Chapter 3

 

Chapter 3

            Sean O’Conner was sipping the last bit of his coffee when Robert trudged back inside the office. The “coffee” hadn’t been coffee. Not for the last few hours anyway. Working as a defense lawyer in a town like Los Angeles took its toll on a person, something Robert would soon come to realize.

            “I see you’re back from Shawn’s beloved coffee shop. What is going out there anyways? I thought I saw some lights earlier. Probably some damn rave you kids go to.” Sean asked without bothering to look up at his intern. Robert had left earlier despite the vast amount of casework that was flowing in, and Sean wasn’t exactly in a forgiving mood. Besides he wanted to get through this last case before the weekend.

            Robert took a seat where Sean’s secretary usually sat during work hours and stared at the large stack of paperwork on Sean’s otherwise neat desk.

            “You might have to add another case to your pile.”

            Sean let out a humorless laugh. “Maybe we should turn off our lights then so we can catch our breath. Or better yet, take our ads off bus benches. I never really liked that picture anyways.”

            Robert would have usually laughed at Sean’s sarcastic tone, but given the events of the day, he didn’t think he could even force a smile.

            “Those lights you saw weren’t from a party O’Conner. There was a murder down the street.” Robert bluntly said. There was no point in beating around the bush, not with a defense lawyer. He wasn’t exactly in the mood to stall anyways.

            Hearing the word ‘murder’ peaked Sean’s interest as he looked up at Robert who was visibly shaken up by the fiasco. Sean, on the other hand, was thirty-six years old and had been defending criminals for ten years now. It took more than a simple murder outside his office to scare him.

            “At the coffee shop? I thought you were the only one there tonight.”

             Robert was having a hard time with his words, so he merely nodded at his boss.

            “So close to shop, that’s new for me. Tell me, did you see the vic?”

            Robert tried everything in his power to calm his nerves. A nervous defense lawyer served virtually no purpose. Aside from that, he was trying to impress Sean enough to be with him in the courtroom for his next big win. Being scared by Detective McEvoy, someone Robert respected and was thrilled to have met last, wasn’t going to score him a spot at the defense table.

            Sean had gotten close to Robert in his time as an intern and respected his choice to stay silent. He wouldn’t press the boy any further. Instead, he savored the peace while he waited for Robert. Robert took a deep breath.

            “I was the one who called it in Sean. The killer, he left messages like this was some puzzle, not someone’s life. I just thought it was an assault in progress or some town drunk. I would never have thought I’d be in the center of the murder. Those detectives have their work cut out for them. There was practically blood everywhere. Not to mention those disturbing notes.” Robert looked down at his hands as if they were tainted just by being at the scene.

            Sean didn’t bother to ask Robert what the detective looked like; he just assumed it was most likely Eric, his little’s sister longtime boyfriend and probably the only detective up at this hour. His relationship with Eric was hard to explain. Sean had nothing against Eric. He was a good cop and an outstanding citizen of Los Angeles but was also a bit of a loose cannon according to Sean. Sean’s only concern now was that the case was as bad as Robert made it seem. Eric has already seen too much, and Sean would hate to have to see him suffer further. Sean kept his feelings to himself after all maybe it wasn’t even Eric’s case.

            “You might want to get used to that Montelongo. You signed up for this, and I can’t afford having you lose your lunch every time we get a case. I hate to be rude but I like you, and I know you can go far. Why don’t we both just call it a day and I’ll drive you home?” Sean suggested. The idea of plopping in his warm bed soothed Robert, and he managed to smile.

            “Take the keys, and I’ll meet you down there. I have to finish typing up something for Margret.” Sean tossed Robert the keys to his silver Volvo. Robert felt honored to be trusted with something that Sean held close, and he kept his smile on all the way to the parking lot.

            Sean did as he said and quickly finished typing up a document for his secretary. Just as he was about to leave it on her desk and lock up, he noticed a strange letter sitting on top of Margret’s current book she was reading for pleasure. The note looked like it was hand delivered but Sean thought that to be impossible. He and Robert had been there most of the night except for when Robert stepped out earlier and when Sean himself went out back for a smoke. There was no return address or any address for his office. Only the last name “O’Conner” was written on the letter. The writing looked sloppy as if done purposely. As for the ink, it was made of poor quality and had bled through the envelope.

            Sean knew Robert was waiting for him, but he couldn’t just leave this mystery alone. He debated calling his sister or even Eric. The idea of potentially waking up either of them helped him make his decision. He quickly called Robert instead to let him know he would be a couple of minutes late. Robert said he would just sit in the car and rest. Sean reached for the note and tried his to brace himself for what might come.

~~~

            The detective’s floor was completely cleared out. Russell had left moments ago leaving Eric alone with his craft. Given the early hour of the morning, he knew he would have plenty of time alone to go through the murder book. For the most part, he kept the pages in order, but after today his organization was off. It was a copy of the book, so it didn’t matter much anyways if a few pages weren’t where they were supposed to be.

            In front of him was the autopsy report as well as the investigator’s note and a robbery report that was filed by a detective that used to work with his father, Detective Kevin Richards Sr.

            Eric had just set his coffee down and began to read the rest of the autopsy report. A report he had read countless times. In all his years of police work he never read an autopsy report that sent chills down his back.

“MCEVOY CIAN, RICHARD CASE NUMBER: 89-1-00042 AGE: 32 RACE: IRISH/AMERICAN GENDER: MALE

DATE OF DEATH: March 26, 1989 at 1835 hours.

CIRCUMSTANCES: Please note investigator’s report.

1.      Clothing fragments recovered from the victim and submitted for evidence.

II. Multiple abrasions of the torso and lower abdomen.

III. Puncture wounds to the right lung and abdomen.                                  

IV. Bruising along the right side of the back.

DESCRIPTION OF STAB WOUNDS:

TOTAL NUMBER OF WOUNDS: Approximately 23 puncture wounds, abrasions, and stabbings.

Please see investigators report for full disclosure of wounds.

1.      Stab wound, right lower abdomen: Pathway through the skin and subcutaneous tissue. 5^th and 6^th rib impacted. Length: approximately 6 inches. FATAL WOUND: perforation of the right lung.

2.      Stab wound, the right side of back: 30 inches below the neck. Subcutaneous tissue with penetration of the abdominal wall and chest cavities. INCISED WOUND: Dull edge blade.

3.      Stab wound left side of abdomen: 4 inches in length. Through the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Depth of wound approximately 5-6 inches. FATAL WOUND: associated with perforation of the lung. Blade is tapered ended or pointed.

The victim sustained multiple stab wounds involving both the right and left side of the torso and abdomen. Fatal wounds are identified by those causing hemorrhage and perforation of the lungs. Routine toxicology report was filed. Overall healthy adult male.

MANNER OF DEATH: HOMICIDE

CAUSE OF DEATH: Multiple stab wounds involving the rib cage and lungs.”

            Eric took a deep breath as he steadied himself in his seat. Reading his father’s autopsy report after today sent more than just chills down his back. The weapon used to kill his father was never identified. The M.E. (medical examiner) had just assumed it was two different blades. Reading it now shined a light on Eric’s new investigation. The victim from earlier tonight on initial examination appeared to have died from a fatal stab wound. Without the full report on the body, which could take up to weeks, Eric didn’t want to make assumptions. But at this point, he wasn’t going to rule anything out.

            Reading the report also flashed another memory from the fresh crime scene in his mind. Aside from the various taunts, blood was all over the place. That itself wasn’t unnatural for a murder case. But the amount of blood hadn’t bothered him at the time. After remembering the events of the night his father died, the excessive blood now weighed on his mind. He quickly shook off any assumptions in his head as he turned his attention to the investigator’s report. Quickly skimming the document, his eyes were growing tired at this point, he stopped at the evidence collected.

“Several articles of clothing were removed from the scene. The victim’s clothes were in shreds. What was recovered was covered in blood presumably the victim’s or his attackers. Blood found at the scene indicates more than one victim. However, there was only one body present at the crime scene. Blood tests to be conducted to determine the possible second victim(s). Due to the low-risk victim and his position, the possible second victim remains unnamed in this report. Follow up investigations will be recorded. Scene indicates murder, perhaps revenge given the brutality, but possible robbery might have also taken place. Several pieces jewelry, as well as a 9mm registered to the victim, appeared to be missing. Pictures from the family home will be used to determine the exact pieces stolen for report…”

            Eric put the report down after reading what he needed to hear. “Stolen jewelry,” he thought seeing it on paper would clear things up, in his head if nothing else, but it only increased his fear. He leaned back in his chair with the murder book in front of him. What had was taken that night? What was his mother even wearing? Why didn’t he pay more attention? And all that blood, it wasn’t all his father’s. But he knew that book inside and out. The blood would show up as AB negative, a match to his father’s DNA, and a few corrupt samples that couldn’t be used, at least not in a courtroom.

            After seeing today’s crime scene, Eric had second thoughts. A person could not leave that much blood. Or could they? Was it possible that one person murdered in a fit of rage leave that much blood behind? Eric had gone to school getting a double bachelors in Forensics and Criminal Justice, but due to the stress, he couldn’t even remember how much blood the human contained.

            Several possibilities flushed through Eric’s mind as he stared down at his desk. Some decent, other’s terrifying. All his memories from that night eighteen years flashed clearly before him. The screams he heard from his safe kitchen cabinet were ones that followed him to this day. He knew in his heart who they belonged to, yet in light of recent events he couldn’t help but doubt the night he lost everything. Deep in thought, Eric continued to search through the murder book as half of his mind wandered off to the victim he had just discovered with Jack.

            The blood, the amount of blood was important. The letter, that taunting letter, it had to have been for him, but why and how? A sick feeling passed through his stomach as he realized this Jane Doe was just the beginning of a long list of victims. Victims to him, but otherwise just pawns in a sick man’s chess game.

~~~

            On her way to the detective’s floor, Riley O’Conner made her usual rounds saying hello to various officers. Some were always nicer than others. A lot kept their distance from the defense lawyer’s sister. None of that bothered Riley as she stopped in front of a wall dedicated to the fallen officers. Officers who died on duty were considered heroes. Riley half smiled as she spotted the redhead in the sea of brunettes. She placed her right hand on the gold nameplate reading “Richard McEvoy.”

            Richard hadn’t exactly died on the job but was still a police officer who died while on active duty.

            “Crazy how different he looks now, isn’t it?” Riley didn’t turn around, but she knew who was there. Only three people in the police force had that twang in their voice. Only of those three still had the youthful sound.

            “Aren’t we all Jack?” Riley laughed, not a laugh one would give for something funny, but more of a nervous laugh.

            “When you lived through what he did I guess you have to change. Who wants to carry around someone else’s legacy on their back?” Jack looked up at the picture that had drawn Riley over.

            Richard was bright-eyed and smiling, a very different reaction from the last pictures ever taken of him. He had bright emerald eyes that shined as bright as diamonds and a head full of dark ginger hair, very different from his wife’s former bright red hair. The picture didn’t capture it, but Jack knew Richard from his childhood and knew the man had several tattoos on his right arm dedicated to his family and his time spent with the Marines.

            “So are you and Eric up on rotation?” Riley quickly changed the subject from Eric and his deceased father.

            “Not necessarily. Gordon and Galloway are. There was a murder earlier this morning, and I was leaving the station when the call came in, so Eric and I are stuck with it. O’Brian was apparently going to request us for the job anyways.” Jack answered as he and Riley walked away from the wall of the dead and headed for the detective’s floor.

            “Did you get any sleep at all?”

            “I tried to sleep with the overnight boys, but I can’t say it helped. I’m more worried about Eric though. He looked like he was barely even sleeping when I called him.”

            Riley let out a long sigh. “It’s that time of year Jack. Did you at least see him leave? I mean he said he was going to stop by my place for breakfast and he never showed.”

             Jack shook his head. “He was having coffee with Russ last I saw him. I told him to go home, but you know how well Eric listens. He’s probably just stressing over the case. The perp is taunting us. He left some weird messages last night, and I was worried to show them to Eric. I just got back from lockup to read the note again, and it makes even less sense now. I don’t think he plans on stopping anytime soon.” Jack’s word sent shivers down Riley’s spine.

            Riley had been with the police as long as Jack. She had initially been Eric’s partner before Lt. O’Brian thought it was wrong and would send the wrong impression to the other detectives. But serial killers had always bothered her. It was her job to track them sure, but it was still unsettling. It always seemed like there was a new monster who found creative ways to take life away from innocent people.

            As the two approached the detective’s floor, Riley looked down at her phone and quickly shut the incoming call off.

            “I take it that wasn’t Mac?” Jack asked.

            “Mac” was the nickname a lot of the officers had given Richard during his time with the force. It came from his last name, and many of the older officers took to calling Eric that as a tribute to his fallen father. Jack wasn’t stupid though. He used it only when his partner wasn’t around.

            “It’s my brother. He’s been calling all morning probably to see if one of his clients is still in a holding cell. I’ll call him later, duty calls.”

            Eric was bent over his desk with several discarded paper coffee cups around him when Riley and Jack walked in. Several of the other detectives were keeping their distance including Riley’s partner.

            “God I hope he wasn’t here all night,” Jack whispered.

            Riley shook her head as she walked over to Eric’s desk. She placed her hand on his shoulder causing him to jump from his chair.

             “Riles, don’t you know better than to sneak up on a guy while he’s working?” Eric tried to laugh but was still too surprised by her and Jack’s sudden appearance.

            “Let me guess, no rest for the wicked?” Jack asked.

            Eric was coming back to reality and quickly grabbed something to cover up the contents of his desk. With trained hands, he managed to do so without looking awkward or drawing attention from his friends.

            “Who needs sleep when you have coffee? It’s not a big deal. I just wanted to get a head start on today’s work.”

            “Headstart? From what I hear the perp did that for you. How long have you been here? You missed breakfast. I look forward to those mornings.”

            For the most part, Riley and Eric kept their personal lives separate from their work lives. It was easier and fewer people complained. Eric was already deemed as the ‘favorite’ because his adopted father was the partner to the head detective and at one point was even the head. But on occasions, Riley’s loving nature couldn’t help herself, and she went from Detective O’Conner to concerned girlfriend in a New York minute.

            Staring into Riley’s deep green eyes made it hard for Eric to lie. But he quickly realized he had no choice. Bringing up the truth, especially the case he was with all night, would only worry her and Jack. That’s something he could live without right now.

            “I left almost right after Russell did last night. I just got here a couple of minutes ago.” Eric managed a smile as he rose from his desk. His legs had gotten stiff after sitting in the same spot for hours, but he managed to stay steady.

            Jack eyed the littered coffee cups and gave Eric a scolding look but said nothing further. Arguing with Eric was worse than wrestling a bear. Jack had always thought he would have made an excellent lawyer.

            “As long as you got some rest. Jack makes it seem like you are going to need it.” Riley said. The tone of her voice indicated she believed Eric about as much as Jack did.

            “Eric wouldn’t know what sleep if he had it tattooed on his arm with the rest of that s**t,” Russell added with a laugh as he approached Eric and Jack’s workspace.

            “I thought you were supposed to be having breakfast with Monique?” Eric asked.

            “I did have breakfast with her. It’s almost ten Eric. You know what they say about all work and no play.”

            Eric’s lack of knowledge on time almost blew his cover with Riley who turned her scornful eyes on him. Eric quickly flashed a smile to ease his way out of trouble.

            “Of course it is. I must remember to get a watch. We should probably get out to the coffee shop Jack, you know see what we can find when there’s light.”

            “You might as well. Richards is held up with blood tests and DNA typing. It might take longer than usual to yield any results. The department needs to hire more specialists.” Russell said shaking his head.

            “Maybe just a transfer, it’s a safer job anyways. But still rewarding.” Riley looked at Eric like a scolding mother.

            “Safe is boring Detective O’Conner. I’ll see you after work. I might be able to have some overtime and even dinner. Catch you later Galloway.” Eric offered a small wink to Riley as he headed down the stairs to the front of the station.

            “Watch out for him will you?” Riley asked.

            Jack laughed. “That’s a big task for one guy Riley, but you can trust me. I’ll make sure he doesn’t overdo it.”

            Jack quickly caught up with Eric who was ‘chatting’ at the front with one of the officers who handled transporting suspects as well as minding the front entrance for anyone who might come in reporting a crime. Her name was Rachel Aiken, and she was a recent divorcee with a daughter she hardly got to see or more like didn’t want to see. Much like McEvoy, Jack didn’t think she looked like a cop. Her long black hair might have worked during her Goth days as a teenager, but now it seemed a bit too much. Unlike Eric, Rachel didn’t have the attitude of a cop either, and she made it very obvious that she had more than just a crush on the attractive Irish detective.

            “Officer Aiken is there something we can do for you?” Jack asked as he rested his arm on the protective shield around her. Rachel’s smile faded as Jack took over the conversation. A smirk and chuckle escaped Eric’s mouth as he watched from the side.

            “I was just telling Eric that Dr. Burnette found your victim’s ID in her purse. He’s waiting in the morgue if you’re interested Detective Hicks.”

            “Thanks, I’m sure Detective McEvoy appreciates your great concern for this case.” Jack took Eric by the arm and saved him from any more awkward encounters with Rachel.

            “Gordon always warned you that dressing like that was going to attract the wrong crowd,” Jack said.

            “It attracted you Tex.” Eric grinned at one of his closest friends.

            “That’s not what did ginger. I just didn’t get scared away. So are we making a pit stop on our way to the coffee shop?” Jack asked.

            Eric was more than a little eager to see what awaited at the crime scene but he also knew with an ID on the victim he and Jack could jumpstart their investigation.

            “Dr. Burnette isn’t the type of guy to keep waiting,” Eric responded.

~~~

            Sean O’Conner was sitting in his Volvo with a smoke in hand and his freshly opened letter in the passenger seat. He had spent the last few minutes calling Riley in vain. Despite their opposite career paths, Sean and his sister had always gotten along. Events from their childhood lead them in different directions, but it never changed their love for each other which is why Sean was more confused than anything else that Riley had been screening his calls.

            Perhaps she was out at a crime scene. Most people would have laughed at the idea of a crime happening in broad daylight, but not Sean. He had seen some very different criminals in his line of work, and few had no fear of committing horrible crimes with the sun out. Whatever it was that was keeping Riley was only making Sean more anxious. He had tried his best to sleep after reading the note left at his law offices a few hours ago but failed. He was now running on a few hours of sleep and was also concerned because he had left Robert in charge of the office while he stepped out on business.

            Sean quickly decided that he couldn’t wait for Riley to take his calls. He was practically sitting on a ticking time bomb, and he needed to act now. With one last look at the passenger seat, Sean pulled out of his office and headed towards the closest coffee shack in the parking lot.