“But…there was no one,” she said, still fighting back some tears. “I checked.”
“All right. Then what?”
“I went back to the kitchen and, again, the doorbell rang. My heart was starting to…well, you know. I was starting to get really scared at this point.” She fidgeted in her seat, as if she wasn’t sure what to do with her hands while she told the story. Finally, she smoothed out her dress and tried to leave them in her lap, but Berlin noticed that her hands were trembling, vibrating up and down. “I went to the door,” she said, now looking at the door, replaying the event in her mind. “But still, there was no one. Not that I could see. I’ve seen the movies, Detective, you must understand, I knew this wasn’t all just in my head anymore. Someone was out there. Watching me. Playing some sick practical joke.”
Berlin tried to put her mind at rest.
She sniffled. “Right after that I heard a loud bang. It sounded like it came from the backyard.”
Berlin glanced at the back of the house. He wasn’t really sure why, as he wouldn’t be able to see anything from his viewpoint, but it occurred to him nonetheless. “Oh? Any idea what it was?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I couldn’t bear to look. But the sounds, they kept happening…one after the other. Smack, boom, thump. I even heard one that sounded like it came from the roof. The roof!”
“Really?”
She nodded, holding back tears. “Why…how did they get on my roof?” She dabbed at her eyes again with her sleeves.
Berlin grabbed the box of Kleenex from the coffee table and offered it to her. This story wasn’t making much sense. There would have to have been multiple people involved. But why? Why terrorize this woman?
She watched Berlin, as if waiting for a response from him. When none came, she continued, “Eventually I went to the front window. This one here.” She pointed to the large bay window at the front of the house. “I was gonna try and run. See if I could get to a neighbor’s house but…I couldn’t. My legs. They wouldn’t move. I was helpless.”
“It’s okay,” he said, patting her on the leg. “You’re safe now.”
She looked down at the box of Kleenex on the table and said, “I huddled in the corner, called 911, and waited. It was all I could do. Hide.”
“You did the right thing. Who knows what they could have done, or what their intention was? Did you file a report?”
“Yes. Sorry, I guess I could have mentioned that.”
Berlin chewed on the inside of his cheek. He didn’t want to push her.
“I saw them, you know,” she said, breaking the silence.
“Saw who?”
Her face took a dark turn. “Them. The people. Outside.”
“What people?”
“They wore masks—white masks,” she said. “They stood out there—like statues. I still can’t get the image out of my head.”
This was starting to sound like it wasn’t just a prank. This had intent. An objective with a target. The target being Lexi Scott.
Berlin turned in his seat, focusing all of his attention on her. In a sick and sort of demented way, he was enthralled with the story. “I know it’s hard, but you’ve come so far already. Tell me the rest.”
She took a deep breath. “I was on the phone with the police. When I saw them, I let out a scream and dropped the phone. I fumbled with it on the ground, but my hands—I couldn’t pick it up. By the time I picked it back up and looked out the window, they were gone. Poof.
“I waited there, in the corner, until the police came. They checked the house, that sort of thing. They didn’t find anything. To tell you the truth, I don’t even think they believed me. They probably thought that I was just some nut job.” She looked down at her lap. “You believe me, though, right?”
“I do,” he said. Again, he was overwhelmed with a feeling that he hadn’t had in an awfully long time. Empathy. He wanted to take her into his arms. Shield her and protect her. The opportunity seemed right, but he knew that he shouldn’t. There were boundaries. Protocol.
“There’s something else,” she said, breaking Berlin from his spell.
“What?”
She stood and went over to a bookcase on the other side of the room. She pulled a large piece of paper that had been lying on top of the row of books. She carried it with her back to the sofa. “After the police left, I found this.”
Berlin looked down at the paper as she slid it over to him. “Did the officers see this?”
“I guess not. I found it after they left. It was just sitting there on my kitchen counter next to my groceries.” She quivered slightly, like a shiver had just run up her spine. “They were in my house, Detective. I can’t…That’s when I called you.”
“Jesus.” He reached into the side pocket of his coat and pulled out a pair of white latex gloves. After putting the gloves on, he took the paper from her and laid it out on the coffee table. “Any idea as to what it means?”
“I think it’s about you,” she said.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“But, there could—”
“I know what you’re going to say, Detective, and I can assure you that there’s been no one else.”
She said nothing else. She wanted a reaction from him. He could feel her eyes, burrowing deep into the side of his face. He turned and put a hand on top of hers. “All right, this is what we’re going to do. I’m going to get a car put on your house. They won’t bother you. They’ll just sit outside. Hopefully, by just being here, they will prevent the crazies from coming around again.” She nodded. “In the meantime, I’ll get a tech over here to take your prints so we can eliminate you from this piece of evidence.”
“Okay.”
Berlin stood and took the large piece of paper that resembled a poster. “I need to get this down to evidence ASAP.”
“Of course,” she said, standing as well.
“I’m sure this is nothing. Just some kids’ idea of a sick joke.”
“I hope you’re right, Detective.”
As Berlin made for the door, she followed behind him. He opened the door and stood on the front steps. “I might have some more questions later. I’ll let you know.”
She nodded.
“Okay. Take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Detective.”
“Don’t mention it,” Berlin said, turning and heading back to the car. It didn’t take long, for the barrage of questions to start echoing throughout his head.
Why the masks?
Was this really just a prank?
Or could it lead to something else?
He opened the trunk, retrieved an evidence bag and slid the paper neatly inside of it. Once inside the car, he looked down at the evidence bag that sat on the seat next to him and read the words over and over.
There was no denying it. This was a threat. Written in blood were the words,
STAY AWAY FROM HIM!
CHAPTER 21
Berlin sat alone in his car, thinking about Alexandra Scott, just outside Grimaldi’s Pizza in the neighboring town of Pelham. It was a twenty-minute drive from Headquarters, but Mitchell had assured him that it was worth the extra trip. Mitchell was already inside, busy grabbing a slice in the new 7000-square-foot palace of ‘za. The pizza joint had become a staple to both the community and the Gardens Police Department. All the detectives raved about the place. There wasn’t anything better than Grimaldi’s, Mitchell said.
After about a year and a half of construction and renovation, they had just re-opened their doors. Now they boasted new menu items, an outdoor patio, and double the parking and seating area than the old location.
While he waited outside for Mitchell, Berlin’s thoughts moved to the investigation and the murder of Tim Scott. Could Scott have seen something? Or, was there something more to it? He was working undercover, surrounded by people who would have wanted to hurt him if they knew the truth. The probability of being
found out would have weighed on Scott’s conscience. Maybe Scott had made a mistake somewhere along the line.
Was it too much for him to handle?
Don’t forget about the needle marks.
Yeah. But, would he have really gone down that dark path? Why repeat what happened to his brother?
No, Berlin didn’t think so.
There was something else. Something just out of reach that wasn’t sitting right with him. Something wasn’t adding up. What was it?
What about Mrs. Scott and the warning?
Berlin was pulled back into the present when his phone buzzed. He knew who it was before he even looked at the screen. He pressed the button. “Jimmy. Please, tell me you got something good.”
Jimmy laughed on the other end and said, “Well…”
Earlier, Berlin had handed the poster from Lexi’s place into Jimmy Weiss to process and had told him to rush it, without explaining much else. Jimmy took one look at it and saw that it certainly looked disturbing and agreed, without putting up much of a fuss.
“Just spit it out,” Berlin finally said.
Jimmy shuffled some paperwork in the background. “No prints, I’m afraid. Except for Mrs. Scott’s, of course.”
“Damn.” Berlin figured that there’d be at least something if it had been a prank. Now with nothing, he wasn’t so sure. “What about the blood?”
“Yeah, the blood.” Jimmy chuckled quietly. “It’s uh…it’s cat blood, man. Type A.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Your average household feline.”
Berlin frowned. Cat blood? This was starting to get stranger and stranger.
“She doesn’t happen to own a cat, does she?”
Berlin didn’t know. He hadn’t seen a cat, that’s for sure. “I don’t believe so.”
“Okay, good. Either way, still some sick sons of…well, you know.”
“Yeah.”
“Listen, I wish I could be more help, Detective. I really do. But there’s not a lot to work with here. The paper is your average photo paper. Canon matte photo paper actually, size 13 by 19. You can get this stuff at Staples.”
Good news all around, then.
“All right,” Berlin said reluctantly. “Well, thanks, Jimmy. If you happen to find anything, give me a holler, okay?”
“You got it.”
Berlin hung up and thought about the so-called “poster.” What did it mean? Surely, it wasn’t really about him. Why would someone go through all the trouble?
Mitchell suddenly opened the passenger door, startling Berlin. He said, “Man, you should see that place! They really went all out in there. I can’t believe you didn’t want to come in and grab a bite. I bought an extra slice, if you want it.”
“Nah, I’m good,” Berlin said. “My stomach isn’t really up to it, anyway. Maybe next time.”
Mitchell climbed into the car. “Who were you talkin’ to just now?”
“That was Jimmy, getting back to me.”
“Jimmy? The lab guy? About what?”
“Just a thing.”
“Yeah, I know there’s a thing. That’s why I’m asking about the thing. Anything you care to share? Ya know, with your partner?”
That last word hung in the air.
Berlin thought about it. Mitchell was getting really good at pushing his buttons, he’d give him that. But this was not one of those times. When it came right down to it, Berlin didn’t like to be pushed. He liked his boundaries. “It’s not part of the investigation, Mitch. Personal thing. For a friend. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Berlin felt his partner’s eyes. “And would that friend be a Mrs. Scott?”
Berlin waited for the follow-up comment.
Mitchell took a bite of the slice. He chewed with his mouth full, while saying, “You’re playin’ with fire, man. You know that, right?”
“How’s that?”
He sat the pizza slice down on the front dash of the car. Turning to him, he said, “You can’t get involved with the wife of the dead cop that we’re currently investigating the murder of…it’s not right, man.”
“What would you know about right?” Berlin asked him.
“Excuse me?”
“Never mind.”
“That’s right, never mind. I haven’t done anything to you, man.” Mitchell went back to his pizza slice. It would be gone in a matter of seconds at this rate. “Just take us back to the station or something. I don’t know if I can stand to be in this car with you any longer today.”
***
They rode in silence along Highway 20, passing through the town of Pelham, moving passed the shopping centre and the Mom and Pop shops. As the town slowly dissolved from view, the highway opened up with tall trees that marched on either side. The houses were much smaller here, almost perfect little squares. Most looked like they were single story, simple houses for simple people. There had been a time that Berlin had wanted to live out here with his wife, indulging himself.
He remembered the conversation well. There’s so much to choose from, he had tried to tell Kate. Old Town, Ridgeway, Pelham… On and on he went, naming off towns and villages in the local area.
But she had disagreed, wanting to stay close to the city for work purposes. If only she had agreed to leave. Maybe she’d be safe now.
It wasn’t until they passed the Drive-In, probably one of the last of its kind in the country, that Mitchell finally piped up and vied for Berlin’s attention.
“You know that you passed the drive-in back there, right? Which means you passed the 406, too, which was our ticket back to the station. So, uh…what gives?”
Berlin gripped the wheel and continued to stare straight ahead. “I have to meet somebody.”
Mitchell smiled. “You’re just full of secrets today, aren’t ya?”
“I’ll be quick, don’t worry.”
Mitchell sighed loudly. “Where we headed?”
“The DC.” Berlin was referring to the local Detention Center in the area. It was for those offenders who were currently awaiting sentencing.
“What? Why?”
“Told you. Got to meet somebody.”
After a few more minutes, Berlin made a left hand turn onto Davis Road. They followed the curve of the road as they approached the Detention Center. The building sat behind the pine trees as though it was lurking there. It was a short brown-bricked building that stretched wide across the landscape. Built in the 70s, it was one of many jails affected by the growing issue of overcrowding.
Most cells were triple-bunked nowadays which meant that when the two beds were full in the cell, another inmate would be expected to sleep on the floor. Armed with only a mattress.
Rumor had it that they had been running lockdowns more frequently due to understaffing. Overcrowding and understaffing. If that wasn’t a perfect recipe for disaster, Berlin didn’t know what was.
Berlin turned right and pulled into the parking lot.
Mitchell watched avidly from the window as they came closer to the building. “You know someone inside? I thought you were based in Port?”
“I found someone. The computer said that he was here.”
Mitchell’s eyebrows rose slightly. “When did you have time to look on the computer?”
“Just before we went out to see Clay,” Berlin said. “I thought that I’d do some detecting, like you said. I saw a name. Someone I remember from my Port days.” Berlin exited the vehicle, carrying a manila folder in his hand, and began to walk to the building. He looked behind him at Mitchell and called, “You coming or what?”
Surprised, Mitchell quickly got out and met up with him.
CHAPTER 22
“Your guy in Gen Pop?” the officer asked them. He sat at a computer desk inside the small office. The front was lined with Plexiglas that had seen its fair share of wear and tear. Fine scratches crisscrossed its front like a pattern. Behind the guard, the walls were lined with various posters, documents, clipboards, and other
similar paraphernalia.
You could see straight through the room to the other side on the right. A lone guard stood watch just outside the only door to the room, erect and cognizant.
“That’s right,” Berlin said.
“Okay, yeah, I see him here,” the guard said, looking at the computer monitor.
“Can you bring him out for us?”
The guard stared at the two detectives. He clicked his tongue and exhaled slowly. “Look gentlemen, visiting hours are over. If you want to come by tomorrow between 9:30 and 11, we’ll be happy to—”
Berlin leaned on the small counter and spoke clearly through a small hole in the glass. “That’s not going to work.”
“Look—”
“It pertains to a case we’re working. The murder of one of our own. You’re going to make an exception.”
The guard’s nostrils widened and his upper lip rose. His face went beat red and he said, “Hold on.” He got up from his chair and swiped a keycard through the lone door, exiting the office. He spoke with the other guard outside the door in a hushed voice. The other guard studied Mitchell and Berlin while they had their chat and then he left.
He returned a moment later and spoke with the original guard. He now came back into the office.
“All right.” He sat back down, the chair squeaking. “The supervisor says that it’s okay, so just give us a moment and we’ll bring him on out. Head down the hall, please, and wait there. Someone will let you into a room when we’re ready.”
Berlin flashed him a smile. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
“You’re going to need to sign in,” the officer said.
Berlin took the clipboard from him and scribbled his name down on the visitor’s log. He then pushed it back through the hole in the glass. Berlin looked down at the guard’s nametag and said, “Thank you for your cooperation, Ellis.”
Ellis only glared at him.
***
“Nice guy,” Mitchell said sarcastically.
Berlin shrugged. “Eh, give him a break. This whole overcrowding thing causes a lot of tension and stress. You’d be on edge, too.”
Eyes of the Dead: A Crime and Suspense Thriller (The Gardens Book 1) Page 11