Tracking the Butcher

by William Joiner

  “Forgive me, Father, but you have sinned. You told Lieutenant Reynolds that I came to confession. I found out because Reynolds told Lieutenant Gray, Gray told his staff, his staff told someone else, and he told someone else, and along the line, someone told me. Now, what do you think I should do about that, Father?

  “I know what I should do, I should follow through on my previous promise. I told you that I would start killing your parishioners and I have just the person. There’s this woman that I’ve been watching for a while, and she cheats on her husband. I’ll let you know when she’s dead. Goodbye, Father.”

  “Wait a minute, my son.”

  “What exactly would you want with me. I already know you broke your vows.”

  “I didn’t break my vows. I never told anyone anything you said or who you are. I gave them the name of a character, not a person. You are not the Butcher, you’re a man who’s troubled, and that trouble has manifested itself with your development of this character you play. You are not the character.”

  “That’s very insightful of you, Father, but that won’t save the woman in question. She’ll die before the sun rises. I already have an appointment. I’m going to make one more trip to this church, and that’ll be to let you know that I’ve followed through on my promise. I won’t be returning for confession, that is unless I come back to tell you how I killed her. Once again, goodbye, Father. Have a wonderful day, I know I will.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Sunday morning at approximately six o’clock, Father Timothy came into the chapel, lit some candles and kneeled at the altar. The chapel had polished oak pews, fifteen on each side, each pew sat about ten parishioners. As he was attending to his before Mass duties, he noticed one of his parishioners sitting in the third pew on his left. She was sitting with her hands in her lap and her head down. He could see she was praying or at least appeared to be doing so, so he continued on about his business preparing for Mass then returned to the Rectory. When he came back into the chapel, the young woman, whom he knew to be Laura Canseler, was still seated on the third pew. She hadn’t moved, and Father Timothy wondered if she was okay.

  “Laura, what are you doing here?” Father Timothy asked. “Laura, are you okay?” There was no answer.

  Father Timothy began to feel something he had never felt in church before. He had a feeling like something was coming, a sense of foreboding. Something evil had been in the church, that’s how it felt. Something had occurred in the church that should never happen in any church. Father Timothy walked over to Laura Canseler.

  “Laura? Say something, Laura. Are you okay?” Father Timothy said in a forced, calm voice. “Laura, say something,” he said again. Still no response.

  Father Timothy walked closer to Laura and was struck with the thought that she didn’t appear to be breathing. He thought that couldn’t be right. How is it that she wouldn’t be breathing? He walked closer.

  “Laura, why are you sitting here so early in the morning? You don’t usually come in this early. Is there something wrong? Can you answer me, Laura?” She didn’t raise her head.

  Father Timothy walked to the second pew and at this point spoke louder thinking that maybe she was asleep.

  “Laura, are you all right? Is everything okay? Are you troubled?” Still no response.

  Father Timothy walked up to where he could see Laura Canseler’s body and saw a horrific sight. He could see cuts in her blouse with small amounts of blood, but enough to know she had been stabbed. There were so many cuts he wasn’t sure how many. But he was sure of one thing, the Butcher had once again made good on his threat. The Butcher had been to Father Timothy’s Church.

  Elgie was at the Sunday morning AA meeting when he got a call on his LAPD issued cell phone.

  “Hello, this is Lieutenant Reynolds.”

  “Lieutenant, this is Father Timothy. I’m calling because there’s been a murder and the body is in the church, I know this was the work of the Butcher.”

  “How do you know that, Father?”

  “I think she looks the same as the description of the woman you found on Sunset Boulevard.”

  “Alright, call 911, and I’ll call Lieutenant Gray and head over there. In the meantime, don’t allow anyone in the church. Patrol units should be there in less than five minutes after you call 911.”

  “Okay, I’ll call emergency services.”

  Elgie quickly dialed Lieutenant Gray.

  “Lieutenant Gray, this is Elgie.”

  “What’s going on, Elgie?”

  “There’s another Butcher victim. Her body was dumped in a church: Father Timothy’s Church. He called me before calling 911. I’m going to the church, are you coming?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there, and I’ll bring my mitt. It’s time we catch this bastard.”

  “I have no doubt the media will be there, how do you want to handle it?”

  “You go ahead and talk to them if they’re there before I get there. If you want to, you can go ahead and call your friend in the media. We want to get our story out before they start making speculations. They’ll be up to bat, and we’d better do some good pitching and fielding.”

  “Do you want me to call SID in, or do you want to do that?”

  “You go ahead and try to get hold of Doctor Brooks. I think we need him on home plate for this inning.”

  Elgie arrived to a sea of media between him and the church. He parked his car outside of the media line and worked his way down the street amid flashing lights, high-intensity lights from television cameras, and questions being shouted at him. When he got to the police barricade, he saw Geraldo Lopez and pulled him over to the side of the other reporters. Other reporters pointed their microphones in their direction and put boom mics overhead.

  “Lieutenant Reynolds, I understand there’s been a murder in the church, is that true?”

  “As I understand it so far, the body is inside, but the victim was killed somewhere else. That’s all I can tell you at this point. We’ll have to wait for the SID team to get here.”

  “The SID team, that’s the Scientific Investigation Division, correct?”

  “Yes, that’s right, Geraldo. Lieutenant Gray is coming right now, please excuse me.”

  Lieutenant Gray made his way through the media in his car. The officer at the barricade had the media move out of the way and opened the barricade and retied it to a lamp post after Lieutenant Gray’s entrance.

  “Do you know anything, Elgie?”

  “No, I just got here. I called Doctor Brooks, and he’s on his way.”

  “Okay, let’s go in.”

  When they went into the church, they were met at the door by Father Timothy whose hands were shaking, and he looked pale.

  “Are you okay, Father?” Elgie asked.

  “Yes, I’m fine, Lieutenant, but I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s unnerving. I don’t know how you deal with this type of thing on a daily basis.”

  “Do you know this woman, Father?”

  “Yes, her name is Laura Canseler. She’s one of my parishioners.”

  “Has the Butcher been to confession?”

  “I can’t say, Lieutenant, I shouldn’t have told you about him coming at all.”

  “Is that why he decided to desecrate your church because you talked to me?”

  “I can’t answer that, Lieutenant.”

  “Just what can you say, Father?” Lieutenant Gray demanded. “Look, Elgie may put up with all this Catholic bull, but I won’t. I’m not a Catholic, and I’m only calling you Father as a courtesy. I don’t care anything about your vows, I only care about that woman whose life was taken, and I want to know what you know, and I want to know now!”

  “I appreciate the fact that you don’t believe in my vows, Lieutenant Gray, but I do, and I won’t break them under any circumstances. I violated my vows by telling Lieutenant Reynolds that the Butcher was one of my parishioners, and this is what happened as a result, I won’t violate them again.”
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  “Father, are you saying the Butcher did this because he knew you told me about him coming to confession?” Elgie asked.

  “I can’t tell you any more than I have, Lieutenant.”

  “That’s alright, Father,” Elgie said, “I think I can figure it out for myself. Doctor Brooks and his team are here, let’s see what they have to say.”

  “Good morning, Lieutenants, what can you tell me about the scene?”

  “Nothing yet,” Lieutenant Gray said, “we just got on the field.”

  “On the field?” Doctor Brooks said. “I know you like to see everything in baseball terms, but this isn’t a game, sir. This is serious business. Baseball metaphors’ place is not next to a dead body. Save it for the office.”

  “Calm down, Doctor,” Father Timothy said, “this is a church.”

  “Sorry, Father, I’m just not at my best at this time of morning when I have a dead body in a church. Let me get to work. Have either of you gone to the body?” Doctor Brooks asked.

  “No, we haven’t been past the front door,” Elgie said.

  “Good, Father, when was the last time this floor was cleaned?”

  “Last night, around ten.”

  “Banner, photograph the bottom of the Father’s shoes,” Doctor Brooks said. “I need a photo for elimination purposes. Fuller and Lobb, after we finish turn off the lights and use an alternate light source. Take a close look for footprints down this center aisle if you see anything powder it, put a scale ruler next to it and have Banner photograph it. Banner, work your way down behind Fuller and Lobb until you get to the body. Fuller use the yellow goggles, and Lobb use the orange. I want to be sure you don’t miss anything. Reynolds and Gray, you’re with me. We’ll take the right aisle down to the body.”

  Once they arrived at the body Doctor Brooks took a close look with Gray taking a close look at him, probably a little perturbed by the dressing down he had gotten from him. Elgie thought he had it coming. Doctor Brooks took out his magnifying glass and took a look at the victim’s mouth.

  “There’s glue on the side of her mouth. Thick like duct tape glue. There are signs of strangulation like the prostitute. What was her name, Lieutenant Reynolds?”

  “Let me check my notebook…Anita Danby.”

  “Yes, Ms. Danby—she was strangled, but this girl was gagged then strangled several times judging by the marks on her neck. The hands were in different places at different times. Then she was stabbed in the usual Butcher pattern. I count twenty-two stab wounds, and it looks like the twenty in the abdomen are shallow, then the one below the navel is deep as is the one in the chest. If I were to hazard a guess, I’d say the knife penetrated her heart.”

  “So, she was alive when he started to stab her?” Elgie asked.

  “Yes, it appears that way,” Doctor Brooks said. “It must have been terrifying for her to think she was dead just to be revived and strangled again, and then stabbed. He didn’t beat her just like he didn’t beat Ms. Danby. I suppose he must have grown tired of it.”

  “I’m sure the Butcher got a perverse pleasure from it,” Elgie said. “The coroner’s investigator is here, let’s see what he has to say.”

  Investigator Andrew Long was entering the building when Father Timothy told him that the others had taken the aisle to the right to get to the body. Andrew did the same.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met before, I’m Lieutenant Gray. I think you already know Lieutenant Reynolds and Doctor Brooks.”

  “Yes, we’ve met. What’ve you got this time, Lieutenant Reynolds, another Butcher case?”

  “Unfortunately, yes, this one is especially disturbing. According to Doctor Brooks, she was strangled and revived repeatedly and was conscious when she was finally stabbed.”

  “Let me take a look,” Andrew said. “Rigor mortis has set in, which means she was killed between three to eight hours ago. Check this out, she’s been posed with the hands crossed on her lap, and her head was placed down as if she was praying.

  “The way she’s sitting up instead of falling off to the side says she was in partial rigor when she was posed, meaning she was placed here around three hours after she died. I would guess the Butcher planned it that way. He knows something about rigor, I doubt it was just luck.”

  “He wanted her to be found exactly the way she was,” Elgie said. “This was intended to punish Father Timothy for what the Butcher considers a violation of his trust.

  “Lieutenant Gray, who did you tell about the Father’s visit from the Butcher?”

  “I just told the team in the dugout.”

  “Did they tell anyone else?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

  “You need to find out,” Elgie said. “Somehow the Butcher knew Father Timothy talked to me just like he seems to know about everything else about this investigation.”

  “I take it you have an idea on what to do with that information?” Lieutenant Gray asked.

  “Yes, I’m going to collect DNA samples from all of my people past and present and have them polygraphed. I suggest you do the same. I believe one of our people is either giving the Butcher information or is the Butcher himself.”

  Before leaving the church, Lieutenant Gray called all the task force officers telling them to be in the task force office at nine. Elgie was invited to this meeting. Before going back to the task force office, Elgie went to the home of Laura Canseler and informed her husband that she was dead. He was very distraught and cried in Elgie’s arms. Elgie had to ask him if he thought his wife was cheating on him. He said he had suspicions that she was unfaithful, which gave Elgie the thought that the Butcher had remained with his attended targets.

  “Good morning,” Lieutenant Gray said, “I’m sorry to call you all in on a Sunday morning, I know some of you had plans, but there’s been another murder.” Everyone gasps. “The victim was dumped in a Catholic Church downtown, Father Timothy’s Church. Lieutenant Reynolds has a request for you all. Elgie, would you go ahead and tell them?”

  “Well, everyone working on the task force will give a DNA sample and take a polygraph. This is not a request, it’s a requirement of all staff working on the Butcher case. That includes all personnel working in the tip line and task force offices.”

  Elgie heard grumbling from several of the task force members.

  “This is not fair,” Bywater said, “why should we be asked to submit DNA. Are we suspects?”

  “Yes!” Elgie said. “Every one of you is a suspect, and that includes Lieutenant Gray and me. We’ll be taking polygraphs and submitting DNA samples as well. Anyone not complying will be suspended.”

  “What’s Captain Greer going to say about this?” Asked Detective Marie Harkness.

  “I don’t know, I didn’t ask her, but when I explain the reasons, I’m sure she’ll be on board.”

  “What are the reasons?” McBean asked.

  “The Butcher seems to have inside information on our investigation. He’s always a step ahead, and the only way I can figure he has that information is because either he is getting information from one of the people on the task force or with the tip line. Then again, one of us could be the Butcher himself.”

  “We know the Butcher is a man, so why do the women have to take part in this witch hunt?” Harkness asked.

  “Because they may be providing the Butcher with information,” Elgie said. “You don’t have to submit a DNA sample, but you’ll have to take the polygraph.

  “I’ll cooperate,” McBean said, “no problem. Do you suspect anyone of us in particular?”

  “Yes, but I won’t mention the name because I could be wrong, and I don’t want to ruin anyone’s career without having proof. A DNA match to the hair found in the grave will provide proof as would a negative result from the polygraph.”

  “What happens if one of us fails the lie detector test?” McBean asked.

  “You’ll be either suspended or placed in another department on desk duty until further notice,”
Elgie said. “Whether it’s suspension or desk duty will be up to Captain Greer.”

  “Elgie,” Lieutenant Gray said, “I didn’t know you were going to make this a requirement. Don’t you think you should ask Captain Greer first?”

  “No, I don’t, but if you want to go right ahead. I’d prefer not to call her at home on a Sunday for something that we can take care of ourselves. The fact is no one has anything to worry about if they have no connection to the Butcher. Just consider it elimination information. I trust everyone is okay with that?”

  “I don’t know,” Bywater said. “It seems like a violation of our right to privacy.”

  “Okay, if anyone has a problem with the DNA test or the polygraph, fine. You can take it up with Captain Greer tomorrow morning. Until Captain Greer says anything different, you’ll be relieved of duty. In other words, you will not return to work until Captain Greer says you are to return.”

  “I’m going to take my chances with Captain Greer,” Bywater said. “Is anybody with me?”

  “I have to stick with my partner on this,” McBean said. “I think it is an invasion of my privacy, and I’m not going to do it without an order from the captain.”

  “Lieutenant Gray?”

  “Okay, Elgie, we’ll do it your way. McBean and Bywater, you’re dismissed until you meet with Captain Greer Monday morning. Neither of you is to report to the dugout until you meet with Captain Greer.”

  They both left.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant Gray,” Elgie said. “Now what about the rest of you? Will you cooperate?” They all said they would.

  “Good, I’ll call down to the lab and ask them to send someone up to take the DNA swabs. It’ll take a couple of days for those results. The polygraph can wait until tomorrow when we have staff available to do that test.

  “One last thing. We have twenty-eight victims that we know of as of today. I don’t plan to let that become twenty-nine if I can stop it. I don’t think a DNA sample and a polygraph are too much to ask from our personnel. Especially from law enforcement officers.