The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles (21 page)

“Why empty my gun?”

“I’m likely to want to kill him that’s why. He’d better have
some answers after what I found at his cabin.”

SHAW’S
hand hovered over the telephone handset. The
call from the FBI could be bad news about Amy, or it could be something as
simple as the need for directions. The clock was ticking. He needed to know how
much time he had left. He took a deep breath, lifted the handset and dialed the
number on the note pad.

“Agent Goodwin, FBI.”

“Sheriff Brett Shaw, Breakers Pass. You called earlier. Do
you have some news for me on Amy?”

“Sorry, I think we’re at crossed purposes here. I’m based in
Washington DC. I was calling about your criminal record search on one Stewart
Harvey. I traced your password and the IP address back to you.”

Shaw sensed heat rising in his cheeks. He loosened his tie
and unfastened his top shirt button.

“Just a moment, my other line’s flashing.”

Shaw held the handset away from his face and covered the
mouthpiece.

“What’s wrong?” said Frank.

Shaw shook his head, put the phone to his ear and uncovered
the mouthpiece.

“Sorry, what was that name again?”

“Stewart Harvey.”

“Oh, yeah, I remember. Traffic stop. Guy had a soft tire.
Deputy phoned it in for a routine check. His computer was down.”

“Did he get the vehicle details?”

“No, he’d not committed any offence. Deputy helped him
change his tire and sent him on his way. Deputy said the guy was going to
Sacramento to visit relatives for the week.”

“Did he say what type of vehicle it was?”

Shaw chewed on his bottom lip.

“Just a minute he’s here. I’ll ask him.”

He pressed the hold button.

“Damn it I’ve crossed the line on this big style. I’ll have
more than a medical to worry about.”

“What do—”

Shaw interrupted Frank, putting a finger to his lips, and
then released the hold button.

“It was a blue Chrysler Aspen, probably around a 2008 model.”

“Thanks, but take more care next time. His file was flagged
to phone us. If he passes your way again, bring him in for questioning and
contact me on this number.”

“Sorry, will do.”

He dropped the handle on the cradle, then rolled his eyes to
the ceiling.

“What was all that about?” Frank asked.

“Our prisoner. I did a criminal record check under his real
name and it flagged my search to the FBI.”

“How are you gonna get out of that?”

“I doubt I will get out of it when the time comes. All I can
do is to get out of the scumbag what I can and then hand him over to the FBI
agents when they arrive. I’ve just got to hope that what I found at his cabin
will be enough for them to understand and to overlook matters.”

The shortwave radio crackled with static.

“Red Fox One to, Blue Leader. I have our package, signed and
sealed, over.”

Shaw picked up the microphone and pressed the talk button.

“Okay, get back here as soon as you can, Blue Leader, out.”

“Guess that’s your search warrant. What did you find?”

“It would take too long to explain. You’ll gather what it’s
about in the interview,” said Shaw. “Listen, when we go through and interview
him, it’s going to get a little crazy. I need you to trust me and to go along
with me. It’s not going to be like any interview I’ve ever done, but Amy’s life
could be at stake. I want you to stand at the side of him.”

“You got it, as long as you don’t start beating on him,”
Frank said.

“Follow me. You get the prisoner and put him in cuffs.”

Shaw walked through to the cells, picking up an empty
plastic shopping bag from Jim’s desk on the way, then peeled off into the
interview room. He set the plastic bag down on the desk and waited. Shaw chewed
on his fingernail, snatching his hand away from his mouth as the door opened.
The prisoner walked through the door, cuffed with his arms behind his back. He
was wearing a frown.

“You’re gonna be toast when my attorney’s finished with you,”
he said. “This game has to be over.”

“Looking forward to it, and yes, the game is over,” Shaw
said.

So you’re releasing me?”

“No, I have some more questions for you.”

“Yeah, well I’m not saying anything until I’ve talked to
him. I want a phone call.”

“You’re forgetting something.”

“What?”

“This is Breakers Pass. Up here, we need to improvise, so no
phone call. Now sit down.”

“This is bullshit. You can’t do that.”

Frank gripped the prisoners shoulder, forcing him to sit on
the edge of his chair. Shaw picked up the plastic bag.”

“Do you know what’s in here?”

“It looks empty to me.”

Shaw set him his best detective stare.

“Well, see now, the bag is filled with the answers, just ask
Frank. He’ll tell you he first became acquainted with it in Vietnam. Nine out
of ten times, the CIA’s prisoners told them what they wanted to know after a
few sessions with it over their head, and fastened tight around the neck. The
tenth, well ... some were stubborn. You get the picture?” He drew a finger
across his throat.

“You wouldn’t dare. Anyway, what am I supposed to know
that’s so important?”

“Well now, Mr. Stewart Harvey, you’re already dead, or at
least Ted Carter is. I’m sure his mom will vouch for that. So who’s gonna know
if we slip up and forget to remove the bag.”

His prisoner’s jaw dropped. He bent over and looked down at
the floor, shaking his head, and shuffled his feet on the floorboards.

“You were the last one to talk to Amy before she went
missing. What have you done with her?”

He snapped upright and looked directly into Shaw’s eyes. His
look was one of complete surprise.

“What ! What do you mean done with Amy? Where is she?”

Shaw wasn’t buying his apparent surprise.

“Now it’s you that wants to carry on the game. I’ll ask one
last time, where is my daughter?” Shaw rose from his seat, resting the knuckles
of both hands on the desk, and leaned forward. “Answer me, damn you.”

“I don’t freakin’ know anything. Only what I told you.”

Shaw charged around the desk, grabbed Frank’s gun from his
holster, and dug the barrel hard on his prisoner’s temple. His prisoner pulled
away, tipping the chair, and he crashed to the floor. Shaw straddled him,
grasping his neck with one hand, and holding the gun to his forehead.

“I said this is no game. I’ve seen the gold cross and chain
hanging over the photo of Gail, ya scumbag. It wasn’t found with her sneaker
and iPod. That can only mean one thing. You were involved in her kidnap, and
now you have Amy. Now talk. What’s your connection to the kidnapers?”

Shaw thumbed the trigger back. His prisoner’s eyes bulged,
then he choked out a reply.

“Wait, I’ll tell you. You’ve got it wrong. Gail Harvey ...
Stewart Harvey ... do you get now? Gail is my sister. I don’t know anything
about Amy going missing. Let me go, I want to help you find her. For God’s
sake, I love her.”

Shaw tightened his grip on the prisoner’s throat, and
gritted his teeth. Frank grabbed his wrist.

“Okay, that’s enough. His lips are going blue,” Frank said.

Shaw’s entire body shook. He released his grip on his
prisoner’s throat, and used the desk to lever himself upright. His prisoner coughed
and spluttering.

“Sit him on the chair,” said Shaw.

Shaw walked around the desk, and flopped into the chair,
staring blankly at the wall opposite. He knew that for a brief moment he’d lost
control.

“What do we do now?” said Frank.

“What, oh yeah. I want Stewart here to start at the
beginning,” Shaw said, and handed the revolver back to Frank.

SHAW
pushed back on
his chair in the interview room, then rose to his full height.

“Let’s take five,” he said, and walked to the door.

He waited outside the door for Frank, and closed the door as
he joined him.

“I need to get my head straight before we listen to what he
has to say,” Shaw said, as they walked through to the office.

He took a seat at his desk and Frank sat opposite.

“What do you need to get straight?” Frank asked.

“My old boss is right. I’m too close to events. I should
turn him over to the FBI and be done with him. If putting a gun to his head
won’t get him to confess to having anything to do with Amy going missing, what
more can I do? To be honest, right now, Amy is my only interest.”

A tear rolled down his cheek. He lowered his head to cover
his emotion from Frank, resting an elbow on the table, then spreading his hand
across his forehead. It wasn’t enough to hide the tears that followed.

“She ... She’s all I’ve gotten and I’m not there for her.”

“Don’t beat yourself up,” Frank said.

“Damn it, I need a stiff drink.”

“Like hell ya do, pull yourself together, stop sniveling and
man-up. I guess it had to come out sometime, but ya need to suck it up. I don’t
think I’d have kept things together as long as you, so it’s no shame.”

Chair legs scraped on the wooden floor. Footsteps creaked on
the floorboards across the room and then returned. A hand squeezed his
shoulder. Shaw removed his hand from his brow and looked at Frank. The furrows
across Frank’s temple, and the look in his narrowed eyes, spoke a thousand
words.

“Here drink this black coffee,” said Frank. “And then tells
me what ya found at his cabin, and who this Gail is that he says is his sister.
Maybe I can put a different slant on things.”

Shaw gulped down the coffee in one, swiped his arm across
his eyes, then took a deep breath.

Frank listened intently as he briefed him. He started with
the events that day back in 2008, and onto what he’d found at the cabin.

“That’s some serious shit,” said Frank. “But why hide it
from the public? People may have come forward with information. Never did trust
any of the federal agencies. Still, getting back to Ted, I mean Stewart; I see
where you’re coming from with the crucifix and chain. Best we get back and see
what he has to say.”

“What day is it?” Shaw asked.

Frank shook his head.

“God, your mind’s really messed up. It’s Monday, why?”

“Well, Amy aside, if he had anything to do with Johno
falling off the cliff, and he was barefooted, wouldn’t he have lacerated his
feet?”

Frank stroked his chin.

“Sure would. Thinking about the pine needles alone, they
would have made a mess of his feet. I’d not thought of that. They wouldn’t have
healed by now.”

“What about his car, did you check it out on the inside?”

“Yeah, there was nothing unusual.”

“No surgical clothing or masks?”

“No, nothing like that and I did a thorough search.
Incidentally, all the numbers on his phone are to Amy except for the one to the
vet’s on Tuesday last week.”

“What about incoming?”

“All from Amy.”

“Okay, let’s do this.”

“Wait,” said Frank “I know you’re the detective, but I watch
CSI. Can’t we get details of his movements from his cell provider with a
warrant? Let’s say he does know about Amy. He could have visited where they
intended to keep her hidden.”

He knew that could be a possibility.

“Well, in California, we don’t need a warrant to take
details from his phone under extraordinary circumstances, thanks to the
Governor vetoing a bill back in two thousand and twelve. That’s why I didn’t
have a problem when I asked you to note all his calls. But as for his
movements, we’d have to give his phone to the FBI when they arrive, for their
forensics to sort out and to download the data.”

“Just a thought,” said Frank. “You sure you’re up for this?”

“There’s never a right time. Let’s go.”

They arrived at the interview room. Frank unlocked the door
and entered first. The prisoner was resting his head on the table. He lifted
his head and straightened his back.

“I’m going mad here. For God’s sake, tell me about Amy.”

“We don’t have the answers, or you wouldn’t be here,” said
Shaw.

“Have you phoned her Aunt Mary? Like I said, that’s where
she was headed on the bus when I spoke to her before my battery died.”

“I’ll tell you about Amy after you’ve explained about what I
found in the cellar back at your cabin.”

“Listen, you have to let me go. I’ll help all I can. Hell,
I’ll even turn myself in to the FBI after we’ve found her.”

Shaw would have thought his pleading pathetic, if it wasn’t
for the tear running down his prisoner’s cheek. There again, maybe the
moistness in his eyes was regret at having been caught out and arrested. Shaw
softened his tone.

“Just tell me your story. You’ll feel better if you share it
with someone.”

His prisoner bowed and shook his head, and then looked up at
the ceiling. He lowered his gaze and looked directly at Shaw.

“You were the original detective on the case, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, I can hardly forget.”

“Sorry about your wife. It must have been hard for you and
Amy.

Shaw was frustrated, but didn’t want to show his feelings.

“Yeah it was hard. It must be hard for you to have lost a
sister.”

His prisoner let out a faltering sigh, His bottom lip
quivered.

“Worst day of my life. I was the one who found her sneaker
and iPod.

“What, on your own?”

“No, Dad was with me.”

“Go on.”

“We had the FBI around to our house. They were all nice and
sympathetic to start with. Collected photographs. Set up a wiretap. Took
statements. The usual I suppose. Dad went mad the day after, when he tried to
set up an appeal on TV and the channels gave him the run around. He wanted to
set up a web site for Gail, but the agents told him there was a complete media
blackout. Then agent Summers visited and it all went to crap. I’d just come
back from the park, after I’d found her chain and cross under a park bench next
to the lake. I was going to hand it in to the FBI, but I overheard Dad arguing
with Summers in his man cave. Summers threatened him if he didn’t do as he told
him, and to back off. He said he’d have the IRS on his back for his Swiss bank
account, and he’d have him arrested for fraud. Said they’d throw away the key. They
had the iPod and sneaker, and after the way he spoke to Dad, I didn’t think
they’d need it, so I kept her crucifix as a keepsake. Dad ordered the FBI
agents out of the house. That was the last I saw of them.”

“What about your mom, did she know about the threats?”

“Mom had a breakdown and spent six months in hospital, so I
doubt she knew which way was up. Six months after she came out, she got
pregnant with my sister, Lauren. After she was born, Mom was paranoid that
someone would kidnap her. Then we had another visit from Summers. Showed me his
badge at the door. Agent Summers, NSA.

“You mean FBI?”

“No, he’d changed agencies. Anyway, I listened in on their
conversation. Seems Dad had been doing his own investigating. Same old Summers.
Same old threats if Dad didn’t hand over his file.”

“And did he?”

“Yeah, Summers walked out with it under his arm. After that,
Dad said the family should move abroad. Mom was keen to move because of Lauren.
They decided I should finish high school and join them later, so Nan came to
stay with me. A week after that, three sedans pulled up outside our home.
Summers was in charge of a team, and he had a search warrant. They ransacked
the place, cuffed us both and took us for questioning. Unlike you, they weren’t
as rough and let me call Dad’s attorney, and he sprung Nan and me.”

“So what happened then?”

“It was crap. We moved back to Nan’s home, but she kept up
the bills on the family home. I knew they were watching me. Long and short is,
just after I graduated, Dad’s attorney got a message to me with a phone number.
I gave the agents the slip, and phoned him from a public phone box. He told me
what he’d found with patterns of other girls going missing, and I decided to
pick up the baton and to search for Gail. I moved out of Nan’s and rented an
apartment. That’s when I slipped up. I managed to get into Summers’ files at
the NSA twelve months back and printed them out. I took them to Nan’s cabin
here in Breakers Pass. That’s what you found at the cabin.”

“What do you mean slipped up?” Shaw asked.

“When I went back to the apartment, guys in suits had the
place surrounded. I visited a friend’s mom, sold her a sob story and begged her
to let me stay. He’d died just after we graduated. Anyway, I stole his birth
certificate, and used the college computer to steal his identity. I cleared his
death from the local registers and national credit registers. From there,
getting a driver’s license and everything else was easy.”

Shaw shook his head. He understood why he had no landline or
internet connection at his cabin. He was smart. Too smart. Smart enough to be
mixing some truths with outright lies.

“What’s your assessment of the files?”

“Most it is details of local leads from investigations. I
don’t have a clue what the section with Egyptian hieroglyphs, symbols, and
pictures of Pharaohs is all about. That’s what I was researching at the
library. If you’ve seen the command structure, you’ll have seen it goes to the
top and beyond these shores. Trouble is, the file’s a year old and they’ve
plugged the window of entry. There are some interesting lines of investigation
though. I could show you. I have tons more stuff on the computer. All I know is
that there’s an order to have all the cases marked as cold cases, and to have
all the files removed from the local police divisions. The first Monday of
every month, they hold an agency meeting at the MUPU in LA. I just wish I could
bug their meeting room.”

“What’s the blue pin in the map for?”

“I took it from some GPS coordinates scribbled on one of the
pages with some doodles. Under that was written “CONOP 8888.” I haven’t figured
that out yet. Listen, everything I’ve done, I did it to find my sister. What
would you have done?”

His question cut deep, like a knife slicing through butter.
He could have killed him if Frank hadn’t intervened when he had him by the throat.
He’d broken every rule in the book to get this far for the love of Amy. Shaw
rested his thumb under his chin, and stroked a finger across his lips. The
coordinates must be significant. It was what he had done many times at
meetings; scribbled important notes in the margins of briefings on homicide
cases, but why Breakers Pass? And what did “CONOP 8888” signify?

Frank rose from his chair and stepped forward. He knelt in
front of the prisoner.

“Kick off your trainer,” said Frank.

Without his laces, he easily toed it off with his other
sneaker. Frank removed his sock.

“What’s all this about?” asked their prisoner.

“Take a look, Brett,” said Frank.

Shaw stood, and peered over the table. His foot didn’t show
any signs of lacerations. Frank slipped the sock on back over his foot, and
then his sneaker. Frank took a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. He
unfolded it, and showed to the prisoner.

“We took this from your phone to call Jamie. The number
doesn’t exist,” Frank said.

“That’s because you’ve written it down wrong. You’re missing
a zero at the beginning.”

Frank turned to Shaw.

“Can we have a break?” Frank said.

“Wait, tell me about Amy. I’ve told you everything,” Ted
said.

“Five minutes,” said Frank, and they both exited the
interview room.

“What would you say to letting him walk free?” Frank said.