by Amy Shannon
“Behind the old clinic, the one that’s boarded up. I’m on my way there. Masters should be there already or just about,” she explained. “I haveta go, but we can talk later.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. It’s important, and now, it’s my fault,” he hung up, and looked up at Sully. “So, when I left my post to get my goddamned truck, he went out and killed someone else.” Jake drank down his hot coffee and set the mug on the stand. He grabbed his Stetson off the desk, along with his go-bag and cell phone. He grabbed his jacket from the coat rack, and put it on. “I haveta go.”
“I’m comin’ with you,” he sighed. “Let’s take your truck.”
The two men headed out of the agency, with Jake locking the door. “Why you coming?”
“You do what you need to do, and I’m gonna take a look around the perimeter. Maybe the guy likes to watch the processing or clean up.”
“Well, in my bag is the file on Robinson. His photo is in there, too,” he opened the driver’s side door, as Sully got in the passenger side door. “Review the file and let me know what you think.”
“It’s not your fault, Dalton,” Sully opened the file as he settled into the truck.
“Oh, I could’ve followed him or stopped his latest kill. I could at least figure out where he keeps them. We know he keeps them before he dumps them. Not sure how long, but he dismembers them after he kills them, well, mostly.”
“And pens the tattoo on the body after death,” He reviewed the files.
“Now, we just haveta stop him, and see if he has any other girls before he makes Aggie part of his end game.”
“Do you think he has an end game?”
“I don’t know, but I think I’ve got a plan, I just haveta make sure I don’t lose him this time or cost anyone else their life, especially Aggie.”
“You like her, huh?”
“She and I are friends. Good, close friends,” Jake gulped, his eyes focused on the road ahead. His mind drifted back to the unopened package sitting on his desk. He’d deal with that later.
“Good. The best kind to have,” Sully closed the folder, and leaned back in the seat, his eyes focused out the window.
19
Jake got out of the truck, followed by Sully and headed over to the yellow police tape that was spread across the back alley of a boarded up clinic. The clinic has been out of business since before Jake arrived in Clarksville. He nodded to Olsen, who stood outside the perimeter, talking with the two female detectives, he recognized as Jan Rogers and Mary Leroy. He walked over to the tape, not wanting to interfere with the investigation. He nodded to Sully, who stood by the truck, taking down notes in a black notebook, and using his phone as an inconspicuous camera taking photos of the crowd and crime scene.
Aggie, wearing a blue jacket labelled Medical Examiner, stood up, taking off her latex gloves. She walked over to Jake, as she quickly dabbed her forehead with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry ‘bout this morning. If you wanna speak to Masters, he’s over there, sketching the scene. He hasn’t done any processing yet, but I just officially declared it.”
“Who found it?” Jake asked. “This doesn’t look like it’s high traffic.”
“It’s not. It’s like the other scenes,” she sighed. “Or so I’ve heard. Masters will be your best bet for answers. You said you wanted to talk with me?”
“I do, but not here,” he said.
“I see your friend came back,” she eyed Sully.
“Uh huh, last night. Doc, I’m sorry. This is my fault. I screwed up last night.”
“Don’t fault yourself,” she sighed. “It’s like saying it was my fault because I was asleep when this poor soul died.”
“I know you haveta get it on your table before you have any answers, but was this one killed before or after dismemberment.”
“Before. All of them, were dismembered after death. I’m still waiting on a tox screen. Should be in soon. Usually takes a few days. Thanks to you, we were able to ID the girls. Hopefully, this one, too.”
“I better let you get back to work,” he smiled.
“I’ll see you later?”
“I’ll be there in a few hours.”
“I look forward to it,” she smiled, walking back toward the coroner’s van, near two men, dressed in blue jackets wheeling a gurney that had a black body bag on top of it. “Wrap her up in plastic and then place her in the bag. I want all evidence preserved.”
“Yes, ma’am,” one of the men said, as they both kneeled next to the body.
Aggie walked over to the man that she pointed out as Masters and spoke to him, nudging her head toward Jake’s position.
Masters looked up from his sketchpad, and then walked over to Jake, who still stood on the outside of the perimeter. “Sir, you needed to see me?”
“I’m working on a case for Dr. Constantine. I reckon these dismemberment cases are related, and I was wondering, with the permission of the sheriff or whoever you report to, if I could get copies of your crime scene sketches.”
“I guess, it’s just a rough sketch,” he explained. “I need to know where the evidence markers are, prints and foot imprints that we need to eliminate or add as evidence, and position of different markers or whatever.
“I get that, and thanks. I’m trying to write up a profile and these will help.”
“Oh, you’re the guy ... I’m sorry. I did the sketch at your home. I also process evidence that I collect. I can’t show you the evidence, since we’re still processing it.”
“That’s not what I need. That’s for your case against the unsub, but my profile may help gain some insight into what he will or won’t do next.”
“Unsub? You mean assailant?”
“Sorry. I’ve a lot of friends who are Feds.”
“Do you want me to messenger them to you?”
“I haveta stop by the morgue in a few hours, I’ll stop by the lab, if you don’t mind.”
“No problem. I’ll have them left at the receptionist desk for you. I better get back to it,” he headed toward where the body once lay, as the two men were loading the now top-heavy gurney into the coroner’s van.
Sully was about to walk over to Jake, when he stopped and continued to take photos. His eyes scanned the crowd as fast as he could take the photos. He watched as Nels walked over to Jake. He turned when he heard the sirens come up behind him. Lutz got out of his Police Chief Squad Car, and stormed over to Sully. He pressed his finger deep into Sully’s chest. “You? You’re involved in this now? I thought you were finally gone!”
Sully grabbed Lutz’s hand and pushed it away, as he took a step back. “Back off, Lutz. I heard you were outta this.”
“Not on your life,” his angry voice loudened. “And what’s he doing here? He's not in this. He’s probably your precious Icarus!”
Jake looked at Olsen. “I didn’t mean to cause issues with Lutz. I just wanted to see one scene first hand and speak with Masters, there. I’ll be on my way.”
“Hold it,” Nels said. “I’ll deal with Lutz. If there is somethin’ you need, or you find out, let me know. I’ll be by your office after I leave here. I reckon you have somethin’ you wish to share.”
“I don’t have proof, but I do need some clarification so I don’t cross any lines,” Jake walked over to Sully, ignoring Lutz. “You want a ride back?”
“Uh huh, I’m with you,” Sully and Jake walked passed Lutz directly to the truck.
Lutz glared at the two men. “I will not be ignored!”
“No, but you’ll be put on suspension,” Nels walked over to him.
“You don’t have the authority to do that.”
“Actually, I do, but I called the commissioner. He is expecting you at City Hall. He’s meeting with Mayor Tuttle as we speak. Now, you should be on your way. I’ll let Lieutenant Marshall know that he’ll be in command.”
Lutz huffed as he stormed to his car without saying a word. He sped away from the crime scene, as Nels returned to
the perimeter. “Masters, what’d you get?”
20
Jake walked into the agency, with Sully quick on his heels. He looked toward Ralph, who was sitting at his desk, going through the mail. “Brennan, you remember Ranger Sullivan.”
Ralph looked up, “Uh, yes, sir.”
“At ease, Brennan,” Sully chuckled. “I’m just here ta help.”
Jake sat down behind his desk. “Is coffee fresh?”
“Yes, I’ll get ya some right away.” Ralph stood up. “Oh, that came for you through a messenger this morning,” he pointed to an envelope on Jake’s desk. “I still have the rest of the mail to go through.”
“Any packages or other large envelopes?”
“No, sir, just some bills and occupancy type fliers.”
“You know where the bills go, and the occupancy fliers, leave them on the corner of my desk. I like to see what’s new in town or on sale.”
“Well, there is that strange one about head transplants, but I’m sure it’s some kind of gag,” he set up the coffee pot and poured the two men a mug of coffee. He handed each man the mug and sat down at his desk.
Jake raised an eyebrow, “Head transplants?”
“It’s the purple one,” he piled the fliers together and set them on Jake’s desk.
Jake looked at Sully and then grabbed the purple flier out of the pile. Need a head transplant, need to get out of your own space, Jones Psychiatry can help you. “Oh, it’s nothing. Some quack trying to get business,” he took a sigh of relief. He eyed the envelope that arrived this morning, and noting the FBI return address, he opened it calmly. He thumbed through the contents and pulled out three sheets of paper and a flash drive. “Brennan, the credentials from the Feds. Use this information and this flash drive when you access that computer. Don’t let this leave this office, and lock that up in the drawer in the other room when you finish.”
Ralph stood up and took them from Jake’s hand. “I haveta finish the other background checks. Do you want me to do that now?”
“Yes, that’ll be fine. If I need you, I’ll let you know. I don’t plan on leaving the office for a few hours.”
Ralph nodded and headed into the storage room without saying a word.
Sully picked up the purple paper. “Head transplants?” he snickered. “Reminds me of somethin’.”
“What’s that? That you need ta see a shrink?” Jake snickered.
“No, but that’s not a bad idea.”
Jake stood up. “I need to know, Sully.”
“What?” he shoved the purple paper in his jacket pocket.
“Are you here as a Ranger working a case?”
“Kinda. I mean, if it’s related to the cases in Austin, then we can close a bunch out, and maybe finally Austin can rest, without the threat of Icarus. But, I’m thinkin’ of retirin’. You know, from the Rangers. I see what you have here, and ...”
“Hold on a sec. I didn’t know you would ever retire. You love what you do too much.”
“You did. You loved the Marines, and yet you retired. You loved the Rangers, and yet, you retired.”
“Didn’t have much of a choice,” Jake ran his finger down his scar. “I’m a loner in this town. I like the peace and quiet.”
“Dalton, I know bullshit when I hear it, and if you keep it up, we both be steppin’ in it.”
“I wanted to be alone, but I guess this town, well most of it, embraced me bein’ here. I like the work. This case, uh, not so much, but I met Doc because of it.”
“Dalton, I’m just here to help, that’s it. If you need another body, I can help.”
“Are you sure you’re not here as a Ranger?”
The door opened and Nels walked in. “I’d like to know that answer to that as well.”
Sully turned around and gulped heavily. “Oh, Nels, it’s good to see ya.”
Jake looked at Nels and then as Sully. “I didn’t know you two knew each other. Sully?” he raised an eyebrow.
Nels looked toward Jake. “I knew his brother, uh, before he died. Anyway, Edward, are you here as a cop or civilian?”
“Can’t be a civilian if I’m a cop,” he cleared his throat. “I don’t wanna cross any lines. Y’all have bodies piling up and I wanna help.”
Nels looked at Jake. “You said you needed clarification?”
Jake nodded. “I don’t have proof of Icarus yet, but I’ve got suspicions. I don’t wanna break protocol and I need to be clear that I’m not workin’ as an agent for the police. I don’t wanna screw up with rights or warrants or anything, and I just wanna be free to run my own investigation, without screwing anything up for you if it goes to court or whatever.”
“You’re not working as our agent. If you find some proof, then you’ll need to hand it over, right?”
“Uh huh, of course,” Jake nodded. “Like I said, I only have suspicions. I’ve got some work to review and then I haveta go to the morgue. Sully, you should work with them, you’re a cop, and if you’re with me, I can’t do my job.”
“You used to be a cop,” Sully crossed his arms. “Doesn’t the law mean anything to you?”
Jake walked over to him. “I do my job within the law and the regs that I do my job by. I’m just not confined by warrants and Miranda Warnings. If I find Icarus and where he’s keeping his trophies, I’ll let you know. If you do, then good. He’s gone. I don’t have a jail, so he will be delivered to y’all, one way or another.” His voice lowered into a groan as he said the words slowly.
Sully looked at Olsen. “Mind if I tag along?”
“No problem,” Nels looked at Jake. “Don’t get in our way.”
Jake crossed his arms and sat on the edge of his desk, watching the two men walk out of the agency. Don’t get in my way. I screwed up and I haveta find him before he goes after Doc. One way or another, I will get Icarus. Arlo Robinson. His eyes focused on the package from Aggie’s porch, still sitting on the desk unopened. He sat in the chair behind his desk, and pulled the package toward him. He grabbed a pair of gloves out of his drawer, and used his pocketknife to carefully cut through the tape. There was nothing written on the plain brown paper that covered the box. The box was also plain, but had some frayed cardboard where a shipping label was probably removed to repurpose the box. He opened the box and stared at the black ceramic rose that lay carefully on top of an index card. Jake removed the rose and looked at the card, carefully handwritten in scripted letters, I’m coming for you, my love – Icarus.
Jake leaned back, placing the rose back in the box. “Now, it’s a direct threat,” he sighed. “Goddammit.”
21
Jake walked off the elevator on the third floor and headed directly toward the receptionist for the crime scene lab. “Uh, ma’am,” he removed his Stetson, keeping it in his hands, as he held the strap on his go-bag. “I’m Jake Dalton. I think Todd Masters has a package for me.”
“Uh, he told me to let him know when you’d be here. I guess he wanted to talk with you.”
“Oh, all right then.”
“Just wait over there,” she pointed to the chairs that lined part of the hallway. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“Thank you,” he tipped his hat in his hands, and walked over to one of the chairs. As he sat down, his cell phone in his jacket pocket vibrated. He took the phone out of his pocket and flipped it open.
Sully: Didn’t tell Nels about suspect.
Jake: Y Not?
Sully: got ur back.
Jake: don’t do me no favors.
Sully: don’t be ass.
Jake: Mule.
Sully: same diff. Nels wants proof. Not suspect.
Jake: workin on proof. L8r.
Jake put the phone back in his pocket. Goddamn cell phones.
He stood up when Masters approached him. “Is there a problem?”
“Can we talk in the conference room?”
“Lead the way.” Jake followed him down the hall, into the lab, and toward a room with the door l
abeled War Room.
Masters walked over to a pile of folders that was on the large mahogany conference table. “I’ve got six murder cases on my pile, and I’m one person. Usually the most lab work I do is DNA paternity tests for family court, or to test for poisons from a sick person from the hospital. I usually process crime scenes, but I’ve never seen scenes like this.”
“How long you been at this? I mean, a lab tech.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I’m a lab tech, a forensic lab tech. I had no interest in going out in the field, but since they figured out my background,” he sighed.
“Your background?”
“FBI forensics. I’ve been doing this for ten years, and only five years here. I wanted a change, so I moved to a small town. I figured I’d process some scenes, do some swabs and other tests, and have other people to work with. Nope, they gave me my own lab, but it’s basically just me. There are a few techs that work in the lab, and do scut work, but not what I haveta do.”
“I’m sorry that you’re overworked. I wish I could help, but I’m not a forensics specialist.”
“I heard you were FBI.”
“No. Marine. Texas Ranger. Uh huh, I useta be, but now, I’m private security and an investigator. That’s it. I got hired to look into a stalking case that may be related to murders that were done in Austin. Now, looks like these murder cases of yours are related to both cases.”
“Oh, the Icarus case, right? I saw the notification email. I got a lot of alerts from other states.”
“I’m sorry you got a lot of work, and so do I. If I could get you help, would you take it? I mean, would the county allow it?”
“I guess,” he shrugged. “Oh, I am sorry. I wasn’t here begging for help. Just frustrated. That’s all,” he pulled out a folder from the bottom of the pile. “Here are the copies of my crime scene sketches. I labeled them by order of when the bodies were found, and also I put the name of the victims next to the number. A top sheet lists where each crime scene was. I hope this helps.”