The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles (16 page)

A
vehicle pulled up
outside Shaw’s office. Shaw turned, and glanced outside. The car had “County
Sheriff” sign written down the side. He stooped down, and picked up his phone
pad off of the floor, then put it back on the desk. Shaw huffed. The last thing
he needed was visitors. Walking over to his mirror, he fastened his top shirt
button and straightened his tie. He headed for the front door and opened it as
the county sheriff climbed out of his car. Gyp slipped past him, ran into the
office, and then ran out again, bounding up the stairway, carrying his trophy
rag in his mouth.

“Morning, Brett.”

“Good Morning, what brings you over here?”

“You know....”

Shaw didn’t know. He walked over to his mailbox and took out
a letter.

“Just came for a chat. See how things are,” he said and they
shook hands.

“Coffee’s fresh, come on in,” said Shaw.

His mind raced as he made his way to his desk and sat. The
county sheriff was unlikely to have travelled a distance just to chat. Shaw
chewed on his Biro top. The county sheriff put his hat on the stand and walked
over to pour a coffee.

“So how’s the case progressing with the vet?”

“Fine, just waiting for forensics and the autopsy report.
Then I can start following up leads.”

The county sheriff pulled up a chair to the desk and sat
facing Shaw. He took a sip of his coffee, not taking his eyes off Shaw.

“Anything we can help with?”

“No, I’ll manage.”

The county sheriff rested an elbow on the desk and stroked
his chin.

“You sure? Only I’ve had a phone call. Seems a though there
may be a health question to resolve.”

“Hell, you’re not here to have a go about the burger van.”

The county sheriff laughed and sat back.

“No, not public health. Your health. The burger van was a
smart move, even though it had us all laughing back at county.”

Shaw noticed his pulse rate increase. His contract called
for immediate termination on health grounds if it meant his mind would be
impaired. Grimes wouldn’t need three months’ notice for an election. Shaw
wondered which spiteful townie was stirring trouble for him. The last thing he
wanted was to be suspended. He’d lose all access to police records to follow up
on Ted, and whatever or who was behind the vet’s death.

“My health’s fine.”

“So you’re not drinking?”

Shaw hesitated, but he was thankful that he could tell the
truth.

“No, I’m not.” He leaned forward and breathed out. “Can you
smell drink?”

“Well, no.”

Shaw held out his hands.

“Are my hands shaking?”

“Hell, no.”

“There you are then.”

“Listen, you know how it is, nothing personal, but we have a
job to do. I’ve arranged for a medical on Wednesday.” He reached into his
jacket pocket and handed Shaw a sealed envelope. “The details are in there.”

Shaw racked his mind for who may have the most to gain if he
was unable to follow up on the vet’s death.

“Who called you? It would have to be someone you’d take
notice of to arrange the medical without talking to me first.”

“You know I can’t say.”

“It’s the mayor isn’t it, Ed Grimes.”

He didn’t have to answer. It was there in his eyes, and an
uncomfortable shuffle on his seat.

“Listen, you look fine to me, so there’s no question of
suspension. But you know the rules. Just take the medical.”

“Is that all?”

“Well, yeah, try not to take it to heart. We all have to
face politics interfering in our jobs. It goes with the badge.”

His words were as near to an answer as he needed. The county
sheriff rose from his seat and offered his hand. Shaw took his hand and they
shook.

“Right, I’ll let you get on with business,” the county sheriff
said, and releasing his grip, he walked over to retrieve his hat from the stand,
then ambled out through the door.

Shaw heard the outside door open and then close. He closed
his eyes, then buried his head in his hands. Shaw felt something nudging his
leg and looked down. He saw Gyp, still holding the rag. He patted his dog on
the head.

“We won’t let them beat us, will we, boy?”

Gyp dropped his rag comforter. Shaw picked up the rag and
placed in on his desk. Gyp settled at his feet, as if sensing it wasn’t game
time. The Brett Shaw in him wanted to march over to the main street and to
punch Ed Grimes, telling him to stick the sheriff’s badge up is ass. Luckily,
the sheriff in him took precedence. Cuffing him now and giving him a little
jail time in his drunk tank would be revenge. He needed more facts before he
knew it would be worth bringing him in for questioning.

He glanced at the letter on his desk. It had the logo ‘Elton
Investments’ printed on the front. The contents could be his ticket out of
there. He opened the envelope and read the statement. It wasn’t what he’d
expected. His five-year investment from the proceeds of the sale of his home in
LA, and the money from his wife’s life insurance, had netted him a profit one
dollar and fifty-two cents. A least it wasn’t a loss. There was enough to see
Amy through university, with enough to buy a home back in LA. But it wasn’t the
pot of gold that he’d hoped for. He couldn’t think about retiring just yet.
Getting fired wouldn’t help with any plans he may come up with for his future.
He’d need references.

Shaw stood and walked over to his filing cabinet. The drawer
screeched open as he tugged at the handle. Dipping his hand behind a row of
files, he pulled out his JD bottle. He opened it, and put the neck opening to
his nose. Shaw could have downed what remained in one at the smell of an old
familiar aroma. He wanted to down it in one. Instead, he replaced the top and
headed upstairs to his bedroom. He opened his closet and retrieved a second
bottle from inside a shoebox. Turning to his bed, he knelt and fished out
another bottle from underneath. He walked to the kitchen sink, then emptied the
contents of them all down the drain, discarding the empties in the garbage bin.

“Right Mr. Ted, or whatever your name is, let’s find out
what game you’re playing.”

He walked with a sense of purpose back to his office. Firing
up his computer, he took a seat at his desk. Shaw accessed criminal records and
typed in the name, Stewart Harvey. He filled in the date of birth section, and
then rested his finger on the mouse with the cursor on the screen hovering over
the send icon. He clicked the mouse and waited. The message came back with
nothing found, but at the bottom of the screen, he noticed a flashing FBI link.
He activated the link. A page appeared with Stewart Harvey’s image smiling back
at him. It was Ted and no mistake. Above the picture there was a caption.

“Wanted for questioning in connection with hacking
government agency computers and fraud,” he read aloud.

He saw a telephone number and a reference number below his
image. Shaw jotted it down on his call list and closed the screen to open his e-mails.
His e-mail file was empty. He looked at his list of calls to make and
interviews to arrange. They were all at least a day early. He needed the
forensics report before the most important interviews. Chances were that they
hadn’t received the outlet valve from the fire investigator to check for
prints. Shaw clicked on the FBI icon to bring their page back on screen. The
guy grinning before his eyes had made a fool of his daughter. Calling the FBI
and denying him the pleasure of taking into custody didn’t appeal to Shaw’s
sense of personal justice. It wasn’t as though he was a murderer on the loose,
and lives depended on his capture. In any event, Amy was out of his clutches
until Tuesday. In Shaw’s mind, it was time to pay him a visit.

Gyp wasn’t for moving. Shaw set off to his car, and then
headed to Amy’s boyfriends home. His mind hit autopilot on the short journey.
He braked gently. A row of mailboxes signaled he had arrived. Shaw turned onto
the narrow graveled road. Set in woodland, there was a group of ten or so log
cabins at spacious intervals, mostly rented by tourists in the summer months.
The one he was looking for was further along and set on the hillside. The road
turned into a rutted track along a gentle slope, and then leveled out with a
gravel parking lot to the front of the cabin. If he was at home, Shaw knew that
Ted would hear him arrive. Shards of stones pinged off the underneath of his
car as he came to a halt. There was a familiar white pickup outside in need of
a wash, but no black SUV. Shaw climbed out of his car. He could hear the sound
of someone hammering around back. Shaw ambled around to the back yard. Mike
from the hardware store was driving a nail into a length of picket fence.

“Hi, Sheriff,” he said, and stopped work, wiping his rag
across his brow. “You any nearer on finding out what caused the vet’s death.”

“Still waiting for the autopsy report. Where’s Ted?”

“LA. Not due back until Tuesday.”

Shaw noted the coincidence.

“Has he taken his dog with him?”

“No, he’s gotten rid of it. Says he was tired of it breaking
out through the fence, and his girlfriend didn’t like it. Says it scared the
crap outta her. I don’t think his neighbors were too pleased either. That’s why
I’m here fixing his fence and installing cameras. Says he only kept the dog for
security.”

“What breed was it?”

“Mixed. Not sure with what. Nasty old thing it was. Maybe a
cross between a Husky and the devil, or whatever. Its bright-blue eyes were
damned spooky, I’ll tells ya that. Lived out back here.”

“Was it a big dog?”

“Bigger than a German Shepherd and stockier. Way stockier.
Around a hundred and forty pounds of pure muscle I’d say. Why?”

“Just wondered what it was that scared my daughter that’s
all. She usually likes dogs.”

“Oh, sorry. So Ted’s seeing Amy?”

He didn’t need reminding.

“Yeah, you could say that. Did he say why he was going to
LA?”

“Just said he had business to attend.”

Shaw wondered if that business included seeing Amy.

“Is the door open? I could do to use the bathroom.”

“Yeah, I don’t think he’ll mind. Hell’s teeth, you’re almost
one of the family. Watch the wiring though. I haven’t finished installing the
cameras.”

He scoffed inwardly at the ‘family’ remark. It was a stark
reminder of how things could have played out. Shaw opened the picket fence gate
and walked in through the back door. He passed through the kitchen and into the
living area. Stepping on a rug in front of a log-burning stove, the floorboards
creaked. He entered a corridor at the far side of the room and noticed three
doors. A bedroom door and the bathroom door were open. He walked to the closed
door and grabbed the handle. It was locked.

Shaw stepped into the bathroom, flushed the toilet, then
headed back to the living area. He expected someone of his age to have it
furnished as a man cave. It wasn’t ostentatious for an alleged fraudster. Shaw
glanced around. There was an old pine dining table and chairs, together with a
brown leather sofa that had seen better days. Something was missing that would
have made it a home. There were no photographs, or mementos anywhere in sight. No
stacks of mail tucked on any shelves. For someone supposedly adept with
computers, there wasn’t even a laptop in the room. Shaw hurried outside.

“Thanks, Mike. Appreciated.”

Shaw wiped his hands down his pants for effect. Mike tipped
a salute, then carried on hammering. His cell phone rang as he walked to his
car. Shaw dipped his hand in his jacket pocket and took out his phone. Frank’s
name appeared on the screen and he answered.

“Hi, Frank. Why not use the radio?”

Frank’s reply garbled as he lost his signal and then it
returned.

“I have a witness. Didn’t want it broadcasting—”

“Frank... Frank, Damn.”

With the signal lost, he climbed onto his seat. His radio
speaker crackled.

“Red Fox two to, Blue Leader, see you at base around twelve thirty,
over.”

“Rodger that, Blue Leader, over and out.”

Shaw turned the key in the ignition.
A witness to what?

MONDAY
, twelve o’ clock. Amy and Louise approached the
IN-N-OUT burger bar on Gayley Avenue a short walk from the UCLA Medical Center.
They could hardly miss it from the description they had been given, with its
bright red and yellow painted, modern angular architecture. They entered
through the glass door and stood in line at the counter.

“What do you want?” Amy asked.

“Not sure. Maybe I’ll have a double cheeseburger, large
fries, and a strawberry milkshake. No, make that a single with small fries. I
want to look my best for when Johno awakes.”

“Sounds good, I’ll have the same.”

Amy gave their order to the cashier.

“Why do you think the surgeon wanted to see Johno’s parents?”
Amy said.

“I don’t know, but we’ll soon find out when we meet them
outside the hospital. Are you still going back to your Aunt Mary’s when I go
with them to book into the hotel?”

“Yeah, the blue bus stops outside the hospital. I’m seeing
Ted late tonight and he’s taking me back home in the morning. But this
afternoon, I need to spend time with Auntie. I love to hear all the stories
about Mom when they were growing up.”

“Yeah, I heard some of them yesterday. It sounds like you
and me when they were younger.”

They picked up their order from the counter and walked
outside.

“There’s an empty table on the terrace. Let’s sit there,”
Louise said.

Amy pulled out a chair and sat opposite Louise. She studied
Louise. Her face was drained of color, and the whites of her eyes were
bloodshot. The stress was there for all to see.

“Listen, are you sure you don’t mind me going back tomorrow?
I’d see you tonight, but it’s such a distance,” said Amy.

“No, honestly, I’ll be fine. Johno’s mom was saying this
morning that his dad is going home tomorrow afternoon, because he has to work.
I think she’s angling for me to go with him. It was an awkward conversation
really, but she made sense. She was saying that it’s not like we’re waiting for
him to come out of his coma unaided and our voices may help. I don’t think the
nurses like us being their either.”

“Yeah, I got that feeling once they induced the coma. So do
you think you’ll go home tomorrow?” Amy said.

“Not sure. I mean she makes sense, but still—” Amy noticed
Louise’s eyes moisten as she faltered. “It... it feels as though I’d be
deserting him.”

Louise used her napkin to dry her eyes. Amy reached out,
took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“You could come back with Ted and me. Let me know what you
decide.”

“I will,” Louise said, and then nibbled on a single fry.

“Not hungry?”

“No, my stomach’s churning. I know he’s in safe hands, but I
can’t help picturing his face and all those tubes. God, I don’t want to lose
him.”

Amy was a loss as to what to say. She didn’t think that
owning up to having her own visions of him would help. Especially the vision of
Johno when he’d screamed at them to go away. She had given all the words of
comfort she could muster over the past few days. Words couldn’t change the
situation. They reality was that there was nothing either of them could do by
being at his bedside. She was just pleased she had been there for her. Amy took
hold of her hand once more.

“I know, hon, but he’ll be fine.” Amy said. “Listen, if you
do decide to go home tomorrow, you can sleep at my apartment if you want.”

“We’ll see. I’ll keep in touch.” Louise glanced at her
wristwatch. “I think we should walk back to the hospital to meet his parents. I
can’t wait to find out what’s been said.”

Amy released her hand. They picked up their milkshakes and
set off walking. As they turned right onto Le Conte Avenue, Amy wondered how
she would feel if it were Ted lying in a coma. How would they find his parents?
She couldn‘t tell them where to contact them. He never spoke of his parents
other that they lived abroad. She didn’t even know which country. Would she be
the only one standing vigil at his bedside? Would they even allow her to see
him as she wasn’t a relative? The realization struck that her feelings were
stronger than she had given credit for to their relationship. The last thing on
her mind would be to leave him alone to his fate. Amy had a better sense of
where Louise’s mind was at, and the turmoil she must be going through. She
ditched her milkshake in a garbage can, then linked arms with Louise.

They approached a crosswalk at green and hurried to the
other side of the highway, snickering as if they were two schoolchildren
experiencing something new and exciting for the first time.

“Don’t you just hate the traffic here,” Louise said.

“I wouldn’t want to be driving down here, I know that much,”
said Amy, and then laughed. “It’s going to be a bit of a culture shock at
university after the wilds of Breakers Pass.”

They arrived at their destination, a side entrance to the
UCLA Perinatal Group, and took a seat on a concrete bench.

“They’re here,” Louise said, and pointed.

Amy stood as their car approached and parked in a meter bay.
They rushed over and Louise called through the open window to Johno’s mom.

“What did the surgeon say?”

“He’s responding well. They reckon his swelling has
stabilized and they can start to bring him out of his coma in seven days. Now
hurry, get inside. We don’t want a ticket.”

Louise turned to Amy and they embraced.

“I’ll call you,” Louise said, “Thanks for being here for me.”

“That’s what special friends are for. Speak to you later.”

Louise turned and climbed in the back seat of the car. Amy
stood and watched as they drove away, sharing waves with Louise. With the car
out of sight, Amy walked along the sidewalk and turned left along Westwood. For
all the surrounding sprawl of the UCLA concrete buildings that gave the area a
sterile look, she was amused that the approaching Medical Center looked as
though it had been fashioned from giant white Lego bricks. She stopped at the
crosswalk facing the Semel Institute for Neuroscience, walked across the road
and then along the sidewalk. Amy stopped and waited for her bus. The ‘big’ blue
bus arrived and she climbed onboard. Taking a seat, the stress of the last few
days drained from her mind, and she drifted to sleep.

The familiar sound of her cell phone ringing brought her
from her stupor. She took her phone from her purse. Ted’s name appeared on her
screen and she eagerly opened the call.

“Where are you?” Ted asked.

“On the bus, going to Aunt Mary’s, why?”

“Damn. I was hoping to meet up with you, I’m near the
hospital.”

“You could drive to Aunt Mary’s and meet me there. Anyway,
I’m seeing you tonight.”

“That’s the problem, I can’t see you tonight. I’m on my way
back to Breakers Pass. I was hoping to see you at the hospital. Any news on
Johno?”

“Johno’s doing okay. They reckon they’re going to bring him
out of is coma next week. How am I going to get back tomorrow?”

“Don’t worry, I’m only going back home because someone is
doing some work at my home. I’ll be back down here tomorrow, and I’ll pick you
up from your Aunt’s house. Damn... my battery is dying and I don’t have my
charger. I’ll phone you later.”

The call ended. She pressed redial, but it went to messages.
Amy dialed her Aunt Mary’s number and she answered.

“Hi, Aunt Mary, I’m on my way to your house on the bus. Just
needed to make sure you were going to be at home. I should be there in less
than half an hour.”

“No problem, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Okay, see you soon.”

She closed the call.

Amy had underestimated how far along the journey she had
traveled. Ten minutes and she arrived at her stop. She climbed down the stairs
onto the sidewalk and waited for the bus to drive on. A medical response
vehicle was parked behind the bus. The driver leaned out of the window as the
bus drove away.

“Can you help us with some directions?”

Amy walked over to the ambulance.

“I doubt it, I’m not from around these parts, sorry.”

Her body jerked. A hand covered her mouth. Someone was
behind her. Her body went into spasm with shock. An arm swung around her waist,
pinning her arms to her side. The driver jumped out of the ambulance, wielding
a syringe, and thrust it at her arm. She kicked out to no avail as whoever was
holding her, wrestled her to the ground. Her vision began to spin, her body not
reacting to her commands. She was aware of floating, and being thrust into the
back of the vehicle and onto a gurney. She felt bumping as the vehicle sped
away. Her vision was hazy. A face peered over her, wearing a surgeons cap and
mask, accentuating the eyes. Those dark eyes stared at her as he fastened the
straps to the gurney over her body. His eyes had a strange familiar look to
them as her vision pulsated from clear to washy. She wanted to scream out for
her dad, but her lips were frozen. Then all around her faded to flashing
colors, and then to black.