Sin City Assassin (The Bill Dix Detective Series Book 3) (16 page)

Dix went back to stewing about Marie. No other criminal, male or female, had gotten under his skin like she had. He began formulating a plan to attack her mentally just in case Frazier’s guy couldn’t get her to talk.
Is it bad I want to get in the room with her, just her and me, and pummel her?

Chapter 31:

Pierre, and the whole agency for that matter, had heard the woman assassin cleverly named the Praying Mantis was finally in custody. He was happy she’d been caught, but he wanted to get to her boss. After obtaining the judge’s signature, he faxed the search warrant to the phone company and was about to call to confirm they received it when a small beep on his computer terminal indicated he'd received an email. He saw the email was from the phone company he had just sent the search warrant to.
That was quick
, he thought.

While clicking on the attachment to the email, Pierre felt a rush of excitement. The phone company had sent him the call detail records with the cell towers within minutes—it meant he could import the data and begin digesting what it meant without delay. With any luck, he’d be able to give Dix or Frazier another good place to start looking for the person the Praying Mantis answered to. He shivered. The thought of a gruesome and fearless assassin excited him on a deeper level, a place few people could understand. He assumed the person was a male. Whoever it was, he hoped to meet this person because he found whoever it was fascinating.

As the information was uploaded into the computer system for analysis, Pierre started looking at the phone numbers and subscribers provided by the phone company related to the phone used by Marie. The list was very short. Each phone number, based on his previous cases, appeared to be a drop phone—one that was basically untraceable. The call history indicated the phone used by Marie only had three contacts, two of which were used recently. One was an unknown player in the case, and the other was the person he, Dix, and Frazier were very interested in.

Once the information was completely uploaded, Pierre chose a few options with the software and immediately began to plot the coordinates of the three cell phones he’d obtained search warrants for: Marie’s, the phone where the texts of sexual nature had originated, and the new phone number. One by one, he plotted the call detail records and the cell tower locations of the phones during crucial parts of this case on a large Google map, making sense of the paths the phones traveled. Pierre could clearly see all three phones were in the same areas on several occasions, strengthening his theory that the phones were related to each other.

At the recently discovered safe house, Pierre could see the mystery phone hit off the same cell tower as Marie’s phone did at the same time, indicating, but not proving, that the users of both phones likely met up. He wondered about the mystery phone. Since the phone had pinged at the safe house with Marie, it occurred to him the owner could be the supplier for the various illegal items located at the safe house. Then he could see the phone leave while Marie’s phone stayed in the area and began sending text messages that were sexual in nature to the other phone. Shortly thereafter, the phone Marie was texting would come closer to Marie’s phone and hit off a closer cell tower, again indicating the two users were likely together. Based on this information, Pierre called a judge he knew to see if she would sign an order to ping both phones. She said yes over the phone, and that was good enough to send to the phone companies.

Pierre noticed the phone companies servicing the two phones had LTE capabilities. It meant if the users had their GPS functions on, Pierre could get coordinates from the devices within a few meters. That of course, meant Pierre could put Dix basically right on top of the users of each phone, making it much easier to identify them. Pierre cracked a wry smile. He had always secretly wanted to be an agent, but the last time he tested, he was disqualified because of poor eyesight. He cursed the event every time he thought about it.
They didn’t even let me get corrective surgery.

He dialed Dix’s number. No answer. He left a voicemail telling Dix he was close to figuring out another lead and should call him ASAP. He called Frazier and gave him the update. The technical talk went right over his head.

“Listen, can you give me something so we can catch these assholes or not?” Frazier grumbled.

Pierre laughed. “Technically speaking, yes. I’m waiting for pings to get set up, and I should know much more then.”

“What’s the ETA for those damn pings,” growled Frazier. Exhaustion was kicking in, and whenever he became real tired, he became cranky. In fact, he was very much like the Snickers candy bar commercials.

“Hey, calm down. Don’t shoot the messenger. I’ll know whether the phones are on, and where they are in a few minutes.” Pierre stared at the computer screen, waiting for an email from the phone company containing the data he needed.

“Okay. Keep me posted. You let Dix know yet?” Frazier calmed down slightly.

“I left him a voicemail. No word….” Pierre removed his cell phone from his ear as it vibrated indicating he was getting another call. He could see it was Bill Dix. “Hey, I’ll call you back, Dix is calling me.”

“Okay, and get those damn phones located,” Frazier replied.

Pierre hung up with Frazier and switched over to Dix. “Hey Bill, I’ve got some updates for you.”

“Good. What’ve you got?” 

Pierre filled Dix in on the three phones, how they were connected, how they were near each other from time to time, and how Pierre had classified the users of the phones. “We know the phone we had for Marie was correct, since you guys confirmed the cell phone number when she was apprehended. The phone ending in
five-three-zero-nine
I think belongs to a supplier, based on the phones being together at the safe house prior to the other phone showing up. In addition, that phone left before the second phone got to the safe house. The phone ending in two-nine-two-four is being used by someone who was clearly hooking up with the assassin.” Pierre spoke confidently, determined to demonstrate his superior intellect. After giving the rundown to Dix he felt a little pride coming through.

Dix whistled. “Geez, Pierre, that’s some fine work. Any way we can get up on the two remaining phones ASAP?” Dix knew they had the tools to help him and his team identify the person calling all the shots.

“Yup. Judge already signed my search warrants and the information from the phone companies is already showing up in my database. I’ve been waiting for the pings. We should know the status of the….” Pierre stopped talking as the first ping for the phone he’d labeled, “Marie’s boss,” populated on his Google map.

“Hey, Pierre, you ok?” Dix asked. The hair rose on the back of his neck. He could hear Pierre’s breathing had accelerated.

Pierre assumed Dix was at the hospital with Marie. The six-meter coordinate for the phone being used by the shot caller showed the device in the area of the same hospital. Pierre’s heart pounded.

Very quietly he asked, “Dix, where are you right now?”

Dix sensed Pierre was freaked out. “Take it easy, son. I’m at the hospital waiting for Frazier to get here and the doctors to finish up with Marie. Why?”

“Dix, t-t-he phone of the shot caller is right outside the hospital, probably at the park,” Pierre said in a whisper.

Dix shook his head.
Why are my hunches always correct
? He began to wonder if it was a fluke.
How would the shot-caller know Marie was in custody? And how would he know she was at this hospital?
“How many meters are the pings, and when was the last one?”

Pierre looked at his computer screen. “It’s a thirty-meter hit that just happened. Whoever has the phone has to be directly across the street from your location. Jesus, how the fuck would they know where she is? It doesn’t matter I guess. There’s a large office building behind the park if I remember correctly.” As he finished the statement his voice cracked. His nerves were making him edgy. He wanted to know what Dix and the other officers were doing.

Dix, however, saw an opportunity. One he might not get again so he had to snatch it. He motioned to some of his men and made hand gestures with his fingers like someone walking. His team knew it meant they needed to follow him on foot.

“Pierre, it’s going to be okay. Keep sending the GPS coordinates to my cell phone. We’re going to see who’s outside near the park.” Dix shook his head. He still couldn’t believe anyone working with Marie knew she was in custody. Even if someone knew she was in custody, only a handful of people actually knew where she was located currently. Dix sighed, hoping he didn’t have another leak wearing a badge. It was becoming more common, and it pissed him off.

Pierre bounced his right leg like crazy. “Okay, I’ll keep you posted,” he paused and looked at the screen one more time. “And whatever you do, don’t get yourself hurt.”

Dix smiled. “Will do. Just keep sending me info on the status of the target phone.” And with that, Dix hung up and updated the team just before they headed outside. They left the hospital from various exits and worked their way toward the front of the hospital. Each agent had his head on a swivel looking for a threat, or someone on their cell phone that looked suspicious. Dix started a group chat on their cell phones and instructed his men to take photos as inconspicuously as possible of everyone they saw. Just before he walked outside, he got a call from Frasier and updated him.

Frazier sounded excited, and said he be there in a few minutes.

The fresh air outside felt exhilarating to Dix. It softened his stress, only momentarily, as he walked outside.
Show time,
he thought,
show time.

Chapter 32:

Blass had no idea where Marie was, but he was sure she was either dead or injured. She’d never kept him in the dark this long. The fact he'd located an undercover agent watching the safe house, and now Marie wasn’t responding, meant to Blass that she had likely been apprehended. He found himself trolling around local hospitals. He figured if she'd been caught, she would not have gone down without a fight, leaving her, as well as others, seriously injured. While calling his resources in a desperate attempt to ascertain Marie’s status, he suddenly realized he had feelings for her beyond just being a business partner.
What in the hell is wrong with you?
Not knowing her status bothered him. He knew it was bad for business that he had feelings for her, but he was smart enough to know he needed to stop lying to himself and locate Marie at any cost. If she was dead, so be it, but he needed to know her status either way.

His other concern, one far scarier for him, was what exactly Marie would do if he confessed his feelings for her.
Would she see me as weak and try to kill me?
He wondered if he should keep quiet about his true feelings and forget the whole thing. His brain told him yes, but his heart ached for her, and he couldn’t deny that.
Focus, damn it!

Now he was pretending to practice his tennis serve while watching the front of one of the three trauma centers in Las Vegas. Blass had checked the other two and had not located Marie. He did not see anything out of the ordinary now—no cops going in or out and no signs of Marie. He had checked the local news, nothing. His contacts also had nothing. It was as though Marie had disappeared without a trace. Blass spit on the tennis court in disgust. It was the first time, in a very long time, that he felt helpless. He squeezed and let go of the tennis ball in his hand over and over while trying to develop a plan for searching the hospital for Marie.
It’s risky, but it’s gotta be done
, he thought,
besides, no one knows who I really am.

Blass retrieved his cell phone and dialed the phone number for one of his suppliers. As the phone rang, he noticed a large black plume of smoke to his right and estimated it was coming from the area of the safe house.
Son of a bitch, he’s not a worthless piece of shit after all.
He wasn’t quite sure what it had meant when he located the agent earlier in the day, but whatever it was, he was about to force their hand because the place would be burned to the ground in minutes. Fire trucks could be heard in the distance. They raced by Blass, headed toward the old safe house. Satisfied the job was done, he turned his attention to the job in front of him. His first cell phone call didn’t go through, so Blass dialed the supplier again.

The man answered on the first ring.

“You seeing this?” asked the supplier.

“Well, at least you did that right. Now, have you heard anything about the girl?” Blass assumed the man would have nothing useful to add.

“The assassin?” replied the supplier.

The mention of Marie caused Blass to stir. “Yes. I’m unable to locate her, and she’s not answering phone calls or text messages. I need to know her status,” replied Blass coolly.

The supplier cleared his throat and paused. He had information, but was wondering what he could get out of the man on the other end of the line in return.

“I may have heard something, what’s it worth to you?” The supplier knew he was pushing the limits with the man, but business was business, and he needed money.

Blass, on the other hand, felt his pulse quicken and anger swirled inside. He wanted to crush the supplier. Rip out his tongue, and feed it to the fishes.
In due time
, he decided.

“Here’s what I’m prepared to offer. You provide me the update, and I let you live. Anything short of that, I kill everyone who knows you, including your sweet mother at the rest home,” Blass replied angrily.

The supplier lost it. “Whoa! Calm down, I’m sorry man, look, you know I need money—I was just trying to get a few extra bucks.” He realized he’d just fucked up, and was now negotiating to save his, and all his friends’ and family’s, lives.

“Spit it out, or am I talking to a dead man.” Blass decided no matter what the man told him, he’d be dead by sundown.