The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles

by Conner, Declan

  “Routine; He was checking all our overseas students’ identification and immigration papers are in order and that they’re doing what they are supposed to be doing... studying.”

  Her answer was solid. He’d not thought of that.

  “What about Gyp, will he be ready yet?”

  “You would be better leaving him here until the quarantine is over.”

  “You sure?”

  “It’s not a problem. He’ll be safer here. Besides, it’ll give you an excuse to visit again. You do want to visit again?”

  “Yeah, of course.”

  “Good, I’ll hold you to that and see you out.”

  A replica stone artifact on the wall, depicting a Pharaoh caught his attention.

  “Wait, there is one other thing. What can you tell me about a Pharaoh called Akhenaten?”

  Cleo stumbled and he took hold of her.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Just something I was reading that’s all. I thought who better to ask than you.”

  “Well, it’s a long story. Maybe we can discuss it another time. I’m tired after surgery. I can tell you that he was considered evil by most of the population. He only reigned for seventeen years and then disappeared from history. I’m just pleased you have an interest in ancient Egypt. It’ll give us something in common to talk about when you visit again. That’s Akhenaten with his wife and daughters over there on the wall.”

  Shaw recognized the image from the one he’d seen in Ted’s file. The door to the lounge opened and Gyp trotted in as though he were in a dog show. Kitten followed.

  “His blood tests are fine,” said Kitten, “so you don’t have to worry.”

  By the smell and look of him, they’d given him a shower and a blow-dry. He jumped on the armchair that he had vacated, sat upright, then wagged his tail.

  “Get down off of there,” said Shaw.

  “Leave him, he’s fine,” said Cleo.

  He knew that he was safe hands by the way they had pampered him. Chimi, Cleo’s Egyptian cat, jumped beside Gyp and purred. Shaw’s eyes were drawn to a collar they had put around Gyp’s neck as he patted his head. It was leather, with what he imagined were imitation diamonds. They were studded in an intricate pattern of an eye, repeated around the collar. But it was the dog tag that caught his attention more than anything. He’d seen the symbol before. It was fashioned in the shape of a cross but with the top as a circle.

  A vision passed through his mind of the pendant between Cleo’s breasts on his last visit, then the symbol on the prepper’s card and a photograph in the dog-’s file. They were all the same symbol. Coincidence? He thought not. He could tell by the shiver that ran through his spine.

  Chapter 38

  SHAW drove along the main street, chewing over in his mind what progress Logan may have made in finding Amy. His cell phone rang. He picked up his phone from the passenger seat and answered.

  “Shaw.”

  “It’s Ed, where the hell are you? Your office is closed.”

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Good. I’ll be waiting.”

  The call closed at Grimes’ end. He’d sounded agitated. Shaw wondered if saying he was getting close with Maria’s case had had the desired effect to rattle Grimes. He turned into his street. Ed Grimes sat on the edge of the veranda, puffing hard at a cigarette. As he pulled up outside his office, Grimes stood and stubbed out his cigarette with his snakeskin boot. He noticed a pile of other stubs. Shaw reckoned he’d smoked seven or eight while he’d been waiting.

  “What is it you want?” Shaw asked, as he closed his car door and strode to the office.

  “I need a word.” His voice was raspy.

  Maybe he’d smoked one too many. Grimes cleared his throat and honked phlegm on the floorboards. Shaw unlocked the door and flicked the light switches on.

  “We can talk in my office.”

  He stepped down the corridor and into his office. Shaw took off his hat and dropped it on the clothes peg. Shaw yawned. He was too tired for any crap from Grimes. Shaw sunk his backside in his seat at his desk and beckoned Grimes to sit.

  “No thanks. What I have to say won’t take long. I’ve called an emergency council meeting over the quarantine protocol. I need you to attend. I’m filing a motion to have you removed from office.”

  Shaw sucked air through his teeth, leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk.

  “That’s a surprise. Why would that be?”

  He had a good idea why. But he doubted he’d hear the truth. Shaw studied him. Grimes was all slime ball in Shaw’s mind, with no redeeming features.

  “Why? It’s because you’ve been holed up in your office most of the day, when half the town’s down with the sickness. That’s beside you making the town a laughing stock with the burger van stunt. Then there’s your negligence in not calling in the county deputies to have the vet’s surgery guarded.”

  “So you’ve decided not to wait for the medical? Good thing I cancelled it then. Maybe you can add that to your list.” Shaw smirked, leaned back, and pushed his back into his chair. “How long before the meeting?”

  “An hour, why?”

  “Because that gives me time for you to answer some questions before the FBI arrives.”

  “FBI, what do they want?”

  Grimes took a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his brow and then patted his neck

  “Sorry, can’t say. Maybe you can ask them why they’re visiting.”

  A puzzled expression spread across Grimes’ face. Maybe he’d not heard about Amy going missing.

  “What type of questions?”

  “About the death of Maria.”

  Grimes sighed.

  “I’ve got nothing to say to ya. We’ll leave that for the new sheriff.”

  Shaw looked at his watch. He was enjoying seeing Grimes squirm at mention of the FBI.

  “There’ll be no new sheriff for fifty-five minutes, assuming you get the vote. That’s time enough.”

  “Like I said, I’ve nothing to say.”

  Grimes set off walking to the door.

  “Well now, that’s a real pity, ’cause I’ll have plenty to say at the meeting about why you want me out of here. Maybe you should ask your wife to attend the meeting. I’m sure she’ll want to know what I have to say.”

  Grimes did an about turn. His cheeks flushed.

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It means you can either answer my questions, or take your chance in the meeting that word won’t get back to her.”

  Grimes walked over to the desk and grabbed hold of the chair back. His knuckles whitened and his complexion rose to Defcon 1.

  “No, don’t sit there. We’ll talk in the interview room. I’ll need to tape the interview so I don’t misinterpret your answers.”

  Shaw smiled as Grimes face contorted and he gritted his teeth.

  “Fuck you. You can’t do this unless you’re charging me with something.”

  “Your call.”

  “It’s freakin’ blackmail.”

  “Is it now?”

  Grimes was right, it was blackmail. He knew he couldn’t read him his rights and charge him with murder. If he did charge him, Grimes wouldn’t say anything, and he had the money to get an attorney to spring him. All that would do would be to delay the meeting. He knew that he didn’t have evidence, or probable cause. But Grimes had pitched the low ball trying to get him fired. In his mind, all he was doing was knocking the ball back. Least he could do was to have him shit a brick.

  “You know damned well it’s blackmail. Look, I swear I had nothing to do with her death.”

  Shaw stood and shrugged his shoulders. He placed his hands palm down on the desk and spread his fingers to take his weight as he leaned forward.

  “Well now, is it blackmail? That would depend if what I know would be of interest and value to your wife. Then thinking about it, half of what you’re worth could disappear overnight in a flash
. Think about it, but don’t take too long. I’m offering you a way out.”

  He could see by Grimes’ expression that he was grinding out the options, but if he doubted there was enough to pin on him, he would have walked out.

  “Damn it, let’s get this over with.”

  “Follow me.”

  Shaw drilled holes in the back of Grimes’ head as he escorted him to the interview room. It was another distraction he didn’t want, or need. Interviewing him wouldn’t get Amy back. But he realized that if he lost his job that he would lose access to the police computer and his contacts. He’d just be a Jack Nobody with a daughter who had gone missing. He knew that wasn’t an option. Shaw pulled out a chair and signaled for Grimes to sit. The motor whirred as he wound back the tape and then he pressed record. Shaw sat and looked across the table at Grimes. He stared back, tight-lipped.

  “This is Sheriff Brett Shaw of Breakers Pass. The time is seven forty-five p.m. July fourteenth, two thousand and fourteen. I’m here with Edward Grimes for the purposes of asking questions surrounding the death of Maria Hernandez. Mr. Grimes has not been charged with any offence. He is here to help with our enquiries. Mr. Grimes, I need you to understand that you are here of your own volition and you don’t need to say anything. However, anything recorded in this interview may be used in a court of law, including any enquiry ordered by a coroner. Do you understand?”

  Grimes shuffled on his chair.

  “Yeah, yeah. Get on with it.”

  “Okay, I’ll start by asking you how long you have known Maria, and under what circumstances?”

  “Six months. She rented the vet's surgery from me.”

  “Do you have spare keys for the surgery?”

  “I’m the landlord, what do you expect? They’re kept in my safe.”

  “Have you ever had any of your pets visit the surgery for treatment?”

  “Yeah, Vinnie. I told you before. Visited last week, Wednesday I think. Look you already know all this.”

  Grimes looked at his watch. Shaw leaned forward.

  “Did you have occasion to visit her other than professionally?”

  “What does that mean?” Grimes said, and twisted his watchband around on his wrist.

  “It’s not a trick question. Have you?”

  Beads of sweat appeared on Grimes’ forehead. He swiped his arm across his brow.

  “Can I smoke in here?”

  “No sorry. Well, have you?”

  “Err, yeah, guess so. I’ve seen her a time or two to discuss the lease, and to sort out problems with the plumbing.”

  “What about phone calls?”

  Shaw picked up the empty buff file on his desk. He tilted the file out of the eyeshot of Grimes, opening and closing it, and then smiled. Grimes’ eyes narrowed and he set his vision on the folder.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ve phoned her a few times. And she’s phoned me a few times.”

  “What five times, ten times or more?”

  Grimes drummed his fingers on the table and shifted his backside in the chair.

  “Can’t say. I’d need to check my bill. As mayor, I make and receive tons of calls.”

  “What about Thursday night. The day before she was found dead?”

  Grimes rolled his eyes to the ceiling, clasped his fingers together, and then looked down at the floor.

  “Listen.” Grimes said, and lifted his head “My mind’s on all this quarantine business, I can’t recall. For Christ’ sake, I’ve lost a lot of good friends today with the sickness.”

  “I’ll give you a clue.” He lifted the file again, opening and closing it and then sat back. “According to her phone records, you spoke to her at ten thirty in the evening. What was the call about?”

  Grimes closed his eyes, and tapped his forehead with his index finger. He opened his eyes and looked directly at Shaw.

  “Oh that. Yeah, she phoned to say that she’d come across an injured dog in the road. She said there was a dead stag next to it. She thought maybe the dog was injured by the stag’s antler. She was taking the dog back to her surgery.”

  Shaw chewed on his lip. Considering Frank’s estimate of the size of the dog from the tracks, and Maria’s petite frame, she would have needed help. The trap was set to add pressure, with Grimes’ answer that she’d phoned him, when he knew that he’d phoned her. But it wasn’t the time, or the purpose of the questioning. He had a different direction planned to conclude the interview.

  “You talked a long time on that call. Why would she phone you if she was busy with the dog?”

  “Hell, I don’t know and we can’t ask her.”

  A lopsided grin settled on Grimes’ lips, baring his teeth to one side. But a tick of his eyelid showed he was nervous.

  “No we can’t ask her. What were you doing that night?”

  “At home all night.”

  “And your wife can vouch for you?”

  “No, she was staying with family, I was alone.”

  “Yeah, why was that?”

  “Personal.” Grimes looked at his watch, then averted his gaze. He turned to look at Shaw. “Look, have we done?”

  “Almost done. Anyway, it’s not a problem, I can ask your wife to confirm the rumors you had marital problems.”

  Shaw winked at Grimes and grinned. Grimes set a sour facial expression, pouting his lips.

  “Mavis and me are sorting things out. There’s no need for you to confirm anything with her.”

  “Good, pleased to hear that. Then I guess it’s all down to the forensics on the items I collected before the fire and whatever they’ve found on her body. Oh, and not forgetting the witness statements of someone visiting her regularly late at night. Thanks for your help.”

  “Witness? Forensics? That’s it. I’m done with this meeting. It ends now. Wait... what I mean is I have an important council meeting.”

  Shaw leaned forward. “The time is seven-fifty p.m. and the interview has terminated.” His finger hovered over the stop button and he pressed it to the sound of a click.

  Grimes pushed his chair back and stood.

  “You ain’t got nothing.”

  “Oh, I know I have. I let you off lightly. I know you had a thing going with Maria. I have a statement to prove it. So what about this motion to have me fired?”

  The color of Grimes’ cheeks had changed from engorged to ashen, as if he were about to throw up.

  “What about you tear up that statement?”

  Shaw looked him straight in the eyes, holding his best poker face. “That’s my insurance.”

  “You mean blackmail. Damn you. I’ll cancel the motion.”

  They both stood and headed out of the room. Shaw’s mind wandered. He knew he wasn’t done with Grimes yet. Grimes had plenty of time to tell him about the dog before, considering her apparent cause of death. Grimes was at the surgery that night, there was no doubt in his mind. Proving it was something else. But there’d be plenty of time to push him further after they had found Amy. He could have pushed him harder. Much harder. He reckoned that Grimes would sleep as little as he would that night, but for different reasons. The interview had served its purpose. For now, his seat on the saddle of sheriff’s office was safe. He followed in Grimes’ wake as he strode down the corridor and headed for the exit. Grimes slammed both the office door and the outer door as he left.

  He sauntered over to the coffee table. Shaw wondered how long it would take Grimes to realize that he’d phoned Maria and not the other way around. He poured out a cup of coffee and walked over to his desk. There was a sealed envelope with his name on the front. He opened it, to find his apartment key and a note from Jim.

  ‘Call sign -Taskforce. Use setting 2326 on the radio. The Fox is in the hole.’

  A vehicle pulled up outside. Through the window, he could see it was a black, four by four with tinted windows. FBI?

  Chapter 39

  SHAW was standing at the entrance door to his office. Two women climbed out of the four by four. They weren�
��t what he was expecting if they were FBI. The most contact he ever had with agents was back working in homicide. But that was six years ago. He wondered if dress code was more relaxed these days. He studied their appearance. Both were wearing jeans and white blouses. The older one, with short mousey hair, maybe in her late forties, had her blouse buttoned to her neck. Her jeans were loose fit, like she needed to fill out a little. The younger one, with flowing black hair to her shoulders was showing some serious cleavage. He guessed she was in her early thirties. Her jeans were skin tight as if she’d had to shoehorn them on.

  “FBI agent Amanda Cox,” said the older one, and offered her hand.

  “Sheriff Brett Shaw.”

  Her grip was forceful as they shook hands. The sort of shake that oozes confidence.

  “Sorry about the circumstances.” Cox said, and let go of his hand. “We’re doing all we can to find Amy.”

  Shaw nodded. He noted her words implied that she was sympathetic. An attempt at reassurance. But her eyes were cold-steel gray. Strictly business gray. They were the sort of eyes that gives nothing away as if they didn’t give a damn. Maybe she didn’t give a damn. She was no one to Amy. Nothing.

  “You don’t look like FBI.”

  She raised an eyebrow and set a scowl.

  “Well, we don’t exactly come out of the academy with the letters branded on our forehead, if that’s what you mean?”

  Shaw took a step back.

  “Sorry, I meant that I expected suits.”

  She fished in her pocket, then flashed her ID.

  “Actually, I’ll take it as a compliment. We’ve just come off of a surveillance job in a bar before setting off to here. I doubt we’d have made it out of there if we looked as though we were agents. Besides, wearing a skirt and jacket won’t get Amy back.”

  Shaw held up his arms in surrender.

  “Hey, it’s not a problem, I was just saying.”

  The younger one came up beside Cox. She struggled with two aluminum cases, one in each hand.

  “Be an angel and give us some help to unload. We’ve a ton of equipment,” she said. She rested the cases on the floorboards. The young woman held out her hand. “Sorry, agent Carla Martinez. You can call me Carla.”