Lethal Invitation

by Randall Dale

She waved her hand in front of her nose. The meaning was obvious.

  ◆◆◆

  The University of Arizona campus was nearly deserted on Sunday evening, the day before classes were to begin for the spring semester. Edward strolled leisurely from building to building, holding his class schedule in one hand and a campus map in the other. Several of his classes were scheduled in buildings he hadn’t been in before and he wanted to know their location early so he wouldn’t be rushed on the first day. He had not missed a single class since he’d started at the university. Heck, he decided, he’d never even been tardy. It’s just the way he was.

  As he strolled by the old Chemistry Building next to the spacious, grassy mall, he stopped and glanced up at the fourth story windows. He recalled the night of the first deed. He’d made only the most minor mistakes, leaving the spent casing and a footprint, but perhaps in retrospect, those miscues had actually helped instead of hurt. They’d led Demetrius in different directions and each succeeding deed had confused him all the more.

  He thought of the false clue he’d provided that got William questioned. He’d expected it to have taken much longer to determine the boy wasn’t involved. Still, a day or two’s distraction for the detectives was better than none at all.

  The hitchhiker deed had him more confused than any other. He’d scoured the paper and searched online for any hint as to what the police found, but other than a small, insignificant back page story indicating a dead body on the outskirts of Tucson, there was nothing else.

  He looked west over the top of the oldest building on campus called Old Main, toward the brilliant colors of purple, gold, red and blue painting the sky as a result of the setting sun. He was thinking that a visit to Demetrius this very night would be a good thing.

  Edward strolled in the dark to the front door then up the steps to ring the bell. It was getting deeper into winter and the days were at their shortest with darkness coming before six o’clock every night. He felt the cool air against his legs and was thankful for mild Tucson winters.

  The door opened. Edward looked up through the screen into Adam’s jovial eyes.

  “Hey, Edward. Come on in.” He pushed the screen door outward and held it for the guest.

  The visitor stepped up the final step into the brightly lighted living room. He could see Demetrius, Wanda and their daughters sitting at the kitchen table. Each held a hand of cards and another collection of cards, face down, sat in front of an empty seat, obviously Adam’s.

  “Hi, Edward. Come on over and take a seat.” Demetrius motioned for him to join them.

  “I don’t want to be a bother.” He always played the part of the most appreciative young man. He knew they loved it and had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.

  Wanda stood. “No bother. Would you like to join us in a hand of cards?”

  “No, thanks. I’m sorry. I’ve come at a bad time. I just wanted to ask Demetrius a question.”

  Everyone in the room looked at the big detective. He scooted from the table with a high-pitched squeak from the chair legs.

  “Nothing to worry about. You know you’re welcome anytime.”

  “Yes, sir. I appreciate that.” He looked from Wanda to each of the kids then back to Demetrius, choosing his words carefully to make the best impression. “I’ll be quick. I was at school finding where all my classes are to be held. As I looked at my schedule I was wondering if I’m in the right ones to someday become a detective like you?”

  Demetrius stepped to the young man and placed an arm on his shoulders. Edward could see it was a proud moment for the man. He noticed as the big man glanced at Adam and saw pride there also. Edward kept his face impassive although he was jealous of the genuine love the dad felt for his son. He glanced at the girls and saw the same feeling expressed on their faces. Edward thought for a few seconds and decided he had no love for his own dad. The thought made him angry. How could this family have it so good? In the first place, they were black, and in the second place, they were at best, middle class. How much could a detective make? Probably only a fraction of what his dad made.

  He blinked, aware he had drifted for a second. “What was that?”

  Demetrius smiled. “I said the most important thing is to get your bachelor’s degree. It doesn’t matter as much what it’s in as that you have it.”

  “Okay. That makes me feel better.” He glanced at the occupants one last time. “I’ll go now and leave you to your evening.” He turned toward the door hoping Demetrius would escort him to the front and was relieved when the big man walked with him.

  “You sure you don’t want to stay?”

  “No, thanks.”

  They stepped out to the porch. Demetrius leaned on the railing as Edward stepped down to the front lawn, then turned to look up, willing the detective to stay and talk for a while.

  When Demetrius made no particular effort at small talk, Edward took a chance.

  “You know that the Smallwood case is what has me thinking about being a detective? It’s so interesting that you can find little clues to lead you to the killer. It’s fascinating and I appreciate you keeping me in the loop.” He waited, hoping for a signal the big man was willing to talk about it.

  Demetrius stood straighter and nodded proudly.

  The nod was encouraging so the boy pushed. “Anything new?”

  The big man leaned on the railing again and a smile came to his face. “Actually, quite a bit.”

  Edward felt immediately glad for the darkness as he bit his lip in anticipation.

  “There was another killing the first of last week. A hitchhiker by all indications. We still don’t know who he was, just a John Doe, at least for the time being, but the sheriff’s deputy found a shell casing and it matches the others.”

  Edward had expected nothing less. He knew the casing was there somewhere. He thought briefly of the hot shell on the back of his neck then felt the relief there was nothing else. His reprieve was short-lived.

  “But there was more evidence in this killing that all the others. During the autopsy, they found hair and skin samples in the victim’s fingernails. We think it belongs to the killer so now we have his DNA wrapped up tight.”

  Edward bit his tongue to keep from gasping. The stupid hitchhiker had grabbed his calves, but he didn’t remember any scratches, at least none very deep. He ran through the problems this new information could bring but didn’t have time to process anything because the next words exploded into his consciousness like thunder from a nearby lighting strike.

  “And somehow he scratched some paint with his teeth. We’re pretty sure it’s from the killer’s car. Our guess is that the murderer leaned him over the hood of his car to put on a zip tie and that’s when it happened. One way or the other, he scratched the paint and the residue was still in his teeth. Dusty sent it off so we should get some information back within forty-eight hours. We’re getting closer and closer every day.”

  “Wow.” It was all Edward dared utter.

  “We don’t know how far it will narrow it down but Dusty says there’s a chance we could get make, model and even year.”

  Edward turned. He had to get to his car fast or he was going to pass out. He waved over his shoulder and mumbled, “Thanks.” Then, with head pounding, he got in the car and eased away from the curb.

  As he drove, he gripped the steering wheel tightly and stared unblinkingly at the road ahead. How could this be happening? He’d been so careful.

  Chapter 25

  Demetrius stood on the porch watching his young friend’s car as the trademark Mustang taillights faded in the distance. He was proud of the young man who seemed to have found purpose and direction. The boy was doing well in school and had decided on a career in law enforcement with the goal of becoming a detective. Demetrius felt some pride in that decision because it had been his example that had shown the boy some possibility. In his mind’s eye, he could already see the picture for the album with the proud expression on his face as he
stood next to Edward in graduation robes holding the diploma in his hands.

  Demetrius shook his head in confusion. For some reason, the vision of the future was replaced in an instant with the memory of his most famous running play on the University of Arizona football field, the one where he ran the wrong direction and had to be tackled by his own teammates. He frowned, wondering where that came from.

  ◆◆◆

  The Ford Explorer backed out of the driveway onto the street in front of the Crown’s home. Demetrius waved through the glare on the windshield to his wife as she stood at the steps in the front of the garage. He smiled as she pushed the garage door closer, then waved one last time as the door retracted. Only when she was out of sight did he put the car in drive to hurry to the weekly breakfast meeting with Marcus and Edward.

  He was slightly late this morning. His sleep had been fitful and he was anything but rested for the day. A dumb dream had played in his mind over and over the whole night long. He had been rowing a raft against waves trying to reach Edward in a speedboat. The boy wouldn’t come to him, and with each mighty flurry of strokes to get to the speedboat, the waves grew more severe making any chance of rescue impossible. At last in the dream, he realized the boy had Wanda in the boat. She watched, sullen and angry as Edward, with a smile, pushed the throttle lever forward, roaring away, leaving Demetrius alone on a dark, forbidding lake.

  During the drive he couldn’t shake the feeling of doom and imminent death. He rolled the windows down to breathe the fresh, desert air. He consciously told himself it was just the reaction to the dream. By the time he got to the diner he felt better, almost back to normal.

  Marcus and Edward were already there studying their menus. It was clear they hadn’t ordered yet. Demetrius smiled, assuming they were waiting to make sure he showed up because he always paid. He’d decided to do that for the boys because that’s what Carl had done.

  As he approached, he thought briefly about the professor and the lives the man had touched, and quickly came to the conclusion that he felt good about what he was doing too. In the booth sat the first of what he hoped would be many young men he would have the opportunity to mentor. The thought buoyed his spirits another notch.

  Demetrius slid into the booth next to Edward simply because he was the smaller of the two. From his position he couldn’t see the boy’s face, but something seemed wrong.

  “Are you okay, Edward?”

  The blond-haired boy shook his head then smiled weakly. “Just didn’t sleep too good last night.”

  “I know what you mean. I kept having the dumbest dream. I hardly remember it now but you were in it.” He playfully elbowed the boy at his side.

  “No kidding?”

  The waitress appeared at their table, efficiently taking the boys’ requests. Demetrius ordered his customary coffee. When the young woman left, he clasped his big hands on the table and smiled.

  “First day of the semester, huh?”

  Edward only nodded but Marcus grinned from across the table.

  “Yep.”

  “So, how did your grades turn out after finals?”

  Edward sat up straighter. Demetrius could tell he wasn’t feeling well but was making every effort not to show it.

  “Straight As for me.” He reached for the salt shaker and played with it on the table.

  “As and Bs for me,” chirped Marcus.

  “Good for you both. I knew you could do it. You boys can be anything you want to be.”

  Edward’s shoulders sagged. “My path is already set and nobody can change it.”

  The tone and the message concerned Demetrius. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  The boy blinked. “Oh, nothing. Forget it.”

  But Demetrius could not forget it. “You can do anything you want. The hard part is trying to decide what it is you really want. You mentioned just last night you wanted to be a detective.” He looked at Marcus across that table and was gratified with the nod and the smile. He glanced at the side of Edward’s face. He could see the boy making every effort to be cheerful, but he knew how hard it was as a college student with too little sleep.

  He grinned. Kids nowadays. They want to stay up all night then they’re too tired to function during the day. He’d seen the same tendency in his own kids from time to time and admitted to himself that he’d been the same. The thought made him feel much better. For a second there he’d been concerned about the thin boy sharing the seat.

  Edward concentrated on the salt shaker, spinning it in his hands. He smiled then shook his shoulders and took a deep breath. “Yeah, that’s what I meant. I want to be a detective and nobody will be able to stop me.” He looked directly into his mentor’s face.

  Demetrius nodded at the answer as he studied the boy. He did look tired but what college boy didn’t get tired from time to time? Edward was a good boy and was on the right path. He’d be okay.

  The meal arrived and talk turned to other subjects. When they’d eaten, Demetrius paid the check, then strolled out to join the boys who waited for him just outside.

  “Say, I almost forgot.” Demetrius put a toothpick from the restaurant counter into his mouth. “Adam has a Fall sports recognition thing on Wednesday night. He asked me to invite you both. It’s nothing formal, just cookies and punch and he’ll get called up for a football award of some kind. He doesn’t know yet exactly what his award is, only that the coach told him to be there.”

  Marcus shook his head. “I’ve got a Wednesday night class this semester. Sorry.”

  Demetrius shrugged. “No big deal. How about you, Edward?”

  “Sure, I can try. When and where?”

  “Flowing Wells High School Auditorium at six. I’ll go straight there from work. Wanda will pick up the girls from choir practice and we’ll all meet there. Come if you can.”

  “I’ll try.” He looked at this watch. “I’d better get to class. Thanks for breakfast.”

  “My pleasure.”

  The boys turned to walk toward campus. Demetrius watched them go, proud he was in a position to help. He hoped Edward would get to feeling better. He grinned. One good night’s sleep is all it would take a twenty-year-old.

  ◆◆◆

  Tuesday arrived. Demetrius finished breakfast then straightened his tie and slipped into his jacket. Wanda and the kids observed him from their seats at the table.

  “See you tonight.” He nodded to his son and daughters, then turned to his wife, reaching for her hand.

  She looked up from her seat, confused. He pulled her to her feet, then, loudly humming an off-key tune, held her close and danced her to the door leading to the garage. The kids giggled and he knew she had been rolling her eyes in a show of exasperation. He also knew it was an act and that she enjoyed his impromptu acts of love, even if they were silly. He danced a circle to face the kids and winked. They grinned in return.

  She squealed as he dipped her and looked deep into her eyes while holding her inches from the floor. “I love you.”

  He lifted her to stand, holding her steady because she always got dizzy at the dip and the lifting. She smiled and glanced self-consciously over her shoulder to the kids. He followed her gaze and appreciated the smiles.

  He held her to his side and turned toward the kids. “Adam has his awards thing at six. Mom’ll pick up the girls from choir practice at …. ?” He focused on Wanda.

  “Five-thirty.”

  “Five-thirty. Then we’ll meet at the auditorium.” He glanced to Adam. “You’ll go there straight from basketball practice. Right?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good.” He flexed his muscles over his head in his best Superman imitation. “I’ve got to save the City of Tucson from the forces of evil. Wish me luck.” He turned and ran down the steps into the garage.

  ◆◆◆

  Dusty strolled into the office and handed the folder to Demetrius, then sat, leaning back in the chair with a satisfied smile. Demetrius studied him, then grinned wit
h a nod.

  “What’s this?”

  “A breakdown of the paint from the last murder. It was made by PPG Company and has been used only for the last two years mostly on higher-end sports cars.”

  “Any particular car maker?”

  “As of now we’re looking at GM and Ford, but I talked to a guy at PPG Testing who’s in a lab in California. He had me send him a sample. The company made a small modification at Ford’s request. He said with luck he should be able to tell if it’s a Ford or a GM car.”

  Demetrius gazed at the ceiling deep in thought. “That’s still an awful lot of cars.”

  “True. But at least some narrowing of the field. I over-nighted the sample yesterday so he should have it today. I hope to hear something by this afternoon.”

  Demetrius tapped the folder on the desk. “Good work. I think you forensics guys should be more involved in these cases. I appreciate what you add to the investigation.”

  “Thanks. I have to admit it’s a lot more fun than sitting in a cubicle.”

  The big detective smiled. “And the DNA?”

  “The computer never found a match.” He cocked his head. “There simply aren’t enough DNA samples on file.”

  “Okay. Let’s see where the paint thing goes. Call me as soon as you find something. Okay?”

  “You bet.” Dusty left the office with a thumbs-up sign.

  Demetrius turned his attention to the mail on his desk, left there sometime that morning by one of the receptionists. He thumbed through three pieces of junk mail which he tossed into the garbage can at the side of his desk. The next piece of mail was a request for a donation from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Tucson. “Hmmm.” He placed it on the corner of his desk to review later. “That’s a worthy cause.”

  Last was a notice from the Department, a position posting for summer interns to assist in behind-the-scenes police work. He leaned back and crossed one leg over the other while tapping his knee with the envelope. He sucked air into the side of his mouth making the kissing sound. He growled at himself at the unconscious gesture. Wanda had told him it was annoying and he tried to stop, but it was involuntary whenever he was deep in thought.