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The Final Flashpoint

Page 14

by Iona Morrison


  “Can you remember what any of your abductors looked like?” Tom asked.

  “I will never forget them!” Carlos wiped his eyes. “I see their faces every time I close my eyes.” He shuddered.

  “I’ll send for a sketch artist and let you work together.” Matt turned off his recorder and stuck it in his shirt pocket.

  “It’s time for his medication,” the nurse said as she walked in the room.

  “Jared will be here to see you later today or sometime tomorrow. We need to get their faces before the public.” Matt patted his hand. “You rest. I’m going to double the guards outside the door. I don’t want you to worry.”

  “Thank you,” he murmured. “If I remember anything else, I will let you know. Things are still jumbled in my mind.”

  “You’ve helped a lot.” Matt walked toward the door.

  “Here you go, young man. The doctor wants you to sleep until dinner.” The nurse attended to Carlos as they left the room.

  “Damn, those kids went through hell.” Tom’s hand fisted at his side.

  “I wonder what Amir was asked to do? It had to be something easy for him to have access to.” Matt pushed the down button on the elevator. “If they find out Carlos is alive, he’s a sitting target. Carlos can ID them.” Matt called the station and doubled the security on the hospital floor. He added a third officer across from the elevator and another by the stairway.

  “Smart call. Once they see their ugly mugs on the front pages of the newspapers and on every TV news channel, they’ll know Carlos lived.” As Tom got off the elevator, a waiting reporter started shouting questions at him.

  “What’s going on? You owe us.” He stuck the mic in front of Tom’s face.

  “No news here. We were visiting a sick friend. Aren’t you missing a scheduled police update? If you hurry, you’ll make it on time.”

  “Quick thinking.” Matt watched the two reporters scurry to their cars.

  “I feel sick for those kids. And how do you tell their parents about the hell those kids went through?” Tom kicked at the dirt as he walked outside.

  “We can’t keep it from them. It will come out at trial if nothing else. The best we can do is to tell the parents the story of their children’s bravery.”

  “It won’t be easy. It would devastate me. Times like this make me hate my job, but when we nab these perps, I’ll love it all over again.” Tom unlocked the car.

  “Love, hate, lose some and win a few, it comes with the territory.” Matt fastened his seat belt. “We are closer now to solving this case than we were a few hours ago.” Matt placed the bag the hospital had given him on the floor. “With some help from this scent item from Carlos, I hope Radar can find this gang—if they’re anywhere in the area.”

  “Carlos’s life is in danger if they’re still in the area, and yours is, too.” Tom started his car and glanced over at Matt. “My job just got a lot harder.”

  Matt’s chin lifted. “I’ll be damned if I let this guy keep me from doing my job out of fear.” Matt pulled out of the parking space.

  “What’s that?” Tom pointed to his chin. “I know a girl whose chin does the very same thing when she goes off on one of her stubborn streaks. She’s rubbing off on you, man.” Tom chuckled.

  Matt smiled. “You’re right. Her chin does lift when I’ve struck a chord she doesn’t like.”

  “Lift, hell, it becomes like a block of granite, and you looked the same way a moment ago. Would you please make it easy for me? I’ll take anything you give me.”

  “I’ll try.” Matt turned to look out the window. If he were honest, he was troubled and afraid. Yes, fear might be a good word to use. The men who had tortured the students were brutal, and he didn’t relish a run-in with them.

  Chapter 23

  Jessie was happy her store had several customers in it when a strange man walked through the door. He was tall, with dark, unruly, curly hair and a dark beard, which was normal enough, but his eyes sent shivers down her back as if tiny spiders were racing up and down her spine. Grams used to tell her she’d always know the person’s soul by their eyes, and his made him appear evil. Jessie turned her head away but kept a watchful eye on his actions. He pulled a book from the shelf, turning it over in his hand. The man moved from one shelf to another and then made his way to the coffee shop. Jessie hoped he would leave. He didn’t. He bought a coffee and sat in a chair where he could see her store. With a storage bag in hand, she moved out of the line of his menacing glare to the front of the store where he had first grabbed the book. He had shoved it back on the shelf the wrong way. With a tissue, she pulled it from the shelf and placed it in a bag, then tucked the bag under the counter and out of his sight.

  Her instinct told her this was no ordinary man. He was involved in something sinister, and if she were careful, they might be able to pull a fingerprint off the book. Next, she called Molly.

  “Hey, Jessie, what do you need?”

  “Do you see the guy with dark hair sitting at the table against the wall?”

  Molly took a quick glance. “Yes, why?”

  “When he leaves, save his coffee cup and bring it to me. Use a plastic glove or a bag to handle it. Don’t let anyone wash it or handle it if you can.”

  “Sure, what’s this all about?”

  “I might be presumptuous, but there is something off about the man. His eyes are disturbing, and I’m wondering if he is involved in Matt’s murder case. They might be able to gather DNA or a fingerprint from the cup that could ID the man.” Jessie smiled at the customer who had just placed her purchase on the counter.

  “Intriguing, I’ll take care of it. It’s strange—I thought the same thing about his eyes.”

  “I have to go; I have a customer waiting. Talk to you later, Molly.”

  “Did you find everything you were looking for?” Jessie asked the woman.

  “Yes, I did. You have a lovely store.” The woman signed the receipt that Jessie handed her.

  “Thank you, I love it. It has been my dream since I was a kid to own a bookstore. Although, I think I told my mother I wanted to own the library so I could read any time I wanted.” Jessie put the woman’s books in a bag and handed it to her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man stand, slamming his chair against the wall. Jessie walked the woman to the door to make sure he had left the coffee shop. He had crossed the street and was walking down Main Street.

  Matt needed to know. Jessie called him and left a voice message. “Thank you,” she said as Molly handed her his bagged cup. There was still a trace amount of coffee in it.

  “Did you see how the chair hit the wall? I’ll have to touch it up.” Molly shook her head. “You wonder about some people.”

  “I know. I’m glad he left. I didn’t want him to come back into my store. He scared me.” Jessie put the mug on the shelf next to the book he’d handled.

  “The ghost lady, afraid? I never thought I hear you say that.” Molly clasped her hands behind her back.

  “Well, I was.” Jessie saw Tom’s car pull up in front of the store. “Thank heavens they’re here.” Jessie waved at Molly as she turned to leave.

  “I need to get back to work. Matt will sort it out.”

  The bell rang above the door when the two men walked in. “I saw you called.” Matt moved to where she stood.

  “A man came in the store earlier, and there was something off about him.” She explained about his eyes and what she had felt as he had moved around the store and coffee shop. “I think he’s involved in those murders. I can’t tell you why I think it, but his eyes were evil. They were emotionless and dead. Anyway, he touched a book and drank a cup of coffee.” She handed him the bag with the book in it and the baggie. “I hope this will help you ID this guy. I know he’s involved somehow.”

  “Way to think on your feet, Jessie.” Tom smiled at her. “I’ll get these to the lab. Maybe they’ll give us another name, and we’ll be able to identify the gang he belongs to.”

>   “Jess, you’re something.” Matt grabbed her hand. “We were at the hospital visiting Carlos. He’s awake and improving.”

  “Oh, that is good news. Was he able to tell you anything?”

  “He told us a lot.” Tom frowned. “I don’t know how he survived what they did to him.”

  “If the man who was here earlier is involved, I could see him torturing another person with no remorse at all.” Jessie pointed to the items she had given him. “I hope it signals a break in the case.”

  “Me too, sweetheart. I want to put them away. Did you see where the man went when he left Java Joe’s?” Matt turned to Tom. “Why don’t you order yourself a sandwich, and I’ll be right in.”

  “I will go when you do,” Tom shot back. “You know, the whole watching your back thing.”

  “The guy crossed the street and headed south on Main Street.” Jessie gave him a playful shove. “I’ll hold these for you until you go get your lunch.” She placed the bag behind the counter again.

  She was helping a customer when Tom and Matt brought their lunch over and sat at the table in the middle of the store. She stopped by Matt’s chair when she was finished ringing up her customer.

  “I think you like your sandwich, Tom. You can stop to breathe.” Jessie chuckled.

  “I was hungry, and this was good.” Tom took a swig of his iced tea.

  Jessie sat beside Matt. “Is there someone who can talk to Carlos? He’ll need help for a while to get over this.”

  “I’ve already requested a victim’s advocate to talk to him and his parents. I imagine he’ll need therapy for a long while.” He frowned as he held her hand. “What those kids went through is unspeakable.”

  “Come on, lover boy, we need to get back to the station. I have several calls to return.” Tom gathered his trash and shoved it in the wastebasket.

  Matt kissed her on the cheek. “If you see the man around here again, or Harry Roth, call right away. If you’re alone in the store when he comes in, go over to Joe’s. Don’t stay alone in the store with him.”

  “I won’t.” She lifted her head, and he kissed her forehead.

  “Promise me,” Matt called over his shoulder to her.

  “I promise. Wait a minute. You almost forgot to take these.” Jessie went to the counter to get the bags.

  “Thanks, sweetheart.” He waved as they left. She watched until they drove away.

  Jessie hoped she’d never have to see the man again. Roth was bad enough, but the guy who had been in her store earlier made her fear for Matt’s life. How could he deal with a ruthless murderer who had no feelings? “Keep him safe,” she whispered.

  Jessie kept busy the rest of the day. The man never came back, and she’d be happy not to ever see him again. She wrapped her sweater around her, shoving her hands in the pockets. What caused a man to become a cold-blooded murderer without feelings or remorse? All the criminals she had dealt with over the past year had been different. From the white-collar crime of the organ harvest club and a senator making money off human trafficking to the bank president involved in illegal weapons trade, what made them do what they did? What turned a drama student into a serial killer, or a religious group leader into a mass murderer? Jessie wasn’t sure if she would ever understand.

  Hate was a powerful emotion. She straightened the books on the table. Greed and the promise of wealth were strong enticements. Ultimately, it was about power and control. Jessie frowned. The world seemed ripe for it at the moment, and Jessie saw no way to stop it. All she could do was her own small part to make the world a better place. She closed the store and headed for home.

  Chapter 24

  Matt was happy to be home. He had spent most of the day on the phone. Roth had been the subject of several conversations. Agent Dickerson had come to Blue Cove to help and stay in touch with Interpol. Harry had been one busy fella and was wanted in several nations. The more Matt learned about Roth, the better he understood why he found himself connected to what was happening. The kids’ bodies showing up in his jurisdiction wasn’t an accident. There were still a lot of unanswered questions, but clues were coming together. He placed his case files on the counter.

  “I made dinner,” Frank told Matt. “I thought both of you could use a night off.”

  “Thanks, Frank. I thought it smelled good in here.” Matt went to the sink to wash his hands.

  “I made my famous lasagna. I have a few good meals I can cook, and this is one of my best. Add a little salad and garlic bread… I think you can see where I’m going.”

  “Count me in.” Tom went down the hall to put his briefcase in the room.

  “I bought a bottle of wine that I serve with it when I make this meal at home. Do you have any wine glasses?”

  “I sure do.” Matt placed the wine glasses on the table.

  Frank placed everything on the counter, and they served themselves. “How did your day go?” Frank asked after they sat at the table.

  “We learned a lot, almost too much. We talked to Carlos, who is improving each day. I have to say it messed with my head. Those kids suffered.” Tom took a bite of the lasagna. “Frank, this is great.”

  “Frank, the hospital gave me the clothes Carlos was wearing when he was brought in. In the next couple of days, I want to see if Radar can track anything. The gang might still be in the area.” Matt took a sip of his wine then told Frank about the man who had come into Jessie’s store. “She had the presence of mind to preserve his fingerprint on the cover of a book and possible DNA evidence in a cup he drank from.”

  “If they’re around, Radar will find them.” Frank smiled. “I’m not surprised Jessie would get the man’s fingerprints. She’s good. I’m prejudiced though because I saw her in action as an investigative reporter. She always did a top notch job.” Frank took a bite of his garlic bread.

  “She is good; the more I talk to her, the more impressed I am. I think she’d make a great agent. She could live in the city and get away from this small town. Her talent is being wasted here.” Tom glanced at Matt’s face and grinned. “My good buddy over there would never let it happen. He knows a good thing when he sees it.” Tom went into the kitchen. “I could use some more of your lasagna.”

  “Thanks for a great meal.” Matt carried his dish into the kitchen, rinsed it, and put it in the dishwasher.

  “I have dessert. Do you want it now or later” Frank had followed Matt in. He covered the salad and put it in the fridge.

  “I’ll take mine later, Frank, I’m stuffed.” Matt carried his files and wine into the living room. He sat on the sofa and, slipping his glasses from his pocket, he began to read. He wanted to find a link between his cases and those kids. Kaufman was learning more each day about the students. Somewhere in one of these files there had to be answers. He pulled out the first file and started to read.

  Tom followed, plopping down in the overstuffed chair. “Do you mind?” Tom waved the remote in the air. “You know, man, all work and no play will make Matt a dull boy. I’m just saying ease up. It will come to you when you least expect it.”

  “Go ahead. I know you’re right, but it’s my life these guys are after, and I want to know everything I can about how their minds work. The idea is to study your enemy so you can’t be taken by surprise.”

  “You tell me when you want Radar to track. We’ll be ready when you call.” Frank sat back in the recliner. He sighed blissfully. “Coming to town to help is worth it for the chance to sit in this chair alone. I’ve done a lot of napping since I’ve arrived here. I’m out in a few minutes every time I sit here.”

  “It’s a good one.” Matt nodded. He’d taken many pleasant naps reclining in his favorite chair.

  “I might have to buy me one when I go home. It’s the best I’ve ever sat in.” Frank settled back in the chair and put his feet up. “The problem is if I had one, I’d never get any work done. My wife might want to chuck the thing out the door.”

  ****

  Marshall didn’t k
now why the boss wanted him to follow the cop to his home. He followed instructions, and here he sat. They were probably eating a hot meal in there, and he was in the car again with another dry peanut butter sandwich and a thermos of coffee.

  The cop wasn’t alone; he never was. The tall man followed him everywhere. Both of them were taller than he was. Marshall had always been on the short side. His dad called him Bruiser because he was short, stout, and strong. He could wrestle anyone to the ground when he was younger. Of course, those days were long gone, but he didn’t mind. He was getting close to retiring somewhere warm soon. He took out one of his many brochures from the glove compartment. The blue water and white sand called to him. Marshall had dreamed of this for the past five years. It kept him sane as he went to work every day with the same people, hearing the same gossip over and over until he thought his mind would explode from the tedium.

  Being a beach bum appealed to him. He liked the idea of seeing the scantily clad women sunning themselves. They’d never give him the time of day, but what the hell did he care? He could enjoy the sights. He wasn’t dead yet. Anything had to be better than walking in the cold wind, sliding on icy streets in the winter, and dealing with the lowlife of the city. He was done with it. He’d put in his time for over thirty-five years driving the same neighborhood beat with a lousy chief out to get him, and enough was enough. He was happy to have had all the saved vacation days to do this side job. He’d made more here in a few days than in a whole year working for the PD. He should have started doing side jobs years ago.

  Marshall followed the cop, did what he was told, and kept his mouth shut. He still wondered why, though. Marshall wasn’t privy to any other information than what the man on the phone had told him. The cop seemed like a nice enough guy. His girl was a pretty one. He’d shove this job right now, but what they were paying him would put him on easy street. Marshall couldn’t let himself think about it. He kept his mouth shut, snapped a few photos, and collected a check. Any day now, he’d be on the flight to this little island paradise. The brochure in his hand waved in the air. With any luck, he’d never know what they did to the cop. It was best to keep it that way.

 

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