Marcus decided to lie; it had always worked in the past. “I was robbed of my money and my car. I don’t even have a place to go. I’m just sitting here trying to come up with a plan.”
The man weaved a little as he listened. Marcus figured he was drunk. “How long have you lived in Chicago?”
Marcus answered with a smile, “Just got here this evening. I’ve been gone ten years. Welcome home!”
The drunk laughed. “So, what’re you gonna do? Just sit here?”
Marcus laughed, “Guess so ‘til I get an idea.”
The drunk sat next to Marcus on the step. “I’ve got a problem, too. If I drive in my condition and get stopped by cops, it’ll be my third drunk driving offense. I’ll go to jail for a long time. Why don’t you drive me home? You can stay for the night and I’ll pay you 50 bucks?”
Marcus stood, “Best and only offer I’ve had. Where’s your car?”
“It’s not a car. Got me a brand new Jeep CJ5 and put a lift kit on it, too!”
The drunk pointed to a parking garage across the street. They began the dangerous journey across traffic. Marcus wondered if he’d ever driven before. It seemed likely he had. He wished he could remember.
* * *
Agent Phillips reviewed the final report from their initial assessment of Brookfield Place Building D. It appeared that 137 patients were missing according to the state reports. Phillips rubbed his face and wished he could take a 15 hour nap.
He looked at Tyler and asked, “Do you have any idea where these people might be? 137 people don’t just disappear.”
Tyler shook his head. “I’m sorry. There’s very little communication between the buildings in the facility. We all operate independently. I can tell you we’re still being paid for those missing people.”
Ryan answered, “They might be transfers. That one lady, Maggie, I know for a fact went out on a transfer just last week.”
Tyler asked, “Transfer to where?”
Ryan shrugged, “Ask Rudy. He’s the one that drives them there.”
After several phone calls, the employee named Rudy Jones was located at the campus police station playing cards. Agent Phillips requested he be driven to Building D immediately. Rudy was terrified. He slowly walked over to Agent Phillips and extended his hand. “I’m Rudy Jones. You want me for somethin’?”
Phillips pointed for Rudy to sit and slid Maggie’s picture in front of him. “Do you remember transferring this lady last week?”
Rudy held up the picture. “Yeah. That’s Maggie.” He laid the picture down.
Phillips asked, “Where was she transferred to?”
Rudy chuckled, “The same place they all go. Out. She was transferred out. They give ‘em each a week’s worth of meds, a hundred bucks and have me drop ‘em off at the bus station. I don’t know where they go from there.”
Phillips asked Rudy to flip through the 137 files of missing patients to determine how many had been ‘transferred’.
Agent Phillips walked over to get another coffee. Wayne joined him.
Wayne pointed to the table where Rudy was flipping through files, “I heard that. Now what?”
Phillips stirred his coffee and asked, “Have you ever heard of the Dozier School for Boys or their sister campus in Okeechobee, Florida?” Wayne shook his head and Phillips continued, “Boys and girls were sent to these reform schools for minor infractions: truancies, runaways, petty thefts, things a lot of kids do. Sometimes schools had them sent there, sometimes the families that just didn’t know how to deal with them.”
“The schools had complaints filed on them continuously from when they opened in the 50s until they were finally closed in 2011. Serious complaints were made to all levels of the government.” Phillips shook his head, “Finally, a few investigators took it upon themselves to look into the accusations. They brought cadaver dogs and found 55 bodies in unmarked graves. Behind the dairy barn. Prosecutors claim there isn’t enough evidence to prosecute any individuals. It’s being fought, but that’s how it works with these places.”
Wayne was shocked, “This is true? It went on for decades? Where’s the oversight?”
“Oversight?” Phillips chuckled. “The discovery of the bodies barely made the news. I only saw one very small newspaper article about it. Nobody wants to think it can happen here, under our noses. Nobody wants to admit that our system considers some people to be disposable.”
Phillips took a swig of coffee and said, “Be glad you don’t work missing persons. If these patients were just driven to town and dumped, they could be anywhere.”
Phillips looked at his watch. “Why don’t you and Sam take Renee and Ryan and go home. We’ve got a handle on this now. Thanks for everything you’ve done.”
Wayne nodded. “I’m not going to complain about leaving. There’s probably somewhere you can take a nap. This has been a long couple of days for you, too.”
Phillips grinned, “The Bureau likes to keep us up for long periods of time. They think it builds character.” He lowered his voice, “The one you need to worry about is Stryker. He has to be running on empty.”
Wayne laughed, “Don’t you know? Nick has two tanks. He just flips over to the second one. The man is a machine.”
* * *
Nick waited in the emergency parking lot of the hospital for Jen. He was glad to have this moment to himself. His heart was still pounding from seeing Lacey wounded. He could have lost her tonight. Billow had raised the stakes. Nick wondered if he could control himself when he finally caught him.
Jen opened the passenger door and climbed in. “I half expected you to forget to wait for me. I’ve arranged for two patrols to take Lacey, Kamber and Chad back to Lacey’s. They’re going to stay until you pull them off.” Nick had taught Jen to read body language. She wasn’t happy with what she saw in Nick right now. “You couldn’t have known this was going to happen.”
“What else don’t we know? The campus cops said they couldn’t reach Billow, AKA Dr. Bates. The phone number he provided was phony.” Nick started talking faster. “They reached the fake Dr. Elmhurst though. He didn’t come back to Brookfield like he had been instructed. I bet he warned Billow we were at Brookfield. If we trace Dr. Elmhurst’s calls for the last couple of hours, we might get the number Billow is using.”
Nick called Agent Phillips, “I have a favor. Our guys can do this, but you’ll be faster. I need every call made from Dr. Elmhurst’s phone tonight. Have you put a name to him yet?”
Nick listened for a few minutes and ended the call. “He said they were already working on getting the phone records. For a Fed he’s not half bad. Phillips said there is nothing on our Dr. Elmhurst in any Federal or State databases. They’ve run fingerprints and facial recognition.”
Jen said, “He had to do something to end up at Brookfield. That doesn’t make sense.” Jen buckled her seatbelt. “Are we going to the house Billow took Lacey to?”
Nick answered, “I am. I thought I’d drop you at home. You could use some sleep.”
Jen punched his shoulder. “Think again, pretty boy. You’re not getting rid of me until we get Billow. Are we going to that house?”
“Yes.” Nick rubbed his arm and pretended he was injured. “Hope I can shoot now.”
Jen noticed a familiar twinkle in Nick’s eyes. “You’re on to something. Tell me.”
“I need it to cook a little more.” Nick grinned. “You’re getting too good.”
* * *
Billow pulled the van up to a convenience store to pick up some whiskey and a newspaper. He needed to make contact with Nick soon. While at the checkout he noticed a police car pull slowly past his van and park off to the side in the dark end of the parking lot. The lights went off in the patrol car. The cop was hiding. Of course! It was that stupid registration form from Brookfield. They knew what he was driving. Every cop in the city was probably looking for his van. They knew who he was, too. The officer was waiting for backup to arrive.
Bill
ow knew he had only minutes to form an escape. He watched a small, white Camry pull in next to his van. The Camry parked on the blind side of the van. Billow was sure it was out of the sight line of the officer. Billow had to act fast. He stepped out of the store and walked directly to the Camry’s driver.
“I’m going to grab a suitcase from my van and put it in your car. We’re going to trade keys and I am going to give you this $100. We got a deal? The van is better than your Camry.”
Flash and Mo looked at each other and shrugged. “Fine. Title’s in the car.”
Billow smiled, “Title’s in the van.”
Billow slid open the side panel door and dragged his suitcase and rifle out. He exchanged keys, gave Mo the hundred dollar bill and climbed in the Camry. Billow slowly drove out of the lot leaving the cop and the van behind.
Flash and Mo laughed as they bought a case of beer, two handfuls of jerky and some cigarette paper to wrap their weed. Once in the van, Mo pulled out of the parking lot and told Flash to check out the rest of the van.
Flash yelled, “Title’s right here where he said. This here is wicked, man. That guy must be nuts. This van’s got all the whistles!”
Mo said, “Roll us some weed, dude. We be drivin’ in style tonight. Maybe we can find us some chicks.”
They hadn’t traveled more than two blocks when police cars ascended on the van from all four directions. Sirens screamed so loud Flash put his hands over his ears. The entire block was blue flashing lights and more were coming. Officers had their patrol doors open and guns pointed at them. Spotlights blazed through the windshield blinding them. A loudspeaker demanded they exit the vehicle with their hands above their heads.
Mo looked at Flash, “Damn, them cops gettin’ real serious ‘bout crackin’ down on weed.”
CHAPTER 21
Agent Phillips called Nick. “Our mystery doctor is scheduled to board a flight to Orlando in 30 minutes. He’s using the ID of the real Dr. Elmhurst. We’re waiting for him. I thought I’d dump him at your station.”
Nick said, “That’s fine with me.”
Phillips asked, “How’s your girlfriend?”
“She’s fine. I’m heading to the house Billow took her to now.”
“I’m calling it a night. Be safe.”
Nick checked his GPS. They were within a couple of blocks of the house. He had heard the radio calls that Billow had hijacked a white Camry. Nick pulled the car to the curb.
“I’m going to check the house. Watch my back from here.”
Jen climbed over the console and slid to the driver’s seat as Nick got out. He always teased her about being able to do that. He told her when she got old and fat it would be but a fond memory. Jen breathed a sigh of relief each she time she actually did it.
Jen would leave enough time for Nick to make entry and then would have the car crawl closer in case Billow came back. If she saw Billow, she could warn Nick; if Billow saw her and ran, she would be closer for Nick to jump in the car.
Nick walked through each room of the house, his pistol held in front of him. The house was empty. He stood in front of the large chest that blocked the closet door. He could feel the adrenaline rushing through his body. He pushed the chest to the side and opened the closet door. Torn pieces of duct tape littered the floor. Red droplets of Lacey’s blood had pooled in the corner from her head wound. Nick forced his breathing to slow, shut the closet door and pushed the chest back in position.
Nick wasn’t in the house more than ten minutes and came back to the car. “The house is empty. I saw where he kept Lacey.” Nick’s expression left no doubt about how he felt about Billow. “He’s going to contact me by phone when he’s ready. He thinks Lacey is here and he doesn’t know we have this address. He could pull the Camry around back. If he’s smart, he’ll get off the street.”
Nick looked around the houses on the block. The neighborhood was awful, but surprisingly quiet. The house across the street was boarded up and had a long driveway.
“Let’s back into that driveway and turn off our lights. We’ll give it an hour.”
Jen fell asleep in ten minutes. Nick listened to the dispatcher on his radio and read his old files on Billow from his phone.
* * *
Marcus put the key in the Jeep’s ignition and said, “By the way, my name is Marcus.” There was a moment while crossing the street that all of his memories had come back. They weren’t all pleasant. He certainly wasn’t going to be able to just start a new life. Now he wished he hadn’t remembered. What was he going to do?
His drunken passenger struggled with the seatbelt and answered, “I’m George. Dang things, can’t ever figure them out.” Marcus looked down and saw a red slot he assumed was for the seatbelt attachment. It clicked. George said thank you and Marcus looked for a belt for himself. Evidently this was something you had to do if you drove.
Marcus stepped on the accelerator and listened to the motor roar. So far, so good. He glanced in the rearview mirror a couple of times like he’d seen them do on television. He glanced over to George.
George said, “We’re gonna get there faster if you put it in reverse.” George pointed to the shift handle.
Marcus looked at the drive column and saw an ‘R’. Easy enough. He shifted to the ‘R’. The accelerator was still pressed halfway to the floor. The Jeep bolted backwards from the parking spot, made a wide screaming circle and struck the half wall cement barrier. They were three stories up.
George grabbed the dash and screamed, “Brake!”
Marcus frantically pushed buttons on the dash; surely one of them was a brake. The back of the Jeep began climbing up the four foot cement barrier. George was screaming. Marcus could smell rubber burning from the tires. Marcus took his foot off the accelerator. The back of the Jeep leveled to match the front.
Marcus screamed at George. “Sorry! Seems I don’t know how to drive.”
George reached over and turned off the ignition. His eyes were opened wide and he pressed himself back against the passenger door. “You could make a fortune! I am stone cold sober now. Took you less than five minutes!”
George got out and walked around to the driver’s side hanging on to the Jeep for security. “Get out.”
George took a couple of deep breaths, “Get in the other side. You can still stay for the night. I’m not even worried about getting stopped now.”
Marcus smiled, “Thank you, George. I’m sorry I misled you about my driving skills. I guess I’m desperate.”
“If you don’t mind me askin’, where the heck have you lived for ten years that you didn’t have to drive?”
Marcus smiled, “A prison for the criminally insane.”
George chuckled, “Yeah, right. No, really.”
“Really.”
George put the Jeep in park. He was definitely sober now. “Why were you there?”
Marcus played with the visor and dash a little and then answered, “The courts committed me to Brookfield because they think I’m delusional and dangerous. I believe I have a calling to be a doctor. I’ve done surgeries and everything. I even worked at a hospital for a couple of days. They understood me at Brookfield and let me help with patient care. Just no surgeries. It’s really rather nice there.”
George rubbed his chin. He didn’t like what he was hearing. What kind of a nut job would make it up? It must be true. “Then why did you leave?”
Marcus laughed, “A nurse thought I really was a doctor being held prisoner. She smuggled me out in the trunk of her car tonight.”
George started laughing so hard he was snorting. “Oh Lord, that’s one of the scariest things I’ve ever heard. I gotta tell ya, I’m not real keen on takin’ you home with me anymore.”
Marcus nodded. “I understand. I’m actually not that keen to go. Would you drive me back to Brookfield Place?”
George said, “How about this: I’ll take you over to the police station and you have them drive you back. I imagine if you’re missing, they’re
already lookin’ for you.”
Marcus was excited to go back. The idea of trying to make it on his own, on the outside, was daunting. “That sounds fine, George, thank you. Thank you for not treating me like a crazy.”
George started laughing again as he pulled from the garage and headed toward the police station. “I’d say I’m the crazy one. I offered an escapee from an insane prison to come home with me, and drive my new Jeep. And you don’t even know how to drive!” George wiped his eyes, “I’ve had the most honest and intelligent conversation of my week with you! What does that tell you about the people on the outside?”
George watched as Marcus walked up the steps to the police station and stopped an officer. After the officer talked into his radio a couple of minutes, he had Marcus turn around and he cuffed him. George shook his head as he realized that Marcus obviously had been telling the truth.
George put on his turn signal and checked the traffic before he pulled from the curb. Tomorrow would be a good day to quit drinking.
* * *
Billow hadn’t returned to the house yet. Maybe he wasn’t going to. Jen had been sleeping for two hours. Nick knew Billow would contact him. Nick nudged Jen’s shoulder.
“Let’s get a few hours sleep and meet at the station. I’m taking you home and I’m going to Lacey’s.”
Jen rubbed her eyes, “What time is it?”
“Five. Billow will call me and I’ll call you. I promise.”
Nick dropped Jen off at her home. Ten minutes later he tiptoed into Lacey’s room. Lacey had been crying in her sleep. Nick kissed her salty cheeks and wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled close and mumbled, “I love you.”
Nick said, “I love you, too.” Lacey was snoring in minutes. Nick glanced at his phone on the end table, willing it to ring. In his dreams he was chasing Billow through a jungle. He had him cornered and then another, more dangerous Billow appeared behind him.
* * *
Flash and Mo were released from the police station with a citation for the marijuana, a court hearing date and a stern warning to change their lives. The cops impounded the van, the weed and their money. They had no way to get home.
Twisted: Nick Stryker Series, Book Two The Shallow End Gals Page 18