Book One: Part III: Deadly Evil - Chapter Five

The Twenty-Second -8:05 a.m.

Thursday – May 15th

As with every morning, ten dozen doughnuts, cereal, milk, and orange juice were delivered to the Twenty-Second, via the van printed ‘Do-Nuts R Us’.

The driver, Eddie, a basically non-descript male, always had a kind word for everyone. He always split the order delivered, half for the first floor, the remainder for the second floor.

Eddie was about as plain looking as it gets. Middle age, maybe forty, with one of those faces you either can’t remember, or want to forget. He walked bent over and had a leg brace attached to his left leg. Eddie was far from dangerous.

Every day when he went upstairs to the Detective’s break room, just as with this morning; he saw the light of his life. She always noticed him. Secretly, he wanted her.

Of course she never saw him in the same way, but that was okay as far as Eddie was concerned.

His fantasy was already working overtime.

“Hello, Eddie.”

“Morning, Mithy Baker. You have a goot day?”

“I’ve had better. What about you?”

“Is early. Ask me later. I know more then.”

Their conversation every morning was practically the same, and both usually had a bit of a smile on their faces. Not so much this time for Baker.

“Mithy Baker, you otay?”

“I’m all right. Listen, Eddie. No doughnuts tomorrow. We won’t be here. You can still bring the same amount for downstairs though.”

“Oh, otay. I will bring no doughnuts to you tomorrow.”

Eddie broke out a piece of paper and a half-used pencil and printed: know do nuts 2 morrow. Will bring do nots tirstday.

He handed her his note.

“That right, Mithy Baker? I want to make sure my boss unnerstands.”

She looked at his printed note and a smile, ever so slight, formed.

“That’s perfect, Eddie.”

“Goot. Mithy Baker, you have a goot day.”

“You too, and be safe out there, Eddie.”

Baker turned to prepare for her meeting with her team.

Eddie, limping as he does, trudged down the steps, out the front door, and back to his van.

No one ever noticed him, except for Baker.

No one ever does, and that’s how he likes it.

The Squad Room – 8:30 a.m.

“You all know the situation. There is still no change in Captain Todd’s condition.

“The viewings will be held this evening at Klegwell’s from six to nine. The actual burial will happen at Klegwell’s, Bellamy, and Morningside. There will be three separate viewing rooms at Klegwell’s. The procession starts at ten-thirty tomorrow morning.

“Make sure your cars are spit-shined and that your dress uniforms are immaculate. We have dozens of other police units throughout the state coming here to pay their respects; so look sharp.

“Otherwise, run your routes as assigned. Andrews, I’m assigning Jack Powers with you. As to Southie, Dill and Carver, it’s all yours on this shift.

“Any questions?”

Ed raised his hand.

“A few of us talked late into the night, and we decided seven of us will give the salute.”

“I don’t see a problem with that. Quite fitting, actually.”

A small, tight-lipped smile came to her face.

“I am honored by your offer. And I accept.”

As. with all the meetings, she ended it by saying, “Be safe out there, and keep our streets safe.”

The First Call - 1:45 p.m.

Baker’s landline on her desk rang twice before she picked up.

“Baker.”

“Hey, kiddo. Sanderson here.”

“Hi, Sandy. Were you able to find out anything good for me?”

“I don’t think so. Through the computer data base, I scanned for a u-r-i and a u-r-e and came up with two u-r-e’s, and seven u-r-i’s. The two u-r-i’s are deceased. Four of the seven u-r-i’s; also deceased. Of the other three; one’s serving time in Chino since 2006. Another lives in California, and on parole for auto theft. The last one lives in St. Louis. Clean seven years. Works for the county sewage system.

“To be honest, I don’t think it’s going to get much better than that. I can still check the micro-fiche data, but you might not hear back from me in about twenty years or so.”

Sandy let out a chortle.

“Thanks, Sandy. Don’t bother on the other. It was worth a shot. Appreciate you.

The Second Call – 2:12 p.m.

“Baker here.”

“This is Bishop Ekerson, Lieutenant. I wanted to call to ask if you received the information you requested.”

“Yes, I did. Thank you. Although it would have helped if there were more names than what I have on my desk right now.”

“I had my secretary of those members we have on file. I’m sorry we can’t help you any further, but if you think of anything else, anything at all, do not hesitate to call.”

“Thank you, Father Ekerson. If something does come up, I will.”

Hanging up the phone, she started in on the names and addresses listed in front of her. The church has over 2,500 members, yet the list only shows eighty-eight.

Perusing the list, she did spot sixteen that are, or were, very prominent citizens of Montie, as well as all of Johnson County.

The rest of her day was spent in front of her computer searching each and every person to see if they may have ever been any skeletons in their closets that could come back to haunt them.

8:17 p.m.

“You do know; you are allowed to leave the building like normal people.”

Baker looked up and smiled a tired smile at Ed.

“I’ve heard there was a rumor going around to that effect. How did it go out there for you and Hinkle?”

“Wasn’t bad. We responded to two traffic accidents, no one injured, just fender benders. Then there was a disturbance call at Piccoli’s Deli, over on Bismark and Seventh. Other than that, one citation for a busted tail light; that was it.

“What about you? You find anything useful?”

“So far I have two retired judges. One near ninety, the other one damn near dead. Neither one appears to have a hidden past. A former city councilman who use to live in Breckridge, moved here about six years ago, and is running his own one-man law firm.

Only thing on him was back in 1990; a hit and run while drinking. He turned himself in, got two years reduced to probation and a thousand hours of community service. Lucky guy.”

“If you say so. What kind of lawyer is he?”

“Criminal.”

“Now that is criminal.”

“Overall, I have eleven people that were at one time or another in public office, or prominent in the community. Other than Danvers, our lawyer, everyone else appears to be clean as a whistle.”

“Maybe, just saying, maybe our boy has run out of people to kill.”

“If that’s true, there’s still one more he hasn’t gotten around to yet, Ed.”

“Don’t let him get to you, Jan. Besides, we won’t let him.”

He came over and sat on the edge of her desk, reached out and put his left hand on her shoulder.

“I won’t let him,” he paused for a moment, then smiled.

“Hungry? I’m buying.”

“Last time you said that, if I remember right, we ended up in bed.”

“No strings, Jan. Just dinner. You need to get away from here and just clear your mind for a while. Tonight, just dinner. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

“And you’re buying?”

“Can do. Will do.”

She reached up and covered his hand on her shoulder.

“You’re on. And maybe, just maybe, we can have dessert later. Let’s go.”

Freddy’s Apartment – 10:19 p.m.

That dirty bastard. He certainly fucked up my plans.

I waited for hours for her to come home. And what happened? He follows her home and goes inside with her.

That just pisses me off. I wanted to savor her flesh. Taste it. Chew on it. Swallow part of it into my being. But that asshole cop, Manning, got in my damn way.

He isn’t part of my plan, but she is. And she will be before too long. I just have to wait a bit longer. There will be other times.

Dammit!

I have this urge to strike out at someone tonight. I have to control myself. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Focus.

I will have her soon enough.