“What?”
“Sorry, I’m still groggy.”
“Anyway, he struck in Arizona this time, but it got me thinking about something I had said to you, a while back.”
“And what was that? And these donuts are good, really good,” Hutch said, reaching into the box to grab another donut.
“Remember when I was looking into the little piece of paper that talked about the complaint that Gwen had filed on an employee?”
“Yeah, but the guy worked in another state at a call center, right?”
“Yeah, a call center, call center killer, C.C.K., you getting it yet?”
“Okay, I’m still groggy, put it together for me,” he said, taking another drink of the coffee, trying to wake himself up fully.
“This is why the kills are so random; they come in from all over the place. Remember the bitch, um lady filed a complaint on this Barry guy and even had the transcript of the conversation sent to her house, and the guy was nothing but professional, wouldn’t that piss you off?”
“Yeah, but would it drive him or me I should say to kill?”
“No, not one call, but these guys take 80 – 120 calls a day, and there are a lot of assholes.”
“Yeah, that is a lot of bullshit to take.”
“I did some checking, and most of the victims banked with his employer, there are a few who didn’t, probably random kills to throw off an investigator, or maybe they just happened, I don’t know.”
“Damn, it does make sense, but a jury would never buy it unless we have hard proof, but at least we have a real idea what’s going on now.”
“I wanted to run it by you; I don’t think we should tell anyone else just yet.”
“Yeah, it’s probably better to keep it under wraps for now.”
“So, what do you think we should do next? I know the bank only keeps recorded messages for six months, so it looks like the only one we have is Gwen’s.”
“I thought they kept them longer than that.”
“No, it’s the Data Protection Act that allows you to get transcripts of your call, but the banks only go back six months.”
“Damn, I bet this fucker knew that too. This guy is smart and doesn’t want to get caught or be famous, which most serial killers find to be their downfall,” Hutch said, sipping on his coffee.
“Maybe we should bring the Captain in on this and see if we can go pay this guy a visit, just to put some pressure on him.”
“That may not be a bad idea, I can’t think of anything else, I’m pretty sure this guy won’t rent cars or use his debit or credit cards where he has killed,” Hutch said scratching his head.
“Yeah, I figured we would check but would probably come up empty on those fronts.”
Sam and Hutch sat back and watched the news while they thought about what move to make next. Senator Fueller was expected to make a statement since he had announced he was heading a task force to catch the C.C.K. Killer and the media was in a frenzy to hear what he had to say.
“Boy that guy picked the wrong time to head up this task force, he probably thought the killer was going to vanish like the Zodiac killer did, he’s plastered on every news channel in America with this blunder.”
“It’s bad timing alright unless he knows something we don’t,” Hutch said, and he sat back and waited for the Senator to make his statement.
The Senator finally came to the podium to make his statement. The local authorities and the F.B.I. Agents leading the task force stood behind him as he got ready to speak. The Senator adjusted the various microphones and laid down a few sheets of paper on the podium before he started.
“I will start this press conference off with a good morning to you all even though we have suffered another loss at the hands of this killer. I can answer a few questions, but remember, we are in the middle of an active investigation. I want to let you know that we have made significant strides in catching this killer, and it is just a matter of time before we do so.”
“Senator, is there a real chance of catching this guy? It seems he has outsmarted law enforcement every step of the way,” a reporter said, then he sat down, while everyone waited for the Senator’s response.
“I can tell you this; we are very close to ending this killers reign of terror on our nation, the task force that I have assembled along with help from the F.B.I. Director is going to catch this guy,” the Senator said, and he pointed at a reporter to let them know he would take their question next.
“Marcia James Daily News, so you are confirming that this is a man, a single individual?” Marcia asked the Senator.
“Yes, I can confirm that we know this is one man.”
“Senator! Senator! Dave Gminski Philly Morning Star News, it seems you know more than you are telling us, can you give us more details?” The reporter asked.
“Sadly, I cannot. I can say this, we are closing in on this person, and it is just a matter of time, I can only hope we get him before he takes another innocent victim, but I can assure you that we are working around the clock to capture this individual.”
The Senator knew he had the entire nation looking at this press conference and he always believed that leaving them wanting more was the way to go, so he ended the press conference. He knew ending the press conference early would guarantee he would have more people tuning into his next press conference and it would have every news anchor in the country running a speculative story on his investigation and special task force.
“I know there are a lot more questions than I have answers for, but know we are working to put an end to this nightmare,” the Senator said and walked away from the podium.
While the Senator was walking away from the podium amidst a sea of reporters, questions, and lights, he was very happy with the way everything was going. The Senator knew he would get some good and bad press, but that press would create many conversations on many different stations. His face would be plastered in many homes across America, and very soon he would be the man who took real action and stopped the infamous C.C.K Killer.
Sam and Hutch sat in silence for a few moments after the press conference was over. Sam had an idea but wondered if Hutch would think it was the right move to make. Hutch was thinking the same thing Sam was but wanted to see if Sam thought it would be a good idea, especially since she was the one who may have figured out this case. They both started to talk at the same time.
“Go ahead,” Hutch said.
“Well, I was thinking that maybe we should talk to the Senator and see what he thinks since he is heading up this special task force.”
“Honestly, I was thinking the same thing.”
“Maybe they are looking at this Barry guy, and we could scare him off, I don’t want to be in the middle of that shit storm.”
“Me either, I am going to steer clear of that negative national attention as much as possible, so I think we should talk to this Senator before we do anything, with the Captain’s approval.”
“Yeah, that sounds like the thing to do, when do you want to talk to the Captain?”
“I think we can run it by him tonight; I’m sure he already knows this guy hit again which may have the Feds snooping around again.”
“Okay, then I am going to go back home and go to bed, I’ll pick you up later,” Sam said as she got up and headed to the front door.
“Okay, I’ll see you then and thanks for the coffee and donuts.”
“No sweat,” Sam said as she left.
Hutch closed the door and found himself drifting back to the box of donuts; he was wide awake now. Hutch tried to make sense of what Sam just told him, and it seemed like a damn solid lead, but no jury would buy speculation, and that is exactly what they had, speculation. Hutch thought maybe the Senator’s task force had more than they did, even though Senator Fueller wouldn’t give out any details, which was normal, he seemed to be fairly confident that they would catch this guy and sooner rather than later it seemed. Hutch figured when he and Sam talked to the Sena
tor and the Feds everything would become clear, that is if they wanted to share information. The Feds had jurisdiction and would only be giving them a professional courtesy if they told them anything, but at least they would know what to do, and being ready to be told to back off was a real possibility. While Hutch was trying to figure out how the Senator and his task force would act, Corey was trying to figure out what color Lamborghini to buy.
Chapter 10
The Lamborweinie
“I like the white, but the red one is legit,” Corey said, scratching his head.
“Then get the red one and when you buy your next one, get it in white,” Karen said.
“Damn, that’s the business right there, yeah im’ma do that,” Corey said looking at the salesman.
“Very good sir, will you need financing, or is this a cash purchase?” The salesman asked.
“My name is Corey, and the “C” stands for cash, I’ll walk and finish first in the forty-yard dash,” Corey said proud of himself for coming up with a rhyme.
“Oh my God, I don’t know a whole lot about rap music, but that was pretty bad,” Karen said, covering her mouth, trying not to laugh too loud at Corey.
The salesman tried not to laugh, but Karen and Barry were already cracking up, and he couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“That’s some old hater bullshit, y’all know that was tight, I got skills.”
“If that is what you call skills, then you would pay no bills, you would be broke because your rhyming skills are a joke,” Karen said and then crossed her arms staring at Corey.
A few people at the dealership were walking around and overheard the half-baked rap battle, and they applauded Karen. Karen played to the crowd of four people and took a bow.
“I did good,” Corey said, waving his hand dismissively at the small crowd.
“Superman does good, you would have done well if you had rapping skills, but you don’t, so you didn’t,” Karen said, to another round of applause from the small crowd.
“Oh man, y’all don’t know nothing about rap music,” Corey said, waving his hand dismissively at Karen, the salesman, and the small crowd once again.
“Well, actually I do,” the salesman said, putting his index finger in the air, letting Corey know he was in the know about Rap music.
“Oh yeah, I bet, you’ll be telling me you can breakdance too,” Corey said, laughing.
The salesman, Roger motioned for Corey to move back and he started to dance around like the breakdancers do, then he went down to the floor and started to windmill while he held his crotch and then went into a head spin. Roger got up and dusted himself off and looked at Corey as he smiled. Karen and Barry clapped as did the small crowd.
“Now, I believe you said you were paying with cash,” Roger said, raising his right eyebrow.
“Mannnnn this is a setup,” Corey said as they all laughed.
“Right this way sir,” Roger said, and he pointed to an office, and then he moonwalked over to it.
“Mothafucka,” Corey said, as they all were in tears now from laughing so hard.
An hour or so later they were all done getting Corey’s Lamborghini. Corey was dead set on going to get a Rolex. So Karen and Barry told him to have fun because they were going to check the building then do a little shopping for the house, all of their smell good was gone, and they were used to coming in and smelling tropical freshness, so they had to get more. Karen and Barry were out having a blast going from one store to the other, and they were getting to the point that they would have to go home and unload some of the stuff they bought so they could fit more into the car. He enjoyed watching Karen shop, she bought all these little sundresses for their vacation, and he just sat there while she would go into the dressing room and then come out to show me how she looked in each one. Karen could make anything look good, plus he kept imaging taking off each one of those dresses at the end of the day. He guessed Karen could see his wheels turning.
“You are so nasty,” she said, pulling the dress she had on a little to the left.
“What?”
“You know what, I know what you’re thinking,” Karen said, still fixing the positioning of the dress.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Barry said, still playing innocent.
“I bet you will get your memory back tonight nasty man,” Karen said, sighing a little and looking in the mirror to see if the dress was in the right position.
“Maybe our room and some food will bring it all back to me.”
“I’ve got something for you to eat,” Karen said as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“Oh!! Now who’s being nasty,” Barry said, as his eyes widened.
“I do have something for you to eat, the left-over steak and mashed potatoes, what were you talking about?” Karen said as she glanced over her shoulder to look at me.
Barry was getting ready to say something when his phone vibrated; it was Corey sending him a text message with a picture of his Rolex. Barry got a few more text message after that with Corey and a really pretty lady sitting in his car with her hair blowing; then Barry got a message that read, “The Lamborwienie is in full effect.” Karen saw me text messaging and asked what was going on.
“Just Corey showing me his new girlfriend and watch,” Barry said.
“He’d better be careful, or he is going to be Crabby Corey again,” Karen said, laughing.
Barry got another text message, but it was the phone the Senator had given him, Karen was into picking out just the right sundress, and Barry didn’t want her to worry about what the Senator may want him to do next, so he switched phones without her noticing. Barry was shocked that the Senator didn’t want anything other than to ask him a question.
“I have the bullying problem under wraps, would you like to take out the trash, or should I?” The message read.
“Please take the garbage out,” Barry sent as a reply. Barry waited for a few seconds, and there was no reply back, so he slipped that phone back into his pocket and took out his phone, just as Corey was sending him another text message.
“Damn dog, this is a dream come true, even though the Popo already pulled me over, mothafuckas,” Corey said in his text message.
“What is Corey talking about now?” Karen asked, turning to the side looking at the dress she had on from as much of a rear-view angle as she could manage.
Barry was glad Karen hadn’t noticed him switching the phones, he didn’t want to do anything to ruin her good mood.
“He said he is living the dream and he got pulled over.”
“Really, well it is a Lamborghini or Lamborwienie as he calls it, he’s going to get all kinds of attention, I’m just glad nothing bad happened. Does this dress make my ass look big?” Karen said, and she went back to looking at herself in the mirror.
“Your ass is big,” Barry said, with a big smile on his face.
“You and your one-track mind are no help at all, but at least we are getting ready for our vacation, are you happy?”
“Yes, it’s long overdue,” Barry said, but he was thinking about how the Senator would deal with Robert, he was sure he would get the job done, but Barry wondered if he should have made sure he suffered. Barry decided to not think about Robert or how he would die; he chose to focus on the moment, and the great day he was having with his wife. He remembered not long-ago Karen was a woman he wanted to date. Now, in such a short time and through a maze of disasters and fate being on their side, she was his wife. They were rich, so Robert could get a bullet in the head for all he cared, just as long as he died, and knew it was because Barry made it happen. The rest of the day seemed to fly by, and it was a great day. The building was coming along faster than expected, and there were no emergencies or drama to be dealt with. The plans to leave for Europe were set, and Aunt Ledley was flying in tomorrow. Barry, Karen, and Corey all met at a steak house and talked about their day while they waited for the waitress to bring their drinks and food.
&
nbsp; Chapter 11
Dinner and a Surprise
Dave was getting ready to eat with his daughter and granddaughter if the guy inside the restaurant could get the order right. He knew he was anxious to see Becky and Little Kat, so he blamed himself for the difficulty in his order being taken. So he took a deep breath and spoke slower and with a little more volume in his voice.
“No, I said the family meal and the chocolate cake.”
“Okay, you want a three-piece and a shake?” The fast-food worker asked.
“No, a chocolate cake.”
“We don’t sell shakes here.”
“No, I want the family meal and chocolate cake.”
“Oh, you want the chocolate cake?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like anything else or just the cake?”
“I want a family meal.”
“We don’t serve veal.”
“I don’t want veal, I want the family meal, with the chocolate cake.”
“Just drive up to the window please,” the fast-food worker said.
Dave drove up to the window after he put his head back on his headrest and thought about killing the poor bastard taking his order, which was finally taken correctly at the drive-up window, along with the addition of a few more food items and promotional toys for Little Kat. He knew it was too much food, but he knew Becky would eat the leftovers without the slightest bit of hesitation. He wondered how we can send people into space and talk to them, but can’t make a speaker system that gets your order right at the drive-thru. While he thought about this mystery of the universe, the guy handed him his order, and he was on his way to have dinner with Becky and little Kat. It seemed like it took forever for the week to go by, but it was finally time, to have dinner with his two girls and also give Becky the surprise he had brought. He pulled up to Becky’s house just a little before five o’clock, and as he started to get the food bags together, Becky and little Kat came outside to help him. Little Kat was excited to see him and pulled away from her mother so she could run over to him.
“Kat! Don’t run into the street,” Becky said, running after Little Kat.
Death of the C C K Killer Page 11