No Mercy (6 page)

As Detective O'Malley entered the stall to look at the beautiful young woman, he picked up the paper on her lifeless body. It had the same message that was on Kate Summers:
If I can’t have you, no one will.
He could tell by the condition of her dress that it was strictly a killing and not something sexual. The crime unit had already taken photos and sealed off the bathroom to check for prints of any kind. Detective Wyatt brought O'Malley to a separate room to speak to Taylor Black who was in the next stall when the murder took place. She was still accompanied by Wanda, who stayed at the request of the young woman.

“Hello, Ms. Black,” O'Malley said. “I'm sorry for what has happened here, but you need to tell me the unfolding of events here while it's still fresh in your mind.”

Taylor Black hesitated for a moment then told the detective she was in the stall when she heard Michelle open the door and a man startle her by coming up behind her. She tried to scream but he muffled her voice and then there was silence. She explained to him she was so scared she raised her feet and put her hands over her face as she heard the man position the body.

“How do you know it was a man,” he asked her.

“His legs and shoes,” Taylor replied.

Wanda interrupted her. “Oh, it was a man all right. I saw him leave the bathroom with the strange-looking hat with a mask on his face. It was a man all right.”

“OK,” the detective said, “anything else you think might interest me or you think was odd?” Wanda spoke up again, saying,

“I think killing someone in a bathroom stall is odd, don't you think?” O'Malley frowned at Wanda as he turned his head back to Taylor.

“Well,” she said, “after he killed her, it sounded like he was kissing her.”

O'Malley moved in closer to Taylor.

“Keep going.”

The young woman looked at Wanda then back at the detective. “The sounds of kissing are unmistakable. It was more than once. Very creepy.”

The detective kneeled down to be at the same level as Taylor before speaking again. “Have you ever seen the woman in the club before?”

Taylor looked at Wanda, then back at the detective, saying, “I don't know. I haven't seen her yet.”

O'Malley knew what he had to ask, but he was afraid of the answer. “Are you up to taking a look at her now?”

Taylor started crying before she spoke. “I've never seen a dead person before other than at a wake.”

“OK,” O'Malley answered. He looked at Wanda. “Are you up to taking a look?”

Without hesitation Wanda got up and spoke. “Honey, if it will help catch that motherfucker, absolutely.”

“I'm not surprised,” O'Malley said in a low voice as he escorted Wanda to the Women's room. On his way out of the room he said, “Thank you, Taylor. I'm going to have one of the officers take you home. Go and get some rest.”

“I have a car,” the young woman answered.

“Fine,” O'Malley spoke again. “One of the officers will follow you home.”

He looked at Wanda, smiled, and said, “Let's go to the restroom.”

He asked her, “If I showed you a video picture would you be able to tell me if it matched what you saw coming out of the bathroom?”

“Honey,” Wanda replied, “I won't forget what he was wearing on his head. Good thing he didn't try and kiss me. I'd break his motherfucking penis in half.” O'Malley shook his head as he had Wyatt and Hansen get the tapes of the club, while Caulfield was questioning other patrons. Too bad, he thought, that no filming was allowed in the bathrooms. O'Malley went home at 2:30 am with such a stress headache that he slept in the guest bedroom so he wouldn't wake his wife. He had told Wyatt and Hansen there would be no day off tomorrow.

“G
ood morning, my partner!” Bud said as he ran up the stairs to greet Paul, only to find Rachelle hiding her naked body under the covers up to her head. “Oops,” the detective said. “Ah, is Paul hiding somewhere?” A big smile came on his face.

Rachelle just giggled. “Bud, you are too funny. He's in the bathroom getting ready to go to work with you!”

“Well,” the detective answered, “at least he wasn't so preoccupied that he forgot about me.”

Rachelle replied, “I'm just glad you didn't come up those stairs ten minutes ago.”

The detective nodded, “I'm sure Paul is also. OK, tell him I'll be in the car waiting for him.” As Bud shut the door downstairs, Paul opened the door to the bathroom as he approached Rachelle still with the covers up to her head. As he looked at her she found she was still amazed by his good shape.

“Are you being shy all of a sudden, missy? I've seen your body a few times.”

“No,” Rachelle replied, “but Bud hasn't seen my body, and I would like to keep it that way.” She explained to him that Bud ran up the stairs while he was in the bathroom. He laughed as she said, “Can you imagine if he came up a few minutes earlier?”

“You mean,” Paul said, “like right now,” as he gazed into her eyes and started to move the covers from her.

“Oh God,” she said as she put her arms around him. “He can wait another ten minutes.” It was twenty minutes before Paul came out to meet Bud to go to the precinct. As he got in the car Bud started singing, “You were always on my mind.”

Paul looked at his partner. “Yes, my friend, life is good!” Paul wanted to bring Deborah up, but he felt if it wasn't his place since life had taken them in different directions. Still, he wished for his friend and his partner to be happy. As they drove to Yaphank headquarters Bud was explaining how excited he was about moving to the Henry Hallock house in a few days.

“Yes,” Paul said, “the haunted house. We will be there to help you.”

Upstairs in the apartment Rachelle was still in bed and called Deborah.

“Hey you, if you haven't had breakfast, meet me at the Coffee House.” Deborah was happy to make plans with Rachelle for more girl talk. “Give me an hour,” Rachelle said, “I have to take care of the dogs and have to work in the restaurant until 5:00 pm today, so let's eat before my shift. OK?”

“See you in an hour,” Deborah replied as she hung up. She was amused, as she thought Bud would be jealous if he knew she would be having breakfast where his favorite server worked. He had become so fond of Brittany at the Coffee House that the only times he had breakfast there were the days she was there. He even met her boyfriend at the bar Country Corner where he worked in Setauket, because he wanted to be sure he was OK for her. That was Bud, always concerned and looking out for others. Deborah shook her head to try to stop thinking about Bud, but all she could do was smile.

As the ride continued to headquarters, Paul opened the paper to read about the City nightclub murder. He could not focus clearly because he had a tendency to get headaches while the car was in motion.

“What a shame,” he said. “A beautiful young girl's life snuffed away, so many animals in today's world.” His Samsung Galaxy smartphone buzzed as he finished his sentence. “It's Cronin,” he said as he picked up the call.

“When are you guys getting here? Let's go!”

“On the way, Boss, give us ten minutes.”

When they walked into the precinct and into the Priority 1 area, Detectives Cronin and Baker, as well as Officers Lynagh, Healey, Chapman, Franks, and Dugan were waiting for them in the conference room.

“Have a seat,” Cronin said to them. They took a seat and remained silent, as they were surprised to see Police Chief Bob Jameson sitting next to Cronin looking over paperwork for a few minutes until Detectives O'Malley, Wyatt, Hansen, and Caulfield walked in and took a seat. Police Chief Jameson stood up and began to speak.

“Good morning, gentlemen. I asked all of you here because in the last week there have been three murders. Two on Long Island and one in Manhattan, that seem to have a connection. Three girls between the ages of twenty-three and twenty-eight, all brunettes, all same body type, all killed in nightclubs. All with a note on them in cut-out letters that read,
If I can’t have you, no one will
.”

He motioned for his tech man to show images of the three girls on the screen. “Now,” the chief continued, “to the dismay of Detective O'Malley, I'm assigning this case to Priority 1. It's one thing to have a homicide, but now it appears we have a man wearing a baseball hat connected to a mask on a rampage. We have video of him coming out of the private room at the City nightclub and the bathroom of the Pajama Club.”

“Sir,” Paul spoke up, “the third girl. Where was she killed?”

The chief answered, “Outside of a place called Skyline. He broke her neck, laid her outside of the club, and placed the note that he left with all three victims:
If I can’t have you, no one will.
”

“Chief,” Cronin spoke up, “can we have a closer image of the girls?”

The chief nodded to his tech man, and the three girls' faces were enlarged on the screen. Bud looked at the screen, at each of the girls; he studied them as his face dropped and his heart started pounding. He stood up as he continued to look at the images. “Bud,” Paul said, “what is it?”

Detective Bud Johnson started walking to the screen as Cronin stood up and also asked, “Bud, what is it?” Bud touched the screen as he turned and looked at everyone in the room.

“Bud!” Paul yelled.

“Chief,” Bud said, “what were the height and weight of all the girls?”

The chief scrolled down his paper and said,

“All between 5'5” to 5'7” and 110 to 120 pounds.”

Bud took out his wallet, pulled out a photo, and held it up for all to see.

“Tell me that Deborah Lance doesn't resemble these girls.” He put the photo back in his wallet as Paul stood up and looked at Cronin.

Bud spoke up, “We have to put protection on her until this is resolved.”

“Wait, just wait,” Detective Wyatt spoke up. “Are we going to put protection on any pretty brunette that is 5'5” to 5'7” and between 110 to 120 pounds?”

“Not every one, but this one we are,” Bud said as he started to walk out the door.

“You're not going anywhere,” Cronin remarked. “Sit down!”

Paul walked over to Bud and gently led him back to a seat next to him. “Bud, calm down, we are here to help if there is anything to this.”

Detective O'Malley stood up and spoke. “Chief, I would like a temporary assignment over to Priority 1 until this case is resolved.”

“Listen up,” the chief spoke up as he motioned for O'Malley to sit down. He looked at Detective Lieutenant Cronin, who stood up and spoke.

“We can only have a certain amount of people assigned to this case. There are ten people in this room, not counting you, of course,” he said, pointing at the tech person. “Paul, you will have the lead on this case. Take four people with you plus Detective O'Malley, while Officers Healey and Lynagh, for now, will be with Deborah Lance until we get a handle on this case. Baker, you and Chapman are assigned to the correctional facility case, which I will discuss with you separately. The rest of you will be at your normal stations and responsibilities. Paul, see me in my office with your team in fifteen minutes.”

Paul had wanted Lynagh and Healey as part of the four for his team, but he also knew they were the best to keep Deborah safe just in case. He had his doubts, but he wanted to be sure like Bud. Paul looked over at his partner and asked, “Are you going to keep calm?”

“You need me!” Bud said. “Why even ask that?”

“OK,” Paul answered. “Bud, Dugan, Franks, Wyatt, and of course you, Detective O'Malley.”

Detective Hansen spoke up.

“Everyone has a job except for me, I guess.”

“Not true,” Detective Powers said. “I will speak to Cronin to have you on the team as well.” He looked at Caulfield and said, “Sorry, we need someone to keep the paperwork moving at your precinct.”

“No problem,” Caulfield answered. “I enjoy dinners at home.”

Paul went to his desk to sort things out before bringing in the team to Cronin. O'Malley wasn't happy that he was no longer the lead on the case, but Paul Powers's reputation as an interrogator as well as a detective was difficult to top. The national media coverage of the Face of Fear investigation and the outcome of it was clearly an overmatch for O'Malley to fight. He did, however, walk into Cronin's office while Chief Jameson was still there. As he started to speak Cronin noticed Lynagh and Healey walking by and, ignoring O'Malley for the moment, threw a ball of paper against the glass and waved for them to come into the office.

As they entered the office, Lynagh spoke. “Boss?”

“Listen up,” the detective lieutenant said. “For now, keep your distance. There's no need to have Ms. Lance get shaken up right now. This may be nothing other than they look like her. I will call the father and speak to him.”

O'Malley spoke up. “The girl is in her late twenties; why speak to the father?”

This time Cronin didn't ignore him. “She went through a life-changing event about a year and a half ago, plus she lives in the father's mansion. He should know. If this turns out to be something that involves her safety, we will speak to her.” He looked back at Lynagh and Healey and said, “Let's give this a week, watch her 8:00 in the morning until she's home at night. If she goes to a dance club, give me a call, and we will send in some backup.” He stood up as he spoke again. “For now report directly to me. We want to be absolutely sure there is a connection between her and the murders before you report to Detective Powers as the head on this case.” The officers nodded and left the office on their new assignment.

O'Malley started to speak again as he looked at the chief. “Sir, I've been a lead detective for over twenty years, and now I'm in a support role. While I respect Detective Powers's and Johnson's record, I would like a little support here to work in the direction we need to go.”

The chief frowned and answered, “Sorry, Detective, you are a good cop, but you haven't seen the shit that went on here eighteen months ago and don't know the half of it. The people on this task force need your support. This is now a Priority 1 Task Force case. The decisions will be made by Cronin and his lead detective, Paul Powers. Get right with that.”

He turned to Kevin Cronin and reached out his hand to shake his, saying, “Good luck, Detective.”

Chief Jameson then walked out the door.

As Paul was walking toward Cronin's office, he tapped Bud on the shoulder. “Just keep your cool on this.”

Bud snapped back, “You mean like when Rachelle's life was at risk?”

“Whoa,” Paul fired back, “that's not fair. There have been no attempts on Deborah; her life has been quiet since Face of Fear was over. Let's not jump the gun yet. If there is something here, I will be the first one by your side.” He hesitated for a second as he saw Bud weakening. “Just like the last time,” Paul finished.

Bud nodded and said, “OK, my partner, OK.” Paul was referring to the many times they have counted on each other, especially when their lives were in jeopardy, but it was the Face of Fear investigation that forever bonded them. Bud had become suspicious of Paul as the evidence accumulated during the case, and even handcuffed him to his own bed. The detective escaped with the help of Joey Z from downstairs in the restaurant and ended up saving Bud and Officer Dugan's lives as well as others in the Wilkerson house. Bud played it over and over in his mind so many times and never forgave himself for having doubts about him.

The case went down in history as the most famous on Long Island, and it was Cronin, Powers, Johnson, Lynagh, Rachelle, Madison, Deborah, Healey, and Lindsey that received so much publicity there was worry their lives would never be the same again. Lindsey's parents respectfully asked the media to let a twelve-year-old girl have her privacy and grow up. Rachelle gained the most notoriety from her writings and tweets and promised she would one day write a book about it all. Madison was known worldwide as the vigilante Ghost Face killer, which helped the county break the rules and keep her in the Riverhead facility even after her trial. It had never been done before, but the exception was made with the political pressure and public sympathy to keep her on Long Island close to her only family, Rachelle. The former Suffolk County executive William Lance, a powerful businessman with extraordinary wealth—and also the father of Deborah Lance— pulled all the strings to keep Madison in a jail, not a prison.

Bud fell for Deborah during the case, but his insecurities kept them from progressing. Her wealth and status was his problem, not hers. She never changed toward him, but behind the jokes and the humor there was some truth. Now, as her name was being mentioned in this case, he wondered why his confidence with her left him. Still, everyone in the room, including the one closest to him, Paul, noticed he carried a photo of her in his wallet and had one of her on his desk as well.

Powers and Johnson walked into Cronin's office and Paul convinced the detective lieutenant he needed Hansen as well on his team for the case. Cronin asked Powers what he was assigning the team to do. Paul started to give instructions, and it was always Bud's favorite part to watch how he continued to be smooth no matter what was happening.

Detective Powers looked at O'Malley and said, “Detective, I'd like to see your reports on the case to date. Then you and Wyatt go to the City and speak to the club's owner and employees at Skyline. Make sure you speak to them before you speak to the lead detectives about their thoughts and notes on the case. Also, you have video of the masked man coming out of the rooms at both the City and Pajama Club. What about the video of them going in the rooms? Check it out.”

He looked at Cronin and continued, “Boss, please call the City and let them know our men will be speaking to the appropriate people at the club, then ask them for notes that may help us with the murders here. We need to find out if there is a connection not only to each other but to pretty brunettes, or if there is a link to Deborah or something else.”