Book One: Part III: Deadly Evil - Chapter Two
The Squad Room – 7:27 a.m.
The Twenty-Second Precinct was usually a roadmap of sights and sounds. Old men grumbling, a couple drunks protesting, someone always yelling for a lawyer, and others crying, “I didn’t do it!”
This morning, a pin could have dropped and would have been heard above all the noise. A special meeting was being held, by Captain Raymond Todd.
Usually, the standard meeting would be held by Rodgers or Satchell on a Sunday, but this morning was very different.
No morning cups of coffee being sipped; no doughnuts or other pastries would be wolfed down.
Captain Todd looked around the room, and he saw dozens of faces with a look of anger, rage, sadness, and desperation on their faces.
“Listen up. As you all know, not less than six hours ago, two of our own were brutally murdered while on duty. As of right now, we do not have any concrete evidence as to who the shooter or shooters are. What we do have is the type of round used. According to the ME, it appears to be a 7.62 mm; commonly referred to as NATO. The bullet fires at a range of two-hundred feet per second.”
Rodgers raised his hand. Captain Todd acknowledged him.
“Those types of rounds are more commonly used, or were used in the military with the AKA 47’s, weren’t they? Lightweight to carry, and there are drum magazines for them that can hold about a hundred rounds, I believe. It’s been said it can fire 600 rounds a minute.”
“You’re pretty much right. Total weight with a clip is roughly nine pounds. Being gas chambered and lightweight, it makes it a weapon easy to carry around. They’ve been used for years by many different countries. Makes me believe we are dealing with ex-military, and professionals with a serious hate for us.
“I’ve put out a feeler to all military installations to check and see if anything like this has been reported missing.” Todd scanned every face in the room.
“I know some of you were friends of Howarth and Ingstrum; this is why I’m issuing this order. If you come into contact with the shooter or shooters, do not try to apprehend them on your own. Follow SOP and call for immediate backup. Maintain your position. No one plays cowboy. Is that understood?”
He looked around the room and most everyone nodded their head in agreement.
“The FBI has offered their assistance. Our new Mayor, Brian Larson, has already been on the phone with the Governor, and has informed me that if necessary, we can use the National Guard to cordon off the entire city if need be.
“We will not let this son-of-a-bitch get away. Do I make myself clear? Any questions?”
Silence.
He looked over at Baker.
“You take it from here.”
Baker stood and walked to the front of the room.
“I am reassigning all of you. I don’t want any arguments on this. This will be on a rotating twenty-four-hour schedule. We mix up your routes, this may throw the shooter or shooters off. Expect until this is over, to have a new route every day.
“Lowery and McNeil, you’re on the south end. Klugston and Clausen, west end. Evans and Klugston, north end. Devon and Horton, east end. Prescott and Malloy, you take the malls. Lawson and Savage patrol the apartment buildings, churches, fire departments and such. Manning and Hinkle, I want you both to cover all the hotels and motels from here to Stanhouse, including those in Breckenridge, Elsmere, and Denton counties as well. Rodgers and Andrews, cruise the neighborhoods. The rest of you run your route. But don’t get too comfortable with it. It will change.
“Run your routes all day. Take a bag lunch with you. You only stop for bathroom breaks, a gas up, or a situation. Otherwise, the only time you get out of your car is when you get back to the station house and no other time.
“To back up what the Captain told you; do not play hero. If you do, your name could be on that plaque out in the main entrance with all the other men and women who gave their lives to serve, protect and defend our city, our neighbors, and our friends. And, each other.
“Now go out there and stay safe and keep our streets safe.”
The Captain spoke briefly as the meeting was breaking up.
“As to the rest of you, check your inbox’s that weren’t reassigned. You will find a special duty roster for each of you to follow for the next several weeks.”
As everyone was walking out of the briefing, Ed pressed himself toward Baker.
“Do you mind telling me why you broke the best damn team on the force apart?”
She looked up at him, not smiling.
“It’s for the betterment of the force, Ed. In case the shooter or shooters may have an inside handle on us. For all we know, they may know where we live, where we shop for groceries. Or, where two people go out on dinner dates.”
“You never cease to amaze me; you know that? So, tell me, who’s your new partner until this is over? This is temporary, right?”
“Yes, it’s temporary. I’m not throwing you out on the street or anything like that.”
They both started to walk out of the room together. As they approached the exit door, Ed asked again.
“Well? Who’s your new partner?”
“No one.”
She flipped the off switch and the room blanketed itself in darkness, as she shut the door behind them and went about their business.
Sunday Evening – 9:00 p.m.
It is such a shame you forced me to walk into your home, your private and personal space, and destroy all that which you hold above the rest of humanity.
Who the FUCK did you think you were? Certainly not God’s gift to women that’s for sure. Just because you have money, you think you can buy what you want, when you want? Did you really believe that no one knew about your shoddy escapades?
You are a pathetic fat little prick. But, you won’t any longer, buy the price of flesh as you have in the past. But, so you know, those you did buy from; they are at the door in hell waiting for you.
No longer will any young girl fear your touch, your sickening, loathsome kisses, your fat greedy hands touching them, and that mass of flesh pressing against them. Your days are finished.
Look at you; your eyes bulging from the fear of what I did to you. Your flesh gutted like a deer after a kill.
And you want to know something? I enjoyed this. I truly did. It has been far too long since I have destroyed what I consider pure evil.
Now, excuse me, but before I leave, I must get a note off to sweet Janis.
It’s important to me she knows I haven’t forgotten her.
But, how could I?
I consider her to be my greatest triumph of all time.
At least now, she can rest easier knowing one case has finally been solved, but of course, she has others.
Many others.
St. Peter’s Church – 10:41 p.m.
“Good evening, my son. And how may I help you tonight?”
“Cut the goody-goody crap, already. It’s me again.”
Silence.
“Did you not hear me? You suddenly go deaf on me? Answer me, dammit!”
“I can hear you just fine. Why are you back here after all this time?”
“What? You thought I left town or something? Wrong. Hell, padre, I’ve been in church with you every Sunday for over a year, man. I’m surprised you didn’t see me. Then again, I look different when not dressed properly for church.”
“If I could see you now, perhaps next Sunday, I will.”
“That’s not going to happen tonight, padre.”
“Then why did you come back?”
“I’m giving you another chance to grant me absolution and forgiveness, padre.”
“Did you go out and kill ... again?”
“Correcto-rumba! Very good! You’re catching on. Of course, I killed someone. I wouldn’t be here otherwise. But there is another thing.
“I need you to deliver something for me. I’m leaving a letter on the seat in here, and I want to make sure our little buddy, Lieutenant Baker, gets it.”
“Why don’t you just hand it to her yourself?”
“You would like that, wouldn’t you? Just walk up to her and say, ‘Hi, Janice, I’ve missed you. Here I am. I give up. Now, LET’S FUCK BITCH!’ Oh hell yes, what an opening sentiment of my sins that would be. You are out of your fucking mind, padre. Just give her the fucking letter.”
The door opened, then banged closed, echoing throughout the empty halls of the church.