Shoot Not to Kill

by Daniel L Stephenson

  “We’re interested in the last two.”

  “Wish I could tell you more. I was working that night. That was the first shooting we’ve had that I’ve been working during. Heard a fuss coming out of the john. Next thing I know everybody’s got their cell phones out, and we’re full of cops. That’s about all I know.”

  “Do you know who was working behind the bar for the other shootings?” Colin asked.

  “They’re long gone. Hard to keep help here that’s sober. Know this place used to be a nice and quiet little joint, now it seems it is getting a bad reputation. Most of my regulars are gone, and I’m thinking of selling out before I don’t have any returning customers. We ain’t a hangout, either. No bikers or stuff like that there. I know I get a few odd post office ducks real late when they get off, but that’s all I know. The dudes that got shot, I knew this last guy. Seems like the other guy got it when he was in the biffy, too. That’s the head to you two guys. You don’t look like the high plains type, where I grew up. Probably never heard of a biffy,” Lester said.

  “So you say they seem to get shot while they are on the pot?” Michelle asked.

  “No, said in the biffy, in the bathroom. Don’t know what they are doing. I mean, maybe they’re having a lover’s quarrel or something, but I don’t see anything out here that would suggest that. The guy I knew was just a friendly guy that would park it here in the evenings.”

  “Do you know if you have any doctors coming here for a drink after hours?” Michelle asked, sipping her Coke.

  “No clue. Get all types, used to be nicer crowd, but crowds are getting worse all over now. The friendly young customers are now the unfriendly older customers. Gets that way. What are you two looking for, anyway?” Dennis asked.

  Michelle played with trickles of condensation on her glass, and was forming an answer when Colin said, “We’re looking at middle-class guys getting shot, seldom fatal, and transported to the local hospital. Been a good many within a few miles. Just looks odd. We’re visiting the places these shootings happened, trying to get a picture. Do you know of anyone that would be suspicious to you? Someone you see rarely, but things seem to go down when he’s here?”

  “Why’s it a he, you looking for someone in particular? I got maybe three hundred pretty regular Joes coming here, and none of them worry me. Other than that we get our occasional kid trying to get a drink when he’s too young, and the odd drunk that I have to throw out of here, but for the most part no one customer comes to mind. Who you looking for? Got a picture?” Dennis asked as he started clearing old drink glasses from the bar around Colin and Michelle.

  “We’re not in the position to start a photo match, we’re still looking for patterns. Lester, if something should come up, would you mind calling us at this number?” Colin asked as he handed Dennis a card. “Just leave a message for me, tell me where we met. I’m getting a bit muddled sometimes.”

  “Sure. You wanna buy a bar?” Lester said as he slid the card between the glass and the frame of a picture behind the bar. The picture was of an actor dressed up as a cop.

  “I’ll keep it in mind, Lester. Thanks,” Michelle said as she slid off the stool.

  They returned to the car. Michelle sat back in the seat and said, “Colin, let’s look around the neighborhood some. We can’t go back to the hospital.”

  “Sure, you know the name of any of the other bars that are involved? I don’t think we should just start hitting the bars and asking questions. I’m getting hungry, too,” Colin said

  “Food sounds good. Why don’t you check in with The Door, see if we can take the rest of the night off.”

  Colin nodded as he pulled out his cell phone and pushed a button. “Lieutenant Doreveck, this is Colin.”

  “Hey, Colin, where are you?” Doreveck asked.

  “We just visited the bar where our latest victim came from. Just thought we’d check in for instructions. Maybe we should visit some of the other bars that have been crime sites,” Colin suggested.

  “That’s probably best for now. You two can’t come back here anyway. We’re heating up pretty quickly here,” Doreveck said.

  “What’s up?”

  “We got the warrants pretty quickly. They got here, and we busted his car. Found two vials of Acozil and a pen injector that says insulin. We’re going to send them over to analysis. Can you and Michelle run these samples? You guys know what you are looking for, you ran the first tests.”

  “Sure, we can stop in and pick them up. Where you at? We need to get some grub on the way,” Colin said.

  “OK, I’ll have a squad car out back with the samples, you’ll have to sign them out. Let me know what you get as soon as it is up. Then we’ll need to regroup in the morning at the office. My office, eight o’clock.. He was last seen in the administrative wing a few hours ago, and Lynda Yost tells me he’s been banned on the floors. We’ve got your crew on the floor, and if he’s spotted, we are to arrest on sight. I guess we’re moving quickly. He’s smart enough to know he’s marked, and I don’t think we’ll see him here. You seen the press yet? Seems like they get involved at about this point. Somebody would call their brother-in-law and tip them usually at this point,” Doreveck said. “Keep away from any reporters. We’ll refer them to PR in the department. Right now you two are the only marks this guy’s got.”

  “OK, we’ll pick up the samples. We’re about ten minutes out. It will take a couple hours to run this stuff. Midnight maybe. Still want a call?” Colin asked.

  “Colin, call me if they do not match. It will really surprise me if we do not have a match.” Doreveck said as he snapped his phone closed.

  “You heard half of that, Michelle. Doreveck said they found some Acozil in Clinker’s car and a pen for insulin. He wants us to run it tonight. We’re supposed to pick it up at the hospital. Sorry if you were hoping to get some sleep.”

  “This will be interesting,” Michelle said. “I told Doreveck I still maintained an ID for Analytical just tonight. He sure picked up on that quick. I’m still on the list for running stuff at the analytical branch, been moonlighting some nights.”

  In a few minutes, they pulled up next to Doreveck’s car, and The Door walked over with an evidence bag. The bag had the tag placed on the surface that indicated it was in the inventory for a crime scene.

  “Has it been run for fingerprints, Mr. Doreveck?” Colin asked as he took the bag.

  “Yeah, they did a quick one and field photographed the results. It’s OK to handle. Call me if there’s any problems, I’ll get a full brief in the morning. Michelle, how long will it take you to run these samples?” The Door asked.

  “Maybe two hours, three tops,” Michelle said as Colin signed for the evidence bag.

  “That’s right, Colin said that, too. OK, see you, and be careful.”

  They pulled into the parking lot and headed into the building. “Feels odd to be coming back here together. Been a long time since we pulled in here, Colin. We’ve been working together for a long time. What’s your life like these days?” Michelle asked.

  Colin looked at Michelle and smiled, “I’m doing pretty well. Getting used to a life without anyone in it. Dated a gal for a few months here last spring. She was a lot like you. Career and smart. We did the dance until her other interests pushed me to the call waiting, answering machine mode. Now I just work and plan. This fieldwork is real disruptive to getting much done. You’re all over the town at all hours, case in point. How about you?”

  “I could have been that girl. A couple of married cops have winked at me. Somehow it just seems too much for me right now. I’m trying to plan some travel next year. Go to some places I’ve heard about from some of my single girlfriends. They’re like me, kind of sad, really, a professional single women’s travel club. Go get the passport stamped and come back to the cat.”

  “Some of the guys I know are the same, only they bring back more than the stamps in the passport. They think there’s a pill for every ill, and they’re
out to prove it. Maybe they have fun, but so far, I’m not convinced.”

  “You going home for the holiday?”

  “Oh, yeah. Fourth of July coming up in a couple of months. No plans. My folks are seeing my brother in Arizona. I’m not too interested in going. Same story, too. Kids everywhere, three girls and a boy. Questions of why I’m not having any kids. My brother was always the smart and good-looking one, so I’m out. How about your plans?”

  Michelle reached for the door to the building and said, “My mom thinks I’m coming up. I’ll go later this year. For me, there are two sisters, four grandkids, and the same questions. You mind coming over and running up there with me?”

  Colin looked over and smiled, “Sure, it’s a date.”

  Michelle pushed the call button and security answered the bell and let them in.

  “One of you mind signing in, folks?” the bearded security agent asked.

  “No, not at all,” Colin answered. “We worked here before.”

  “I know the both of you, been here a bunch of years. You’ve been gone for a while, though. OK. You’re cleared off.”

  “Thanks, Swenson,” Colin answered, picking his name off the badge.

  “Bye,” Michelle said.

  The labs were very quiet. Michelle checked several instruments until she found one to her liking.

  “What was that all about?” Colin asked.

  “I want one that has a calibration that is current. Colin, this one was run last month. The others are current, but they’re nearing recalibration. Also, a hint too, this one is up to temperature. We’ll have results in an hour. Those other machines are not cooking, their ovens are on standby.”

  “Boy, you’re a clever one.”

  “Not too clever. Can you get a computer up somewhere? I’ll run controls and get the column cleared. Did you bring the samples?”

  Colin passed the small bag to Michelle, “Here you go.”

  Both went to work. The gas chromatograph came out of standby easily and cleared quickly. Michelle ran the samples from the vials. She then pulled the pen apart and ran the fluid within that system. It did not match what was in the vials.

  “Colin, I need a storage disc. Do you have anything on you?” Michelle asked.

  “No, let me look around.”

  Michelle pulled the sample feeder out and discarded it. Replacement feeders were usually stored close to the machine. The box was empty. Michelle picked up the evidence envelope to keep positive control of evidence and walked out of the lab looking for a technician that would have access to the storage room. The break room was just down the hall.

  Michelle heard something moments before she was grabbed and pulled from the hall. Her face was covered with cloth. She could not talk or scream and could scarcely breathe through her nose. An arm held her arms to her side. She struggled and could not free herself.

  “Gotcha, bitch. If you want to live, you’ll stop struggling and shut up. Otherwise, I break your neck at C1-2, hangman’s fracture. You’d be surprised for a few seconds how easy it is to do.”

  Michelle knew instantly who had her. Clinker. She quit resisting for a few seconds, going nearly limp. She was being pulled into a room, and as she passed the doorjamb, she put her foot on the jamb and pushed as hard as she could. They fell backwards onto a floor buffer resting on the floor. The hand around her arms released her, and she took the chance of rolling backward. Her chin dug into her chest until she was free of the Clinker. She stood more quickly than he did and ran for the door. Clinker grabbed for her leg but she broke free and ran for the stairs, bursting through the doors and running down the stairs. She heard the door above her hit the stop as she turned to the second flight of stairs.

  Michelle ran three stairs at a time until the ground floor. The footsteps behind her were closer. The next level was the morgue, a dead end. It was the parking lot or the morgue. The stairs to the morgue were dark, and somehow they attracted her. She hit the parking lot door open and turned down the stairs to the morgue. She cleared the corner, masking her breath in her wadded up shirt, crouching in the corner near the door to the morgue. She heard the steps stop at the parking lot door. She could not tell if Clinker went out. Next to her, she felt a fire extinguisher. She recalled Geech telling her he had keys hidden all over the analysis branch inside fire extinguisher holders.

  Michelle reached inside and pushed up on the top of the inset fire extinguisher. The lid moved up, and a key slid into her reach. She pulled the key out and quietly opened the door. She heard steps coming down and somehow counted them in the dark. Clinker was at the upper landing. She leaned into the morgue, and the steps began to come down more rapidly. Michelle rolled into the morgue and allowed the door to coast closed, and realized she left the key in the lock. She rose from the floor and ran into the morgue. The room was dark, lit only by monitor lights and a safety light near the elevator. The glow from all of the monitors and control boxes gave the room a haunting appearance.

  The morgue opened to several access doors and elevators. Michelle pushed the button for the elevator, and to her surprise it opened immediately. She leaned in and pushed the button for the sixth floor, and then stepped back letting the elevator doors close. She then ran to the closest desk and crouched low behind the chair. The elevator started up, the numbers were reflected on the polished floor. Michelle watched and worried that the desk she was crouching behind could show her feet and knees. She pulled her sweater down over her legs, making the reflected silhouette less suggestive of her body. Michelle saw feet walk up to the elevator, blocking several of the reflected numbers on the floor. The figure stood there until the elevator stopped on the sixth floor.

  “What the hell?” came the voice. It was Colin.

  Michelle cautiously looked around the side of the desk and confirmed it was indeed her partner, Colin. “Oh, God, Colin, he tried to kill me!” She said as she burst from behind the desk.

  Colin was surprised, jumping back as Michelle ran to his arms.

  “Whoa, girl,” Colin said as he held Michelle. “You ran past me as I was coming up from the car. I saw the door fly open, and you disappeared down these steps. What happened?”

  Michelle tried to suppress her crying. Finally successful, she told Colin of Clinker grabbing her and telling her she was going to die. Michelle felt another wave of fear sweeping her as she realized she now had no doubts as to the danger Clinker posed, and the number of assaults she was now sure he had committed. How close this was to being the next victim gave her a wave of nausea.

  “OK, we’re not safe here, either. Hold on. Get the lights on over there,” Colin said as he let Michelle go. “I’ll get some help here.”

  “Just stay where you are,” came a new voice. A figure walked toward them in the dark, blocking out monitor lights as he approached.

  Colin froze; Michelle started for the lights and thought their chances were better in the dark.

  “Go ahead, girlie, turn on the lights. Then pull out a slab for your next hiding place,” Clinker said as he walked toward the elevator doors, blocking that escape. “It’s so nice to see you again, nurse Shelly. Or should I call you Michelle. I guess my name’s Clinker, huh? Well good to meet you.”

  Colin knew they were in trouble. The morgue was the worst place to be. He doubted even the security guards came down here. There was one old, bearded guard somewhere upstairs and two or three technicians wandering about, but in his gut, Colin knew the morgue was the worst possible place to be. Clinker knew this. Clinker had the advantage of being ruthless and ruined.

  The elevator was evidently programmed to park in the morgue, as the doors opened. Clinker had to turn to see if there was anyone in the elevator, and Colin jumped, landing a kick to Clinker’s arm holding the pistol. The gun fell away as it discharged with a deafening roar against the metal storage units. Colin rolled into Clinker with all his weight just as Colin had been taught in cop class. Colin had the advantage now, he knew this was live or die. Colin was
psyched.

  Clinker fell back and tried to brace himself, hitting his elbows on the floor. Just as Colin was trying to pin Clinker, Clinker kneed him in the stomach. The pain slowed him down, and Clinker started to break free.

  Michelle appeared, weapon in hand. “Freeze, freeze now!” she yelled.

  Clinker froze. Colin rolled off, coughing and gasping for air. He started searching for Clinker’s weapon.

  “I have his weapon, you cover him!” Michelle demanded.

  Colin rolled far enough to pull his weapon from this belt.

  Michelle dropped her guard with Clinker’s weapon and leaned over to pat Clinker down.

  “Don’t you read me my rights now?” Clinker asked.

  Michelle went to the lights and turned them on, then returned to continue her pat down. Michelle kept Clinker between her and Colin, never getting into the line of fire Colin held on Clinker. Clinker tried to watch them both. A smug confidence was on Clinker’s face.

  Colin started to say something, and Michelle shook her head. Colin held his aim.

  Michelle pushed Clinker’s right arm away from his body, then started searching his clothes. She pulled out several items and tossed them to the side. She came to an inside pocket and pulled out a large pen device similar to the one she had run analysis on upstairs. A vial of some chemical was in that pocket as well. She grabbed Clinker’s left arm and demanded, “Roll over real slow, keep your hands on your head.”

  “Fuck you,” Clinker replied.

  Colin thought for a split second and said, “You’ve got to three; one, two, and three.”

  Clinker was on the roll by two.

  Michelle finished patting him down and picked up what she had pulled from his pockets. She dumped these items onto the desk. She then searched several drawers and found one that contained black body bags. These bags were fixed at their top with large ties that resembled plastic handcuffs. She pulled two ties off and returned to Clinker. She placed one tie on his arms and the next on his feet. Then she returned to the drawers and found duct tape. She secured the ties with duct tape, as she just did not completely trust the ties. Colin relaxed the coverage and helped Michelle get Clinker sitting against the desk.