The Hunt

by J. M. Dabney

  It was a fucked-up day and I still didn’t feel any closer to an answer or suspect. Was it shitty of me to enjoy the act of being back on the job? I missed being a cop and helping people that needed me. Andy sat beside me on the couch, and I slipped my arm around him to hug him to my side. I’d anticipated Andy’s curiosity, and I relaxed waiting for it. When Andy asked about my former partner, I wondered where it came from.

  “Partner?”

  “Richie said to start getting curious about your ex-partner.”

  “C.B. Daniels, he was my only long-term partner. No one really wanted to work with me.”

  “Why?”

  I’d already explained some of it, but maybe Andy needed more detail.

  “The old-timers on the force remembered me from when I ran the streets. Rumors were I still had friends in some pretty low places. And I did. I ain’t going to lie. I don’t hide my past and I’m not proud, but I ain’t ashamed either. I thought I was big and bad back then, invincible.”

  “Were you?” Andy asked, and laughed.

  “I sure as hell thought so.”

  “So they didn’t like you for that?”

  I only sensed Andy’s curiosity and I liked that he wasn’t judgmental.

  “I was dirty by association, but I was a good cop and I worked my ass off to prove myself. When I made detective, they assigned me and Daniels as partners. Good guy, or so I thought.”

  “Is he the one who took the bribe from Finn?”

  “Yeah, up until that point we were cool. We’d have beers after work. Hang to watch games or whatever at one of our places. Not exactly friends, but I trusted him to watch my back until I didn’t anymore.”

  I raised my hand to comb my fingers through Andy’s hair as I tried to get my thoughts together. I turned my head to kiss his forehead. I didn’t understand why Richie brought up C.B., but I knew Richie wasn’t a fan of the guy. Although, Richie didn’t like many people I knew of, and he’d rather kill than talk to most of them.

  “C.B. was one of those guys that people liked but didn’t know why they liked him. I’d always found him a bit of a braggart. Always had a girl he’d been out with the night before. I don’t think he was as popular as he made out.”

  “Is he the reason you lost your job?”

  Andy rubbed my chest and I grabbed his hand to bring it to my lips. I brushed a kiss to his knuckles. I placed his hand back where it had been and stroked my fingers along his forearm as I gathered my thoughts.

  “No, I was working the original case, we’d just found the third body and my Captain showed up on the scene. Told me Internal Affairs was waiting for me. I get there and they accuse me of taking a bribe. Showed me pictures of someone who was about my general age and size making a deposit into my account. It was all bullshit, but they were going to charge me with a felony. I took some deal, lost my job and ended up trailing cheating spouses.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No reason to be sorry. There was no way I could’ve won in court. At least with the deal I could keep my gun.”

  “Did you ever think the set-up had to do with the case?”

  “I didn’t think so, but I was getting insistent that we had a serial. The M.E. and I agreed. But just like the recent cases, they’re covering it up. I just don’t know why they’re fighting this so fucking hard or why they’d want to take me out.”

  “Could it be a cop?”

  That’s a question I’d asked myself a dozen times. It would fit. Maybe it was too easy. It wasn’t unheard of that cops committed some of the most brutal crimes, but a spree that went on this long, someone would’ve put it together.

  “Before I left the force I would’ve said yes, but the recent murders are sloppy as fuck. A cop would know better.”

  “But whoever he is, he hid his face, knows how not to get caught. Why do you think he’s getting sloppier?”

  “I think he’s getting more unhinged. The cops aren’t acknowledging his work and he’s getting desperate.”

  I was trying to keep my frustration in check. Yes, I wanted to find the killer and get him off the streets. Yet more than that, I wanted to make sure Andy was safe.

  “Does desperate mean more dangerous? And what about the phone call, what if I was always the target and not Francis?”

  I hated the crack in Andy’s voice. I crossed my arm over my chest, placing my fingertips on his cheek to turn his gaze to mine.

  “I know, I know, there’s so many what-ifs. I promise you, I’ll keep you safe.”

  “Don’t make promises, Ray.” Andy’s voice was soft.

  With a nod, I let it go.

  “I need to get my hands on the official files. My notes only give me so much and what if his M.O. has changed.”

  “You don’t have any friends left? Someone who might let you peek at the files?”

  “Donnelly lets me have a look at his reports and passes on as much information as he can. But I don’t see the forensics or the crime scene photos. I’m only getting secondhand witness statements.”

  My phone rang where I’d dropped it on the table beside the door earlier. Andy moved away when I got up. The caller ID read unknown caller.

  I connected the call and lifted it to my ear. “Clancy.”

  “Turn on the news.”

  Bradford’s command came unexpectedly, so I told Andy to turn on the TV. The crowd of reporters stood outside an apartment in a richer part of New West. I watched Andy scoot to the edge of the couch, and then I brought my attention back to the chaos on the screen.

  “A spokesperson for the New West Police department and mayor’s office has blocked off all of Hamilton Avenue. During the impromptu press conference, they wouldn’t take any questions and any inquiries were met with ‘no comment.’ Does this newest crime have anything to do with the string of murders of young men that have recently frightened the residents of the city? If so, the police of our city aren’t talking. We will keep a close eye on this developing story.”

  It wasn’t the reporter that held my attention. It was the blood covered man in the background who seemed inconsolable—Captain Green. This was getting more fucked up by the second, and I knew in my gut they’d gone after the one thing you don’t mess with—a cop’s family, or in this case, lover.

  “You and your man come see me tomorrow. I did a bit of searching on my own and, well, we need to speak.”

  Bradford’s tone to anyone else would appear an invite for a friendly visit, but I didn’t miss the order. No one denied Theodore Bradford.

  “I’ll have someone on your house tonight, and they’ll escort you here after breakfast.”

  “We’ll see you in the morning.” I disconnected the call.

  “Another one,” Andy asked.

  “Bradford seems to think so. I think I know who the newest victim is.”

  “Who?”

  “Green’s side piece.”

  This was quickly going to spiral out of control. If the killer wanted to cause a scandal, than this was the way to do it. Everything was in Green’s name, from rent to bills to the credit cards the kid carried around. This exposed one of the most respected members of the New West Police Department. They’d protect their own like they always had and that meant the streets weren’t safe. Finding the murderer just got that much more difficult.

  The rest of the night, my mind wouldn’t shut down, and even as Andy curled up next to me, I still couldn’t turn it off. I played every scenario out from beginning to end and none of them felt right. Why would the killer go after Green’s lover? It didn’t make sense. I was sure the killer chose his victims and studied them, learned their routines, so the guy had to know who he’d targeted.

  This newest move would bring the whole of city law enforcement down on him. Would they continue to deny the murders were committed by the same person or warn the young men of New West to be on the lookout?

  17

  Andy

  Not knowing what time Bradford would be sending someone, R
ay had set his alarm for five A.M. After breakfast? I always wondered why people said that. Breakfast for me is like eleven in the morning. What if he eats at seven? Ray and I joked about it and in the end, he said five was a safe bet.

  We showered, ate, and watched the news where they spoke some more about the murder. His name was Gideon Meadows. I wondered if that was his real name, but Ray didn’t know. From what the reporters could piece together, his murder was exactly like Francis’ and the others.

  At nine there was a knock on the door. Richie and two other equally large men stood there.

  “We’re here to make sure you don’t get dead on your way to Mr. Bradford’s,” Richie said with a smirk, but the redness in Ray’s complexion told me he would have hit him if he wasn’t in a rush to hear what Bradford had to say.

  The ride was quiet; I shot a text off to Elise that I was okay, and she said she was staying at her sister’s until this killer was behind bars. I told her I wasn’t sure when I’d get back to work, but she said Gabin and Augustine had been so wrapped up in their collapsing marriage neither had mentioned it. I suppose that was good for now.

  Richie instructed us to wait to get out until the area was secure. The whole thing felt like it was out of a movie. Aside from the phone call… and yeah, the murder of my best friend, the killer hadn’t contacted me. He didn’t strike me as a sniper either. Likely, all this was overkill, but I let the boys have their fun.

  “I don’t see you for months and suddenly we see each other twice in one week,” Bradford said as we entered the fancy brownstone.

  “I wish it were under better terms.” Ray guided me into the living room while Bradford watched us with great interest.

  “I won’t beat around the bush, Ray. After you left, my concern over this issue became far too great. I have a few, shall we say, dalliances. All of them are around the age and description of these men who are being slaughtered. While none of them are more than an amazing night, I am fond of them.” He sat in a wing back chair across from Ray and me. His hair was pitch black and slicked back. His eyes almost shined like silver, but it was his cockiness that shockingly gave him a rather gorgeous appeal.

  “And you found something out?” Ray handed me a mug of coffee Bradford’s housekeeper—maid, whatever—brought in.

  “I have.” Bradford’s eyes shifted between Ray and me. “Andy, have you ever gone to Epiphany?”

  His question seemed out of the blue. “Once maybe. It wasn’t… isn’t really my thing. I’m not very coordinated. Walking is hard enough, dancing is out of the question.” When I looked at Ray, he narrowed his eyes. I knew he hated when I said anything negative about myself, but I wasn’t insulting myself. I was not a good dancer.

  “Hmm…” Bradford sipped his coffee. “Gideon Meadows, Captain Green’s little whore, was a frequent flyer over there. One of my boys knew him well.” He placed his coffee down and took out his phone. “I knew to contact you about the murder because it was my boy who called me when he saw reporters begin to descend on Gideon’s place.”

  “Your boy, who clearly is nameless, how’d he know they were going to his place? It was an apartment building,” I said earning a glare from Bradford. I knew I was being snippy, but it was all cloak and dagger stuff with these guys.

  “My boy, who does have a name but it’s none of your business, lives in the same building. He saw the cops, the news, everything. He called me. Happy, Andy?” His tone wasn’t so much sarcastic as it was annoyed. Ray’s smile wiped away the nerves that I’d just upset Bradford.

  “Go on.” Ray pointed to Bradford’s phone. “What did your concubine say?”

  “Don’t you start.” Bradford’s tone was light. “I spoke with him for a while and asked if he saw Gideon leave with anyone last night. He said he did. A gentleman who wore a fedora, a long leather coat, and he had some facial hair. He told me he’d seen him in Epiphany before.” Bradford put his phone down and looked at us with slight concern.

  “What is it, Bradford?”

  “The man doesn’t match the description of the man who was in the store or in the other apartment that killed Chad. Nor does he sound like the man who killed Andy’s roommate.”

  There was a simple explanation to that. “So, maybe this guy isn’t the killer. Maybe he was just interested in Gideon.”

  Bradford nodded. “I thought that as well. Then my boy explained he’d seen him before. A couple times actually. And all the men he left Epiphany with were all victims of this killer.”

  It felt like someone slowly poured ice water down my back. It was shocking and numbing.

  “So what you’re saying…” I began to say, but Ray cut me off.

  “We’re not dealing with one killer, we’re dealing with two.”

  “Seems so,” Bradford said. “I’ve told my boys to steer clear of Epiphany. It’s clearly the hunting ground, but you knew that already. I can tell you something else, Ray, something you’ll be glad I told you now so you will have some time to let it toss around in your brain.”

  “What’s that?”

  “With the death of Gideon, Captain Green has become fierce with his department. He has brought close to everyone in on this case. I heard through the grapevine he’s actually requesting you be brought back in.”

  “Me, why?” Ray was surprised, but he was an idiot. Of course, they wanted Ray back. He was brilliant and he knew this case better than any of them.

  “My guess is you’ll find out why soon. But everything this killer, or killers, have done has one thing in common.”

  What’s that?” I asked.

  “Ray.” Bradford’s smile was sympathetic. “Something tells me Green knows that, and you’re being brought to be what they need to make this end.”

  Ray didn’t talk all the way back to his apartment. Richie and another man came back with us and neither of us argued, they’d be around watching out for us whenever they could, but Bradford also had to keep eyes on his lovers, too. It was dangerous out there, and if Bradford was right, Ray was important to these killers.

  We’d just entered the apartment when the phone rang. Ray answered it while I put our coats away.

  “Good afternoon, Green.” It was all Ray had to say; Bradford was right and Ray was being thrown into the trenches.

  18

  Ray

  The call with Green was brief, just an order issued and a time for me to be there. If I wasn’t so interested in the case, I would’ve told him to kiss my ass. Andy held my hand tighter as we were escorted to the squad room. I’d tried to get him to stay with Richie or Bradford while I had this meeting, but Andy’s tone when he said no warned me I wouldn’t get my way without a fight.

  I shook my head as I entered the room and saw the boards set up with each victim, even the previous ones from before I was fired. So, they weren’t as sure as they played it to the press that a serial wasn’t terrorizing New West, or suddenly they got their shit together. I was leaning toward the latter.

  “The Captain is waiting for you in his office.” The clipped tone of the young uniformed officer made me roll my eyes. His gaze was taking in my and Andy’s laced fingers. I dismissed him without a glance and made my way to Green’s office. The amount of ass kissing Green did to get this job disgusted me. It wasn’t a job I’d wanted, but there were more qualified people that should’ve gotten the promotion.

  Green’s hair was stuck up in every direction as the man ran his fingers through it repeatedly. To me it looked like he’d aged a decade overnight and I wasn’t sympathetic. He’d brought this shit on himself.

  “Clancy.”

  “Green.”

  The man snarled as he motioned toward Andy and I sensed whatever was about to come out of his mouth was going to piss me off.

  “I didn’t think I asked you to bring your toy with you. A little young for you, isn’t he?”

  “How’s Gideon?” I asked.

  Green’s face turned, well, green, and I didn’t care. The bastard had made ten
years of my life hell.

  Andy pinched my side and I turned my head. He had that cute expression on his face he got every time I did something annoying.

  “Ray, be nice.”

  I knew he wasn’t any fonder of Green than I was, but he knew this was my one shot at getting my hands on the evidence.

  “No need for me to be nice. If Green’s balls weren’t in a vice at this very moment, then I wouldn’t even be here. He needs me a helluva lot more than I need him.”

  Andy nudged my ribs with his elbow, and he took a seat without waiting for an invite. I stayed standing.

  “Close the door, Clancy.”

  I did as Green asked and crossed my arms over my chest as I waited for him to start talking. Every minute that went by was a waste of precious time. How close were they to finding the next victim?

  “I know I’m an asshole and you don’t like me, but we’re getting nowhere on this fucking case. You got contacts we’ll never have and, as much as it pains me to ask, I need you to come back.” Green’s shoulder slumped and all the fight left the man.

  I had a moment of pity. Maybe Green’s feelings went beyond Gideon being the man’s toy. I’d met plenty of closeted cops in my years, and Green genuinely seemed devastated by Gideon’s murder.

  “I don’t have a badge anymore.”

  “I cleared it with the bosses, you’re back on a consulting basis only.”

  A part of me was happy just to be back, and the other more dominant part was disappointed. I’d given my life to the force and they’d discarded me so easily. I studied Andy as he watched Green and he emanated empathy. I forced the last six months of bitterness and anger away and decided to be the bigger man.

  “What do you have?”

  “Nothing, no forensics that match anyone in the system. No usable prints. Either this bastard is careful to wear gloves, or he wipes everything down before he leaves. For all the brutality of the scenes, he leaves nothing. No one is talking. We’ve hit just about every confidential informant that we have. Either they don’t know anything, or they’re scared.”