Book One: Part II: Random Evil - Chapter One

Of two evils the less is always to be chosen. —Thomas à Kempis:

Imitation of Christ, book ii. chapter xii.

Richard Hooker: Polity, book v. chap. lxxxi.

So, don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.

Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 7:34

Sometimes you flip a coin.

I made my choices long ago.

My today, and all of my tomorrows,

mean nothing; compared to all my yesterdays.

Heads, I win. Tails, I win.

Freddy

____________

Excerpt

“I’m sending Stevie back home Saturday. I don’t want him here if she gets close. And, I don’t want any of our guys to get caught unaware. Remember what happened last time?”

Ed didn’t say a word.

She walked toward the Captain’s office, opened, and closed his door, and started telling him what she told Ed.

If you were on the other side of that glass such as Ed, Rodgers, Adams, Saul, and a few others; you could hear the muffled voice of Captain Todd as he waved his arms about, arguing his case for her protection.

Captain Todd gave in, but with one stipulation. The surveillance would last until Monday night.

Prelude:

The Holidays

Snow on the ground, a chill in the air, trees blanketed with soft white, and the streets are bare of movement on the Sunday night before Christmas Eve.

Janis Baker and her son, Stevie, have just finished wrapping each other’s gifts and placed them under the tree filled with lights, shiny glass balls of various colors, shapes, and designs; and covered lightly, but with splendor, what Janis’ father always called angel hair; tinsel. And of course, no tree is complete without an angel on top.

The tree stood in front of her living room window, and with the backdrop from outside; it gave the tree that holiday festive look found on a postcard. Cozy. Warm.

Janis was so happy to have Stevie back with her.

Since what took place a few months ago, things seemed to return back its normal state; without serial killers threatening her or endangering her son.

Speaking of which, “Mom, I’ve been wanting to ask you the last couple of days about that guy last spring. Did you guys catch him? You never said anything.”

Baker shuddered slightly.

“No, we never did, and if he’s still around, he’s stopped killing. My guess is that he’s moved on. The case is still open, and we still review it daily, looking for any clue we can to find out who he is and nail him. So far, we have nothing.”

Stevie hugged her.

“I know you, mom. You’ll get him one day.”

Changing the subject, he exclaimed, “Okay, mom. You promised, remember? Charlie Brown’s Christmas!”

“How could I forget,” she smiled. “I keep my promises. The DVD is already in the player. Popcorn first, then to the movie we go!”

“I’ll make the popcorn, mom, and and‒‒” the phone rang.

They looked at each other.

Stevie broke the silence after the second ring.

“Go on, mom. I’ll make the popcorn.” Stevie winked and grinned at her.

What a boy, she thought. In the middle of the third ring, she answered.

“This is Baker.”

“Merry Christmas, Baker.”

The tension left her when she recognized the voice.

“Merry Christmas, Ed. This is a social call, I hope.”

“Yes and no. One thing though; no bodies.”

Her breath hitched, and she briefly looked over at Stevie as he was microwaving the popcorn, waiting for the bag to bulge.

“Talk to me, then. What have you got for me?”

“Our Beauty Killer is back.”

“What? How?”

“Two nights ago, she escaped from the mental ward in Buffalo. They found a female guard strangled, neck broken, and half her face sliced off. We don’t have any bodies in the area, so you won’t have to race off to a nasty crime scene. Buffalo PD is handling the murder investigation there.

“I just called to let you know she might try to come back here. If she does, I think that maybe you should...”

“What, Ed? You think maybe that I should run and hide somewhere? Is that what you think?”

“No, not at all. You wouldn’t anyway. Just thinking as a precaution, either take a little vacation time or have some added protection on hand.”

“I’ve used all my vacation time, and it’ll be five weeks before I can take another week. Besides, I’m good.

“Buffalo’s been hit hard by the storm this year, so travel won’t be so easy. Buffalo PD will probably pick her up in no time. If they don’t, in the morning, I’ll brief the team, and Captain Todd, and make them aware of her to be on the safe side.”

“Whatever you say, Baker. Just hate the thought of losing your bossy ass, is all.”

She laughed.

“I’ll see you in the morning, Ed. It’s time for Charlie Brown’s Christmas here,” she said loud enough for Stevie to hear. “Take care and be careful. Maybe you should watch a holiday movie tonight.”

Ed grimaced.

“Actually, I’m home watching the Steelers and Jets play. Have fun with Stevie. See you in the morning.”

Closing her cell phone, she turned as Stevie handed her a big bowl of popcorn and he ran to the remote and hit the on buttons for both the TV and DVD player. He knew there would be no intrusions tonight. Nothing to get between him and his mom.

He knew she had a job to do, one that held responsibilities. He would never cry or complain about that. But now, she was a mom first, and a cop, second. Holiday wishes can come true.

“Come on, mom! You’re going to miss the opening!”

“I’m hurrying.” The ding of the microwave sounded. “Someone forgot to melt the butter. Some popcorn guy you are.”

“Hey, I never said I was perfect.”

“Slide over, Bub. Give your mom some room.”

They laughed a little, but throughout Charlie brown’s Christmas, they both laughed and cried more; for the tenth straight year in a row.

I’m getting older, thought Baker. So is my son.

Tonight, was a good night.

The Squad Room

December 24th – Monday Morning ‒ 8:17 a.m.

“Morning everyone.

“I’m going to highlight the file sitting in front of each of you, but I also want each of you to study it carefully.

“Her name is Claire Waynestead, age thirty, born August 21, 1981, in Sonner, Texas. She is five-seven, roughly 120 to 130. Grey eyes, light complexion; she burns, never tans. Last known hair color, brunette, shoulder length; that could and probably has changed by now. She has no known friends or immediate family in the area. Her only know relative, a brother, is currently doing time in California. She is single, and she is to be considered extremely dangerous.

“Five years ago, I had the less than fortunate pleasure of taking her down. She was billed by the media as the Beauty Killer. Three years before she began her killing spree, she tried to make a go of it in Hollywood. She was told she wasn’t good enough.

“She started blaming other people for her failures. Her agent was the first one, then her parents. She went after other actors and such in the industry; primarily on-stage actors and killed about seven performers.

“She would first kidnap them by gunpoint, tie them up, and while still alive, she would take a straight razor and slice away the skin on their face. Then she would gloat over how unattractive they looked compared to her and then cut their throats.

“You see, in Hollywood, some producer there said she wasn’t attractive enough for the role she was after. She lost it. And over the years until I took her down, she ended up killing over nineteen people, all the same way.

“Ed and I suspect she may come into our neighborhood, and if she does, and if you spot her, handle her with extreme caution. Do not, and I repeat, do not try to apprehend this woman on your own. Call for backup ASAP. She’s much stronger than she looks, and for as crazy as she is; she is as smart as she is beautiful.”

Baker looked in Ed’s direction, he stood up. At six-four, and 245, he was an imposing individual to say the least.

“That’s all I have to add for right now. She escaped December 20th, four days ago, from the Buffalo State Mental Institution for the criminally insane. Buffalo PD are currently handling the case, but Waynestead strangled a female guard, and killed a nurse on duty, and sliced both of their faces to ribbons.

“As of this moment, there are no reported sightings of her being this far south but be prepared. What with the snowstorm, travel conditions are pretty rough up there at the moment. Waynestead does have access to money. A lot of it, so it may come as no surprise she’s probably purchased some car and new clothes by now. She may be holed up in a motel somewhere, having pizza delivered while waiting out the storm.”

Ed looked up with Baker standing to his right and nodded to the Captain.

Captain Todd walked to the front of the room.

“I’ve not much to add to what’s been said here, except to be extremely careful of this person. I don’t want any of you to play John Wayne or Rambo. This isn’t a movie, and you guys aren’t actors. Waynestead writes her own scripts with her own endings. Just watch your back out there.”

Baker took over.

“Your assignments have been rotated for this quarter. Check your inboxes for details. In the next few days, some of you will be assigned a rookie, and don’t bitch about it. We were all there once, so get over it now.

“If no one has any questions; get out there and stop the bad guys. Stay safe and keep our streets safe.”

As everyone was filing out, Captain Todd looked at Baker.

“I need to see you in my office.” Looking at Ed, then back to Baker, he said, “Alone.”

Ed shrugged his shoulders and said, “I’ll get us some coffee.”

Baker follow the Captain into his office and closed the door behind her as Captain Todd sat behind his desk.

“I’ve read a little more on your dealings with Waynestead than what was debriefed in the meeting, Baker.”

She just stared at him.

“When you arrested Waynestead, it said in your original report you had to have a hundred and ten stitches in both your thighs and chest. I wasn’t here when that happened, but don’t you play Rambo either; is that understood?”

“Certainly, Captain. I was much younger then, and times have changed.”

“So has she. Keep that in mind.”

“I have. Honestly, Captain, I think if she finds out I’m still here, still on the force; I believe that will be her driving factor in her coming back.”

“Revenge?”

“Precisely. That, and one other thing.”

“That you are an attractive woman?”

She blushed ever slightly to hear him say those words, especially from her superior, but it also put a small sparkle of light in her eyes to hear the words. She hasn’t been told she is attractive since before the divorce. Stevie says she is beautiful all the time, but he would. She’s his mom.

“Captain, I wouldn’t go that far, but she was in a jealous rage, and she did threaten to ruin my looks in court when she was sentenced to life at the institution in Buffalo. So I do expect her to come looking for me.”

“Then I’m issuing a surveillance team on your place until she is picked up.”

“I’ll be perfectly fine, Captain.”

“No, you won’t. Don’t argue. Until Waynestead is back in the institution where she belongs, your home will be under a twenty-four-hour watch. I’m not going to risk losing one of the best cops I have under my command. This discussion is over.

“Like you told your team; get out there and stop the bad guys.”

Break Room – 9:12 a.m.

“Ed, you know me, I can’t stand all this cloak and dagger stuff. I have Stevie at home with me for ten more days. Waynestead won’t come to my house, not directly at least. She’ll try to get at me where I’m away from immediate safety. And, by the way, this coffee is terrible.”

“Don’t blame me, blame the vending machine. Our coffee-maker is broken.”

Rodgers walked into the small break room.

“Baker? Got a minute?”

“Shoot.”

“It’s something I have to show you in the squad room. It’ll only take a couple minutes.”

“I’ll be there in a minute or two.”

She started to finish her coffee, but the taste was just too bitter.

“Look at it this way,” said Ed. “At least for the next several days, you’ll know that Stevie will be in good hands, too.”

“I’d like to think he already is.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I know. It’s just that all of this extra stuff just isn’t necessary.”

She stood and walked back to the squad room, with Ed right behind her, just grinning from ear to ear.

As she stepped inside, there was her team in the middle of the room singing, ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’, at the top of their non-singing-in-tune voices; it was enough to make her skin shiver. Behind her, she could hear Ed chip in and sing as badly as everyone else. She couldn’t help but laugh and smile.

When the singing died down, Rodgers bent behind the desk and withdrew a large box and handed it to her.

“I didn’t know for sure what to get you, so we hope you like this. The guys all chipped in and said to get you something. Ed helped me as well. Anyway, here, and from all of us, Merry Christmas, Baker.”

Cheers and whistles sounded off, with words of “open it” and “what’s inside?”

Baker, as she was tearing away the ribbon and wrapping paper, did her very best to hold back the tears of thankfulness. Except for Stevie, this was the first gift not given within the family.

But these guys were her other family, so that made it just as good.

Opening the flaps aside, she reached in and pulled out two boxes. One held a set of pots and pans, and the other, a set of dishes for four. Another smaller box held four movies and two video games for Stevie.

“Thank you, guys. You shouldn’t have done this, but this is very much appreciated.”

There was a punch bowl, a platter of finger sandwiches, and chips on the desk. Even the Captain was there, so in turn, everyone wished each other a Merry Christmas.

Eventually the room emptied out as they all went about their assigned street route for the day.

Baker went into her office thinking Stevie was going to be excited over his gifts. Baker was willing to bet that that was Ed’s idea.

“Excuse me, are you Officer Baker?”

Lost in her quiet moment, she was caught unaware by the voice.

“Well, not officer, but I am Baker. Can I help you?”

“I just had this delivered to me not but ten minutes ago in my office. This note said I should deliver it to you. Kind of strange if you ask me.”

In the man’s hands was a box about six inches long and two inches deep. He stretched his arms out to give it to her.

“Just put in on my desk, please. I would like to see the note first.”

He reached into his pants pocket and handed the note to her.

Looking at the scrawled words, she recognized the handwriting immediately. Whipping out her cell phone she punched in 17.

“Ed, get over to my office, right now.” She never gave him time to speak and closed her phone down.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to have a seat next to the water fountain over there.”

“Why? I do something wrong? I only brought you a package is all. Is that a crime these days?”

“No, sir. I am going to have someone briefly interview you and get a statement as to how all this took place this morning; then you will be free to go.”

The man grumbled slightly but sat next to the water fountain.

Ed walked in.

“What’s up?” Seeing the older man sitting down he asked, “What’s he in for?”

“I didn’t do anything! All I did was deliver a package!”

“Sir,” responded Baker, “please. You will be free to leave, soon.”

Looking at Ed, she said, “Read this.”

Taking the note, Ed read.

I thought it was about time I returned these items. I no longer have a need for them. Oh, and Merry Christmas, sweet Janis.

She then showed him the contents in the box.

A pair of eyes. A pair of ears. One tongue.