All In A Day's Work

by Gary Resnikoff

  “I’ve got some topical cream to help with pain,” she said.

  “Later,” he said. He knew he would be stiff and sore in the morning, but for now, he was feeling better. “What about your knees?”

  “Not too bad.”

  “Let me clean it up for you.” He got down on his knees and poured some alcohol on a towel, then gently dabbed at the wound. She winced but didn’t pull away. When he was satisfied with his work, he put Band-Aids over the cuts and kissed them. “My mom used to kiss my wounds when I was little. She said it made them heal quicker.”

  “Hmm. Is that so?” said Tina. “Are you suggesting that I have to kiss all your bruises, too?”

  “Of course. I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Except… you have so many.” She winked at him, and a smile grew on her face. “This could take all night,” she said as she gently guided him back onto the couch. “Lay down and let me take care of you.”

  He took another drink of wine and did as she asked. The fight was quickly becoming a distant memory.

  She kissed his stomach, where a black-and-blue mark was still growing. “Does it still hurt?”

  “It does,” he lied. “Kiss it again.”

  They played this game for the next hour, made love while Van Morrison sang love songs on the radio and fell asleep together. In the morning they made love again as if it might be their last time.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Talk doesn't cook rice.”

  —Proverb

  “And 'tis remarkable that they talk most who have the least to say.”

  —Matthew Prior

  “Good morning, Denver, you’re listening to Talk About Denver on KCCR—675 on your radio dial. I’m Red Sloan. We’ve got a lot to talk about today, so let’s get started.

  “A few days ago, we started talking about the murder of Lane Stevens. He was a well-known figure among the jet set in Denver, and some of you shared your thoughts with us, ranging from ‘good riddance’ to ‘murder is always bad’. Fascinating discussions, to say the least. We took an informal poll of our callers—both online and on the air—and I’m happy to report that the majority of you expressed concern about murder, regardless of crime. And certainly, stealing money wasn’t grounds for capital punishment.

  “And here’s the part that surprised me: A fair amount of you thought the guy got what he deserved and felt that if we had stiffer punishments, we’d have fewer crimes.

  “That’s how you all felt when there was one murder, but now, the admitted perpetrators, the Revengers, have struck again and again. If my math is correct, the Revengers have now struck five times. Of course, the way this duo is striking, we could have two more tonight.

  “I’ve been in touch with my inside sources, and they tell me the police have nothing. No suspects, and hardly any evidence to help them track down the killers. Can you imagine? These guys are so good that they don’t leave any clues. Absolutely nothing. No DNA.”

  Red paused long enough to play a sound bite from the old “Dragnet” theme song.

  “Our police force is flailing about blindly while these killers strike with impunity. And from what I hear, each murder is creative and extremely brutal. How is this possible? I’ve been told by forensics experts that it is nearly impossible to have a perfectly clean crime scene. Or—I hate to bring this up—but is our police department incompetent? You tell me. I don’t know, but I’m getting nervous, and if the officials can’t get it done, then maybe it’s time for a new mayor and police chief. By the way, rumor has it that they were clients of Lane Stevens. I kid you not. This shit just keeps getting stranger by the moment.

  “So, who are these vigilante killers? And how soon before they hit people besides sketchy businessmen? Nice that they are selective right now, but how long will that last? And another question is: Why are all their victims coming from the Consumer Champion show? As you can see, we have lots of questions, and we’ll take your calls shortly, but before we do, I want to introduce you to my guest, Larry Fox. Larry is an ex-homicide cop from LA with over twenty years of experience. He had the distinction of working on a couple of serial killer investigations in that time. Larry, thanks for coming on the show today.”

  “Thanks for having me, Red.”

  “Larry, before we open the line for some callers, what do you make of the situation here?”

  “Keep in mind, I’m not on the force anymore and don’t have access to any real evidence, and I don’t have any contacts within the Denver Homicide Department. So, regarding the details of the case, all I know is what I’ve read in the paper, and what I hear on network news.”

  “Okay. Understood. From your experience, what can you tell us about serial killers and how the police might go about apprehending them?”

  “No two serial killer cases are alike. We never were able to actually identify the motive until after they were caught. Just too many variables to consider. The police and the FBI do try to create a profile that helps them track down the killers, but it’s guesswork. Now, in the case of the Revengers, they are leaving notes, admitting their complicity. They are even going so far as to warn the public that if they are involved in shady business deals, they might become a victim, too. But I have to tell you that the investigators may or may not believe that at this point.”

  “What do you mean, Larry? The notes explain why they are killing these people.”

  “Well, it’s possible that the killers wanted to confuse the investigation. Let’s say you wanted to kill someone you had ties to, but you wanted to make sure you weren’t a suspect. You might create a story about vigilante justice. You kill a few more people, and you leave notes that can’t possibly lead back to you. In other words, the intended victim is mixed in with a bunch of red herrings.”

  “Could the fact that they are only targeting people who have been talked about by Bob Jackson on the Consumer Champion be this red herring?”

  “It’s possible. It sure has the community worked up. I heard that the show has been suspended for an indefinite period. If the killer wanted to hide in the weeds, this is perfect. I’m sure the homicide detectives on the case are keeping that as a possibility, rather than just focusing on a serial killer picking people at random.”

  “But that seems far-fetched to me. Like something out of a TV crime show. To emulate a serial killer to hide one murder seems so outrageous. And if so, why so many murders? Wouldn’t you accomplish the same thing with two or three murders? With each subsequent murder, the likelihood of making a mistake and leaving clues increases. They could just stop now and disappear.”

  “Sure. If they are just trying to hide one murder, that would be smart. If, on the other hand, they are true serial killers, they won’t stop until they’re caught.”

  “Does it matter that each murder was done in a different manner?”

  “No, it doesn’t. Most serial killers resort to the same method or MO for their crimes but not always. In this case, the killers are using different methods to kill their victims, but they’re leaving enough clues for the police to conclude that it’s the same killers in each case. They want us to know that these are all their work. I would guess that the police also have some evidence they aren’t sharing that ties all these together. That way, if there are some copycats, they won’t confuse the police.”

  “Are the people of Denver safe? Should we be carrying guns?”

  “Good questions.” Larry let out a short laugh. “I’m not sure I would recommend that everyone go out and buy a gun just yet. The police certainly wouldn’t want to see that. If the killers stay true to form, then they will continue to select victims from the same category and background. For example, many serial killers in the past have targeted prostitutes or homosexual men. They have some deep-seeded psychological problem, and they take out their hatred or aggression on some group they think is evil or in some way to blame for their problems. The killers targeting Denver right now seem to have a problem with contractors. To be more sp
ecific, contractors with a poor track record. What is even more odd is that they were all discussed on the Consumer Champion show. Why? They probably had some bad experience with contractors, and it drove them over the top. But, on the other hand, if this was an elaborate scheme to hide a specific murder, they will likely stop soon anyway.”

  “Not sure that’s all that comforting,” snorted Red. “In the meantime, does this mean all contractors in Denver are at risk?”

  “Not exactly. But if you’re a contractor with a number of unresolved complaints, you may, in fact, be a potential target. I would suggest they take extra precautions until the killers are apprehended.”

  “But complaints are sometimes bogus. Sometimes, people complain about a contractor and it was unfair.”

  “Don’t know what to say about that.”

  Red rolled his eyes. This guy wasn’t helping much. “So, are the rest of us safe from the Revengers?”

  “Hard to say, really. If it really is a serial killer, you need to know that they have been known to change and could suddenly target a different type of person. Serial killers are sick, and although we can put together personality profiles and anticipate their moves, we are often wrong.”

  “Great,” said Red sardonically. “Let’s get back to the investigation side of things. If what we read is true, and the police really don’t have any clues or suspects, how do they go about finding the Revengers?”

  “It’s tough. The police will be going through each crime scene, looking for anything that might link them together. In addition to the obvious—like fingerprints—the police will look for any hair or bodily fluids that the killers might have left behind. It’s even possible that the notes left behind might hold some clues.”

  “What about the notes? I think I remember reading about how typewriters are so unique that no two are alike.”

  “That’s old stuff. Probably an old movie you saw. These days, everyone uses computer processors and mass-produced printers. I would guess that the notes—if they don’t have fingerprints or hair fibers on them—aren’t going to be much help.”

  “So, where does that leave us?”

  “The police will probably bring in a profiler—possibly from the FBI—to see if they can get more insight into what type of people these are, and what makes them tick.”

  “Doesn’t sound like much.”

  “You’d be surprised. They’ll also look at various individuals who have a motive to kill the victims. I’m sure the police are interviewing every customer who did business with any of the victims.”

  “As I understand it, if you take all the people that these guys allegedly ripped off, that could be dozens or hundreds of suspects.”

  “True. But as you start to interview each of them, many will get ruled out very quickly for a variety of reasons. Hopefully, the investigators will find a few who have a possible link to more than one of the victims. Match them against the profile, and the police might get lucky. In any case, it’s usually a long and drawn-out process.”

  “Sounds like finding a needle in a haystack.”

  “Small needle in a very large haystack. But keep this in mind: Most criminals make mistakes and will leave a clue they didn’t intend to. When this happens, the police will be right there. In a serial killer situation, it’s only a matter of time before the police have enough evidence to point to the killer. No one is that good. And the Revengers are leaving notes for a reason. They’re toying with the police and public for now, but it’s also possible that deep down, they want to get caught.”

  “What are the chances that the police may never catch the killers?”

  “I think it’s too soon to talk like that. But, there are some cases that have gone on for years before the killer made a mistake and got caught.”

  “Okay, let’s take a quick break and take some calls from our listeners.”

  After a few commercials, they returned to the air.

  “Okay, let’s take some calls from our listeners. Joel in Denver, you’re on. What’s your question or comment?”

  “Thanks for taking my call. These guys have already killed four or five people that we know of. You make it sound like this could go on for months before the police catch them. What are we supposed to do in the meantime?”

  “I had the same question, Joel. Larry, what do we do while the police struggle?”

  “Guys, you have to have faith in the ability of the police to track these guys down. We really don’t have any other choice. As I mentioned before, they seem to be targeting certain types of people, which would leave most of us in Denver out of harm’s way. I think this is evidenced by the fact that in at least two of the murders, the murderers spared the life of the spouse. But, to answer your question, lock your doors and windows. Be vigilant. The police always say that if you see something suspicious, say something. The police need the community’s help.”

  “On the last show,” said Red, “we had a number of callers who actually thought the killers were doing some kind of community service. When the Chronicle—or maybe it was the Tribune—named them the Vigilante Killers, it almost sounded like they were praising them. What are your thoughts on that, Larry?”

  “That’s just sick. These killers think they have some justification for this, but it’s contemptible. They make up reasons for their actions to absolve them of any guilt. Anyone out there who condones this behavior is as sick as the killers are. Even hardened criminals deserve their day in court, and we’re talking about civil disputes. We can’t go back to the wild West to settle disputes.”

  “Some of our callers think retribution is a good thing.”

  “That’s for the law to decide. These killers are deranged. Vigilante justice died years ago. Let’s not bring it back. And who really thinks that punishment by murder fits the crime of larceny?”

  “Let’s take another caller,” said Red. “Natalie in Arvada, what are your thoughts?”

  “I’m more scared now, listening to your guest, than I was before. The paper made the Revengers out to be murderers on a mission to rid Denver of unscrupulous businessmen. Now, you say they can change their MO? The police need to do something fast.”

  “They are doing what they can, Natalie,” replied Larry, trying to defend the police. “But no one is really safe when there is a serial killer loose on the streets,” Larry admitted.

  “I bet gun sales are already going up,” joked Red.

  “Increased gun sales are always a reaction to this kind of thing,” said Larry.

  “I heard from some of my friends on the force that there have already been five people who have confessed to the murders,” said Red.

  “I hadn’t heard that,” replied Larry. “But it’s pretty common. Most confessions on high-profile cases like this are dismissed as cranks. The more the press covers the story, the more likely we will have fake confessions and copycats. I’m surprised there aren’t more. But, this all just makes it tougher on the police.”

  Red took another advertising break and resumed a few minutes later.

  “Hello, Denver. We’re back on the air now, and if you just joined us, you are listening to the Talk About Denver Show, and I’m Red Sloan, your host. We’ve been talking to Larry Fox, a retired homicide detective with over 30 years of experience. Our topic today has been the rash of murders attributed to the serial killers who have dubbed themselves ‘the Revengers’. Red has been bringing us up to date on the profile of serial killers in general. The other thing that has people worked up are all the articles in the newspapers and social media suggesting that there might be a connection between the murder victims and the Consumer Champion Show. At the very least, they’re suggesting that the killers are selecting their victims based on contractors who have been targeted on the show. But some are going so far as to suspect the host of the show, Bob Jackson, as possibly being one of the Revengers, or being in touch with them. Seems far-fetched, but this is the age of fake news. Larry, let’s talk more about the serial killers. W
hat can you tell us about serial killers?”

  “It wasn’t my specialty, thankfully. But I did work on some, and I have studied the subject a little. If you look back in just this past century, we’ve had some horrific cases—like Henry Lee Lucas, for example. Henry killed about three-hundred-and-sixty people before he was apprehended. This was about twenty years ago. When the police arrested him, he admitted to the crimes and led them to over two-hundred murder sites. Another prolific murderer was Donald Henry. He was responsible for somewhere between one-hundred and two-hundred murders. We really don’t know for sure.”

  “Holy crap,” exclaimed Red. “I had no idea anyone could kill so many people before getting caught. Except a mass murderer, like Hitler.”

  “By the way, Red, the difference between a serial killer and a mass murderer is that a serial killer kills a number of people over a period of time, whereas a mass murderer kills them all in one event.”

  “Oh. I didn’t know that.”

  “You have no doubt heard about some of the more recent serial killers, like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and David Berkowitz, also known as the Son of Sam. Then, there was Ed Gein. He was the inspiration for Silence of the Lambs.”

  “This is sounding much more common than I imagined. Silence of the Lambs was based on a real person?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. He was real.”

  “So, the killer or killers running around Denver right now could kill hundreds of people before the police catch them?”

  “It is possible, but I have to say that the police have more tools at their disposal now than they did in the past. Forensic science keeps improving. Evidence is easier to obtain. I have confidence that the police will apprehend the killers before they come close to the numbers attained by the other serial killers I mentioned.”

  “Are you aware of any case in which the killer got his ideas on who to kill from a radio show?” asked Red.