Monday afternoon, August 20th
The last thing Alan McCleary remembered was lying down to take a nap. Had Mother come back from the grave to punish him for being bad? His head pounded and he couldn’t think straight. He slowly opened his eyes. Oh my God, I’m blind! Was his first thought. But he realized something was secured around his head and something was stuffed into his mouth, nearly cutting off his air supply. Maybe that was why he was so confused, not enough oxygen was getting to his head. When he tried to move his hand toward the place that was sending shock waves to his brain, Alan felt the ropes that bound him to the bed. Then he grasped he was naked, and deathly fear set in.
Mother had tortured him many times when he had done something she didn’t like, and she had been brutal in her punishments. He hadn’t been able to consummate a relationship with a female because of his childhood nightmares. Until Tippi. She had been different. When he took her out, he got an erection for the first time. But Tippi hadn’t wanted to do anything on their first date. That had pissed him off because he feared it might be his last erection if he failed to use it. He had pleaded with her, tried to romance her into submission, even promised to marry her, but nothing had worked on that selfish and stubborn bitch. She had been as mean and tormenting as his mother was. Just kept telling him “no” over and over. Threatening him to “behave”. Ordering him to take her home. Swearing she was going to call the police. About to scream for help. About to deny him needed sex. Salvation from denial and torment. She had made him angry, so angry. He had to force her to succumb to his wishes. Just as Mother had always forced him to do her bidding.
He hadn’t meant to hurt Tippi, but she had driven him crazy and wild with her refusals and fighting. She was to blame for what he did, not him. Then, Mother had forced him to move to Augusta with her. That was when he met Glenda and gotten his second erection. But Glenda wouldn’t obey him either. She had forced him to punish her like he had punished Tippi. That time, the police had come and hauled him away to jail. The doctors, his lawyer and the judge had said he was crazy. They had put him in a mental hospital. At first, he had loved it there where he was safe from Mother. He had told them about all of the bad things Mother had done to him since birth. But he never told anyone about Tippi.
Tippi, he had never forgotten her. He had needed and wanted her again. Locked in the cage in the basement. Ready to appease all his dark desires. Ready to feed his great hunger for her. Until she was all used up.
He had learned to fool the doctors and tests so he could get out and find Tippi. Doctor Pickett had believed his mind was healed when he released him from the institution last week. Dr. Pickett had been wrong. Duped. The bad dreams were back worse than ever. They seemed so real this time, especially those involving the execution of his Mother and revenge on Glenda.
Alan quaked in terror as the harsh and frigid voice whispered behind him. It wasn’t Mother trying to scare and harm him. It was that Avenger he had read and heard about since his release.
“Alan, you are a very bad man. You must be punished for the brutal and wicked things you’ve done. You didn’t learn anything in that crazy house. Did you? You copped an insanity plea and escaped justice. But you aren’t crazy. You’re just pure evil. Your daddy was the devil himself. And your mother was a demon. You are their spawn. Your sister is lucky she escaped this madness long ago. You’ll join them in Hell for the sins you’ve committed. But I must make sure you’re punished here on Earth. You didn’t really think you’d get away with what you did to Tippi, did you? Yeah, I guess you did, since the courts and hospital turned you loose. But thwarted Justice has a friend on her side: Me.”
Alan heard the belt lash out before it struck his back. The sounds sent his thoughts reeling back in time. Three. Four. Five. Six. Finally he stopped counting and just let his mind wander to the safe place. The place where he washed himself in Mother’s blood. The place where he bathed in Tippi’s and Glenda’s blood. He had discovered Glenda’s address. He would beat and slay her soon. He had to be careful. He must not get caught again. But he didn’t know Tippi’s location. He would search for it and her later. He would—
“No tears, Alan? Doesn’t this hurt? Not for a tough guy like you. You’re used to this, right? Did Tippi cry when you whipped her? Did she beg you to stop? You didn’t listen to her, did you, Alan? You just continued to assault her while she lay helpless. Just like you did to poor Glenda. Are you listening to what I’m saying? Alan, you’re not answering me. That really pisses me off, you bastard. Maybe you can’t hear me with the cloth over your ears. Let’s see if I can fix that.”
The Avenger took the t-shirt from around Alan’s head, leaving the gag in place to keep him silent for a while longer. The captive’s eyes remained shut. “Can you hear me better now, Alan?” The Avenger grabbed his left ear. “I asked you a question, devil spawn, can you hear me now?” When Alan still didn’t respond, a sharp hunting knife was used to slice off the ear that was grasped between gloved fingers. Blood spurted from the wound as the Avenger repeated the previous question, “Can you hear me now, Alan? You’d better answer me or I’ll take the other one, too. Hopefully, I got the right one this time, the one that wasn’t working earlier.”
Alan nodded as tears coursed down his face. He tried to stop them, but he couldn’t. Mother had always gotten angrier every time he cried, so he had learned early on to stem the flow until he reached the privacy of his own room. If she heard the sobs through the door, Mother would come back to give him “something to cry about”. Tippi and Glenda hadn’t been able to stem the fear that had coursed through them when they saw his penis grow larger and larger. At first he had been shocked and terrified to watch his cock return to life and grow rapidly. Then, he was pleased and excited. He was aroused. It ached for pleasure, not pain. It demanded revenge on a woman. But never his sister. She was lucky she escaped before the worst horrors began. Mother had whipped him on his private parts when she saw the engorged member. Tippi and Glenda had screamed their terror. He had given them something to make them really scream, just as Mother had done to him.
“Did Tippi cry when you sliced off her ear? The doctors told her they couldn’t replace it. Not that it would matter much to her anyway. She’s comatose now because of what you did to her. She hasn’t spoken since she saw herself in the mirror in the hospital. You’ve spent time in a crazy hospital. Now you’re out. But Tippi is still incapacitated and most likely will remain there until the end of her natural life. You remember Tippi, don’t you, Alan? She was the girl you attacked and mutilated in Atlanta five years ago, the one you brutalized before Glenda. You didn’t get caught for that crime because Tippi went into a coma and couldn’t expose you to the police. When I read what you did to Glenda, I knew who had hurt my sweet Tippi. They should have executed you, but you fooled them. While you took a little vacation at that hospital, I waited here for your release so I could punish you. Remember Tippi now?”
Alan convulsed at the sound of his first love’s name, but refused to open his eyes to face the wrath of his new Mother. Tippi had been the first one who had made him feel like a man. Mother had stripped that from him with her repeated humiliations. Tippi had restored him, and this vile creature dared to say her name? Now that he was out, he had planned to find her. They would kill themselves as Romeo and Juliet had. They’d send a message to everyone that they really loved each other and wanted to be together forever. He shouldn’t have hurt Tippi, only Glenda.
The belt struck again. And again. Over and over it made fresh lacerations over the previous ones. Deeper and deeper the leather bit into his flesh until he cried out in agony.
“Did Tippi cry when you whipped her? Did she beg for mercy? Beg you to stop? She didn’t need you to stop any more than I need to stop. But, I must, for now. I want you to be awake for the rest of our time together. You are Pure Evil, Alan. I am Necessary Evil. I am Justice. I am Revenge. For Glenda. For Tippi. I am the Preventor and Protector. You will never injure another woman. Or Tippi again.”
He heard the Avenger move behind him and felt tacky fingers roughly grab the spongy flesh on his rear end. Without warning, something was pushed inside of him. He experienced searing pain as the object moved in and out with vicious force and speed. His muscles throbbed in the same rhythm as the man’s weapon attacked his anus. Fingers grasped handfuls of his red hair and jerked until his head was pulled back so far he feared it would snap off. But the onslaught didn’t stop. More strands were yanked out as the rectal ride continued without mercy or hesitation.
“Did she cry when you pulled out most of her hair? Tippi had such beautiful, long blond hair. All the girls envied her growing up. All the boys wanted to date her. But no one wants to see her now. The sight of her own reflection put her in a catatonic state.” The Avenger clenched another handful of hair and tugged until it came out in a large clump. When Alan was nearly bald, his brutalizer finally released the semen into his rectum and stepped back.
Alan had wished his mother dead many times, but his revenge had been suppressed by his fear of her. No longer. She had died while he was locked away in the institution. She could not keep him from doing what he must for him and Tippi to seek their eternal peace together. Even with the scars from their loving, the marks of his possession, the marks that were supposed to keep any other man from stealing her from him, she was beautiful. She was the first woman who had seen his erect cock, besides Mother. She was the only woman for him, not Glenda. He must have her or go crazy.
The Avenger walked around to Alan’s head and leaned forward to whisper, “Look at me, Alan. Look at me. I am your real judge, jury and executioner.”
The nearly bald man turned his head toward the left, but intense pain shot through him as he rubbed against the place where his ear had been. Turning toward the right, he made crying sounds to let the new Mother know he couldn’t do that.
“You don’t want to do what I’ve told you. Good. That means we still have more teaching to do.” The Avenger touched the scalpel against Alan’s cheek and sliced down his right one. When Alan turned the other way, ignoring the pain from his ear, the blade started at his left eye and slashed to his jawbone. Every time he rotated his head, the sharp instrument severed the raised flesh. Deeper and deeper each time, until the whiteness of teeth could be seen. Blood gushed from Alan’s face and onto the carpet. “Look what a mess you’ve made. See what happens when you don’t mind? I’m not going to clean up any of this. You’ll have to lie in your own mess until the stench eats at your brain.”
Mother used to tell him that when he had an accident. She would lock him in his closet or the basement cage for days, until the stench of his own wastes had nearly driven him insane. Until the day he had learned to hide and wash his own clothes so she wouldn’t know what he had done. Mother had never discovered that defensive secret.
The Avenger took the gag out of Alan’s mouth and directed, “Look at me, Alan. Open those evil eyes and look at me.”
Alan did as he was told this time because he couldn’t resist the commanding tone any longer. It’s Mother! As Alan watched with a horrified gaze, the Avenger removed a faded baggy dress. Next came large false breasts. A silver wig. Tortoiseshell glasses. Until he saw the truth. It wasn’t Mother’s ghost. He had never seen such a terrifying expression. Such glacial green eyes. Such sheer hatred. Such an ominous threat. But he had seen that face before. Where? When? How? Truth and reality dawn in his crazed mind. “I remember you. You’re—”
“Shut up, you bastard! Tippi is dead to me because of you. You’ll die for what you did to her. Did to Glenda. Would have done to others.”
The huge shaft was thrust into his mouth, choking him and ripping his dry lips. It isn’t Mother, his mind screamed. He wasn’t crazy. He wasn’t dreaming. Not on drugs. He was really here and this was really happening. Oh God, no! Save me from Evil.
“That’s your own blood you taste, Alan. You forced Tippi to taste hers, didn’t you? Do you like it as much as she did? She cried, just like you’re doing, didn’t she? But you didn’t stop, did you? You kept on going until you were finished. That’s what I’m going to do.”
The assault continued until the Avenger finally released warm fluid into Alan’s bruised and battered mouth. The gag was instantly replaced, as the killer whispered, “You can’t spit it out, Alan. That would be a very, very bad thing. Swallow it, Alan. It will nourish you. That’s what you told Glenda, so it must be what you told Tippi. You’d never lie to someone you love so much, would you?”
Alan tried to deny to himself what was happening and what he had seen. It couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible. Oh, God, he was raving mad. The scalpel brought his attention back to his rear as it sliced into his fleshy buttocks.
“Lift up, Alan, I can’t quite reach them.”
He felt the gloved hands on his balls and tried to press himself closer to the bed to hide and protect them. No way was this Mother-wanna-be going to get to those! He had saved them for Tippi to make their babies. He belonged to her and no monster was going to touch his private parts. He felt the blade continue its assault until his muscles refused to work and his testicles were gone. The Avenger’s hand was seeking his penis now. He felt fingers grasp it and squeeze until it hurt. Vomit threatened at the back of his throat. His visions blurred and he saw Mother dressed in red, smiling and waiting for him. He felt his cock being pulled between his legs until it was exposed. I hate you, Mother. I’m going to kill you before Tippi and I show the world our love. You must die for this. How can she, Alan, when she’s already dead, remember? That’s right, I forgot. He felt the edge of the blade on the head of his prick.
“You cut Tippi’s clitoris, didn’t you? It had to be the work of the devil to have sent you into such fits. Your dick must also have been made by Satan’s own hands, because it’s driving me crazy.” The Avenger angrily cut off the tip of Alan’s penis, then continued to slash at the offending meat until there was nothing left but mutilated hunks of flesh. The needle was placed into his left elbow and the potassium chloride entered his blood stream, even though Alan was already dead. This time, the victim had died from a real heart attack and loss of blood. And shock, physical and mental.
“Justice has been served, Alan. You were in a mental hospital for barely three years before they pronounced you healed. Healed, my ass! Anybody who’s sick enough to do what you did to Tippi and Glenda can never be healed. When I learned long ago you’d be released this month, I knew what I had to do and prepared for this moment. Were you planning on going back for her? I bet you were. You won’t ever touch her again. In her current state, she may never realize what I’ve done for her, but I know. I promised Tippi I would take care of you one day, and I enjoyed your punishment. Now, I’m free to go on with my life. I only wish she could, too, but that’s impossible. God, I wish I could torture you and kill you every day. You didn’t suffer one-millionth of what she has and will until she dies. But at least you can’t harm her or any other woman again. My work has opened many eyes to the injustices of the system. Maybe evil men like you will be stopped by others like me. I hope your Hell is worse than the darkest, vilest nightmare.”
The Avenger gathered items used for the punishment of the final target on the list, a near matching crime to Glenda Darnell’s. Lucky for me I overheard your sister making her sleazy rendezvous plans, so I knew she wouldn’t be home until dawn. Tippi’s attack, identity, and location are safely guarded secrets. They can never be connected to Alan or his two cases: perp and vic. Those permanent precautions were taken long ago. As Tippi’s identity is safe, so is her avenger’s. A thorough shower removed blood spatters from the diver’s suit and cap. The apparel choice had prevented any head or body hairs or skin cells from falling off and being left behind as clues or evidence. The same was true for any clothing fibers. Medical gloves denied fingerprints. Booties over extra large shoes prevented accurate tracks and tread debris. All notes and records had been incinerated to simple ash. “No one knows better than me how to manipulate, delete, destroy, or misguide evidence and clues. My office and position have served me well. But from here on, it’s by the book, legal, and honest, even when a bastard’s guilty. Future perps will be left to the legal system or God’s Sword of Justice.” A thorough drying of the tub and its walls made sure that cleansing action wouldn’t be noticed later by police. The towel, old clothes, wig, “falsies”, and glasses were put away. A new letter was left for the police to ponder.
Tears glistened the Avenger’s eyes. “I hope God can forgive me for what I’ve done, but I had no choice. Eventually, the police and media will forget about me and focus on real criminals with a vengeance. Hopefully, the public will support them in their endeavors, and someone will follow in my tracks if needed. As for you, Lieutenant Mallory, you’ll never discover who I am. You’ll go on to solve many more cases, but mine isn’t one of them. I’ve made sure of that. Get James Starr out of your face, and get that deserving woman into it. Get a life, Mallory. I’m a cold case, ice cold. Forever.”
––––––––
Tuesday morning, August 21st, 7:00 am
Using the back door from the carport, Mory and Dan entered the bloodied room. They recoiled from the scene that greeted their eyes. None of the other victims had been mutilated to this extent. They were unprepared for the grisly sight before them. It assailed their senses. Their eyes stung. Their nostrils garnered unwanted scents from the hot and putrid air. Their tongues could almost taste the metallic blood they smelled with each breath taken. Everything they touched, even with latex gloves, made them cringe. They heard a mingling of sounds and voices. The victim’s hair had been pulled out and lay in red clumps by the edge of the bed. Between the vic’s legs, they saw the shredded tissue that had once made him a man. Mory shook and almost puked. Dan jolted and swallowed back bile. They stared at the sinister malice displayed before them.
“Holy Mother of God,” Mory whispered in a hoarse tone.
Dan couldn’t speak. In all of his years on the force, he had never encountered such a grim murder scene, not even mafia vendettas. Visions of mutilated bodies he had seen in Vietnam danced through his head. The Avenger must have been in a rage when he killed this victim. Who had this mangled man raped and tortured? Could McCleary’s victim have survived such torment? Surely not. Maybe this was the lethal case that would finally lead them to the vigilante’s motive and identity.
“Dan, the sister is in the living room with James Starr. Maybe you should start in there,” Henrietta advised him. “Harold and I have lots of work to do in here.”
“Maybe I should,” Dan commented and walked away as if in a trance.
When he reached the living room, he halted when he saw Starr talking in a low voice to a woman with auburn hair. She had her back to him, but she didn’t appear to be upset or crying. Something about her was strikingly familiar.
“I’m the lieutenant in charge of this investigation. I’d like to know—”
“Her name is Tracy McCleary Daniels, Mallory. She’s the sister of the deceased. Her brother has been living here since his recent release from the state hospital,” James answered the unspoken question, as the sister turned and faced him.
Dan’s face registered his shock, but he recovered quickly before responding, “I was talking to the lady, Starr, not you. And I think she’s quite capable of speaking for herself. Besides, Tracy and I know each other,” Dan murmured as he looked at the woman who had been keying the vital information into the computer for his suspects list. “What are you doing here, Starr? Another mystery call from your SI or the Avenger?”
“I called him, Dan,” Tracy answered. “The paper offered five thousand dollars to anyone who had information about the Avenger. After what I’ve learned in the news, saw in there, and learned from the investigation, I was sure the Avenger had killed my brother. I called Starr before I called the police. He needs a scoop and I need the money. Neither of us tampered with the crime scene, I swear. After I got home, I opened his door, and saw...you’ve seen what I saw, so I closed the door. Any questions you want to ask me, you can ask in front of him or I’ll refuse to answer.”
Dan grimaced. This was going to be difficult enough without having the details headlined in the papers. At least the TV cameras hadn’t arrived, and would be kept away when they did. The Captain or DA. was going to have to deal with this press conference and release, as usual lately. He had no choice but to partially interrogate the sister now. As soon as he had some needed facts, he’d have her taken to the precinct until he could leave and do an in-depth questioning in private. “Well, Tracy, since you’ve become so knowledgeable about the Avenger, can you tell me why he chose your brother?”
“Because he was mean as a snake. He claimed our mother had tortured and abused him while he was a boy, so he raped and tortured a girl one evening. He was sent to a mental institution for three years after pleading insanity. Alan claimed he couldn’t help himself after Glenda Darnell, that’s the girl’s name, said some of the same things that Mom had said to him. He wasn’t crazy, just evil, because I never saw my mother touch him. There was never, and I repeat, never, any abuse of any kind, physical or otherwise while I was living at home. I spent years away at a private school and then college, but I was home for holidays and breaks. I never saw any signs of abuse, so I know he lied about it. He mutilated a young beautiful girl, then claimed an insanity plea.”
“Sounds as if you didn’t like your brother too much.”
“I loathed him for a lot of reasons: the horrible lies he told about Mom, for the evil things he did, and for that poor girl he nearly killed.”
“Then, why did you let him stay with you if you hated him so much?”
“Because Mom made me promise on her death bed to take care of him. She had a heart attack after Alan was exposed and she died two years ago. I’m the only one left in our family. The doctors notified me when he was to be released and I contacted the authorities. If he even budged from that straight line he had to walk, I was going to send him back to the hospital. When they told me last spring he was better and would probably be released by summer’s end, I didn’t believe them. He should have been fried in the electric chair for what he did to that girl. I tried to keep them from releasing him in the first place. Not for his safety, but because I feared for other women’s. They said he would be fine as long as he stayed on his meds and saw a therapist routinely. I feared Alan might try to contact the Darnell family, so I called to warn them. That’s when I was told Glenda had committed suicide after the bandages were removed from her face.”
“Why did you allow Alan to move into your home?” Dan asked. “Why not put him in an apartment or halfway house?”
“I wanted to keep an eye on him, so I could report any changes to his doctor and have him re-committed before he hurt anyone else.” Tracy’s eyes blazed with anger and resentment as she spoke with Dan. “Since he was my brother, I felt partly responsible for keeping other women safe from him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about him and add him to the list we made?”
“I was ashamed he was kin to me and he was still locked away at that time. Besides, you were concentrating on crimes that occurred two to three years ago. Alan attacked Glenda Darnell four years ago. It took a long time for that scandal to quiet down, so I didn’t want to dredge it up again. I suppose I’ll have to move away this time to get any peace. I’m sorry I kept him a secret from you, Dan, but I’m not sorry he’s dead, as terrible as that sounds. Just look in there and see what he did to Glenda. From Mr. Starr’s articles and our computer data, we all know the Avenger matches his victim’s crime.”
Dan looked at Starr, who lifted his tape recorder and smiled. Damn, this was not going well. Dan groaned inwardly at the damage that could be done when the paper hit the stands tomorrow and TV stations did news reports. Bad as it was, the escalation of violence in Iraq and Kuwait had held the media captive with the birth of the Gulf War and the U.N.S.C.’s response to it. Added to that bad news was the Armenian terrorist attack on a passenger bus, causing many deaths and injuries. Now, this new murder would focus the main attention back on Augusta. At least the average citizen wasn’t afraid of their local threat, their local “hero”.
Tracy continued, “I certainly didn’t expect to find this mess when I returned home at six this morning from...my sleepover last night. If I’d known what I was walking into, I wouldn’t have sent my friend on his way before I came inside.”
“You didn’t see or hear anything suspicious before you came in?’
“No, Dan, I didn’t. It was dark and quiet. I hoped he was in bed asleep, full of his meds.”
“You weren’t afraid of him?”
“For some reason I don’t understand and can’t explain, no, Dan, I wasn’t. But I did keep my bedroom door locked and a pistol nearby. I was planning to force the authorities to move him elsewhere. I just didn’t want him near me or my friends.”
Dan asked a few more questions, then said, “That’s all for now. Thanks for your time and cooperation. You realize you can’t stay here; it’s an active crime scene. Give Mory your cell phone number. I’ll call you later from the station if I think of anything else.”
“At least I can get on with my life now, knowing my brother has been stopped from ever harming anybody else. Do you want me off the case?”
“I’ll let you know after I think it over. You and Starr should leave now.”
“I’ve already given Harold samples to exclude mine from here. He said they already have Mr. Starr’s on file.”
Dan looked at the recorder. Still playing. Shit! And Tracy—a redhead and sibling—was too calm in the face and scent of such gore to suit him. She also appeared to be mighty close to that frigging reporter! Was she the new leak at the station, Roland’s replacement? Had he unknowingly handed Starr his ticket to this case? He turned and strode towards the bedroom where the medical examiner was working on the body, and Harold was collecting and photographing evidence. He nodded at Harold and his CSI team. “Find anything for me, Henri?”
“If this is similar to what he did to his victim, I don’t think she could have survived the attack.”
“She did, but committed suicide afterwards.”
“Oh, my,” Henrietta murmured. “He does have the same injection sight on his inner elbow, but he may have been dead from blood loss and shock before the needle entered his skin. His ear was cut off. It’s lying over there,” she said and pointed toward the window. “He was beaten with something, probably a belt, from the type of marks on his back and legs. He’s been cut on almost every available location of flesh. His penis... it’s been mutilated. If skin wasn’t still attached in places, it would probably be almost unrecognizable in all of those chunks. Best I can tell, TOD was twelve to twenty hours ago. I’ve got something else for you.”
“What’s that?”
“A note. This one’s different. Sounds like a retirement letter. It’s calling for others to take over the battle for justice for him.”
Dan scowled, then read the note;
As the Bible commands in Exodus 21 and Deuteronomy 32:
“If men strive and hurt a woman... He shall be punished...
Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand,
Foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound,
Stripe for stripe.”
“To me belongeth vengeance and recompense;
their foot shall slide in time:
for the day of their calamity is at hand...”
With my life near o’re , also my good deeds.
Friends and victims, you must take the lead.
It’s time for more Avengers to step forth and fight;
Make Beasts experience terror, then remove them from sight.
If Justice is blind or her hands be bound,
Then you, good citizens, must retake your town.
Remove her blindfold; restore her power;
Let criminals learn it’s their judgment hour.
“What do you make of it, Mory? Henri? Think he’s done?”
The medical examiner shrugged. “Sounds that way to me.”
“Why now?” Dan mumbled.
Henrietta shrugged again, as Mory speculated, “Either he’s gotten his target among our vics, or bloody slaughter has gotten to him, too. Maybe he never knew who his real target was. Or maybe never had one. Maybe something just pushed him over the sanity line for a while. Maybe this gory mess shocked him awake.”
“Only one problem with part of that theory, partner; he came with the resignation note. I have a gut feeling the rage in this killing is a clue. I think he’s ground zero. The Avenger’s motive, driving force.”
“Sounds logical to me, Dan. So let’s concentrate on McCleary and the Darnell’s. But, Lordy, I hope he’s done.”
“You think Starr made a picture of this new note?” After Henrietta nodded, Dan said, “I’ve got to go see the Captain immediately. If James runs a copy of this in tomorrow’s paper, we’ll have anarchy on our hands. We need to find a judge to halt it. Inciting crimes and endangering public safety should give us suppression grounds.”
“I’ll call you as soon as the results of the tests and autopsy come in, but I’m sure it’s our same guy.”
“Thanks, Henri. Let’s go, partner,” he told Mory.
––––––––
Dan wanted to see or speak with Andrea. She always helped him clear his mind and feel better. After the battle that went on in the judge’s chambers earlier, he needed her comfort. He called her from his cell phone and smiled when she answered. “How did your check up go yesterday? Is everything all right?”
“The doc said I seem to be in perfect health. He refilled my birth control prescription but wanted to know when I was going to settle down and let him deliver some babies for me. I told him it would be awhile because of law school. His nurse did my blood work, Pap smear, and mammogram; but I won’t have those results for a week or two. Is that TMI, Dan?”
“What’s TMI?”
“Too Much Information, you know, about female stuff? I figured if we’re going to be moving in together next month, it’s time you get used to female stuff. Who knows, in a pinch, you might have to pick up my pills or a box of tampons or pads. There’s no telling what a man could find in a woman’s bathroom, purse, or closet. Don’t worry, I promise to do some house cleaning and relocating of feminine items before we shack up.”
Andrea laughed and paused before hinting, “You’re awfully quiet and hesitant, Dan. Is it because you’ve been married and know all this personal stuff about women? Or is something else bothering you? Getting commitment cold feet? If so, don’t worry. Our original D-Day was New Year’s Eve. We can return to it. I won’t be angry or upset, I promise.”
“I haven’t changed my Decision Day or changed my mind.”
“So why do you sound strange. What’s up?”
“The Avenger struck again last night. This time it was a little too close to home. You know the computer operator, Tracy Daniels, I told you about her and our project?”
“Yes, I remember. I’ve seen her around and spoken to her.”
“It’s her brother.”
“Is he the victim or the Avenger?”
“The victim. The worst one we’ve had so far. It was gory. She found his body.”
“Tracy was related to—hold on a second, Dan... It’s in the second cabinet, Cindi. Sorry, Cindi and Brian got in a big fight after her reunion this past weekend. She’s staying here until he calms down. He didn’t do so well meeting her old boyfriends at the party. Good thing you didn’t call last night during serious girl talk. Bad news would have darkened our moods even more. Did the Avenger leave any clues this time?”
“None that we’ve found so far. I just can’t believe Tracy worked so close to this investigation and me and didn’t tell us she might have a connection. Somehow, she duped me completely. Captain Bolton is furious. We just spent an hour in the judge’s chambers trying to stop Starr from printing the last note from the Avenger. It’s a shocker. Could be trouble.”
“How did Starr get a hold of the note?”
“Tracy called him before she called us.”
“Dan, I’m so sorry. Did the judge issue the order to keep the paper from printing it? Is Starr involved with Tracy in any way? What reason did she give for calling him?”
“Yes, the restraining order was issued and Mory’s serving it now. Tracy said she wanted to collect the reward money, but I’m not sure she’s telling the truth. She kept the information about her brother a secret, so why should I believe her when she says she’s not involved with Starr?”
“Maybe she didn’t tell you about her brother because she didn’t want anyone to know she was related to such a monster.”
“Do you remember Glenda Darnell’s case?”
“Doesn’t sound familiar. I’ll pull the file for you after I get to the office. Cindi and I aren’t going in until noon. I’ll see how far the girls got on the others you requested. What was Tracy’s brother’s name? When was his crime or trial?”
“Alan McCleary. Four to five years ago. Been in a mental institution for three years. Just got out. Was staying with Tracy.”
“Who knew he was released, back in town, and staying with his sister? Who knew she wouldn’t be at home, other than her, Starr and her date?”
“Great questions, woman. Thanks. You know I’m dying to see you. I can use some good loving.”
“I’m sorry, Dan. Cindi is staying over for a while. Why don’t you come by the office in the morning for coffee and those files?”
“That’s fine, Andi. Thanks. I’ve got to head back to meet with the Captain.”
“Are you going to press charges against Tracy for keeping her past a secret?”
“There’s not much we can do about it. Far as I know, it doesn’t break any law. We can’t prove she had anything to do with her brother’s murder or any of the others. She does have auburn hair.”
“Do you think Tracy could be involved with the Avenger in any way?”
“I don’t know, Andi. I just don’t know.”
“Why don’t you come over tonight for a drink and a hug? It sounds like you can use them.”
“I’ll let you know what my schedule is later today. Things may be breaking fast. Why don’t you and Cindi just plan on dinner and girl talk?”
“Dan? Be careful. Don’t drive yourself crazy with this. You couldn’t have known she was related to a potential victim. There’s nothing you could have done to prevent this. Nothing.”
“I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier to stomach.”
“I know. I’ll talk to you later today and see you tomorrow.”