58
O
n Friday afternoon, Jimmy Weathers left his keys in his cruiser and walked the two blocks to the impound lot. The Mustang convertible, bright yellow and quite new, was sitting out, freshly washed, waiting for him. Jimmy signed the paperwork and got into the car, which smelled of new leather. The car had the hot V-8 engine, and when he turned the key it made a sweet noise. He tossed his service cap into the backseat and roared away, headed for the beach.
A
s soon as the Mustang passed the police station a man wearing coveralls with the local dealer’s GM name emblazoned on it got out of a van, got into Jimmy’s cruiser and followed his partner, who was driving the van. They drove to a state police garage in Melbourne, parked in an available bay and went to work on the cruiser, starting by removing the steering wheel and the entire dashboard.
H
urd was at his desk when his phone rang. “Hurd Wallace.”
“Captain Wallace, this is Mike Green. I just wanted you to know that your Orchid Beach police cruiser has arrived at our Melbourne facility, and work has already begun on it. I’m advised that they will be finished late Sunday afternoon, when it will be delivered back to the Orchid police station.”
“Thank you, Mike,” Hurd said, “but I and one of my people are going to want to check it out, especially for the placing of the weapons, before it’s delivered. Will you call me on my cell when it’s done, and we’ll meet you somewhere between Melbourne and Orchid Beach.” Hurd gave him the cell number.
“Will do, Captain,” Green replied. “See you then.”
Hurd called out to Lauren, who was walking past his office. “We’ve got Jimmy’s car,” he said, “and they’re already at work on it.”
“That’s good news,” Lauren said.
“Keep yourself available late Sunday afternoon; I want us to go over the car together and make sure you understand where everything is, especially the weapons.”
“I’ll be on my cell,” Lauren said.
J
immy sailed along Ocean Drive in Vero Beach with the top down and the wind in his short hair. He hadn’t felt so good since he got the chief’s job. He pulled into the parking area in front of the Ocean Grill and parked in a spot overlooking the beach. He took off his uniform shirt and tossed it into the backseat, then took a Polo from his briefcase and put that on. Finally, he locked his shirt, cap and weapons belt in the trunk and stood, looking out at the Atlantic Ocean. Half a dozen surfers were riding nice waves, and there were a few dozen people lying on the beach. He spotted a girl alone who was wearing a bikini, and as he watched, she untied the bra and lay on her stomach, letting the strings fall aside.
Jimmy put on his aviator shades, walked down the stairs to the beach and approached her. “Hey,” he said, stopping next to her towel. “You need somebody to put some lotion on your back?”
She turned her head toward him but didn’t sit up. “I’m okay,” she said, then she turned her head away.
“Can I bring you a cold one?” he asked.
She turned her head back toward him. “No, thanks.”
“You with somebody?”
“Uh, yeah. He’s surfing.” She waved a thumb at the surf.
“Which one?”
“Does it matter? Look, I’d like to be left alone.”
“Nobody needs to be alone,” Jimmy said, squatting beside her in the sand.
“I need to be alone,” she said.
“Listen,” he said softly. “I’ve got a new Mustang convertible right up there above us; why don’t you let me show you some of the local sights? Ever seen the Jungle Trail?”
“No, and I don’t care to,” she replied, not looking at him.
“It’s a beautiful drive, lots of wildflowers, even orchids, and wildlife, too—you see deer and raccoons, maybe even a Florida panther.”
“The Florida panther is a myth,” she said. “Now, will you please leave me alone?”
“The Florida panther is no myth,” Jimmy said. “I’ve seen one twice.”
She turned back and looked at him. “Look, do I have to call a cop?”
“No need for that,” Jimmy said, pulling out his wallet. “I’m a cop.” He flashed his badge. “In fact, I’m the cop; I’m the chief of police.” He held the badge closer, so she could read it.
“In that case,” she said, “you ought to know that harassment is against the law, and if I choose to push it, I could get you fired.”
“Listen, lady, who are you going to complain to? I’m the boss.”
She looked around at the other people. “You want me to make a scene? You want me to start screaming? Because I will. NOW GET OUT OF HERE!” she yelled.
“All right, all right,” Jimmy said, standing up and backing away. Other sunbathers were looking at him oddly, now. He climbed the stairs and got back into the Mustang.
“Bitch!” he said aloud to himself, then started the car. He backed out of the parking place and yanked the stick into gear, leaving rubber and a roar behind him.
59
T
eddy decided to make his special scrambled eggs on Monday morning. After putting the applewood-smoked bacon in the microwave and the plump Wolferman’s English muffins in the toaster oven, he melted some butter in a small skillet, then added a little milk and a handful of shredded sharp cheddar cheese. While the cheese was melting he whipped up half a dozen eggs with a wire wisk, then poured them into the skillet, turned down the gas flame to low and slowly scrambled them with a spatula.
When the eggs were still soft but not runny, he spooned them onto the plates, added the bacon and muffins and poured two glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice. As if on cue, Lauren came out of the bedroom with a large handbag over her shoulder. She set the bag on the sideboard and sat down to breakfast.
“Oh, I love these eggs!” she said, tasting them. “I love it all!”
When they were finished, Teddy poured them coffee. “To your last day,” he said, raising his mug.
“I’ll drink to that,” she said, raising her own.
“You look very happy about it,” Teddy said, “but also a little nervous.”
“I’m nervous about telling Hurd,” she said.
“I thought you were going to tell him earlier.”
“I sort of hinted at it, but I didn’t resign. I wanted to know how tonight’s operation would go before I did that.”
“Is there any chance it won’t go well enough to let us leave tomorrow morning?” Teddy asked.
“Maybe,” she replied. “Excuse me, I’ve got to go to the bathroom.” She got up and disappeared into the bedroom.
Teddy cleared the table, and when he came back he looked into her open handbag. Inside he could see a filmy pair of cotton pants and a tank top she liked to wear when they were going out and she was feeling sexy.
He went back to the kitchen and put the dishes into the dishwasher. As he returned to the living room she came out of the bedroom and retrieved her bag. “I’m off,” she said, giving him a kiss. “I may be late tonight; don’t wait dinner for me.”
“Why late?” he asked.
“It’s part of the operation,” she replied, “and don’t ask, because I can’t tell you about it.” She kissed him again and ran out the door.
Lauren’s estimate of two suitcases did not come anywhere close to what she wanted to take with her, plus she had left two packed boxes she wanted sent ahead of them. Late in the day, Teddy put them into the trunk of the car and drove to the pack-and-ship place on A-1A.
As he walked in he was surprised to see Holly Barker there, sending boxes of her own. “Good afternoon,” he said.
“Oh, hi, Jack,” she replied, signing a check and handing it to the clerk. “I’m just sending some of my Florida stuff back to Virginia. What brings you here?”
“Just sending a few things to some friends,” Teddy replied, setting the boxes so that she couldn’t see the address of the Santa Fe hotel he was sending them to.
“Listen,” Holly said, “I don’t want you to worry about Lauren tonight. She’s a capable person, and she’s going to have a lot of backup. We all know how dangerous Jimmy is.”
“I’m relieved to hear it,” Teddy said, not feeling relieved at all. Lauren had not said the operation was dangerous. “Have a good trip home,” he said.
Holly left and got into her Cayenne, which he had not noticed was parked outside, and drove away.
Teddy sent the boxes and drove home, wondering what the hell Lauren was getting herself into.
L
auren went into the conference room and met with the backup team. She had seen the car before, but the tech guys had photographs, and they wanted to explain everything again. Holly Barker came in and took a seat.
“All right, everybody,” Mike Green said, “this is what we’ve got: two video cameras mounted in the air-conditioning vents on each side of the dashboard, here and here,” he said. “There is a microphone with each one and another mike, on a separate circuit, in the center vent. We have three cameras mounted in the overhead light, one pointed forward, two covering the rear seat, each with a mike. There is another camera and mike in the rear seat light over the parcel shelf.”
He held up a Zippo lighter. “Each of these would fit into the case of this lighter, and the lenses are pinpoint size. They are outstanding in low-light levels, and they can pick up audio as faint as a whisper.”
“Where are the weapons located?” Holly asked.
“One here, under the dashboard,” Green said, “and one under the passenger seat, in spring clips.”
“I’ve seen them and tried extracting them,” Lauren said, “and it’s a good setup. They’re both loaded and cocked, safety on.”
“What kind of weapons?” Holly asked.
“Two Colt Mustang .three-eighties,” Lauren replied. “They’re small, but they’ll be good in close quarters.”
“One thing, Lauren,” Mike Green said. “If he wants to play the radio, turn it down low—off, if you can get away with it.”
“How does all this stuff transmit?” Holly asked.
“Through the car’s onboard antennas; we didn’t have to add anything.”
“He’s got a police radio in his car, right?” Holly asked.
“Yes, but we’re using frequencies reserved for the state police; he can’t get them on his radio or even if he has a scanner.”
Hurd spoke up. “Lauren has already had some contact with Jimmy,” he said.
“Yes, I have,” Lauren said, “and he’s raring to go.”
“What on earth did you tell him?” Holly asked.
“I stopped by the station and flounced around a little, then I sat down in his office and told him that things with Jack and me were not going well, and why didn’t we get together? He suggested dinner, but I said I couldn’t make that, so why didn’t we just hook up around nine and go someplace quiet?”
“I can see why he’s raring to go,” Holly said.
T
eddy wandered around the house, worrying about Lauren, then he got into his car and drove to Lauren’s office. It was after seven, and her car was still parked outside. He pulled into a little strip mall across the road and parked. Pretending to be browsing, he went from shop to shop, keeping an eye on her car, then had some dinner in a little café at a table by the window. Just after eight thirty Lauren, wearing her sexy outfit, came out of the building accompanied by Hurd Wallace, Holly Barker and four men.
Lauren got into her car, and the others got into two unmarked cars and a van belonging to a plumbing company, according to the sign on the outside. Teddy left money on the table, went to his car and followed the little procession. Near police headquarters, the two cars and the van stopped in different places, and Lauren drove into the police parking lot.
Teddy parked a half block away and waited.
60
L
auren took a deep breath to calm herself, then opened the back door of the police station and stepped into the hallway. Light from Jimmy’s office spilled into the hallway.
She walked down the hall, turned and then leaned against the doorjamb, alluringly, she hoped. “Hi, there,” she said.
Jimmy looked up and grinned. He had already changed out of his uniform and was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and khaki trousers. “Hi, you ready?”
“Whenever you are,” she replied.
Jimmy locked his desk, got up and escorted her down the hall to the rear door and opened it for her. “Your car or mine?”
“Mine’s a mess. Anyway, yours has more room, so let’s take that.” To her relief, Jimmy steered her toward his car, opened the door and let her inside.
She sat in the middle of the wide bench seat, so that when he got in they would be close together.
He entered the car and started it. She knew that the cameras would come on when the engine started and remain on for thirty minutes after the engine stopped.
“Where to?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “How about Jungle Trail? Nobody goes out there since the murders.”
“Perfect,” Jimmy said. He pulled out of the parking lot and drove away.
T
eddy watched them get into the car, watched Lauren slide across the seat toward Jimmy, and he didn’t like it. She was making herself bait. He looked around for the two police cars and the van, but they were nowhere in sight. He started his car and followed Jimmy at a distance.
H
olly sat in the passenger seat while a state trooper, Charlie Towns, drove. She watched the blip on the GPS. “Got him on the screen,” she said. “Let’s go, but don’t close on him. Stay out of sight.”
T
hey drove across the bridge, and Jimmy turned north, toward the southern terminus of Jungle Trail. As he did, he put a hand on her thinly clad thigh, and she put her hand on top of his. It was dark out; the moon had not yet risen.
T
eddy alternated between watching Jimmy’s taillights and looking for the police cars. Where the hell were they? How were they going to help Lauren if they couldn’t see her?
J
immy made a left turn off A-1A, and as he did, Lauren saw him take a long look in the rearview mirror. She knew that he wouldn’t see anything and that they would be picked up by the GPS in all three pursuing vehicles, so she felt safe. Nervous but safe.
T
eddy watched Jimmy make the left turn. He had an idea of where the lead car was going; he and Lauren had driven Jungle Trail once. He fell back a little, switched off his headlights and, without using his turn signal, followed the lead. He saw no other cars turn behind him. He watched as Jimmy turned right on the trail proper, then he slowed to let him gain more distance before he turned, too.
I
f it had been dark before, it was pitch black now, what with the canopy of trees shielding them from even the starlight. Lauren nearly panicked when, for a moment, she couldn’t remember the code word. Then it came to her:
bastard
. Jimmy’s hand slid higher up her leg to her crotch, but she didn’t stop him.
They drove up the trail for another five minutes, then Jimmy stopped the car.
“Here okay?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said.
T
eddy saw Jimmy’s brake lights come on, then go dark. They had stopped, and he had turned off his lights.
H
urd Wallace, riding in the surveillance van, watched the GPS screen. “He’s stopped,” Hurd said. He looked at the series of video screens. “She looks calm,” he said. Then the screens went dark. “What happened?” Hurd asked.
“He’s on Jungle Trail, so the tree canopy is blocking any light,” Mike Green replied. “He’s turned off his lights, so his dashboard lights have gone off, too, so we just can’t see. But don’t worry; we’ve still got audio.”
“You didn’t anticipate this?” Hurd asked.
“What, anticipate total darkness? Did you want me to install lights in his car?”
“You okay?” they heard Jimmy say.
“I’m just . . .” Lauren was saying, then stopped talking.
“What’s going on?” Hurd asked.
Mike pointed at a dial on his control panel. “They’re not transmitting audio,” he said. “The system must have powered down when he switched off the engine.”
“But it’s supposed to continue running for thirty minutes,” Hurd protested.
“What can I tell you?” Mike replied. “It didn’t happen.”
Hurd picked up his handheld radio. “Cars one and two: we’ve lost both video and audio, and oh, shit, the GPS isn’t transmitting, either; it’s blocked by the trees. They’re somewhere on Jungle Trail. Close on them fast!”
T
eddy saw the white sand of a road to his left and pulled a few yards into it. He got out of the car and peered into the darkness up the road but couldn’t see a thing. He got back in, unlocked the glove compartment and took out a small but powerful Surefire flashlight and the 9-mm pistol he kept there.
“Step on it, Charlie,” Holly said. “God, I hope we’re not going to be too late!”
J
immy reached down between his legs and released the seat adjuster, allowing the bench seat to move backward a good foot. Lauren suddenly realized that now she couldn’t reach the gun under the dash, and she tried to calm herself. There was still the one under the front seat, though.
Jimmy put an arm around Lauren and moved his left hand to her crotch.
“Is this how you did it with the others, Jimmy?” Lauren asked. “Did they like it?”
“Sure,” Jimmy said. “They loved it. They loved every minute of it.” He stuck his hand inside the elastic band of her pants and reached downward.
Lauren still didn’t stop him “They were unconscious, though, weren’t they?”
“A little,” Jimmy said, “but they could still feel my dick inside them. I got the dosage just right.”
“You bastard,” Lauren said. She didn’t know if what Jimmy had said was enough of a confession, but she was beginning to panic. “Not so hard,” she said, pushing his hand away. “You bastard.”
“Bitch!” Jimmy shouted. “You want it just like they got it, don’t you?”
Lauren moved across the seat and was about to go for the gun underneath it, when Jimmy’s fist smashed into the side of her face. In the darkness, she hadn’t seen it coming. She fell onto the floor of the car, between the seat and the dash, but she couldn’t seem to think clearly. She wanted something, but she couldn’t think what. She fought to stay conscious.
Jimmy reached down, grabbed the waistband of her pants and hauled her back onto the seat face down. There was a loud ripping sound as he tore her clothes from her body, then he got an arm under her and pulled her to her knees.
Her face pressed against the plastic seat, Lauren began to come to. Then she felt something cold and wet in her crotch. Jimmy had produced a lubricant from somewhere and was slathering it onto her vagina and anus. She reached under the seat and felt for the little Colt Mustang clipped there. She got a hand on it and pulled it free, but she was pinned face down and couldn’t turn over, and her elbow couldn’t rotate enough to point the gun at him.
S
witch on the goddamned siren and the lights!” Hurd shouted at the driver. “I want him to hear and see us coming!”
“There’s no siren on the van,” the man called back.
Hurd pressed the switch on his radio. “Sirens and lights on!” he yelled into the instrument.
L
auren could hear Jimmy unzip his trousers and pull them down. She tried again to turn over, but he had her pinned with one hand. God, she thought, he’s going to rape me, and there’s nothing I can do about it. She had a flash of the scene with Bruno in his car years ago, and she felt the helplessness she had felt them.
Suddenly, the car was filled with an amazingly white, bright light. There was a loud noise, and then she was showered with glass, but Jimmy’s hand was no longer on her back. She twisted around and, momentarily blinded by the light, pointed the Mustang in his direction. She fired three times and heard glass break again. Then Jimmy was on top of her.
T
eddy heard the sirens and, looking back down Jungle Trail, saw flashing lights coming. He dove into the underbrush and began making his way back down the trail through the palmettos as fast as he could. He had gone perhaps fifty yards when the two police cars and the van blew noisily past him. As soon as they had passed, he moved back into the road and began running down the trail. A moment later, using the red setting on the flashlight, he found his car, got it started and was driving back up Jungle Trail. He avoided using the brakes and didn’t switch the lights on until he thought he was near the turn back to A-1A. Above him, he saw the spotlight of a helicopter come on, but it was pointing behind him.
He slowed down when he reached A-1A, and drove toward home, keeping to the speed limit. A police car and an ambulance drove past him fast, in the opposite direction.
Lauren might be hurt, he thought, but she was in safe hands now.