“Strike while the iron is hot.”
Irish Proverb
After finishing just one peanut butter cracker and a couple swigs of cola, Mickey’s cell phone rings. He answers, “Devlin.”
“Hi, Captain. Sly Cliver here. I got a couple of things for ya.”
“Great, Sly. What ya got?”
“For one thing, the Crime Scene guys found a Sig 9 in the sewer at the corner of 2-5 and Meredith.”
“Outstanding! That sewer inlet is only forty yards from the end of the alley that runs behind Drum’s house. Anything else, Sly?”
Then, Mickey’s pager starts to vibrate. Can you believe this? When it rains, it pours. Mickey unhooks his pager from his belt, and takes a quick look at the displayed number. It’s Doc.
“I got a question for ya, Boss. Is Drum married?”
“Negative. Never got married. At least there’s nothing in his PD personnel file about takin’ a bride.”
“Then he’s got a friend with long blonde hair. How ‘bout any next of kin in the area?”
“He has at least one brother that I know of for sure. Patrick. He lives in a little town outside of Dublin, Ireland. Why? What’s up?”
“The corporal from CSU asked me about expanding his search to the entire house. I know you got a horse in this race, so I don’t want these guys rifling the place, find something that’ll later be thrown out at trial. I can tell ya right now Drum has some pretty interesting hobbies. In clear view, no warrant required stuff. He’s a collector. He’s into presidential assassinations.”
“Assassinations?”
“Successful and blundered.”
“Some hobby. And you’re right. I do have a horse in the race. And my steed keeps moving up in the pack. So, keeping with the horse theme, I’d suggest pulling the reins back on CSU and get a warrant. I can make a call if you want.”
“Not necessary, Boss. I’m with ya. This guy is, was, scary. I’ll call the judge.”
“It’s the right call, Sly. Got anything else?”
“Because the Sig was found up the street, I’ve extended the crime scene to take in a possible escape route.”
“Another good idea.”
“I also called for reinforcements to help with the neighborhood interviews. I mentioned your name to the captain and he approved two bodies. The new guy, Cox, said he used to work for you.”
“He did. In the 14th. He’s been working West Division for a while. Kid’s a hustler.”
“Seems like it. He’s running on the owner of Bill’s Market a block away who says he saw a longhaired white male running by and getting on a red Vespa scooter parked outside his store right before the District cops arrived. Might be something there.”
“Did he say if the male’s hair was blond?”
“He did not.”
“That it, Sly?”
“For now. I’ll keep you in the loop, Cap.”
“Thanks. Nice work.”
Mickey hits the end key on his department-issued cell phone. Still holding his pager in his left hand, he brings up Doc’s number and fingers it into his cell keypad.
“What took you so long, Mick? I started to worry about you.”
“Hey, Doc. I was on my cell.”
“I know. Called that number, too. It was busy. So I called your pager.”
“I was on the line with the homicide detective from the Drum scene. He had some pretty interesting stuff.”
“Good! I got some pretty interesting stuff for you myself. Ready?”
“Shoot.”
“Your Mister Drum was shot three times. Once in the chest, that one would not have been fatal. It missed all the important bits and pieces. And then there were two more to the back of the head. I’d say all were from a 9 millimeter. I’m guessing at this point. There’s still one round missing. It’s probably lodged in a wall somewhere at the scene. The chest shot was straight on, from two, two-and-a-half feet.”
“Say from across the kitchen table?”
“Could be. The head shots were within an inch. There’s no way there isn’t brain matter all over the shooter and the gun. The chest shot showed signs of what we call ‘active trauma reaction.’ In other words, he was alive when he took that hit. The second head shot was post-mortem. In my opinion, that shot was just for the hell of it. Either the doer wanted to make certain Drum was dead. Or he or she was showing a gargantuan hatred for your buddy Jerry.
“The two head shots were in a downward path. Based on what you told me about the scene, I’d say Drum was first shot facing his assassin. Maybe as you suggested, from across the table. If so, there’ll be evidence of that all over the tabletop. Then the shooter got up to leave and gave him two more, at blank range, like I said, just for the hell of it. “
“That is interesting. So would you say it presents as a well-organized pro hit?”
“I can go with that, unless we find out Drum was shot with his own gun. Then I may have to change my mind. For a pro to show up gun less could mean the crime was unplanned, at least at that moment in time, and at some point an opportunity presented itself and pop, pop, pop.”
“Or, he or she forgot to bring a weapon. Better yet, the doer was a frequent visitor at Jerry’s house. A friend, a neighbor, the mailman. Whoever! This person knew Drum had guns in his house and where they were kept. Just looking for the right time to use them.”
“All you need now is motive, Mick.”
“Workin’ on it, Doc. Oh! And by the way, CSU found a 9 mil in the sewer close to the scene. I’m guessing it’s the 9 mil registered to Drum. We’ll know for sure once FIU finishes processing it. I’ll make sure they touch base with you ASAP.”
“Good! Ya know if the sewer was wet or dry?”
“I don’t.”
“Guess I’ll find out soon enough. If the Sig was in water, we may lose some evidence. We’ll see.”
Mickey doesn’t respond.
“Mick, do you have any idea what’s going to happen with Drum’s remains? Any next of kin? I wouldn’t want to lose them to the grave or, worse, to cremation before they stop talking to me. I think this job will end up being one of those ‘bragging homicides.’ It’s gonna be hard to keep this under wraps.”
“You could be right, Doc. And you’re the second person asking about Jerry Drum’s next of kin. As far as I know, he only has a brother still living in Ireland.”
“You rascal! You’re trying to get the PC to send you to Ireland on company time, aren’t you? That’s why you’re meeting with him.”
“Ya got me, Doc. But Drum’s brother is only the tip of the iceberg.”
“I knew it. So you gonna reveal the rest of the iceberg for me or you gonna make me read about it in the newspaper?”
“Let me connect a few more dots first, Doc. But I will tell you this. I think ‘The Greek’ was in Dublin recently and may have known Jerry Drum and his brother, Patrick.”
“Holy shit, Batman. You’re going after Odysseus, aren’t you?”
“It’s just a gut feeling right now, Doc.”
“Promise me you won’t make me read all about, Mick.”
“Cross my heart. Now I gotta go. I have a two o’clock with the PC.”
“Stay in touch, Mick. And stay safe.”
“Will do. Talk to ya, Doc.”
Mickey hits the end key, dumps what’s left of his vending machine lunch into the trash can, and walks back down the hall to the elevator. Once inside he hits #3.
Okay, commissioner. Let’s do the right thing.