Naked Dragon (22 page)

Cursing, grinding his teeth in fury, Robbie holstered his gun and ranted and raved while the officers asked over radio for their detectives and lab unit to come out to the scene while Agent Green and Skinner put on gloves and dug around the room looking for clues.

"He's good, ya gotta give him that. He's good," Agent Skinner mumbled as he opened the dresser drawers.

One of the officers tapped Robbie to get his attention. "Got a stolen hit."

Robbie perked up. "Which one?" He left the room and followed the cop to the end of the parking lot. A small, unobtrusive two-door hatchback was resting in a corner by itself. "Impound it and get it to the Washington State lab."

"Yes, sir." The patrol officer walked back to his car to get the paperwork and order a tow truck.

"I'm narrowing in on you, you rat," Robbie hissed. "I've got your tools, your cars, your room ... I'm going to have you very soon."

* * * *

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Seated once again in roll call with Officer Kurosawa by his side, Dave read the latest crime bulletins with little interest.

Only one crime spree seemed to be important at the moment.

Who cared about a spate of burglaries on Capital Hill?

When the sergeants entered the room, looking grim, Dave held his breath, praying it had nothing to do with Robbie being injured.

"Okay, settle down," Sgt. Casey shouted out over the dull noise. "We've just had word from County that they have found the suspect's hotel room on the Sea-Tac strip. He wasn't there at the time however. But they gathered some evidence and another stolen ride. We don't think this will stop him. But, it may drive him out of town."

That cold pit began to develop once again in Dave's stomach. Out of town? He can't leave. Not yet.

"So, obviously be very alert to any stolen occupied vehicle and always use caution when stopping one."

After the usual announcements they were given their assignments and told to hit the street.

Lisa leaned over onto Dave's shoulder and whispered, "I don't want the FBI to go. I like having them around. They're cool!"

"Ditto," Dave answered, and bit his cheek as he thought about that possibility.

Once he was outside and carrying his kit to his car, he felt something akin to dread filling his veins. They needed to talk.

He and Robbie had to talk about this and come to some kind of conclusion. He couldn't just leave. It wasn't right.

* * * *

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Slouching down in the rear seat of their sedan, Robbie felt the hard shell of the vest cutting into his low back and hated it. Twisting it to try and stop it from annoying him, he cringed as his ribs ached and then gave up and tried to relax.

"Where to, Taylor? You think he's already stolen another car by now?"

"Yes, Johnny. He has."

Agent Skinner chuckled sarcastically, "If I were him I'd be half way to Idaho by now."

"You're not him, and he isn't. He's not very happy with me at the moment and he wants to leave when he has the upper hand."

"What the hell does that mean?" Agent Green said as he exited Interstate 5 and began their crawl around Beacon Hill.

"He's already wounded you with his high-powered rifle and run over you with his car. Upper hand?"

"Yeah, but I got his toys, his souvenirs."

"Some loose teeth and a few pieces of jewelry?" Agent Skinner scoffed.

"Oh, yes," Robbie hissed. "He likes playing with the victims' things. They remind him of the murders when he's not at the crime scenes. He masturbates over them. I think he was very angry with me that I found where he was hiding and took them out of his room."

"Naaa ... he'll leave. It's too hot here."

"Oh, Frankie, Frankie ... so naïve." Robbie sighed, then sat up and leaned between them. "He's here. He's mad, and he's going to act out of revenge once again. Trust me."

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Agent Green said to Agent Skinner. "He's been right up to now, Frank."

"Yeah, yeah, just keep drivin'."

Robbie smiled and sat back. "Oh, he's still here all right.

Time to use your hook, Johnny. Time to use your hook."

"We're not using you as bait. Forget it, Taylor." Agent Green shook his head as if indicating the idea was ludicrous.

"You want to catch him?" Robbie asked.

"Forget it! The guy has a rifle!"

"No. He doesn't. We've got it," Robbie said calmly.

"We found one. But he had bullets for two different weapons. No. Taylor, the answer is no." Agent Green stopped for a red light and Robbie caught his eyes in the mirror again.

"Since when are you so overprotective? You didn't even want me on this case. I think he likes me, Frank. What do you think?" Robbie teased.

"We both like you, Taylor, but it doesn't mean we want you in our bed." Agent Skinner nudged Agent Green to move when the light changed.

"Aww, you sure? I was hoping you did." Robbie clicked his tongue sadly.

"Shut up and tell me what you want me to do," Agent Green grumbled.

"Right." Robbie sat up between them again. "I want you to go to the top of Yesler Way and pull over..."

* * * *

Dave was busy backing another unit on a traffic stop.

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attention to the suspect driver as Officer Sanchez wrote the man a ticket for speeding. His ear constantly cocked to the radio, Dave wondered why he didn't hear anything from Robbie over the airwaves yet. Should he call him on his mobile? Find out if he was in Rainier Valley? Dave had some comfort in the fact that he would be selected to be primary on the next murder even if it was out of his district. So, he didn't worry about that. What he worried about was for Robbie's safety. He wanted to be there, in case. Just in case.

Officer Sanchez sent the driver on his way after he signed the ticket. Once he was gone, he walked over to where Dave was standing and said, "Just about that time. You think you'll get called to the scene again?"

"I'm supposed to. Who knows? They keep getting closer to catching this guy. Maybe he's left the state."

"I hope so. Anyway, thanks for the back-up, Dave."

"No problem, Wayne. See ya on the next one." Dave waved to him and then climbed into his car, shutting off his overhead lights. He let the dispatcher know he was clear, then pulled out into traffic and headed for the International District again just to be at hand if he was needed.

* * * *

Robbie walked alone. The two other agents were tailing him in the car, but were far enough away not to be seen. He had walked through Pioneer Square and back up Main Street again, making his presence more than obvious if that lunatic wanted to track him. Once they had been moving around that way for over two hours, Robbie stopped and leaned against 214

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one of the store fronts to rest. He keyed his microphone, which was on the alternate frequency the other agents were monitoring. "Forget it, boys, he's not biting."

"We'll be right there," Agent Skinner replied.

Robbie sighed and tried to shift the stiff vest to get comfortable. A small trickle of sweat dripped down his temple in the muggy warmth. He was hot, tired, and hungry. The sedan pulled up on the street in front of him. Taking a last desperate look around, Robbie then climbed into the back seat and stretched out on the leather interior. "Shit. I thought he'd come looking for me."

"It was worth a try." Agent Green stopped at a crosswalk.

"Look, it's six-thirty. You want to stop for a bite?"

"I'm game," Robbie sighed, wiping his damp forehead. "Is it hot in here?"

"No. You're just warm from walking," Agent Skinner replied.

"And this fucking vest!" Robbie moaned and pushed at it in vain.

"What are you in the mood for?" Agent Green asked Agent Skinner, ignoring the complaints from the back seat.

"Anything."

"I'll head downtown." Agent Green turned left at the next light and drove down Pike Street.

Wracking his brains to think of where he could find Mr.

Dragon aka 'Bob T. Stalker', Robbie stared out of the window and sighed tiredly wishing the answer was written on the clouds.

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Once they had ordered sandwiches at a coffee shop and were sitting at a table by the front windows, Agent Green said while chewing, "We should have just posted surveillance on the room. Big mistake going in there like that."

"Yeah, but it was a long shot that he was actually staying at one." Agent Skinner bit into his ham and cheese on rye.

Robbie sipped his iced latte, barely touching his food.

"You're right. We blew it. We should have gone in quiet and found him, then went in for the kill. It was a mistake."

Agent Skinner shrugged. "We are using local police resources. What the hell are we supposed to do? It's not like we have a dozen agents at our disposal."

"No, but between SPD and County we could have managed it. I should have thought of it." Robbie ran his hands through his hair as he spoke. "I'm just exhausted and not thinking straight any longer."

"We should be. We're not the ones with cracked ribs,"

Agent Green replied.

Robbie sat up and looked at him curiously. "Thanks, John.

I do feel at times I'm solely responsible for this case and the screw ups."

"You're not. You ever hear the joke?" Agent Green smiled.

"How many cops does it take to solve a serial murder?"

"No, how many?" Robbie asked.

"None. Just one long-haired psychic."

"You do like me." Robbie grinned and pointed at Agent Green while he spoke to Agent Skinner, "He likes me."

"Shut up and finish your sandwich. We have to get back out there," Agent Skinner chided.

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After they had tossed their trash into a garbage can and left the café, Robbie paused and pointed to the top of the hill at Seneca Street. "What's up in that direction?"

"Where?" Agent Green stopped and looked. "That's the Convention Center or Union Square, I think. Why?"

"No. Those trees over there. There's a park of some kind.

Where is the entrance to that park?"

"Who cares? Come on, Taylor, we have to get back to the car." Agent Skinner checked to make sure his radio was still on since the air waves had been quiet for some time.

"Let me just have a stroll through there."

"Now? You want to sightsee now?" Agent Skinner growled.

Before they could stop him, Robbie was walking up the long incline to the park. Behind him, the two agents shook their heads and went to get the car.

It took him a moment to figure out how to get to it, but he finally found the winding paths to Freeway Park. It was strangely isolated considering it was almost in the middle of the busiest areas of the city. A few people strolled around the grounds and some sat on the benches sipping from coffee cups.

* * * *

The radio was too quiet. Dave hated it when it went dead.

He checked his sector for calls and none were holding. It wasn't that unusual for a Monday evening to be calm, but seeing everyone in two sectors free of calls gave him an eerie feeling in his stomach. Something he was getting too much of lately. Then he heard Agent Skinner asking for Agent Taylor's 217

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location over the air. Dave perked up and waited. He heard Robbie's voice, "Freeway Park."

Curious as to what he was doing there, Dave decided since it was so dead, to head in that direction and find him. He parked his patrol car near the park entrance on Union Street and advised the dispatcher he was out of his vehicle on foot.

They acknowledged him. Placing his hat on his head as the clouds began to darken and spit drizzle, Dave began making the rounds inside the maze of paths and cement walls to find his lover.

* * * *

Robbie stood still listening and observing. This wasn't Beacon Hill. Nor was it the International District. It didn't make sense this park would be a hunting ground for the Dragon, but something odd was going on here. He felt it.

Male voices reached his sharp ears. A jovial laugh, some muffled compliment or comment must have been made to bring out a chuckle in response. Just beyond a group of overgrown rhododendron shrubs Robbie caught the sight of a young Asian male's face. He was smiling and laughing shyly as he spoke with another man.

The overwhelming sense of dread that flooded Robbie's veins was almost paralyzing. The man the Asian youth was talking to could only be seen from behind. Yet he knew. It was as if this thin rake of a man was charming the young sweet Asian boy. Flattery. Promises. The delight on the young boy's face was apparent. He was nodding, his face showing a big toothy smile of modest pleasure.

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Robbie moved one step closer, his hand slowly elevating to the strap of his holster. Then as if the movement of this young man's eyes, that momentary flicker to something behind him, was enough to alert his senses, the Dragon grabbed his latest victim, spinning him, holding a knife to his throat.

Robbie was stunned at the speed of the reaction. Perhaps this lunatic also had some keen sense of ESP as well. In the same instant Robbie had his gun out and aimed in their direction, but the terror on the young man's face was all Robbie could see.

"Give up!" Robbie shouted. "It's over!" Moving closer, he kept his grip on his semi-automatic pistol sure and strong.

Over the radio he heard several units asking for his location but he couldn't spare the hand to key his mike.

* * * *

Dave waited for that reply from Robbie. When Robbie didn't answer his radio Dave began moving more quickly to the heart of the park as it elevated over Interstate 5. There was a deafening roar of traffic and more noise from a waterfall that seemed to be competing with it. It was too much sound and cluttered his brain.