Night Kill (Private Investigator Andrew Knight Mystery Series) (5 page)

Sheriff Delsmann walked into her office with the morning paper and a cup of coffee in hand. She sat down at her desk and put the coffee cup down. Sheriff Delsmann grimaced a little when she opened the paper. The reason was, splashed across the front page were the words ‘The Vampire Murders’.

“Great,” Sheriff Delsmann lamented. “Just great!”

She folded the paper up and tossed it into the recycling bin. Sheriff Delsmann spun around to the credenza where her computer was and turned it on. While waiting, she stood up and glanced out the window down at the street in front of the building. A red AC Cobra came to a stop in one of the parking spaces. She saw a well dressed dark haired man get out with a briefcase. He quickly jogged across the street and into the building.

Andrew stopped at the service window in the lobby of the sheriffs’ department building. The deputy on duty recognized Andrew.

“Good morning Mister Knight,” she said.

“Good morning,” Andrew answered. “I have an appointment with Sheriff Delsmann.”

“Here’s your visitors pass.” She smiled and handed him the clip-on ID badge.

“Thanks,” Andrew said, as he clipped it to his lapel. She buzzed him in.

Andrew took the elevator to the fourth floor and when the doors opened, he exited into the large detectives’ room. Usually the guys in the division greeted him with smiles and handshakes. They were always glad to see him, but today it was different. There were no smiles or handshakes. All of the guys looked grumpy, and grudgingly as they were doing their work.

At the far end of the room was the office of the sheriff. Andrew had worked with the previous sheriff, Sheriff Ackerman, for several years. He didn’t know what the current sheriff was like. Andrew had done some checking on her before he came here today. Sheriff Delsmann, Talia, had been a detective with the Chicago police department for twenty years. She was a highly decorated, police officer.

Andrew knocked, and immediately opened the door. The woman seated at the desk looked to be close to his age or a bit younger. The slender African American woman with straight black hair motioned for him to come in. Andrew did just that and strode up to her confidently and they briefly shook hands.

“Please be seated Mister Knight,” Talia gestured to one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

“Could you bring Mister Knight some coffee,” Talia buzzed the intercom.

“So tell me what I can do for you,” Talia settled back and unbuttoned her dark blue blazer. “Or is this just a courtesy call?”

“Direct and to the point,” Andrew smiled.

When the receptionist entered with his coffee, she smiled and said, “Good morning Mister Knight.”

“Good morning Jenny.” Andrew smiled back. She was the only one smiling.

“Please leave us alone, Jenny,” Talia seemed to chastise her.

“I’ve been hired by Nedra Collins to find her son, Wyatt,” Andrew announced.

“Well as you know I cannot share any details of our investigation,” Talia replied harshly. Andrew detected a note of disgust in her voice as well. She went on, “All I can say is that Wyatt Collins is a person of interest.”

“I can get a look at the crime scene?”

“No,” Talia shot back. “Besides I don’t see how it will help you locate the boy.”

“Is there evidence linking him to the crime?” Andrew asked. He continued, “What about professional courtesy?”

“I cannot comment on the DNA evidence. And you are here to tell me about professional courtesy?” Talia retorted. This time there was no mistaking her disdain for him. Talia opened her top desk drawer and plopped a manila folder on top of the desk pad. She put on her reading glasses and began, “Andrew Phillip Knight. Born in Bayport, attended the Bayport, school system. Graduated from Washington High School and went on to attend Mount Richmond Community College.” Talia paused to take a drink and draw a quick breath. She continued reading, “Graduated with honors and law degree. Instead of going into law practice, joined the Preston Detective agency instead as an investigator. You graduated with a degree in private investigation, an expert in all types of weapons, multilingual, and efficient at several forms of martial arts. Your success rate in solving the cases you work on are well, quite phenomenal.” Talia closed the folder and put her glasses down. The look on her face concerned Andrew greatly. He was not ready for her next barrage.

“So tell me Mister Knight, where were you when the Higgins family was attacked?” Talia began her unexpected interrogation.

“What!?” Andrew was taken aback.

“You’re trained in martial arts; you’re efficient with all types of weapons. One of the types used was throwing stars. And according to my information throwing stars is sometimes your weapon of choice,” Talia started ticking off each item she listed on her fingers. “Did someone hire you to eliminate the Higgins family?”

“I’m not going to dignify that with an answer,” Andrew growled back.

“I’ll be honest with you Mister Knight,” Talia said leaning forward, placing her folded arms on the desk. “I have never liked private investigators. I feel you and your fellow colleagues tarnish the work we law enforcement professionals do.” She unfolded her arms and pointed a warning finger at Andrew, “If you go anywhere near the crime scene I will have you arrested for obstruction, tainting an ongoing crime scene, and any other charge I can come up with! Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly,” Andrew said as he rose from the chair. Andrew walked up to the door, opened it, and before leaving, said, “I thought you would be professional enough to work together on this case. But apparently I was wrong.”

“Good day, Mister Knight,” Talia’s voice was icy towards him.

“Good day, Sheriff.” Andrew answered and slammed the door shut.

As soon as Andrew left, Sheriff Delsmann got on the phone and placed a call, “This is Sheriff Delsmann. I want you to double up the security at the Higgins house.” She paused as the person on the other end must have questioned her decision. Talia continued, “Because I believe that a private investigator by the name of Andrew Knight will try and get a look at the crime scene. If the deputies see any sign him, Knight is to be arrested immediately.” Talia hung up the phone. She was very upset and slammed her fists on the desk. Talia had a feeling that Andrew Knight was going to be a problem.

Andrew walked briskly to the elevators. He was not in a very good mood. Andrew pressed the button for the elevator. With each passing second he had to wait, Andrew was becoming more pissed off. He was not use to this kind of treatment from the authorities. For some reason Sheriff Delsmann had it in for him even before he could make a good impression. The other thing that really pissed him off was that she had the guts to accuse him of murdering the Higgins family!

When the elevator finally arrived, Andrew stepped inside and waited for the doors to close. He was about to press the lobby button, but stopped and glanced down at his visitor pass. Andrew smirked and instead pressed the basement button. The reason he did, was that all the files from every case the department worked on or currently was working on, were stored down there.

The elevator doors had barely opened, when Andrew jumped out and hastily walked to the records department. When he opened the door, Andrew saw a friend of his sitting at the main desk.

Darcy looked up when the door opened. It was Andrew Knight. Darcy had always had a crush on him since the first day she met him. She straightened her uniform top and smiled as Andrew approached.

“Hey Darcy,” Andrew smiled sitting down on the edge of her desk.

“Hi Andrew,” Darcy answered. “So what can I do for you?”

“Listen Darcy,” Andrew leaned closer. Darcy thought he had the nicest looking green eyes. “I’m working on a case and I need to get a look at the information from the Higgins investigation.”

“I’m sorry Andrew,” Darcy pulled back. “We have orders from the Sheriff not to share any of that information with you.” Andrew walked around to Darcy’s side of the desk. He pulled her and the chair away from the desk and swung Darcy to face him. Andrew got down on one knee and leaned in closer. Darcy’s face flushed and her heart started beating a bit faster.

“The woman I’m working for asked me to find her son,” Andrew explained and peered directly into Darcy’s blue eyes. “I need those reports to help me understand what happened at the Higgins house and provide me with a start on this case.” Andrew drew his face and body even closer to Darcy. He knew she had a crush on him and he was going to use every tool available to him to get the job done. Even if that meant he had to flirt with Darcy to get his way.

“But,” Darcy protested.

“Please,” Andrew begged with sad eyes.

“Alright,” Darcy finally gave in. She surprised them both when she gave Andrew a sudden kiss on the lips. Darcy’s face turned red again, and she pushed her chair away and back to the desk. Andrew rose to his feet, his face was red too. Darcy logged into the file with the information from the Higgins investigation. Soon she had the files up and pressed the key to send them to the printer.

Sheriff Delsmann had just finished logging off her computer. When she stood up to leave, Sheriff Delsmann saw that Andrew’s car was still there.

“Damn it,” Talia cursed. She went to her desk and picked up the phone. “This is Sheriff Delsmann,” Talia said. “I want you to get down to the records department immediately.” She stopped to listen to the person on the other end. She continued, “Andrew Knight is still in the building and I think he is down there trying to get information on the Higgins case. Stop him at all costs. He is not to leave the building!” Talia slammed down the receiver. She knew Andrew was going to be a thorn in her side, just like all the other private investigators she had dealt with before. No regards to the law. Talia opened the right bottom desk drawer and took out her clip on holster with service weapon. She clipped it to her belt and rushed out the door. Talia wanted to be the one to see the surprised look on Andrew’s face when he was arrested for tampering with an ongoing investigation.

Darcy went to the printer and gathered all of the papers she had printed for Andrew. She returned to her desk and put them in a large manila envelope. Andrew thanked Darcy with a hug. Darcy held onto him a bit longer, drinking in his scent. She let go. Andrew opened the outer door and was just about to step into the hallway when he saw the elevator doors open. It was Sheriff Delsmann and several deputies. Fortunately, he ducked back in the records room before they saw him.

“We have company,” Andrew looked at Darcy.

“I’ll get fired,” Darcy complained.

“Don’t worry,” Andrew reassured.

“There is a fire exit,” Darcy suggested.

“You have a key, don’t you?” Andrew asked.

“Yes,” Darcy remembered. “I can unlock this door.”

Darcy used a key to unlock the door and then opened it. Andrew peered inside the unlit stairwell.

Sheriff Delsmann and the deputies with her, burst into the room. The deputies immediately secured the room while at the same time, Talia walked up to Darcy, whom was sitting at her station.

“Where is he?” Talia barked accusingly at Darcy.

“What are you talking about?” Darcy replied when she looked up calmly from her computer screen. “I’m alone.” Talia wasn’t convinced.

“If we find Andrew Knight anywhere in here,” Talia said sternly. “You will be fired.”

Talia surveyed the room. The only way out was the emergency door, but the alarm hadn’t sounded. “Did you unlock the door for him?” Talia further accused.

“Like I said Sheriff,” Darcy answered. “I am alone.”

Talia walked over and used her key to turn off the alarm and open the door. She looked over to the two deputies. “Watch her.”

Talia left the door open to provide enough light to see by as she started up the stairs. But the further she ascended, the less the light helped. Talia used the handrail as her guide in the total darkness. Eventually, Talia got to the door. With both hands, she opened it.

The bright sunshine blinded Talia when she stepped onto the roof. She was blinded for a few minutes as she had turned away from the open doorway. When Talia opened her eyes again; she drew her weapon and approached the open door. She stepped inside. Talia searched the stairwell from top to bottom. There was no sign of Andrew anywhere to be seen. Could he have been hiding in the dark? If he was, she didn’t hear his breathing.

Talia called down for the two deputies to join her to search the roof. They joined her immediately. All three started to search the roof. Talia and the two deputies checked out every possible hiding place and finally found themselves standing at the short block wall that framed the entire roof. A short distance away was an access ladder. Talia rushed over and climbed up the first few steps. She peered over the edge to see if the emergency ladder had been deployed; it had not! Talia could see the street in front of the station. Andrew’s car was still there. Talia scanned the length of the street, searching the shops and Marettti’s deli store fronts. She saw Andrew come out of the deli carrying what she assumed to be a doggie bag. It appeared that all this time, Andrew had been in the deli having a meal. Talia cursed and climbed back down on the surface of the roof. She put away her weapon, and with a look of disappointment etched on her face, entered the stairwell and closed the door behind her.