The Brass Ring (37 page)

Just as Jamie started to ask CC why she was rushing her back towards the hospital entrance, she had the uneasy feeling of being watched. "There’s someone out there, isn’t there?" she choked out as CC quickened their pace.

"Yes," CC hissed.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

C
C RUSHED JAMIE back inside the hospital. Despite the safety the busy Emergency Room provided, CC still felt uneasy. She had been lost in Jamie’s touch when she felt a chill run through her body. She hadn’t wanted to frighten Jamie, but she knew that someone was watching. As much as she tried to write it off as just some passerby, she knew it wasn’t true. It was as if she could feel the seething hatred boring a hole through her body.

"I’m sorry," CC apologized as she guided Jamie into the doctor’s lounge. She felt as if she was failing to protect the one person who truly held her heart.

"I’m fine," Jamie reassured her as she run her fingers along the policewoman’s arm.

"I think we need to pull a Bette Davis again tonight," CC suggested wearily; she thought that another night hiding in the hotel would be the safest option for Jamie.

The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as the door behind her opened; she watched as Jamie’s emerald eyes widened fearfully. "What are you doing here?" Jamie hissed boldly as CC spun around, instinctively reaching for her sidearm. CC used her body to block Jamie from Simon’s hostile glare.

"Get out," CC commanded as the young doctor glared at her and her lover.

"Why do you keep trying to interfere with us?" Simon questioned her in a distant tone.

"There is no . . ." Jamie began.

"Don’t," CC cautioned her, noting the distant look in the young man’s eyes. "He won’t understand," she added knowing that Simon was lost in his own little world and would put his own interpretation on anything Jamie said.

"Maybe you’ll understand this, Dr. Fisher," Jamie hissed. "You are not allowed on hospital property unless you’re on duty. I believe that was explained to you. Now unless you want security to escort you out of here, I suggest that you leave."

CC was proud of her petite lover’s bravado. Still, letting Simon Fisher out of her sight wasn’t the best course of action. Out of the room would be a good idea. Yet CC couldn’t touch the deranged young man without jeopardizing everything. For a brief moment she ran her fingers along the cold steel of her weapon, wondering if she should just end it there and then. She brought her hand down, knowing she couldn’t cross that line.

The door opened once again and Max and Mallory stepped into the room. CC smiled slyly as she watched Simon’s demeanor soften. "Dr. Fisher, I need a word with you," Max asserted firmly.

CC’s heart pounded in her chest as Simon’s eyes drifted to Jamie. "Janie, I don’t understand why you’re letting this creature be around you?" he offered in a casual tone. CC’s eyes widened in horror as he called Jamie by the name of his high school sweetheart. She could see Max and Mallory stiffen as well. Simon simply sighed and calmly turned towards Max. "Detective, it’s good to see you again."

"Always a pleasure, Dr. Fisher," Max appeased him. "In fact, I think I could use your help with something. Would you mind joining Special Agent Mallory and I down at the station?"

"Special Agent?" Fisher responded tersely.

Max approached Fisher casually and whispered in his ear. "Suits," he grunted loudly enough so CC and Mallory could hear him. "It’s her fault. Don’t worry; he’s here to help us get rid of her."

"Good," Simon responded with confidence. "I’ll just meet you down at the station," the young doctor added with an air of boldness.

"That would be a big help," Max appeased him as he followed the troubled young man out of the room.

CC’s hands rested protectively on Jamie’s shoulders as she looked at Mallory who lingered behind. "What is it?" she demanded as she continued to caress Jamie’s shoulders.

"One of the attendants noticed someone lurking around Jamie’s car," Mallory explained. "Sharp older guy thought it was strange and called security even though he wasn’t stationed at that garage."

"Terrell," CC noted in appreciation.

"That’s the guy," Mallory confirmed. "It was another note; only this time we got Dr. Fisher on tape. This could be the break we’re looking for."

"What did the note say?" Jamie asked before CC had a chance to.

Mallory looked hesitant. "Special Agent, is it?" Jamie began irately. "I don’t like it when people talk directly in front of me about things that concern me and then exclude me from the conversation."

"Well . . . uhm," Mallory hedged.

"Tell her," CC spat out.

"
Stay away from her,
" Mallory responded. "That was it. Same bold non-distinct handwriting as the last note."

"He sure is subtle," Jamie grumbled.

"Maybe too subtle," CC noted thoughtfully. "We know it’s a threat, but can we prove it? Still, with the complaints Jamie has filed here at the hospital and with us, it might be just enough to get us a search warrant. I really want to see this guy’s tire iron. We’re so close."

"Your guy Carter and our shrink are joining us down at the station. You want to come and watch the show?" Mallory offered. Normally CC would have been the first one out the door. She squeezed Jamie’s shoulders, not wanting to leave her lover’s side. "I’ve already called for an agent to follow Dr. Jameson."

"I think maybe I’ll just . . ." CC stammered.

"Caitlin, you should go," Jamie reassured her. "I’ll be fine between hospital security, the FBI . . . that is who you are, isn’t it?" Jamie asked Mallory who simply nodded. "And don’t think I haven’t noticed all the off-duty cops coming in with cases of the sniffles."

"I just . . ." CC began in an effort to explain her actions.

"Worry about me," Jamie finished for her. "I know, and you’re right this time," Jamie agreed. "But if it wasn’t for you, Simon probably wouldn’t even be a suspect. I’d feel better if you were there to ensure everything goes right. Caitlin, the FBI are watching me," she repeated. "The worse thing that could happen is another old flame drops in to tell me what I jerk I am."

"Okay," CC agreed. "I do want to talk to Dr. Carter and your profiler to see if they have any ideas about how approach this guy. Plus I want to Mirandize him." Mallory stared at her blankly. "I want anything he says to be put to use. He already thinks of me as the enemy. If I’m the one doing it, then he’ll just blow me off for being a bitch. He’ll probably forget I said it."

"Make sense," Mallory agreed.

"Hold him here for a moment," CC requested as she nodded to Jamie.

The moment Mallory left them Jamie was wrapped up in CC’s arms. "Be careful," CC pleaded as she kissed the top of Jamie’s head.

"You too," Jamie whispered softly. CC nodded in agreement and made her way back out into the hospital corridor, already regretting her decision to leave Jamie behind.

"Dr. Fisher." She scowled as curious hospital employees looked on. "You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

"You can’t be serious," Fisher scoffed.

"You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you," CC continued, completely unflustered by Simon’s glare.

"Am I under arrest?" he taunted her.

"No," Max assured him. "She’s just being her usual pain-in-the-ass self."

"Do you understand your rights as I’ve explained them to you?" CC pressed, wondering if the fact that he wasn’t under arrest might present a problem down the road. Simon simply curled his lip in disgust. "Do you understand these rights as I’ve explained them to you, Dr. Fisher?" she repeated.

"Doc," Max encouraged him. "If you understand them, just tell her. It makes the whole thing legal and it will protect you down the road."

"Fine. I understand my rights, and no, I don’t need an attorney," Simon spat out.

"Done this before have you?" CC taunted him.

"Come on, Doc; why don’t you ride with us?" Max suggested. "No sense adding mileage to your car." Simon shrugged in agreement. "Oh, and that thing she said; I’m afraid it applies for the entire trip and while you’re at the station." Simon blinked in surprise; CC was suddenly worried that they might have overplayed their hand. "Don’t you just hate all this legal crap?" Max added in disgust. Simon’s face relaxed slightly. "You must be use to that with everyone trying to sue you doctors and rip you off."

"You have no idea," Simon agreed as he followed Max and Mallory out of the hospital.

CC breathed a sigh of relief and made her way out to her new SUV, thankful that they had taken separate cars. She spotted the agent Mallory had sent over instantly. "Why don’t they just stamp FED on their forehead?" she pondered as she fished her cell phone out of her pocket. "Smithy, this is Callaway. I need a car towed," she explained with a sly smirk as she noticed Fisher’s BMW parked illegally. "Might be a small problem. It’s at Boylston General and it has MD plates," she said to the supervisor at the impound yard.

"No," Smithy flatly refused.

"It’s illegally parked," CC argued.

"Those two letters on the plate means this bozo can park anywhere he wants to," Smithy carefully explained.

"There must be a way," CC pressed.

"Nope." Smithy sighed. "He can block Governor Swift’s driveway and we can’t touch him."

"Now there’s an idea." CC chuckled. "Are you sure you can’t touch it?" CC pleaded.

"Does the term illegal search and seizure mean anything?" Smithy chastised her. "Trust me; if we pick up a doctor’s car from the hospital, anything you find won’t mean spit. You could find Jimmy Hoffa in the trunk and it would be thrown out. Give me the tag on it and let me see if I can find anything out. You never know; they got the Son of Sam on parking tickets."

"You keep reminding me of that," CC grumbled before reading off Simon’s plate number. "I ran it a few days ago and didn’t come up with anything."

"With all the cutbacks, you never know," Smithy said encouragingly.

"Thanks," she added before concluding the call.

A slight sense of defeat embraced her as she was about to climb into her new car. Then she spotted a familiar figure passing by. "Terrell," she greeted the older man.

"Detective," he greeted her in return.

"Could you do me a favor?" she inquired as she handed him her business card. "See that black BMW over there?"

"Yup," Terrell responded with a scowl.

"Could you keep on eye on it for me?" she asked politely.

"My pleasure." Terrell said, nodding in agreement.

"Thank you," she added with sincerity.

"Dr. Jameson okay?" he inquired.

"Yes," CC reassured him. "Thank you for calling us."

"I’ll keep an eye on her too," he promised.

She thanked him once again and climbed into her car. "Damn it; if only you had been on duty that night," she muttered as she pulled out into traffic. "Then again, with a whacko like Fisher it’s just a matter of time," she reasoned as she raced towards the station.

When she arrived she met up with Max and Mallory. During her drive Smithy had got back to her with some interesting information. She brushed past the men and pulled out a street map. "Boys?" She beckoned them over. "Where’s the good doctor?" she inquired quickly.

"Cooling his heels in Interrogation One," Max explained. "He didn’t say anything useful on the drive down. Except what a pain in the ass you are. But I knew that," Max teased. "I think he’s onto us."

"Fine," CC conceded. "We knew it would happen. I tried to have his car towed."

"Not bright," Mallory chastised her.

"No," CC admitted. "But Smithy ran his plates and he got a speeding ticket right here." She pointed to the map. "In the early morning hours on the night Sandra died."

"That’s down the street from the park where she was dumped," Max fumed. "Why are we just finding this out now?"

"Somebody screwed up," CC grumbled. "But I think that and the fact that he was in the garage will get us our warrant. So what do you say, boys? Want to wake up a judge and then talk to the headshrinkers? After that the three of us can have a little chat with Simon while his car is being searched."

"I like it," Max agreed.

"Works for me," Mallory added with a smile.

"Mallory, you’re smiling?" CC smiled in return. "I didn’t think you knew how."

CHAPTER FIFTY

"M
Y, THINGS ARE getting exciting around here." The Captain smirked across the conference table at CC.

"Aren’t they though?" CC confirmed as she looked around the room. There was Max; herself; the Captain; Mallory; Dr. Carter; Marissa; Dr. Richards, the profiler from the FBI; the local ADA; and, of course, a federal prosecutor. CC was certain that the last two would be pulling out the yardsticks if Fisher were their guy.

"Callaway, it’s your show," the Captain instructed with a slight gleam in his eyes.

"Let’s start with you, Dr. Richards," CC began. "Dr. Richards is the profiler from Mallory’s office. She’s been given all the information regarding the victims only. She’s been told nothing regarding the lead suspect. Let’s see if we’re on the right track. Dr. Richards, if you would?"

The middle-aged blonde brushed back a strand of long curly hair as she looked over her notes. "The victims suffered from strangulation, blunt force trauma, and attempted rape. Based on the attacks, the victims’ lifestyles or alleged lifestyles, this is what I’ve concluded. Frontal strangulation shows his need for control. These women have probably rejected him. The attempt to rape them isn’t, in his mind, rape. He honestly believes that they want him, but somewhere during the attack he knows that it isn’t true. That explains the equipment failure. He knows what he’s doing is wrong; that’s why he crushes their skulls. He needs to cover up his mistake. And that’s all he sees this as - a mistake. He doesn’t consider his victims. He is far too self-centered to consider their needs. He’s probably from a wealthy family that covered up any misdeeds he did to protect the family’s image. He expects this. He is a white male, probably in his early to late twenties by now. The guy you are looking for has a sealed juvenile record. He probably started out with minor crimes at first then slowly escalated towards arson, animal mutilation, and violence towards others. Mommy and Daddy bailed him out. He thinks the world owes him a favor due to his station in life. He’s a professional - a doctor, lawyer, or stockbroker - something fitting his station in life. He doesn’t enjoy his work but he’s expected to make something of his life and he resents it. He thinks that he should just be able to live off the family fortune and do whatever he wants. He’s an overachiever although not because he wants to be. He’s only a success because his family expects him to be one. Disappointing his parents is, in his mind, the worse thing he could do. They would probably cut him off and he would have to actually go out and support himself, something that he feels is beneath him. He dumps his victims in the nude out in the open for several reasons. First and foremost is the shame; it’s his final punishment to them for rejecting him. Secondly, he’s smart, very smart, and knows that tossing them without clothing in an exposed area will disturb the forensic evidence. Next, the reason he didn’t do this with Ellen Murdock is because he chose Sandra over Ellen. Killing them both was confusing to him. He sees them all as the same woman, the first one who rejected him. Which brings us to the first victim. Off the record, Janie is dead. There’s not a doubt in my mind that he followed her. He probably just wanted to talk her into coming back to him. When she refused, he started to choke her for ruining his image. She would have been the perfect trophy wife.