JUSTICE REBORN (A Charlie Taylor Novel Book 1) (26 page)

“Did the Judge know ahead of time you were
planning a sting?”

This was not the question Charlie wanted to
hear.

                                   # # #

Back in the Judge’s chambers it was
silent except for the keyboard, as Ann created a legal document. The Judge kept
Jake standing in the middle of the room.

“Assuming everything you said is
confirmed via an S1 Interrogation, I’m prepared to make you this offer as a
sentence. I think it is generous when you consider how severe the penalty can
be for your violation of the Secrecy Act; listen carefully and decide:

First, I need your written
resignation, with the reason, you have decided to devote more time to your
volunteer work.

Second, you are to make a donation of
20% of your net worth to a medical research foundation.

Third, you make a commitment to
complete four years of active community service work.

Last, you provide a formal withdrawal
of your charge against Charlie Taylor and hand over all the incriminating
evidence.”

           Jake was abject but did not
want this to go any further; he thought, with a little luck, he could be
rolling again before the four years were over. “I agree. I assume Ann is
completing the document for me to sign; and then, after signing I will be lead
down to the interrogation room?”

The papers got signed, and Ann walked
out the door and down the hall, with Jake trailing, to the interrogation room.

                                           
# # #

Charlie didn’t have to answer the Chief,
the Judge’s door opened, and Ann walked out with Jake. The Chief did not allow
the door to close, and he burst into the room. Charlie heard part of a sentence
before the door closed shut. “Steve, what the hell are you …”

Once the door closed, all Charlie heard
were muffled voices. He moved down the hall and collapsed on a hallway bench,
tension drained from his body. He could feel the relief and realized how taut
he had been. The release of tension was like someone pulled the plug in a sink
and the water drained. He knew his comparison wasn’t original, but it really
felt like a drain starting from the top of his head. Momentary relief.

After about 25 minutes, the Chief came out
of chambers, in a better frame of mind. What the Chief didn’t share with
Charlie: the Judge had been well prepared.

 Stephen already knew about the random
selection incident and the power play the ambitious Doug was putting in motion;
both men had underestimated the range of Stephen’s network of contacts. Stephen
was waiting for the first unconfirmed news release, about the boy killer,
before lowering the boom on Doug.

The Judge apologized for the end runs with
Charlie but then pushed back. First he reminded the Chief his Sector position
was an appointment made the Judge; and, second, his use of a homicide detective
didn’t compare to the conspiracy between the Chief and Doug.

Stephen promised to use his annual
discretion to solve the random selection mistake but advised the Chief it would
be best for him to remain silent about Charlie’s unorthodox assignments and
solutions. Duncan Stirling, a subdued police chief, thought Brewster would soon
discover there were numerous reasons Stephen had been appointed. The Chief knew
it was the last time he played politics with Doug Brewster.

Before leaving Duncan had one last
conversation with his detective.

 “Charlie, I’m not sure I can live with you
in my command, but I understand what happened. You best go in; he wants to see
you, probably for a pat on the back.”   The Chief started down the hall and
then stopped and looked back at him.

“You know they’re right Charlie; you’re a
crazy son of a bitch. Lucky …..but still a crazy bastard.” And with that he was
gone, glad to be away from the chaos.

Charlie went into the Judge’s office.

“Congratulations, good job. You know where
the coffee is; pour one and come over here by the window; the chairs and the
view are both better. I hope I have the Chief off your back. He’s an excellent
administrator, and the two of you are at different ends of the spectrum, but he
is smart, and I think he understands he needs you. If you can wrap up the Five
Star Couple, it would help.”

“It’s close. It might break within the next
24 hours.”

“Good, Now, a frank discussion:  Sonja,
Kate and I. This has to remain between us.  By now it’s obvious Kate and I have
a history. God, isn’t that a cold euphemism for a relationship that you know
was an intense affair.

My wife doesn’t know about Kate and
certainly not about the child. Only two friends are aware of our affair but not
about the child. Yes, I know there have been some rumors, but they are all very
low key and mostly treated as low-level gossip. So this has to remain our
secret.  You agree?”

“Judge, I understand, and there is no need
to worry. Gossip is not one of my many shortcomings. Your affair and daughter
stay with me.”

“Thanks….I know I can trust you. Now since
we are sharing, I do have something for you.”

Charlie braced himself for some bad news
but then saw the small smile on Stephen’s face and relaxed.

The Judge only hesitated for a second.  “I
was the one who forced the Chief to have you promoted, get you out from under
the basketball game fiasco, and then keep you after the Spring Dance.  I knew
the Chief needs your kind of thinking and attitude.

Sometimes the Chief doesn’t understand that
an organization, just like an athletic team, needs a variety of players and not
all clones. Of course, the variety often leads to inner conflict and an element
of chaos, all of which gives the Chief grief.

 I can see you’re surprised, it feels good
to get one past you.”

The Judge never mentioned Jake’s ultimatum
and the subsequent forced withdrawal; months later Ann would tell Charlie about
his good fortune. They shook hands again, and Charlie left the chambers.

The Judge was on his side. He almost danced
down the hall.

At the hotel, with the surveillance systems
established and a few moment to relax, Wes thought about Charlie.

He couldn’t shake elevator incident. It had
been an unbelievable scene, and given Jake’s connections, Wes couldn’t
understand how Charlie retained his position. Earlier this morning he
confronted Charlie, who was in a good mood, relaxed, joking with staff, almost
dancing in the halls.

 “Charlie, this thing with you and Jake.
What the hell is behind it? You’ve never worked together and don’t move in the
same social circles. So what goes? Did you do his wife or what?”

Charlie thought for some time; he trusted
Wes, still this feud with Jake embarrassed him.

“Oh shit, it goes away back….. to high
school.”

“Jesus, don’t leave it there. Come on what
happened?” Wes was not going to leave it alone. Charlie came to one his
screw-it decisions and started talking.

“You know this bullshit is for your ears
only. Jake was a couple of years ahead of me in high school. I make the
basketball team ….he doesn’t. He’s in love with Brenda, and she hooks up with
me. One massive back alley fight, and we’re adversaries for life. How damn
stupid is that?”

“This is all about a teenage girl.
Unbelievable…un…fucking believable.”

“Look. I’ve tried talking to him, but he
keeps trying to put me down, and I’m stupid enough to react. The Judge told me
the situation is now under control.”

Charlie sipped his coffee, grinned and
started again. “Can I tell you the final chapter?  You’re nodding, so that
means yes. If you go to Walmart grocery section … probably midweek, you will
encounter a medium size blond.”

 “I thought you weren’t dating. Don’t tell
me you started with her?”

“Here is all I have to say: I was leaning
into the frozen food bin digging for a package when I felt someone at my side.
I didn’t look up. Next I hear ….‘well do you still have raging hormones?’

Comments like that get my attention. I
looked up, and there she was in her uniform and I see the name tag. All I could
think of was …… ‘Goddamn it Brenda that’s a helluva way to say hello’…….. She
was a little heavier but still a good looking blond.”

“Come on Charlie you never answered my
question…..yes or no?’

Charlie grinned and walked away. Wes didn’t
know how much to believe. Charlie was good at making up stories; but, Wes knew
somewhere in there was a kernel of truth, a teenage feud that never stopped.

Charlie’s revelation had diverted him, and
he failed to do was pass on the latest grapevine rumor. Everyone knew Charlie
agreed to be a Watcher; but the Forensic Division was chuckling as it spread
the gossip: Emma Collins had decided it was payback time for the spring dance
embarrassment. Since she controlled the S3 brain scan, she would, in essence,
be Charlie’s supervisor. If he tried to deviate from any standards or attempted
any inappropriate moves, she would blast him right out of the room and have him
walked out of the prison or into prison.

The homicide detective would have to be on
guard from the moment he entered Fort Green prison. Wes decided to call Charlie
once he finished his last check of the hotel surveillance.  The two elite
hotels within a few blocks of the Marriott were fully wired with security
cameras and direct feeds to various members of his team. Wes established a
24-hour watch rotation, but everyone wanted to be there for the final stages of
the Five Star Couple and were reluctant to go home after their shift.

Their current problem: the Interrogation
could not be used until there was enough evidence to warrant the invasion of
privacy with an S1. The Horny Harry video was good enough for that one killing,
but they wanted to convict the guy for all the hotel killings. This meant they
had to collect evidence to show he followed the killer’s pattern before they
could move to an S1 Interrogation.

Once Jason, the ex-policeman, made the call
to an agency for a girl, they would use policewoman and employ a support team
to crash the room when the time was right. This would be enough for the Legal
Division. It did not matter which room he was allocated. They could intercept
all calls, and a listening device would be worn by the policewoman. For five
killings his routine never varied, within a few hours after registration, he
made his call requesting a girl.

Terry, at the first hotel, tried to get
Manuel to go home–––instead he crashed on a nearby couch. Karen was on the
visual for the second hotel, Wes the overall supervisor. Karen was not in total
agreement with the plan. “Wes, I don’t think we have to send a woman into that
room; once he makes the call we should have enough to warrant an
interrogation…….Legal will accept the evidence. Let’s not risk more injuries.”

Wes would not relented–––the girl was going
into the room, as more prove of the killer’s intentions. When they crashed the
room, Wes wanted a preponderance of evidence, the killer and his full bag of
tricks.

 They thought it would only be a matter of
hours. The plan was to get the entire team to whatever hotel he registered.
Their electronic technicians had prepared for all contingencies, and a policewoman
disguised as a hooker was ready to go to his room; Concern mounted with each
hour.

Where the hell was he? A different hotel?
Terry paced the floor; Wes continued with irritating finger drum rolls on the
desktop; Manuel stopped tossing and turning and gave up on the sleep idea. Only
Karen appeared content, and soon she made the announcement.

“I think our guest has arrived. Look at the
feed from the Westin, big floppy hat and the clincher look at those ugly hands
in the white cotton gloves. His registration is for the second floor across
from the elevators……he’s in 202. This is our guy. Go ahead and get the team to
move to the Westin, and Wes you best call Charlie?”

Everyone moved to a monitor, trying to get
a better view of the guy, impossible with the hat. It took some time to get the
entire team over to the Westin, organized, and Charlie informed. Wes worried
about the delay but as long as the call for the hooker was intercepted, they
were in control and could manage the situation.

                                                         #
# #

Shortly after checking into room 202, Jason had his
woman and the situation in control. Jason Reardon, ex-cop, ex-Five Star Couple
could not help smiling. He knew, in the past, this self-satisfied and superior
smile irritated many of his colleagues. Nevertheless, here he was in a great
hotel room with an attractive woman, a working girl, but that was immaterial,
she was a knockout and certainly a step up from Horny Harry.

Jason was confident and charming. He poured drinks and
kept up an easy dialogue: negotiated a price for a few nights of company and
gave the girl the money, at which time she appeared to
relax and accepted the drink.

                                                      
# # #

Wes complained.  “How come he hasn’t phoned
up an escort agency?  He normally doesn’t wait this long. What’s wrong? I don’t
like this. Is he still in the hotel?

Terry started going through the current
Westin security tapes, all the footage, the hallways, elevators, the bars, the
works. See if you can find him, either with the dress or as a man. Shit, I
think he changed this agenda.”

                                     # # #

The
girl in room 202 began to have some doubts. She had been in the business for a
few years and prided herself on being able to spot the crazies. This guy had
been fine all evening, but as they started drinking his front appeared to be
slowing dissolving. She couldn’t even figure out what it was. Was it body
language? The damn smug smile? The perfect teeth?  She didn’t want to gulp the
drink, but she did.

                                                 
# # #

Terry found him on the hotel tapes. “Sure
as hell that’s our man. He made a pickup in the bar, almost an hour ago.
They’re in the elevator cameras and the hallway to his room. The son of a bitch
changed his pattern. We’re going to have to go in; we can’t wait.  Another
interesting development, he doesn’t give a shit if he is captured on camera.

Wes knew he had to act fast. “Ok guys, he’s
changed his routine: no agency and no dummy room set up.  Doesn’t care if he is
recognized? Maybe he has a new routine in mind and a method for getting the
body out of the hotel. God damn it, we have to go to plan B, right now. Let’s
move it. Plan B. Plan B.”

                                             
# # #

All the girl, Lisa, could think of
was: mistake, big mistake. Jason stroked her, laughing and talking nonsense
about how fate arranged for them to be together before he moved out of the city
for good. The smile chilled her and scared her to the point where it felt like
some type of paralysis had taken over her limbs. She could barely talk, and
Lisa wasn’t sure she would be able to walk to the door, let alone run down the
hall. 

What happened? He changed from
charming to creepy in minutes. Was it the alcohol? Or was he just nervous? She
wanted out but couldn’t think of how to manage it.

 He sat between her and the door;
besides he had secured the door, the chain on and the deadbolt thrown. If she
tried to rush to the door, it would take too long to get the door open, that is
assuming her legs would work. Shit, here he goes again, ranting; she missed the
first part; she was too busy being scared.

  “Lisa, it’s time you started taking
some of your clothes off, not all of them, just some, come on now.”   He gave
her the big smile. God, did she wet herself? She was too afraid to look and
couldn’t feel anything. She tried a small stall.

 “I have to go to the bathroom first.
I think it’s the drinks you have been feeding me.”  She got up on a shaky set
of legs, and shaky wasn’t because of the alcohol. Then she remembered they were
a couple; she should be OK, the killers were a couple.

Once in the bathroom she used a cold,
wet face cloth to try and shock herself into a plan but nothing registered; in
fact, her mind seemed to be in parallel with her body, in some blank stupor.
Shit, shits, shit……. she knew this bastard was a bad one but how to get out.
Maybe a quickie might get him onto another track. More booze? Nothing was
registering as a good solution.

He started gentle taps on the bathroom
door, “Come on Lisa let’s start the party. You can’t stay in there all night.
Come on.” Lisa came out and stayed next to the hotel room door, she didn’t want
to stray from the door. He pulled her to him, and they were pressed together in
the short, narrow hallway that lead from the hotel room door to the main part
of the room.

                                               
# # #

A knock and a voice from outside in the
hall interrupted him.

 “Room service for 202, dinner for two.”  
Jason, still holding Lisa, looked through the door’s spy hole and saw a hotel
waiter with a full cart. “There must be a mistake I never ordered any room
service….go away.”

At that moment Lisa’s brain flashed. “Oh
Jason, I’m hungry, and we’re in for a big night; why not grab the tray?  It’ll
be like a surprise package; we’ll get a surprise dinner, menu selections
unknown; come on be a sport.”

The waiter called out again. Jason decided
she’s right it would be a good way to end the evening, dinner for one. He
opened the door to allow the waiter to wheel in the cart. The waiter got the
cart in and turned to get Jason to sign for the meal; at this moment Lisa
bolted for the door. Jason almost knocked the waiter over as he jumped forward
and grabbed Lisa.

 When he turned, Manuel, the waiter,
pointed the gun at his head. “Jason, give it up.”

         Even at the postmortem review of
the arrest, it was difficult to figure out the sequence of event. But the three
people in the small entry way of the room ended up twisted together like some
puzzle. It appears: first, the girl pulled hard to get out of Jason’s grip;
this action spun Jason into the cart, which Manuel tried to keep from spilling on
top of him.

The girl got away and ran out the door and
right into Karen, who moved her down the hall. Jason, now on top of Manuel,
used the steak knife from the cart to stab Manuel in the neck; he hurried off
the floor with the bleeding knife in his hand. His turn to get out of the room.
There was an obstacle in the doorway. Terry glared at him and started to
provide the standard warning. “ Police…” 

He didn’t finish his warning and Jason
charged; Terry’s shot dropped him in mid-stride, and the sound roared through
the room and the hallway. The blood from two sources drenched the carpet in the
restricted space. Jason died before he hit the carpet.