by Carter, Dawn
“We could set up surveillance on the strip and see who goes with whom, and watch the girls to make sure they are not attacked,” she paused, waiting for an objection and when none came she continued, “We both have the next few days off and it would be the perfect time. What do you think?”
“I think that would be a great idea.” Danni smiled as she walked in the room. “Let’s get going then, we’ll drop your car off at your house, and then grab something to eat on the way.”
“Sounds like a plan to me. Do you think we should warn the Mayor about the surveillance?”
“Hell, no, if he decides to pick one of the women up, we’ll follow him. He may not be our prime suspect, but I’ve not totally ruled him out yet,” Danni searched for the words, and realized how harsh she sounded. “He is still a politician, and they like to talk and brag, what if the person trying to set him up is someone close to him?”
“That’s why you’re so good at your job Detective Pacelli, you’re always thinking outside the box.” Annabel locked eyes with her for a brief second then turned her head away. “I wouldn’t of thought of it.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. I made a lot of bad calls when I was learning the ropes. It comes with years on the force.” Danni felt bad when she observed the shame in her partners’ eyes. “Let’s get going before we lose an opportunity,” she concluded with a playful wink.
CHAPTER FIVE
The sun set beneath the dark cloud as the night sky blanketed the city, the stars shined bright upon the streets below which gave enough light for Danni to see. Camera in her lap and binoculars in her hand, she perched in her car and waited impatiently for the Mayor to leave the motel. This was part of the detail she hated. Bored and fighting sleep, she occasionally looked at Annabel through the corner of her eye. She smiled when she saw her eyes were closed. She looks so peaceful, Danni thought. She could still vividly remember the dream, no matter how much she tried to erase it from her memory. The images plagued her every thought.
Danni could tell by her breathing that she was in a somber sleep. She was mesmerized by her striking features; her small but pretty nose, her cleft chin and full lips. Danni imagined what it would be like to kiss them, if only for a few seconds to know what she was missing, she could feel her body react as she visualized holding her in her arms. She took a deep breath ashamed of having the thoughts, but it was short lived when she saw the door to the hotel room open.
The woman exited first with the Mayor following close behind. He looked around to ensure his anonymity, and then hurried down the flight of stairs behind her. Danni snapped several pictures of the two leaving the motel. She had never been a fan of the Mayor, but she figured if anyone did try to accuse him of killing the woman, she had solid proof when the two of them left. They left together alive.
Danni followed behind the pair at a distance. She witnessed the Mayor stroke the back of the woman’s head. A sentimental gesture that showed affection towards her, not aggression which would be expected of a serial killer, she thought. Just then the car ahead came to a stop and the prostitute stepped out with the assistance of the Mayor. Her hand delicately taken in his own and he gently raised it to his lips. If Danni did not know better, she would have thought he was taking a date home after a night of dinner and dancing.
Just as the Mayor drove off, Annabel opened her eyes and smiled shyly when she realized she had fallen asleep.
“Look who decided to join the land of the living.” Danni laughed when she witnessed the puzzled look on Annabel’s face.
“Wow. How long have I been out?” she wiped the sleep from her eyes struggling to regain consciousness, her body still peaceful while her mind tried urgently to extract itself from sleep.
“You missed it all,” Danni snapped but the truth was, she really did not mind the time of solitude to think.
“I’m sorry. I guess I don’t make a good detective after all.” Annabel pouted.
“It’s okay. You really didn’t miss much. I got pictures and we know where she lives. Now the fun begins.” Danni laughed nudging Annabel in the ribs.
“Gotcha.” She giggled knowing this was going to be her detail for the next few days.
As Danni pulled into Annabel’s driveway she felt sad. She would not admit it, but the stake out with her new partner was the best evening she had in a long time. Reluctantly, she gave detailed instructions; where to park and how to go unnoticed. Annabel nodded as a cool breeze blew past her as she was getting out of the car. She shivered as she listened. Danni was giving her the opportunity to prove herself and she was determined not to let her down.
Less than twenty four hours passed and Annabel stood near the towering church adjacent from the apartment complex where the prostitute lived. She looked over the notes and the pictures that Danni gave her. She had a visual using the binoculars her partner handed her. She hid in the dark of the entrance of the gothic structure of the cathedral. She could clearly see the woman as she walked from room to room.
Annabel wondered why the woman looked so sad, she could see from the distance as she paced back and forth and ran her fingers through her hair. The display tore at her heart. How can she live like this? She sent the question into the obis not expecting an answer. It disgusted her as she tried to understand how a woman could sleep with men to pay her bills. That is when she saw him, a figure of a man on the fire escape. She tried to get a better look at him, but when he turned his head in her direction, the view was obscured by the bars. She took several pictures, but his pace picked up as he carefully climbed the steps. He was only two floors from the prostitute’s window. Her heart pounded in her chest. She ran across the street all the while dialing Danni’s cell to advise she was in pursuit of the suspect.
The dagger in the hooded figures hand still grasped its hilt, but now they moved to jerk it from it nest in the woman’s chest, which convulsed in response. The woman watched in terror as the dark liquid flowed easily from her to the floor while the killer drew the weapon further out. The noise from the television muffle the blood curdling scream, the hooded figure laughed when the sharp edge slid across her throat and the last thing the woman saw was her attacker’s eyes before all went black.
Footsteps from the stairs echoed into the apartment. The killer looked out the window to flee but a body climbing the staircase halted the escape. The hooded killer ran to the door to flee but the footsteps got closer and closer.
Just as Flanery reached the door, she opened it slowly, from the entrance she could see the woman lying on the floor. She stepped in slowly gun drawn. She took three steps forward unaware she was not alone. She heard a shuffling noise behind her, but before she could turn, a sharp pain shot into her head, and the room around her began to spin, she tried to focus to shoot her attacker, but was struck again. Then all went black.
Danni told her not to enter the apartment until she arrived. But Annabel already ended the call as she ran up the five flights of stairs.
“Shit. . . Shit!” Danni cussed as she ran from the restaurant leaving her and Annabel’s bag of food on the counter. She dialed the number back several times but no answer. She drove the three blocks and pulled outside of the building with her police light flashing.
The hooded figure laughed again, this time louder than before. Two for one the voice said as the knife hilt was pulled from its holster. Before the kill could be completed, flashing police lights were visible from the open window. “Next time!” The killer hissed upset that the kill was interrupted then ran out the open door and hid in the darkness of the hallway until the officer who ran past was in the apartment.
The street was empty and the silence that followed as she entered the building was deafening. The only sound was her heart as it pounded in her ears. Carefully she inched her way up the staircase but as she reached the last few steps, her feet became too weak to support her. She looked down the hall. No one was in sight. She pulled her revolver from its case and crept slowly to the open door. She found Anna
bel on the floor with blood stains on her blonde hair. Gun in hand she pointed it in each direction she scanned.
She reached down, still holding her gun and pointing it upwards. She felt for a pulse and sighed as Annabel grunted. She scanned the room, but there was no movement. Half in and half out of the window the body of the prostitute sat hunched over. Blood spurted from an open wound in her throat. The closer she got, she could see the woman’s eyes, the brilliant luster was lost as all life was stripped away. Danni was panicked. She scanned the room again then looked out the window and down the fire escape. There was no one in sight. She quickly called for backup as she knelt down on the floor next to Annabel. The temporary paralysis wore off. Annabel opened her eyes and saw the look of despair in Danni’s eyes.
The look of panic and uncertainty on Annabel’s face as it twisted in shame frightened Danni. She had seen that look before. Her heart plummeted when it occurred to her where she had seen those eyes before. Annabel, reminded her of the girl Annie. No way, it can’t be. Danni peered down into the blue eyes again. She had to remind herself where she was. This is not the time for this. She had an officer down, a woman dead and the suspect was getting away.
Annabel sat against the door as she held her head. She attempted to collect her thoughts, but the room was spinning, and the wave of nausea took control. She tried to give her description of the events to the officer who was the first on the scene, but, her memory was failing her.
“Relax, the ambulance will be here in a few minutes and we will get you to the hospital.” Danni choked away the tears. “It’s going to be okay Annabel,” Danni whispered when she heard the sirens in the distance.
She hunched over, emotionally drained when her partner was loaded into the ambulance. She gathered the camera and binoculars that had been in Annabel’s possession. “Please say you got a picture of the son of a bitch!” she growled and flipped through the recent pictures on the digital camera as she sped past the ambulance with her lights on. She successfully cleared the path to the hospital while she eyed the dark figure on the steel stair case. Danni took mental notes as she guessed the assailant weighed approximately one hundred fifty pounds, and maybe five foot ten. She calculated as she viewed the height of the railings from the distance of the man’s shoulders. She was satisfied that she had a physical description and knew once the pictures were sent to the lab; she might even get a look at his face.
Danni wanted justice and no matter how much she loved the law, one of her own was hurt, and she knew the justice system was slow. This was one of the few times she agreed with the unwritten code of justice the police officers had when an officer was either hurt or killed. He would not live to go to trial; she would be the judge, jury and executioner.
“Detective Pacelli?” a woman’s voice echoed from the distance. Danni looked up when a woman in a lab coat approached.
“Can I go back now?” The question came across more like a demand.
In broken English, the woman managed a smile as she approached. “Hi, I am Doctor Kieslowski. You must be Detective Flanery’s partner. She said you would be v’here waiting. You can see her once we transport v’her. She has a concussion and we will need to monitor v’her overnight.” Dr. Kieslowski looked down at the chart, her features became serious. “I have a v’few questions.
“I will tell you anything I can.” Danni fidgeted knowing she did not know any of Annabel’s medical history.
“She said she lost conscience. V’we needs to know how long she was unresponsive,” the Doctor. inquired, her broken English making it hard for Danni to understand.
“Um, maybe five minutes. It all happened so fast and she was already unconscious when I arrived.” Danni wracked her brain trying to calculate the time it took for her to get to the apartment and the time it would have taken Flanery to climb the stairs, and the time it took once she saw the jagged tip of the steeple against the night sky as she turned the corner from the restaurant. She recalled putting on her siren and flashed her lights as she ran the red lights. Danni agreed with her first calculation. “She couldn’t have been out more than five minutes,” Danni concluded.
“I will have a nurse inform you when she is settled.” The Doctor smiled and walked away.
While Danni waited, she made several calls. She requested a rush to be put on the digital enhancement of the photos. On faith, she left a message for the church across the street from the apartment building. Danni noticed security cameras on each corner of the church. She prayed the cameras were recording live feed. She measured the distance between the window and the three visual cameras. She could see from the metal stair landing outside of the window that the camera on the north corner appeared to be facing in the direction of the building, and the others faced the surrounding streets. Danni figured it had to have caught the assailant either walking or driving. And if he was driving, she could easily run the tag and get the serial killers identity.
Tired she found a place in the chair next to Annabel’s bedside. She watched as she slept. Alarmed by her labored breathing, she swore revenge on the man who inflicted the pain. A few moments later, the night nurse entered the room. She took the young detectives vitals and gestured for Danni to follow her into the hall.
“Visiting hours are over Detective. I’m going to have to ask you to check back on her in the morning,” the tall blonde haired women said as she pointed in the direction of the exit sign.
Danni stood in defiance, she struggled with the urge to put the woman into a sleeper hold and place her in a broom closet. She took a deep breath as she gathered her anger. “The emergency room doctor said I could be in her room. I need to get her statement when she wakes up.”
“The statement can wait for the morning,” the nurse said holding her ground. “You can come back at nine o’clock in the morning when visiting hours start. Have a good night Detective,” the woman spouted as she walked off never looking back
“Bitch!” Danni snarled as she walked down the hall.
Danni woke in a cold sweat. She sat erect trying to shake the images from her dream, but they replayed in her mind. In her nightmare she stood statuette like as she watched the man in the black hooded jacket hit Annabel over the head. She stood paralyzed as she watched her fall to the floor, blood oozing from her head. The man laughed, demonic in sound. He taunted her as he walked up to the screaming woman at the window. He pulled her head back by her hair as he slid the knife across her throat with such ease as if it was slicing through butter. All Danni could do is watch as he laughed in her face. Her dream shifted and it was no longer the man in a black hooded jacket she was watching, the man transformed in front of her. He was suddenly a man dressed in a police uniform. She tried to see his face, but when he looked at her, he did not have one. His head looked like a ball of play dough. No features, just holes where his eyes, mouth and nose would have been.
She shook the image from her mind and reached for the glass of water on her nightstand and the bottle of anxiety pills her physician prescribed. She felt shame when she looked at them. It had been three months since she filled the prescription and only one was missing. Danni was proud she was weaning herself off of them, but tonight was different. The dream changed replacing the old reoccurring dream that she had become accustomed to where she would watch night after night in slow motion as the woman’s body burned in the flames and the agonizing screams that accompanied as she was forced to looked into the same bright blue eyes that turned grey within seconds. Each night the same, but Danni was aware something had changed. The only correlation to her two dreams was Annabel.
Danni reconciled that things would only get worse and she would never be able to move on if she did not face her demons once and for all. It was time to face her fears, so she placed the bottle back on the nightstand. She refused to be hostage to the pharmaceuticals.
She jumped out of bed, slipped on her shoes and headed to the place where her nightmare began. The night sky reached o
ut for her as she drove the thirty minutes back to the house she once loved. The empty lot came into full view as she pulled alongside the adjoining street and looked on. She remembered the first time she entered the house. She had to fight the urge to cough as recalled the smoke that had once filled her lungs. She cursed under her breath. She blamed God for taking away Annie’s parents and forcing her to watch helplessly as the roof collapsed and ending her life as she knew it.
Within a few months, Danni moved, she could not stay there any longer. The memories were pulling her into a depression that she would not be able to pull herself out of. When she realized it was affecting her job, she put the house on the market and moved into the city.
Now, it was time to confront her past, determined to put it behind her, she got out of her car and stood in the middle of the empty lot. “Why God?” she ranted, lifting her hand to the sky. She had seen so much death and despair, but nothing ever touched her like this. She took a deep breath and prayed to the heavens above. The rational side of her knew it was not her fault, and she did everything she could have. She knew that the girl would have also perished if she did not get her out. She did all she could that day and she finally realized it. She felt the heaviness lift from her, a peace she had not felt since before that fateful night.
She knelt on the cold hard ground and said a prayer, but it was not for the lost souls of the fire, but for Annabel who lay injured in the hospital. She recalled the eyes, the uncanny resemblance. She was not sure if Annabel was Annie, but the physical characteristics were unmistakable. She was sure that God brought Annie or Annabel back into her life for a reason, and she would do everything in her power to protect her. This was her chance now to make things right.
CHAPTER SIX
The light filtered through the shades, Annabel opened her eyes. She looked around the room and shame over took her. She was well aware of her surroundings and what brought her there. The only thing she felt was anger, she wanted to catch the son of a bitch who put her there. She got a slight look at the face, it appeared familiar in some way, but the pictures were still obscured and fuzzy.