DEAD SET: Detective Jack Creed Mysteries - The Complete Short Stories Collection: 7 Book Box Set (Detective Jack Creed Murder Mystery Books Series 9)

by C T Mitchell

  Jack frowned but gave his number anyway. The person probably was using a pre-paid throw away phone in the first place.

  Noises were the first to greet Jack once the video had downloaded. It was jumbled voices that sounded like a crowd of people talking. Someone’s voice was speaking over the crowd.

  “Ohhh, be looking at this…” the voice said. The video abruptly shut off.

  “I’ll be seeing you,” seethescandal said before fleeing.

  “Hey, wait!” Jack shouted. He thought of following but it was too crowded of an area with too many chances for innocent people to get hurt. He watched helplessly as seethescandal left.

  CHAPTER 2

  “How was the video?” Jo asked as Jack climbed into the van.

  Jack thought a moment before answering. “It’s rather poor quality, like something out of those old mobile phone cameras…but you can tell it’s the mayor who is doing the drugs with some other people. When we get back to the station, let’s look it over again to see if we can recognize some of the people involved. There’s a speaker but you don’t see their face.”

  “I’ll give it my best shot.” Jo gunned the engine and started to drive back to the police station.

  “You know, II never thought someone like the mayor would be involved in something like this. Really, I never saw it coming.”

  Jack drummed his fingers on the side of the door handle. “Sometimes it’s the ones you least expect that surprise us the most.”

  “I suppose. At least we’ve got it so we can log it into evidence.”

  “I’ll speak to the sketch artist when we get back to the station to see about getting something out about seethescandal,” Jack said.

  Jo nodded and drove rest of the way to the police station in silence. “That was quite the risk you took,” she said as they pulled into the parking lot. “He could have easily given you the wrong file or attacked you.”

  “Not likely in public,” Jack brushed off Jo’s concern. “At least we have a jumping off point now. We get can get to the bottom of the scandal even if it means working all night.”

  ****

  Jack turned and buried his head further into his crossed arms as someone entered his office and pulled the shades the next morning. “Go. Away.”

  “Well, good morning to you too,” Jo said. “You really stayed here all night? I thought that was just something you said to look more dedicated or avoid going home. Your work is a lonely mistress, Jack.”

  Jack sat up and stretched. He covered a yawn with his hand over his mouth. “Yeah, but not an unwelcome mistress.”

  “Trouble at home?”

  Jo said it casually, so it wasn’t exactly prying but Jack didn’t want to talk about his home life to anyone -- especially not a perpetually divorced and now perpetually single Jo Boston-Wright.

  “Nothing I’m talking over with you.” Jack rubbed the last bit of sleep out of his eyes. “Got anything for me on our seethescandal perp?”

  “Do I ever! Look at the headline!” Joe tossed a thick newspaper onto Jack’s desk.

  The paper landed on the desk with a dull thump and with the weight of a holiday paper full of ads. On the cover in full color was the official picture of the mayor with white text above his head reading “The Thin Line – A Mayoral Scandal!” Towards the bottom of the page it read “People call for mayor’s resignation. Drug scandal…page four.”

  “It didn’t take them very long,” Jack mused. He couldn’t say that he was surprised by this turn of events or the outrage of the people.

  “It’s in all the papers! The media is having a field day with it,” Jo said. “I don’t think it’ll take long for the mayor to resign. There may be no getting up from this scandal.”

  “Indeed. The best thing to do would be to resign and go away quietly.” Jack opened up the paper to page four to see what it had to say.

  “Maybe he should move to another country. It may be his only hope,” Jo half-joked.

  “There’s no information about that video seller,” Jack said. “It would be nice if the media had actually helped us out and identified him.”

  Before Jack could continue the banter, an officer burst into the room. “Someone’s been shot!”

  Jack immediately stood up. “Who and where?”

  “Outside of that nightclub that’s on the main road.”

  “Do they know what happened?”

  The officer shook his head. “Not yet but you and Jo have been requested. Dr. Russell should be meeting you there.”

  Jo grabbed what she needed and followed Jack out the door without a word. As they drove to the crime scene, Jo could tell Jack wasn’t thrilled about having to go to a whole new case when they hadn’t yet figured out who the informant was plus they had the scandal over the city.

  It was busy day in Carabita Beach. Jo mentally shrugged off all the extra work. It’s not like she had anyone waiting for her at home -- not even a dog. Keeping busy was better than being bored.

  The crime scene was more of a mad house than a crime scene. People who wanted to look and see had to be chased away by security and the police. Even the bright yellow “do not cross” caution tape didn’t seem to faze the curious much. A few people were giving their statements to the police who were busy scribbling down the information on small note pads.

  “What have we got?” Jack asked once he flashed his badge and was granted access to the crime scene.

  “The victim is over there.” The gatekeeper officer pointed to a body that was covered in a bright yellow tarp.

  Dr. Jane Russel was already crouched down lifting up a corner of the tarp. “Witnesses say the victim was shot three times in the chest by someone wearing a hoodie,” she dictated to her assistant who wrote everything down. Jane glanced at Jack and Jo when they stopped by the tarp but barely gave them a nod before continuing her assessment of the crime scene.

  “The shooter then fled on foot when people started screaming. The description of our perp is a light to medium colored skinned male, average height, wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and dark colored shoes. The victim was shot three times in the chest. Whoever shot him was at close range and two of the bullets didn’t exit the body so I might be able to extract them and get some good information off of them.” Jane stood and spoke directly to her assistant. “Transport the body back to my office. I’ll join you as soon as I speak to Detectives Creed and Boston-Wright.”

  The assistant nodded and waited to accompany the body back to the forensics office.

  “Let’s see about spreading that description of the shooter around,” Jack told Jo. “Put some people on the ground looking for the suspect too. Odds are he’s nearby,” Jack said. “If the shooter was planning on fleeing it could drum up too much attention and make it easier for us to catch them. Instead, odds are that the killer is hiding some place and waiting for the hysteria to die down. Has anyone checked the laneways?”

  “Laneways?” Jo asked. “Why?”

  “There aren’t any residential houses nearby, only businesses and alleys,” Jack explained. “No street lights either. With garbage cans and God only knew what else in the way; it’s an excellent place to hide.”

  “And this is the reason you’re the best of the best.” Jane smiled in admiration. “I’ll leave you two to it. I need to get back to the lab.” She waved slightly in parting but Jack and Jo barely noticed -- they were already edging toward the dark alley.

  Jack edged in carefully at first. Trash cans lined both sides of the alley and anyone could jump out and assault him with one of them. He didn’t want to think about what odds and ends were being crushed beneath his feet. Some cracked while others squished like overripe fruit. It was vile.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw something move. At first it could’ve been an animal but it was far too large for an animal and it was wearing dark clothing.

  “Freeze!” He barked at the suspect. “Police! Hands up! Now!”

  Jack could hear a mumble
d curse come from the figure as it raised its hands high into the air.

  “Hey, easy! Those things are tight!” The dark clad man protested as Jack hand cuffed him.

  “Shut it! You’re a suspect in the shooting death at the night club,” Jack said. “Your comfort is not my top priority.”

  “I don’t expect a day at the Ritz, but a little less police brutality would be nice,” the suspect quipped.

  “Do you have any sort of weapon on you?” Jack asked.

  “Just my wit,” he said.

  “Uh-huh, sure. That’s what they all say.” Jack reached into the suspect’s pocket and pulled out a revolver. “I believe we’ve found our murder weapon. You’re going to jail. You can leave your wit at the door.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Jack took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he emerged from the alley. That was probably one of the easiest murder arrests ever. Now to look for a motive and make sure any charges stick.

  “Jack!” Dr. Russell called out to him.

  Jack turned, surprised to still see her hanging around the crime scene. “Doctor, I thought you were heading back to the lab. Did you find anything new?” Jack asked.

  “No. Nothing new, but I thought I’d wait for you all the same.”

  Jack frowned. “Wait for me? Why?”

  She paused before carefully picking her words. Have you eaten?”

  “Eaten dinner?” Jack shook his head. “No, not yet. I was going to go home and fix something up.”

  “That’s no fun! Why not come out with me? I’m sure your wife won’t mind.”

  She very well would mind but Jack didn’t bother telling Jane that. His stomach growled like the traitor it was. Food with an attractive co-worker. What could go wrong?

  “Alright, but we’re not making this an everyday thing.” Jack quipped in a nervous somewhat anxious tone.

  Jane’s face broke into a large smile despite Jack’s less than enthusiastic acceptance. “Great! I know of a new place that just opened up. I’ll meet you back at the station and we can go in my car.”

  On the drive back to the station, Jack wondered what type of place Jane planned on taking him to. He hoped they made decent food. He usually just grabbed whatever was on hand without any thought but that was getting old. This grab and go sort of meal preparation of his was just not working anymore. A home cooked meal would do him good -- especially if he didn’t do the cooking.

  Pulling into his usual parking spot, Jack was surprised to see Jane already beat him to the station. She was leaning against a bright red car. Jack chuckled a little to himself. Dr. Jane Russell was the last person he suspected would ever be driving a bright red car. Not conservative and simple Jane! Did she have a side to her that she kept hidden from all of them at work? Was she secretly not as quiet and conservative as he always thought her to be?

  “How are you not frozen solid?” Jane called as Jack was hit by a blast of pacific air as he climbed out of his car. “It’s freezing out.”

  “So this is what it looks like when hell freezes over,” Jack quipped.

  Jane laughed. “Very funny. Now take a break and let me drive. I’ve only been to this particular restaurant once but it’s great. You’ll love it.”

  Jack didn’t love anything without a well-stocked bar, but he was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. If Jane liked it so much, there must be something the restaurant owner was doing right.

  Jane tried to get Jack to talk on the drive to the restaurant but he just stared out the window without answering more than a “yes”, “no” or “I don’t want to talk about work right now.”

  He escaped even further into his own thoughts once they pulled into the parking lot. The restaurant that Jane raved about after only eating there once used to be the old Carlisle Eatery. Old Man Carlisle was a friend of Jack’s dad. He spent more time with Mr. Carlisle than he did with his own dad. He met Sally at the Carlisle Eatery. They had shared many a meal on two poor university student’s budget while Sally was going for her psychology degree and Jack was in the police academy. They had a lot of good times at the Carlisle Eatery. Where had those good times gone since then?

  Jane turned off the car after parking and climbed out. She stuck her head back into the car when Jack didn’t immediately follow. “Are you going to come in or stare at the building all day?”

  Her words jolted Jack back into the present. He climbed out before Jane could ask any more questions. “I’m coming and so is my stomach.”

  “Two?” The server asked when they stepped inside.

  “Yes,” Jane answered before they were directed to a table.

  Jack made sure to at least look like he was absorbed in his menu once Jane started twirling her hair and leaning across the table. Flirting? He had read something about girls twirling their hair’ possibly in one of Sally’s psych books. He wasn’t expecting that from the good doctor.

  “How did someone like you get into the police force? You could’ve done so much more with your looks,” Jane upped her flirtation game. Jack’s stomach tightened. The butterflies were flying.

  Jack snapped his menu closed. “Well, I’ve always wanted to be a police officer so no big deep, dark story there. Just an interest. And I’ve never really thought of myself as being that good looking.”

  “But you are!” Jane insisted. “Doesn’t your wife ever tell you that?”

  “Looks don’t come up much in our house life.”

  “Oh, too bad.” Jane acted like she was suddenly very interested in the menu. “If I had a brave and handsome man like you in my life I would always be telling him how wonderful he was.”

  Jack smiled wistfully. “Maybe you will…one day.”

  It had been a long time since anyone had told him that he was attractive or paid so much attention to him. He loved his wife and he knew she loved him but they hadn’t flirted like this in so long…What was he doing? He was a married man! It wouldn’t be right for him to flirt with another woman like this.

  For a moment Jack felt shame wash over him. He wasn’t supposed to behave like this. He was a married man and a public figure! As much as he enjoyed the attention, he needed to reject any advances as nicely as he could before it went too far. He took a vow with Sally -- till death do us part -- and, the last time he checked, neither of them were dead. No matter what Jane tried tonight, he needed to try harder to resist.

  CHAPTER 4

  The next morning a person called emergency services. They were so frantic they could barely be understood. The voice was screaming and sobbing at the same time. All that could be made out was an address and the word ‘dead.’

  Jack and Jo were immediately sent to the crime scene; their second in as many days. Neither of them expected to find what they did. It was like something out of a TV show. Little did they know, the ‘show’ was just beginning?

  “You won’t believe this.” Jane lifted the crime scene tape to allow Jack and Jo to pass. “I don’t think any of us did when we were called in.”

  They walked down the sandstone path with pretty plants until a body began to appear. At first it looked like a pair of black soled shoes but, as they looked up, they could see a man’s body lying face down on the ground. One arm was sprawled out in front of the body while the other was bent and tucked under the body, most likely clutching at the chest.

  “Heart attack?” Jo asked. It seemed like the most logical explanation from what they could see.

  Some poor man had been walking down the path, suffered a heart attack, fell and died.

  “We don’t know but you won’t believe who it is,” Jane said.

  “Who?” Jack asked.

  “The Mayor. It’s possible foul play was involved in his death. I know people wanted him to resign but could someone want him dead?”

  ****

  When the body arrived at the forensic lab, Jane immediately ordered a toxicology report before she performed the autopsy. At first glance, she agreed that the cause of death could
have been a heart attack but she wouldn’t know for sure until she got a good look inside the Mayor’s body.

  “I know he had enemies and people wanted him gone but can you think of anyone who wanted him dead? Anyone with a motive?” Jane asked her assistant.

  “I don’t know. He had enemies but that doesn’t mean that they killed him,” the assistant said.

  “Let’s hope for natural causes. It will cause less of a sensation then the poor bloke already had surrounding him.”

  As they waited for the rush job on the toxicology report, Jane performed the autopsy. It was grisly work but it had to be done. She found the human body a fascinating thing and always wanted to know more about how it worked. Forensics was a likely career path for her interests. That she was one of the few female pathologists out there didn’t make a difference to her. She did her job well. That’s all anyone could ask for and, in the end, all anyone really cared for.

  “Well, we can rule out one thing.” Jane peeled off her messy gloves at the end of the autopsy.

  “What’s that?” the assistant asked.

  “The Mayor didn’t die of a heart attack. The other organs look healthy and healthy people don’t just die at a moment’s notice.”

  “Do you think he was poisoned?”

  “I don’t want to jump to conclusions but that is a very, very likely possibility.”

  ****

  Jack watched the last video ever taken of the mayor again. He heard a few other voices but did not recognize whom they belonged to. He had to get that seethescandal suspect to talk and to tell him who else was involved -- especially now that it was so much bigger than blackmail and public embarrassment. Murder was involved now. Solving the case was Jack’s top priority.

  “Any luck with the video?” Jo asked once she entered the evidence room.

  “There’s a few voices and someone shooting the video,” Jack said. “They’re smart enough not to name names so I’m hoping our suspect will give them to us with a little bit of...persuasion.”