Fettering Shadows: A Jake Dalton Investigation Page 8

  “Yes, we like each other,” she smiled. “I should go.”

  “Wait, you came here for a reason.”

  “Oh, right,” she sighed. “When I was leaving the morgue, I noticed a bag by my car. A black trash bag.”

  “Just like the one left here,” he pointed to the yard, still surrounded by yellow Police tape.

  “Uh huh, only in this one the head was there, too.”

  “Really? I wonder why.”

  “The woman was deaf. She had Cochlear implants.”

  “So, maybe he didn’t know she was deaf and when he found out, it didn’t fit with what he wanted to do, or why he wants to keep the heads. Maybe her implants screwed up his trophy,” Jake sighed. “Was there anything else different?”

  “The wax on the body, it was red, and still on the body. It wasn’t white like the others. And it wasn’t paraffin wax, it was beeswax dyed red.”

  Jake sat down on the sofa and looked at Aggie. “I need to review all the crime scene photos, if the cops took any, and my photos of the bodies that I took yesterday. Do you have photos of the two that were from today?”

  “I can bring them to you, unless you have email, then I can send them to you.”

  “I’ve got email, but I can get them after hours, if that’s all right.”

  “Why don’t I bring them over for supper?”

  He stood up. “Supper?”

  “You did invite me for supper, right? That invite still stands, doesn’t it?”

  “Oh, right, of course. I guess I didn’t think it through. I haveta pick up some things at the market, I guess. I better do that.”

  “I’ll bring supper over and we can cook together, if you didn’t mind.”

  “Doc, I’m sorry about earlier.”

  “No, it was all me, just being worried. I’m sorry. I won’t push you away again. I promise,” she held up her two fingers in a V form, laughing slightly. “I guess that’s our promise sign. Uh, I don’t know where we go after this is over, but I like being your friend, Jake.”

  “I like being yours, Doc,” he kissed her cheek. “I’ll walk you out.”

  “I’ll bring food over at six, is that all right?”

  He led her out of his house and toward the front of the agency. “Six is great. I’ll see you then. Oh, just be careful. He may be closer than we realize.”

  “I’m sure he is. I just wish we could catch him.”

  “I may have an idea, but I’ll tell you later,” he smiled. “I better make sure Brennan isn’t in over his head,” he watched as she walked to her car parked on the street, and then he headed into the agency.

  Ralph stood up, “Sir, this was just delivered for you,” he handed him a large white envelope.

  “Sal came back?”

  “No, some guy, he was wearing a uniform of some sort, like from the hospital. It was one of those blue uniforms.”

  “The hospital? He was a doctor or a nurse?”

  “Uh, more like a janitor or maintenance person. He said it was from Dr. Constantine.”

  “That’s strange, she didn’t mention a package. Uh, well, thanks,” he sighed, setting the envelope on his desk. “Are y’all set up?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Uh, do you know anything about accessing security cameras?”

  “Yes, sir, I can do that. I pretty much know a lot about computers and technology. Do you want security set up here?”

  “There are cameras in here and outside the office, but they haven’t been working and I haven’t been able to figure out why. Maybe you could see if you could get them working and if you can’t, maybe we’ll need some more or a new system.”

  “Sir,” he walked over to the desk. “You know about me, don’t you?”

  “I wish you would’ve told me the truth, Brennan.”

  “I’m sorry. Not many people wanna hire me because of my time in jail. Yes, I did go to school, and after I stopped working for the FBI computer crimes division, I wanted a fresh start. I shoulda told you.”

  “Uh huh, you shoulda. I need to know that I can trust you, and I find out that you lied to me, more than once. I don’t know why I’m even keepin’ you on.”

  “What can I do to make it up to you?”

  “First, if I catch you in a lie again, you’re fired, that’s it. Second, I reckon there is somethin’ good in you, and I just may be able to use you around here, but don’t lie again. I wish I had known about your, uh, talents, and I did get confirmation that I could use your talents, as long as they were for a case. Not for personal use.”

  “Oh, whatever you need, sir.”

  “Tell me what happened. The truth, please. I know basics but not details.”

  “I didn’t have a lot of friends as a kid, so I used my computer and gaming systems. After my parents died, when I was about 16, I dove more into the online world. After a while, I taught myself how to hack into games that had glitches or I would create cheat codes and sell them to other players. Then I got into hacking on the computer, and different databases, just to see if I could. I only got caught when I tried to hack the NSA. Then, I was sent to jail, well prison. After two years behind bars, an agent came to see me. Special Agent Rowland Martinson. He wanted help with a computer crime, and then after I helped solve that, he offered me to get out on parole and I had to work for the agency for about three years. After my contract was over, I went to school. I got my Bachelor’s in computers. And now, here I am. I wanted to build a new life, and kind of get lost from my old life. So, I’m here now.”

  “Well, glad you told me. You shoulda told me before, but what’s done is done. As I said, don’t lie to me again. I was told I could trust you, but I needed to make sure. Brennan, I’m starting to like havin’ you here, and that’s why I’m giving you one more chance. There is a serial killer slash stalker running around here, killing people. I hope you know that you could be in danger, too.”

  “I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

  “The security cameras first. I wanna see who left me that envelope,” he sat behind his desk. “Oh, is there fresh coffee on?”

  “Yes, sir,” he said. “One cream, right?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Jake picked up the envelope and opened it. He flipped through the black and white photos of Aggie’s home, her office at the morgue, her car, and her and Jake outside the diner earlier. He shoved the photos back in the envelope when he noticed a handwritten scripted note. He grabbed his tweezers out of the pen cup, slowly pulled the letter out of the envelope, and then used the tweezers to open the folded paper.

  She’s mine. Stay away or more young things will pay.

  I know your weakness. I know your kind.

  How many times do I haveta say that she’s mine?

  You have your presents, so let me have mine.

  Icarus

  P.S. Thank you for my name. It’s so fitting, but these young things don’t always fly.

  Ralph set the mug on the desk and headed over to his desk. He looked at Jake, and then focused on his laptop. “I know the problem with the security cameras, but I think I can fix them.”

  “Good,” Jake sighed, picking up the phone and dialing. “Sheriff Olsen, please. It's Jackson Dalton.”

  13

  Jake stood up when Sheriff Olsen walked into the Agency. “Brennan, give us a few moments, please.”

  “Yes, sir, I’ll straighten out the storage room or somethin’,” he headed into the backroom.

  “Sheriff, thanks for coming.”

  “Please, Mr. Dalton, it’s Nels.”

  “Jake,” he shook Nels’ hand. “I probably shoulda gone to the detectives but I wasn’t sure who to trust. I haven’t worked with your office before, and I got a not-so-trust-worthy history with the local PD, and Aggie trusts you.”

  “I understand,” he said. “You got the letter?”

  Jake lifted up a plastic bag that contained the letter. “I didn’t touch it, but I touched the photos that were in the envelope. I did m
ake a copy of the letter but it was in the bag. Nels, I can trust you, right?”

  “Of course,” he sat down in the chair in front of Jake’s desk. “I brought the missing person files you asked for. What’re you looking for exactly?” he opened his brief case, and placed a pile of files on his desk. “These are the originals and I probably shouldn’t be giving them to you.”

  “I’ve got the credentials to be a consultant. I was asked, more like recruited by Texas Ranger Sullivan to work on cases that ended up here. Then, Dr. Constantine hired me, as we both feel her stalker and these cases are related. I’m convinced now, more than ever.”

  “Because of the letter?”

  “Because Mr. Abrams was dropped on my back door step. Then, I get these photos. Sheriff, I know you’re helping right now, but I’m not gonna stop ‘til I find this guy.”

  Nels crossed his arms. “I’m not askin’ you to. Just don’t get in the way of my detectives.”

  “As long as they don’t get in my way, I won’t get in theirs.”

  “So, now that that’s settled, why’d you want the missing persons’ files? We haven’t ID’d the girls yet. There are more missing persons then there are dead girls.”

  “Uh huh, but maybe we can rule out some of the missing based on type. These are just females, right?”

  “Twelve females, four males, and one transsexual. The one this morning was identified, but she hadn’t yet been reported missing.”

  “She was deaf, right? That’s what Aggie said.”

  “She was a sign language translator at the hospital. Her name was Jenna Matthews.”

  “Well, that may help,” he sighed. “Brennan, you can come back in here. Sheriff, this is my assistant, Ralph Brennan.”

  Ralph walked out of the back groom. “Sir?”

  “Brennan, good to see you working,” Nels said. “Yes, I know Mr. Brennan. I’m glad you’re putting his skills to good use, just don’t try hacking into my records. If you need somethin’, just ask.”

  “Well, now that you’re here,” Jake said. “We could use access to the street cameras, especially around here. A man dressed in a uniform probably from a hospital came here. Goddammit,” he quickly opened the folders of the missing persons and scanned each top sheet that gave vital information on the missing person. He closed the folder, and moved on to the next one, separating them into piles. “That’s it.”

  “What is it, Jake?”

  Jake looked at Ralph and then Olsen. “Nels, the victims, all of them worked at either General Memorial Hospital in Camden, or the associated Camden Urgent Care Clinic.”

  “What about Abrams?” Nels asked.

  “Not sure if he had a connection there, but he and his brother were former Rangers, and may be used just to get at me, ya know, being former Rangers.”

  “This Icarus is one sick man,” Nels sighed.

  “I know, and we haveta catch him. I don’t care if your men do it, or I do it myself, it has to be done.” Jake stood up and looked at Olsen. “Access?”

  “Just go ahead and do it,” he nodded to Ralph. “I give my permission. I better get back. Jake, if you find somethin’ ...”

  “I’ve got an idea, and if I catch him, you’ll be the first to know about it.”

  “Keep in touch,” Nels nodded and left the office.

  “Brennan, remember this is all confidential.”

  “Yes, sir, I know.”

  “I want that man’s face as soon as possible.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m on it,” he focused on his laptop as his finger caressed the keys, moving rapidly, as screens appeared and disappeared on his screen.

  Jake stared at the wall of previous victims and then shook his head. He tacked up a laminated roadmap of Caddo County, with Clarksville sitting in the center of it. He reviewed his notes that he took and placed red pins where the girls’ torsos were found, and then one green pin at his home, where Ted Abrams was found. He used a red marker to circle General Memorial Hospital in Camden, and then circled the Camden Urgent Care Clinic. He stepped back from the map and stared at it, noting that somethin’ was missing. He used a blue marker and circled Aggie’s home.

  Ralph stood up. “Uh, sir?”

  Jake turned around quickly. “What is it?”

  “I can write an algorithm to do what you’re doing.”

  “I’m sure you could, but there’s a pattern and I need to see it on this wall, not some dinky computer screen.”

  “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “No, it’s fine. I like that you have ideas on how to improve it around here or help me, but in this case, I haveta see the pattern, if there is one. This is the way that I work, but if you can do somethin’ on your computer that has all of these, maybe we could compare the two. I’m not averse to using the computer, ya know.”

  “I know, sir. I understand. What kind of pattern are you lookin’ for?”

  “Maybe a couple. It seems that he’s localized in this area,” he placed a large black circle around the area that contained all of the pins. “So, he either likes to hunt in this area, or he lives in this area, too. I need to see if there is a pattern to when he takes his victims, what his victims have in common more than their place of work, and when he takes the time to stalk Aggie.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, sir. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

  “First, though, your priority is to get those street cameras videos from earlier.”

  “Oh, I got them. Did you want me to review them first?”

  “No, send the feed to my computer, and I’ll review them. You said he was wearing a uniform?”

  “Had the hospital logo on it. Looked like a maintenance or janitor uniform, you know, blue shirt, and blue pants.”

  “Fine,” Jake rubbed his eyes. “I need a break and then I’ll take a look at the feed. I’ll be right back. I need some air,” he walked out of the agency and headed to his truck. He opened the bed of the truck and sat down on the edge. He pulled one of his cigars out of his pocket, and lit it. He took a deep puff and blew it out gently.

  14

  Jake watched as Aggie pulled into his driveway, and he slowly stood up. “Doc?”

  “You know, those will kill ya someday,” she smiled.

  “Uh huh,” he dropped the cigar butt on the ground, and pushed it into the cement with the toe of his boot. “What brings you here?”

  “Nels called me. He said you were workin’ on somethin’.”

  “Uh huh, but I needed a break. What brings you here? Did we plan on meeting and I forgot?”

  “He said he gave you the missing person’s files and you may have the IDs.”

  “I’m not sure, but I found a common link,” he said. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

  “Jake, you OK?”

  “Not really, but there is somethin’ else you should know.”

  “What’s that?”

  “He’s stalking the both of us,” he led her into the agency, holding the door for her.

  “Sir, I got him. I got him on the cameras. I printed out the photo. It’s not the best quality, but this is definitely the guy who delivered that envelope,” he handed the photo to Jake. “Hello, Dr. Constantine,” he nodded his head.

  Jake looked at the black and white photo, and then showed it to Aggie. “I don’t recognize him. Can you get a close up of his nametag?”

  “Yeah,” he sat behind his computer and tapped on the keys. “It says John. And there’s a hospital ID.”

  “Print those out for me, too. I’ve got someone at the hospital to talk with,” he looked at Aggie. “Do you recognize him?”

  “I try to pay attention to people around me, but I don’t really know. I mean, I don’t know. He works at the hospital? Does he work at the morgue, too? The morgue has a contract with the company that supplies staff to the hospital and the clinic. I don’t know if there are shared staff members.”

  “So, it’s not resources paid by the hospital, but an agency?” Jake as
ked.

  “I don’t know the name of the agency, but yeah. I can check.”

  “I’ll do that, thanks,” Jake said. “We better figure out who this guy is. He could be your stalker, or just a messenger.”

  “I wanna see the photos,” Aggie said. “The ones he sent you.”

  “I made copies and gave the rest to Olsen,” he sighed. “I am trusting the sheriff because you do. I’ve got no idea who else can be trusted.”

  “Even the detectives?”

  “I guess I just have bad luck trusting local LEOs.”

  “LEOs?” she asked, looking at Ralph, who shrugged.

  “Law enforcement officers,” he explained. “Doc, are you sure you wanna see the photos?”

  “What I want is to catch this Icarus, so half bodies stop ending up on my table, and I can date the man I really like without looking over my shoulder,” she stopped.

  “Date? You’re dating someone?” Jake sighed, taking a step back.

  “No, but I want to,” she sighed. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything,” she sat behind his desk. “Are these the photos?” she opened a folder on his desk. “Sorry, I just took over your space.”

  Jake sat on the edge of his desk. “Doc, it’s fine. And just for clarification?” He patted her hand.

  “I was talking about you, but it seems we can’t focus on our liking each for other ‘til this stalker is caught or dead,” she grunted. “He seems to be getting in our way.”

  “I’m sorry about that, but I agree,” he sighed. “I like you, too, Doc.”

  “I know,” she smirked, as she shuffled through the copies of the photos sent by Icarus. “I know.”

  Jake walked Aggie down the corridor toward her office, “Here you are, safe and sound,” He smiled.

  “You didn’t haveta follow me here and then walk me to my office. I am capable of taking care of myself.”

  “I know, and don’t take offense, please. Doc,” he looked in her eyes as he touched her cheek. “I just worry about you. I like worrying about you, so I’m gonna do it, whether you like it or not. There’s somethin’ about you, lady.”