Relentless (Elisabeth Reinhardt Book 1)

by Nancy Alexander

  “Don’t shoot, and don’t lose them, Kentucky, we’re working on a roadblock at the next big intersection. Keep sending us your coordinates.”

  They were bumping along the rutted road when Slim peeped out the window looking at snow covered corn stalks. “This is stupid, Jake,” he said, “We’re in a fucking corn field. How’s that going to get us out of here?” Jake popped his head out and peered around. Poking the back of the driver’s seat with his gun he rasped, “Father, what you up to?”

  “Just following your instructions, Jake,” the man replied, “trying to get you out of town.”

  “Well, get out of this damn corn field and onto a road,” Jake ordered. Then he pulled himself out a bit further and looked around. He saw two cars further back on the road. It was hard to tell, but they looked suspicious, like black SUV’s.

  “Looks like the cops. You call the cops, Pops?” he demanded alarmed.

  “No, of course not” the priest answered, “You have my cell phone, Jake.”

  “That’s the cops, I can smell them.”

  “What are we gonna do Jake?” Custer whined.

  “Shut up and let me think,” Jake yelled. The road curved sharply to the right leaving the van temporarily out of sight. “Turn down this road,” Jake indicated a small dairy farm along the road, cows huddled near the barn. “Go around the back of that barn over there and slow down till they pass, then swing around and go backtrack.”

  “We can’t stop here, the cops will shoot the hell out of us,” Custer yelled from the back.

  “Shut up, you idiot, I have plan,” Jake screamed. The priest pulled around the back of the barn out of sight of the police cars, slowed the van to a rolling stop. As they heard the SUV’s drive by, they made a wide U turn then sped up and got back on the dirt road again. “Speed up, Pops,” Jake instructed, “and this time keep going straight.”

  “They spotted us,” the team leader said catching sight of the van’s tail lights as it pulled behind a barn. It was too dangerous to pull in after them. “Better to let them think they fooled us. There are only two ways to go on this road. They’ll either follow us or head back where they came from.” They quickly checked with Chester, “Divide up,” he said, “Keep the dog team near the barn in case they decide to camp out and use that family as hostages. You keep going and we’ll bring another team in to block the end of that lane.”

  Team leader spoke into his mike, “Dog team, take the dairy farm and we’ll continue on and set up with the roadblock.” The second car, containing two officers and two German Shepherds, broke out of formation doubled back toward the farm, pulled off the road and picked up his binoculars. The lead car continued on straight ahead. “Roadblock about 4 miles ahead at the next intersection,” Chester said, “We’ve got another one set up at the other end of the road. We’ve got them in our cross-hairs; they just don’t know it, yet.”

  Jake poked his head out again. Seeing no cars, he hooted with success, “They fell for it! Dumb cops!”

  “Come out of this U-turn and head back down that road, Padre,” Jake ordered, “We’re gonna get out of dodge!”

  “Jake,” the priest said appealing to him, “You promised that if I cooperated, no one would get shot. Why don’t I just keep going and try to get onto a highway? There’s a main road just a few miles ahead.”

  “Well, that’s where they’ll be waiting for us, Paaddrreee,” Slim drawled sarcastically. “They’ll have this road blocked off at both ends,” Slim said to Jake. Now he was in his element. Evading the cops, that was a ‘turn on’.

  “We’ve got to find another way out of here,” he said, eying the snow covered fields around him he added, “I’ve got an idea.”

  Pointing a gun at his head, he ordered the priest to turn into the next driveway. A large sign said ‘Chip’s Farm Supplies.’ In front of it was a smaller sign that said ‘John Deere and AGCO Tractors for Sale, new and used.’ They pulled around back to the loading dock. The building was long and low with a peaked roof and a double wide garage door. Custer and Slim rushed into the building, which was nearly empty except for two employees who they captured and confined to a broom closet. Jake dragged the priest into the building and shoved him into the closet with the other two. “Thanks for all your help, old man,” he said to the priest and patted him affectionately on the cheek. “Padre, you were a gift from G-d!”

  Jake turned to Slim and asked, “You got it?”

  “Yep,” Slim nodded holding up a set of keys. The three of them ran over to a large green tractor equipped with a snow plow and back hoe. Within minutes, the tractor was bumping its way across a snow-covered corn field. From a distance the dog team saw the tractor and called in the report.

  “Track and follow, do not try to apprehend,” was the order. They sped toward Chip’s Farm Supplies, cleared the premises, released the hostages and started after the tractor. It was tough going for the SUV, but they were able to keep the tractor in sight. After about 10 minutes, the tractor stopped. A shootout was inevitable. The killers took up positions behind the tractor. They shot out the police vehicle’s windows and tires, forcing the officers to get out and take cover. Calling for backup, Ricky’s handler went down with a bullet in his neck. Seeing his handler down, Ricky was unstoppable racing toward the tractor running low to the ground, he moved like the wind. He knew who had shot his partner and he was would take him down. He zeroed in on Jake, leapt upward and grabbed him by the throat. Jake screamed, blood squirted and both fell backwards hitting the ground hard. The dog was ferocious grinding his teeth into the killer’s throat. He never saw the bullet coming.

  “Two down, one human, one canine. We need back-up,” Lucy’s handler screamed into the phone, “I repeat, two down, two down.” Lucy strained at her leash, leaping and snarling, itching to avenge her brother. Sirens split the air alarming the peaceful farming community. Ambulances raced toward the scene. The wounded were rushed to the nearest hospital and the nearest vet, but it was unlikely either would survive. All available personnel converged on the scene, hostages were questioned, the scene was searched but the killers had vanished.

  CHAPTER 49

  TIES THAT BIND

  Teddy Ruff ran his hands through his red hair as he paced back and forth in the garden apartment he shared with his latest girlfriend Monica French. He was worried about the recent developments, more than worried, really. That call from Jake, two days before, all whispery and urgent, left him feeling uneasy. He remembered Jake’s voice saying “Hey Ruff n Ready, old Buddy”… just remembering it made his skin crawl. Jake wanted Teddy to do an internet search for him, to find some chick named Reggie Lee Raines and to dig up exactly what the cops knew about the Parkland Killers. He didn’t say he was the Parkland Killer. That was left unsaid. Under most circumstances, Teddy would be happy to oblige, but this kind of research was dangerous. If he started hacking into law enforcement databases about killers everyone was looking for, it would bring the cops, the FBI, the CIA, Homeland Security, hell, the whole world down on him. There was no way to cover your tracks on a hack like that. Jake, who was computer illiterate, had no clue what he was asking Teddy to do. The sacrifice! The risk! Hell, the government had programs that could trace search patterns. They would flip his search pattern and track him. As soon as they recognized that Teddy was getting information about Jake, they would be pounding on his door and life as he knew it would be over.

  Teddy, now 36, had been careful since his last time in the big house. He had stayed out of trouble, while at the same time earning a terrific amount of money as a computer expert - a ‘hacker’ really. He hacked into banks and other financial institutions, not only for himself, but for a fee, a big one he’d help out the occasional ‘associate’. Living in plain sight in Western Pennsylvania, he had done all the ordinary things that people do, shop, eat out, date pretty girls, go to the occasional movie. He had created a ‘normal’ life for himself, even if it was a façade. He told everyone he was a stock broker who work
ed from home. Teddy thought that sounded good and close enough to the truth. He tried to tell the truth when he could, it was easier that way, not so many lies to remember. Teddy had come from a pretty religious family, strict Lutherans. His father’s moral code had been beaten into him from an early age. He still felt the impact of that ‘moral code’ across his back when the weather turned cold. So he tried to live a ‘righteous’ life. He didn’t hurt people, at least not physically; he was kind to his mother, who was living out her elder years in an assisted living facility near Altoona, on his dime. He ‘loaned’ his sister money to buy a small house outside of Pittsburgh. And he was a generous tipper in restaurants. Teddy thought he was managing pretty well all things considered. His money was hidden in the Cayman Islands. His long term plan was to move down there once he had accumulated enough cash to stop hacking. Then he would live the life his father would have liked.

  For the last four years, Teddy lived in a two bedroom apartment on the third floor of a nice middle class apartment complex with large trees, gardens, a community center and a large pool. He could look out his picture window and see people pushing strollers or walking their dogs. It was a nice area and he was glad to be living there. His apartment, quite attractive was decorated like an Ikea catalogue. An oversize walnut entertainment center, the focal point of the living room, held a 55” flat screen TV and sat opposite a cushioned cream colored L shaped sofa. Artwork and knickknacks were tastefully arranged throughout the bright, modern spacious room. His second bedroom, however, was the opposite; it was small and cramped. Black fabric shades covered windows. The unadorned walls were stark white. Long folding tables lined three walls, holding computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, scanners, fax machines and stacks of paper. A dozen phone lines had been wired into the room, illegally because the area was not commercially zoned. Surge suppressors, bundled cords and wires coiled all over the floor connecting everything electronic. It was a hacker’s lair. The room was alive with flashing screens scrolling through lists of numbers and codes; there was constant humming and clicking from the printers and fax machines and several answering machines, which featured Teddy’s melodious outgoing messages in several languages. This is where Teddy Ruff spent most of his time.

  His most recent girlfriend Monica seemed to be ‘the one.’ They had been dating for only 4 months, but he felt sure he loved her. She was 28 years old and had gotten her Bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Institute of Art in Pittsburgh. She spent a number of years working and painting near the college until she met Teddy, in a little Blues bar near campus. It was not long before she moved into his apartment in Ligonier. Monica grew up in a small town near Lake Erie. She was the only child born to rather ‘new age’ parents who were into ‘the green life’ and spent all their time growing vegetables in their organic gardens and providing nearby markets with their produce. They had been good parents and loved their daughter, but were firm believers in ‘leaving the nest’ so when Monica said she was moving in with Teddy Ruff and would get a job in Ligonier, they were fine with that. They met and liked him well enough and well, she was 28 now, so really she was free to make her own decisions. They were busy with their organic farming business and put no demands on her. That was another good thing as far as Teddy was concerned. He didn’t need any meddling ‘in-laws’ hanging around interfering in his world. Monica was the day manager of an upscale dress shop in town. She spent her free time at the studio that she shared with other local artists. There, she worked on her water colors and collages some of which she sold at local art shows or galleries. From Teddy’s point of view, she was great in all the important ways. She was sweet, genuinely interested in him and she never asked too many questions about his work in the strange little room she was not allowed to enter.

  As he paced he thought, ‘I have to make a decision. He could show up here any minute. I tracked the chick down to the time she was about 21 and then lost her. Maybe she had changed her name to something else. I haven’t found the trace on that yet. These things took time. I got as far as hacking into the Putnam County database and then thought ‘what am I risking all this for? The days of ‘the teacher’ and ‘the hacker’ were long gone. Hell, what do I owe that guy, anyway? Meeting for a beer and a burger to chat about old times was one thing, but this thing Jake wants me to do, well that’s another thing altogether. I just won’t do it,’ Teddy thought.

  Then he remembered that Jake knew where he lived. Jake had been here once, about 2 years ago and Jake never forgot stuff like this. Even if he didn’t remember, he’d get someone from around here to tell him where Teddy lived. Jake could get anyone to tell him anything. Teddy didn’t know what to do and he didn’t know how much time he had until Jake and his buddies, or the cops, in capital letters, broke down his door and shot him to death. He poured himself a shot of bourbon and paced some more. As the clock ticked he became increasingly anxious. ‘One thing, I’ve got to do is get Monica out of here,’ he thought, ‘I don’t want her getting shot even if I get killed. How can I get her out?’ Now that was another problem. She was a naïve, yes, but she wasn’t going to be easy. She would want answers, she wasn’t just going to pick up and run away with no explanation. He was panicked; he had to get her out of there before Jake arrived. One look at her and there would be real trouble. She was ‘Jake’s type’ and that put them both at risk. Monica was at work now, but she’d be home soon. Maybe they could run away together until this shit with Jake blew over. The cops were bound to catch him sometime. Yes, that was the thing. He’d pack and pick Monica up at work and they’d hit the road. That meant shutting down his whole operation, getting as much equipment in the truck as he could along with all his ‘paperwork’ and evidence of his crimes. It was a lot to do in a short time, but what choice did he have? Getting out of town was the thing to do. He stopped pacing and started packing.

  CHAPTER 50

  THE WINDY CITY

  The wind howled loudly as it whipped around the corners of stone and brick buildings piling inch after inch of snow on already impassable streets. It was one of the worst snow storms to hit Chicago for a decade. Gina had called the hospital earlier to say she was unable to get in and would have to wait for a break in the weather. She assured the nursing staff now forced to work double shifts that she would be available to them by phone and would help them manage in any way she could. In anticipation of the snow storm, several doctors and residents had volunteered to sleep over night at the hospital. They were covering critical situations, but many staff members had been unable to make it to work. All units were short-staffed and those present were over-worked and exhausted.

  Gina was up, dressed and ready to go, but minutes ago the mayor declared a state of emergency and ordered residents to stay off the streets. City and state offices were closed, schools were closed, in fact, the whole city was closed. Road crews were working over-time to get streets cleared, but the storm was far from over. Gina fed Twinkie, fixed herself some coffee and toast and settled in, land line to her ear, ready to confer with hospital staff about her patients. She had lost her cell phone the night before after she and Goeff were whisked from the restaurant. She thought it might be in the escort’s car but didn’t have his number and with the snow he had not come to pick her up. Putting those thoughts aside she waited for updates from nursing staff about Lashana Browne, a newborn with spina bifida (a birth defect involving incomplete closure of the spine)who was scheduled for surgery later that week and Ronald Nestler, a ‘premie’ who had been diagnosed with PDA, a congenital disorder in the heart wherein one of the heart ducts fails to close after birth. Gina wanted to make sure there were no signs of infection.

  And then there was Jane. Getting a nursing report on her condition, she was surprised to find out that Goeff Reed had made it into the hospital and was taking care of baby Judy. She asked to be transferred and within minutes he was on the line.

  “Taking a snow day?” he quipped.

  “Seems like you’re having all the f
un today,” she retorted.

  “Want me to take care of Jane for you today?” he asked.

  “I’d love it if you wouldn’t mind,” she answered, “how do the twins look today? Has Judy’s color improved?”

  The team had been concerned about her blood pressure dropping and how pale the baby looked last evening. ”She looks better today. If she continues to be stable, we can get them back into surgery maybe day after tomorrow.”

  “That sounds great,” Gina responded, “Thanks again Goeff for taking care of Jane for me.”

  “Not a problem,” Goeff said, “it’s not like I have to travel far to do it, she’s right here, same place as Judy!” he finished smartly.

  Gina was she was clicking away on her laptop entering case notes when she the phone rang. “Turn on your TV quick…” Tanya’s voice was urgent commanding. Gripping the remote she heard “….and in Hurricane, West Virginia the Parkland Killers have eluded yet another police dragnet….” She stared mutely at the TV as the faces of her three childhood tormenters flashed across the screen. “Wanted by police for questioning in relation to more than 5 kidnapping and rapes and 8 murders are Jake Gennett, Arnold Custer and Vincent Anastan, all local residents of the Hurricane area.”

  “I’ll call you back, Tan,” she said replacing the receiver. The News Report continued, “Earlier today, there was a shooting at a local farm followed by the kidnapping of a local priest at gunpoint. The men forced him to drive them to the outskirts of town where hostages were taken and a Pennsylvania State Police Officer and a Police Dog were killed.” The camera now angled in on two young men wearing identical shirts labeled ‘Chip’s Farm Supplies’ “Yes, Sir,” one of the young men was saying, “and he stole one of our tractors and headed across that field over there.” The young man pointed to the side and the camera panned the area.