by Helen Phifer
Chapter Nine
Frankie was in a rush for work, having got stuck in a jam on Sixth, and was now driving like a maniac to make it to the precinct before Sergeant Addison realized he was late again. By the time he got parked and ran into the department Maria was already there, coffee in hand scrolling through the list of jobs that had come in overnight. He made it to his desk without being caught.
‘Nice of you to join us, Frankie.’
‘Traffic.’
‘Why don’t you just walk, or get the subway?’
He frowned at her. ‘I’m too lazy to walk and I’m not being crushed against some hairy, sweaty, guy for ten minutes.’
She laughed, but not for long as she heard Addison bellow.
‘Miller, Conroy. My office now.’
She looked at Frankie, who shrugged, glad it wasn’t just him getting called. They stood up and walked the short distance to his corner office. Ever the gentleman, Frankie let Maria go in first, because then she’d be the one in the line of fire. Addison was an okay boss, but whenever he was angry or excited spittle flew from his lips. Maria tried to keep a safe distance. She looked over her shoulder and glared at Frankie who winked at her.
‘Take a seat.’
They both sat down, relieved that Addison was neither angry nor excited. He had a file spread out across his desk, Maria glanced at the technicolor photographs and her stomach dropped to her feet. She recognized the torso and limbs from that night, three years ago.
‘We’ve had a call from a reporter asking all sorts of questions about this case, she wanted to know if we were aware that in the fifties a semi-famous actress was found murdered in the same apartment. Her limbs were hacked from her body and her head was missing. According to this reporter it was never found.’
Maria leant forwards. ‘How did we not know this?’
Frankie shook his head. ‘How were we supposed to know? It’s not like it was a few months ago, I mean that’s sixty five years ago.’
Addison shrugged. ‘I’m not saying you should have known, hell I had no idea about it and I’m older than the pair of you. I just think it’s a bit of a coincidence and I want you to go back over everything you have. Work the case again. I’ve pulled you off the active on call duties to work it for the next ten days to see what you can come up with.’
Maria leant forwards grabbing hold of the photograph of the entrance to the apartment. Every cop has a case they didn’t solve, a killer they couldn’t catch. This one had been the one to give her nightmares. She’d wake up in the early hours in a cold sweat, her hands checking to make sure her head was still attached to her body.
‘Who is this reporter? How the fuck do they know about the other murder?’
Addison’s cheeks began to turn crimson. ‘It’s my daughter, she’s just started working at the Daily News in the archives. She did a thesis on unsolved murders and just happened to stumble upon the original story. She asked me about it and I didn’t know. I haven’t got the time to look into it and, let’s be honest, the Lieutenant would think I’d lost it if I told him why.’
Frankie was staring at the photograph of the limbless body. ‘Christ, I was hoping I’d never have to look at this ever again? It gave me nightmares for months.’
Maria looked at him. He’d never told her this. She’d never told him it had been the same for her either, but it had gotten to the pair of them. Much deeper than they could have imagined and now here it was once more. ‘Wouldn’t you be better asking the cold case review team to take a look?’
Addison shrugged. ‘I can’t, you know how much use Peters is. He’ll laugh his ass off at me when I tell him. I want you two to at least make a start on it. If you can pull something together that could link any of it, I’ll pass it on.’
Maria did know what an asshole Peters was and as much as she didn’t want to have to pore through the files again she did like the thought of giving it one last shot to find the killer. Whoever it was deserved to be locked up. They deserved much worse than that. To know that whoever it was had been brought to justice would be good enough and make it all worthwhile.
‘Yes sir, we’ll make a start on it right now. Won’t we, Frankie?’
Frankie didn’t look as convinced as she sounded, but he nodded his head. Addison scooped up the photographs and put them back into the file.
‘These are copies. I Xeroxed everything from the original file.’ He pulled open his top drawer and pulled out another file and passed it across to Maria.
‘And those are copies of everything Max found in the archives concerning the murder back in 52.’
He wrote a cell number across the front of the file, holding it towards her. ‘You need anything else that’s Max’s number, give her a call.’
Maria took the second file. ‘Thanks.’
‘Oh and can the pair of you keep this to yourselves, I don’t want the rest of the department thinking I’m going soft in my old age.’
Both of them nodded. They stood up and walked out of his office, neither of them saying a word until they reached their desks. Maria looked at Frankie. ‘Coffee?’
‘Of course, you know me baby. I’m anyone’s for a cup of Sam’s delicious, caffeine infused drinks.’
Chapter Ten
Frankie found a parking bay a block down from Sam’s Deli and they high-fived each other; if they were leaving the car it had to be in a proper bay. Traffic were prone to tow anything they could get their hands on. Maria grabbed the two files, ready to find a quiet booth, order breakfast and see what they could come up with. For the first time in months she felt glad to be doing something different. To be able to delve even deeper into it, she’d always felt bad that they never recovered the poor girl’s head. Or caught the sick fuck who took it away in the first place. As much as it was going to reopen a can of worms inside her own head she was grateful to be given a second chance. She pushed open the heavy door to Sam’s which was full of wise New Yorkers eating breakfast and ordering coffee to go. She spied an empty booth at the back, near to the bathrooms and made her way towards it. Frankie stopped to chat with a couple of beat cops who were on their way out, but she didn’t recognize them which meant she didn’t need to bother with the small talk. Shuffling into the booth, she lay the files down on the table, knowing she wouldn’t open them until Marge had taken their order. It wasn’t fair to subject nice, normal people to the horrors that they had to deal with. She picked up the menu and began reading, her stomach groaning in appreciation. Despite the fact that she’d had a bowl of granola she was still tempted to have one of Sam’s huge bagels stuffed with bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and topped with Swiss cheese. Frankie finally sat down opposite her.
‘I wasn’t hungry until I stepped in here. Why does it smell so damn good?’
‘Have you eaten?’
He stuck his tongue out at her. ‘Have you?’
‘Yes, some granola.’
‘I told you, eating that bird food isn’t enough. I’ve had some coffee.’
‘And the rest?’
‘A couple of eggs, what are you my mother?’
She shook her head, before they could get into an argument Marge appeared like a vision from god.
‘You two love birds at it again? What can I get you?’
Maria rhymed off her order, Frankie screwed up his eyes then nodded. ‘I’ll have the same please, Marge, and two of Sam’s lattes please.’
Marge wrote down their order, tucking the pencil back behind her ear. She scooped up the menus and pointed to the files. ‘You got something juicy going on in there?’
Maria nodded. ‘It’s horrific Marge, enough to put you off your food.’
‘That good? Why don’t you two get a change of department, work something nice? It can’t be good for your brain seeing the crap you two look at every day.’ She was tapping the side of her head with her pointed, bright red fingernail.
‘Someone has to catch them and we’re quite good at it.’
Frank
ie snorted. Marge smiled at him. ‘Grow up Frankie.’
She walked away leaving Maria giggling, when she composed herself she wagged her finger at him. ‘Yes, grow up Frankie.’
Frankie rolled his eyes. ‘So this is a turn up for the books; if we play it right we won’t have to deal with any crappy homicides this side of Christmas.’
‘This isn’t some kind of working holiday, it’s serious. We have to start from the beginning, go over everything, pull the evidence and crime scene logs.’
‘I know that, I’m just saying it’s nice. Who’d have thought old Addison would be such a pushover for his kid? I’m pretty shocked, I had him pegged as an asshole.’
‘You peg everyone as an asshole.’
‘Not you.’
‘Good, glad to hear it.’
Maria opened the folder from Max and looked at the assortment of black and white photocopied articles. There was a grainy black and white photograph of the outside of the Brownstone, the caption underneath read, Family Home turned Slaughterhouse. She shivered. The house looked in a much better state than it did now. She began to read the article only to be disturbed by Marge carrying a tray with their drinks. She gathered the pieces of paper up, closing the file, not wanting to upset her, and smiled at the older woman who had been serving people here forever.
Chapter Eleven
Greenwich Village 1952
Emilia pushed her plate away – she couldn’t eat anymore if she tried. Mae did the same and rubbed her stomach.
‘I hope my costume still fastens tonight. Mary will go crazy if it doesn’t zip up.’
She began to laugh and Emilia joined in. ‘What play are you in and who is Mary?’
‘Mary is the wardrobe mistress. It’s a musical called Fanny about a woman whose childhood love leaves her to go away to sea. After he leaves she discovers she’s pregnant and has to marry an older man. I’m not actually the lead, I’m in the chorus. I’m the lead’s understudy and stand-in. If she’s ill or can’t perform then I step in, but don’t tell Clarke that. He came to see it the night I was standing in, he was so besotted I didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth.’
‘Oh, I won’t. I’m sure that being the lead’s understudy is just as important.’
For the first time Mae’s cheeks flushed red. ‘Thanks Em, I know you must think I’m a terrible person. Carrying on with your pa and lying to him, but I’m not. I like him and I know that I shouldn’t, but he’s kind and funny. In a way I wish he wasn’t married to your mom.’
She didn’t know what to say. She had a sense of duty towards her mother. They weren’t close and never had been, her brother had always been her mother’s favorite by far. Yet she didn’t know this girl well enough to condone her relationship with her father. She didn’t know her father well enough and she’d known him all her life. She wanted him to be happy; she really liked Mae. Unable to put how she felt into words she found herself shrugging.
‘Sorry Em, this is heavy stuff to lay on you the second time I’ve met you. I just feel as if I can talk to you way more than anyone else. I’ve been friends with Gina since high school and we’ve never felt this close. I shouldn’t put you in this position, I hope you’re not angry with me?’
‘Of course not, Mae, I like you too. I just don’t know what to say. It’s difficult.’
Mae held her hand up for the cheque and Em began to pull some dollars out of her purse.
‘No way kid, this one’s on me. I dragged you shopping and to eat enough pizza to feed a small country. It’s the least I can do.’
She pulled the money, plus enough for a generous tip from her purse and left it on top of the bill. Standing up, she let out a groan and held her hand out to pull Emilia up. Both girls were smiling at each other. They were friends who shared a secret that made both their lives difficult, but Emilia didn’t care. She’d had more fun the last three hours than she’d had in five years. This was how it was supposed to be, shopping, seeing the sights and eating dinner with your girlfriends. Not being shut away in a mausoleum on Staten Island with only your mother and brother for company.
They carried their bags outside into the chilly, autumn air. Em felt Mae’s warm arm slip through hers and she smiled. It felt right. That they should be walking arm in arm, or was that reserved for lovers? For a fleeting moment, Em wondered what it would be like to kiss Mae… and then it was gone.
‘Should I hail a cab?’
Em shook her head. ‘I need to walk a little, I’m so stuffed. If you need to go and get ready point me in the right direction, I’m sure I’ll find my way home.’
Mae shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. I’m not leaving you to navigate the city on your own. Clarke would kill me. We’ll walk together. I’ll catch a cab back to the theatre.’
Em felt the tight breath she’d been holding release; she would have walked on her own. The only thing was, she’d have been terrified. It wouldn’t have stopped her though as stubbornness was a Carter family trait. They headed away from the crowds of people and back down towards the village.
James watched his sister and her new exotic friend walk towards the house from the attic window. They both looked pretty; his sister looked different. He wasn’t sure what made her look so attractive, maybe it was having a friend and a smile on her face. It made a change to see her smiling and not with her nose stuck in a book. He laughed to himself and turned around to look at the old, cracked, leather book which was open on his bed. It was a bad book, he knew that, and he knew that the best thing to do would be to take it and throw it in the river. Ever since he’d discovered it he had done nothing but think evil thoughts. It was as if it controlled his mind and he knew that was ridiculous, or was it? He’d always had an interest in witchcraft and the occult, he found it fascinating. He wanted to know if the strange creatures that were so carefully illustrated on the pages of the book existed. He kind of believed that they did, but he needed proof. He was going to start working on the ritual to see if he could summon the demon like the book promised. He didn’t need money, his pa had plenty of that. What he did want was the power that the dark forces promised. It said in the book that human sacrifices were needed, three of them. He didn’t have a problem with this and in fact he already had them lined up thanks to his sister’s new friend. Emilia had always looked down her nose at him, Mae and Missy would be perfect. His problem would be killing them and doing what he had to before his pa found out and killed him. It was ambitious, and it didn’t come without risk. His pa wouldn’t be too pleased to find his daughter, lover and housekeeper’s decapitated and dismembered bodies. It wouldn’t matter so long as he didn’t find out until he’d summoned his demon. Once he had, he would have enough power to take on an entire army. His angry parents would be of no consequence whatsoever.
Chapter Twelve
Maria was fascinated, this whole thing was a change and something that she welcomed with open arms. Frankie pulled up outside the station to drop her off; he had a dental appointment and she was glad to be free of him for a while. She was going to go back to the apartment and revisit it, speak to the old lady who lived below, if she was still there. She hoped she hadn’t died. She remembered her telling her that she’d lived in the same apartment most of her life. Maria jumped out of the car, the folder tucked under her arm. She wanted to make copies of it so she had a file to work on from home. Frankie would scold her if he knew, but this was more her thing. There had been two occasions where she’d almost transferred to the Cold Case Department. The only thing that had stopped her had been Frankie; they made a good team. That and the fact that Lieutenant Peters was a pain in the ass. She ran up to the department where she duplicated everything, before going back to the address. It wasn’t as if she needed Frankie to babysit her, she could do this on her own. She was a big girl now.
As she found a gap big enough to park in, she wondered if she should have waited for Frankie. Getting out of the car she crossed the road, walking back down towards the apartment.
It stood out amongst all of the others and she wondered if that was because she knew of its disturbing history. Or whether it was because it was so badly neglected. The Brownstones in the village were worth a lot of money, so why had the owners chosen to leave this one to decay? As she reached the stone steps which went down to the front door she stood with her hands on her hips. Was it her or did it give off bad vibes, like it was its own, living, breathing entity? She had no idea how long she’d been staring at it when a car horn beeped behind her, making her jump. She looked around disorientated for a moment and had no idea where she was or what she was staring at. The front door opened and a dreadlocked man came running up the steps, an invisible cloak of cannabis shrouding him. She stepped to one side to let him pass, he looked her up and down. Maria shook her head. She wasn’t interested in him and he nodded. He knew she was a cop. He could probably smell it on her like she could smell the recreational drugs on him. He lifted his headphones over his ears and began to walk away but she reached out and grabbed his arm. He turned, glaring at her.
‘What you want? I’m minding my own business.’
‘Hey, sorry. Yes, you are, I wanted to ask you about the apartments.’
He shook his head. ‘You don’t want to live here. It’s not good for someone like you.’
He turned and walked away and she wondered what the hell that was supposed to mean, so she jogged to catch up to him and this time the look in his eyes told her she was pissing him off big time.