BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): 9. Hometown Killer

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Though Taylor was still a little pissed at Blake as he walked the few feet to his slightly smaller office, he knew it was his own fault. He should have waited until they were alone and not forced Blake to demonstrate that he was in charge. It was a stupid mistake, and, as Blake said, Taylor had paid for it.
    He pulled out his desk chair, sat down, put his feet up, and then opened the folder Blake had handed him.

This report is submitted by Mary Winehouse:
    There have been four apparently related murders in Memphis, and according to the computer the murders follow a pattern of deaths in a number of other states. The killer is no doubt a serial killer, and because of the number of murders in Memphis, it appears that Memphis is his home.
    I believe that the killer is black. The four murdered women were all black and lived in a black community. Because of the location of the murders, it is highly unlikely that a white man could have gone unnoticed.
    The killer strangled the women then resuscitated them. He was in no hurry and had no fear of getting caught. In one case he resuscitated the victim twice. I know this because the second time he broke two of her ribs. He is strong and because these women were all between 5΄-9" and 5΄-11", I believe him to be at least 6΄ tall and close to 190 lbs., between the ages of 32 and 36.
    He had sex with the women as he choked the life from them. I believe the women were only resuscitated because they died before he had reached a sexual climax.
    No DNA was found at any of the crime scenes, nor have there been any prints. This tells me he more than likely has no body hair and wore gloves and a condom.
    We are looking for a bald-headed, 190-lb. black man between the ages of 32 and 36. He will have or have had a good job. He will live in a nice neighborhood, and be married.
    The reason I say he may have had a job, is that he only started killing in Memphis lately. Up until now, he had avoided killing close to home, so something changed. He may have been promoted, or he may have changed jobs or been fired. His previous job more than likely allowed him to travel. It must also have given him cover to scout the neighborhoods where the victims lived. Whatever the reason, he no longer travels and is forced to kill close to where he lives. His hometown is Memphis and we’ll hear from him again.

    Taylor closed the folder and looked up Wayne’s phone number. “Wayne, this is Taylor. Can you step into my office for a moment?”
    Taylor stood up to stretch and could see through his door that Wayne was already on the walkway outside the Operations Room. Wayne was a tall, good-looking man, and carried himself well. Taylor liked the fact that Wayne was in his thirties, for he was having a hard time relating to the younger generation.
    Taylor opened his door. “Come in.”
    Wayne took a seat. “You want to see me about something?”
    “Blake has given me a case, and wants you to work it with me.”
    “I thought I was going to Reelfoot.”
    Taylor smiled. “Not this time. We’ve got a serial killer right here in Memphis, and Blake thought this case needs you more than Reelfoot does.” He handed the folder to Wayne and waited for him to read it.
    Wayne raised his eyes from the report and said, “I have to ask. Being this is a black man killing black women, does the fact that I’m black have anything to do with me being assigned to this case?”
    “Don’t be stupid. It has everything to do with it. The color of the killer’s skin is what allows him to walk freely in the neighborhoods he’s hunting in. The color of your skin will be what allows you to catch the asshole.”
    “If that’s why I got this job – just to work black-on-black crime, I could have stayed on the police force.”
    “I can see why you might think that. However, we hunt serial killers. Ask yourself how many black serial killers you have heard of.” Taylor let that hang in the air for a moment. “Right, this may be the last time in your life you’ll run across one. I’d think that having your name listed as the one who captured him would be worth something to you.”
    “I hadn’t thought of that. I’m so used to being labeled the black cop instead of just the cop, it was a knee-jerk reaction. I’m sorry, and I’m happy we’ll be working together.”
    “That’s the spirit. Now, go work up a plan as to how we’re going to catch this guy.”
    Wayne laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.” He raised the folder slightly and said, “May I take this?”
    Taylor nodded and Wayne left.
    When he re-entered the Operations Room, he was faced with a flood of questions from Shelley and Bobby: What did Taylor want? Are they letting you go? Did Taylor think that blow-up between him and Blake was your fault?
    Wayne held up his hands, palms out. “Take it easy, there’s nothing wrong. Taylor has a case and he and I will be working on it while you two are in Reelfoot with Blake.”
    Bobby questioned, “I thought Blake said we were all going to Reelfoot.”
    Wayne had already started toward Peter’s office. “Bobby, things have changed.”
    He knocked on Peter’s door and opened it before Peter said to come in. The room was filled with computer screens and servers. There was one chair in the entire room, and it was on rollers, so Peter could travel from one computer station to another computer station without standing up.
    Wayne gaped in amazement. Before he thought about the possibility of hurting Peter’s feelings, he said, “Damn, what a fucking mess.”
    Peter turned from the screen he had been peering at. “Birth is never a pretty thing. Once I have all of these machines working together, everything will be placed on one large server and I’ll have a single workstation, with a number of monitors for viewing multiple windows at the same time. I may even have a chair or two for people who interrupt me.” Peter smiled. “Until that day, what do you want?”
    Too late, Wayne regretted saying anything. “I’m working the local killings with Taylor.”
    “Somehow I’m supposed to know what you’re talking about?”
    Wayne held out the file. “Taylor gave me this.”
    Peter opened the folder and turned it around so Wayne could see the first sheet. “Do you see this number in the right-hand corner? That’s a case number. With it, I can get you your information; without it you get nothing.”
    “I’ll remember that.”
    Peter handed the folder back to Wayne. “Here’s something else for you to remember. In the room you just left are some computer terminals. Type in your case number and do your own research. I’m busy.”
    Wayne reached behind himself, opened the door, and backed out. That was two times in the last 30 minutes he had made a fool of himself. He needed that to stop.
    Bobby and Shelley were leaving Operations as Wayne came back in. “Where are you two going?”
    Shelley did a little bow. “We’re off for the day. Need to pack for the trip – we’re going to Reelfoot in a motorhome.”
    Wayne watched them laughing as they headed toward a great adventure while he would be spending the day on a computer. He sat down and keyed in his I.D. number. On the next screen, he keyed in his case number, and a menu appeared for him to choose what information he wanted. He picked a location first and was asked which city. He keyed in Memphis.
    Under his case number were four murders in the Memphis area. Two were close by, on Mississippi Boulevard. One of those was at the corner of East Georgia Avenue, and the other was at East Crump Boulevard, close to Elmwood Cemetery. The other two were more to the southeast, one at Jesse Turner Park at East Trigg Avenue and South Parkway East, and the other at Chandler Park, on Walker Avenue and College Street.
    A submenu offered crime scene photos, and Wayne clicked on it and hit print. He thought he was just printing the photos, but the printer kept on printing until the entire file was stacked in its output tray. Now he needed a place out of everyone’s way to spread out this stack of paper.
    He headed for the large room just beyond Bob’s office.

Copyright © 2019, 2020 by Ed Rogers