by Robin Lyons
“I’ve got to run to class. Catch me up later on what’s going on with Scott,” Roni said before she disappeared into the school.
Mac waited for Scott to approach. Scott wore dark sunglasses.
“Good morning, Scott. Where’s Brandi?”
“Can we talk in your office?”
“Sure.”
The two men entered the school together.
Mac flipped on the lights once inside his office and scooped up some papers he’d left on the chair. Scott sat.
When Scott removed his sunglasses, he had puffy bags under his eyes and looked like he hadn’t slept. “Would you like coffee?”
“No. Thanks. Brandi stayed home today, she wasn’t feeling well.”
“Something else happened?”
“Yes.” Scott told Mac the story about Brandi and the kid known as CJ as was told to him by his wife. He massaged the side of his neck while he spoke. And then he handed him Brandi’s cell phone.
The graphic photo didn’t shock Mac. In fact, he studied the image to see if it revealed any other telling information. In the corner, a window showed a slight reflection of a lamp. It was dark outside. He passed the phone back to Scott. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Brandi freaked out. Elaine’s fuming. And I want to kill the kid.”
“All understandable.” Mac pulled out his yellow notepad. “So, this pervert said he was at the Collins’s party?”
“Yes.”
“And he admitted he saw Brandi there?”
“Yes. What’re you thinking?”
“What if, this pervert’s the one who assaulted Brandi?”
“I’ll want to rip his head off. Toying with her online for weeks.”
“May I call my detective friend now?”
“Okay. But only tell him about the explicit photo, not about the assault. The photo’s enough to get him in trouble, right?”
“I’m sure it is. Elaine was right to ask you to wait. Don’t reply. Let’s see what Jason has to say.”
Mac walked Scott to the front and swiped his ID badge to open the door. He gave him a pat on his shoulder. When the door closed and he heard the lock click in place his blood began to boil.
He stomped to his office feeling like he wanted to kill the son-of-a-bitch messing with Brandi.
Marlene said, “Morning, Mac. Is everything okay?”
He glanced at the superintendent’s closed door. Satisfied, he went to Marlene. “Is Kevin Jackson in school today?”
She popped her gum. “Ummm, give me a minute.” Her fingers clicked fast on her keyboard. “I don’t have all the roll sheets yet. Ah, yes, he’s here. Do you want me to check anyone else?”
“Yes. Stu Collins, Todd Palmer, and RaeAnn Bowen.”
“They’re all here. Is something going on?”
“I can’t say at this time. As soon as I can, you’ll be the first person I tell.”
Marlene nodded.
Mac placed the call to Jason and waited.
“Hey, Mac, how’s it going?”
“I need to run something by you.”
“Shoot.”
Mac watched the security screens fade in and out as he told Jason about the photo Brandi received.
“We could set up a little sting operation if the dad’s willing.”
“How does that work?”
“Let me think about it, and get back to you. Meanwhile, check with the dad to see if he and his daughter would be willing to flush the little deviant out from behind his secret identity.”
“When were you thinking?”
“Tonight. The kid’s not sure why Brandi dropped out of the chat and hasn’t replied to his messages.”
Chapter 55
Mac and Monica rode to Tres Esposas together in Mac’s truck. At a table, they were munching on chips and salsa.
“I forgot to ask. What did the teacher say about why he gave money to the kid on the video?”
“He said Todd asked if he could borrow fifty bucks.”
“That’s a lot of money for a kid to borrow from his teacher.”
“It’s not a lot of money for these kids.”
“Did you get a sense you need to be concerned about the teacher?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Crosby’s a nice guy. If anything, I think Todd might be taking advantage of him. To be safe, I’ve requested the K-9 to check out student lockers, specifically Todd’s. Although I’d never admit that to anyone else. Searches are supposed to be totally random.”
She smiled.
In his peripheral vision, he saw Jason approach their table.
“So, this is a thing, huh?” Jason asked, waving his finger back and forth from Mac to Monica.
Mac looked at Monica, raised his eyebrows and smiled. “I guess it’s a thing.”
Monica smiled at Jason, whom she’d worked with for several years.
Jason slid onto his side of the booth. “I approve. One night, Donna and I will get a babysitter so the four of us can go out together.”
Mac bobbed his head.
The trio ordered their dinner.
“Before we get into the plan for tonight, what’s happening with the search for Donny?”
Jason leaned forward to Mac and Monica, lowering his voice. “You didn’t hear this from me. The chief’s doing a press conference tonight. They dropped cameras into some abandoned mines in the greenbelt where he might have gone. It was down to either that, or someone snatched him. They found his body this afternoon. He must have fallen into the mine shaft.”
“Shit.” Mac shook his head.
“The family’s being notified now.”
“Do they suspect foul play? Did Kevin, the psycho, push him into the mine?”
“Nothing to show Kevin did anything more than talk to Donny in front of the boy’s grandparents’ home before he walked off. Donny played in the front yard for a little bit before he wandered out of the neighborhood.”
“Did you save the tip you told me about?”
The server brought their food.
Mac nodded, handing his phone to Jason.
“And the conversation Kevin’s aunt overheard.”
“Have you read the tip?” he said to Monica.
She shook her head.
Jason slid the phone over to Monica.
“You still don’t know who wrote the tip?”
“Not yet.”
“Send me the photo, I’ll run it by the chief. Let’s talk about the plan for tonight.”
Satisfied, Mac scooped some guacamole onto a tortilla chip and tossed it into his mouth.
In between bites, Jason mapped out how he’d like the plan to go.
“You confirmed they have a pool house in their backyard?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to walk Brandi through her conversation online and coax the boy to meet her in the pool house. We’ll set it up that her parents are out for the night and she’s alone. Scott will need to park his car somewhere out of sight. Who knows, maybe the kid’s a neighbor. Can he and his wife drive away and sneak back through the backyard?”
“Yes, I think so, most of the large lots aren’t fenced in other than around the pools.”
“Perfect.” Jason chomped into a taco.
“I want in on this.” Monica had been quiet until now. “I can pretend to be Brandi in the pool house. He won’t get the jump on me.”
“Great idea.”
Since Monica has short black hair and Brandi has long blond hair, Jason gave her the name and number of one of the female officers who plays the role of a hooker now and then, so she could borrow a wig.
The trio clinked their water glasses and agreed to meet on Goldstone Drive, about five blocks from Brandi’s home.
Chapter 56
Mac, Monica, and Jason crouched and ran through the Welch’s backyard. The neighbor dog barked aggressively from its kennel. When they neared the back door, Scott opened it and let them into the darkened kitchen.
“Damn, it’s cold out.” Mac sto
od and shook off his chill. He immediately noticed Scott looked nervous. “Did the plan change?”
“No. Brandi’s scared. Puts me on edge.”
Jason introduced himself. “We’ll all be in her bedroom looking over her shoulder while I tell her what to type.”
Scott nodded.
Mac introduced Monica to Scott.
Elaine entered the kitchen looking jittery. “She’s as ready as she’ll ever be.”
Scott introduced his wife to the sting team standing in their kitchen.
Jason explained Monica would pretend to be Brandi in the pool house. Cruisers were on alert, ready to respond and move in for an arrest.
Scott and Elaine held hands while listening to the details of the plan.
Jason wanted all window coverings closed and or lights out in rooms with bare windows. “We need it to look like you’re out for the evening. Brandi would only be in her bedroom, maybe come down for a snack.”
Elaine nodded and offered coffee to the group. Mac, Monica, and Jason all accepted the offer.
Scott showed them to Brandi’s bedroom.
Jason grabbed Scott’s arm as he went to open the door. “Ask her through the door to act natural and close her window covering.”
Once her bedroom was secured, they entered.
Brandi sat at a desk against the side wall.
Mac noticed Brandi had been crying. “Hi, Brandi.”
“Hi, Marshal MacKenna.”
He imagined she felt humiliated that all these adults knew about her online chatting. He was sure his niece would. He made a mental note to have a long talk with Lindy about internet predators.
Jason said, “Brandi, please don’t think we’re here to judge you in any way, we don’t think you did anything wrong. You should be able to go into chat rooms and have conversations with your friends. This kid, CJ, crossed the line. If he did this to you, he might be trying to persuade other girls to meet him also. Your bravery tonight will most likely save other girls from being harmed.”
Brandi bobbed her head as he spoke.
“Let’s turn your phone back on, and log into DayJabber.”
Brandi nodded.
Immediately her phone vibrated at least twenty times. Jason looked at the messages. “He’s concerned about where you went and why you aren’t responding. Tell him your dad took your phone away because you stayed up too late on a school night. Use your words.”
Brandi did as she was told.
Brandi to CJ: Hello
CJ to Brandi: Where have you been?
Brandi to CJ: My dad took my phone and laptop away because I stayed up too late on a school night.
CJ to Brandi: Did he see my photo?
Brandi to CJ: No way. I shut everything off before he took them and he doesn’t know my passwords.
CJ to Brandi: Why weren’t you in school?
Brandi to CJ: I had a stomach thing and felt crummy.
CJ to Brandi: Do you feel better?
Brandi to CJ: Yes
Cj to Brandi: Did you like my photo?
Jason said, “Tell him you’ve never seen one before.”
She did so. A slow trickle of tears ran down her cheeks.
Rae to Brandi: Where were you today?
“That’s my friend.” She looked at Jason.
“Tell her you didn’t feel well and can’t chat right now,” Jason said.
Brandi to Rae: I had an upset stomach. I can’t chat right now.
Rae to Brandi: Are you chatting with the Creeper?
Brandi to Rae: Yes.
Mac said, “Rae thinks this kid is a creeper?”
Brandi’s shoulders slumped “Yes.”
CJ to Brandi: Did you like seeing it?
Brandi to CJ: Yes. I did.
Elaine quietly slipped into the room with three cups of coffee and handed them out to Mac, Monica, and Jason.
Brandi looked at her mother before she typed what Jason told her to.
CJ to Brandi: Now it’s your turn to send me a photo. Start with your boobs.
Brandi to CJ: I’m scared to do that. My dad might find out.
CJ to Brandi: Lock your bedroom door, so he can’t go into your room.
Jason gave Mac a thumb’s up.
Brandi to CJ: Not now, my parents went to a movie. I mean my dad might see it on my phone somehow.
CJ to Brandi: Your parents went out?
Brandi to CJ: Yes.
CJ to Brandi: Want company? I can come over.
Brandi to CJ: I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I mean, I want to meet you but I’m nervous.”
CJ to Brandi: You can bundle up in a warm blanket, and we can talk on your back porch. If your parents get home, I’ll bounce.
Brandi to CJ: It’s super cold out. I guess we could hang out in the pool house.
CJ to Brandi: Okay. Will we hear your parents when they get home?
Brandi to CJ: Yes. The neighbor’s dog barks at everything. It’s so annoying.
Brandi to CJ: Do you live in the Estates?
CJ to Brandi: No. Is there a back gate?
Brandi told him the security code to the gate.
CJ to Brandi: I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.
Brandi to CJ: Walk around back, I’ll be in the pool house making it comfy.
CJ to Brandi: I can’t wait to see your beautiful face.
Brandi to CJ: I can’t wait to finally meet you.
CJ logged off the chat site.
“Tanner, get the wig on and get your ass out to the pool house. He may have been lying and is in the neighborhood now. Be at the ready to take him down.”
“My pleasure.” Monica leaned forward, slipped on the wig and whipped her head back to snug it into place.
Mac scrunched up his face at the transformation.
“Brandi, you and your mom stay in your bedroom. Don’t peek out the window. Elaine, if there’s any communication needed, text your husband, and one of us will be right up.”
Elaine nodded.
Scott gave Monica candles and matches. Monica secured her Desert Eagle in her back holster and then she was out the door.
Mac, Jason, and Scott watched from the darkened kitchen. The tick-tock of a wall clock seemed loud to Mac. He had to remind himself to breathe.
He hadn’t felt this excited since he retired from special operations. It made him wonder if perhaps he should go into law enforcement. As he watched for movement in the backyard and pondered a second career in law enforcement, he saw something off to his right. He tapped Jason and then Scott.
Someone was hunched over and walked gingerly.
As soon as the dog next door got a whiff, it began to bark. The person froze.
Mac looked at the pool house. He saw the flickering light from the candles.
The moon, in three-quarter waxing phase, wouldn’t set until after midnight, making it easier to see the ‘creeper’ as Rae called him.
When he neared the pool house, the creeper slowed his steps.
The neighborhood dog continued to bark.
Suddenly the creeper bolted to the pool house.
They waited, perched and ready to pounce.
Jason whispered to Scott, “You wait here. I don’t want anything fucking up this case.”
Scott nodded.
“Let’s go,” Jason said to Mac.
They were out the door and across the lawn fast.
When they opened the door, Monica and the creeper wrestled on the floor.
Monica kicked him in the nose.
She grabbed his hand and pulled his thumb backward and ordered, “Get up.”
Monica pushed the creeper out the pool house door with his hands behind his back.
He bent over, the hood of his black zipped up hoodie over his head. The front of the hoodie had glow in the dark stars shaped in the big dipper, with large glowing words, ‘Big Dipper.’
Monica pushed him over to Mac and Jason.
Jason got on his radio and called for assistance.
/> Monica yanked the hoodie off the creeper’s head.
Mac froze. “Crosby?” He couldn’t believe his eyes. Crosby Nash is the creeper?
Crosby looked at Mac but said nothing. His nose, swollen and bleeding.
Jason read Crosby his Miranda rights while Monica cuffed him.
Mac saw Scott glaring out the kitchen window.
Chapter 57
By midweek after Crosby Nash had been arrested, rumors swirled around Blackstone Academy. Mac had heard Crosby and Brandi were expecting a baby, Crosby’s wife left him because he was having an affair with Brandi, Crosby and Brandi were planning to run away together.
Mac did his best to squash any rumors he heard without divulging the particulars of the case.
The local news camped across the street from the school. They attempted to interview anyone willing.
He hadn’t spoken with Jason since they took the teacher into custody. He also hadn’t seen Brandi or Scott since then. He checked with Scott a couple times.
Scott told Mac, Brandi wasn’t ready to be the center of gossip. He said he and Elaine agreed she could take the week off and do home-study along with seeing a therapist to help prepare her for the onslaught of questions.
Close to dismissal, Mac anxiously checked the time. He and Monica were meeting with Jason at four-thirty for an update on the case.
He walked outside to join Roni for their ritual of chitchat before it became too hectic with parents and students. She stood near the sidewalk talking with Nico.
She looked at him with a wide grin. “I was just telling Nico my Criminal Justice professor wants to talk with you about doing a presentation in my class.” Her words came at him in rapid speed. “Are you interested?”
“Why me? Why not Detective Marten who coordinated the arrest?”
She teetered forward and backward onto her toes and heels, forward, backward. “Probably because I talked about your involvement.” Her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink seconds before the bell rang.
“I’ll think about it.”
Roni scooted off to talk with a mother waiting for her child.
Mac tugged Nico’s jacket. “Can you meet me for breakfast before school tomorrow? I’ll fill you in.”