Shoot to Kill

by James Kipling

  “No attitude here,” she said. “I just think you should stop fighting us and help us do our job, so another young woman doesn’t end up murdered.”

  “Cops,” he spat, clearly disgusted. “None of you can do a damn thing right. There’ll be ten more dead daughters before you idiots catch the guy.”

  He stomped off, practically knocking over a nurse who got in his way as he rounded the far end of the hall. Hazel motioned to Officer Laganosky. “Make sure he doesn’t go back into Kelly Mathis’s room unless she asks for him in person, understood?

  Officer Laganosky gave a thumbs up and headed back towards Kelly’s room. Hazel and Owen headed outside and made their way towards the parking lot. On the way, Hazel pulled out her phone and dialed her stepfather. He answered on the second ring.

  “Hey Dad,” she said evenly, aware that Owen was watching her out of the corner of his eye. “Listen, could you have someone follow David Mathis? We’re just leaving the hospital after talking to Kelly Mathis, and there’s something not right about that guy.” He agreed without asking for details and hung up. Hazel wished she could have asked him if he had any news about Nate, but knew he would have told her if he had. Slipping the phone back in her pocket, she looked over at Owen. He quickly averted his eyes and got into the car, but not before she caught him sizing her up. What is he hiding? She wondered once again, but knew it was pointless to ask what was on his mind. Eventually she’d figure it out for herself.

  Chapter 4

  Back at the station, Hazel sat at her computer flipping through an endless database of criminals that matched their killer’s personality profile. Ruthless, sadistic, all with violent pasts and plenty of criminal activity. There were too many unanswered questions to narrow down the field. How was he getting in? How was he watching these women? Did they know him? And if so, for how long? She was no closer now than she had been when the first body surfaced.

  Her desk phone rang. “Hanson,” she answered.

  “You’re going to want to come down here,” Lisa told her.

  Hanging up, she saw Owen speaking with Brooks. She got up from her desk. She didn’t need Owen downstairs with her. She walked down the stairwell alone, grateful that she was alone for a change. It gave her time to reflect on everything that was happening around her.

  Making it downstairs to the coroner’s office, Lisa stood over the body, her hair tied back as usual. The smell of the room was worse than the hospital ˗ sterile and stuffy. She felt like she was suffocating and disliked tight spaces. Lisa looked up and pulled down her mask so she could speak.

  “Morgan was tortured like the others,” she said. “But she fought against him, that’s why her torture wasn’t as bad as the other women. He killed her faster and he didn’t get to live out his fantasy.”

  Hazel wrapped her arms around her chest and shook her head. “So he’s going to want to kill again, and soon, to make up for his fun being spoiled. Why couldn’t you have just told me on the phone?”

  “Because there is another thing I wanted to talk to you about. Something Jacob was telling me.” Lisa hesitated before going on. “You and Owen were together?”

  “Yes, why does that matter?”

  “It must change how you two work together. Aren’t you afraid that those feelings will come back? It will cloud your judgment the moment that happens.”

  Hazel shook her head. No one knew what had happened, and then again she didn’t want anyone to know. It was too painful to remember everything, but she was right. It did cloud her judgment. Being around Owen was difficult, but she enjoyed it. She loved being around him and the feelings she had for him before were still there. She just had to pretend that they weren’t.

  “I am fine. And as for my brother being concerned, he shouldn’t be. Everything is fine between him and I, and nothing bad will happen.”

  Lisa gave her one of those looks, as if telling her that she didn’t believe it.

  She continued. “Well, you’ll be happy to know that not all the blood found at the crime scene belonged to the Mathis sisters. It seems we have our first real hard evidence. I’ve already got forensics running the DNA. No matches have come up yet, but when it does, you’ll be the first to know.”

  For the first time in days, Hazel smiled. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear that.” She felt like dancing all the way to the door but settled for a brisk walk. “Be careful,” Lisa called out as Hazel left the room.

  Owen was in the stairwell waiting for her.

  “Is everything alright?”

  She nodded, but knew she couldn’t lie to him. She never had the ability to lie to him. It was as if he could read into her emotions and decipher what was wrong with her. With everything that was going through her mind, she wondered why her head hadn’t exploded.

  “Lisa confirmed Morgan fought back and he killed her faster than he wanted to. I think he left that apartment angry and frustrated, and I think he’s going to kill again soon to make up for it.”

  She attempted to push past Owen and continue up the stairs, but he caught her wrist and pulled her around to face him. “I wasn’t asking about the case. I was asking about you.” He took a step closer to her. “This is me you’re talking to. Stop trying to be strong for five minutes and tell me what’s going on. I can see in your eyes how distraught you are. Don’t think for a minute that you can hide that from me.”

  “You heard my stepdad,” she replied, taking a step back. “I need to stay focused on this case for now. And right now all I want to do is go back through the list of previous suspects and have another go at them.”

  “And what good will that do?”

  “Might turn up some new information.”

  Owen signed and shook his head. “Where would you like to start?”

  “Richard Barnes, the husband of the first victim.”

  Going back upstairs together, it was difficult for Hazel to stay quiet. She wanted to say something, to get everything off her mind, but she didn’t want to burden Owen with anything else. She was worried about Nate, and she wanted to know where he was and what he was doing. She needed to know that he was safe.

  Her stepfather stood in the hallway speaking to Jacob and Percy. When he saw Hazel and Owen, he gestured for them to come inside. Shutting the door behind them, Hazel held her breath hoping for good news. She was about to be disappointed.

  “Nate is nowhere to be found,” her stepfather said tersely. “And I still don’t know who the mole is. Nate’s assignment on Ciervo wasn’t common knowledge, but word on the street is that whoever ratted him out had all the details.”

  “What type of evidence was Nate after?”

  “The kind to make him go away for a long time. Prostitution, murder for hire, drug distribution, you name it. He’s even involved in human trafficking and child prostitution.”

  “Who has he killed?” Percy asked.

  “Benjamin Reynolds and his wife, Joyce, including their five year old son, Samuel, and five year old daughter, Ashley. They were found in their home ˗ all strangled ˗ and dead for a while. We believe Cecily is part of it due to this photo,” he said handing it to Hazel.

  Hazel shook her head. “That’s Benjamin’s heart with a knife stabbed through it. He removed it after he’d killed him.”

  “Then we also have the Smith family,” her stepfather continued in a grave voice. “Harvey and his wife, Emilee, along with their daughter, Carly. The heart was also taken and stabbed with the same model knife. Then the last family was found nearly a year ago. That was Charles Harper and his wife, Veronica, her son Andrew and their son, Charles Junior.”

  “Why would he go after these people?”

  “We don’t have the answer to that. However I have a PI that got me the information I needed on this case and the bread crumbs led back to him. We have talked to him obviously, and it was before Nate went in. He is very intelligent.”

  “No one who knew Nate was there has done any
thing suspicious,” Jacob said. “I looked through everything and it all adds up.”

  “I don’t know,” their stepfather mused. “I can only just pray that he returns home. Now, all of you get back to work. If anything else comes to my attention I will be sure to inform all of you.”

  They all walked out of his office. Hazel and Owen walked into hers to grab the files she needed. “I’ll drive,” he said. “You’re too distracted right now.”

  She reluctantly allowed him to drive and as they were beginning to leave, Hazel felt a twist in her stomach but it quickly passed. Owen opened her car door for her and she slipped inside. She handed him a file. “This is where we’re going,” she said, pointing to the address.

  As they began driving through traffic, Owen glanced at her sideways. “Where is your partner?”

  “I don’t have one,” she said simply. “I haven’t had one in several months.”

  “What happened?”

  “He was in a car accident and ever since then I’ve been working on my own. I prefer that. Being on my own makes everything easier.”

  “Yeah, it is easier being alone sometimes. However, sometimes you need someone there to help.”

  Ignoring the last part she asked, “Don’t you have a partner?”

  “I have a team, but we don’t work closely. We theorize together and that’s about it. Anyway, is there anyone in your life?”

  “No. I have been too busy to be in a relationship. What about you?”

  He shook his head. “I haven’t met anyone that is worth my time. A lot of the girls who like me are a little off. There has only been one to get my attention and there is no way I can have her.”

  Pulling up to the house, Hazel sat there an extra moment. She wondered who he was talking about, and knew it wasn’t herself. That had stung slightly but she quickly hid it and got out of the car to walk up to the front door. There were gorgeous rose bushes at the front of the house and it was faced nicely with dark brick.

  After they rang the doorbell, the door opened and Richard Barnes stood there with his son at his side. It had been a little over a year since his mother had been murdered in this house. Hazel wondered why he had stayed here.

  “Mr. Barnes,” she said, flashing her badge at him. “I have a few more questions that I need to ask you. Is it alright that we come in?”

  He nodded and moved aside to allow them entry. An older woman came from behind. “Please take Connor out of the room,” he said to the woman, handing the child over to her. “What would you like to know?”

  “I was wondering if you could tell us if you recognized any of these women.”

  Pulling out their pictures, he examined them and watched as his brow furrowed. “Her,” he said, pointing to Morgan’s photo. “Her mother was Karen’s doctor. I saw her at one of the appointments.”

  Hazel was unsure how to handle this new information. Two new leads in one day. Suddenly it was slightly easier to breathe. “Mr. Barnes, there are a few other questions I have for you. Did you have a security system in here before that day?”

  He nodded. “Yes. Karen insisted on it. A man had come over – he was a door to door salesman, and had a bunch of statistics on home invasion. Since Connor was only two at the time and we had nice things, she felt it was a good idea.”

  She nodded. “And before everything that happened, was there anything in the area that didn’t seem right?”

  “No. Everything seemed normal. No strange cars were around and no new faces were on the street. Everything that happened was unexpected and it is still hard to breathe easy. My boy is growing up without his mother.”

  “Why did you stay here?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t afford to leave, and with the way the housing market is, I wouldn’t be able to get a good enough sale on this house to gain anything.”

  “Thank you for your time,” she said.

  As they were walking outside, Mr. Barnes looked at them with sadness in his eyes. “Please catch the son of a bitch that did this to my wife.”

  “We will,” said Owen.

  As they walked to the car, Hazel pulled out her phone. “Hey Lisa,” she said. “Could you do me a favor? Figure out who the primary care doctor was for all the victims. I have a hunch. Alright, thank you.”

  Owen started up the car. She stared at her phone and began to think. Was this just a coincidence? She doubted it. Owen took her hand and she looked at him. “What?”

  “After this case is over, you need to go on a nice, long vacation.”

  She shook her head. “There is no way I could go anywhere. I prefer working.”

  He smiled. “I know you do. But you are so stressed. You need to get away and just relax.”

  Rolling her eyes, she felt him squeeze her hand. She didn’t like how she was feeling towards him at that moment. It was not logical to have these feelings for him – was it?

  “We should go back to the station and see what else we can figure out,” she said as a matter of fact.

  “Neither of us has eaten today and I know you’re hungry. We can grab a quick bite to eat and then we’ll be back on this.”

  “Okay,” she said. He didn’t specify where he was going to take her. When he pulled into the Red Lobster parking lot, she smiled to herself. This place was by far her most favorite restaurant. As they walked in, the hostess took them to a small booth. It was not that busy. She looked down at the menu despite the fact that she already knew what she was getting. “Nate is going to be alright,” he reassured her. “He is a lot like you, smart and strong. He won’t go down without a fight.”

  “I know. I just can’t help but wonder where he is and if he’s okay. I just want to get a phone call saying he is home with my mom.”

  Reaching across the table, he held her hand tightly. “Hazel, everything will be okay.”

  She tried to smile, unable to believe that. Her work life had run smoothly in the past five years. Nate had done undercover operations before, but this was the first time he had been exposed. She disliked how this was playing out and wanted to do something, frustrated she wasn’t able to do anything. She was stuck here. Finally she looked up at Owen and spoke. “Owen, I am so sorry for everything. I was so stupid and there was just so much going on.”

  “You don’t need to be sorry,” he said firmly. “What happened wasn’t in your control and I don’t blame or resent you. Remember, I was the one who packed my bags. I didn’t fight for you and I’m beginning to wonder what would have happened had I done that.”

  Bowing her head, the waitress brought their beverages and Hazel got up. She wasn’t able to sit there with him. Lisa was right – she hated it when she was right. It was slightly annoying but she sucked in a deep breath and knew she had to clear her head by leaving the restaurant.

  Owen followed behind her. “Hazel, you need to stop running away from me,” he said, reaching out to catch her arm. “I’m here to help and you of all people should know that. Why else would I be here?”

  “I can’t lie to you about what is going on in my head,” she stated, trying to act professional. “My head is full and it just keeps spinning. I don’t know what I should be doing. I am trapped in my own problems and I can’t help these women.”

  “Yes, you can. I believe in you.”

  Owen watched as she walked away from him. He was not going to make the same mistake he did five years ago. He wasn’t going to let her go and now he was at a crossroads. If he told her what was truly happening, she would resent him but be able to put this case away quicker – wouldn’t she?

  He was ready to tell her, but his phone rang. It was Brooks. “Jones,” he answered.

  “Are you on a date with her?”

  Looking around, he saw Brooks across the street, watching. Brooks was by far the best at his job. “No sir. We were just hungry.”

  “You’re not going to tell her anything. Okay? This is for us to deal with, not them. We are traine
d for this.”

  “She deserves˗…” he began but was cut off.

  “She deserves to know what she knows now. This young woman would blow this out of the water for us. If she knew the truth, we would be at war with the Italians. You know that.”

  He hung up the phone and quickly followed behind Hazel. He disliked these orders. Hazel was smart and would do right in the situation. Then again he swore an oath and knew he had to obey these orders. He went back in the restaurant to settle the bill. Then they left for the office in silence.

  §

  Hazel was disgusted with these men. Owen was hiding something, and she was going to figure out what it was. She had seen Brooks there, and overheard part of their phone conversation. They were hiding something – something that she was not allowed to know. She was not going to let them have the upper hand. This was her case and she was going to solve it – with or without them.

  As she walked over to her desk, Brooks appeared. “Your ME has concluded that your victims have the same primary care physician, Dr. Mathis. I suggest you go and have a conversation with her.”

  “I know what I am doing, sir,” she said snidely.

  “Don’t use that tone with me. I have the ability to take you off this case.”

  “I don’t give a damn about what you can do. You obviously don’t know what I can do. So go back to your office and keep your secrets. I know Owen is hiding something and I know he is under your orders. I will go ahead and figure out what it is. Do not ever underestimate me.”

  Pushing past him, she headed to her stepfather’s office. Brooks grabbed her from behind. She wanted to lash out and hit him, but she refrained. “Don’t underestimate what I can do to you. I have more power than you think.”

  “Power has nothing to do with it. Even dictators fall.”

  He let go of her and she walked away, opening her stepfather’s door. He was reading through something and barely looked up at her when she spoke. “You didn’t really ask them here, did you? They stepped in and you had no other choice but to let them stay.”