The Face of Fear: A Powers and Johnson Novel (47 page)

“Damn,” he said aloud to himself, “there is a lot of expensive shit in this place.” His BlackBerry buzzed. It was a text from Lindsey.

“Bud, don’t swear; it’s not nice.” He looked puzzled as he read the text. He went upstairs, and Lindsey was in the hallway as Healey settled himself in the cot.

“You heard me from up here?”

“Yes, so be careful,” she laughed.

“Good night, smart...” he caught himself...“girl.”

“That’s better,” she replied. He looked at Healey as he pointed down the hallway.

“Parents’ room?”

“Yes,” Healey answered. Bud headed downstairs as he put on the television with low volume. Paul was outside with Dugan for more than an hour before he came in.

“Are we going to talk?” Bud asked.

“I have nothing to talk to you about right now,” Paul replied.

“OK,” Bud replied, “let’s just try and get through this, then.” Paul didn’t reply as he headed into the kitchen and poured himself some water.

Bud thought to himself,
Thank God this is only ’til 2:00 am
.

As 2am approached, Bud received a text from Dugan that Lynagh was approaching the front door. There was a slight knock as Bud opened the door to greet him. Bud reviewed the house with him as

Paul stayed in the living room. Lynagh walked around the house with the shotgun in his possession and finally said good night to the two detectives. As Paul walked to his car Bud yelled, “Good night, Paul.” Paul kept walking to his car but raised up his hand to say good night. He went back to his apartment and climbed into bed, not knowing his life would not be the same the next day.

P
aul woke up about 7:00 am and as he always did, turned on Fox News. It was perfect timing because the Fox and Friends broadcast was interrupted by a breaking news segment. The announcer went to a press conference that was about to begin with Nada Marjanovich, the publisher and editor of
Long Island Pulse
magazine. She stepped right up to the microphone and began to speak.

“Good morning, everyone. I have a brief statement to make.
Long Island Pulse
magazine conducted an interview with Detective Bud Johnson, Detective Sergeant Paul Powers and Detective Lieutenant Kevin Cronin a few days ago that will be in its full text when our issue comes out next week. However, we believed it was important to release certain excerpts from the interview now.”

Paul woke up fast and sat up to get a closer view of his television as Nada continued. “When we posed the question of if and when the people responsible for the kidnapping and murders would be caught in what has become known as 'the Face of Fear Investigation,’ Detective Lieutenant Kevin Cronin answered, 'An arrest will be made before the publication of next week’s issue.’ This strong statement is the reason we are releasing this news now. Not only to calm fears of the people of Port Jefferson but to be a responsible news source and let the public know now instead of waiting another week.” The questions from her fellow peers were nonstop, and Paul could not make out what they were trying to ask Nada. She simply put her hands up and tried to interrupt them.

“Please! Let me try and answer your questions.”

She pointed to someone who asked, “If the Suffolk County Police Department knows who is involved, why don’t they arrest him now?”

Nada was a pro. She answered, “Detective Lieutenant Cronin stated clearly he knows who they are and arrests will be made. I assume this means anytime.”

The other channels quickly picked up her news conference and within minutes were playing it on ABC, NBC, and CBS as well as CNN and the Local News 12 Long Island station. Paul was switching back and forth and only saying three words: “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.”

He attempted to put his slacks on too fast and tripped to the floor. Once he got his pants on, he ran down the stairs saying the same thing, “Oh my God, oh my God.”

He was in his car before he realized he didn’t have a shirt on. He ran back up the stairs, saying, “Oh my God, oh my God.” He put on his shirt and ran downstairs again and drove to the precinct within 12 minutes. There were rows of reporters waiting outside for a press conference. Paul had to politely shove his way into the front door, where Officers Chapman and Franks were guarding the door to be certain the precinct was not overrun by reporters. As he approached his desk, he saw Cronin sitting in his office calmly doing paperwork. He knocked on his door and opened it.

“Kevin, is there anything we need to talk about?”

“No, Paul,” the detective lieutenant answered. “Not yet. Have you spoken to Bud?”

“No,” Paul replied. “We have hit a rough patch.”

Within two minutes Assistant District Attorney Ashley walked in and walked right into Cronin’s office and sat down as Paul walked out. There was silence for a few moments and then he spoke.

“You really did it this time. We did everything you wanted in this case, but you couldn’t let me know the statement you were going to release.”

The detective lieutenant moved his papers to the other side of the desk and answered Ashley. “I wanted to see everyone’s reaction to the statement.”

“Including your own team of detectives?” Ashley replied. “Yes,” Cronin replied. “Even my own team of detectives.”

Bud looked up to see Police Chief Jameson and the precinct commander walk at a steady pace all the way to Cronin’s office. He slammed the door behind him and stared at everyone in the room.

He pointed at Cronin and began to speak.

“Don’t say a word, don’t say anything, just listen. I really don’t know what the bloody hell you are doing or what you are thinking, but now that you have released this statement, you have 24 hours to close this case or I will see to it that your career is over. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I have to go outside and explain this, and I have no choice but to support you and say this will be over soon. And it will be over soon, right? Right!”

Cronin politely asked, “I can speak now?”

Jameson slammed his fist on his desk and said, “You better speak or I’ll rescind the 24 hours.”

Kevin Cronin looked at Ashley, then at Jameson, and said, “It ends in the next 24 hours, one way or another. My career, my life. It’s going to end. Hopefully it will end for the bad guys.”

“Just what the hell do I tell the reporters?” Jameson bellowed. “Tell them,” Cronin said, “to be patient. They will know why, who, and when shortly in regards to my statement.”

The chief looked Detective Lieutenant Cronin up and down before saying, “Don’t embarrass us, Kevin. This time I want it to be over. You don’t want to see me again in this temporary office of yours.”

With that, he walked out and did exactly what the detective suggested to him. Officer Henderson came over to Bud and gave him a CD of images of the costume styles used with the Ghost Face mask over at Fun World. He studied the styles very carefully and matched them up with images from the hospital. It was totally different. The killer has a sleek black outfit almost looking like it was customized yet at the same time not tight enough to see total body build. All black yet it looked like the chest had a stylish leather design on the front. The black gloves were also sleek leather where the costume from Fun World was all loose nylon fabric. He opened the
Newsday
where Rachelle’s tweet messages were more prominent. It was like she had a crazy cult following. He went on to Twitter to see what she wrote today. It said, “Today, it is the END, I won’t say it AGAIN, I know who you ARE, you won’t get very FAR.”

Bud read it to Paul and then asked, “Now why would she write something like that?”

“Why don’t you ask her?” Paul replied.

“I think I will,” Bud replied. He felt a bad energy coming from Paul, and he decided that it had to get resolved before it got worse. “We need to talk,” he said to Paul.

“Not now. Let’s get through this for now,” Paul responded.

Phil Smith walked into the McDonald’s off of Nesconset highway in Miller Place with a baseball cap on and looked around to see if three men were sitting together. No one fit the description, so he walked up to get a cup of coffee. The man behind him said, “Here, it’s on me,” as he paid for his coffee. “Please join us over here.” Phil looked over at the table and joined the two men already sitting there in the back booth. Phil sat down and shook their hands. He asked for their names, and the leader of the group said it didn’t matter.

“We are here to help you,” he said. “The voice brought us up to date on everything. Everything happens today and tonight, and then we are out of there.”

“I don’t agree,” Phil answered. “Have you seen the news today? The cops have said they know who is behind this and an arrest will be made.”

“Let’s get real,” the leader said. “First of all, they know you, no one else, and yes if they could find you, they would arrest you. This is what we are here for. Today, the girl will be killed at the school. You will not even be around. There will be such a distraction, they won’t even care or be thinking about you. Second, our contact is back living at the mansion as of last night. We will get the money tonight. You will help us, we will split everything and we go our separate ways.” Phil rubbed his forehead.

“The voice said you guys were getting considerations not money. Plus if the girl is killed today, don’t you think they will have a clue that we are making our move?” The leader spoke again as the other two stayed silent.

“We can’t wait, the longer this goes the more difficult it will be to get the money for you and the voice, but you won’t enjoy it as long as the girl is alive. The voice says now. Quite frankly, you are the only one that anybody really cares about. Be at the mansion tonight at 1:30 am. It’s going down. This is my number to the disposable phone I have. The girl will be in school from about 10:00–2:30 pm. Be ready for anything in case we need you.” Phil got up and left the table.

The leader, whose name was Ron Buckner, looked over at his two friends, Brian Thompson and Eric Pierson.

“When we finish the girl and get the money, the voice will set it up to where Phil is eliminated in a manner he will get the blame for most everything. He wants to eliminate Bud Johnson and expose his partner to the world as well.” Ron Buckner was a tall man about six foot three inches tall and in very good physical condition. He had been involved in a few things over the years with the voice but nothing of this magnitude. Brian Thompson had been a tag along of Ron’s for years and made most of his living as a contractor. Business had been so slow with the recession that he did side jobs with Ron over the past few years. Eric Pierson was new to the group and the voice called him “the killer.” He was proud he had killed five people across the country over the past ten years and had never been caught. It was Eric who was going to kill twelve year old Lindsey today and it didn’t bother him in the least.

“Let’s get ready, men,” Ron said.

Robert Simpson’s cell phone rang, and it was Patty.

“Hello, handsome,” she said. “I haven’t had sex in a week, so why don’t you come over here and we can mix business with pleasure.”

“Patty,” Robert said, “I’ve got too many things on my mind, quite frankly.” Patty got a little more serious.

“You better have how much share I’m getting from the house on your mind.”

“Oh, you too,” he said. “Everybody wants a share.”

“Who else?” she said.

“Gee,” he answered, “you have the voice, Rachelle, you, Phil, me, and who knows who the hell else.”

“We will see about that,” she answered.

“Patty,” he said, “you have a monitor on your ankle; you are not in a position to tell people how much you want.”

“Oh, yes I am,” she said. “You will all help me, or I’ll bring all of you down.”

“Patty,” Robert replied. “You can’t come to the house you will bring all the cops here with you having the monitor on you.”

“That’s right,” she answered, “you tell the voice to call me this morning or I will show up where and when you least expect it.” The phone disconnected.

Ashley was still with Cronin in his office when the Detective Lieutenant picked up the phone and called Healey’s cell phone. The officer answered the phone, “Healey.”

Cronin said, “Keep the kid home from school today, understood?”

“Confirmed and noted,” was Healey’s answer. He knocked on Lindsey’s bedroom door and as she answered he told her she would be staying home from school today. She questioned him as to why when Cronin called the cell of Healey again.

“Put her on, please.”

“Hello Detective Lieutenant Cronin,” Lindsey said. He continued, “Have you done it yet?”

“Yes,” she said. He replied, “does it match the photo you showed me?”

“Yes,” she said.

“OK, I want you to put it in a manila envelope, seal it with tape and give it to Healey.”

“OK,” she said, “but if they ask me for it?” He answered her, “Tell them you are doing what I told you to do.”

“OK I will,” she answered.

“Good,” he said, “give me back to Officer Healey.”

“Yes, sir,” Healey said. Cronin told him she would be handing him the manila envelope, sealed and it was not to be opened by anyone other than himself or Assistant District Attorney Ashley in case anything happened to him.” He disconnected the phone and looked at Ashley. The assistant district attorney just shook his head as he spoke.

“If you think you are going to leave me to handle all this bullshit you have another thing coming.”

“You heard the chief,” Cronin replied. “I’ve now got 24 hours.” Ashley stood up to leave, “I believe in you, Kevin. See you tomorrow.”

As the assistant district attorney left, Cronin whispered to himself, “God willing.” He then went to Gina and asked her what time Lynagh was back on duty. Gina told him since he was on the 2am to 6am shift, he would be back on duty about 7:00 pm.

“Tell him as soon as he is on to check on Saunders and report to me before going back to the Wilkerson house.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied as she made a note in her book to call Officer Lynagh around 2:00 pm.

“OK,” Cronin said, “where are Powers and Johnson?” he thought it had a nice ring to it. “Sounds like a Starsky and Hutch episode but only better.”

“Sir,” Gina said, “they are here in the precinct. They were worried about you since the
Long Island Pulse
released your statement.”

“Yes Gina, thanks, I know you were also, please send them to my office.” He walked in and shut the door which he rarely did in his office when he was alone. He checked his voicemail and it was District Attorney Steinberg.

“Kevin, I really don’t know what to say other than I wish you had warned me what you were going to do, but it’s behind us now. I know you think you know what you are doing and I hope you are right. Take care.” As he cancelled the message, Paul and Bud came in.

“Good morning again Powers and Johnson, I just noticed how good that sounds.” There was no comment from either one of them, so Cronin continued. “Any problems last night?”

“No,” they both answered at the same time but Bud continued, “All’s quiet on the Belle Terre front.”

Cronin replied, “I don’t know what you have planned for today, but I’m going to give you a schedule if you don’t mind. I want you guys to check on Saunders this morning and see what she is doing. I know the FBI is watching her but I still want to know. Then get yourself over to Rachelle’s house and make sure she’s not going anywhere for the next 24 hours. Tell Chapman or whoever is in the cruiser to be alert. Check on Healey and Lindsey by 2:00 pm today. I want people to see police going in and out of the house all day. In between, I want you to go to the school where Lindsey was supposed to be today. Let me know if you see anything unusual. Get yourself in bed by 5pm so you guys will be ready to rock and roll by midnight tonight. Keep in touch with me at least every hour today ’til you catch some shut eye.”