Blind Retribution

by K. T. Roberts

  “I think we already have someone watching out for us, because the hospital is just ahead. Christ, my heart is pounding like a banshee chicken ready for slaughter.”

  Riley blew out a hefty breath. “We’ll get him, Max. We’ll get him.”

  Max and Riley pulled right up in front of the hospital, where uniforms blocked off the traffic on the main street. The bomb squad was already fast at work checking the hospital. Max hit the brakes, shoved the gearshift into park, and made a beeline for the person in charge.

  “Nothing yet,” the bomb squad leader said. “We’re still looking. Uniforms are guiding workers who were wheeling panicked patients and their relatives outside.”

  “Take it easy, folks,” the officer in charge was saying. “You’re going to be okay. Just relax and we’ll have you out of here in no time.”

  Mrs. Morrison, the administrator, saw Max and approached. “What’s going on, Detective?”

  “We believe Charles Wiggins, an orderly at this hospital, is going to kill someone on the transplant staff.” She took a deep breath.

  “Oh my God. I’m scared to death.” She began pacing in her panicked state, hyperventilating. “Is he coming after me?”

  “I don’t know, but I’d like you to go with my officers for safekeeping until we figure this out.”

  She agreed and latched onto a uniform’s arm. “You think he killed my niece, don’t you?”

  “We aren’t sure yet, but we believe so.” The painful look in her eyes made Max want to hold her tight, but catching the killer was more important.

  “Why her?” Her voice cracked. “I never should have taken this job.” Mrs. Morrison’s hands trembled as she swiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks. “My brother and sister-in-law will never forgive me. I killed my niece.” She screamed. “Why would he do this to me and my family?”

  “Because you run this hospital. In his PTSD state, you’re the enemy, and we believe he went on a killing spree after his daughter died. He learned that the senator’s daughter received the heart intended for his daughter, and he’s blaming anyone who he thinks is responsible.”

  “But I don’t even know him,” she said just before she passed out. Max called out for the medics, who rushed over and lifted the woman onto a gurney and tended to her needs.

  Seeing the fury that Jeffrey Barrett created, Max prayed the man would rot in hell for what he’d done to so many innocent people. Her mind replayed the words: Becky would rest in peace after today. Suddenly realizing the magnitude of that statement, she repeated the words again and gasped. They were in the wrong place. Panicked, she keyed in the lieutenant’s number.

  “Oh my God, Lieutenant. Wiggins doesn’t want to blow up the hospital, he’s after Arianna Stansbury!”

  “Take a deep breath, Max, we’ve got this,” the lieutenant said. “Where is the Stansbury kid now?” he asked in a rush of words.

  Max checked her watch. “I would imagine she’s in school, but I don’t know what school she attends.”

  “Hold on.” She could hear the lieutenant’s fingers hitting the keyboard. “Alexander Robertson School—Upper West Side. I’ll contact the precinct and tell them to evacuate the school and detain Arianna Stansbury.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. If he already has her, it might push him right over the edge. Remember, this is his last deed, and he no longer cares what’s going to happen to him.”

  “Then hurry and get over there before school lets out. You’ll make it,” he encouraged.

  “We’re on our way. Will you call Detectives Lucio and Howe to let them know what’s going on?” Max said and disconnected. Stepping on the gas, she warned Riley, “Hang on tight.”

  Charles Wiggins left his daughter’s gravesite and slid behind the wheel of his car. He cranked up the engine and drove out of the cemetery, noticing several police vehicles heading for the entrance he’d just passed through.

  He sped away and headed for the back roads he knew so well, parking his vehicle just long enough for him to change into a black suit, and then make his way over to the Alexander Robertson School, where he’d spent every afternoon for the last few weeks to determine Arianna Stansbury’s routine.

  “We got ’em, Becky,” he whispered as he pulled up in front of the school and parked next to a limo in the space beside him, checking the plates to make sure he had the right car. When he was certain, he rushed inside the limo on the passenger’s side, surprising the driver.

  “Who the hell are you?” the driver asked in a thick German accent.

  Charles said nothing, but with one swift motion, he placed his hand over the man’s mouth to silence him and pointed the barrel of his gun directly at the man’s heart. The driver’s eyes bulged with surprise.

  “I knew that would get your attention. Now, you listen very carefully, because I’m only going to say this once. You got that?” The driver nodded. “As soon as the school bell rings and the Stansbury child is released, you and I will get out of the car and wait for her. Once she’s in the car, you will get in on the passenger’s side, Edward.” The driver’s eyes opened wider, apparently surprised Charles knew his name. “Let me tell you how this is going to play out,” he said, wielding his gun. “I’m a sharpshooter and have no qualms about using this gun to get what I want. And just in case you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to outfox me when we do get out of the car? Don’t waste your time, because I know where you live on West Forty-Second Street and Tenth Avenue and that your two children, Alex and Mickey, are alone every afternoon until your wife comes home.” Edward’s eyes began blinking rapidly from nerves. “So trust me when I say, I won’t feel an ounce of remorse about killing your entire family. Am I making myself clear?” Edward agreed with a nod.

  Things were silent until the bell rang and sent Charles’s heart booming inside his chest in anticipation of the outcome. The aftereffects of avenging his daughter’s death would be even better, knowing he was fulfilling a promise he’d made to Becky as she lay dying. After today, she would finally rest in peace.

  The students exited out of the front of the building in single file. “I’m going to remove my hand from your mouth now, Edward.” The man released a noise as his head bobbed in agreement. “Good.” Charles gestured toward the door. “Let’s get out of the vehicle nice and easy.”

  The minute Charles spotted Arianna, the pretty little towhead, the fifth one back from the front line talking a mile a minute to the girl next to her, Edward was calling out to her.

  “Hello, Edward,” the headmistress said, “I see you have a companion today.”

  “I’m Charles,” Wiggins said, extending his hand, “and I’ll be filling in for Edward while he’s on vacation the next few weeks.” Edward didn’t say much except to smile and nod, causing Charles’s suspicions to kick in. “Tell her where you’re going, Ed.”

  “Home to Germany to see family.”

  “Well, good for you,” she said, and turned to Arianna. “Do you have everything, Ari?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good, then we’ll see you tomorrow,” she said and turned her attention to someone else.

  Ari? Charles thought. Becky always talked about her friend, Ari.

  “Good-bye, Mrs. Hastings,” the child said, waving to her friend. She latched onto Charles’s and Edward’s hands then skipped along with them. The warmth of her small hand in his confused state had him thinking it was his daughter. He looked down to see her cherub face looking up at him and realized she wasn’t Becky, she was the enemy and she had to be destroyed.

  Edward opened the back door of the limo while Charles stood a few feet away from him waiting for the child to get inside. Once the door was shut, Charles opened the passenger door for Edward. The man did not resist, he simply slid across the seat and stared ahead. Charles glanced his way and noticed him shaking. He liked that. It meant Edward was listening.

  “You look very pretty today, Ari,” Wiggins said to the child.
<
br />   “Thank you. My mommy bought this dress for me to wear for special occasions. She’s away, so I wanted to wear it to remind me of how much I miss her.”

  Hearing the child tell him how much she missed her mother made his heart ache. He knew what that was like. It brought tears to his eyes and made him realize he could not kill this child. Charles looked skyward. “I’m so sorry, Becky. I can’t.”

  “What did you say?” Arianna asked.

  “I’m going to take you home now, sweetie.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Charles.”

  “I’m Mr. Wiggins.”

  “Wiggins? My best friend’s name is Becky Wiggins.” Arianna covered her eyes and he could tell she was crying. “My friend died.” She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Mommy says I’ll see her again someday and that she’s in heaven dancing with the angels and watching over me. I still talk to her in my prayers. Do you think she can hear me?” Charles tried to respond, but the words caught in the back of his throat. “Are you Becky’s daddy?”

  He nodded his head, unable to find his voice. Tears rushed down his cheeks. What was he doing? Flashbacks of Becky talking about her best friend, Ari, made him realize this beautiful little girl was that friend, and maybe those messages he thought his daughter was sending from heaven had nothing to do with hurting anyone. He’d done that all on his own to avenge her death. Visualizing Becky dancing in heaven gave him comfort but had him wondering what she thought of him after so many deaths. He suspected she was plenty mad at him.

  He pulled the gear into drive and stepped on the gas to drive away when a crossing guard signaled for him to stop and roll his window down.

  He retracted his window. “Can I help you?” he asked the woman.

  “I have a book of Arianna’s that one of the moms asked me to return to her,” she said as she handed the book to him. He turned to look over his shoulder as he passed the book to Arianna, when he suddenly felt the cold hard steel of a service weapon against his head.

  “You make one wrong move, Wiggins, and you die where you sit. Do you understand?” Max spoke quietly but emphatically to him. Wiggins nodded his understanding.

  Within seconds the police surrounded the car, Edward was removed, and Riley whisked Arianna from the backseat into the school before she saw what was happening. The sudden rush caused her to cry.

  Max relieved Wiggins of his weapon while he recited his name, rank, and serial number. “Charles Abraham Wiggins, E-7, 195-45-6398.”

  Seeing Charles’ behavior, Max knew he thought he was on the front lines in Afghanistan and had been captured by the enemy.

  “You are under arrest for the abduction of a minor, the abduction of Edward Schubert, and car theft.” Wiggins stared into space and continued to recite his name, rank, and serial number.

  Max slipped her left hand inside the opened window and released the door handle. She kept the gun pointed directly at his head as several officers stood by with their guns aimed at Charles. “Now get out of the car nice and easy, soldier, or I’ll blow your brains out.”

  Charles kept his hands in the air and got out of the car, immediately getting down on his knees. Once he was cuffed and ready for transport, Max yanked him to his feet. Wiggins shouted, “Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” The smug expression on his face would normally have infuriated her, but she knew he was mentally incapacitated.

  “Please deliver Mr. Wiggins to the 51st Precinct for questioning, gentlemen. Thank you,” she said. “Good job, folks.” She turned and headed inside the building to see the child.

  Max blew out a breath, thankful this case was over, and walked into the school searching for the child, who was sitting with an older woman. Max presented her badge to the woman and introduced herself.

  She could barely respond with her own name. Holding her head in her hands, Mrs. Hastings was in a state of panic. “I can’t believe I let Arianna go with that man, but Edward, her normal driver, was right there with him. I never suspected anything could be wrong.” She was visibly upset. “I’ll be fired for this one.”

  “I think what’s more important here, Mrs. Hastings, is Arianna’s well-being, not your job.”

  “Of course. I’m sorry. I’m just so nervous I’m not thinking clearly.”

  Arianna had been crying since Max entered the room. “I want my mommy.”

  Max could feel the lump in her throat as stabbing pains jabbed in her stomach. “Hi, Arianna,” she said, squatting down next to her. “I’m Detective Max, and this nice policeman next to me is Officer Mike. He’s going to stay with you until your grandmother comes to get you. Okay?”

  Shaken, but no longer in a state of panic, Edward rushed over to Arianna. “Are you okay, Wiener Schnitzel?”

  Her mouth cracked into a weak smile. “That man called me Becky, Edward.”

  “I know. He was a little confused.”

  Max felt a heaviness inside her chest, knowing what could have happened to Arianna if the words hadn’t replayed in her mind. “I’m going to leave you now with Edward and Officer Mike. Okay?”

  “Okay. When is my gram coming?”

  “She’s on her way, sweetie.”

  All the way back to the station house, Max couldn’t stop the pain of knowing Arianna would never again live a normal life. When she entered the interview room, Max wanted to lash out at Charles Wiggins, but she knew it was the wrong thing to do.

  “This is Detective Turner,” Riley said. Charles stared blankly as though in the room by himself.

  “Can I get you something, Mr. Wiggins?” she asked. He shook his head negatively.

  Riley motioned for Max to join him away from the suspect. “He seems to be Charles Wiggins, the father, right now. He’s talking about his daughter.”

  “Good to know. Okay,” Max said, “let’s get down to business then. Can you tell me what happened?”

  “My daughter is dead.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Wiggins. How did she die?”

  “They gave the heart my daughter was promised to her best friend.” He began to cry. “I’m not even angry anymore. Ari was my daughter Becky’s friend. I thought Becky was speaking to me from above telling me to kill, but she wasn’t. If she’s watching me, she’s mad. I disappointed her.”

  “Why don’t you tell me in your own words what happened to cause you such pain?”

  Charles told them about the day his daughter died. “I wanted those people to suffer too, but it didn’t make me feel better. I killed Mrs. Barrett. Did you know that?” Max listened while he poured his heart out. “I hadn’t planned to kill her. I wanted to kill Dr. Barrett. He’s the one who killed my Becky, but when a pretty woman came out and got into his fancy car, I figured she was his wife and decided killing her was better because then he was going to feel the pain and suffering I felt. Afterward, I’d heard Dr. Barrett was sleeping with the senator, so I knew he didn’t feel any pain, and that I had actually done him a favor. So I went after the two women who were in command and killed their relatives. I was saving the senator’s daughter for last so my Becky could rest in peace. It’s her birthday today, and I thought killing Ari was my gift to her.” He started to cry again. “I’m a bad person. My sweet little angel is mad at me.”

  “Mr. Wiggins, she might feel a little sad, but she’ll always love you. Can I ask a special favor?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will you please write down everything you’ve just told me and sign it?” Max asked, sliding the tablet over to him. He took the pencil in his hand and began writing, but then suddenly stopped, got off the chair, grabbed Riley’s bottle of water and hid behind one of the steel chairs, holding the bottle like a gun as though ready to fire.

  Sadly, Max recognized what he was doing and pretended to be his commander. “Soldier, hold your fire.”

  “No. The ambush commander gave the signal.” Turning his head to and fro suspiciously, he raised his hand in the air and whispered, “Initiate ambush. I repeat, initiate ambush,” and pointed forward. “Comm
ence ahead.”

  Max watched Charles with tears in her eyes, knowing what he’d felt on the front lines. “At ease, soldier. You did a good job today, E-7, Wiggins. It’s time for your battalion to rest now. It’s been a long day.”

  Charles stood and saluted Max. “Ma’am, yes, ma’am.” Moving his hands behind his back, he spread his legs apart and stared into space.

  Max buzzed for the uniforms. “Please escort our soldier to the van and take him to Bellevue for observation. He suffers from PTSD.” Max looked Charles directly in the eyes but knew she’d lost him to some faraway land.

  Following behind, Riley sighed. “Sometimes this job sucks, you know? All these people suffering heartache because of what two friggin’ selfish people did, greedy for the heart that killed four people. The good news is those two bastards will never have the kind of life they’ve left. But that poor child will have to learn to live without her mother. What a travesty.”

  “Yep. It sucks, all right. I’d like to give Howe and Lucio a heads-up about the results.”

  Detective Howe was sitting at the table in the interview room when Max entered, a disconcerted scowl covering his face. Lucio was the first to greet her.

  “Good job, Max. Everyone in my district is sleeping a little easier tonight.”

  “What I want to know, Detective,” Howe barked, “is why didn’t you call us during the takedown?”

  “Surely you jest. Do you know how close I came to missing him? You know what it’s like in a takedown. You expected me to stop what I was doing and call you?” What she didn’t want to tell him was that she’d asked the lieutenant to call. At least she thought she had.

  “I’ve spent a great deal of time trying to find the killer, and you just wiped out my efforts,” he complained. “Giving me an ‘assist’ status isn’t going to make me any more of a hero in my captain’s eyes.”

  “Perhaps not. But it’s likely to get you a sizeable raise or a promotion. It’s a shame you aren’t more cooperative with your peers. You might just find you have more friends than you ever thought.”