by Robin Mahle
At last, he was on the 405 and now was when he could finally let go. Let go all the bullshit stress of a bullshit job. He yanked off his tie and turned up the music.
It took him almost forty minutes, but he’d arrived. Andre pulled alongside the curb fronting the park and plunked money into the meter. There weren’t many cars parked on this stretch of the road and it was mainly a residential area. The people from this part of town didn’t really give a shit about anyone else’s business, which was a good thing for Andre.
He scanned the area. A few men stood outside a liquor store across the street, smoking their cigarettes and holding cartons of them in their hands, selling them for less than what they could buy them inside the store. The small park on the other side was deserted. No one hung out there for too long once the sun started going down. It seemed Andre was in the clear.
He moved around to the back of the CRV and opened the swing-gate. Lifting the floorboard, he reached inside the compartment that contained the tire jack. He pulled the bag from below and closed up the car. Another glance in both directions and Andre walked toward the park where a small building stood. It was a public restroom, but it had already been locked up for the night. Or perhaps it was always locked up. Sometimes they never bothered to open them up in the first place.
Tucked behind the corner of the building and with no one in his periphery, Andre reached inside the bag and retrieved a wig. He carefully placed it on his head, the fake locks resting just below his ears. Another search inside the bag and he pulled out a hat—a baseball hat, to be precise. He placed that over the wig and pressed it snug against his scalp. His own hair was kept in a buzz cut, so it was easy to ensure a secure fit. The final piece was to do a quick change and slip on his t-shirt and shorts that hung low on his hips, exposing the band of his boxer shorts.
Without a mirror to confirm nothing was out place, he had to take his chances and began to walk back around the building and faced the park. The sun was lowering below the horizon and the few streetlights that worked flickered on. Andre approached a bench and took a seat. All he had to do now was wait.
CHAPTER 3
When the BAU-4 Section Chief called, Nick wasted no time clearing his schedule to accommodate him. It was a call he rarely received and one that could hold a variety of meanings.
He looked upon the many certifications and degrees mounted on the wall of the chief’s office. Some time had passed since he’d been asked to instruct at Quantico and perhaps that was the reason for the call. But Nick could speculate among a thousand different reasons because he now waited for the man in his office and had nothing but time to think about such things.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting, Agent Scarborough.” The chief, SSA Colin Halpern, offered a greeting.
“No problem at all, sir.” Nick stood awkwardly to accept the chief’s greeting and quickly returned to his seat. It seemed his nerves had gotten the better of him the longer he sat in wait.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I called you.” Halpern placed a file on his desk and pulled out his chair to sit. He continued without waiting for a response. “I wanted to get a feel for how things were going with your team at WFO.”
“Fine, sir. Couldn’t be better.”
“I know how difficult these past few months have been for you after your friend got into some trouble.”
That was putting it mildly, but Nick wasn’t about to correct him. “Yes, sir. But things have returned to normal for the team. We’re busier than ever.”
“Good. Glad to hear it. I guess I should get to the point then.” He opened the file on his desk. “I’ve been going over your records and wanted to relay to you that I think you’ve done a fine job at WFO.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Apart from the letter of censure.” He raised his eyes to Nick. “Which, frankly, I think was a raw deal for you.” He returned his attention to the file once again. “You’ve had an exemplary record. And that brings me to why I asked you here today. Your work at WFO and your experience inside BAU has made you a top candidate to be considered for the Senior Unit Agent here at headquarters.”
“Candidate?” Nick began with some trepidation. “What about Agent Cole?”
“He’s being promoted to Unit Chief and we need someone to fill his position.”
Nick shifted in his seat. “You want me to come to Quantico?”
Halpern smiled. “Yes. You’re at the top of our list for consideration. Nick, you and I both know you’ve gone as far as you’re going to go at WFO. There’s no place there for you to move. Now, I know you and your team are tight, but it’s time you consider your options here. I don’t need to tell you the financial benefits, so I’ll tell you that it would mean leading a much larger team, more complex and varied cases, and much more room for growth.”
The unexpected news was exactly what Nick had wanted to hear for a very long time. It was all he’d worked for and the prospect of it actually coming to fruition caught him off his guard. “You said I’m a top candidate. So there are others in consideration?’
“Yes, there are. However, you’re the only one who has instructed here at Quantico, who has been an SSA for the past five years, and whose time has come to be rewarded for his hard work.”
Nick’s thoughts immediately turned to Kate. While their relationship had, for the most part, returned to a state of normal, this would mean no longer working with her. It would also likely mean that Dwight would be promoted, which he rightly deserved to be. Maybe it was for the best? Quantico wasn’t far away. He wasn’t leaving the city. He owed Dwight and perhaps this was the best way to repay him. And it was a position he’d coveted.
For a moment, Nick couldn’t figure out if he was trying to convince himself to stay or to go, but Halpern continued to look at him, waiting for an answer. “Thank you, sir. This is something I would be very interested in pursuing. It’s an incredible opportunity and I’m honored you’re considering me for the job.”
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say. You had me nervous for a minute. Now, there will be testing for the position, but I have no doubt that will prove all too easy for you. It’s really just a formality.”
“When would this go into effect, assuming I’m green-lighted.”
“We’re still in the process of shifting things around here. It will likely be the first of January.” Halpern rose to his feet and extended his hand. “It’ll be a pleasure having you here, Agent Scarborough.”
♦ ♦ ♦
As promised, Marc sent Kate the police reports he’d received from his colleague and she was now studying them at her desk. She wasn’t sure how his colleague had obtained the information in an ongoing investigation, and for a moment, wondered if she should have this to begin with. But in her short time with the Bureau, she’d learned that not everything was black and white and that sometimes she had to operate in the grey, and perhaps this was one of those times.
“What’s that?”
Startled, Kate looked over her shoulder to find Dwight peering down. “Nothing.” She clicked off the screen. “Just a friend wanting me to take a look at something.”
“Someone asked you to consult on a case?”
“No. Nothing like that. I don’t think it’ll amount to anything significant for us.” She turned her chair. “What are you working on?”
Dwight regarded her with narrowed eyes. “Waiting on Scarborough to get back. I wanted to go over the caseload. I received a few requests for consults and we need to prioritize them.”
“Where’s he at?”
“Was called out to Quantico.”
“They want him to train?”
“Don’t know. He didn’t say. Just said he’d be back later this afternoon.” Dwight glanced at his phone. “Should be any time now.”
Beyond Kate’s cubicle were the elevator doors and as she peered over Dwight’s square shoulders, she spotted Nick step out in the distance. “Speak of the devil.”
Dwight
turned. “Great. I’ll see when he can meet. How does the rest of your day look? You got some time to get together and go over these requests?”
“Yeah. Of course.” Kate kept her eyes on Nick as he veered toward his office.
“Good. I’ll get back with you with a time.”
She’d seen the look on Dwight’s face and regretted that he had been caught in the middle of this. He was a smart man and there was no denying the strain between her and Nick. It was a tension she’d created, or at the very least, did nothing to resolve. And so it would continue until more time passed and eventually all would be forgotten, or rather, ignored.
Kate returned to her screen and pulled up the files to continue reviewing the case. The police had no leads. No one in the area was willing to talk. That, however, was no surprise. It was a community fearful of the police, the gangs, and everything in between. No one could blame them for their silence. Except that they were now in the crosshairs of a murderer with a penchant for pretty faces. Still, she could see no reason that would warrant reaching out to the LAPD. They hadn’t asked for help and the toes that would be stepped on if she approached them would be many and large.
As she continued to read the most recent report, an email arrived in her inbox. The alert at the bottom of her screen indicated that it was from Marc. “Well, that didn’t take long.” She clicked it open and, after reading, began to type her reply.
“I’m looking at it now. Give me today and I’ll let you know what I think. But as of right now, I can’t see a way to offer help to the LAPD.”
She pressed “send” and dropped her hands into her lap and considered perhaps she could bring it up in the meeting later today. If nothing else, just to let Marc know that she tried to help.
♦ ♦ ♦
Detective Ray Sharpe raced up behind a police cruiser, one of nearly half a dozen, by the looks of it, and shifted his car into park. He stepped out of the unmarked Chevy Tahoe and pulled on his black leather jacket. Los Angeles was in the throes of a cold spell and, combined with the pre-dawn hour, meant it was chilly by southern California standards.
He walked toward the several officers who fronted the police-taped crime scene in order to hold off bystanders. “Morning.”
“Detective Sharpe.” The officer nodded and raised the tape for him to pass through.
Sharpe continued into the park and headed toward the beams of light shining on the ground. The park was otherwise bathed in darkness as it had closed several hours earlier and there was no mistaking the body was the subject on which the lights shined.
An officer broke from the crowd and approached. “Detective Sharpe, thanks for coming out.”
“Did I have a choice?” He raised a corner of his mouth, deepening the fold of his laugh lines, although there weren’t many of those, and his forehead told a better story of his life. Deep lines etched across it along with those in between his brow. It appeared he’d spent most of his life in a state of worry or anger; perhaps both. “Same as the others?” He began to move near the body.
“Appears so. She was on the bench, but um—someone came across her and nudged her. When she fell off, he called the police.”
“Is he here now?”
“They took him to the station.”
“Okay. Make sure he doesn’t leave before I have a chance to talk to him.”
“Will do.” The officer turned his attention to the others surrounding the woman. “Excuse us.”
Sharpe moved in and squatted next to the crime scene investigator. “Anything of interest?”
“It’s looking like it’s the same perp. Heavy makeup. No trauma to her face, but as you can see, the rest of her didn’t fare so well.” With a pen, he raised the blouse of the woman enough to make visible the multiple stab wounds.
“No.” Sharpe eyed the wounds, assessing a pattern, noting their depth and length, and assumed that whoever committed the act did so in a hurry, except when it came to the face. It appeared as though extra time and care was taken to ensure it was perfect. Still, the killer would have taken an extraordinary amount of time and someone had to have seen him. “When’s the ME supposed to arrive?”
“Any time.”
“Good. We need to get her the hell out of here.” He returned upright and surveyed the growing crowd. With unyielding eyes, he looked upon each individual. Most seemed to have enjoyed a boisterous Friday night. Their glassy stares and slight sways suggested they’d consumed an excessive amount of alcohol and perhaps other substances.
But what Sharpe was looking for, he did not see in the gathering. However, if they didn’t break up this little party, things would turn ugly. They always did. He returned his attention to an officer. “Make sure we keep things orderly. When the ME gets here, get her bagged before dragging her out in front of everyone.”
“Ten-four.”
The detective made another pass in the area and jotted down a few notes. The killer would have had to perform the act itself in a place of seclusion and so he searched for just such an area inside the park, noting there didn’t appear to be a place that offered complete isolation. The night skies would have helped. There were no blood trails, meaning he would’ve carried her from one place to another. That would mean he was strong, probably larger than average.
Sharpe again surveyed the area. Someone had to have seen something once he brought the victim to the bench that was only thirty-odd feet from the street, but he wouldn’t get any help from around here. It was understandable but frustrating nonetheless. Young women were being murdered and he’d begun to feel that without the community’s help, they would continue to die.
CHAPTER 4
A short train ride and Kate had arrived, stepping onto the platform and ready to head into Manhattan. The autumn skies were brisk and the winds blustery. She buttoned her wool coat and wrapped the scarf around her neck as she prepared to meet with Marc Aguilar for the first time in a long time.
It had also been a long time since she’d visited New York. Not since her parents had taken the trip to see her graduate from the Academy.
She continued toward the studio, passing the storefronts that already had Christmas for sale in their windows. The tree at Rockefeller hadn’t yet been lit, but it was in the process of being decorated and, as she passed by, the tree looked much larger than what she had seen on TV all of those years.
Kate entered through the glass doors of CBN’s building and approached the front desk attendant. “Good morning. I’m Kate Reid and I’m here to see Marc Aguilar. He’s expecting me.”
“One moment and I’ll buzz him for you.”
Kate waited for the man to get the approval and surveyed the beautiful lobby. She smiled at the thought that Marc had come so far and of the origins of their relationship.
“Here’s your badge. He’ll be down in a moment.”
“Thank you.” She stepped away from the desk and meandered inside the great lobby until moments later when she spotted him. “Oh my God! Look at you!” Kate opened her arms wide.
“It’s so good to see you, Kate. I can’t believe you’re here.” He pulled back from the embrace to arm’s length and let his eyes consume her. “You look gorgeous as ever.”
“And you haven’t changed at all.” He had, but in a good way. She noticed his skin wasn’t as orange and his teeth weren’t as paper white. It was a look that suited him well. “So, are we grabbing something to eat or are you going to show me around here first?”
“I’m starving. Let’s get some food and then I can give you the nickel tour. Most everyone’s gone right now anyway for lunch. When we get back, I’ll introduce you to some people you’ll probably recognize.”
“You’re assuming I watch your network.”
“You don’t?”
She smiled. “Of course I do—sometimes, and only to see you.” Kate patted him on the back as the two made their way outside.
♦ ♦ ♦
The dried leaves fell from the trees as Kate peered thro
ugh the window. She sipped on her glass of water and waited for Marc to finish up a call. The restaurant was busy and a bit too loud for Kate’s taste, but it was nice and she thought Marc picked it because it was trendy. Maybe he was trying to show off a little that he was an official New Yorker now. Though to her, he’d always be Marc Aguilar from Nine Action News.
She supposed that he might have thought the same about her. Working as an evidence technician for San Diego PD, she had been a small fish in a big pond. Now she was a small fish in an even bigger pond.
“Sorry about that.” Marc dropped his phone into the pocket of his coat, which hung over his chair. “My producer. She doesn’t like to be far from me.”
“It’s fine. I was enjoying the scenery. Does it just feel unreal that we’re both sitting here right now? I mean, given where we started.”
“It’s a little mind-blowing, yeah.” He swirled the straw in his ice water. “So, you looked at what I sent you?”
“I did.”
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s not my case. I think LAPD has their hands full with this one, but as I mentioned before, Marc, I just don’t think I can do anything to help you.”
“Is it because of what happened the last time I got involved in one of your investigations?”
“No. Of course not. And if you’re carrying some kind of guilt around with you, then you need to stop. Please. There’s nothing any of us could have done to prevent what happened.” That wasn’t entirely true for her. She always shouldered the blame. Shalot had been after her and her alone. “Besides, that was a long time ago and I’m different now. We’re all different now, aren’t we?”
“I guess so.”
“Why did you want me to come here today? We could’ve discussed this on the phone.”