Evolution of a Killer

by Robert Ullrich

  *****

  The execution time for the plan, was 4:00 a.m.; simultaneously at the Shoreline and in Rockport.

  Giving HH directions to the house was easy. He told her to go down Bayview on Key Allegro until she saw the New Mexico Jail on the left, a considerable eye-sore according to many of the local residents. Lazarus concurred with the evaluation. It wasn’t just huge. It was ugly, out of place on the Gulf Coast, not to mention it destroyed the bay view for at least half a dozen homes. Lazarus told Helen to take a right when she neared the end of the structure and it would put her on Barbados. Garza’s house was the last one on the street. The risk of Police involvement was low, but not zero. Lazarus knew Torano couldn’t call the cops for any reason. The risk would be in Rockport. Theft had been running rampant on the island. The cops had apprehended part of an organized ring of thieves, but only part. The local PD was doing extra patrols on land, as well as from the water. HH and Darnell would have to be on their toes. He was counting on the late hour, and the fact many of the homes around Garza’s were unoccupied. Darnell coming in by water would have its own risks, but he had faith that D wouldn’t jeopardize the operation for any reason. If need be, he would simply idle on by the house and out into the bay, until the coast was clear. If he got pulled over, Darnell had all the necessary papers and I.D. to account for his presence.

  *****

  Lazarus ordered room service at 7:00. He added a few sides for Katsumi. She rarely ate anything while working. When finished eating, Lazarus went to his room and changed into the Richard Long persona in preparation for what lay ahead. He started with a layer of Kevlar and then added a prosthesis that gave him a pot belly and a slight hump to his back. He donned a grey wig and goatee to match. Lazarus went with blue contact lenses and black horn-rimmed glasses with hearing aids attached. They served two purposes. It added credence to the appearance of a 70+ year old man and it kept him in communication with Katsumi. Lazarus had a microphone in his tie if the need arose. He topped it off with a slightly worn gray suit, the pants a bit too long, cinched up high on the waist. The coat had sleeves that were too long for his arms as well. A plain white shirt, out-of-style wide black and white striped tie and a gray fedora completed the ensemble. Lazarus would be using a cane and pulling a wheeled suitcase behind him when he approached the front desk.

  At 10:00 he looked out the door, finding the hall empty. Lazarus took the stairs down to the lobby, knowing that Katsumi had over-ridden the cameras with a blank loop. He went out the door to the parking garage after getting the all-clear.

  Lazarus entered the lobby pulling the suitcase and leaning heavily on the cane, affecting a noticeable limp in his right leg as he walked up to the desk.

  “Good evening, sir,” said Auburn, according to her name tag. “How may we assist you?”

  “I’ve a reservation,” said Lazarus with a British accent, “Richard Long is the name.”

  Auburn keyed the name into the computer and located his reservation. “Yes, sir, we have your room ready.” She considered the limp and the cane and added, “It’s on the 12th floor, but I can try and find you one lower if it would help.” She smiled, even though she was concerned she may have offended the man by referencing his disability.

  “The 12th floor will do just fine,” said Lazarus, “assuming your elevators are in proper functioning condition.” He winked at the desk clerk for effect, and Auburn smiled in return.

  “Absolutely, sir,” said Auburn with a note of pride in her voice. “Our elevators are well maintained and in perfect operating condition. The 12th floor it is then. May I have your identification and a credit card please?”

  Lazarus cupped his ear, “My apologies, young lady, but could you repeat that? I’ve a bit of a problem with the hearing. I’m afraid perhaps one of my batteries may be dying right before our eyes.”

  Auburn spoke a bit louder, “I need identification and a credit card, please.”

  “Indeed, you do,” replied Lazarus as he started patting his pockets as though searching for his wallet. He produced it from the inside pocket of his coat. “Here you go, Miss Auburn, my passport. However, I don’t use credit cards. I don’t trust them since someone cloned mine. I had a devil of a time getting that all squared away with the bosses. I hope cash will be acceptable.”

  “Well,” said Auburn, “hotel policy requires that we have a credit card for incidental charges that may arise during your stay.”

  “Would a hundred-dollar deposit suffice?” asked Lazarus.

  Auburn lowered her voice conspiratorially, “I’m not supposed to, but I’ll make an exception for a good-looking man like you.” She winked, taking cash for the room and the extra hundred. “I’ll put the additional hundred in the safe, with your name on it, with a note for the morning staff.”

  “You are far too kind, young lady, though I’ll never turn down a compliment from a beautiful woman,” Lazarus tipped his hat and bowed as he spoke which delighted Auburn.

  She programmed two keys for Lazarus while he signed for the room. “Check out is 2:00 p.m. If you’re going to be checking out later than that, please call the desk and let them know. We pride ourselves on our service and being accommodating to all our guests.”

  “Thank you so very much, Miss Auburn. It’s been a delight,” said Lazarus as he grabbed his suitcase and headed to the elevators to the sound of, “You’re welcome, Mr. Long,” coming from Auburn at the desk.

  Lazarus entered the room on the 12th floor and jammed a toothpick into the door latch, ensuring it wouldn’t lock. Now, he would be able to come and go without using the card key, which would leave a time stamp. He activated the microphone and ear piece. “I’m in the room, Kat. How’s the situation?”

  “All good, Sir; I’m monitoring all systems. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.”

  “Good. I’m going to call Helen and make sure everyone’s ready to go. In the meantime, get eyes on the parties and I’ll get back to you shortly.”

  “As you wish,” replied a distracted Katsumi.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Helen answered on the first ring. “Hey, Spike. Is everything good on your end?”

  “So far, so good,” Lazarus replied. “And you?”

  “We’re ready, and thanks for the note we found at the Stripes.” Lazarus had dropped off directions to the location of the weapons, rope, duct-tape and a box of trash bags.

  “Anytime, Doc; you might need to use them, and the products are untraceable.”

  “I figured as much,” said Helen. “You don’t do much of anything half-assed.”

  “Damn, Doc,” Lazarus said with a laugh, “that may be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  “Well, don’t go getting a big head. It probably won’t happen again for another 15 years.” She said, laughing in return. “Also, D went to the house on Cayman to check out the boat and get familiar with it. He took it for a short cruise around Little Bay, by way of Garza’s house, so he could check out the lay of the land. D said the boat’s easy to handle and he’s good to go.” Helen checked the time, it was 10:00. “Four hours to kill; damn, I hate the waiting part.”

  “I know you do, but 4:00 is the time to move. That’s when both of Torano’s boys will be in the house at the same time so you can make your approach. Remember, take Langston with you. That may be the only way Angelique will believe you’re friends of mine. If you need to use Langston to secure someone, you know the command. I would prefer not to, but you’ll be on site. Do it if you have to.”

  “I’ll try to avoid using him, but you have to admit, Langston is one hell of a good backup if the shit hits the fan. I’m going to pick him up on the way, but I really hate waiting. I think I’m going to head into Rockport early and grab a bite to eat. This whole situation is making me hungry enough to eat a hog.”

  “You do that, and feel free to wait at my house, suggested Lazarus. “The code to the garage door is 1876. I’ll touch base at 3:45.”

  “Ta
lk to you then,” said Helen.

  *****

  Lazarus decided he’d go down to the hotel bar to wait. Besides, he might find Torano there, which would be good to know. Lazarus checked in with Katsumi on the way down. “Eyes on the target?” he asked.

  “I do. He’s in the bar with his lawyer, Garza and at least two body guards.”

  “Good. I’m headed there now.”

  “Be careful, Sir,” added Kat even though she knew it wasn’t necessary.

  “Hell, sweetie, I’ll bet you 20 bucks you won’t even recognize me.”

  “You’re on, Boss,” she replied. “This might be interesting.”

  Lazarus didn’t respond. He was stepping out of the elevator and there were people in the area. He limped over to the restaurant; his hat tipped slightly to the right and took a seat at the bar. “Scotch, my good man,” he said to the bartender with his British accent, “on the rocks, if you’d be so kind.” He paid for the drink when it arrived and began scanning the room in the mirror behind the liquor. Lazarus spotted Torano and his lawyer drinking with Garza in the back-right corner. He picked up the two body guards one table to the left.

  Torano staggered to his feet at 12:15, waving his hands as if to say he’d had enough. He left with his two body guards, leaving Schultz and Garza alone at the table.

  “You look pretty good, for an old fart,” Kat whispered in his ear. “You owe me twenty.” Lazarus smiled. He knew she would spot him. He made the bet to help keep her relaxed.

  Garza and Shultz were trading shots of Patron with beer chasers. They both looked drunk. Lazarus knew would be useful when the time came. They kept it up until closing. Schultz staggered to his feet, speaking loudly, “I swore I would never drink Patron with you again. I should have stuck to my guns.”

  Garza grinned drunkenly, “You should have, Willem, but now you have to pay the tab.”

  “Fuck you, Enrique,” slurred the lawyer. “So where are you going now?”

  “I’m taking a cab to the condo. I’ll meet you at the airport in the morning.”

  Lazarus caught most of the exchange as they walked towards the exit. He set his drink down and got out in front of them, sitting down in a chair in the lobby. He waited until Schultz was on the elevator and Garza was out the door. “Schultz is headed up,” he said into the mike.

  “10-4,” Katsumi responded. “The third elevator is empty.”

  Lazarus climbed to his feet unsteadily, as though he’d had a bit too much to drink. The show was for Auburn, who was watching him from the desk. He limped over to the elevator, punching the call button with his cane. He rode it to the 12th floor, heading back to the room for the wait.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Lazarus called Helen at 3:30 and told her it was a go. He sat in the center of the room, preparing himself mentally for the task at hand. He closed his eyes, putting everything out of his mind except the execution of the plan. Lazarus opened them up 10 minutes later; his cold smile the indication that someone was about to die.

  He checked in again at 3:45. Katsumi gave Lazarus the all clear, noting that there wasn’t a guard posted in the hall.

  Lazarus wasn’t that surprised. The 18th floor was key-card controlled, giving Torano a false sense of security. Lazarus had factored that into his plans, pleased that he was right.

  “Going up now,” he said. “Let me know if something comes up, otherwise maintain radio silence.”

  “The security cameras are on a blank loop in the stairs. I’ve disabled the cameras in the middle elevator and the 18th floor. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

  Lazarus headed towards the elevators with his suitcase in tow. He used the card Katsumi made when he arrived at the 18th floor, and the doors slid noiselessly open. A quick glance confirmed the hall was empty and he headed for the lawyer’s room. Lazarus listened at the door and heard loud snoring inside. He slipped on a pair of surgical gloves and slid the key card into the slot, getting a green light. He opened the door slowly in the event Schultz had thrown the security latch – he hadn’t. Lazarus chalked that up to the Patron. He closed the door quietly behind him and locked it. He couldn’t afford to be interrupted. Lazarus took the bag back to where the lawyer was sleeping, or more accurately passed out - still wearing his pants and lying on top of the bedspread.

  Lazarus pulled a hypo from the bag, snapping it to get an air bubble out before injecting tetrodotoxin into the lawyer’s carotid artery. He put his left hand over Shultz’s mouth in case he called out. Schultz reacted weakly to the injection; definitely drunk. He struggled briefly before passing out. Lazarus got out a roll of duct tape, wrapping it around the lawyer’s head. It would take 15-20 minutes before the TTX completely paralyzed Schultz. Lazarus smiled as he took off his suit coat and put it in a plastic bag. The gray wig would act as a hairnet. He pulled out a clear rain suit and donned it over his clothes, slipping a pair of booties over his shoes.

  He sat beside the lawyer, waiting for the neurotoxin to kick in. He didn’t need Schultz coming to in the middle of what he had planned for him. The dosage Lazarus had given the lawyer was twice the lethal level. 10 minutes passed before Schultz began fighting to breathe, his eyes opening and staring blankly at Lazarus. Two minutes later he stopped struggling. Lazarus whispered to the dying man, “This could have been much worse for you, Willem. Consider yourself fortunate that I’m letting you die this way.” The lawyer’s eyelids fluttered briefly, and then he was gone.

  Lazarus worked quickly. Now that Schultz was dead, there would be a lot less blood and no physical reactions. He put on elbow length rubber gloves and pulled out an 8” knife. He sliced the body cavity along the bottom of the rib cage, and then split the sternum. It was a rudimentary but very effective way to get at the heart. Lazarus pulled it out, severing it from the aorta and the pulmonary vein. He placed it in a Ziploc and put the bag in a small cardboard box he’d brought with him. Lazarus wrapped duct tape around the box and set it on the table next to the bed, taping a note to the top he had prepared earlier.

  Clean up was quick and easy due to the lack of blood. Lazarus put the long gloves and rain suit in a trash bag, leaving the knife behind. There were no prints, and it was a common hunting knife by Gerber that would be impossible to trace. He put the hypo in the bag with the clothes and stowed everything in the suitcase.

  *****

  Less than 20 minutes had passed since Lazarus entered the room. He stood by the door and whispered into the mike, “I’m finished. Is it clear?”

  Katsumi responded, “All clear in the hall. No one on the elevators and nobody has come out of either of the other rooms since you went in.”

  Lazarus was reaching for the handle when Katsumi said flatly, “You have company.”

  “Copy that,” said Lazarus; “Status?”

  “Heading away from you; stand by.” Lazarus pulled out his Tanfoglio and screwed on a silencer. He showed no sign of nervousness.

  “He’s getting ice from the machine at the other end of the hall,” said Katsumi.

  “Copy that.”

  Two minutes passed before Katsumi spoke again. “Subject is back in the room.”

  “Moving soon,” said Lazarus as he opened the door a crack, peaking into the corridor. He stood there for a minute listening, not hearing anything. “Going now,” he said and headed out the door, closing it gently behind him.

  Lazarus set the box down in front of Torano’s suite and was in the elevator 5 seconds after he left the room. “Heading down to the room on the 12th floor; I’ll be there with you in 15.”

  “I’ll be ready,” replied Katsumi.

  After returning to the 12th floor suite, Lazarus repacked the evidence from the murder into another bag, which he put it in a hidden compartment at the bottom of the suitcase to dispose of later. He wiped down the room, knowing exactly everything he had touched, which was minimal. Lazarus pulled the toothpick out of the latch and closed the door behind him.

  “Coming up the stairs,”
he whispered to Katsumi.

  “You are clear to 16. No traffic for over two hours.”

  Lazarus arrived at Katsumi’s room, letting himself in.

  “Game time, sweetie,” he said to Kat as he set the bag down. “Keep an eye on Torano’s room. Once he’s taken the package, you can tear everything down and pack it away. Put it in my room and I will take it out.”

  “I’ll start now,” Katsumi responded. “I can pull everything but the camera monitor.”

  “Good. I’ll watch Torano while you pack.”

  *****

  Lazarus punched in Torano’s private number on one of the many burner phones he’d acquired over the years.

  The voice that answered wasn’t Ramon. “Si,” the man said.

  “Get El Hefe on the phone,” ordered Lazarus.

  “Fuck you, you don’t tell me what to do,” the guard responded angrily.

  “Listen, amigo, you’ve got ten seconds to get Ramon on the phone or he’ll be the one killing you, not me; comprende?”

  Something about the unemotional way the caller made the statement got the guard’s attention. He was pissed, and a little bit more than afraid. Ramon hated being woken in the middle of the night. The guard asked, “Can I at least tell him who is calling?”

  Lazarus smiled, “The Chameleon.”

  The body guard didn’t say another word. He ran up the stairs and shook his boss awake.

  Torano opened his eyes and yawned. He was about to say something when he saw the look on the guard’s face, his phone held out to him.

  “Forgive me, Hefe. He says he is the Chameleon.”