by Lolah Lace
She was too pumped to panic. Her adrenaline was still on fire from her intense workout. The emotion she felt was anger. This deranged person had nerve. He had invaded her personal space.
Tami was startled by the sound of her cell phone vibrating. She grabbed the cell out of her pocket and looked down at it. It was Mike. She answered it.
“Mike—” She started then stopped listening to what he said.
*****
Ten minutes later Mike was standing at the fishing pond. He was standing over a dead body with Dr. Kim at his side. Lt. Meyers, John Turner, and various other police personnel stood milling about in the back and foreground.
Yellow crime scene tape was tied to three widespread trees. Tami arrived on the scene in her workout gear. She nodded to a few of her coworkers as she advanced toward the cordoned off area. Tami bent under the crime scene tape to gain access to the scene of the crime.
“Is this Crystal Hurley?” She asked.
“I can’t give you a positive I.D. This is a female. The temperature plus the lividity tells me she has been dead for about a month.” Dr. Kim answered without addressing the actual question.
“Crystal has been missing for three months. This can’t be her.”
“Yeah, this is our missing girl. She has a tat.” JT answered.
“What, he held her captive for months before killing her? That’s not his M.O.”
“Well it wasn’t. His rage has escalated and turned into something else.”
“Puncture marks, abrasions, contusions, he has really stepped it up.”
“Now he’s kidnapping and torturing them before he kills them.” Tami spoke her thoughts.
“Looks that way.” Dr. Kim mused.
“The smell is starting to fester.” JT said what they all were thinking.
“It’s one of the hottest days in August.” Dr. Kim was quick to add.
“Two young kids found her,” Mike explained to Tami. “Her car is parked right on the other side of the pond.”
“The car was wiped clean, inside and out. Someone dumped her here about a month ago, but I don’t think she was killed here.” Dr. Kim added.
“Bold move to dump her right out in the open.” Tami already knew just how bold this killer was.
“You say bold, I say an obnoxious, self-absorbed prick,” Mike said. “He didn’t even try to conceal the body or the car.”
“He wouldn’t do that. He’s trying to mess with us.”
“You think so?” JT asked.
“I know so. He put a note on my car.”
“Who?” Mike asked.
“The killer. The Zebra Killer.”
“How do you know it was him?”
“In the note, he mentioned the missing Crystal Hurley as the dead Crystal Hurley.”
“Where’s the note?” Dr. Kim was eager to see this new piece of evidence. “I have to test the authenticity of this note. Check for fingerprints, fibers, DNA.”
“It’s in my car. It’s written on a napkin. My prints are all over it.”
“You touched it.” Dr. Kim asked, the disappointment was apparent in his voice.
“Well yeah, I didn’t know what it was initially.”
“When you get it booked into evidence send it to the lab. Maybe I can get a clean print or a partial off of it.” Dr. Kim tried to sound hopeful.
Tami knelt down by the partially clothed, dead body of Crystal. She looked up at Mike and Dr. Kim. “It looks like multiple stab wounds in the front of the upper torso.”
“I agree.”
“You know the killer, he addressed the note to me and he signed the note ‘hugs and kisses Zebra Killer.’ ”
“How the hell did he know your name? And how did he know we’re calling him the Zebra Killer?” Mike asked, although he was well aware Tami didn’t have any idea.
This brazen killer had enraged Mike. He knew Tami could take care of herself but he was going to keep a closer eye on her.
CHAPTER 23
Tami had been given the task of meeting with leaders in the Black community. She had another meeting at the Alpha Missionary Baptist Church. She had stalled for as long as she could. This was her third time coming to this church.
The well-groomed African American reverend in his late fifties looked out his church office window. Tami sat in a leather chair in front of the reverend’s desk. Behind the desk was an oil painting of Jesus Christ and beside it a large crucifix nailed to the wall. She felt like she was in the principal’s office every time she talked to one of these African-American leaders in the community.
“Reverend, I wanted to assure you that we are doing everything we can to solve these murders.”
“You say that every single time. I’ve just remembered where I know you from. You are Magnolia Johnson’s granddaughter.” The Reverend turned from the window to focus his attention on Tami.
“Yes, Magnolia is my grandmother.”
“The last time I saw you, you were a teenager. You don’t remember me?”
“No sir.”
“How’s your grandmother?”
“She’s doing really well.”
“You don’t remember me?”
“No sir.”
“Maybe you don’t want to remember me.” The good reverend took his seat behind his desk. “I can clearly remember the last time I saw you. It was the funeral of your cousin.”
This was a topic that Tami didn’t want to discuss, but she would never be rude. “Yes, now I recall.”
“What a tragic loss. Latanya was so beautiful. I can remember it like it was yesterday even though it was over fifteen years ago.”
“Yes, that was a long time ago.” She hoped this was the end of the conversation. Her cousin was the reason Tami’s grandmother moved her from the hood to this very influential suburb. Her cousin was also the reason Tami could afford college.
“It’s nice to see that you came out of things okay. I’m somewhat surprised at the profession you chose.”
“Really?”
“I would think the police force would be the last place you would make a career. I truly admire you for turning the other cheek so to speak. The police haven’t always been a friend to people of color.”
Tami sat and pretended to listen to the reverend. She half-heartedly agreed with everything he was saying. She shook her head as the reverend talked, but her mind was a million miles away. She wished he had never mentioned Latanya. She had to keep her head in the game. Catching a serial killer was her number one priority nothing else mattered.
After minutes of lecturing, she was dismissed. Tami walked out the huge handcrafted wooden doors of the church. She headed down the concrete stairs to the sidewalk. The church doors swung open behind her before she could get to her car. She turned to look back. Marcus Dixon had bolted through the doors and was headed her way.
“Detective Johnson!”
Tami stopped in her tracks as Marcus caught up with her. “Marcus.”
“You here praying for a miracle or are you following me again?”
“I’m doing my job. I should ask you what you’re doing in the house of the Lord.”
“I belong to this church. I’ve been coming here since I was a little boy.”
“And the place hasn’t been struck by lightning.” She smirked.
“There’s only one person other than me that knows I’m innocent, and I visit him from time to time and that’s the good Lord.”
“Oh really?”
“I’m not a bad guy. I drink too much. I even have a problem with my temper. But I could never kill anybody. You might not believe it, but I loved Keisha.”
“You loved her so much you hit her and threatened to kill her?”
Her words angered Marcus.
“That has and never will make me a killer. Turn on your small brain sister and just imagine I’m innocent. Can you imagine the hell I have to live with knowing that I didn’t do it, and your colleagues are wasting all this time on me, while the real ki
ller just walks free? I pray every day that you and your Cracker Jack Law And Order crew do your fucking jobs.”
“If you’re so innocent you should have nothing to worry about.”
“Do I look worried?” Marcus spit on the pavement of the church parking lot. “You and your masters can keep arresting me and charging me with bullshit if you want to.”
“You got yourself arrested.” Tami shrugged.
“For drinking in a bar?”
“For drunk and disorderly.”
“Whatever man. My girlfriend was murdered, I deserve a fucking drink.”
Tami wondered why he felt the need to convince her of his innocence. “We found Crystal Hurley.”
“Who the fuck is Crystal Hurley?” He spouted.
He was telling the truth. Tami could see it. He had no idea who she was referring too. The department had been able to keep Crystal’s identity out of the papers and off the news.
As soon as Tami found out Marcus was arrested at the bar where Crystal worked, she had put him at the top of her suspect list. Everyone that worked at the sports bar was questioned. What were the chances that Marcus would have been in contact with two of the murder victims before their deaths? But Marcus had an alibi for Crystal’s disappearance. He was locked up in a Hinsdale jail cell. The time of Crystal’s disappearance just didn’t jive with when Marcus was released from jail. He was locked up all weekend and he couldn’t see a judge until Monday morning. His car never left the sports bar’s parking lot. The parking lot cameras were evidence of this.
“Detective, you are barking up the wrong tree.” Marcus’ eyes pierced her.
His evil glare lingered long after he walked away leaving Tami alone. She watched him as he walked around the side of the building.
CHAPTER 24
Tami had hit a brick wall or what felt more like ten brick walls. She needed to solve this case. This killer was on the loose and killing mixed race women for sport. She reread her notes and decided to talk to Misty. Maybe she knew something or remembered something that would help her with the case. She didn’t have anything to lose. The police were already shooting blanks.
Tami stopped at a fast food drive thru on her way to see Misty. Tami cared about Misty. She knew exactly how it felt to lose someone so close to you. She thought that maybe bringing Misty food would help her open up and talk about it. Tami wished she’d had someone to talk to when it happened to her.
She sat at a table beside Misty in the break room of the video store. They were each polishing off what was left of their cheeseburger combo meals. Misty was wearing a green jacket that caught Tami’s attention for more than one reason.
“Your coat smells like marijuana.” Tami stated the obvious. It was a bold statement, but the truth was the truth.
“No, it doesn’t.” Misty said defensively with food in her mouth.
“I’m not trying to judge you. I’m just saying I smell it. You smell like weed or your jacket does.” Tami refused to back down.
“Okay, it’s not like I’m an addict or something. I went to a party last night. I just got a little blowed. I’ll wash my stupid jacket when I get home.”
“Misty, why are you getting high?”
Misty huffed. “Seriously, you know why. When I’m high it takes my mind off of the things I don’t want to think about. My twin sister was murdered in my house. I hate going home. I hate that place.”
“Maybe you should face up to your troubles.”
“Maybe it’s not as easy as it sounds. Besides, I’m not going to get high forever.”
“It’s your life.” Tami wiped the corners of her mouth with a paper napkin. “You still have a life.”
“I do? So why do I feel so guilty?”
“For what?”
“Being alive.”
Tami decided to change the subject. She feared Misty was thinking about suicide. As a teen she thought about it. She hoped that wasn’t the case for Misty. She felt unqualified to speak on that subject.
“That locket you wear is so pretty. I think that every time I see it.”
Misty grasped the platinum heart shaped locket attached to a gold necklace in her hand.
“Thank you. It’s a birthday gift from my parents. We got them when we turned ten. There are only two. They’re two of a kind. When my dad went to the police station to pick up my sister’s stuff he said her necklace was the only thing missing. We promised to never take them off.”
Without warning, Brian and Jason burst into the break room. They swiped their timecards and removed their jackets.
“Hi guys.” Misty greeted them.
“Hey.” Brian and Jason said in tandem.
Jason threw his beat-up leather jacket on the bench next to Misty. He took a long drag off his half smoked cigarette.
“Brian, Jason, this is Detective Johnson.” Misty introduced them.
“I know Tami,” Brian said.
Misty raised one brow. “You do?”
“I know Brian,” Tami said. “I’m friends with his stepmother. Brian, I didn’t know you worked at this video store.”
“I’ve been here for a while.”
Brian hung his hoodie on a hanger in between Misty’s coat and a high school football jacket. Jason stood, fidgeting in place while listening. Cops made him nervous. He remembered how they questioned him about the dead girl from the Oakbrook mall months ago, and they weren’t too nice about it. He quickly finished his cigarette.
“How’s your mom?” Tami asked Brian. She was so busy they hadn’t hung out in quite some time.
“She’s okay. You know doing that housewife thing. We have to get to work.” Brian looked over at Jason.
“Guys, I’ll be out there in a minute.”
“Don’t rush. It’s four of us here now. Jason, come on.”
Jason put his cigarette out in an ashtray on the table. Brian and Jason exited the break room.
Jason made sure he was far away from the break room and on the workroom floor when he turned to Brian.
“What is that lady cop doing here?” Jason didn’t like or trust the cops. His tone made that clear. He was different, an outsider with painted nails and too many piercings. The police never treated him like anything but a menace.
“I don’t know. I guess she’s talking to Misty.”
“You think they got a break in the case?”
“I don’t know.”
“When did Misty become friendly with a cop? She just asked me to get her some fucking weed yesterday.”
Brian was becoming annoyed. “I don’t know, but I can ask her. I hope you don’t have any weed in your pockets.”
“Fuck! She can’t just go searching in my pockets. That’s an illegal search, right?”
“I don’t know. I don’t commit crimes, so I don’t know the damn rules.”
“Well shit, there is no search warrant or anything.” Jason began to pace.
*****
The unsolved murders had taken a toll on Tami. Every night she went home she was exhausted. She followed every lead she could, but nothing ever panned out. She wanted to wait up for Mike, but her body wouldn’t allow it. She crawled into bed and just like most nights, she was fast asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
She drifted into the safest place she knew. Her dreams—
~~The early eighties music drifted from the car radio. Tami looked down at her frilly lavender prom dress then up to the front driver’s seat. A husky, young Black man with a short Afro was driving the late model car.
Tami looked up in the passenger seat at her cousin, Latanya. She was only here for Latanya. She would’ve rather stayed home with a good book, but her cousin talked her into going to the prom.
Latanya was wearing a fancy blue prom dress with a flower pinned in her hair. She leaned over the front seat to smile at her favorite cousin. The two girls had been as different as night and day but inseparable since the first time they met.
Tami looked over at her prom date, Tyrone—
Jerome—something like that. He was a skinny guy with a small mustache. He was smoking marijuana, half of a joint. He wasn’t her type. She liked the smart guys, the boys that loved to read and play chess. This guy smoked too much. He offered Tami a puff off his joint. She refused with a stern eye roll.
“Latanya, your cousin can spoil the fun.” Tyrone-Jerome rudely stated through a cloud of smoke.
“Boy shut up.” Latanya barked. “You begged me to ask her to come. ‘Hey Tanya, ask your fine ass cousin if she would go to the prom with me.’ ” Latanya mocked and reenacted his desperate plea for a date with Tami.
The driver laughed out loud.
“I didn’t say that.” He was lying, and they all knew it.
“Why are you lying? Tami, all he does is talk about you.” Latanya ratted him out without a care.
Tami rolled her eyes for the fifth or sixth time that night. She had lost count. She couldn’t wait for the night to be over. She was sure she would never talk to Tyrone-Jerome ever again.
Police sirens blared from behind the car. This was just what Tami needed, she thought. She had bit her tongue when she wanted to tell him he was driving too fast for the speed limit.
“Shit!” The driver responded to the sirens.
Latanya saw the police car trailing behind them. She sat forward in her seat. The driver accelerated slowly hoping the police car was just trying to pass them.
“Pull over!” Latanya ordered.
“Wait!” The driver nervously choked, while driving faster.
“Wait what? Pull over!”
“I’m not going to jail.” Tami’s prom date threw his remaining joint out the window. The police squad car closed in on them.
“Pull over!” Tami yelled from the backseat. These guys were idiots. Why was she here?
“Tami, you shut the fuck up!” The driver shouted back at her.
Latanya reached into the glove compartment and retrieved her silver eyeglass case. Latanya hurried to put her glasses on and closed the case. Tami peeked out the back window.