Book 2 - Part 4: Binding Evil - Chapter Nine

Friday – September 7th

The Squad Room – 8:24 a.m.

“This is all we have on the hit and run for now. Carl’s team is looking into any paint fragments that may have attached itself to the stand during the collision, as well as the plaster cast made from the tire tracks.

“Preliminary reports suggest the vehicle to be either an Escalade, Cadillac, or Oldsmobile. Even that is speculation.”

Captain Todd stuck his head inside the room and motioned for Baker. She excused herself a moment, walked over, and he spoke to her in a low tone before he left. She then walked back to the front of the room and stared at her team.

“It isn’t just a hit and run any longer. It’s vehicular manslaughter. Sollie died in his sleep last night.

“Sometime between this afternoon and Monday, I’ll have the autopsy report which will give me a complete list of his injuries. I will also see if I can contact any relatives he may have.

“Just be on the lookout for a blond that talks funny.”

Most of the guys laughed.

“All right, you guys, get out there and be safe, and keep our streets safe.”

As Baker was grabbing up files and sorting them from oldest too newest, Ed walked over to her.

“One way to look at this; Sollie’s the first person to die in several months, and not from any sick, perverted deviant’s either.”

“I know, Ed, but someone meant to kill him straight off. And I intend to find out who, and why.

“I need to scoot. I need to get these files sorted out, and I have a meeting with the Mayor and City Council at eleven. And that’s going to take up most of my day.”

“Want me to pick Stevie up after school for you?”

“Would you, please? That would solve my having split personalities today.”

They smiled at one another, then started in on their day.

The Weekend in Montie

Baker, Stevie, and Ed spent almost the entire weekend in Montie. On Sunday, Ed had a surprise for Stevie.

Two tickets to the Jets and Steelers game. Baker explained to Ed that she’d rather stay home and begin her outline for the plan to cover the city to protect the president when he arrived. As far as she was concerned; the Sunday drive and the game was just the thing for the boys. Male bonding. Such a wonderful thing.

That weekend also found Satchell at a cemetery paying respects to both his parents, and a little further down, the woman he married seventeen years ago, who died of ovarian cancer, five years ago, and the one woman who captured his heart for good.

Only those close to him know what Satchell feels inside himself. The rest see him two ways: good natured, and one tough son-of-a-bitch.

Elaine and Captain Raymond Todd held an outdoor barbecue party for friends, and public officials. Privately, Elaine couldn’t wait for Ray’s retirement to begin.

Ronald and Alexandria continued their daily and sometimes, nightly target practice sessions. Windy days proved difficult for her. Her ratio of hits was terrible, even at 1,500 yards.

But when the day would arrive, it wouldn’t matter.

When Stevie and Ed arrived home Sunday night; Stevie went into great detail about the game. He took pictures with Ed’s Nikon 360 Digital with zoom lens, and even managed to get a couple autographs. Jets won: 28-10.

Later, after Stevie went to bed, to wake up to a new week and another school day, Baker held Ed in her arms before he headed home and said, “You didn’t tell him you were a Steeler fan, did you?”

“Nope. But it’s okay. He enjoyed himself and that was all that mattered.”

They kissed each other goodnight, and she watched from her open doorway as he got in his car and drove away.

She felt tonight, she would sleep peacefully.

And as sleep catches up with us all; if you gazed down from afar, you would see random lights throughout, shut off, and the quiet settled in as if a blanket covered Montie.

Another weekend went into the history books.