Mind Switch (14 page)

The chief hadn’t called for Fred for three days since he knew in the short term that there would be no downward pressure exerted from the DA. However, this respite could not last since the theater murderer was still on the loose and it would not be long before the local paper would be calling for more expeditious and aggressive police work. That, of course, would set off the explosive chief once again.

When Jim entered his boss’ office, Fred had been looking out the window, focusing on nothing in particular. He turned his desk chair around, greeted Jim in a somber mood and confessed that he was frustrated and at a loss. “Jim, I have only had my promotion a few days and everything possible is breaking negatively around me. Maybe I should resign, get out of the force permanently and shift to teaching, dentistry or something else that is not life threatening. At times I feel that I am in a Charlie Chan movie where all types of things are simultaneously happening but none seem related. The only difference is that Chan always solved his cases and the solution came within an hour.”

Jim said, “Nonsense, Fred, you are the by far the best for the job. I will admit these cases are confusing; but if anyone can get to the bottom of them, you can.” The moment Jim uttered the words he knew he didn’t mean them, but he also knew that Fred desperately needed positive feedback.

Jim had spent over two days pulling the records of those killed in the theater. He had then compared it to the background of the victims from the bank, and brought his conclusions to Fred. What immediately stood out was that two of those killed, one from the theater and one from the bank, worked for a local company called Analysis Unlimited, or AU, as it was commonly known.

Fred said, “This may be another wild goose chase but it has to be checked out.”

“Come on, Fred, I really think the fact that two of those killed worked for the same company is pure coincidence.”

“I understand,” said Fred, “but suppose both melees were created to get rid of specific individuals and the others were killed just to obliterate the real objective?”

“Gees, that’s really far out. Both Slivers and the man responsible for the theater killings would have had to have been hired as hit men. I don’t know what the pay for a hit man is, but it would have to be significant; because both men would know if caught they would most likely face the chair. Besides Slivers doesn’t have any financial problems and he didn’t even run from the scene of the crime. It would be more logical to think that both these guys went off their rocker than to believe these crimes were planned.”

Fred had to agree, but he wanted the connection checked out anyway. At the moment, it was the only straw he could clutch at.

Fred and Jim spent the rest of the day researching all the company information they could glean. Neither could find anything of substance. The only background he found concerning the president of AU was that he had been an electronics salesman who had been stationed in Germany for an extended period during the 90’s. About five years ago he founded the company. That was all the information that any of the public records held. Fred said, “I’ll go over to the company and check it out in the morning. I’m troubled that the public records have such limited data on this company. In the interim I want to look at the DVD of the bank robbery one more time.”

Again he had Jan set it up. The three of them took another look at Slivers’ actions as he entered the bank. “Okay,” Fred directed, “please stop it just as Slivers first looks around the room.” The frame showed Slivers looking to his left first and then he paused.

 
“Stop it now,” Fred ordered. “Let’s see who he is focusing on as he looked to his left.” The view from the second video tape seemed to indicate that he was concentrating on the bank guard first and then someone to Slivers’ extreme left. By now they could link names to the identity of the victims appearing on the DVD.

Fred said, “The first man killed was the bank guard and he was most likely eliminated because he was armed and a potential threat to Slivers, but the second man was a Mr. Alfred Long. He was one of the two men employed by AU who was killed, one in the bank and the other in the theater.”

Jim, still not buying Fred’s hypothesis said, “How can you possibly prove that Long was the only victim in the bank that was earmarked to be eliminated? Just because Slivers started aiming and shooting in one direction shortly after he entered the bank, in the end, means nothing.”

Fred said, “Good point, Jim; however, I believe I just thought of a way to prove my theory. Meanwhile, notice that a woman is standing just to Mr. Long’s right. Let’s restart the DVD to see what Slivers does now with respect to that woman.”

A few more frames were viewed when Fred said, “Stop! Notice that Slivers paused after he shot Long. During the time he paused he shifted his weapon to the right of the woman standing next to Long and then started firing again. I believe he intentionally did not shoot at the woman.”

They continued to run the DVD; and with each pause in firing there was a woman in the line of fire; it appeared to Fred that Slivers had paused to try to miss them.

“But some of the people injured were women,” Jan said.

“That’s true, Fred replied, “But none of the women were killed, and all of those women who were wounded sustained only minor injuries. Remember, Slivers was not an expert marksman; and even though I believe he tried to miss the women, considering his inaccuracy and lack of familiarity with the weapon he was holding, he couldn’t insure that he could always accomplish his objective.”

“So,” Jan said, “Mr. Slivers is a compassionate killer? Isn’t that something like a compassionate conservative?”

The sting in Jan’s liberal remark didn’t miss Fred. “Jan, this is not the time for politics.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” She couldn’t hold back her smile.

Jim said, “Well, now I’m curious. How you can prove that the murderer in the theater intended all along to kill an AU employee?”

“Give me a little time and I believe I can show you a way to prove it!”

Chapter 28

The next morning Fred was in the station hallway when he was approached by Jim. Jim asked if he had heard about the jewel robbery on Longboat Key. “No,” Fred said, “I’m afraid I’ve been busy with other matters.”

“Well,” Jim said, “there’s not much to tell except one of those society people was robbed of over $500,000 worth of jewels. We just got the call and were waiting for you to assign someone to the case. You probably remember the woman, Judith Emperor. She is the one that donates a million each year to the care and maintenance of feral cats.”

“Tell you what,” Fred said, “you deserve a break today. How about you go out to see Mrs. Emperor and then brief me on what you find out.”

While Jim was gone, for what seemed like the hundredth time, Fred went over the facts of the case. Fred had a strong gut feeling that someone beyond Slivers was responsible for the massacre. Nothing really pointed to that conclusion and it was incompatible even with the plausible multiple personality theory of Maureen’s. As far as motive, Slivers did not seem to have any motive to kill any of them. Even his selection of the bank was out of the ordinary. The closest bank was just across the street from Slivers’ office. He in fact passed that bank on the way to the County Bank where he had committed the murders. There had to be some reason Slivers had chosen the County Bank. The fact that he had passed other banks on the way to his killing spree would tend to mean Slivers did not have a vendetta about the banking industry or the financial world in general. Otherwise, he would have selected the bank closest to his office.

Fred had just finished his baloney and peanut butter sandwich and was sipping his no calorie, no caffeine, and no sugar soft drink when Jim popped in his office. Jim said, “I still don’t understand why you don’t just drink water, since you’re getting absolutely nothing from that concoction.”

Fred ignored the comment and asked, “How did you make out at Longboat Key?”

“Well,” said Jim, “my preliminary investigation is not over since the fingerprint people were still at the house taking prints when I left. Mrs. Emperor said she hadn’t even been out of the house for a week; and the last time she was out she only went shopping, and took a short side trip to see her therapist. So she has no idea how her jewels could have been stolen from her home.”

Thinking Maureen might have some connection to this therapist, Fred asked Jim, “Just out of curiosity, what was the name of Mrs. Emperor’s therapist?”

Jim thought for a second and then said, “I don’t know. I believe she said a Mr.—gee, I can’t remember, didn’t seem to have any bearing on what happened.”

Fred said quizzically, “You mean he goes by ‘Mr.’? Then maybe he’s not even a medical doctor?”

Jim responded, “No, I guess not—oh, I remember now, her therapist is a Mr. Ford.”

Fred found it strange that someone without a degree could pose as a therapist. Oh well, he thought, I’ll ask Maureen about that. Laws and rules are dynamic and maybe someone without the requisite education can practice mental therapy on a limited basis. At any rate that potential illegality pales by comparison to what we have in front of us with these two murder cases. Maybe a decade from now, when we have time on our hands we will check it out.

Chapter 29

It was early Friday morning. Most people would be looking forward to the upcoming weekend; but with Fred’s extended hours it was just another work day that ran seamlessly together with other work days.

Fred checked the address of AU; it was less than four blocks from the station. He called the number provided in the yellow pages and received a very curt recorded voice response. “Hello, this is the Analysis Unlimited Company. Our office is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.”

Fred looked at his watch—15 minutes to 8. Needing some calorie burner to offset the scrambled eggs, three sausage patties and the two pieces of toast he had for breakfast, he decided to walk to the building. He strode down Main Street in the opposite direction from where he had been knocked to the ground a few days earlier. When he reached Orange Avenue, he took a left; and a few buildings from the corner stood a modern white stucco structure housing Analysis Unlimited.

The front of the building was devoid of any type of design except for a three-headed dog. Fred assumed it represented the mythical three-headed dog that guards the gates of hell. A strange symbol, Fred thought. Fred intentionally had not contacted anyone from the business in advance of his visit. He reasoned that as a policeman investigating two murder cases, he would be granted immediate access to all personnel records that might shed a light on the investigation. He checked his watch again. It was now 8:02. The office should be open by now.

Just beyond the front door an attractive blonde manned a richly decorated walnut desk situated in the center of the lobby. Her black and white nameplate revealed that she was Donna Lang. On the desk rested a computer, a monitor and a larger than normal phone, housing at least 10 buttons. The lobby was painted gleaming bright white, almost painful to the eyes; two large abstract garish paintings hung on the wall. Other than the desk, and the paintings, the lobby was totally Spartan. There were no chairs, tables or any decorations other than the things which were on the receptionist’s desk. Fred guessed that either guests were not welcome in this strange establishment, or they were immediately escorted to their business counterparts without the need to spend time relaxing in the outer area.

To the left and behind the receptionist was a huge security guard. Most office guards that Fred had come across provided more symbolic than real security. They generally were neither interested in their work, nor were they physically capable of neutralizing most intruders. At any rate, their traditionally low pay made it unlikely they would risk bodily harm in defense of their employer. However, the one guarding the only door to the business operations was extremely muscular, highly alert and focused from the moment Fred entered the lobby.

The blonde receptionist did not look up. On her desk immediately in front of her was some type of formula (e = hf).

“Looks like you’re doing your algebra homework,” Fred said.

Miss Lang was startled, because in her concentration she had not seen him enter. Without looking up she said, “No, I wish; I flunked algebra twice, this is a note from our Science Division. I just took a moment to think about it but it’s all Greek to me. It’s just gobbledygook. In the mode I’m in today, I just don’t have enough energy to begin to understand what these eggheads are all about. I guess I won’t strain my brain trying to think about it.”

“That might be the best course of action,” Fred said in agreement. “By the way, where is your pet dog, Cerberus hiding?”

“Pet dog? We don’t have a pet dog. Mr. Schultz doesn’t allow any dogs in here. Did you see one?”

Obviously she was not familiar with the mythical dog Cerberus, so Fred decided not to press his flat joke. “No, sorry, I was mistaken.”

“Actually, I do have a Scottie at home; his name is Kerber because that’s the type of dog food that he eats.”

Miss Lang continued to focus on the algebraic symbols, looking even more confused. “Well, that sure makes no sense to me. Why use some letters to represent other letters?”