The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles (26 page)

HE
was tired, but the message from the speaker on his
radio caught his attention. Shaw put his laptop to one side on his bed. Taskforce
One repeated his message over the scanner speaker.

“The Fox is out of the hole, over.”

Ted was on the move. He tugged at his hair with both hands.

“Damn.”

He hadn’t expected Ted to defy his curfew so quickly. But
then thinking about it, Ted wouldn’t know that he was being staked out, or that
they’d put a GPS tracker on his SUV, together with a tracker app into his
iPhone. He could have decided to run, because he knew the FBI agents were
visiting. There again, he could be running to a base where they were holding
Amy. Shaw thought that if the latter were the case, he’d made a big mistake of
withholding what he knew from the FBI. They were the experts. They should be
the ones following him. They were in the next room.

Shit.

Shaw had had doubts that Frank’s bunch of misfit
home-defense buddies could be up to the task. He felt trapped. It’s not as if
he could monitor progress with the phones tapped, he knew that much. And he
couldn’t join in the surveillance. Cox and Carla would expect him to stay at home
to answer any ransom calls from the kidnappers. Hell, he realized that was his
priority. He’d relied on his answer phone up to now, asking callers to phone
his cell phone. He threw his legs over the side of the bed, then stood, and
hurried into the living area.

“We’re nearly set up,” Cox said. “We just need our office to
make a call for me to test out our voice wavelength recorder and we’re good to
go.”

“Great,” Shaw said. “I’m just going down to the office to
alter the answer phone to have calls redirected to my home line. I’ll not
answer the extension.”

“No answer the call. If it’s the kidnappers, stall them so
we can at least try and trace the call.”

“Fine”

Shaw left the room, scurried down the stairway into his
office and flicked the light switch. He picked up his radio microphone and
turned the dial to the taskforce frequency. He pressed the speak button.

“Blue Leader to, Taskforce One. Do you have a visual on the
Fox? Over.”

“Monitoring on all fronts, over.”

He assumed that meant he was in sight and they had a visual
of his movements on the GPS tracker.

“What direction, over.”

“West on the hoof, over.”

Shaw glanced at the map on the wall. Going west, the highway
at the bottom of Ted’s street would take him away from Breakers Pass in the
direction of Claymore. He wondered why he hadn’t taken his SUV. There were no
stores nearby along the route for a good twenty miles if he was short on
provisions.

“I have visitors, keep me posted, but keep it short, Blue
Leader, out.”

“Your coffee,” said Carla. Shaw’s body flinched. He switched
the radio off. “Sorry to have startled you.”

“Yeah, I am a little on the jumpy side.”

“Understandable that your nerves must be on edge. I didn’t
mean to listen in, but your call sounded interesting.”

“Call, oh that. Nothing really. It... It’s just a farmer
friend who’s having trouble with a fox taking his chickens.”

“It must be great living out here. I‘d sooner be chasing
down foxes than criminals.”

“Yeah, well at the moment, the town’s more to think about
than criminals.”

“Why’s that?”

The phone rang. He raised his arm, showed Carla the flat of
his hand, and then answered the call.

“Shaw.”

“I need to speak with agent Cox, please, it’s her office.”

“I’ve got it,” said Cox.

He set the handset down and turned to Carla. “We’ve got a
bug doing the rounds. One hundred dead so far. The whole town’s going to be put
on quarantine. So don’t go wandering outside until we know what it is. It could
be airborne, or it could be bad food.”

“What!”

“I thought your office would have known and told you.
They’ll be running tests on the bodies, and I have someone running tests of my
own on the tap water. My freezer is well stocked, and we’re okay with bottled
water. I guess we’ll just have to sit it out.”

“Lucky we weren’t thinking of going anywhere. Not with the
job we have here, I guess,” Carla said. She sniffed at the coffee, then
twitched her nose.

“The coffee will be okay with the water boiled.”

“I hope you’re right. Listen, I’ll tell Amanda. It’ll freak
her out. She has an obsession with cleanliness as it is on account of her
Asthma.”

“Asthma. I wish she’d have said. Good thing I didn’t give
her a tongue lashing for her attitude.”

“Yeah, she can come across as a bit on the sharp side. I
hope you’ll make allowances.”

Carla set the coffee mug down, did an about turn and walked
out of the office. Shaw changed his answer phone message, and then headed up
the stairway to join Carla and Cox. As he walked into the room, his phone rang.
They all exchanged glances.

“It’s the office number,” he said.

“We’re good to go,” said Cox.

He sat on the sofa and picked up the handset.

“Shaw.”

“Greg Hewson. I’m Ed Grimes’ attorney down in LA. I’ve just
come off of the phone with him. Says you’ve had him in for questioning.”

“Routine, that’s all.”

“Doesn’t sound like that to me. I want a transcript of the
tape.”

“I’ll have one of my deputies send it to you.”

“He won’t be saying anymore on tape without me present, I
want to make that clear. He told me what your game is. What’s this all about a
statement from a witness?”

“Simple. I told your Ed. I have a witness statement saying
they’ve seen your client regularly visiting Maria late at night up to her
death.”

“Just so you know, he’s not denying that he’s visited the
vet’s surgery, so any forensics pointing to evidence he’s been there is
coincidental.”

“Ah, yeah, first thing that sprung to mind... coincidence. I
could write a book about coincidences.”

“I’m sure you can. What forensics have you had back?”

“Nothing yet.”

“Good, so there’ll be no need to talk to him again.”

“Bit difficult really, seeing as how he’s my mayor, this
being a small town ’n’ all.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I’m sure I do.”

“Then I’m sure you’ll know all about the laws of slander if
you start rumors spreading around, saying he was having an affair with the vet.”

“Ah, now were getting to it. Yeah, I know.”

“Good that’s all either of us have to say on the subject.
Take down my number and have your deputy call me for my address.”

“Sorry, phone back in office time. One of them will deal
with it. I’m busy right now.”

Shaw closed the call and huffed.

“Does that machine of yours tell you if someone is a slime
ball?”

“Not quite. But analyzing the variance in speech pattern can
give indications of stress. Ed Grimes, did he say?” Cox said.

“Yeah, Edward Grimes, Mr. Freakin’ Mayor.”

“I guess he’s a suspect in the death of this Maria?” she
said.

“Yeah. You could say that.” Shaw relayed all the details
surrounding the events. “Listen. I’m gonna turn in. If there are any calls,
shout me.”

“Sure,” Cox said.

Shaw headed for his bedroom. He switched on the scanner and
climbed onto the bed. With his head on the pillow, he listened to the static
crackling from the speaker. In the background noise, he could hear a tone that
sounded as if someone was tapping out Morse code. The sound was rhythmic.
Steady, like a metronome. His eyelids closed.

Shaw opened his eyes to the sound buzzing in his ear.

“Taskforce One to, Two. The Fox is stationary. No visual,
over.”

He glanced at his alarm clock on the nightstand. It was 4:10
a.m.

“Taskforce One. What’s your position, Two, over.”

Shaw recognized Frank’s voice as Taskforce Two.

“I’m at the intersection of Claymore and Pine Ridge. Clear
view, but no sign of the Fox. I’m almost on top of the signal, Taskforce One, over.”

“He could be hiding. Hang back, and keep watching, over.”

“Will do, Taskforce One, out.”

Shaw’s cell phone rang. He snatched it from the nightstand
and answered before the second ring. Frank’s name appeared on the screen.

“Yes, Frank. I heard. I have visitors, remember.”

“Sorry. Just so you know. I think the Fox has rumbled us.
We’ll stay on it.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.”

He placed his cell phone back on the nightstand. Shaw heard
a tap on his door and turned on the bedside light.

“Come in.”

The door opened. Cox stood there holding a scanner.

“Well. Is there something you’re not telling us?”

SHAW
knew that he was blushing. There was no hiding his
embarrassment. He sat upright on his bed, hesitating how to respond. He stared
at the silhouette of agent Cox in the doorway.
Damn it, she’s listened in.

“Well!” Cox said, and waved her scanner at him.

“Hell’s teeth! Which pony did you ride into town on, lady?”
He threw his legs over the side of the bed, then stood and faced her. “You come
into my home as if you own the damned place, giving orders, and then listen in
on my private conversations.”

“Yeah, well, in case you’ve forgot that’s why I’m here. You
didn’t mention a shortwave radio when we set up the wiretaps. The kidnappers
could use that to make contact. If you don’t keep me in the loop about what’s
happening around here, how are we meant to find Amy?”

“So, I forgot about the radio. So what? Don’t give me that
crap about finding Amy. I may be a small town sheriff, but even I know you’re
meant to close a call once it’s known that it’s nothing to do with the
kidnappers. You’re unprofessional. That’s what you are.”

“Unprofessional! Like you eyeing Carla up and down when we
arrived. How professional is that for a sheriff?”

“Yeah, well, what do you expect when an FBI agent flashes
her tits instead of a badge? I don’t suppose either of you would have thought
it professional to change into suits.”

“Oh, I get you now. Well let me tell you, I’m professional
enough to know when someone is hiding something. And keep your voice down, or
you’ll wake Carla.”

“There you go, giving orders. Read my lips. This is my home
and on that note, just what the hell are you doing creeping into my bedroom for
the frequency of the channel? And no, you don’t get me. Not at all.”

Cox huffed, and then sighed. “You think—Oh never mind.”

“No go on, out with it.”

“Carla told me about the conversation you had in the office.
She said you were acting cagey. I mean, chasing a fox. I got the frequency
number from your radio in the office. I didn’t want to disturb you resting. It
isn’t the channel for law enforcement around here.” Her finger dragged at the
loose skin under her eye. “Do you see any green in here?”

Shaw took a step back and took a deep breath. Cox was right,
despite her lousy attitude from the minute she arrived. She was there to help
get Amy back. He wasn’t used to lying to this extent to hide the truth, only to
get confessions out of suspects. He knew he was overreacting to cover up the
situation with Ted. He’d been caught on the hop by Cox and a displayed lousy
attitude of his own. There again, he wondered if him blowing his stack was the
lack of downing a bottle of JD. He realized he’d not had a drink since the day
after that night in LA. Arguing was going nowhere. The lady could hold her own,
no doubt in his mind about that.

“Whoa, let’s take a step back,” he said. “It’s after office hours,
and I’ve been using a different frequency for private business... that’s all.
And for your information, some guys I know are chasing a fox. It’s something we
pass the time with around here... hunting. I’m sorry if I thought you’d sneaked
into my bedroom.”

“Yeah, well I’m sorry if I jumped to conclusions. As for the
orders, I’m used to being the man of the house, so sorry for that. I forget
sometimes.”

Man of the house?

“Anyway,” said Cox. “Let’s start again. I have something
that might be of interest.”

She turned on the ball of her foot and set of down the
corridor. Shaw followed her, intrigued by what she meant by ‘interesting.’ He
hoped it was news from the gang bust down in LA. Carla sat up on the sofa,
rubbing her eyes.

“What’s all the noise for,” Carla said, and yawned.

“Just sorting our differences,” said Shaw. “Everything’s
fine.”

Carla dropped her head on the pillow, then pulled her
blanket over her head. Cox handed him a buff file and whispered.

“Read it.”

Shaw raised an eyebrow. He guessed she couldn’t help giving
orders. He opened the file. It looked as though Cox had been busy. The top
sheet of paper had details he already knew. It was Ed Grimes conviction for a
misdemeanor. He flicked through the rest. They were all details of shareholders’
transfers, and details of the current CEOs of small businesses that Grimes had
bought out. At the back of the file was a brief summary surrounding the
investigation into the death of Ed Grimes’ dad, Jedward Grimes. The agent’s
name signing off the report was familiar. FBI Agent A Cox.

He closed the file, stood and signaled for Cox to follow him
with a sway of his head. Entering the kitchen, he flicked on the light switch.
Cox joined him. He closed the door, and pulled out a stool for her.

“Any news on the gang bust?”

“No, not yet.”

“What’s all this about?” Shaw asked, and waved the file. He
set it down on the breakfast bar.

“As soon as I heard the name Ed Grimes, the hairs on my neck
stood on end.”

“Why’s that?”

“It all goes back to his dad’s death. I was told to close
the file and have it marked as an accident. I wanted to keep it open. He must
have powerful friends in high places. So anyway, I printed off some of my file
on him for you to read through.”

“I thought he had an alibi for the time of his dad’s death.”

“He did. It was cast iron tight. But he also had the
strongest motive. I don’t go for coincidences.”

“Yeah, I know all about the money motive.”

He studied her. Cox’s attitude toward coincidences in crimes
matched his own. He knew they had that in common.

“I’ve kept my own file on him,” said Cox. “Been watching him
for a while now in my own time. I don’t get why he runs an empire from a small
town here in the wilds. And running a bar for Christ’s sake.”

“Yeah, I only just found out about his supply business in
LA. But I didn’t know about these others. Maybe he thrives on being mayor, and
the bar provides his popularity and drinking buddies.”

“Maybe. You mean like the Mafia Don who runs a pizza place
because he likes eating the unhealthy crap and gets free meals.”

Shaw was getting to admire her cynical worldview.

“What are all these businesses he’s been buying?”

“They’re all water bottling plants, or distributors. He’s
been buying them up over the past few years.”

“Perhaps he foresaw the drought. Some would call that
astute.”

“Some would call it racketeering, the way he’s forced their
hand to buy some of them. Oh, not him though, his henchmen. There have been a
few mysterious deaths and disappearances along the way. Nothing that I could
make stick to go to my bosses with. It’s where his money comes from to buy them
that I hit a brick wall. His investors are all from offshore corporations.”

Shaw admired her for carrying out her own maverick
investigations.

“I don’t know how all this helps me with the vet’s case.”

“Neither do I, but he has to slip up sooner or later if I
have him pegged right. Let’s hope you get something back from forensics to tie
him to the vet’s death. At least you know you’re not on your own with your view
that he’s a slime ball.”

Cox rose to her feet.

“I’ll make a coffee, you look beaten up,” she said.

He didn’t like to tell her he felt like she’d done the
beating. Not now they were hitting it off. The situation with Ted was worrying.
The clock on the wall was just clicking over to 4:20 a.m. It would be another
three hours and forty minutes before Frank arrived at the office to advise him
on the progress with Ted.

She set down a mug of coffee in front of him. He picked it up
and savored the aroma, then took a sip. He noticed an engagement ring on her
finger with a single pink stone, and a wide chunky wedding band.

“What does your husband think of you working all these hours
and being away from home?”

She choked on a sip of coffee.

“Husband!”

“Well, yeah I took it you’re married with the ring.”

“Sorry, I should have said. We only got married this year
with the change in the laws. Betty doesn’t mind. She likes the solitude, and
keeping the home clean the way I like it. I’ve developed Asthma, so that helps.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to pry. I didn’t realize you were—”

“Does it bother you?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Anyway never mind that, tell me all about your
investigations into the vet’s death.”

Shaw finished the details, pleased at some of the tips she
had given him. She knew her game. It was good to share ideas with someone of a
like mind. Dawn was breaking outside. He heard a rumble, low at first and then
the noise increased to the sound of throaty engines and the squeal of metal on
metal. He climbed off of the stool and walked over to the window. Looking out
on to the backs of the stores along the main street, he saw large trucks in
convoy passing by the gaps between the buildings.

“What is it?” Cox asked.

“Could be a circus is in town, but I doubt it. I’ll take a
look.”

He opened the door and walked into the living area.

“What’s that noise?” Carla said. She was dressed and at the
window.

“Beat’s me,” said Shaw, as they all huddled to look outside.

A truck and a jeep thundered to a halt over to the left of
the entrance to his office. What he assumed were soldiers wearing camouflage
outfits clambered out of the back of the truck. They didn’t have helmets, but
sported hoods and filtered breathing masks. The driver of the jeep and his
passenger climbed out of their seats. The passenger waved his arms about as if
he were barking orders; the sound of his words inaudible with the mask he wore,
and the din of more trucks arriving. A soldier drew back a wooden barred gate
to a field, while others directed trucks to pass through. Some of the vehicles
had the sign of a red cross. A large truck with a trailer bounced on the ruts
as it entered the field. It looked to be carrying apparatus for a marquee.

“Jesus, I didn’t think that quarantine would involve the
army. This is serious shit,” said Shaw.

The home phone rang. Carla and Cox hurried over to their
computer equipment. Cox nodded at Shaw and he picked up the handset.

“Shaw speaking.”

“It’s Cleo. I need you to visit me urgently. I have some
news on the DNA and—”

The line buzzed with a continuous tone. He tapped the
cradle, but the line was dead. He pulled out his cell phone to dial her back.

“Crap, I’ve got no signal, check your phones.”

Cox and Carla took out their cell phones and exchanged
glances. Both shook their heads. The windows of his apartment vibrated to the
drone of whooshing blades. Shaw rushed to the window. Lights danced over the
trucks as a helicopter hovered overhead, and then tilted forward to head over
the field. He watched it land.

“What are they doing sending a Black Hawk?”