Reaching into the cargo area of the vehicle, Jeramiah pulled out a tire iron. He looked around the parking lot for any possible witnesses, and when he was sure no one was looking, he brought the tire iron down onto Jennifer’s head. Her body went limp onto the seat.
Jeramiah then threw the weapon back where he had taken it from before pushing her into the floorboard and shutting the door. He then walked around the back of the SUV, climbed behind the wheel, started the engine, and then slowly pulled out of the parking lot.
***
“Here we are, Jaxson,” Axel said as the two of them finally found their way to the hidden security office.
Jaxson knocked on the door and waited for an answer. Axel looked around the hallway and then down at his feet, where he saw the familiar red liquid that oozed from under the door.
“Move Jaxson!” Axel whispered urgently, pointing at his shoes.
Axel grabbed the handle with his left hand and with his right hand, he pulled his gun from his holster. Jaxson immediately followed Axel’s lead and drew his own gun from his side. The two prepared themselves as Axel opened the door slowly. Covering the door, Jaxson watched as the experienced detective entered the room.
After ensuring the office was clear, Axel bent down and checked for a pulse in Jay’s neck. His body was still and getting cold. He knew before he reached down that the man was dead.
“Is he alive?” Jaxson asked from the doorway, where he was still covering the two of them from any possible surprises.
“No,” Axel answered and then stepped back over his previous footsteps as he exited the room. He then pulled his cell phone out and called dispatch as he holstered his weapon.
“This is Detective Frost. I need Lt. Wilson and CSI Ken Beck to respond with his team to the mall. I have a homicide and need a perimeter set up with marked units.”
Jaxson walked out of the hallway toward the security entrance of the building following some blood-stained footprints. He slowly opened the door and found a cart next to the sidewalk that led to the parking lot. A box lay open on its side. He turned and looked at Axel who had just gotten off the phone.
“We just missed him,” Jaxson said.
***
“Jennifer! Are you alive back there? I need you to answer some questions for me,” Jeramiah said as he reached back behind him and lifted up the blanket that he had placed over her head.
With his hand under the blanket, he ran it over her breast slowly and down to her crotch. After a few moments, he felt for her face. He placed his hand over her mouth and felt for the movement of air.
“I knew you were a tough one,” Jeramiah acknowledged as he turned the radio up and then started to move his head to the beat of the music. He merged onto I-25 and made his way toward the woods of Rampart Range. He thought the area in and around the National Forest would provide him the privacy that he wanted with Jennifer.
***
It’s dark, Jennifer thought to herself after she had awoken.
She was afraid to move, and she forced herself to ignore the pain in her head. She decided to wait for the right moment to make an attempt at a getaway. The timing had to be right because she knew that she was in no condition to fight a good fight.
“Jennifer; are you awake back there?” Jeramiah asked.
Deciding it was best not to answer, she remained silent. She could hear the music and felt the seat in front of her. She kept still and began to think about her situation. She knew that she was in the backseat of some car. She knew her attacker, DJ Thompson, the police officer she had worked with numerous times in the past was her kidnapper and the Pikes Peak Killer. He had always been so friendly to her and helpful.
Why’s he doing this? She thought to herself. Maybe I’m dreaming!
She hoped that she would soon wake up and find herself in her home, in her bed, safe and sound.
Jeramiah was in a hurry as he drove through Ute Pass, which would eventually bring him to the small town of Woodland Park. From there, it was just a short drive, and he would be in the National Forest where he could be alone with Jennifer.
Jeramiah hoped that he had not hurt her too badly. After all, she needed to tell him if there were any more copies of the security images or video, he would need to retrieve.
Jeramiah raced his black SUV through the mountain curves, passing slower traffic. He wasn’t ready for the police car that pulled up behind him with his lights flashing. Jeramiah looked for a secluded road to turn onto just as the police cruiser inched closer. Jeramiah tilted his rear-view mirror down and viewed his passenger under the blanket.
She’s still unconscious, he thought.
He then reached for his gun on his hip and removed it from the holster and placed it in his lap.
***
“What’ve we got Axel?” Beck asked as he walked up carrying his bag.
“One dead body in here. There are footprints around the body in the blood. I think there could be other evidence,” Axel explained.
“This is really messy, Axel. Something happened here other than killing this guy,” Beck explained as he surveyed the room and the bloody footprints that led down the hallway and out to the parking lot.
“Yeah, I think we or someone else surprised him,” Jaxson added.
“You think he was looking for something?” Beck asked the two.
“I think we have one of the three people who were in this room when this all went down,” Axel answered.
“I agree. Look over there in the far corner. There’s a partial footprint. It’s smaller than the others, and it doesn't match this guy. I think three people were in here, and I think the third person, a woman, was carried out,” Jaxson explained.
“I agree, Jaxson,” Beck said as he nodded in agreement.
“PPK may have another victim with him. Beck I need you and your team to get in this room, and see if there is anything on those cameras or the hard drive,” Axel ordered.
“I’ll get on it right away.”
Beck began to take photos of the scene after giving orders to his team.
“Axel, what do you think we got?” Lt. Wilson asked as he walked up to Axel and Jaxson.
“Our guy was here today,” Axel admitted.
“Why was he here?” Wilson asked.
“We think he was after something. We're waiting for Beck to finish up and to let us know if there is something on the computer security recorder. I don’t believe we're going to find anything. He came here for something, and he may have left with it,” Axel confessed.
“Why?” Wilson asked.
“Jaxson and I came here after I got a message on my voicemail from Jennifer Walters. She said that she had a video recording of the killer in the parking lot with Tammy Johnson. When we got here, this is what we found,” Axel explained as he pointed to the body on the floor.
“What else?”
“I think the smaller footprint belongs to Jennifer Walters and I think he took her with him. The scene indicates that there were more than two people inside the security office. I bet he came here to get that video,” Jaxson explained.
“Guys I’m sorry, but I can’t picture this guy coming by now and trying to get the video. I mean, why didn’t he come by earlier after the murder of Tammy Johnson? Why did he wait a couple of days?” Wilson asked of the two men.
“I spoke to the store manager while we waited for Beck. Jennifer has been on vacation for a couple of days, and she has the password and access to the security footage. If the killer knew it, then he waited until she came back to work to try and get the video recordings,” Axel advised.
***
Jeramiah turned off the main road onto a private driveway leading to a vacant home. He made sure that he pulled up far enough so that he and the police cruiser were out of sight of the passing cars. The police cruiser stopped close behind him with its red and blue lights still flashing in Jeramiah’s rearview mirror. He gripped the pistol tightly in his right hand and waited for the officer to approac
h. As he waited, he thought that he heard his passenger stirring in the backseat, but there wasn’t enough time to attend to her before the officer was at his window. Jeramiah watched his side-view mirror as the unsuspecting Manitou Springs Police Officer approached his vehicle.
“Good afternoon,” Officer Daniels said before he saw the flash of light. He fell backward onto the ground. The bullet struck him in his right eye and then exited the top of his skull to the left.
Jeramiah, without looking down at Officer Daniels, placed the gun back in his lap, turned the wheels to the left, and pulled back out onto the main road. His heart was racing. He looked to the front and to the rear for other police cars that he knew were surely on the way.
He pressed hard on the accelerator creating distance between him and the driveway where Officer Daniels lay dead. He ran his right hand through his hair and began to realize that he was passing other vehicles at an incredible speed. He looked to the right and signaled for the lane change. When he finally calmed down and slowed his vehicle to the speed limit, he reached behind the seat and once again felt for his sleeping passenger. Once he was satisfied that she was still unconscious, he turned his attention back to the road.
Jennifer had felt the car stop. She heard a man’s voice, and then she heard the loud gunshot. She was frightened, and she didn’t dare move even when Jeramiah reached back and felt for her.
As he approached the town of Woodland Park, Jeramiah saw the flashing red and blue lights of a Colorado State Patrol cruiser pass him going in the opposite direction down the Pass. When he reached the Rampart Range turn off, Jeramiah signaled right and turned off the main highway once again.
Chapter 30
“Hello, stranger.”
Axel turned and saw Amanda approaching. Her crew was behind her near the van unpacking their equipment. She was wearing a beige top with a matching skirt that was about two inches above her knees. Amanda smiled as she moved in closer to the detective.
“Have I been reduced to being a stranger?” Axel asked jokingly.
“Well, I haven’t seen you in a few hours.”
Axel and Amanda stood looking at one another in the parking lot. He could smell her perfume when the wind shifted. He wanted to take her into his arms but knew he could not. He knew they needed to be professional in front of other people.
Amanda also enjoyed the moment as she admired how her new friend looked in his suit. She was still looking him up and down when she noticed the blood on his shoes. Amanda walked closer and extended her hand. She also knew how the two should act in front of others. The two shook hands and smiled at each other.
“Is that blood on your shoes?” She asked quietly.
“Yes, it is.”
“Are you okay?” She asked, still shaking his hand.
Axel did nothing to pull his hand away from Amanda as she held it in hers.
“Yes. I’m fine, babe,” Axel answered before thinking.
“Okay, then. The reporter has to make an appearance now,” Amanda responded. Amanda heard him say ‘babe' and it made her feel good.
“Detective Frost is there anything you can share with the citizens of Colorado Springs about what occurred here today?” Amanda asked professionally.
Axel stood straighter and smiled. He knew that she had a job to do, and he did too.
“I’ll be prepared to give a statement to the media in about five minutes. If you can have your equipment set up over by the front entrance of the mall with the other news channels, I’ll come over in a few minutes and answer the questions that I can.”
“Thank you,” the reporter replied as her cameraman walked over toward the mall entrance to set up his equipment.
“Now, are you and I still on for dinner tonight?” Amanda asked without missing a beat.
“Yes. If I get done with all of this in time,” Axel answered.
“I’ll call you later if that’s all right.”
“That’ll be great,” Axel answered.
Amanda smiled and extended her hand once more, placing it inside of his. When she began to walk away, Axel held her hand firmly and stopped her. She paused and looked back at him.
“I just wanted to say that you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Amanda smiled and blushed.
“Thank you.”
The two separated and went back to their own people. It was as if two captains from different teams had just met on neutral ground and discussed the ground rules. Each had a mutual understanding and respect for the other’s position.
“Beck was just telling me about what he found in the office,” Jaxson said as Axel walked up.
“You guys were right. There were three people inside the room when the man was killed. I think someone was picked up off the floor and dragged outside. The box over here has blood inside of it. I had my computer forensics technician take a quick look at the computer and video recording equipment. Someone deleted some video files and then shut all the cameras down.”
“So, there is no video evidence of anything?” Axel asked.
“No. Not unless he took it with him on a thumb drive. And that’s a possibility. There was a cover to a thumb drive on the desk next to the screen but no drive.”
“Damn! Jennifer had something on this guy,” Axel said in frustration.
“The killer was sloppy on this one. I found a bloody fingerprint on the phone. I think your guy was surprised by the dead security officer,” Beck explained.
“Do we know who the dead man is?” Jaxson asked.
“Yes. The store manager came in and identified him as one of the security officers here. He also said that Jennifer, the security supervisor was also in the building today,” Beck further explained.
“I think we’ve got to assume that the other two people in the room were PPK and Jennifer,” Jaxson added.
“I agree.” Axel acknowledged.
“Do you think she’s dead?” Beck asked.
“No,” Axel answered quickly.
“If she were dead, he would’ve left her here. He took her with him, and he had a reason. We need to find this guy now,” Jaxson added.
“Axel, the media is ready for you,” Lt. Wilson said as he walked up.
“All right.”
“Before you go over there, let me ask you. Where do you think this guy is going right now?” Wilson asked.
“I think he’s heading for the mountains with her. In the past, he has always taken his victims west out of town. I think we should contact the State Patrol, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office, and the Manitou and Woodland Park Police Departments.”
“What do we advise them to be looking for Axel?” Wilson asked.
“Tell him, Jaxson. Tell him everything,” Axel responded and then walked over toward the waiting cameras.
“Tell them to look for an off-road vehicle, black, grey, or silver. They're looking for a white male, approximately thirty to thirty-five. Tell them to be careful and that he may be armed with a firearm,” Jaxson instructed.
“You think he’s still carrying that gun to go along with his knife?” Wilson asked.
“Most law enforcement professionals carry one,” Jaxson answered.
“A cop? A fucking cop! Is that what you’re telling me?” Wilson said excitedly.
“We think so.”
Axel slowly made his way over toward the reporters that had gathered at the front entrance to the mall. His eyes were fixated on one specific reporter who stood out from the others. She was beautiful and she was prepared for her interview with her microphone in hand.
The detective walked in front of the various news stations that were eager to question him about the murder.
***
The interview with the media was quick and painless, Axel thought as he made his way over to Lt. Wilson.
“We just got a call that a Manitou Springs officer was shot in a private driveway just off Ute Pass on Highway 24. He radioed in that he was stopping a black SUV that was speeding in the wes
tbound lanes. When they called him back over the radio, he didn’t answer. They sent another officer out, and that’s when they found him shot in the head in the driveway,” Wilson explained.
“Did we get a plate number?” Axel asked excitedly.
“We got the cruiser dash camera and…”
“What about a suspect?” Axel interrupted.
“No. The plate was listed to an SUV, but the plate was also listed as stolen a few months ago.”
“How many people were in the vehicle?” Axel asked.
“They can only see the back of the driver in the video, but if this is our guy, he could have had her tied up and lying down,” Jaxson added.
“We’re going up the pass. Can you call the tactical unit, the K-9 units, and get them started there too?” Axel asked.
“Okay, Axel. Keep me informed on what you got going on,” Lt. Wilson ordered.
“I will,” Axel answered and then raced out of the parking lot in his car with Jaxson in the passenger seat.
***
Jeramiah continued driving deeper into the woods until the road changed from asphalt to dirt. A feeling of relief swept over him when he finally passed the last house before entering the National Forest. The dirt road was maintained, but still, the summer evening rains had created washboard bumps along the way.
He maintained his course until he reached the Y in the road where he veered onto Route 312 that took him deeper into the forest. The area was popular during the hunting season when deer and elk ran through the dark timber, dodging the hunters in their bright orange vests and hats. Usually, during the summer months, there were no hunters in the forest.
Except for me, he thought.
***
The washout on the dirt road became more severe the deeper they went into the black timber. The SUV rocked back and forth.
The pain in her head was still there, but Jennifer collected herself and finally got the courage to slowly use her right hand to pull the cover back slightly. She could see the front driver’s seat and made the determination that her back was against the rear seat and that she was lying on her left side in the floorboard. She moved her toes and fingers on both sides, testing her body for unknown injuries. She then shifted the cover over even more so she could see under the driver’s seat in front of her.
Heartbeats of a Killer Page 18