Payback (Angie Bartoni Case Files Book 13)

by Marshall Huffman

  When we got to the hospital, we were directed up to the third floor. A different Nazi Nurse was on the desk this time but she wasn’t a lot better. At least this one was younger and Dan could charm her. We already knew where the officer was. We could see the two cops stationed outside her room.

  “Bartoni and Roberts. We need to talk to Margo,” I said as we pushed our way in.

  This time there was no snippy nurse. Margo was watching the television when we came in.

  “Hi Margo. This is Detective Dan Roberts and I am Detective Angie Bartoni.”

  “I know who you guys are. You are all over the news. I’ve seen you get decorated a couple of times,” she said to me.

  “You know how it is. Give them a medal rather than a pay raise. Listen Margo, we need to ask you some questions about the shooting.”

  “I know. I’ve done nothing but think about it. I can still visualize it in my head.”

  “Can you walk us through what happened?”

  “Sure. We were on routine patrol. We go pretty much the same way every night. Some nights we eat earlier but in general it is the same rounds. Anyway, we had just turned the corner and were shooting the bull. We were both a little apprehensive about the shootings so we were trying to be extra vigilant. We had only gone a few yards down the road when the windshield shattered. Out the corner of my eye I saw…”

  “Take your time.”

  She took a deep breath, “I saw Harry’s head suddenly snap back. I felt his blood hitting me in the face. I bent down as far as I could but the seat belt was holding me. Then the windshield exploded and I heard the bullet strike the headrest. Just a second ago I had been in that very same spot. I couldn’t get loose so I fished my knife out and cut the seat belt strap. I heard another shot. I’m not sure where it went but I think it hit Harry again. I got as far down on the floor as possible then a shot came through the firewall of the car. The next one hit me in the foot. I knew if I stayed there another few seconds he would get me. I opened the car door but waited until he shot through it. I figured he would go for the door thinking I was hiding behind it. Once he fired, I got out as quickly as possible and got to the back of the car,” she told us.

  “Damn smart thinking,” Dan said.

  “Lucky,” she replied.

  “I don’t think so. If you had stayed he would have zeroed in on you. If you jumped out he would have gotten you as well. It was really smart to wait until after the shot to make your break,” Dan assured her.

  “But you didn’t see where the shots came from?”

  “No, but they were a little further down the way. I was covered with Harry’s blood before I heard the shot. Not by much, but it was definitely not right on us. It may have been less than a second but there was a small lapse in between when the bullet hit and when I heard it.”

  “No muzzle flash?”

  “Nothing. To be honest, I didn’t stick my head up to see where they were coming from. I was bent over into as tight a ball as I could.”

  “That’s fine. I would have done exactly the same thing. Only a fool would have risen up to see where the shots were coming from. The guy is obviously a good shot. Let me ask you one more thing. How fast were you moving?”

  “Not very fast. Maybe ten miles an hour, tops. We had been shining the spotlight on the front of the buildings so we couldn’t have been going very fast.”

  “Alright Margo, thank you. We are at the 2nd Precinct. If you think of anything, no matter how small, give us a call.”

  ***

  Once again we came up empty handed. I was starting to become both frustrated and discouraged. Usually by this time most cases yielded something to go on or at least head us in a direction. This time we had nothing.

  “Dan, do you think these were random shootings of police officers?”

  He frowned before answering, “I don’t really know what you mean by that.”

  “Okay, I’m just thinking that maybe we are overlooking a connection of some kind.”

  “Such as?”

  “That’s it. I don’t know but maybe they weren’t as random as we think,” I said.

  “Angie, I’m really not following you. I hardly knew any of them. Did you?”

  “Just by sight and from a few social occasions.”

  “So then I don’t see any connection. Hell, we were the first ones shot at and if we don’t have any interaction with others how can they be connected?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m just bouncing ideas off you.”

  “All I can say is; I don’t get this one. I mean if we had worked with them on other cases, maybe. We didn’t, so I just don’t see any connection. I think you are really stretching this time,” he replied.

  “So then how does he select them? He can’t just set up and hope someone comes by. He has to have done some sort of recon work. The shots have come from places that put the car directly driving toward where he is set up. How does he do that? Where does he get that information? He would have to scout not only where the cars routinely patrolled but where he could most effectively take the shot from. On top of that, it has to be a place he can get away from unnoticed.”

  “I follow that but I don’t think the shootings are related to a specific set of patrol officers. I agree that it takes preparation and he would have to do some preliminary work to figure out the best angle for the shot but I doubt he cares who is in the cars,” Dan countered.

  “Okay, let’s drop that part for a moment. How does he get that information? We don’t post it in the papers. Does that mean someone at the precinct is giving out that information? Maybe we should check in our own back yard and see if it is clean.”

  “Geez Angie. Do you realize what you are implying? You’re saying that we may have someone in house that is so mad at the police that they are willing to supply the patrol routes to a murderer. We may have some disgruntled employees but I sure don’t think they would go that far.”

  “Then maybe someone has hacked into our system and is getting the files. I think we should have Eric look into that possibility,” I replied.

  “But how?”

  “Heck, I don’t know. That is for geeks like him to figure out. One thing I know for sure, the shooter is getting that information from someplace and if it is from the station we need to plug that leak immediately.”

  “Man. Are you going to tell the captain about this?”

  “I think I should at least mention it to him.”

  “I don’t think that is going to make him very happy.”

  “It isn’t about making him happy. Besides, another dead police officer is going to make him infinitely more unhappy.”

  “I suppose there is that,” Dan agreed.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  I didn’t want to cause the captain any more problems but I really felt I needed to discuss this possibility with him. Instead of going to Eric first I went to see him.

  “Gotta’ minute captain?”

  “Park it Bartoni. What’s on your mind?”

  “I was thinking….”

  “Excellent.”

  “That it is possible that the shooter could be getting inside help from someone in the police department,” I said, ignoring his interruption.

  I saw his eyes widen and then he squinted at me.

  “Is this a joke?”

  “Not in the least. Look captain, the only way they could know exactly where the cars were going to be was if they had the patrol routes.”

  “On come on Bartoni. Those are loose routes. Nothing is set in stone. You know that.”

  “I do know that but still if you knew the general location where the cars would be it would certainly be easier to set up the shot. They may not know the exact time but most officers patrol in the same general pattern. Yeah things hold them up, fender-benders, domestic calls, and dispatches in general but once that is done, they usually return to the routine patrols,” I told him.

  “Okay, I’ll give you that but there is no way someone in the forc
e would help them. These are fellow officers. I don’t for one minute believe one of our people would be involved in such a thing.”

  “You’re that sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I’m not so convinced. Humor me on this will you. Let me put Eric on this and see what he can come up with.”

  “Bartoni, it’s a big waste of time.”

  “Captain, my gut is telling me someone inside is helping.”

  “No Bartoni. You are wrong this time. No one in uniform is going to have anything to do with the death of fellow officers.”

  “Alright but I think you are making a huge mistake. If another officer goes down you are going to have to rethink this,” I said getting up to leave.

  “Bartoni, if another officer does get shot it will not be because someone from here is feeding the shooter information.”

  “Okay boss,” I said.

  I could feel his eyes on me as I headed back to my desk.

  “What did he say?” Dan asked.

  “Basically that I was full of it.”

  “Yeah, I thought that may happen. I’m not so sure you are right on this one either partner.”

  “Well there is more than one way to skin a cat.”

  “Ah man. What are you going to do?” he asked.

  “Not me. We.”

  “Great. That’s just great,” Dan lamented.

  ***

  Just before each shift change there is roll call. It isn’t really roll call but nevertheless that’s what it is still referred to by most of the officers. Some call it a briefing.

  “Okay, listen up. I got a few announcements,” the Sargent said.

  It took a couple of minutes for everyone to settle down and stop talking.

  “First, Parker and Lambert, you will have to use car 117 tonight. You’re normal unit is out of commission for a few days. Second, the Commissioner with be doing a ride along with one of you lucky people. No, I don’t know who yet. He will be here in a few minutes and then we will know.”

  There was a collective groan. It would mean that everything had to be by the book. No loose ties, hats off or any shortcuts. Fortunately he only did one every six months or so.

  “Third item, two African-Americans have been hitting convenience stores in the Greenwood area. They have started getting more physical. We have one woman in the hospital with a broken jaw from last night. Calvin is handing out the composite drawings and descriptions. So far they have not used any weapons that we are aware of but they still to be considered dangerous. Just keep an eye out for them. The forth thing is the 43rd Street Gang. They have been getting more aggressive in the Beechgrove area. Watch yourselves and don’t hesitate to call in back up. The last item is…”

  “Attention,” someone yelled as the Commissioner and his escort entered the room.

  “At ease. I just wanted to do a little ride along tonight. I understand the Beechgrove area is having trouble again with the gang in that area. I would like to see for myself what is going on,” he said.

  “Sir, that would be Tolbert and Mallory patrolling that area.”

  “Fine. I’ll ride with them.”

  “Sir, I hate to bring this up but my next item was about the police shooter out there. Are you sure this is a good time to do a ride along?” the Sargent asked.

  “I don’t see why not. We have officers out on the streets. I need to experience what they are experiencing. I think this is exactly the time to ride with the men and woman,” he said.

  “Yes sir. Alright, keep your heads up people. Watch the skyline while you are driving along. The shots are mostly coming from abandoned buildings and from rooftops. Just be safe out there. Dismissed. Tolbert and Mallory, you are with the Commissioner. Make sure he has a vest,” the Sargent said.

  Dan and I had been watching from the back of the room. I just wanted to get a feel for what went down. It had been a very long time since I attended roll call and each Sargent does it a bit differently. When they were finished I want to talk to the Sargent.

  “Hey, Sarge. I’m Detective Bartoni.”

  “Give me a break. Everyone knows who you are Bartoni. You’re our department celebrity.”

  “What?”

  “Best looking, best detective, most decorated. You’re our poster girl,” he said.

  I’m sure my mouth dropped open. Bartoni without a comeback. That had to be a first.

  “I…I…uh. Geez.”

  “Hey, it’s true. Anyway, what can I do for you?”

  “I wanted to ask about the patrol assignments.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, you are the one that makes them out right?”

  “Sure.”

  “And then what?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean?”

  “Okay. After you finish making the assignments for patrol cars and routes, what is the next step?”

  “I give them to Marsha. She makes them legible cause I can’t write for crap. They are copied and one is posted on the bulletin board. One goes up in each of the locker rooms and one goes to the captain and one into the official record,” he told us.

  “How often do you post them?”

  “They are good for two weeks. This week’s schedule went up on Monday. They are posted with the morning roll call every other Monday, come rain or shine.”

  “Thanks Sarge. That’s all I needed to know,” I told him.

  “I’m serious about you being our poster girl,” he said as we walked off.

  I just waved. I’m sure I was blushing. I was just hoping Dan wouldn’t start in. I didn’t want to have to hurt him.

  “Poster girl,” I heard him mutter.

  I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.

  “Don’t,” I warned him.

  Did he listen? I don’t think so because the next thing out of his mouth was so typically male chauvinist.

  “Gonna do a swimsuit poster?” he said cracking up.

  I guess he thought it was funny so I punched him in the stomach. He just laughed harder. I about broke my damn hand. That is so unfair.

  ***

  I was at my desk looking at the files about the shootings hoping something would jump out at me. I was failing miserably. We had some information but nothing that was a real pattern other than the gun was some Russian type. Probably a Mosin Nagant, but there were other Russian guns that shot the same shell. Lance had informed me that they also had something called a STV-40, along with the Dragunov SVD and variants that were used during the war and fired the same round. The Dragnonov and sniper version of Mosin Nagant were both very accurate, the STV-40, not so much. The sniper loads of the bullet traveled at a very fast 2,700 feet per second. All very interesting I guess but it wasn’t doing one bit of good in helping me catch the person killing my fellow officers.

  I was deep in thought when I suddenly realized someone was standing pretty near me. I have the personal space thing. I don’t like people getting in my safety zone. It always makes the hairs on my arm stand up.

  I looked over and a good looking tall guy standing there. He was just over six foot tall and squared jawed, with intense blue-gray eyes and short light brown hair. I had to be careful not to drool.

  “Yeah?”

  Smooth huh?

  “I didn’t want to bother you. You seemed deep in thought,” he said.

  Nice deep soft voice. Stop it Bartoni. What is your problem? He is just a guy. Get a grip.

  “Well you have managed to do that so what do you want?”

  “Sorry, I’m Garrett Brock.”

  I just looked at him, waiting.

  “I have been hired by the Anderson family to investigate the circumstances of his death,” he said.

  “What? Investigate? What the hell does that mean?” I said turning to face him fully.

  “Investigate? Oh it means to look into. It means to inquire, determine the cause.”

  “I know what investigate means Mr. Block.”

  “Brock,” he correcte
d.

  “Whatever. The police are doing the investigation. I assume you are a PI.”

  “Very good. They said you were a good detective. You detected that right away. Excellent.”

  I knew Dan was listening. I could see the amused look on his face out of the corner of my eye.

  “Look buster, we will not stand for a PI getting in the way of an official ongoing police investigation.”

  “Really? And just how are you doing on that investigation? Let’s see, four dead and two wounded, one seriously. You seem to have a good handle on it. I mean for civil servants.”

  I stood up quickly and realized how unthreatening I probably appeared as he towered over me.

  “You get in the way of my investigation and I will have you hauled in for obstruction,” I said.

  “Obstruction? What could I possible obstruct? You have to actually be doing something for me to obstruct.”

  This guy may be great looking but he was really pushing my buttons. I could feel my face getting red. I don’t like being out of control for one minute and this jerk was setting me off.

  “You listen to me PI Block. I am only going to say this once. Get in my way or interfere in any manner and I will haul you in.”

  “Actually, that is the second time you have said it. I was just doing you the courtesy of letting you know I will be around looking into the Anderson case and there is really nothing you can do about it. I am licensed by the state. I have a permit to carry. There are two other things you may want to know,” he said.

  “I don’t care,” I interjected.

  “Yes, you do. I was at one time your captain’s boss and I was at one time the assistant commissioner of police. I know the law, better than you do I would imagine,” he said as he turned and walked down the stairs.

  I just stood there trying to think of a snappy comeback but failed miserably. What was that last crap all about? He was too young to be McGregor’s boss or the Assistant Commissioner.

  I looked over at Dan. He had his head buried in a folder but I could see the stupid smile on his face. I wanted to smack him upside the head. Why didn’t he jump in there and help me out? Moron.