Sammy manning the Chevra Hatzolah computers, alerted the police. He hoped that their locators would get them back-up in time. Gil and T-Max raced up the garage ramps. On the third floor, they found an empty van without any plates parked sidewise with two of its doors open. This is it, they thought, and raced toward the stairs. Pulling out their cells they saw that Sammy sent them Pablo’s co-ordinates. They motioned to each other exited carefully on the second floor. Maneuvering around an overturned stretcher, they walked steadily, guns straight out scanning from side to side, alternating positions at hallways and doorways clearing space as they went. There was no sign of the killers. No sign of Gina or Pablo. An orderly walked by on a nearby hallway and they motioned him to get back. He nearly tripped over his feet as he raced backward down the hall. Two uniformed nurses were exiting an elevator on their left; they too jumped back when they saw men holding guns. They were motioned into silence. Stopping briefly to listen they heard shuffling and murmuring in a patient room with a partially closed door. After a moment they decided it was a nurse coaxing an unhappy child to take his medicine. At the end of the corridor they saw another situation developing in the nursing station.
Several staff members were talking about seeing men with guns on the unit, they called 911 and were waiting for help. As they approached the nursing station, they put their guns down and announced that they were working with the police and were part of the hospital security team. The nursing station was set up in a circular arrangement, counters around the periphery and a windowed room for the head nurse in the center of the circle. White venetian blinds shielded the inside room from view and nearly obscured Pablo’s face as it stared out at them. Wordlessly he indicated Gina was with him. The two were trapped in the center room and could not get out without being seen by the nurses, police or the gunmen. Creating an escape plan, Gil and T-Max asked the staff members to come with them and show them exactly where they had seen the gunmen. Suggesting it was best for the group to stick together, they walked en masse to each spot where the gunmen had been seen. As Gil scanned the area and communicated with headquarters and T-Max took detailed notes of everything the nurses said, Pablo wearing an orderly’s uniform pushed a gurney down the hall toward them. Gina lay quietly under the sheets trying not to shake.
Once the police arrived they took over the scene. They locked down the hospital and established a systematic room to room search. Gina lay curled under a tarp on the floor of Gil’s Bronco as he turned onto the snow packed city streets. Dialing a pre-programmed number he said, “I picked up the pizza.”
CHAPTER 60
NEWS CONFERENCE
They stood side by side on a small metal platform hastily assembled in the lobby of the hospital: Chicago’s Mayor, the Chicago Chief of Police, Illinois State Police Chief, Director of the Illinois Bureau of Investigation, the Medical Director of Comar Children’s Hospital, Lou Fairmont and Chester Rugger, along with a half dozen members of the Multi-State Task Force. For each one of these people the hunt for the ‘Parkland Killers’ was top priority.
The Mayor was the first to speak. “My Friends,” he spread his arms expansively to include the nation’s viewing audience, not just the dozens of reporters and photographers assembled in front of him, “there is evil in this world. I am saddened by it, but I know it to be true. And friends, these brave men and women who stand beside me,” he gestured to his left and right, “know it to be true…Three men who we seek today are evil men. They have killed and tortured and done unspeakable things. But we will capture these killers, these rapists and we will track them down and bring them to justice.” He stopped and stared into the cameras. “We in Chicago did not invite these men to come here. We did not want these men to come here to our beautiful city, but Ladies and Gentlemen they have come. They cut a path of destruction across this great land of ours and traveled to our great city. But Friends, I want you to know that this will be their last stop!” (Applause) “This path of destruction will go no further. It ends here!” (Applause) “They came here with evil in their hearts, to disturb our serenity, but here is my solemn promise to you: We will capture them and we will hold them accountable for their depravity.” (Loud applause). “Thank you, my Friends,” he smiled sincerely into the closest camera and added, “G-d Bless You and G-d Bless America.” Multiple flashbulbs went off and reporters yelled out questions. As he stepped out of the limelight, the Mayor shook hands warmly with his Chief of Police who stepped forward and introduced himself and the rest of the law enforcement officials on the platform.
The Chief of the Chicago Police Department stepped forward he held up his hands asking for silence. “Ladies and Gentleman, we have a brief announcement and then we will take 10 minutes for questions. As you can see, we have a number of officials here with us today,” he introduced everyone on the platform before continuing, “Several hours ago, unknown assailants attempted to kidnap a woman, as yet unknown, from the Comar Children’s Hospital. Apparently the woman escaped in the parking garage and the assailants then entered the hospital proper, presumably looking for that woman. Regrettably, during the search, police officers discovered the bodies of two individuals who had been killed during the invasion. A member of the janitorial staff and a visitor were found in a supply closet, their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. An intensive search for these men is underway.”
“Sir, are they….” A reported shouted out.
“Sir...”
“Chief, can you confirm that these are The Parkland Killers?” a reporter shouted out.
“The men who entered the building have not yet been identified,” the Police Chief answered, “the hospital director wants to assure the public that high quality medical care has not been compromised and clinical treatments are proceeding as usual. We have officers on the scene now. I can’t say more at this time. This is an ongoing investigation. My men are going through the hospital inch by inch. If the killers are in there we will find them. Our first obligation is public safety and we will make sure that the patients and staff are kept safe. More bulletins will be issued as we find out more information about this matter. Thank you for your cooperation. We will take your questions now.”
The city was on high alert. The hospital was on high alert. In the hospital, every precaution that could be taken was being taken. The CPD had fifteen squads of officers, in teams of three, combing through the hospital. Every room, bathroom, closet, treatment room, nursing station and operating room was being thoroughly searched by combat trained officers. Police were looking under beds and in laundry carts. Faces were compared to ID badges and patient charts. Hours were spent on every floor. Armed guards were posted outside each unit after it had been cleared. Guards were posted at every stairway, elevator and emergency exit. Throughout the hospital, an armed uniformed police presence was felt. Families were alarmed and needed reassurance. Un-related visitors were escorted from the hospital to their cars or taxi’s. Only those with legitimate, verifiable reasons to be in the hospital were permitted to remain.
Police patrolled the parking garage, searching one level at a time until every vehicle was examined and identified as belonging to someone who had a bona fide reason for being there. The suspects’ van was impounded. Law enforcement professionals from across the country blanketed the city.
Will sat with police officers in the Security Department reviewing videotapes floor by floor. So far there were no clear face shots of any of the men. Based on sketchy details so far available, it was likely that the Parkland Killers were in Chicago and had been inside the hospital. Three scruffy looking men had been identified by several different witnesses. Assurances were made that no children had been injured, no relatives had been hurt. However, it appears that the killers, or some of them, invaded the hospital corridors. The bodies of an orderly and an unidentified visitor were found in a cleaning closet. Their throats had been slashed. What happened exactly was unclear. They didn’t know if the woman got away and, if she di
d, how she managed to do that. They thought it likely that the killers had fled the hospital, but that was not confirmed. There were many questions and not a lot of answers. There was film to be reviewed and witnesses to be questioned. They asked the media and the public, in general, to be patient and vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police. Pictures of the killers were provided to those present and flashed across TV screens. A tip line had been established and the number repeatedly flashed.
After the news conference, the Task Force met with the CPD officials, briefed them in more detail and concluded the following: The killers were becoming more chaotic and unpredictable. They had invaded a children’s hospital and were running rampant through a large public space. This was not their MO something had occurred that had provoked more high risk behavior. Lou Fairmont began spontaneously updating the BAU profile.
“Serial killers often escalate and become random or spree killers in the frenzy of the chase and these men had been spiraling out of control since they began their rampage at the Raines Family Farm. Their excitement increased each time they eluded law enforcement. Then we believe they discovered where Reggie Lee was. In all likelihood she is the woman they tried to kidnap from the hospital who we think is Dr. Gina Reynolds. Now she’s not blonde on the videotapes but her personnel file and security badge photos are of a blonde woman. I suspect she dyed her hair recently to avoid detection. Now that they have her in their sites they will stop at nothing to get her. They had her in their grasp, literally, and lost her. That will make them or at least the leader furious, obsessed and desperate. They will take more risks now that they are overloaded with adrenaline and illusions of grandeur they believe they are unstoppable. They will escalate until they are stopped.
“We need to find out everything we can about this Dr. Reynolds. Who her friends are, who might be helping her, everything. We have to find that woman she’s the key to all of this.”
Assignments were given to track down her history, question hospital staff and colleagues to learn as much as possible about her connections.
“Someone is helping her. Someone with skills! Maybe she hired a private eye or someone. We also need to find out who’s helping these killers. They may have help here because they just disappeared from that hospital. How would they know the ins and outs of this place if they just got here?
“We need to intensify the search outside the hospital because it’s likely the killers are no longer here. If their intended hostage has escaped, they probably left too.”
Cell phones connected all the agencies involved up and down the chain of command. The energy in the room was frenetic as tasks and geographic areas were discussed.
The nation’s attention was riveted on a few hundred feet of concrete in Chicago, as more media pulled up in their vans and set up their lights and camera crews. There was frenzy in the frigid air, fear and excitement fueled by periodic police bulletins and story deadlines. Members of the press swarmed the front of the hospital, crowding into every nook and cranny seeking warmth. With the wind chill, it was -5 degrees on the hospital steps. News teams worked in shifts, returning to their vehicles or nearby restaurants for warm-ups. Lights from the TV news teams provided little warmth in the ‘windy city.’ Press reports were issued as every hospital section was cleared. Descriptions of the Parkland Killers flashed on every monitor. Given that these men had changed their appearance so many times, alternate sketches flashed on screens showing what the men would look like with their hair in different styles, with or without beards, wearing glasses or dressed in different clothing. People were jumpy and suspicious, as they scrutinized the faces around them, looking for a killer’s face.
CHAPTER 61
BIRD’S EYE VIEW
They clung to the HVAC equipment trying not to let the wind blow them away. It was gusting between 50-60 mph. On the roof, the temperature was 5 degrees with a wind chill of -10. Their fingers were frozen solid and their feet weren’t far behind. If the cops didn’t come up here and find them, the wind just might blow them off this roof onto the waiting squad cars.
“Jake, we need a plan,” Custer whined for the fourth time, “I can’t stand this no more.”
“I’m cold, too,” Jake snapped, “so shut up and let me think.”
Just then the wind picked up howling and blowing worse than ever. Slim was scrunched down on the snow trying to squeeze his body into a ball. It was as close to a fetal position as a grown man could get.
Custer clutched the metal rim of an air vent and inched himself closer to the fire escape. “I’m going down,” he hissed, “I’m not gonna die up here like some Eskimo.” He started down the narrow ladder. He’d gone three steps when he felt strong hand on his jacket collar pulling him up.
“Get back up here, you idiot,” Jake breathed yanking him up the steps. “You’ll fall and kill yourself. We’ll stay put till I say we go and that’s final.”
They’d been up on this roof for hours watching the activity below. They took up positions at different corners so they knew what was going on all around them. They watched as the Mayor’s car pulled up for the press conference, and they watched as the Chicago Medical Examiner pulled away with the bodies they’d stuffed in the supply closet. They saw that the press was everywhere and that media vans kept pulling up and setting up their lights and equipment. It was scary, but also exciting to have this much attention. They were world famous. They were record holders. What was it they said? Worst serial killers in US history? Was that it? Not sure exactly, but it was some kind of big win. They were famous. Well, that’s how Jake and Slim thought about it. Custer, well, he’d rather not be part of that. He didn’t want to do this anymore. He didn’t want to catch Reggie Lee. He didn’t want Jake to do things to her. He didn’t want to kill people. He didn’t want to hurt anybody. He didn’t like helping Slim drag those guys into the supply closet in the hospital. He felt bad about that. They hadn’t done anything wrong. Slim was too quick to kill people. Not him though, he was a nice guy. He wasn’t mean like the other two, his buddies, his gang members. How had he gotten mixed up with them anyway? Wished he’d never met them. He’d rather be at home, eating meatloaf at Gus’s Diner and working at a gas station in Hurricane. That seemed like a good job to have. He liked being around cars and he thought he’d like waiting on people, too. He was pretty good with money. He was the gang’s accountant, after all. It seemed like a real good plan to him. He’d move back home to Hurricane and get a job in a gas station. Maybe he could see his Mom on Sundays and even get a girlfriend sometime or maybe a dog. He liked dogs. He could name it something good like ‘angel’. Yes, he thought he’d call his dog a ‘good name’ because he was basically good.
Custer hated this life. He knew that now. He hated it and he wanted out. He would take the first out he saw and that was a promise. He had to be ready. The first thing was transportation. That’s what he needed. He couldn’t get away from Jake without a car. He needed that more than anything. Then he’d head far away from here, maybe to Denver or Austin. Somewhere he’d never been before. He’d get some cash, change his looks and get a little job somewhere. Then after a year or so, when the coast was clear, after Jake was caught, he’d move back home to Hurricane. No one would recognize him ‘cause he’d look so different. He could start working out, lose some weight, even change his name. Then he’d have the life he wanted. He wasn’t going to wait for Slim to get ready to take Jake on. That wasn’t going to happen now. Slim was the ‘old Slim’ again and he didn’t need Custer anymore. ‘No, you’re on your own Custer old boy,’ he told himself. ‘I’m going to get out first chance I get. I’m getting out if it’s the last thing I do,’ he thought. And then glumly, ‘it probably will be.’
Slim was high. He’d scored in Steubenville almost by accident. He ran into a guy looking to make a sale while he was casing a joint. Jake said they needed cash and lots of it. He and this guy locked eyes and instantly they cut a deal. The guy stood watch while he robbed the place
and Slim handed over some cash for drugs as soon as they were clear. He felt better now. Drugs made him feel better. Confident and cold-hearted, he was the old Slim again. No more worries about Jake, like in that cabin in the woods. He was back in the game. This was what he liked. Scaring the shit out of people! Running from the cops! Getting away with things! That made his life worth living. He loved chasing Reggie and that Latin guy down the stairs and into the hospital. He chased them until he lost them. He couldn’t imagine where they got to and he couldn’t just run around with his piece and not get caught. That’s when he got the bright idea about the disguise. That’s when he ran into that janitor and that old geezer near the supply closet. Too bad they were there. He hadn’t wanted to kill them, but they saw him. What was he supposed to do? He slit their throats and got Custer to help drag them behind some buckets. Then he grabbed a blue orderly’s uniform and an empty stretcher. It was a clever plan if he did say so himself. He walked up and down those halls like he worked there. It was fun playing the role of a worker. Slim had never worked. Not for one single day. He never wanted to work. Everyone talked about getting a job and making a living. What for? It was easier to take what you wanted and more, shall we say, lucrative, too? Yea, lucrative, now that’s a nice word.
Relentless (Elisabeth Reinhardt Book 1) Page 34