Heartbeats of a Killer

by Michael Merson

  After the song was over, he still thought about the two of them being together until the radio started to report the news about the day’s events. The topic of Elaine Lambert was the main story, of course, followed by PPK. Axel listened for a short time, but he quickly grew tired of it all and changed the car stereo over to his cell phone, so he could hear the music of his choice for the remainder of the trip home.

  Chapter 28

  Friday, July 6th

  Jennifer arrived early to the office and began working on the video for Officer Bates concerning the accident in the parking lot over the weekend that he was investigating. As she sat there drinking from her coffee cup, she moved through the recording at a high rate of speed trying to get to the correct time of day. As the video went from day to night, she saw images of people moving in and out of the store very quickly. She thought it was funny at how the cars sped through the parking lot like ants hurrying about the ground.

  As the time passed the nine o’clock hour, she noticed that the parking lot was nearly empty except for the occasional employee who would walk out from the mall and into the employee parking lot, where all mall employees were required to park per policy.

  At exactly 9:35, Jennifer watched an individual approach someone in the parking lot, and then suddenly without warning, he or she appeared to hit the other one. Spilling her coffee over, Jennifer quickly and clumsily reached for the stop button to freeze the images. She then rewound the video. She zoomed in and replayed the incident in slow motion.

  Her eyes began to water as she watched a dark figure approach her friend, Tammy Johnson, in the parking lot. She knew it was Tammy from the car that she stood next to. The tape was dark, and the image was hard to make out, but clearly, the unknown person who attacked her towered over her small frame.

  Jennifer picked up the phone to call the front desk to the police department and asked to speak with the detective in charge of the Tammy Johnson murder. She was put on hold for a moment, and then she was connected to another phone that rang and went to voice mail.

  “This is Detective Frost of the Colorado Springs Police Department. I’m not in right now or am away from my desk, but if you leave a message and a phone number, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.”

  “This is Jennifer Walters at Landing’s Department Store in the mall, and I’m calling you because I’ve got a video of the individual who killed Tammy Johnson in the security office here at the store. I’ll be here until I hear from you. Please call me back soon!”

  Jennifer was upset that she had to leave a message and was unable to speak to Axel Frost directly. She bit her lip and looked at the video that was playing on her screen. She decided to work on the tape in an attempt to make the images clearer so that she could see who Tammy’s attacker was in the parking lot.

  The video equipment at her disposal was the best in the city, and it rivaled that of any police department. It was the one thing she had asked for in her budget request last year, and it was just installed one week before Tammy’s murder. Jennifer was confident she could crop the images, bring them closer into view, and then add light where there didn’t appear to be light. Standing up, she walked over and refilled her coffee cup. She wiped her eyes, and then sat down behind her computer and began to work on the images.

  ***

  DJ was sitting behind Detective Frost’s desk, waiting for him to arrive. Lt. Wilson had called and requested that DJ come in and assist with the investigation while Gary was out. DJ was examining an odd doll when the frantic message from Jennifer Walters came in. He excitedly ran his fingers through his hair as he listened to the message. He then quickly stood up and walked toward the door.

  “What did you do to your leg?” Lt. Wilson asked as DJ walked out from the cubicle with a slight limp.

  “I was breaking horses the other day and fell off,” DJ answered.

  “I didn’t know you broke horses.”

  “Oh yeah. I’ve been doing it for years.”

  “Well, I’m glad you came in today because we need help. I think we're just waiting for another call from dispatch telling us that another girl has been killed. With everything that’s going on, I think Axel is overwhelmed. And now since Gary isn’t here and won't be for at least four more weeks, I’m assigning any case that comes into you,” Wilson explained.

  “Four weeks? I thought officer-involved shootings took about three days to investigate to clear the officer.”

  “They do, but Gary called this morning requesting additional time off, and I decided to give it to him.”

  “Okay, boss. Let me know what I can do, and thanks for giving me a chance to work in homicide for a few weeks.”

  “No problem, and thanks for doing it,” Wilson said as he walked back into his office.

  DJ continued back toward the hallway where he got into the elevator and took it to the first floor. He thought it would be best for him to contact Jennifer Walters about the video rather than bother Axel with it.

  Stepping off the elevator DJ ran into Beck who was going down to the basement.

  “Good morning,” Beck remarked as he passed DJ.

  “Morning,” DJ mumbled as he brushed by Beck.

  Beck entered the elevator and pressed the down button and scratched the back of his head. Beck thought that DJ was slightly rude to him. Maybe something was bothering him that he wasn’t privy to. Either way, the CSI investigator blew it off and continued downstairs.

  ***

  As Axel pulled into the parking lot, he passed DJ just as he was driving out of the parking garage. Axel waved, but DJ went by without waving back and left the parking garage in a hurry. Axel found a spot for his car on the fourth floor. When he got out, he opened the back door and took out his suitcoat that he had hanging up in the backseat. Instead of putting it on, he threw it over his arm and walked into the building. At his desk, he sat down and picked up the phone. Dialing the numbers from memory, he was soon connected to the Portland home.

  “Hello?”

  “Carol? This is Axel.”

  “Hey, Axel.”

  “Hello. How’s my partner?”

  “He’s okay. He’s been in the garage most of the morning putting things into the motorhome. He’s planning on taking me to Florida tonight.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. He just got off the phone with Lt. Wilson and cleared it with him. The DA’s office is still looking into the shooting but based on the interviews with Internal Affairs the District Attorney believes Gary will be cleared of any wrongdoing and that he had no other choice but to shoot the woman.

  “I told Gary that too.”

  “We watched the news last night, and all they kept saying was what a wonderful person she was and how much she had done for the community.”

  “I know, but they always do that. With what happened yesterday he would’ve been damned if he did, and damned if he didn’t by the media.”

  “You’re right, and I think he knows that. Do you want to speak to him?”

  “No, let him pack and get the two of you out on the open road. I’ll call tomorrow morning and find out where you guys are.”

  “Halfway to Florida hopefully!” Carol added.

  “I hope so.”

  “I hope to meet your new friend soon.”

  “My new friend?” Axel remarked suspiciously.

  “Yes. Your new friend, Commando. I hear that she’s a baseball fan too,” Carol said as she snickered into the phone.

  “Okay. I thought you were my friend and left the jokes to your other half.”

  “I normally do, but sometimes I have to step in when he’s not up to it.”

  “I get it. Take care of him.”

  “I will, goodbye, Axel.”

  “Goodbye, Carol.”

  Axel was still thinking about Gary when Jaxson walked into the office. Axel immediately noticed that the agent looked different. His shirt wasn’t straight, and his suit coat collar was flipped up on one side.
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  “Jaxson, are you okay?” Axel asked as he watched Agent Locke walk by and then slump down in the chair.

  “No. I need to tell you something.”

  “What is it?” Axel asked.

  “I’m not assigned to the PPK case. I’m here on my own, using vacation time to help you out,” Jaxson admitted.

  “What do you mean you’re not assigned to the case?” Axel asked as he leaned forward in the chair, looking dismayed.

  “I’ve been trying to get into the BAU within the bureau, but I haven’t been accepted yet. I think that a lot of what the BAU is doing is outdated. They’re still using the data that was collected when they first started the BAU.”

  “So…”

  “So, I’ve created some of my own theories, techniques, and psychological profiles.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Take the profile you received from the BAU before I arrived.”

  “Yes?”

  “Did any of it help you identify the killer?” Jaxson asked.

  “Not really.”

  “Right. But what I gave you about the knife and how he made the cross and bones was correct.”

  “Yes, it was.”

  “What if I told you that I’ve determined his psychological signature?”

  “The taking of the hearts. Is that what you’re referring to?” Axel asked.

  “Exactly. His taking the hearts of his victims has some psychological meaning to it.”

  “What psychological meaning is represented by taking the hearts?”

  “Since I think PPK was a type of outcast in his teenage years I believe that he never found love or for lack of better words, I don’t believe he ever won the heart of a girl or a woman as an adult,” Jaxson stated.

  “A person in love doesn’t win someone’s actual heart,” Axel defended.

  “No. It’s the symbolic meaning of winning someone’s heart, and that’s the reason he takes them. Taking the heart is PPK’s psychological signature. He possesses their heart both figuratively and literally.”

  “Let’s say I agree with you. What else do you think you know about PPK?

  “He probably has more than one vehicle. Two, maybe even three most likely. As I said before they're grey, black, or silver. One is an off-road type of vehicle, and all the vehicles are probably American made. I think he lives in or near the woods around the mountains. After looking at a map of the area, I think it’s somewhere close to the city of Colorado Springs. Most likely west toward the mountains.”

  “Well that, I think I can use,” Axel responded.

  Chapter 29

  DJ pulled into the mall parking lot near the Landings Department Store. He parked near the security entrance to the store in an area that was hidden from the public eye. He knew about the security door from working extra duty at the mall. After looking around, he walked over to the door where no handle could be located on the outside.

  The only way in was with the use of a unique key that DJ pulled from his key ring. After shutting the door behind him, he stood there for a moment in the hall. He heard the voice of Jennifer Walters, the security manager.

  “Hey, Mister. Where have you been?” Jennifer yelled from her office.

  “Everywhere!” DJ answered as he walked with a visible limp toward the opened office door.

  “What have you been up to?” DJ asked as he entered the office and moved behind Jennifer.

  “I’ve been working on this video. I think it will show who killed Tammy. It’s a video with a view of the parking lot. I was asked to look for an accident in the parking lot over the weekend when I came across this guy attacking Tammy.” Jennifer explained excitedly.

  “Yeah, I know. I’m working with Detective Frost on the investigation. I heard your message on his voicemail.”

  “Great! I was wondering why he didn’t call me back.”

  “Well, he’s been pretty busy with the case. Have you got anything yet?” DJ asked.

  “No. I’m waiting for this last image to come up on the screen. I had to lighten some areas and darken others to get a good picture. All I know is that he’s a big man. He might be bigger than you,” Jennifer added as she looked up at DJ who was towering over her from behind.

  “Well that would be pretty big,” DJ remarked as he moved closer toward her.

  “Look, DJ, the image is coming up. Oh, my God…” Were the only words Jennifer could muster together as she watched the image take on the form and identity of the Pikes Peak Killer.

  “That’s too bad, Jennifer,” DJ, David ‘Jeramiah’ Thompson, said as he leaned back with his right hand and swung his closed fist forward into the back of Jennifer’s head.

  Jennifer didn’t have time to react. She was still looking at the screen that displayed the face of PPK. The powerful blow sent her onto the counter. She gripped at the corners tightly, which kept her from falling to the floor.

  “What the hell is going on?” Jay screamed as he entered the small office.

  Jeramiah turned to see Jay coming at him. Jeramiah immediately moved toward Jay while pulling his knife from his waistband. Jay stepped to the side and tried to prepare for the assault as he watched Jeramiah raise the knife into the air. With both hands, Jay caught the arm wielding the blade. Jeramiah would not be outdone. He quickly used his free hand and pushed Jay’s arms and hands away from his own freeing up his knife hand.

  Jeramiah smiled as he looked into his victim’s eyes just as he sunk the knife deep into his chest. Jeramiah pushed the knife through Jay’s chest, into his heart, and then finally through his back to the wall behind him.

  Jennifer slowly regained her balance. She turned toward the fight that was taking place next to her. She heard Jay gasping for air as he desperately tried to pull the knife out of his chest.

  “DJ stop it!” She screamed.

  Jeramiah, without moving his right hand from the knife that was still inside of Jay, picked up the telephone that was next to him on the desk with his left and swung it to his side where Jennifer was standing. It struck her hard in the left temple, quickly knocking her unconscious. Jeramiah looked down at Jennifer and then slowly pulled the knife from Jay’s chest. He watched as his body fell to the floor next to Jennifer.

  ***

  Axel was sitting at his desk, speaking to Jaxson when he saw the red light flashing on the desk phone.

  “Let me check this message really quickly,” Axel said as he reached for the phone.

  Jaxson sat there and waited for Axel to get off the phone. He watched as Axel’s facial expression changed, the longer he listened to his message.

  Suddenly, Axel slammed the phone down, leaped from his chair, and started for the elevator.

  “Where are you going?” Jaxson yelled as he watched Axel.

  “We got a new lead. Let’s go!” Axel explained as he bypassed the elevator choosing the stairs instead while Jaxson ran behind him, trying to catch up.

  The two men hurried down to the parking garage, quickly got inside Axel’s car, and sped out of the gate.

  “Can’t you use the red light and siren?” Jaxson asked.

  “It’s only used in emergency situations. Right now, we don’t have an emergency. Just a gut feeling that we need to get there fast.”

  The traffic was heavy on the road, and it was just as busy at the mall. Many shoppers were pulling into and out of the mall parking lot. Jaxson was becoming impatient as he sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window watching everyone else move through the light they were sitting at.

  “Go around or something!” Jaxson said impatiently.

  “Jaxson we’ll get through in a minute. If I change lanes now, I’ll have to get back over when we get through the light. Please relax. You’re making me nervous,” Axel pleaded.

  Jaxson looked at him. “I need to relax?”

  ***

  Jeramiah reached down, grabbed Jennifer by the hair, and pulled her to the side so that the door to the security office would close. Jay was no
w on the floor alongside his boss, but his body was lifeless. Blood covered the tile floor around the two of them.

  Jeramiah began looking through the video. When he found what he was looking for, he removed the thumb drive, placed it into his pocket, and then quickly removed his picture from the screen.

  Jeramiah then bent over and pulled Jennifer’s head up by her hair. He lightly slapped her face.

  “Wake up Jennifer, its DJ. I got a question for you. Come on now. I know you’re still in there somewhere,” Jeramiah said as he shook her.

  Finally, out of frustration, he let go of her and allowed her head to fall to the floor with a loud thump. Jeramiah then looked up at the security monitors and watched for a moment as someone he recognized exited a car in the parking lot.

  “Damn it! Well, Jennifer, I guess we're going on a date,” Jeramiah said as he stood up and walked over to the door. Opening it slowly, he walked out into the hall and found a large empty box that was sitting on a wheeled cart.

  ***

  “I’m Detective Frost, and this is Agent Locke. We're here to see Jennifer Walters in the security office,” Axel explained to the young girl who was straightening a display rack that was overly filled with discounted clothes.

  “Their office is downstairs near the west wall. Take the escalator and walk to the right,” she replied and then pointed them in the right direction.

  “Thanks,” Axel said as the two men quickly walked away.

  Axel and Jaxson stood still on the steps of the escalator as it carried them downstairs to men’s apparel.

  “You think we will get anything useful?” Jaxson asked.

  “Yeah; I do. Or I hope we do,” Axel admitted.

  ***

  Jennifer started to wake up, and she moaned as Jeramiah was placing her in the backseat of his SUV. Her head throbbed with pain. Her clothes felt wet and sticky to the touch. She knew she was awake, but she could not see anything around her. She thought that she was under a blanket or coat, and she began to pull at it.