The Perfect Death (21 page)

Read The Perfect Death Online

Authors: James Andrus

THIRTY-EIGHT
John Stallings had worked almost nonstop after leaving the crime scene at Lexie Hanover's apartment the day before. He'd taken a few hours to go home and grab something to eat and sleep. He called Maria, hoping she might invite him to spend the night back at the family's house, but when he reached her she was back to being aloof. When he called the house earlier in the day, Lauren answered and said her mom was “out.” His daughter didn't elaborate on the statement and didn't sound happy to be delivering the message. Stallings didn't have time right now to dissect his wife's emotions.
Right now Stallings had to focus on finding Daniel Byrd. The rest of the squad was busy with the standard post-homicide tasks. Sergeant Zuni had a knack for using everyone according to their strengths. Patty was trying to find any link among the victims on the Internet or through employment. Other detectives were conducting wide canvasses of the neighborhoods around the homicides. Tony Mazzetti was dealing with the medical examiner and coordinating the tremendous amount of information that came in from a group effort like this. And Sparky Taylor did the things that required cold, objective analysis or anything that kept him away from Tony Mazzetti.
Stallings had already gotten over Sparky's visit to the sergeant. These were the times and not every cop thought like him. Now Sparky was basking in the glow of finding a chemical on the windowsill of Lexie Hanover's apartment that an entire crime scene team had missed. Stallings understood how something like that could happen. This was not some clean Hollywood soundstage; this was real life. Police and crime scene investigators were human beings subject to all the failings of any human being.
When he thought of things like this, Stallings wondered if he had attended one too many Narcotics Anonymous meetings with Maria. But it was true. Cops made mistakes. The thing no one ever considered was just how few mistakes they made in the big scheme of things. Every time a convicted criminal was exonerated through DNA or some other means, it made headlines across the country. But those headlines failed to mention anything about the millions upon millions of arrests that helped protect the community and keep criminals off the streets. In this case, Sparky's hyperattention to policy had proved to be extremely beneficial.
Sergeant Zuni had given Stallings the quiet okay to do what he had to do in order to find Daniel Byrd. She wasn't like some supervisors who wanted plausible deniability. If he screwed up in some incredible way she was the kind of supervisor who wouldn't leave him out to dry. The last thing he wanted to do was jeopardize someone's career.
So Stallings had spent last evening and all day today checking construction sites and using his veritable army of informants to scour the streets of Jacksonville for one scrawny ex-con. Somehow he knew it'd be his secret weapon, super snitch Peep Moran, who would come through with the information. He had responded to a text message from the diminutive, slightly creepy street hustler asking to meet him near the spot they had first met three years ago.
He found one of the secret holes Peep had created in the hedges to view women urinating. It was amazing how often it happened and more amazing someone wanted to see it. Stallings could put up with almost anything if he could stop this killer.
Stallings leaned against the low wall where Peep was sitting quietly. Neither of them looked at the other, preferring to speak straight ahead in case someone noticed Jacksonville's most feared cop talking to one of Jacksonville's most detested perverts.
“You still staying off your own product?”
“Well, see, it's like this ...”
“You just told me everything I need to know. When'd you start using again?”
Peep scratched his head and wiped his nose with his fingers. “I think I started using Saturday and never laid off. Monday morning had to go back to work. Things have gotten really hazy for a couple of days. But I've been out asking about your man Daniel Byrd.”
“What do you got?”
“He's not real well liked on the street. No one gets very specific. No one has any clue where he stays. Looks like he has cribs all over the city.”
Stallings nodded slowly, looking straight ahead. “That's all stuff I know already, Peep. You have to work a lot harder if you want to earn a living like this.”
“Who says I want to earn a living being a snitch? I just want you to leave me alone if I do you a favor now and then.”
“You haven't even provided me with enough information to leave you alone.”
For the first time he turned and looked at Stallings. A crooked smile crept across his face. “Maybe I haven't told you everything.”
Now Stallings faced his informant. “Maybe I left you alone for too long.” To make his point Stallings cracked his knuckles so loudly a woman walking by on the sidewalk stopped and stared at him.
Peep said, “Seriously, I have some real information on Daniel Byrd. But it's gonna cost you.”
Stallings was not opposed to fair and equitable trade. “It depends on good how the information is, but I'm sure I can come up with something.”
“A hundred bucks and a free pass the next time I get caught.”
“Get caught doing what?”
“That's the idea of a free pass. You got enough juice at JSO to get me out of almost any trouble I can get into. I'm saying this information is good enough for you to give me out of the jam and pay me a hundred dollars right now.”
“I'll get you off of anything that's nonviolent and doesn't involve kids. Basically means you can have any minor drug offenses.”
Peep considered the offer. “Daniel Byrd lays low all the time. But he's got to collect his last paycheck at a construction site downtown. He's picking it up tonight before the construction manager leaves the office about nine o'clock.” Peep smiled smugly and waited for Stallings's response.
“How on earth did you get all that?”
“A good professional never reveals his methods.”
Stallings had to pat the smaller man on the shoulder and say, “If this is good information you earned your pay and a free pass.”
“Detective Stallings, this is so good you'll have to take me to a fancy restaurant. I'd like to go to Chili's over near Jacksonville Landing.”
Stallings laughed out loud, already thinking about who'd help him tonight at the construction site.
 
 
Patty Levine had only one flight of stairs to worry about after being summoned to the Internal Affairs office. There were so many things they could question her about that she couldn't focus or prepare for any one line of questioning. The notice to appear in the Internal Affairs office had been so swift Patty had been unable to find Sergeant Zuni. She had managed to fire off a text message as she stomped up the stairs. This was exactly how these IA guys worked: they caused your anxiety to rise and let you consider every policy infraction you could've possibly violated, hoping you'd confess to some minor violation. Patty didn't have time for this kind of shit this morning. Everyone in the squad was pushing themselves to the limit trying to find the killer of three young women in the city. She hated the idea that someone would distract her from that job.
As soon as she walked through the single, solid wooden door and looked into the spacious, comfortable office of senior IA investigator Ronald Bell she knew exactly what the problem was.
Sitting on a short couch on the back wall was the small Hispanic man Patty had hit with her car two days ago. He had a sling over one arm and a neck brace as he smiled and gave her a little wave. Sitting next to him was a sour-looking young man in an expensive suit with gaudy gold rings and gold Rolex knockoff.
Ronald Bell motioned her into the office and said, “You probably remember Mr. Alvarez, and this is his attorney, Scott Miller.”
Patty realized it wasn't going to get any better from this point on.
 
 
Buddy was not familiar with this end of the hospital. The Jacksonville branch of the Shands hospital was nothing compared to the main teaching hospital in Gainesville. But it was still a giant and complex building north of the main downtown. He thought he knew his way around most of the hospital, but now he was flirting with the idea of walking past the pediatric endocrinology unit where Katie Massa worked.
It was safe to walk past it now because she didn't get to work for another few hours. Buddy didn't want anyone to recognize his face if there were questions asked later. Mainly he wanted to get a feel for the work that Katie did, to evaluate her worthiness to enter his work of art.
He had a pass that showed the time he had arrived. No one ever checked what time a visitor left. That wouldn't be an issue at all if it came up later. So many people came and went in this medical facility that it would take a lifetime to check each and every one of them out.
Buddy checked his watch and realized he had to hustle down to the main floor. He didn't feel up to taking the stairs three floors so he waited for the painfully slow elevator. As soon as he stepped off on the first floor a young internist dressed sharply in the white coat with a blue University of Florida Gator tie said, “Hey, Buddy.”
Buddy smiled and nodded to the young doctor. Maybe an alibi if necessary later on.
His plan was to leave, keep his pass, and come back later tonight when Katie was working. He was certain there were several places they could go to be alone at a facility this size. First he had some jobs to check on and he needed to pick up a check at a site downtown.
He'd definitely be back later.
THIRTY-NINE
John Stallings and Tony Mazzetti had purposely left Sparky Taylor out of the loop. Daniel Byrd was a long shot but one they could take without interrupting the investigation much. He also recruited Patty Levine. Each of them drove their own county-issued cars so they could set up on surveillance at the construction site for a long time. It was the kind of plan Stallings appreciated: short, sweet, simple. He wished life could be as easily defined. Instead, tonight he'd spend long hours alone in his car trying to figure out what his latest offense to Maria was. Since her call after finding Jeanie's diary and spending the night huddled against Stallings's shoulder, she'd barely spoken to him and had been out of the house more than she'd been home. He didn't know what to make of it but couldn't stop thinking about her.
He was also worried about Patty Levine. He knew she'd had a minor accident a couple of days ago and she told him that Ronald Bell had questioned her about not telling anyone what had happened. Patty also said he had asked her a few questions about the fight in the squad bay and if she'd seen what had happened to one of the bundles of pills the detectives were putting into evidence. She said the inquiry was casual, but Stallings didn't trust the son of a bitch any more than he'd trust the president of Iran.
The entire sheriff's office had followed the progress of the detective injured in the fight. He had suffered serious head trauma but appeared to be recovering. Stallings had heard that the detective had large gaps in his memory and drugs were missing from the seizure. The narcotics guys had already been questioned and any moron could see the next step would be interviewing every crime/persons detective who'd been present during the fight. It was nothing that bothered Stallings, but he felt anxiety for Patty. He wasn't quite sure why. She'd seemed distracted over the past month. He had his own problems but always tried to stay tuned in to his partner. God knew she'd been a huge help to him over the last few years.
But now Stallings wanted to focus on finding the jerkweed Daniel Byrd. Nothing indicated that this was a guy who contributed to society in any way. When someone like Peep Moran looks down on you, you're not scoring too high on the social ladder. Stallings didn't care what it would take to catch this guy. He had an idea they'd be successful.
 
 
Katie Massa was in a pretty good mood. Often when she left her son with her mother, Tyler would cry as she walked out the door. It drained and distracted her at work when she needed to concentrate on helping the kids on the ward. But tonight Tyler waved a cheerful good-bye and she felt very comfortable leaving him until she was able to roll home about eight o'clock in the morning. This was the first day of her three-day schedule and she knew she'd have plenty of energy to make it through the shift. It was the middle day that caused her problems. On the third and final day of her schedule she was looking forward to four days off to do whatever she wanted. About every three weeks she and Tyler would take the two-and-a-half-hour drive down to Orlando and visit one of the theme parks. She had an annual pass to Disney, MGM, and SeaWorld. Often she'd leave it up to Tyler where he wanted to go as they drove into Orlando. Sometimes he wanted to go see the big fish, Shamu. But sometimes he wanted to see the big mouse, Mickey.
Katie wanted to give Tyler a magical childhood, and she felt like she got a good start on it by taking him on these quick trips. She knew in a few years he wouldn't want to spend as much time with his mother. Katie was determined that the memories Tyler had of spending time with her would be fun and beautiful.
One of the few regrets she had since her divorce was that she would like to have another child close enough in age for Tyler to play with him or her. He'd be a great big brother. But he was already four and she had no real prospects for a man in her life.
She did like Buddy, the guy who had turned her on to the downloaded crosswords from the
New York Times.
He had a very warm smile and friendly manner and she could tell he was intelligent. She wasn't real clear about what he did for a living but knew it was in the construction industry. He'd mentioned that he owned his own glass company, but she wasn't sure if that meant windows or something more artistic like etching. She'd given him her phone number. Something she didn't do very often.
Katie hoped he'd call her. It'd been some time since she'd gone out on a date. She wasn't even necessarily interested in sex, just some adult conversation with a few drinks. It seemed like the last year the only adult conversation she had was hearing about her mother's conflict with her elderly neighbors.
She came in the hospital through the employee entrance in the rear of Shands and said hello to the lone security guard, who rarely got off a specially reinforced stool near the door. She often wondered why the hospital didn't put the security guard in the lobby with the public coming in and out, instead of the elderly female volunteers who seldom asked for identification and could barely hear the requests for the room numbers of patients.
She skipped the elevator altogether and took the rear stairwell to pediatric endocrinology on the fourth floor. There were five babies on the ward tonight under two years old. If she did nothing else but comfort them and make one of them giggle she felt like she had accomplished a lot both as a person and as a nurse.
She wished every day was like today.
 
 
Tony Mazzetti was already agitated when they set up a three-car surveillance around the construction site in downtown Jacksonville. Stallings explained that a reliable informant had said Byrd would pick up his paycheck around nine o'clock. That didn't bother Mazzetti; what he was pissed off about was that the man running the finances of the construction site was
his
informant, Joey Big Balls. Joey had known he was looking for Daniel Byrd and hadn't said anything. It was some passive-aggressive bullshit that guys like Joey got off on. Mazzetti lived by a code that included punishing people who double-crossed him. Something terrible would have to happen to Joey Big Balls. Mazzetti wished Joey was still on parole so he could get him violated, if he could get one of the lazy-assed parole officers to fill out the paperwork and go before a judge. With his latest experience at the parole office, he doubted he'd get that to happen.
The other thing bothering Mazzetti was his quickly deteriorating relationship with Patty Levine. She had been cordial and professional as they prepared to go out on surveillance, but when he asked if she would like a ride to his car with she said, “We'll probably need at least three cars after. I'll take my own.” It was the professional and right thing to do but not what she would've said two weeks ago. If that wasn't a clear signal that his girlfriend didn't want to spend any more time with him, nothing was.
Mazzetti had told Stallings if they saw Byrd, to allow him to walk into the trailer so that Mazzetti could confront Joey Big Balls too. He recognized Stallings was not one of those detectives you had to explain everything to in great detail. For a jerk and an asshole he was pretty bright.
Mazzetti needed time away from the massive crush of leads and the constant requests for updates by the command staff of JSO. This was a perfect little job for the evening.
Stallings monitored a handheld radio that had been rendered almost obsolete by new, reliable cell phones. But nothing could replace radio's ability to broadcast information to more than one person at a time. When conducting a surveillance or in a chase, it was vital to let every other unit know exactly where you were and what you were doing. It was important to be able to broadcast what kind of threat the suspect posed. If they were armed and dangerous. If there was an active warrant. Or if they were mentally unstable. A cop had to approach each situation differently, and getting the right information was imperative.
Tonight the three detectives from the crimes/persons squad were on a rarely used frequency that was not monitored by dispatch. That meant they could speak more casually and say things they normally wouldn't say over the radio. This included somewhat idle chatter while they waited for Daniel Byrd.
Stallings heard the crackle of static before Mazzetti said, “The second he steps into the trailer we'll move in. Simple, clean, and quick.”
Stallings had to chuckle. Experience had taught him nothing was ever clean, quick, or simple. That's why he always tried to stay prepared mentally and said out loud to nobody, “Is today the day that changes the rest of my life?” As he said it, he reached down with his right hand and felt his Glock Model 22 .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol tucked snugly into his Safariland holster on his right hip. He also had an ASP expandable baton in the rear left pocket of his jeans. He was too old to worry about punching people if he had something hard he could strike them with instead. But it was still his hope that Byrd would surrender without an argument. While he was hoping, he wanted Byrd to also confess to three murders and help them find Leah Tischler while he was at it. Those were the kind of wishes Stallings would ask if anyone ever cared.
Over the course of forty-five minutes a number of vehicles had rolled into and out of the lot directly in front of the administration trailer on the site of the renovation of one of Jacksonville's older but more elegant office buildings.
At nine o'clock a truck rumbled to a stop directly in front of the trailer. Stallings caught a glimpse of the driver as he jumped down, leaving the truck running, and entered the trailer without knocking.
Stallings reached for the radio when he heard Mazzetti say, “That's our man, that's our man, let's go.” The homicide detective had a tinge more excitement in his voice than normal. He liked to see passion in police officers. Even a jerk-off like Mazzetti.
Stallings didn't rush as he put his Impala in drive and rolled across the parking lot a little faster than a jog. Mazzetti peeled up limestone dust as he skidded across the lot, struggling to maintain control of his big Ford Crown Vic. Patty followed Stallings's lead and did the smartest thing she could've, waited in the lot. Stallings and Mazzetti reached the front door of the trailer at the same time.
Mazzetti drew his gun and said, “I don't care if this is just an interview. This asshole has a long record and has been hard to find.”
Stallings agreed but left his gun in his holster as he pulled open the door. Stallings scanned the entire trailer but only saw an older, heavyset man sitting behind a desk.
Mazzetti looked at the man and said, “Where'd he go?”
The man said, “Who?”
Then Stallings heard the truck as it kicked shell and dust into the trailer.
Mazzetti scowled at the man behind the desk and said, “I won't forget this, Joey.”
The man just shrugged.

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