Late Tuesday afternoon, July 31st
“So, somebody finally put that vicious woman hater out of his misery. And everyone else’s. I wish I’d never met or dated him. Thank God for the Avenger. That man was evil, Lieutenant Mallory, pure evil,” Beth Franklin told Dan. “He thought all women needed to be put into what he believed was their proper place. He said men were the kings of this earth and women were put here to serve them. He deserved to die, before he hurt anyone else. I’m glad the Avenger took on my lost cause.”
“Why was his case dismissed?” Mory asked, as if Carl’s file was unfamiliar to him, a ploy that often evoked useful facts.
“Oh, he admitted he knew me and had slept with me. He never denied that. He just claimed he wasn’t the one who bashed my teeth out and broke all those bones. We were fishing on the lake and having a picnic. He kept drinking beer and I kept asking him to stop. When we got back to shore and he’d loaded the boat, he decided he wanted a blowjob before we headed home. I refused. My daughter was there with us. He shoved me to my knees, pinned my face to his crotch. I kept telling him no and struggling to get up. He kept trying to force me to...do him. He’d already exposed himself, so I bit him down there. That’s when he threw me backwards and grabbed a hammer from his truck. Before I could get up and run, he knocked my teeth out and demanded I do everything he said.”
She brushed at tears and took a ragged breath. “After he finished, he beat the rest of me with his hammer. He left me there on the ground, with my daughter crying beside me. Thank God he didn’t try to do anything to her, because I couldn’t have gotten up to protect her. Someone rode by in a boat and heard my daughter crying for her mommy. They pulled up and called 911 on their phone and stayed with me until the ambulance and police arrived. I told the officers what had happened before I was taken to the hospital. When they went to arrest Carl, he was drinking heavily with his buddies, all cleaned up and the hammer missing. They didn’t even find any of my blood in his truck or at his apartment. But the cocky bastard confessed what had happened. Later his admission was thrown out of court, because he was ruled incompetent at the time of questioning and he wasn’t read his rights or offered an attorney soon enough. His lawyer argued he left us there because we had a fuss after I bit his penis for no reason. Carl claimed I was going to call a friend to come get us and refused his offer of a ride home. He said somebody else had attacked me after he left to meet his friends at a bar. His lawyer said by the time I claimed he raped me, he would’ve been too drunk get an erection. There weren’t any eyewitnesses who saw us together and my daughter was only twenty-two months old. It came down to my word against his. Without his confession and no evidence for the DA. to use, his lawyer argued reasonable doubt, and won.”
“No one saw you two arguing on the lake?” Mory asked.
“No one came forward. We went to coves to fish, so we didn’t hit the popular spots. We had dated twice without any problems. He fooled me good. At first, Carl seemed nice, but the more he drank that day, the more I became concerned. I realized too late he was a mean drunk. He lied and got away with what he did to me. You can read the rest in your reports.”
“Are you seeing someone?”
“No, Lieutenant Mallory. With a small daughter to raise, I don’t think any man could earn my trust again. Maybe after she’s grown, I’ll get back out there again. But for now, it’s much safer this way. Lonely, but safer.”
“What about your child’s father or any other male family members, any of them want to go after Carl for justice or revenge?”
“No brothers. My father’s disabled. No boyfriend, then or now. My daughter’s father was killed by a tornado in Alabama before she was born. Carl was the first man I’d dated since Jimmy’s loss. It’s obvious I was naïve and foolish to go out with Carl.”
“I’m sorry this happened to you, Ms. Franklin, but don’t blame yourself for what that evil man did. If you think of anything else, please give us a call.”
“I’m sorry, too, Lieutenant. But I’m glad we have an Avenger out there who’s taking care of the slime that walks our streets. Hopefully, my daughter will never have to face this kind of evil when she gets older.”
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Wednesday morning, August 1st
“You look like shit warmed over, partner,” Mory jested. “Don’t tell me you worked all night again.”
“Nope, but I didn’t sleep good, too tired and edgy.” Downright horny and missing Andi! “I stopped by Tracy Daniels office a few minutes ago. She finished that comparison list for us, and it looks as if it might pay off. According to this printout, we have three people with ties to more than one area. Luther Jackson is a janitor at the medical school, but he used to work in the DA’s office. Paul Cannon, our ex-police officer who’s now living with one of our victim’s ex-wife and she currently works at the Medical College. And surprise, surprise. Guess who else made it onto our list? Our infamous Mister James Starr who manages to turn up in all the right places at all the right times. Who would’ve known? Apparently, he worked at a medical research lab to do an undercover story on the possibility of radioactive waste being dumped down sinks and contaminating the local water supply.”
“That’s interesting. We’re going to pay a visit to that lab, right?”
“Just waiting on you to arrive. Let’s go, partner.”
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When the elderly black man was pointed out to him, Dan knew he couldn’t have been responsible for the Avenger’s murders. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to him. He noticed the stoop of his shoulders, though they were broad. The overalls were old and faded, but clean. “Mr. Jackson?” Dan questioned as they approached him.
“Yes?”
“I’m Lieutenant Dan Mallory, and this is my partner, Sergeant Mory Morrison. We’d like to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind. Do you have a minute?”
“I sure does. What kin I dos to he’p you, sir?”
Kind, brown eyes gazed into his as Dan showed the man his badge. “Have you been reading the newspapers, Mr. Jackson?”
“No, sir. Cain’t say I has. I dropped outta school in the sixth grade to he’p my momma out when my daddy passed away. She had six churren and needed the money. I wents straight to work at Mista Willis’s sto, and never wents back to school. After a while, I figured I didn’t needs to go. Now, my grandchurren amaze me with what they’s learnin’. I never learnt to read too good, so I don’t buys the paper.”
“That was a good thing to do, Mr. Jackson, helping your momma out,” Mory said. “Have you heard anything about this Avenger that’s stalking our area?”
“Now, him, I dun heard of. You don’t has to be able to reads to know ‘bout ‘im. News of him been on the TV plenty. Lotsa folks tawkin’ ‘bout ‘im. He’s gittin’ rid of all dem bad folks the laws are settin’ free. Why’d you want to tawk to me ‘bout ‘im?”
“We ran a computer report of all the people who might have contact in more than one area that we’re investigating, and your name showed up on it. Apparently, you worked at the District Attorney’s office before you came here. Is that right?”
“Yes, sir, it shore is. Mista Raymond be a fine man, a good bossman. He gets me dis job. Shorter hours and more pay. Easier work. You’re not thinkin’ I’d be dat Avenger, now, is you? I don’t suppose I cud muscle dem men to the bed, and I knows my Johnson wouldn’t work for ‘em. I’m not dat way, Mr. Mallory.”
The innocence in the old man’s responses and expressions made Dan want to smile. “No, I don’t think you’re the Avenger, Mr. Jackson, but I didn’t realize that until I met you. Working around all these people, though, I’m sure you pick up on things. Have you seen anything suspicious lately? Any strange people hanging around?”
“Dere’s all kinds of peoples in dis world, Mr. Mallory, and I reckon in my lifetime, I’ve seed the lot of ‘em. But I ain’t come across nobody dat wud be the man you’re lookin’ for. Why you police wants to catchs ‘im so bad? Seems like he’s not so terrible, punishin’ all dose bad men for the thangs dey done. ‘Course, two wrongs don’t make no right. I guess you still gots to do your job, even if’n you agrees with what he’s doin’. Ain’t that right, Mr. Mallory?”
“Yes, sir, it is. I’ve—” Dan started before he was interrupted.
“You don’t needs to explain yourself to me. I don’t have much book knowledge, but I learnt a lot on the streets. People give it all away with their eyes. Watch for his eyes, Mr. Mallory, and you might be able to picks him out. His actions are gonna be disguised, but he can’t hide his eyes. It’ll all be dere.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jackson. If you think of anything—”
“I’ll calls you, Mr. Mallory. Den, you’ll have to decide what you’re gonna do with ‘im when you catches him. Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Dan walked off with the strangest feeling. The man was in his mid-sixties to seventies, so he couldn’t be the Avenger. But Mr. Jackson was smart, very smart. Dan tried to shake an odd feeling as they headed towards the lab to find Henrietta.
“That was strange,” Mory said with an inquisitive look as they got into Dan’s car. “What did you make of him?”
“I’m not sure, Mory, but I know he’s not the Avenger. And right now, that’s all I’m interested in. One down and two to go on our list.”
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“Hey, Dan, Mory. Whitehead’s drink was drugged with some Valium. I haven’t been able to tie down exactly how much yet, but it was found in his beer and in his bloodstream. It looks as if he came home, got a beer, took a leak and passed out. Somehow, someone put valium in his drink while he was in the can.”
“Hold on a second, Henri,” Mory interrupted. “How do you know he went to the bathroom? Do you guys have some new test for that now?”
The medical examiner looked at a grinning Mory and laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they come up with one soon, but no, that’s not how I know. Carl didn’t flush the toilet when he was done. Maybe conserving water on his bill.”
“Oh,” was all Mory said, when no amusing retort came to mind.
Henrietta continued, “After he passed out, he was dragged to the bedroom, pulled onto the bed and tied down. Scratches on the floor, drag marks on the rug and the condition of the covers exposed that, Mory.”
“All right, quit picking on me, Henri. It was a valid question.”
“Anything else, Henri?” Dan asked.
“He’s got the same needle mark on the inner elbow. The ropes were tied the same way as the others. The Avenger has been pretty consistent with all of that. Whitehead was beaten pretty severely. He was a mess to autopsy. I’m almost positive he would have died of internal bleeding if he’d been left like that for a while. I think he was struck with a hammer at times, other blows look like they were inflicted with something softer, like a fist. The bruising wasn’t as deep, Mory,” Henrietta couldn’t help but tease. “He was anally sodomized and forced to perform fellatio. It looks as if he did put up a strong fight.”
“I wonder if the Avenger was hiding in the house before Carl got home? Or did he come home with Carl and slip the narc into his drink while he was taking a leak?”
“I don’t know, Dan. I can’t help you out on that one. There wasn’t any forced entry from what we could tell, so I’d probably go with the second scenario.”
“Who is this guy? How does he keep getting into these people’s homes? Why do they feel safe to either let him in or bring him in? It really makes me wonder if there might be an accomplice, maybe a female. Maybe a rape victim. Maybe his boss.”
“Let me know when you find out, Dan.”
“You’ll be the first, Henri.”
“Hey, what about me? I’m your partner.”
“I hope you’ll be there with me, protecting my ass, so to speak,” Dan jested, then sent Henrietta a wide grin before asking, “Any chance our perp will have scratches or cuts on his...uh, penis when we catch a suspect? He did break Whitehead’s teeth. Any chance of sharp edges leaving telltale marks?”
“Hate to tell you boys this, but our vigilante made sure Carl’s gums were smooth before he stuck his well endowed organ in our vic’s mouth. Carl’s lack of dental hygiene helped; he had badly receding gums and loose to missing teeth. The rest of the bad news is: Harold and I just had a meeting to go over all we have so far. Hate to tell you boys, it isn’t doodly squat to help you apprehend him. There’s nothing he’s left behind to expose his identity. I’m guessing he isn’t in any legal system, and he knows exactly how to deny and mislead us. You boys are dealing with the smartest perp I’ve ever encountered in all my years of law enforcement. Harold has been studying all your cases and reports, and even he can’t find anything to help you boys.”
“Damn!” Mory swore. “It’s like we’re chasing a ghost!”
“Worse, my friend,” Henrietta corrected, “You’re after Pure Evil itself.”
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Wednesday afternoon, August 1st
“Listen, Mory, why don’t you knock off for the day and get home to your wife? Our crazy hours and dangerous situations are what has her steamed all the time. Take her out to dinner. Maybe add a movie. Join her for a bubble bath. Give her some great sex. Treat her better, my friend, or some other man will steal her away.”
“What about you? Plans with Andi tonight?”
“Not exactly. I’m pretty tired after the last two nights. I just need to hit the sack. Get some rest to clear my head. I’m sure she’ll understand. That’s one of the things I like most about her. Plus, she’s been working like crazy on a big case with Ray. I’m betting she needs some rest, too.”
“You two are hitting it off good, aren’t you?”
“Yep. Half the time that makes me glad; the other half, it scares the hell out of me. Sometimes I’m afraid she’s too good to be real. After Kristi, I’ve never trusted any woman fully. They can seem so sweet and innocent, but be sour or rotten on the inside. When I’m with Andi, I feel good. Most of the time we’re apart, I can’t wait to be with her again. Then, sometimes I wonder where this thing is heading and if I want to risk taking that long walk a second time. Right now, I’m bone tired, but I’m bone hard.”
“You’re hooked, Dan, so admit it. She’s everything you want and need. I hope she’ll have a good effect on my Janie. Andi never gets mad when you work late or you’re too tired to think straight enough to talk for hours.”
“Maybe that’s because we aren’t together all the time. We’re dating, so maybe she never lets her hair down completely. We don’t have any marital ropes tying us together, so we treat each other carefully. We don’t take each other for granted, because we know how lonely it’s been for us out there in the dating game. How should I know? I failed at love and marriage the first time around, so I must not know much about either one, or about women.”
“If you keep working late and ignoring Andi, you’ll be in the same boat I’m in. Why don’t you hang it up for the night? There’s nothing more you can do until tomorrow. At least go home and rest.”
“That’s what I need: a cold shower, a good scotch and sleep.”
Dan called Andrea to tell her he’d been working practically around the clock for days, so he was turning in early tonight. “I have a lot to check out tomorrow, so don’t look for me until Friday. Is that all right?”
“Of course it is, Dan. We do have things in our lives besides each other. I have a lot of things I need to take care of, too. You don’t have to explain to me, but I appreciate you calling. I understand how hard you’re working on this case. Things will lighten up after it’s solved. I saw the newspaper. That reporter is still giving you fits, isn’t he?”
“Damn that Starr! He tipped off the Avenger about the typewriter at the school library. He interviewed Barney Young, that student who made the connections and printed it. Now, the Avenger is using a different typewriter, so that clue is lost. Hell, I can’t blame Barney. The paper is offering five thousand dollars for news tips and he’s a student who needs money. I just wish he’d told me he talked to Starr, so I wouldn’t have wasted that stakeout.” He told her about the newest crime, what he’d done, and what he was going to do.
“How clear was the print? Could you tell what kind of shoe it was, or how big the person might be? I know there’s been a lot of advances in those areas, but I have to admit, I’m not as educated there as I’d like to be.”
“Henri took it back to her lab to see what she can determine from it. She took samples of the mud to see if there’s anything there, too. It seems too small for a grown man, though.”
“What if it’s a maid? Or a girlfriend’s? Or the victim’s?”
“It wasn’t Carl’s and I doubt it’s our killer’s, but I’ll check out the others. I’m just wondering if the Avenger has a female accomplice or boss. If so, she could be one of the men’s victims. I’ll check all of them out again.”
“Oh, Dan, I wish you didn’t have to keep bothering those poor women. Rehashing their cases must be mental and emotional murder.”
“That’s exactly what it is, Andi, murder for their old cases.”
“What are you planning to do, play a police prince who’s seeking a criminal Cinderella with a depression sample rather than a glass slipper? Are you going to take that cast to all of the women and ask them to step their feet into it for comparison?”
“I don’t know yet, but that would eliminate them from my possible suspects list.”
“At least check out all of the other possibilities first, okay?”
“I promise, you tenderhearted creature.”
“Thanks, and your kindness will be rewarded when I next see you.”
“I’ll hold you to that generous offer.”
Andrea laughed and said, “I was certain you would. I miss you, Dan, but I want to see you next when we can really and only concentrate on each other.”
“Me, too, Andi. I want you nestled beside me all night, without worrying the phone will ring and the Avenger will yank us apart.”
“Catch him, Dan, and uncomplicate our lives.”
“I’m trying, Andi, honestly I am.”
“I know, and I promise to be patient. I’ll be here for you as soon as things settle down for both of us.”
“Heaven help me, woman, you’re perfect.”
“If only that were true, Dan. But at least, you are. See you soon, and we’ll make up for lost time.”
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Thursday, August 2nd
“James Starr has a solid alibi this time,” Mory muttered in frustration as they headed towards the apartment Paul Cannon rented with Teresa. “He claimed to be at a party with some friends. They’re all members of the same hunting club, a bunch of good old boys who didn’t hesitate to let me know that they agreed with what the Avenger is doing and the articles Starr is writing.”
“Do you think they were telling the truth? Was Starr with them that night?”
Mory shrugged. “I doubt if they even care. They’re convinced this Avenger is some type of hero and their reporter friend is just being picked on by the cops because he’s telling a truth we don’t want told. Or something to that effect.”
“If I find out those party boys are covering for him, I’ll bust their ass to jail, too,” Dan threatened.
“I warned them about lying to law enforcers and obstructing investigations, but they didn’t seem concerned. Maybe they figured the Avenger will come bust them out if they’re allegedly wrongly accused of crimes after helping their friend. Who knows? I can’t imagine anyone being loyal to Starr; he sure doesn’t have a faithful bone in his body.”
“Whatever he’s done, I hope for their sakes, they’re not lying to us. Well, let’s go see what Mr. Paul Cannon has to say about all of this.”
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A man answered the door in jeans and a t-shirt. Their tight fit showed off a muscular physique, Dan noted, one that would be strong enough to overpower those victims. From what he’d heard from others at the department, Paul would be angry enough, too. And stupid enough to flaunt the law in their faces. I’d better be careful with this one.
“Paul Cannon?” After a nod, he disclosed, “I’m Lieutenant Dan Mallory from the County Department. Would you mind if we come inside and have a little chat?”
“What are you doing here, Morrison?”
“We need to talk to you, Paul. It will only take a few minutes.”
“You here about Teresa’s ex getting fucked up?” Paul laughed at his own joke. When he noticed the other two weren’t smiling, he stopped and taunted, “What the fuck’s got you so uptight? This Avenger ain’t poking you in the night, is he?” Again, he laughed. “Hey, Tee, some cops are here to talk about dickhead getting plugged. Put some clothes on, ‘cause they probably want to talk to you, too. Come on in, officers.” Paul held the door open as he slurred the last word, making it sound nastier than the foul ones he’d spoken earlier. After introducing them to his girlfriend, he excused himself to the bathroom.
“How are you doing, Ms. Whitehead? You still go by that name?”
“Yes, sir. I didn’t change it after me and Carl, well, after we broke up.”
“Have you seen Carl lately?” Dan didn’t like the way her gaze cut to the hallway before she answered with a soft “no”. “You wouldn’t be telling me a fib, now, would you, Ms. Whitehead?”
“Call me Teresa, please. Carl came by my work two weeks ago, but I haven’t seen him since. I didn’t want Paul to find out, because he gets furious when Carl harasses me at work,” she whispered. “Please don’t say anything to him about it. Carl came by wanting some money and he left after I refused to give him any. That’s all there was to it.” She begged them with her eyes to remain silent as Paul swaggered into the room.
“You done harassing my woman now? She ain’t the Avenger, ‘cause she ain’t got no dick. And as much as I’m enjoying the fact that those pricks got what they deserved, I ain’t stupid enough to put my cock up their ass. No telling what kind of diseases those pricks’ got. Nothing’s worth getting AIDS. That’s some bad shit. I heard somebody say your joystick falls off before you die. Now, ain’t that a pisser.”
“Can you tell us where you were Monday night?” Dan directed his question to Paul, for whom he felt no respect, but instant dislike.
“I was here all night long. Ain’t that right, Tee? We was probably in the bedroom having fun while Carl was—”
“Were you home with him that night?” Dan interrupted him and looked at Teresa.
“Yes, sir, I was. We stayed home that night and watched TV. There was a movie on HBO that Paul wanted me to see.”
“What’s your blood type, Paul?” Mory asked.
“I have no fucking idea. But you can check with personnel. They’d know. They claimed they wanted it on file in case I got shot on the streets and needed some blood. I think they just wanted to know in case they sold my body parts,” he jested.
Dan’s hold on his nerves was coming close to letting loose. This jerk had been part of their same brotherhood at one point. What had happened to him? What was with his cocky attitude and foul mouth? Maybe he talked that way all the time, but Dan decided he was doing it just to aggravate them. After his dismissal for temper, Paul probably wanted to show that all cops had a breaking point. I won’t let him beat me this way, Dan decided. “Would you mind if we take a look around?”
“You got a search warrant? You’re gonna need one if you want to go poking around in my stuff. There ain’t nothing here that would interest you.”
“Is this your house, or Teresa’s?” Dan asked.
“It’s hers, but she ain’t gonna allow you to go through her private things either. You just want to get your jollies off by going through her panty drawer, but I’m not going to allow that.”
Dan noticed that Mory was straining to control himself, too, so he spoke quickly. “That’s fine, Paul. If we need to come back with a search warrant, we will.”
“You ain’t got enough just cause for no damn search warrant. I remember enough to know that. You can threaten us all you want, but you ain’t got jack shit, so don’t pull that crap with me.”
“Paul, maybe we should let them take a look around. We don’t have anything to hide, and then they won’t have to come back later. Please, Paul, let them go ahead,” she pleaded with him.
“No! They’re just mad ‘cause they can’t find out who this Avenger is, so they’re picking on me since I was let go from the department. They’re just pissed off because the Avenger is doing their jobs for them, when the courts have tied their dicks in a knot. I hope you don’t catch him, Lieutenant. I hope he kills all the stupid shits out there. The fucker deserves a medal, as far as I’m concerned. Now, get out of my house! And don’t come back until you have a search warrant. Out!”
“Paul!” Teresa admonished.
“I want them out. Now! They have no right to be here harassing us. We haven’t done anything wrong, so they don’t have anything to tie us to Carl’s murder. I’m glad his sorry ass is dead, but I didn’t kill him. Neither did Tee. I’m not going to take any harassment or accusations. The department did me wrong just for losing my temper, and rightly so. Get out!” Paul thundered.
“Let’s go, Mory, before I’m tempted to show Paul what harassment really is.”
“Is that a threat? Are you threatening me?”
“Let me remind you, Paul, since you seem to have forgotten: it’s illegal to assault a police officer. Calm down, or I’ll haul your ass to jail and you can cool off there. We’re leaving. We know where to find you if we need to.” Dan walked quickly through the front door, ignoring the curses and shouts coming from the apartment.
“What a jerk!” exclaimed Mory as he put on his seatbelt. “Thank God he’s no longer representing the Force in this town. It’s cops like him that give us all a bad name. Why didn’t you push the search warrant? I’d have done it just to aggravate him.”
“He can’t be the Avenger. He’s too angry. The Avenger has executed these murders with a cool head. He’s made sure every loose end was tied up and nothing was left behind. I’m sure Paul is capable of murdering someone, but I doubt he could keep his temper in check to cover all of his bases, as the Avenger has done. Getting into a pissing contest with him wouldn’t have done either one of us any good. It would’ve just tied up some resources we can use elsewhere.”
“You’re right, Dan, but I’d sure like to have been there while they were tearing up his place. He’d spend some time on the other side of those bars that night for sure.”
“Yeah, but that still wouldn’t lead us to the Avenger. And that’s who I want. This case is driving me nuts, Mory. I can feel the Avenger looking over my shoulder all the time now. He’s out there and he’s watching us. We don’t have any suspects and very little to go on, and he knows that. He’s laughing at us, Mory. I can hear him. Now, we’re back to square one. Where will he strike next? When? Who? How?”
“The million dollar questions,” a sobered Mory said.
“Yeah, the million dollar questions.”