It sounded as though an entire army had stormed the house.
“Kate, are you in here? It’s Sergeant Lutz.”
I yelled from the kitchen, relieved that they came to find out why I hadn’t answered my phone. “I’m on the floor in the kitchen. I’m tied up and blindfolded.”
“What the hell happened here? Who did this to you?” Lutz knelt at my side. “Don’t move. I have my pocketknife in hand.”
Within seconds, I was freed. I ripped the towels and tape away from my face and rubbed my bloody wrists.
“Sir, Officer Lennard—”
Lutz nodded. “We knew something was wrong after we couldn’t reach either of you. The ME is on his way, and Truman, the patrol sergeant, has his units outside. They have the area and Officer Lennard’s car and body secured. Let me help you to the couch. Take your time, Kate, but I need to know everything. We have to get this monster off the street.” Lutz turned his head to the officer at the door. “Get her a glass of water.” He stared at the welt that was forming on my cheek. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I nodded and took in a slow breath. “I’m fine, just rattled. I walked to the neighborhood pharmacy, but I’ll explain that later. I was on my way back, only a block from the house, when someone jumped me from behind.” My eyes darted across the room. “Shit, he has my gun and phone.”
Lutz craned his neck toward the kitchen. “They’re both on the table.”
“He left them behind?” I couldn’t understand why he did that, but I continued. “He held me at gunpoint with my own weapon and took my cell. He had it when you called. He was wearing a black ski mask, so I can’t give you a facial description, but I can tell you he was white, around two twenty, and was probably six foot three. He called himself John.”
“Okay, that’s a good start. So we’re looking for a big guy.”
“That’s correct, sir. He also had blue eyes.”
Lutz wrote down everything I said.
“He knew who I was.”
Lutz squeezed his eyes closed and ran his fingers across his forehead. “I’m a sergeant in the homicide division of a city with the most murders in the country, and that maniac knows who we are and what we’re doing. He’s putting us on notice. If he was a random thug who wanted to rob you, he could have grabbed your purse and run, but he didn’t. He’s trying to instill fear in law enforcement.” Lutz pressed his palms against his temples. “Jesse is likely dead, he killed Lennard, and you might have been next. What the hell did we do to deserve this? Somebody is out on Chicago’s streets with a specific beef against individuals in our criminal justice system, and I have no idea why. The problem is, there are thousands of people in this city that likely have a beef with lawmakers. Our government officials are already nervous, and now this? Everyone who enforces the law could be a target.” He gave me a concerned look. “That goes for you too, and you aren’t even a member of Chicago’s police department. I think you should go back to Wisconsin where it’s safe.”
I shook my head. “I’ve dealt with plenty of murderers in my lifetime, and they aren’t only in big cities.”
“But our criminal justice system is under siege, Kate, and you shouldn’t be in the middle of it.”
“I’m right where I should be, sir. I studied him and listened to his every word. You need to start looking into every criminal that Jesse came across during his time in Homicide and Narcotics.”
Lutz shrugged. “That’s thousands of people.”
“Well, somebody was, and still is, out for revenge, and that’s likely where those attorneys come into play too.” I stood too quickly and wobbled.
Lutz jumped from the couch. “Are you okay?”
I touched the back of my head and felt the goose egg–sized knot. “I will be sooner or later. He clocked me pretty good and knocked the chair over. I took a hard hit to the back of my head.”
“Sit down. I’ll have an EMT examine you.”
“Okay, then would you mind grabbing my purse off the kitchen table? I have to show you something.”
Lutz went into the kitchen and gathered my things. “Here’s your phone and sidearm too. What do you have?”
I opened my purse and slid the card out of the brown paper bag. “I found a receipt in Jesse’s garbage can for a card identical to this one.” I handed it to Lutz. “That’s why I walked down to the drugstore.” I pulled the original receipt out of my wallet while he studied the card. “See here?” I pointed at the date and the drugstore name. “He bought this card Sunday afternoon with intentions of giving it to somebody, likely that night.”
Lutz glanced around the room. “And the original card is nowhere to be found?”
“I intended to check again when I got back from the drugstore.”
The sergeant opened the card and read the message inside. “It sounds like it’s meant for somebody Jesse doesn’t see often.”
“That’s exactly my thoughts too. Maybe there was a birthday get-together for that person Sunday night.”
“I think you’re onto something, Kate. Now we have to figure out who that person is.” Lutz sighed. “But it still doesn’t tell us where Jesse is or who abducted him.”
“It might. If we find out where Jesse went Sunday night, we can scout the area for security cameras and possibly catch the abduction as it took place. I gave that card a lot of thought as I was walking to the house.”
Lutz groaned. “Just before you were attacked.”
“Yeah, then, but hear me out. Jesse doesn’t have any siblings, and you’ve already interviewed his neighbors and everyone who works with him. Those people wouldn’t be someone he doesn’t see often, anyway, like the card implies. So, who does that leave?”
“Old buddies?”
“Bingo, and maybe college buddies that he’s still close to but doesn’t see often.”
“Yeah, we’ll start working that angle.”
We were interrupted by an EMT who approached us. “Sergeant, can you give me a minute with Detective Pierce?”
“Sure thing.” Lutz tipped his chin toward the door. “I’ll be outside with Truman and the ME.”