Joey Mancuso Mysteries Box Set

by Owen Parr

  He remained serious for a moment. Then, we busted out laughing.

  A few minutes later, as we kept our surveillance on, we noticed Angela, aka Carmela, walk into the restaurant. She spoke softly, “I’m entering Ernie’s.”

  “We see you,” replied Larry, who was already inside Ernie’s.

  Mr. Pat turned to face me, “Joey, you’re not listening, Angela just reported she’s in.”

  “As long as you’re listening we’re good. I keep looking at this gadget, and I see something.”

  Keeping his gaze on the entrance to Ernie’s, Mr. Pat quickly looked to where I was pointing, “What? I don’t see anything.”

  “An Arepa vendor,” I replied as if I had uncovered a cure for the common cold.

  “We’re on a stakeout, and you want an Arepa?”

  “Stay put, keep listening.” With that, I got out of the car trying to be inconspicuous, walked over, and bought an Arepa.

  “Did you get me one?” Mr. Pat inquired, as I sat down and closed the door.

  “You can have this one after I’m done.”

  “I don’t think so. Smells good, what’s an Arepa anyway?”

  “Columbians and Venezuelans make it. It’s a flat cake made out of corn. You add cheese and butter then grilled, and Voila! An Arepa.”

  “Looks like a pancake. Why the sudden urge for one?” he asked, still looking at Ernie’s front door.

  “It was either using your ass or finding something else.”

  Patrick gasped, “My ass, or, an Arepa? What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Anything going on inside Ernie’s?”

  “All quiet at the moment. Angela is having a glass of White Beringer with ice,” replied Harry.

  “With ice?” I asked.

  Patrick ignored my question about the wine with ice. “About my ass and the Arepa, what’s up with that?”

  “I’ve been looking at this gadget, this Bluetooth thing. As I looked, I realized I was looking at the imprint of our last vic’s right breast.”

  “Hah, but how does my ass get into this conversation?” Patrick asked, covering the earpiece.

  “I needed something to make an impression on. I could have had you sit on it, and then take a picture of the impression, or find a substitute to make an impression on.”

  “I’m glad you chose the Arepa.”

  I had pressed the outside of the Bluetooth earpiece into the Arepa. My hands were a little greasy, but since I always carry a handkerchief, I took care of that. Removing the earpiece from the Arepa, I cried out, “There!”

  Patrick flinched in his seat, “What now?”

  “Look, there it is.” We both stared at it; the same imprint on both the Arepa and our last victim’s breast. “Hold it a second, let me take a picture.”

  “Guys,” the captain’s voice came over the earpiece, “we’re all connected. But no one understands what’s going on in your car.”

  Lucy, who was with the captain chimed in, “All we heard is something about Patrick’s ass, an Arepa, and an implant.”

  “There’s a story there, for sure. Sounds like the making of a new Aesop Fable, doesn’t it? It has a nice ring to it, too—Patrick’s Ass, an Arepa, and an Implant. What do you think? … ok, you don’t have to answer that,” I said in one breath. I paused briefly before I continued. “Nonetheless, what I’m holding in my hand is indeed an imprint. Anyway, … we’ll explain later,” I replied. I cleaned up the gadget and placed it back in my ear.

  “Perhaps you can keep that between the two of you,” added Angela, from inside the bar. “Nothing going on, no sign of our professor.”

  I asked, “Anyone approach you yet, Carmela?”

  You could hear Angela chuckled, “You don’t need a membership in eHarmony if you sit here long enough, I’ve had a few offers already. Some quite interesting I might add. But, our professor is AWOL.”

  The captain’s voice came over the earpiece, “Let’s give it thirty more minutes.”

  Angela replied, “Roger that. Wait a moment. I just got a Facebook message on my phone.”

  “Who from?” asked Johnson.

  “Our professor,” Angela replied.

  “Saying what?” I asked.

  Angela replied, “It reads; ‘Sorry Carmela. Can’t make it. We’ll reconnect.’ That’s all he wrote; then, he added a smiley face.”

  “You think he’s at the bar?” I asked. “Never mind, there’s no way to know. Larry and Harry, hang back, just in case he’s looking. Wait a few minutes, then leave. Angela, you can go now.”

  “This is Captain Johnson, I’m setting up a surveillance of Professor Gruntel’s home, and we’ll do a full background check on him. Detectives Farnsworth and Charles, you’re done at the hotel for now. Joey, are you still on this thing?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “What’s up with the Arepa?” Johnson asked.

  I replied, “I’ll go back to the pub and compare pictures. I might have found what our killer left behind and later retrieved. Captain, make sure you check if the professor has been where the other murders took place.”

  Johnson ignored my request, and said, “That’d be a huge break if you found out what the killer left behind. Call me when you know more. We’re done, folks.” The captain was about to drive off when he saw a familiar face. He cut the ignition and sent a message to the crew. “Wait, wait. Everyone stay put.”

  I asked excitedly, “What’s up, Captain?”

  “Patrolman Sanchez is walking out of Ernie’s bar?”

  Lucy queried, “Sanchez? That’s one of the patrolmen that kept showing up at the crime scenes, right?”

  Johnson replied, “Correct. Joey, you had a suspicion, didn’t you?”

  “Yes. But their explanation made sense. I mean, it is their shift and patrol area. Of course, that could be part of the plan.”

  “Lucy and I will follow Sanchez and see where he leads us. In the meantime, we’ll end the surveillance of Ernie’s as of now.”

  Detective Farnsworth spoke over the com system, “Captain, you want us to hang around the hotel?”

  Johnson already on the move along with Lucy replied, “No need to since our unsub broke contact with Angela. You guys go home. Thanks.”

  I removed the earpiece and put it in my pocket. “Mr. Pat, let’s head back to the pub.”

  Patrick said, “That would be a miracle if we could tie the killer to the earpiece? The problem is that it’s going to be like finding a needle in a haystack. Do you realize how many people have these? They’re popular gadgets, lad.”

  “You’re just full of encouragement, aren’t you? One thing at a time, my dear friend. I have an idea.” I took my phone out and dialed Doctor Frankie, the Medical Examiner.”

  After a few rings, the ME picked up. “This is—”

  I cut in on his greeting. “Doctor Death, Mancuso here.”

  “Don’t tell me we have another body,” he said, somewhat alarmed.

  “No, no, thank goodness. I need you to look at some photos of our last vic. Her name was Darlene, … ” I paused, “Forgot her last name. Sorry about that, Doc.”

  “Rogers,” he said. “Okay, I have the file, what do you need?”

  “Take a look at the photo of her right breast.”

  “Okay, and I’m looking for what?”

  “I know there wasn’t much blood from the cuts. I do remember seeing a trickle that flowed down her breast in the area where we found the imprint.”

  “There are a couple of trickles. What about them?”

  “Isn’t there one that stops at the top of the imprint?”

  “I’m looking at it. The phone went silent, except for Doc breathing a few times before he spoke again. “Yes. The trails don’t go any farther than the imprint.”

  “Great! So, is it possible the item that made the imprint may have had some of our vic’s blood on it?”

  “It would have to, yes. Did you find the item?”

  “No, but we may kno
w what it is,” I said, taking the damn gadget out of my pocket and examining it.

  “Your killer probably threw away the item, or, at the very least, cleaned it to remove traces of the blood.”

  “If he threw it away, we’re fucked. But, if he kept it, I think we can place him at the scene of the crime.”

  “What is it?”

  “The pictures I took of the vic’s breast and imprint I believe match an imprint for one of these Motorola blacktooth gadgets. I’ll know better when I can blow up the photos.”

  “Bluetooth, Mancuso,” Doctor Frankie said, with a chuckle.

  “Blue. Black. Whatever the fuck color they are. This thing has little holes and crevices around the housing. If it had blood on it, I’m sure there are blood traces inside the gadget.”

  “And here I said before that forensics was not going to solve this crime. Great work, Joey.”

  “It’s a long shot. Bunch of other pieces has to fall into place before this is confirmed.”

  “You well know, that’s how it all starts, one piece at a time. Keep me posted, brother.”

  I clicked him off, looked at my watch, and made another call. “Agnes, are you still at the pub?”

  “I was just leaving our office, yes, why?”

  “Stay put; I’m on to something. Order a pizza or something for us. We have work to do.”

  17

  A few minutes after the surveillance ended, something was bothering me about the message from our supposed Professor Gruntel. “Pull over, Mr. Pat.”

  “What’s up?”

  “This guy is not following his MO,” I said, closing my eyes, putting my head back on the headrest, and thinking. I reached for my cell phone and dialed. “Angela, are you still at the bar?”

  “No, I just left. You need me to go back?” she asked.

  “No. Head over to the suite hotel, where you’re supposed to be staying.”

  Angela paused before responding. “Okay, I can do that. But, why?”

  “From what we know, our unsub stakes out his victims before he makes physical contact. It is likely that he was at the bar, and now is probably going to follow you to see where you live. Let’s make sure we play his game.”

  “The detectives already left the hotel. You just want me there, by myself?”

  “Go in the front door. Then, make sure no one sees you, and leave through the back door. Mr. Pat and I will be there to pick you up. If you see anyone suspicious enter the lobby, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, go to your room. Call me, if that’s the case. ¿Entiende Carmela?”

  “Sí.”

  Without hanging up, I turned to Mr. Pat, and said to Angela, “He’s going to want to make sure there are no cameras, et cetera. That’s what we think he’s done in the past. The message canceling the date was just a ruse. He needs to survey the location.”

  “I’m on my way,” Angela replied.

  Mr. Pat put the car in gear, pulled out unto traffic, and said, “Okay, headed to the back of the hotel. Man, your mind is always working, isn’t it?”

  “I’m fully engaged when I’m on a case. Fully engaged.”

  I dialed the Captain, but his cell phone was going directly to voicemail. “Fuck, Johnson is not answering his phone.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “The whereabouts of Sanchez,” I replied.

  “You think he’s headed to Angela’s place?’ Patrick asked.

  “Let me call Lucy.” As she picked up, I asked, “What’s happening with Sanchez?”

  “I’m driving behind. Johnson is trailing Sanchez on foot.”

  “What’s he doing?”

  “Sanchez is strolling, window shopping at the moment.”

  “Lucy, in what direction is he walking?” I asked, looking at Patrick.

  “As if he was going back to the precinct,” she replied.

  “Well, that’s the same direction as the suite-hotel,” I muttered.

  “Yes, but Angela is driving back to it. This guy is not following her,” Lucy commented.

  “I know, but what if he heard something at the precinct about our surveillance plans, and knows our what we’re doing?” I asked as Patrick drove to the back of the suite-hotel.

  “Well, if he did. Is he stupid by showing up at Ernie’s, knowing our plans?”

  I responded, “Keep in mind we are dealing with a narcissist. In his mind, he’s smarter than all of us. He could be taunting us, at this point.”

  “I’ll let you know as soon as Sanchez arrives at his destination.”

  We had arrived at the suite-hotel and waited for Angela. It was taking a little too long for Angela to walk out, and I was getting anxious. The hotel had been a small apartment building that had been converted into a quaint suite hotel, and it was perfect; no cameras anywhere. A few minutes later, I was about to step out of the SUV when Angela walked out the back door.

  “Anyone suspicious?” I asked her.

  “No one there,” she replied, getting in the back seat of Patrick’s SUV.

  “Okay good. Let’s head to the pub and brainstorm.”

  Once Angela got in the SUV and buckled up, she asked, “You think he followed me?”

  I turned back to face her, smiled, and replied, “If is not Sanchez, I bet you cannolis to dollars he did. This guy needs to see where his potential victims live. If he feels safe, he’ll make contact again.”

  Angela inquired as to who Sanchez was, and I brought her up to date.

  Patrick parked in the alley behind the pub, in a space designated for deliveries, and we walked in the back. Dean Martin’s old hit; “You’re Nobody ‘til Somebody Loves You,” was playing in the background. Marcy’s smiley face flashed in my mind for a second. The place was buzzing with activity, I gave Riley, our manager, a thumb’s up, and after saying a few hellos, shaking a few hands, I made my way to our office.

  Agnes had two pizzas waiting for us; pepperoni and sausage, and tomato and onions. An iced bucket of beers sat next to the pizzas. I grabbed a Heineken, and then nodded to Angela, and Mr. Pat, to do the same.

  Johnson was calling me on my cell, “Yes, Captain.”

  “Joey, this guy walked right in front of the suite-hotel without stopping. Then, he went back to the precinct, retrieved his car and drove away.”

  “Are you following him?” I asked.

  “I have Farnsworth and Charles on his trail now. They’ll follow and see if he goes to his home.”

  “Okay, let us know if anything changes on your end. In the meantime, we’re trying to find out what the imprint could be.”

  “Roger that.”

  Handing Agnes my iPhone, I said, “Agnes, take the last few pictures I took, and blow them up on the screen. The ones with the impression of the phone gadget on the Arepa.”

  “On the what? Did you say Arepa?” Agnes questioned.

  Mr. Pat, quipped, “It’s a long story.”

  Agnes uploaded my pictures to her laptop and then flashed them on the big screen. We all stared at the photos.

  I sat back in my chair, took a paper plate, a napkin, and a slice of pepperoni pizza. Agnes, can you show the impression on the Arepa next to the one of our vic’s close-up of the breast?”

  “Give me a second,” she replied.

  And there they were; on the left, the impression on our vic’s breast, and on the right, the one on the Arepa. “What do you think, guys?” I asked.

  Patrick replied, “Almost identical.”

  Then Agnes, added, “Really.”

  Angela chimed in, “Wow!”

  Putting down my beer bottle, I smiled and said, “Ladies and gents, I think we know what the unsub left behind.”

  My cell phone rang while still connected to the laptop. Looking at the picture that flashed on the phone’s screen, Agnes said, “It’s Marcy, Joey.”

  “Go ahead and answer, I’ll talk to her a second,” I said, looking at Mr. Pat. “I’ll be a minute, Marcy is leaving for a few days upstate with her parents.”

&nb
sp; “Take your time,” Patrick said, “We’ll eat.”

  “Hey Marcy, how you doing?” I asked, walking to a corner of the office.

  “Good, good. Listen we’re not leaving tomorrow. We delayed the trip one day. My brother is tied up. So, in instead, I’m going to the range one more time, and go through one more dry-run of the FBI firearm’s test.”

  “Want me to go with you.”

  She hesitated, “You can join us, but so that you know, Tony wants to conduct the test. He’s been working with me all this time.”

  “I understand. You guys go,” I said, wanting to say something nasty. Instead, I asked, “Does he keep all the guns with him?”

  “He keeps them at his place, but brings a duffle bag when we go to the range.”

  “I see.”

  “I spoke to him earlier. He was asking where you were.”

  “Really? Why would he do that?” I asked, baffled by Tony’s question.

  “I don’t know. He’s never done that before.”

  “Strange. What did you tell him?”

  “I told him you were on a stake-out at Ernie’s bar, in midtown.”

  Alarmed, I asked, “How did you know it was Ernie’s, where I was?”

  “You told me earlier when we spoke. Why? You didn’t want him to know?

  “Ah, no, that’s okay. I didn’t realize I told you where we were going to be.”

  “You did, otherwise how would I have known.”

  “You’re right. I just don’t see why he would care.”

  “He asked about your case, wanted to know if I had an update.”

  “If the Special Agent wants an update, tell him to call me next time.”

  “He means well, Joey. Anyway, he’s going out of town, the day after tomorrow, so he thought we’d do the test one more time. I’m ready. I can’t wait to get back to work.”

  I closed my eyes and said, “I want things to get back to normal. You back at work, and us back together again. We miss you, both of us.”

  “Hah, you tell your little friend to hang in there. Who knows, … ” she replied, with a chuckle.

  “He’s been hanging, and that’s about it. You know what I mean?”

  “I miss your perverted sense of humor. Talk to you soon.”