Signal to Murder

by Rhone Sonnier

  Breau thinks, “That statement and the empty milk carton merit investigation.”

  Breau removes his latex evidence gloves from his coat pocket and puts both on his hands. Breau reaches behind the driver into the corner and carefully grips the milk carton; he finds that the carton is not empty but about half full. With the carton firmly in his right hand Breau places his index finger under the latex glove at his wrist and rolls it back over the carton as far as it will extend and repeats the process with his left hand and latex glove. The buttermilk carton is completely protected in the two gloves as Breau places the carton in an evidence bag. He holds the bag and carton upright knowing that he might possibly have uncovered a major piece of evidence. Breau thinks, “You never can tell what you might find on and in a buttermilk carton. Not everyone drinks buttermilk.”

  Breau calls for a car to retrieve the evidence and requests that it be tested for prints and DNA. With the evidence having been documented and turned in, Breau catches five more buses questioning all the drivers. Breau finds out that two of the drivers have improper identification, but he is not looking to give them trouble over that. Breau insists he only wants information about the driver who drinks buttermilk.

  Two of the drivers remembered a buttermilk carton in the trash on other buses because the smell had become unpleasant. One of the drivers said, “Each driver is supposed to empty his own trash as a courtesy. We have cleaning people for the buses, but that is routine and some trash gets a sour smell or stinks after a while.”

  One driver was Russian and told Breau, “One of our drivers is an Irishman. I believe his name is Danny O’Grady, and he drinks buttermilk all the time. He has a gravelly voice and he explained to us in the break room why he drinks so much buttermilk. O’Grady said he drinks a few sips of the buttermilk for his throat and carries a carton with him when possible. He said he often has to discard the half empty carton because it gets warm or the scent offends some people. Sometimes he takes the carton with him when his shift ends, but sometimes we know he does not.”

  The driver continued, “O’Grady says that he slowly swallows the buttermilk to lubricate and soothe his scratchy throat. He has been told that buttermilk may help heal his throat over time. I believe there has been some improvement because his voice is not as raspy sounding to me. He explained that he did some welding or soldering and was injured by fumes or some such. He said he had to quit that job, and then he trained to drive a bus.”

  The driver said, “O’Grady told me that he drove a district school bus for a few months in Aurora, Illinois for experience before applying with RMTD (Rockford Mass Transit Department). He chooses to drive only thirty hours a week. I cannot remember what his reason was for wanting to work part-time and not full-time. Ask some of the other drivers they might remember what he said.”

  The bus driver went on with, “I remember his voice was raspy and hoarse sounding for months, but it has been getting much better. His voice is hoarse, but it is smoother than when we drivers first met him. He really is a nice guy. He hardly ever talks unless someone initiates a conversation, and he stays pretty much to himself, but we do not feel that he is anti-social or anything like that, he seems very shy or pre-occupied.”

  “Danny O’Grady is a quiet guy who seems kind of lonely. He never causes trouble, is always on time and helps anyone of us if we are in a jam, you can count on him. He will switch shifts with any of us drivers in need of time off; he has been known to pull another drivers shift for nothing, I mean he does this for no payment or trading favors. Everybody likes Danny O’Grady. I like Danny. What are you after him for?” the driver stops talking and looks at Breau for an answer to his question. Breau does not answer the driver’s question, because he has no answer, but he knows he will eventually have answers to many of his questions. Breau hopes the buttermilk will provide leads to the bus driver that was at the assault scene. No one seems to know his whereabouts at the present time

  Breau has Danny O’Grady checked out and finds out the picture of the Rockford RMTD driver, in his opinion, does not sufficiently resemble the Danny O’Grady that drove a school bus in Aurora, Illinois. When you study the pictures more closely there is some resemblance between the two, enough resemblance that most people would not notice the difference. The Danny O’Grady that worked in Aurora called in and quit and has not been heard from since quitting last year. He has not been reported missing. No one at the school district knows of any family or personal contacts. The Aurora, Illinois police are interested in our Danny O’Grady, and Breau and Hernandez are interested in finding their Danny O’Grady and Aurora’s Danny O’Grady.

  Other than fingerprints, the best solution to identification would be to find a family member by linking DNA.

  Chapter 38

  Sis is Careless

  Sis does not sense danger around her. She is oblivious to the fact that she is being followed by a predator; a predator as bad as she and her brother.

  The predator is being blackmailed by Six and is being forced to kill Sis. Sis must be eliminated before Detectives Hernandez and Breau have a chance to question her. Six knows that his sister is a weak link and does not want to take a chance on her breaking down and telling authorities who he is

  Sis crosses the street very cautiously; she looks both ways and makes it to the other side of the street, much to the stalker’s chagrin. The stalker ruminates, “Too many vehicles present and too many possible eye witnesses to force a hit and run. Sis’ death must appear to be an accident, a hit and run. Six wants her dead to eliminate her from being questioned by law enforcement in connection with Tuesday’s assault.”

  I am being blackmailed and have been for quite some time. My blackmailer wants Sis out of the way, and I have been told that if I do not do as he instructs he will reveal my involvement with a drug ring. I know that he has solid proof (pictures and videos) therefore I must do as he says. I became involved with the ring because I was bored; I did not need the money. I do not want to go to prison; I will do as I am instructed.

  Sis crosses another street at an intersection, but again the predator stalker has no clear path to run her down. The driver cannot get a straight shot to build up the SUV’s speed for maximum impact. The stalker is worried that Sis may suspect she is being followed. At one point, Sis starts to cross the street, but instead backs up onto the curb and sidewalk, lighting another cigarette.

  The predator watches closely as Sis stands on the curb smoking her cigarette. Sis turns her head away from me to keep the wind from snuffing her lighter flame. She is having trouble keeping the cigarette lighted. I can see that she is coughing. I have to wait, and I do not have much time left. We are only a block from the Trailways terminal.

  The predator pulls the hoody a little farther forward and secures the eye glasses again, ensuring that the disguise is in place.

  “No vehicle behind me and only one vehicle coming toward us approaching in the other lane, but not quite perfect timing, must wait, must be patient. I must hit her before she gets to the Trailways Bus terminal or eliminate her later some other way,” the would-be killer talks out loud rationalizing the current situation.

  The driver of the SUV contemplates Javier Hernandez reaching Sis and beginning to question her. This interrogation cannot be allowed to happen.

  Sis for some unknown reason decides to cross the street where there is no crosswalk. The SUV driver thinks, “Sis looks very pre-occupied, still concentrating on her cigarette, that’s good. Here’s my chance to run her down.”

  While crossing the street I, Sis, suddenly remember where I have seen the Chinese man that was on the bus. He was one of the detectives investigating the first attempt on Edwards’ life, and I now know that I saw him at the ambush scene this morning. If he checks the buttermilk carton in the bus trash receptacle, he will find Six’s DNA. The man appeared to watch everything, I am sure he saw me look at the carton in the trash can. Six should have been more careful about disposing of his used cartons; I ha
ve to warn Six.

  Preoccupied with my thoughts, I continue walking across the crosswalk and feel more than see something large coming at me. I cry out, “Oh no, I have been careless. Who will call Six and tell him that the Chinese detective will soon be on his trail? Six, Six, Six, be careful.”

  My final thoughts are of my preoccupation with smoking and carelessly crossing the street where there was no crosswalk. All is black.

  The stalker speaks out loud, “There’s my opening, now is the time, I hope.”

  From my SUV I observe Sis and her lack of precaution as she stops between designated street crossing areas. She stands at the curb, drops her bags and turns her head away from me while she drags on her cigarette enjoying the light euphoria even as her due vigilance fails her. Sis coughs again and picks up her bags to head across the street. I decide that the time is right. There are no vehicles behind her, and I see no people, there is an on-coming vehicle in the other lane.

  I cannot seem to stop talking to myself, as I say out loud, “Now is my chance. There is a vehicle coming toward us, but the driver might not see anything, I have to take a chance.”

  Sis is crossing the street with bags in hand and her cigarette in her mouth. All of a sudden she hesitates as she stares in the direction of bright oncoming lights. I speed up as Sis freezes in the street like a doe caught in the bright headlights of the SUV. “I have to take a chance that the driver of the other vehicle will keep going or not see the hit and run,” I think this as I drive toward Sis.

  My SUV strikes her with great force tossing her body into the air. I consider, “Sis must be thinking, what is happening to me? Her mind must be registering her plight as she sees certain death arriving in the form of a large vehicle. Sis is correct, she has departed, not just Illinois, but this life.”

  The hit and run completed, the murderer thinks to quickly observe again that there are no cameras visible on the street and no obvious witnesses on the sidewalks. Mud covers the vehicle’s plates; the mud tossed onto them so that it looks like the SUV drove through mud.

  The stalker now murderer feels confident that no one was a witness to the dastardly end of Sis.

  I have now turned murderer in addition to being involved with selling illegal drugs. I think, “It happened so fast. My SUV hit Sis and she flew into the oncoming truck in the other lane as I quickly left the scene. Sis must be pretty messed up, dying, or dead.”

  I feel elated. I say out loud, “I was forced to do that, but for some reason I do not feel guilty. I actually enjoyed the hunt and the resulting kill.”

  “Goodbye Sis, you may not have made it out of Illinois, but you are gone,” I say this to the darkened interior of the SUV.

  Before I drive the SUV to the hospital and park it in one of the big parking lots; I stop outside a quick shop to check the SUV for damage. I find no damage to the vehicle, no blood, no hair, no pieces of clothing, nothing. Cautiously looking about I notice a man casually observing the SUV. I get in the vehicle and drive away.

  Having someone special to visit at the hospital, I head to the hospital emergency room where I check the status of the Sorrell’s and resume hospital duties as planned.

  Chapter 39

  Kate, Nana and Francis Rendezvous

  Francis is scheduled to be released from the hospital on the afternoon of April 15th, 2009. While he and Marguerite are waiting for his doctor to come by and sign his release papers, Marguerite suggests that she and Francis invite Katherine Kate Miller out for brunch the following morning. Marguerite says to Francis, “If you think you will feel well enough for an outing, it will give us a chance to thank Kate for checking in on you and Keith, and it will give me a chance to get to know her.”

  Marguerite has not said anything negative about Kate to Francis, but he thinks, “There is something unsettling about Kate, something that Marguerite has noticed.” At the same time Francis is thinking this, Marguerite is thinking, “I find Kate unsettling, odd. I cannot quite put my finger on what it is that I do not like about her, but I do not like her, I might as well admit that to myself. I saw something in her eyes and there was coldness in her the first time that we met. Maybe closer interaction, like discussing the ambush and Keith’s current situation, will help me assess her.”

  Francis replies to Marguerite’s inquiry about brunch, “I think that would be fine, sweetheart. I do not feel bad, but I am more stiff and sore than usual. I know that will get better with time, but my aches and pains from old injuries will remain, and I might as well acknowledge the fact that yesterday’s injuries will just add to my list of old injuries.” Marguerite replies, “That is true, but I am glad that you were not more severely injured or even worse killed.”

  Kate came by to see Keith and Francis that afternoon, just prior to Francis’ release. Marguerite said, “Kate, if you are free tomorrow morning, Francis and I would love to treat you to a nice brunch. We appreciate your taking the time to visit him and Keith.” She continues, “Francis tells me that the Elm Tree Café just down from Keith’s apartment building is nice and has good food. Francis, I believe you told me that Kate joined you and Keith there for lunch on a couple of occasions.” Francis answers, “Yes, and Kate we would enjoy your joining us there tomorrow morning.”

  Kate responds with, “Thank you both for the invitation, I am free to meet you there at 10:30 a.m. if that time suits you both.” Marguerite tells Kate that that time will be just fine.

  Marguerite, Francis, and Kate meet at the Elm Tree Café and they tell Kate that due to the recent horrifying events and the past attempts on Keith’s life they plan to rent the vacated apartment next door to Keith. (Ms. Seemore notified them that the apartment had been vacated and it is furnished.) Francis says “We want to be near him while he continues to convalesce.”

  Marguerite says to Kate, “As you are probably aware, Keith is rapidly recovering his memory since the ambush yesterday. I am sure that you knew that Keith’s doctor predicted that his type of amnesia would probably end if he suffered another trauma. We did not wish for him to endure another trauma, but we thank God that Keith is recovering mentally and physically. Francis and I feel that we should help Keith get back to work. The right type of therapeutic work will continue to help him fully recover his memory. I am sure you know that prior to the gassing attempt on his life he was setting up an investigative business in Chicago. Raj was handling the details and he tells us that Keith’s office suite is ready, except for a few minor details.”

  The next morning, after an amicable breakfast Kate excuses herself to report to work at the hospital.

  After Kate’s departure Francis looks at his wife and knows that she has been scrutinizing Kate. Francis thinks, “I know for sure now that Marguerite does not like or trust Kate.”

  While having a last cup of decaf coffee, Francis and Marguerite discuss going out for dinner to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Francis says, “If I were feeling better it would be wonderful to drive into Chicago and eat at Morton’s Steak House. Remember we ate there several years ago, and the steaks were delicious.” Marguerite replies with, “Going to Morton’s would be wonderful Francis, but neither of us needs to use up any more energy than necessary to go out tonight. A local steak house will be just fine.”

  Just as Marguerite and Francis had told Kate, Keith’s investigative business is in fact ready to be opened, but Francis and Marguerite along with Keith and his attorney feel there should be plans to possibly, and only possibly, remove the business from Keith’s plans. Keith’s health and safety must be considered above all else. Besides, Keith does not need the money, he is well off, but his mind and body need work, activity. They are all aware that Keith might consider, but will not want to cancel his plans for the investigative office.

  Keith has indicated that instead of terminating his plan for an investigative office, he prefers to hire a manager. If he hires someone competent he will not have to personally manage the business. Keith has previously stated, “I am acquainted
with a young energetic person I have chosen to be named or referred to as d’Artagnan. I want to use code names to secure staff safety and secure case confidentiality. I have already talked with him about working with me in the Chicago investigative business, but d’Artagnan is fully capable of managing the business without any assistance from me. Raj will also enlist his expertise and service for his law firm through Sorrell’s Investigations.”

  Francis, Marguerite and Raj are all concerned that Keith’s keeping the business and being involved as the owner and consultant might still be too much for him physically and mentally.

  Marguerite says to Francis, “We must remember that when the Department of Defense learns of Keith’s memory returning, they will want him to consult with them on his computer war games technology. After all that consultation is in the purchase contract. Raj mentioned this to me in a recent telephone conversation.”

  “Perhaps d’Artagnan can shed some light on who among Keith’s past associates holds a grudge against him that would merit attempted murder. Possibly someone threatened him, and that person will stand out,” Francis interjects.

  Francis continues, “Marguerite, I know that Keith is apprehensive of almost everyone including Katherine Kate.”

  Marguerite replies, “Raj told me that Keith was the sole inventor of his computer games and the DOD application, but there is an ex-coworker that has come to him claiming that Keith stole his ideas. Raj said the man approached him after the publicity of Keith’s inventions hit the internet. The man claims that he and Keith brainstormed together about the computer game possibility while working in Afghanistan; he also vehemently claims that he was cheated, and that Keith owes him a great deal of money and acknowledgement. Raj says the man is evidently unbalanced; he behaves in an irrational manner. He has approached the DOD and been turned away from their offices. Raj plans to have d’Artagnan launch an investigation into this ex-coworker. He says in light of these attempts on Keith’s life we need to know more about him and his whereabouts.”