Santa Ana, California
Shadowhawk linked her home security cameras to her personal laptop for a live feed and moved it to her right so that she could keep an eye on the screen. She then turned her attention to the desktop computer and logged on as a visitor.
After selecting the VICAP icon, she entered her badge number and password, then waited while the FBI site opened. By the time Thomas returned a few hours later, she’d found three similar crimes in Southern California. He took his suit jacket off and draped it over the back of his chair before he sat down opposite her.
“What did you find out?” She asked.
“Poor lady had been worked over pretty good. She had several bruises on her body and her right cheek had been shattered.”
“Fucking asswipes. They didn’t have to deck her to show they meant business.”
“Who knows, maybe the husband was being stubborn. Or they didn’t believe he was giving up all the goods.”
“COD?”
“Just as we thought, shotgun blast to the chest. Cheryl believes it was either a sawed off shotgun or at the very least, close range.”
“Son of a fucking biscuit. I hate cases like this.”
“Yeah, senseless overkill. What about you, did you have a productive morning?”
“I don’t know. I found three similar cases, meaning robbery and kidnapping, but no homicide. There were two perps and they wore Halloween masks. They took over entire households by tying everyone up and abducted the man of the house. They were all done in broad daylight so the banks would be open. One perp stayed behind with the spouse in one case. The wife and housekeeper in another and the third was an entire family.”
“Shit. Where did they take place?”
She glanced at her laptop to make sure nothing was going on before she began reading her notes. “San Diego County; La Jolla, Solana Beach, and Lucadea. Each job was spread out by a few months. They had some trouble with the last robbery, the one with the family. The youngest son got away and ran next door to call the cops. The one guarding the family made a narrow escape as did the one who kidnapped the father.
“Evidently, he got a call from the other. Dropped the father off by the side of the road and took off in his car. They found it abandoned in a Walmart parking lot hours later, clean as a whistle. So if they are the same perps, maybe they decided they didn’t want to take any chances by leaving witnesses alive.”
“You don’t think they’re connected?” Thomas asked.
“Think about it. Why this house, this couple? I mean, the original jobs were pretty sophisticated. They got away with millions in money, jewelry and art, then they pick this house? Seriously? I got the feeling we were dealing with low-level thugs. A crime of opportunity. Who else would bring a shotgun to a home robbery for Christ’s sake? They’re not exactly subtle, they make a big boom. Not to mention, the take was crap compared to the other jobs.”
“But, they did have over half a million dollars in the online bank. Maybe they were working off bad intel and they were so pissed that they killed the wife. We haven’t found the husband yet, but I don’t think his chances are good.”
“Or this was personal.”
“You think we should be looking at this as a hit, not a robbery gone bad?”
“Or a copycat.”
“That makes sense,” he said.
“The shotgun business bothers me the most. That’s something you use when taking down a bunch of drug dealers. Plus they’re so loud.”
“In that neighborhood it might not matter. It could be written off as a car backfiring, or people don’t notice when there is a gunshot.”
“Because it happens all the time, just like how everyone ignores car alarms.”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
“Now that you mention it, my first apartment was in a sketchy part of town where you heard what sounded like gunfire all the time. You get used to it,” she added.
“Which also means these guys are probably local, and know the neighborhood.”
“Okay, so these assmonkeys hear about these other robberies and decide to pull one off themselves. I say hear, because I don’t see these knuckleheads reading a newspaper.”
“What do you have from the victims accounts about the perps?”
She glanced at her laptop again, then focused on her notes. “As usual, they’re all over the place. The first victims, Mr. and Mrs. Rademaker, were from La Jolla. She swore they were African American and as tall as giants. The husband said they were Caucasian. The one who stayed at the house was around 5’8” and the one who took him was more like six feet or a little over. He was the one in charge, the other didn’t talk much, just took orders. They each sported a handgun, revolvers.
“In Solana Beach, there was the husband, wife and maid. Mr. and Mrs. Halsey both claimed they were Latino even though they had no accents. The maid, Celia, who is Latino, said they were tan white people.”
“If the perps were raised in America, they wouldn’t have accents. So Latino is an option.”
“Now that narrows it down. A lot. SoCal is about a third Mexican,” she said sarcastically.
“At least we can delete the African American population. That’s something.” He grinned at her. “Smartass.”
“Whatever. Anyway, they all pretty much agreed with the height and build, the man in charge was roughly 6’1” and the peon was around 5’7”-5’8”. They also mentioned that the boss was very scary. He had a deep voice and pistol-whipped the husband when he questioned his authority.”
“Any violence at the first scene?”
“Not that I’ve read.”
“What about the third?”
“They all said the boss was very mean and they feared for their lives. In fact, the two were in another room fighting when the eight-year-old boy got loose and slipped out a bedroom window.”
“What were they arguing about?”
“The short one said he didn’t want to have anything to do with taking kids hostage. Told him it messed with their heads and they might never get over it. The boss replied they were already there, might as well finish the job–”
Thomas interrupted. “That could be why the boy got loose. The guy took pity on him and didn’t pull the ties very tight.”
“Brave kid. Stupid crook. I can’t believe he put the hands in front of them instead of securing them behind their backs.”
She laughed. “That’s what I was thinking when I read it. It’s almost like the pinhead wanted the kid to get loose.” She glanced at her laptop again. No movement.
“What the hell is going on? Why do you keep looking at that laptop?”
“Sorry. I put security cameras up around my house this morning and I’m checking to see if there’s any movement.”
“Having problems?”
“You could say that.” Shadowhawk told him about the truck and the alarm going off the night before. She didn’t mention the shit from the previous night because she wasn’t certain the two were connected.
“Sounds like some serious shit. Why don’t you come stay with us until you figure out what’s going on. It’s a big house, we have plenty of room.”
“Thanks, but I’m not worried. Whoever this is, I don’t think she means me harm, just likes screwing with me. After she realized I changed the locks on my doors, she probably won’t be back. I put the cameras up just in case. I really want to catch the bitch and find out what the hell is going on.”
“I can’t say that I blame you. Do you think this is someone you dated?”
“I haven’t really gone on any dates since Maria.”
“But you have had one-night stands?”
“Well, duh.”
“Is it possible that someone you hooked up with wanted more?”
“Hello.” She waved her hands from her head down to her feet. “I’m the total package, but there’s only one of me to go around.”
“Hey, you’re the one that told me lesbians are either crazy, sex addicts, or both. Think about the odds. How many women have you bedded? Is it safe to say that one of those has a screw loose?”
“I don’t know. I mean, it’s been weeks since I’ve been to any of the bars.”
“Think like a cop. Any of them stand out?”
“I hate to say it, but no. If I do go home with someone, it’s usually because I’m too drunk to drive. They’re all kind of a blur.”
“Have you taken anyone to your house?”
“Hell, no! Now that’s just borrowing trouble.”
“And going home with perfect strangers isn’t?”
“I can take care of myself pretty good, don’t ya think?”
“Not if you’re that drunk, no. You’re vulnerable. Someone could easily riffle through your wallet, get your address, and maybe even make a copy of your keys while you’re passed out.”
“That’s screwed up.”
“Yes, it is, and you also know it’s true. With all the shit we see every day, what makes you think you couldn’t be a victim?”
“I guess I always thought I was too smart. But you’re right, I have been playing fuck all with my life lately.”
“So, can you think of someone who seems mad at you, maybe for no good reason?”
“Dude, I’ve pissed off a lot of people, usually without even trying.”
“Great. You know, I thought you were just putting on an act, bullshitting me. I thought it was funny, but this is some serious shit you’ve stepped in. I think it’s time to stop drinking yourself into a stupor and acting like a tomcat. This should be a real wake-up call for you.”
“I hear you.” Thomas had never read her the riot act before and right now he did seem pretty pissed. She had that effect on other people, but never him. “Now that you mention it, there was an incident a few weeks ago. I was hanging at the bar talking to a friend and this chick came up and planted one on me. And it wasn’t the kind of kiss you give your mother, if you know what I mean. So I put my arm around her and asked her name.”
“What was it?”
“I never got it. She screamed, threw her drink in my face and stormed off. Everyone laughed. I had to go to the restroom to get cleaned up, it was a Daiquiri, ice cold and sticky as glue.”
“What did she look like?”
“She was a cute little thing, but I couldn’t tell you her hair or eye color because it was dark. Her hair was long, down past her shoulders and dark, not blonde. Oh, and she had a rack on her.”
“Oh, that’s nice.” He shook his head. “Have you seen her again?”
“Not if I could help it. I haven’t been back to that bar since.”
“Maybe we should make a special trip and see if we can find her.”
“We? You would go to a lesbian bar with me?”
“Why, aren’t men allowed?”
“Of course.” Gay men showed up all the time.
“I just don’t want you to go alone in case she’s aggressive, but if you’ve got someone else you’d rather go with…”
“Not at all. I appreciate the back-up.” She wasn’t about to let him back out now. She couldn’t wait to see the reaction on everyone’s faces when she walked in with this straight sexy dude. People be trippin’. The phone on his desk rang.
“Thomas, here.” He scribbled something on a piece of paper. “Thanks, we’re on our way.” He hung up and addressed her. “The Schiffs’ Cadillac has been located.”