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“IT Department this is Ned.”
“It’s Kathleen from the Registrar’s Office. I have locked myself out of Student Source again. Could you unlock me please?”
“I would love to help you Kathleen what is your PC number?”
“It’s 0401.” she replied.
“Ok try it now.”
“Thank you so much Ned. You’re a lifesaver. End of the month and in a rush for reporting. The student database for new enrollment needs to match financial aid recipients for next semester. The Controller’s office needs it for the quarterly.
“Glad I could help Kathleen is there anything else?
“That’s it have a great weekend thanks again.”
What a bimbo he thought to himself. How many times a month does he have to unlock her passwords because she had forgotten them? Well one thing is for sure she would never be a weak point for IT Security because even she cannot remember her own passwords. Ned grabbed the clipboard from the wall and walked into the University’s Server Room. He walked up and down each row of servers checking the system to make sure it was operating efficiently. He ran some diagnostics on a couple that he thought might be an issue and was relieved to discover that they were fine. The temperature in the server room was also at the appropriate level. He made the remarks on the checklist for the day’s operational log. He was only part-time but knew if there was anything wrong with the Servers some Senior Analyst or Programmer would delegate it to him to fix. Lazy fucks he thought to himself. He grabbed his jacket, put his laptop in his satchel and threw his back pack over his shoulder and headed out the door. He had a very busy weekend ahead of him including a research paper for his Psychology Course that was due early next week. The Professor was a pretentious prick who insisted everything be printed and physically handed in versus being able to just email it with an attachment. He stopped by the store to get some ink for his printer and a few other things he was going to need for the weekend. He had often considered taking online courses but he figured he already worked there at the University and the class lectures were in the lecture hall adjacent to the building next door. He paid for his items and left. He got into his white Pontiac G-6 and drove off. He was nearly halfway home when he saw a Sherriff’s patrol unit go by in the opposite direction and then suddenly whip around and speed up behind him. Was he speeding he thought? No, the plates he reminded himself, he had forgotten to renew the Florida plates online. The Sheriffs car getting closer now turned on its lights, his heart beat quickened and he swallowed hard, the Sherriff’s car then turned on its siren and whipped into the other lane and sped forward the engine roaring. Breathing a sigh of relief, he allowed his shoulders to relax a bit and then finally pulled into his apartment complex.
Ned got out of the car and managed to carry all the items up the 2 flights of stairs to his apartment. He put the key in the lock and opened the door to the apartment. He turned on the light and put the laptop on the kitchen table, powered it on and then went to the refrigerator and grabbed an energy drink. It was just before 8PM and it was going to be a long night. He logged into the Florida DMV renewal portal and entered in his vehicle information paid for his transaction with the debit card and printed off his renewal tab and registration information.
He noticed that his inbox for his email had just flashed and quickly put the cursor on the tab and clicked.
“I would like to know more about the rate of pay and the research experiment you are conducting. Is it a safe environment for my pet and I? He is a new kitten would that even qualify for what you are researching?”
He tapped out a quick response on the keyboard.
“A new kitten is perfect. We may even want to use his picture for future marketing material. Do you have a pic you can send? Jpeg or Gif if you have it.”
The screen blinked once more after a few minutes had passed allowing him to drink his caffeinated beverage. A picture of a beautiful brunette appeared with a small tabby kitten after he had clicked on the attachment.
“The rate of pay is $40 an hour with a minimum of 15 hours each week for approximately two weeks. Our grant maybe renewed but pending for now. Would you be able to start tomorrow evening?”
His cursor on the screen blinked for a minute or so.
“Yes, tomorrow sounds great.”
“Udrive will collect you at your home address and drop you back off as part of additional compensation. The service will continue during your participation in the study.”
“Do I tip the driver?”
“Tips are customary but not necessary as the grant pays for the transportation. Please provide the address and a phone number to verify for tomorrow evening.”
“Belmont Apartments building D off Commerce Street.”
Ned quickly clicked the star sitting in the right corner of his screen and selected the Udrive site from his favorites. He logged in waiting for the system to ask for the destinations. He finally paid with a debit card waiting for his confirmation number. He wrote it down after it appeared and logged off.
Udrive was a ride share service similar to Uber and Lyft. It was popular in Europe. Recently it had been popping up all over the Unites States. Udrive paid their drivers in Bitcoin. The transactions were two part. The driver was paid immediately as well as Udrive Corporate. The method was used because the United States had blocked all US dollar transactions involving Udrive because they did not pay taxes or agreed to any regulatory compliance. Bitcoin miners of course enjoyed the multitude of block chains that were created.
Tiffany Leblanc felt a sigh of relief as she gazed across the living room and into the spare bedroom that now recently sat empty. Her kitten Buttons rubbing against her laptop moving it slightly off her lap. She could pay her rent now for another couple of months. Her roommate had recently gotten pregnant and moved back home. Tiffany hated the thought of having to ask her parents for help again. They had already loaned her money which she needed to pay back. The Research Study Test Subject opportunity could not have come at a better time. She hardly ever used her school email address unless it was to send an assignment or use it to check on her financial aid. We have a roof over our heads for a few more months now little one as she picked up Buttons and gently kissed his cheek. The kitten purred and rubbed against her face with pure affection.
My phone vibrated a couple of times chattering on the glass table. The number belonged to my sister Jordan. A text indicating she needed money.
“How much?”
“Fifty dollars please as soon as possible. Road trip with the team this weekend. May get to go out one night.”
“Zipline or School account?”
“My account at school not sure if everyone accepts Zipline.”
“Coach giving you playing time?”
“Working hard as I can in practice but have a senior playing ahead of me.”
“Keep working in practice. Do not let anyone outwork you understand? They must plan on playing you at some point because they didn’t redshirt you.”
“Hard work is all I know because of you Big Brother.”
“You going to make a game this season?”
“Will definitely try a lot of things going on at the moment.”
“How is Micah?”
“Same as always in trouble or on the fringe of it.”
“TTL TY”
My sister Jordan was a good athlete. She did not play basketball until her 8th grade year. She was All-Conference by her senior year and set the school record for most points in a game. She was offered a few partial scholarships but ended up at a University on the west side of the state on a half scholarship. The other portion of her money comes from a Trust that I had established for her.
My cell rang once more. I knew it was Donnie asking if I was playing ball tomorrow again.
“I’ll be there, who’s playing?”
“The usual, and Shariff’s cousin Dexter is in town and said he would play. Five-O bring your jumper tomorrow because if Shariff and Dexter end up on the same team they gonna talk trash all month long if they hold court.”
I awoke the next morning with the sound of my alarm going off on my phone. I took a quick shower shaved and grabbed some breakfast turning on my laptop to read the news instead of watching it for once. I was reading an article on a national news outlet site when a banner ad popped up on my screen. Brick Street Bureau.com monthly subscription only $5.00 a month click here to get started. You can’t be serious I thought. I thought I had adware to block all ads especially that one. I turned off the laptop and closed it. I picked up my gym bag and hanging bag and went out the door. The air was chilly and there was a hint of frost on the grass. I opened my car door and set my bags in the backseat. I went to start the engine and it would not turn over! I tried it several times pumping the gas and the damn thing wouldn’t’ start. I texted Donnie and asked to see if he could pick me up on his way to the YMCA and if possible drop me off at the station after. Luckily, he hadn’t left yet and said he would get me in a few minutes. Donnie pulled up in his Black Cadillac Escalade. I opened the passenger side door.
“What up Five-O You Ready to Ball This Morning?”
“Let’s go Donnie, I appreciate the ride.”
“No problem Five-O you know I got ya. Shariff been blowing up my phone all day yesterday and this morning saying better not let me and Dexter be on the same team or you gonna lose all day.”
“Let them be on the same team I said everyone is about equal and can shoot. I’ll hold Dexter and you get Shariff.”
“You sure Five-O?”
“I’m sure and when we win you owe me another ride to the station.”
“Confidence Five-O I like it but just be sure to back it up.”
We got to the YMCA at about 6:45am and went into the gym where Dexter and Shariff and the rest of the guys were shooting around warming up.
“Uh oh look who’s here. What’s up Roman?”
Dexter gave me a quick fist bump. We split up teams by shooting free throws and started to play. Shariff and Dexter got to play on the same team as predicted. The games were close as always and we had split the previous 4 games at 2 wins each. The last game was tied and Dexter had the ball he tried to cross me over and I ripped it clean. Donnie must have anticipated it as well and took off down court. I threw a no look behind the back bounce pass about a quarter of the way down court that hit Donnie in stride and he laid it in and we won the game. Stunned Shariff just shook his head.
“Five-O I knew you were a good athlete but still?”
“Good games fellas but I gotta run, Donnie that ride?”
“Let’s go.” Bet you Shariff putting my number on block right now laughing all the way to the locker room.
Donnie dropped me off at the station. “
Thanks again Donnie.”
“No problem, but what you going to do about old girl in the driveway?”
“I had it tuned up in the spring not sure what’s wrong with it.” Too many fast miles on it probably.
“You used to race that on the Blvd all the time back in the day. Good thing your Dad never found out he would have whooped your ass for sure Five-O.”
“Lot of memories with that Chevelle. I think I will have it towed to Smitty’s Garage. Maybe those gearheads can figure it out. I will get my truck out of storage tonight.”
“You need another ride?”
“No, I’m good Lonnie can drop me off. “You know Donnie, I think I’m in the wrong business.”
I pointed at his Escalade.
“No Five-O you in the right business, City needs someone like you to watch out for it and protect it. Everyone says so.”
“Hey, I unplugged my PC at work before I left because it was running some updates and I didn’t want to wait for it.” “Your good Five-O plug it in power it on and reboot it should be alright. It may take a few minutes but other than that all set.”
“I’ll text Monica in the meantime while that’s going on.”
“You still trying?”
“What do you mean trying?”
“Just playing Five-O I know she’s your girl.”
“I wish it were that easy. I never have the time.”
“Look from what I can recall that Monica is one woman that you want to have your kids Five-O don’t mess that up if you do anything.”
Donnie was right I needed to make some time and spend it with Monica.
“See ya Donnie.”
“Later Five-O.”
He took off out of the parking lot playing some Rick Ross with the bass up so high in his Escalade causing every window in it to vibrate. Donnie and Shariff had been my childhood friends growing up. They nicknamed me Five-O once I made detective.
Donnie had started his own software company out of the basement of his parents’ house right after high school. He had always had been into technology. He taught himself most of it and took some classes at Huron University. He wrote all the patient software for most of the hospitals in the city of Kirkwood. He sold his Medical Software Company after about 5 years when the tech bubble was at its peak making a considerable amount of money from the sale. Now he develops some Apps for Smartphones when he feels like it and plays basketball almost every day, the easy life.
I walked into the office to find a gathering in the middle of our floor that was a who’s who of the City engaged in a quiet serious discussion and there were a few intense looking guys in suits that I did not recognize. Cyrus and Mayor Braddock appeared to be having a tense moment. Cyrus motioned me over to where he and the mayor were standing.
“Detective Lee could you please bring Mayor Braddock up to speed concerning the last 24 hours along with the discovery of our latest victim.”
I gave the mayor the condensed version. The lack of evidence and the fact we were still waiting on toxicology.
“Our citizens need to feel safe. My team and I have poured our heart and soul into this city from its infrastructure to the development and support of the Secondary Education Segment. We have turned this City around from what was a bankrupt, corrupted system. I will not sit on the sidelines and watch all our efforts wasted because of a psycho. I have contacted the FBI in case this investigation does not pick up quickly enough and starts to develop some leads. We have to mitigate the damage that has already been done now given these recent discoveries.”
“I suggest that we strongly filter the information that we disclose to the media outlets. We cannot afford to give this psycho any more validation.”
“That reminds me we have a small press conference in approximately 10 minutes on the lawn.”
Mayor Braddock motioned for his entourage that it was time to leave and the herd followed along with our media liaison Janice Brown in tow who did not look very pleased at the moment. The two suits trailed behind at a much more deliberate pace texting on their cell phones.
“Micro managing son of a bitch.”
“He can’t wait to give us a chance to solve this before calling in the FBI? How long were they here before I walked in Lonnie?”
“Not very long.”
“Look, we all know the mayor got his sights set on something else higher than just holding this local office. So, he is going to do whatever he feels necessary to accomplish his goals. It does not matter whose heads he steps on to get what he wants. Politicians are all the same I swear. Always concerned about their image and nothing more.”
“Have you heard from the MSP Lab this morning?”
“No not yet, which reminded me to plug my computer back in and reboot it.”
I texted Monica.
“Lab Results? Anything?”
She replied back rapidly.
“Just out of my morning meeting and Good Morning to you too.”
“Good Morning, Mayor is pressing on us already. We still on for dinner tomorrow night?”
“Sounds like a plan, you want to drive or me?”
That reminded me.
“Lonnie, can you run me over to my storage garage I need to get my truck out.”
“You putting your car in storage already Roman? A little early, isn’t it?”
“Wouldn’t start this morning, long story.”
“We can get it when we take lunch. It’s near that place that has those great Coney hot dogs.”
“Capital Cholesterol? Monique know you still eating that stuff?”
“She doesn’t have to know. Besides it’s such a long walk home.”
“Right, Capital Cholesterol it is.”
I texted Monica and told her that I would pick her up around 7PM tomorrow night. I also needed her address. She replied back.
“Calling you.”
My phone rang after a few minutes.
“Roman, Melissa Stapleton’s blood came back negative for narcotics and alcohol. We did discover something puzzling though.”
“What’s that?”
“She had a significant level of epinephrine in her bloodstream.”
“Don’t they use that for bee stings or something?”
“Typically it’s delivered by an EpiPen. A pen like injectable. Epinephrine is also used in Emergency Rooms on cardiac arrests although the doses vary patient to patient. We wouldn’t have discovered this had our lab tech not mistakenly used an allergy assay initially.”
“How high was the concentration of it in her blood?”
“It was entirely off the charts completely abnormal. We ran it twice in fact thinking there was some sort of error.”
“Why would she have so much though?”
“Unless this is some kind of new drug trend making its way through. Krokodil and everything else. I don’t have an answer.”
“Thanks for the info. See you tomorrow night.”
“Bye”
Lonnie had been subtly trying to get my attention.
“What’s up?”
“Bill Fredericks from IT called me. “They might have something from the laptop in Melissa Stapleton’s apartment.”
Our Forensics IT Department was located in the basement. Our castle keys did not provide access to this part of the building. After ringing the buzzer a couple of times the door opened. Bill Fredericks the IT Director let us in. Bill was in his late 40’s with medium length salt and pepper hair. He was very fit and often participated in Triathlons. He looked like he could still go out on the street and take care of business.
“We came across part of a conversation between Ms. Stapleton and someone who we cannot identify in her email. It appears the conversation started there switching to texts on a cellphone. We tried to validate the email address but it has now come back invalid. We know it originated from an IP in Austria.”
“Interesting, any other related emails elsewhere?”
“None that we could find. Whoever it was she trusted them enough to carry on the conversation with her cell.”
“Thanks Bill. We’re still waiting on her cell records though.”
“We’ll be in touch if we find anything else.”
I started researching the uses of epinephrine. The medicinal purposes and potential side effects of misuse. Just as Monica mentioned it was used for bee stings and allergic reactions to alleviate anaphylaxis. Surprisingly, there were other delivery methods into the body including inhalation. There were even sports applications for boxing and sprinting. Naturally they were considered PED’s and part of the banned substance list. The most common reaction to a large dose in a normal person would be a brief high and increase of adrenaline. The artificial uptick of adrenaline caused increases in heart rate and respiratory rate in the lungs. Once the epinephrine left the body they would experience nausea combined with a slight headache.
Every city had their share of traffickers and dealers. All the recreational drugs that most large metropolitan areas battle. Was this the new thing now? I sent a text out to the undercover units and narcos to put their ears to the street and see if they had hear of anything. Perhaps Melissa Stapleton ran into a psychotic drug dealer. But we needed answers quickly. A politically motivated mayor was not helping things in any capacity.