation are her arrests. The interviews are ours. Kim, how do you feel about going undercover?”

  “I can do that, Boss.”

  “I should explain what I have in mind. You’ll have to dress like a high-priced prostitute. Are you okay with that?”

  “No problem, Boss. I’ll just need to stop at home and get some clothes.”

  “Great, you’re going to be bait for the Butcher. I want you to go down the street away from the other girls. If Connors’ profile is correct, the Butcher should try to pick you up if you are away from the pack. Do you feel comfortable with your ability to fight off an attack inside of a car? Close-up with someone with a knife, you may not be able to get to your gun in time.”

  “No problem, Boss. I was in the top of my class in hand to hand combat at the Academy, and I am a World Champion Golden Gloves Boxer. I have also fought men in exhibition fights and won. I can handle myself.”

  “Good, you’ll be wearing a wire and an earbud so you can keep in contact with us at all times. I’ll also request that an unmarked unit is nearby. Connors, I’d like you to stay here and run things while Kim and I are out in the field. Can you run things alone, or should I get you some help?”

  “I believe I can handle it adequately, sir.”

  “In that case, Detective Kim let’s go catch us a butcher.”

  Chapter Seven

  When Elgie and Kim arrived at the Golden Oak Motel, Kim had already picked up her dress, shoes, and handbag for her impersonation of a high-priced hooker. They had also picked up Emily Kendricks for her to identify the trick that pulled a knife on her. Kim had Senior Deputy Deidra Seals look at her dress to make sure it was consistent with the type of clothing they wore in this area. She said it was. The Detective changed her clothes in the bathroom, leaving behind her usual pants suit.

  “Senior Deputy Seals,” Elgie said, “would you get her wired up please?”

  “Sure, and you can call me Deidra.”

  “Okay Deidra, call me Elgie.”

  After wiring Kim, Deidra filled the two victims in on how things were going to work.

  “Okay, we have a hidden camera in the next room, and there is a wireless closed-circuit connection to the motel’s TV. Everything is being recorded digitally on that laptop next to the TV. You two will watch the monitor and tell us when you see the person that attacked you. Our decoy prostitutes will bring the tricks to the room next door where they’ll be arrested. If either of you sees the trick that attacked you, let Lieutenan
t Reynolds know, and he’ll go over to the bait room and interview them. Do you have any questions?”

  “Will the guy that beat me be arrested?” Angie Harris asked.

  “In your case, yes—if there is a positive identification of the suspect.”

  “What about me?” Emily Kendricks asked.

  “In Angie’s case, she went to the hospital, and they documented her injuries. She also provided a statement and worked with our artist to develop a sketch of the perpetrator. In your case, nothing is documented. You didn’t report it to the Sheriff’s Department. You only put it on the Bad Trick List. The good thing is that you gave a good description. If you can identify him, I’m sure Lieutenant Reynolds will be able to get him to admit what he did.

  “Okay, it’s ten-thirty, let’s get started. Deputy Warren, would you clear the street. I’ll wire up the girls.

  “Detective Kim, it’s time to hit the streets. We don’t want you more than four blocks away because we want to keep our girls safe as well. If the officer assigned to you has to leave, you’ll be notified in your earbud, and you should not get in the car with anybody until the unit comes back. In case your car must leave, and someone stops. Tell them that the Sheriffs are hot and he should go around the block, then pick you up. That should give enough time for one of our officers to reach you.”

  Elgie interjected. “Also, in the phone call, the Butcher said he would attack after midnight, so anyone that stops for you before then is probably not the Butcher. But just in case, get in the car and tell them to bring you to the motel. If they refuse to do so, assume that they’re the killer and wait for the man to try to get you into an alley. If he does, get out of the car and let him try something such as pull a knife. We need him to do something overt to make a case against him. You’ve never worked undercover before, so if you have changed your mind, that’s okay. One of the experienced women can play the bait.”

  “No, I’m fine with it, Boss. In fact, I’m looking forward to it. I’d love to help catch that guy tonight.”

  Over the next half-hour the Sheriff’s Deputy prostitute decoys had arrested five men. Kim had not gotten a nibble from her being bait.

  “It’s almost eleven,” Elgie told Deidra. “I’m going to go outside and call Channel Three to do my phone interview with Geraldo Lopez.”