“Yes, they look a little deeper than the ones he inflicted on his victims in L.A.”
“Is that so,” Ava Potter said. “I didn’t know that.”
“Did you happen to test her nasal cavities for ammonia?”
“No, was I supposed to?”
“I think it’s necessary with these deeper wounds she may have passed out before he was finished. He told me in one of his phone calls or letters, I don’t remember which. Anyway, he said he used ammonia inhalants when the victims would pass out.”
“I’ll just take a cotton swab and roll it around in the nose like this and smell it,” Doctor Potter said. “Oh yeah, there’s ammonia in there all right.”
“The deeper stab wounds are why the scene was so bloody, Lucas.”
“I think that’s more than obvious,” Lucas said, “but I appreciate your attempt to be informative.”
“Yeah, no problem,” Elgie said. “Back to the body, there’s the usual deep stab under the navel and the stab through the heart. This is the Butcher’s work alright.”
Lieutenant Alvarez answered his cell phone then knocked on the glass.
“Lieutenant Reynolds!” Lieutenant Alvarez said.
“Yes, what is it, Lieutenant?”
“The Butcher’s been sighted at a hotel in the Tenderloin, that’s what we call downtown.”
“Okay, we’ll be right there,” Elgie said. “Lucas, we’ve gotta go. Doctor Potter, thank you for your hospitality.”
“You’re welcome, come back again,” Doctor Potter said as Elgie and Lucas hurried to meet with Lieutenant Alvarez.
Back in the squad car Lieutenant Alvarez turned on the siren and screeched out into the street and headed for the hotel at the fastest speed possible.
“He’s at a hotel on Mission Street on the fourth floor,” Lieutenant Alvarez said. “He’s trapped, but they haven’t gone in yet because you said in your bulletin that he is most likely armed with his service weapon and may have other guns at his disposal.”
“Yes, that’s right,” Elgie said, “his wife told us that some guns are missing from his home.”
“How far away are we?” Quinn asked from the backseat.
“Less than five minutes,” Lieutenant Alvarez said.
When they arrived at the hotel, they found five squad cars in the street. The officers were evacuating the building. Lieutenant Alvarez led them to the commander of the scene.
“Captain Melville this is Lieutenant Reynolds from Los Angeles and his colleagues. Would you fill them in on the situation?”
“Reynolds, the Butcher is on the fourth floor. We went to the room and ordered him to come out. He refused and said he was armed.”
“Is that when you started the evacuation?”
“Yes, that’s right—as soon as we get the building clear we’re going to call him on the hotel phone and try to talk him out.”
“Are you planning to wait him out or go in after a period of time?” Elgie asked.
“We’re going to wait him out.”
“Is there another way out?”
“No, and he’s on the back side of the hotel facing an alley.”
“Is there a fire escape?”
“Yes, there’s one in the back, but his room’s in the middle of the hallway, and the fire escape is on the end. We have officers on his floor between him and the fire escape.”
“Just remember he was a cop for a long time and has likely picked up some tricks from his arrestees. He may do something unexpected.”
“There’s not much he can do,” Lieutenant Alvarez said. “He’s trapped, and he knows it.”
“Okay, Lieutenant,” Elgie said, “I still think he bears watching. He’s planning a way out.”
“His only way is a shootout, and I doubt he’s suicidal,” Captain Melville said.
“Are you sure he’s in the room?” Quinn asked.
“Yes, we’re sure,” Captain Melville said, “he answered the door and refused to come out. He said he would shoot the first man through the door. That’s when they called for backup.”
Elgie heard some mumbling from the sidewalk. A maid was talking to who he assumed was the desk clerk.
“What did she say?” Elgie asked. “Did you hear her, Quinn?”
“No, I didn’t hear anything. She seems upset, though.”
“I’m going to go over there.”
When he got closer, he heard: “It’s not my fault, Mr. Govier, I don’t want to be charged for it.”
“It’s not up to me if you get charged. That’s up to the management.”
“But you’re part of the management. You’re my supervisor, can’t you tell them it’s not my fault?”
“I’ll tell them, but I can’t promise you anything. Maybe you’ll be able to get them back.”
Elgie went over to speak to the maid.
“Hi, ma’am, I’m Elgie Reynolds, I’m a police officer from Los Angeles. What were you saying wasn’t your fault?”
“All the sheets are missing from my cart, and I don’t know what happened to them. I don’t want them taking the cost of those sheets out of my check.”
“What floor were you on when the sheets came up missing?”
“I was on the fourth floor.”
“When did this happen?”
“Just before the police arrived is when I noticed it. I was in one of the rooms cleaning, and I heard the police coming, and I came out of the room, and all my sheets were gone.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Elgie went back over to the Captain.
“Captain Melville, I think McBean might be going out the back.”
“How’s he going to do that?”
“The maid is missing her sheets. He may have tied them together and gone out of the window while you’re busy evacuating the building.”
“I doubt that, but I’ll have my men check anyway.”
Captain Melville turned to the officer beside him.
“Mangold, who’s the officer in charge on the fourth floor?”
“Sergeant Webster, sir.”
Captain Melville got on his car’s radio.
“Sergeant Webster, this is Captain Melville.”
“What’s going on, Captain?”
“Check to be sure the Butcher is still in the room.”
“He has to be. We’ve been right here. He couldn’t have come past me.”
“Just check.”
“Right, Captain. Hold on, I’ll check.” Sergeant Webster knocked. “There’s no answer, sir. I knocked then called out for him, and there was no response.”
“Mangold, go check the alley.”
“What am I looking for in the alley?”
“You’ll know it if you see it.”
Mangold ran around the corner to the alley, ran to the other end and looked down the street, then got out his radio.
“Captain, there’s a rope made of sheets tied together. There’s no sign of the Butcher.”
“Sergeant Webster,” Captain Melville said.
“Yes, Captain.”
“I’m going to have the key sent up to you, I want you to open that room.”
“Right, Captain.”
Mangold got the passkey from the desk clerk, ran up to the fourth floor, and gave the key to Sergeant Webster. Webster opened the room door, stood back behind the door frame, then cautiously entered with two other officers. They checked the bathroom, closet, even under the bed. Sergeant Webster got on his radio.
“Captain, he’s not in here. He’s gone, sir.”
Just as this word came through, the media showed up. They had to fess up, the Butcher was gone. He had managed to get past a group of officers who were supposed to have the hotel surrounded. The Butcher was on the loose.
“Lieutenant Alvarez, can you have a lot of flyers printed up to distribute to the bars and nightclubs in the city?” Elgie asked.
“Sure, what did you have in mind?”
“I’d like to have every bouncer or doorma
n at every bar in San Francisco to have a flyer. If they don’t have a bouncer, make sure every bartender and barmaid has one. Get them out to prostitutes as well. Can you do that?”
“I’ll try. I’ll have to take this request to my captain and see what he has to say.”
“That’ll be great.”
“Are you ready to go to your hotel now?” Lieutenant Alvarez asked.
“Yes, we are definitely ready to get cleaned up.” Elgie turned to face his partners in the back seat. “Are you guys ready to go to the hotel?”
“Yeah, Boss, I’ve been ready,” Quinn said.
“I agree, it’s an adequate time to refresh and prepare for this evening.”
“Lucas,” Elgie said, “do you think there’s a good chance we’ll catch him tonight?”
“Yes, I believe he’ll be eager to kill again. Perhaps too eager to be as attentive to detail as he has in his previous endeavors. I have no doubt that he’ll attempt to acquire as many victims as physically possible before he is apprehended.”
“I agree with Lucas,” Quinn said. “I’m sure he knows he’s gonna get caught soon. He wants to go out in a blaze of glory.”
“I agree,” Elgie said, “but I’m not sure about a blaze of glory. He doesn’t want to shoot it out with the police. He wants to be able to bask in his infamy. He wants everyone to know how successful he’s been. I think he’s still trying to reach his goal of fifty kills.
“To that end, he won’t be in San Francisco long. He’ll move on to another city, and when we catch up with him there, then he’ll move on to the next city and move on every time his location is known. We’ll have to catch him while he’s still in San Francisco. If we miss him here, there’s no telling where or when he’ll resurface.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
While they were on the elevator at their hotel, Quinn asked Elgie about his arm.
“Boss, how’s the arm? Is the brace working for you, or do you need to put the sling back on?”
“No, I’m fine with the brace. I can move around a little with the brace.”
“If the Butcher tries to fight it out, I’ll take him on, you just sit back. You can’t handle him with that arm.”
“I have no intention of being a hero here, I’m just trying to catch him with as little violence as possible. However, if he comes at me, I’ll handle it. If I’m in over my head, you can step in.”
“Pretty cool, Boss,” Quinn said. “You’ve learned how to relax and let others do their thing when you need it—pretty cool. Most men wouldn’t wanna accept help in a fight from a woman.”
“Thanks, Quinn,” Elgie said. “I’m not trying to be macho about the thing, but I think I should face him. But again, if you see I’m in trouble, please feel free to pitch in.”
“What about me, Lieutenant?” Lucas asked. “I think I can be of service if such a thing occurred.”
“I’m sure you can, Lucas,” Elgie said, “but you’re the brains of the outfit. We don’t need you getting banged up if we can help it. I’m sure if the need arises and you must use violence, I’m sure you’ll rise to the occasion.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence, Lieutenant.”
The three got showered and shaved and relaxed for the rest of the day then hit the road with Lieutenant Alvarez to make the rounds to the clubs in San Francisco. By that time, the fog had rolled in, and the wind was blowing cold from the air over the bay.
All of the clubs had the flyers, and so did the prostitutes. Elgie and company were just going from club to club checking in with the bouncers. Around midnight there was a call on Lieutenant Alvarez’s cell.
“Hello, this is Lieutenant Alvarez.”
“Alvarez, this is Captain Melville. The Butcher’s been spotted in the Hideout on Mission. The bouncer let him in the bar and then called us. We’re on our way there, are you and the L.A. detectives in?”
“Yes, sir, we’re on the way.”
“Good, the bouncer’s name is Gerald Marsh. He’s expecting us. If you get there before us go in and get him. I don’t want to give him the chance to get away again.”
Lieutenant Alvarez made a U-turn and sped up to head to the Hideaway.
“Lieutenant Reynolds the Butcher’s been spotted. We’re on our way there now.”
When they arrived at the Hideout, they found that they had reached the bar before the Captain. They stopped to talk to the bouncer.
“Marsh, is he still inside?” Lieutenant Alvarez asked.
“Yes, he’s at that table in the back.”
The four headed to the back of the club working their way through the crowd on the dance floor. McBean spotted them and ran out of the emergency exit in the rear. The loud alarm went off. The four had only gotten to the middle of the club.
“Go after him,” Lieutenant Alvarez said. “I’ll go around the back and cut him off. You just flush him out.”
“Right, Lieutenant,” Elgie said.
Elgie, Quinn, and Lucas ran out of the backdoor into the alley and the dense fog. Elgie was first through the door and was struck on his right shoulder with what he only knew was a blunt object. He quickly realized McBean had waited for them to come out of the door. As Elgie fell to the ground, he could see that McBean had a three-foot two-by-four in his hands. He probably got it from the construction site across the alley. McBean started toward Elgie with the board and lifted it over his head to strike him. Quinn came up behind McBean and grabbed the board before he could swing it at Elgie again. Elgie quickly got on his feet.
“Okay, Quinn, I’ve got it from here.”
“Just trying to even the odds, Boss.”
“Right, I’d like you to take my gun and coat, Lucas and Quinn keep your gun handy. If McBean tries anything funny shoot him.”
“Of course, Lieutenant,” Lucas said
Quinn removed her gun from its holster and held it in her hand by her leg. “My gun is ready, Boss.”
Since Elgie couldn’t depend on his right arm for more than maybe one punch before the shoulder failed, he attacked McBean with left jabs. He squared off with his right side away from McBean.
The weather was also throwing him off. The fog was so dense he could barely see McBean’s silhouette, but the cold kept him sharp. He tried to listen for McBean, but the alarm from the emergency exit was still going off. Finally, they got it turned off just in time for Elgie to hear McBean coming towards him. Elgie decided to stand his ground and wait for McBean to get into striking range. On second thought he decided to taunt him a bit. They exchanged taunts while they were still far enough away from each other to see well enough to swing.
“Okay McButcher,” Elgie said, “you’re caught, and the SFPD will be here in a minute. Why don’t you give yourself up?”
“McButcher?” McBean said. “I like that, mind if I use it? Never mind it sort of sounds like a person that slaughters cows for McDonald’s. Anyway, I’m not going to give up when I can still beat you just this once before you and your crew take me back to Los Angeles. I want to give you a parting gift. I don’t want you going away empty-handed.”
“I don’t plan to. This is not when you snuck into my house or attacked Michelle in an alley. Even with an arm that you injured, I’ll still kick your ass.”
Elgie got into his stance with his right guarded using left jabs to hold off McBean once he broke his way through the fog and Elgie could see him clearly. All he had to do was keep him off of him until he got a good shot. Just as Elgie was thinking about his strategy, McBean caught him on the right side of his head with a left hook. He knocked Elgie off balance. Elgie managed not to go down.
“You want me to take over, Boss?”
“No, Quinn, I’ve got this.”
Elgie again positioned himself to guard his right and moved back into the fog. Because he couldn’t block with his right arm, he decided he would have to duck the oncoming blows. The fog would force McBean to telegraph his punches. They would be easy to see coming. McBean swung on Elgie. He came
for Elgie’s right jaw. Elgie managed to bob and weave his way away from the punch. Then he backed up into the fog.
Elgie thought he had taken all the punishment he was going to take from this man. He had to use his right. Elgie stood his ground as McBean came at him. Elgie leaned back. Drew back his right fist. And quickly planted a hit to McBean’s left jaw. McBean dropped to one knee. He got right back up. McBean charged Elgie. Took him off his feet with a tackle. Elgie landed on the asphalt hard. McBean was on top of him. McBean began pounding Elgie’s face. Elgie reached across his body with his left and brought it back across McBean’s head, knocking him onto the asphalt Elgie quickly got back on his feet. McBean followed suit. Elgie backed up into the fog.
He stood facing McBean again and decided now was the time to put an end to the fight. Elgie again used jabs to keep McBean off of him as he came through the fog. When he didn’t expect it, Elgie caught McBean with a right hook to his eye. The eye swelled shut immediately. Elgie thought that should take some of the fight out of him. It didn’t. McBean fired a volley of fists at Elgie, mostly body blows. Elgie could tolerate those. Although his right shoulder hurt like someone had taken a hot poker and stuck it into his wound. Fueled by adrenaline Elgie fought on.
McBean had backed Elgie up to the wall of the club. He began striking Elgie with full force to his middle. Elgie quickly moved to his right and got away from McBean’s attack and back into the fog. Once out into the empty alley, Elgie took his right foot back and brought it forward with full force like a placekicker kicking a field goal. Elgie struck his mark. Kicked McBean in the shin.
McBean bent over. Elgie took his disabled right arm and caught McBean with an uppercut to the mouth. When he came up, Elgie planted a right hook to McBean’s jaw. Then hit McBean in the left eye. McBean went down and got up again.
Elgie was thinking about McBean’s attacks, and that fueled him to end the battle. Elgie drew back and hit McBean in the left jaw again as he emerged from the fog. Then Elgie stuck the side of McBean’s nose breaking it. McBean attempted a right hook that Elgie blocked with his left and returned another blow to McBean’s left jaw breaking it. McBean went down and stayed down.
Tracking the Butcher Page 25