Cusp of Crazy: Nick Stryker Series, Book One, Shallow End Gals Read online

  Nick pointed to the sewer cap. “I checked that out, too. Nothing. Can you put the cap back on for me?”

  “Sure.”

  Nick asked, “If you were in this room and had to leave without opening any doors or windows, is there a utility way out that I don’t see?”

  The worker rubbed his chin. “Nope, but this is the cleanest basement I’ve ever seen. Doesn’t even have any rat turds. Vacant buildings always have rats.”

  Nick had been curious, too, about how pristine it looked. “Could the city be cleaning it?”

  The worker chuckled, “You’re joking, right?”

  Jen yelled from across the room, “Nick. Over here.”

  Her flashlight was trained on a nail in the rim joist. The head of the nail was larger than normal and protruded from the stub slightly. Nick grabbed a short ladder from the CSU photographer and climbed up to get a closer look. “Wireless camera on the nail head. Good catch.” While Nick stood looking at the rim joist, a crack of light was visible at the top of the last four blocks of the wall in the corner. Nick walked over and pushed on a corner of the blocks. A four foot section of wall easily rolled on a ball bearing track into the cavity.

  Nick signaled Jen, who also pulled her pistol from its holster. The utility worker ran to the other side of the room. Nick entered the cavity to find that he was in a two story, twenty foot long brick hall that ended in a huge steel grate. He could see some daylight through the fins of the grate, and the bar that would secure it was lying in the corner. He heard the sounds of the officers outside. The grate had a well-oiled hinge that silently allowed it to be opened. Nick stepped through the opening and was standing outside of the building next door.

  Jen joined him. “What the heck?”

  “Well, this answers one question.”

  Nick walked away and dialed Jessie. “We found a wireless camera and a basement wall section that opens to the street. Any news on your end?”

  Jessie answered, “No.”

  Eric was watching Nick and Jen from his monitor. He giggled. They would never find the opening at the other end of the hall. He had locked that one and it was invisible.

  Casey drummed her fingers on the list that Shelly had given her for the bank deposits. She grabbed the list and walked to Shelly’s desk. Shelly looked up inquisitively, “Yes?”

  Casey pointed to an entry. “Does this mean money order?” There was a small m.o. before the amount of five hundred dollars.

  Shelly looked at the entry. “Yes. I make a photocopy of the money orders the same as the checks, if you want to see it?”

  Casey felt her heart start to race. She was sure this was something. The signature line on the money order read Rachel Sarrin. Casey grinned and raced back to her desk. She went into Amazon and typed in the name Rachel Sarrin. Three books pulled up. Casey held her breath and scrolled down to see if there was an author picture. There was. It was the same lady that was on the cover of the razor blade book.

  Casey let out a yelp. Tanner jogged to her office from his and slammed the door behind him. “You found something?”

  Casey twisted her monitor around for Tanner to see. “That’s her, right there.”

  Tanner leaned forward and read the author bio out loud. “Rachel writes gripping true crime stories. She resides in Chicago.”

  Tanner looked up. “That’s it. Not much of a bio.” Tanner tapped his pen on his knee. “Have you ever reviewed her before? How would she know you?”

  Casey excitedly turned her monitor back and pulled up her past review log. She scanned the list and frowned. “Not me.” Her eyes widened, “Maybe one of you guys did?”

  Tanner left and popped his head in the door for Shelly and Joyce. “Stop what you’re doing and look to see if you ever gave a review for Rachel Sarrin.” He rushed down the hall to his own office.

  Joyce looked at Shelly, “They’re definitely dating again. Did you hear the door slam? Now this? And Tanner’s eye is twitching. He only does that when he’s all riled up.”

  Joyce frowned and searched her past reviews. Dang. She had reviewed that author two months ago and it wasn’t good. She was probably complaining to Casey. Joyce printed off the review, knocked lightly on Casey’s door and went in.

  Casey had just popped a handful of jellybeans in her mouth and tried to say, “You found it?”, but candy juice ran from the corners of her mouth and she spit them out in a tissue. “You found it?” she asked much clearer.

  “Yep. I trashed her about two months ago. Here.”

  Casey started to speed read the review and stopped. “Ouch. ‘Ms. Sarrin should do readers a favor and watch the news regarding murders; not try to write about them. A mystery should convey suspense, tension and realism. This book should be sold with a bag of sleep tea. It will put you out.’”

  Casey looked up at Joyce. “I remember this review. You asked me to read it for a second opinion and I didn’t. I still signed it and posted my name in the review. I’m glad I did now.”

  Joyce didn’t want to ask but she had to. “Am I in trouble? Is she mad?”

  Casey sent an instant message to both Shelly and Tanner asking them to come to her office. When they were all there, Casey said, “Tanner and I have a story to tell you about this lady.”

  Nick decided to send Jen to interview the cab driver’s boss. Jen had good instincts and if something was going on with the cabbie’s coworkers she would find out.

  Too many things were happening in this little one block area. Casey’s break in, the cab driver picking up his last fare at her building, and now a police officer missing and a hidden wall in the building just behind Casey’s. Nick suspected that not much happened in that block that Eric didn’t know about. From what Casey had said he was always somewhere near. Nick went looking for him and found him leaning against the front stair rail of the apartment building.

  Eric saw Nick and started to leave.

  Nick called out, “Eric? I need your help.”

  Eric stopped and slowly turned to face Nick. “How do you know my name?”

  Nick showed Eric his badge. “Nick Stryker, Chicago Homicide. I have a couple of questions that I’m hoping you can help me answer.”

  Eric backed up and stuttered, “I don’t like questions.”

  “You’re a soldier. I’m a soldier. We help each other.”

  Eric stopped. He looked Nick up and down. “Lieutenant, Army. Afghanistan.”

  Nick saluted Eric, “Navy. Afghanistan.”

  Eric looked puzzled for a moment.

  Nick said, “Seal.”

  Eric was visibly stunned. He gave Nick his best salute and asked, “What do you need to know, sir?”

  Nick could see Eric transform before his eyes. He was a soldier now, waiting for his orders. Prepared for anything, unnaturally focused. Nick wanted the conversation to be more casual. He nodded toward the steps and sat down. Eric joined him.

  Nick took out a small notebook and pen. “Eric, last night around 6:30, a cab picked up someone at this address. Did you happen to see it?”

  Eric answered, “Yes.” Nick waited for more. Eric squirmed on the step and then added, “A man came out of the building right when the rain was bad and cab number 47 from City, the orange ones, picked him up.”

  Nick wrote down the information. “How do you remember the cab number?”

  Eric looked surprised. “I’m trained to observe. It’s my job to remember.” Eric began to pick at a scratch on his arm.

  Nick pointed to the scratch. “Is there a story that goes with that?”

  Eric answered, “No.”

  “Do you remember anything about the man?”

  “Six two or three. Black hair, not good looking…about fifty. Black trench coat, suit, blue dress shirt, brown briefcase with shoulder strap. Black shoes, brown socks.”

  Nick was stunned at the detail. “Could you identify him in a lineup?”

  Eric stood. “No.” Nick knew that Eric meant that he wouldn’t cooperate for a li
neup.

  Nick wanted to ask Eric more but he didn’t want to scare him.

  Eric’s expression changed to an unnatural looking smile. “What’s going on over there?” He was pointing to the building behind them. Eric was so proud that he had destroyed an enemy soldier, he was tempted to tell Nick. Nick would appreciate Eric’s command of his territory.

  Nick shook his head, “We don’t know. A cop is missing. Have you seen anyone over there that doesn’t belong?”

  Eric was shocked. He grabbed the stair rail and squeezed it. Nick could see his fingers turning white from the pressure. Nick grabbed Eric’s arm. “Are you okay?”

  Eric snapped his arm away from Nick and looked like he was going to pull back and punch him. Nick was ready, but said, “Soldier! I asked if you saw anything.”

  Eric shook his head and muttered he had to check on his mom. Nick watched him quickly ascend the stairs and disappear into the building. Eric ran down the hall and down the stairs to the basement. He folded himself into the dark corner behind the furnace and began sobbing. A cop. That was a cop? How was he supposed to know? Rules of war. The man had attacked him. He had no choice. He killed a cop? If anyone found out, he would be court martialed. Eric’s heart was filled with shame. This wasn’t possible. A cop was a protector of all that was right and lawful. A cop was not the enemy. It would take the rest of his life to right this wrong.

  “No wonder you freaked out that I cut my finger with a razor blade!” Shelly covered her eyes with her palms and then like peek-a-boo, opened them to speak to Tanner. “You grabbed that UPS box from me so fast I practically got a paper cut!”

  Joyce offered, “I bet you thought she sent another book to Casey.”

  Tanner nodded. “Let’s find out what we can about her and take it to the police. Crazy bitch needs a little scare of her own.”

  Twenty minutes of all four of them searching various websites on their laptops and Casey sighed, “Well, I hate to admit it, but Ms. Rachel Sarrin doesn’t exist. I think it’s safe to assume this is a pen name.”

  Joyce looked up from her keyboard, “Amazon isn’t going to tell you anything.”

  “I know.” Casey popped a jellybean in her mouth. “I suppose the email address where we sent our review isn’t good anymore?”

  Joyce answered, “Correct.”

  Tanner stood and began pacing. “We can still contact her through her reviews on her books on Amazon. Most authors check those every day.”

  Casey frowned, “Maybe. She doesn’t sell many books by the looks of her ranking. She might not bother to check anymore.”

  Shelly smiled at Tanner, “I think it’s a good idea. I might point out that it’s the only idea we have.”

  Joyce chewed on the end of her pen. “This better be worded carefully. We don’t know how crazy this chick is. If she is a chick. She already broke into your apartment and put razors in your soap.”

  Casey looked up from her computer and smiled. “Done. I just sent her a message in her review section.”

  Tanner was furious. “What? What did you say?”

  Casey frowned and lowered her voice, “I wrote, ‘I want to meet you. Casey.’”

  The room broke out in a collective moan, then yelling. “Delete it before she sees it, Casey. We have to be sneakier than that!”

  Casey deleted the message. “There. See? Geesh, you guys are worse than me.”

  He had a program that alerted him to any new sales or reviews of his books. He pulled his car over, read the review and watched it vanish a minute later. He slapped his steering wheel as he laughed. She figured out step one. Good. Very good. His laughter twisted to a growl. He whispered, “Oh, yes, Casey. We will meet.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Wenesday 11:30 am

  “Wayne. Can you explain to me the nature of the four calls you received from Don in the hours prior to his murder?” Carl leaned over Wayne’s desk like a hawk. The phone records had just arrived for Don’s cell and Carl was trying to piece together every detail of Don’s last few hours. It struck him as odd that Wayne hadn’t mentioned talking to Don just hours before his death.

  Wayne cleared his throat. “I’ll need a minute to think about that. Give me the times and lengths of the calls.” Wayne held his hand out for the papers.

  Carl frowned. “We’re going to do this my way. You wing it and I decide if it flies.” Carl took a seat across the desk. “Don was acting strange the last day or so, wouldn’t you say?”

  “No more than the rest of us.” Wayne had to find a way out of this conversation. “If it helps you, he was talking about leaving the force. He asked me some questions about lower Michigan, for retirement.”

  Carl knew that Wayne had arranged a meeting with Internal Affairs after his last conversation with Don. There were few secrets within the blue walls. There was more going on than retirement. Carl rapped on Wayne’s desk with his knuckles and rose to leave. “The funeral is at three. I want your list of those conversations well before that.” Carl’s senior position in the department fueled his delusions of superiority.

  Wayne watched Carl cross the room and glance back. Carl was focusing on him. Not good. Whatever he wrote about the conversations had better be convincing. The last thing he needed was to be connected to Don.

  Wayne looked at his watch and realized he was going to be late for his meeting with the IA rep. He closed down his monitor, grabbed his coat and left.

  Carl moved over to Wayne’s desk. He read the reports that Wayne had entered on the cabbie’s death and the initial findings from the missing cop situation. Stryker was using Wayne’s computer for all official entries, so his notes were there, too. Carl was impressed that Nick had found a secret wall when CSU had missed it. Stryker was smart.

  Carl leaned back and thought about the eulogy he was going to give at Don’s funeral. He had done far too many of these in his career. He would check his file of eulogies. Surely one of them was fitting. He was beginning to become numb to it all.

  Nick and Jen met at Cubby’s for lunch to catch up on each other’s progress. Nick looked around the bar while Jen gave her order to the bartender. Not much had changed in the last ten years. The same Chicago sports memorabilia lined the walls. A few new televisions and what looked like new tables and chairs. The whole back of the bar was set aside for dart players. The walls lining the area were filled with chalkboards proudly displaying the latest champion team.

  Jen watched Nick take in the place and said, “It never ceases to amaze me how much Chicago is really more a huge network of small cities, rather than one big city. I take it this was one of your watering holes?”

  Nick chuckled, “Sure was. I was just thinking that not much has changed. How did you do on the cab driver?”

  Jen shook her head. “I don’t even have to take out my notebook. Only been on the job for two months. Rented a small place owned by the boss. Lives with a couple of other drivers. Might be illegals, but I didn’t go there. Single, work, church and home.”

  “Carl suggested we might have a random crazy.”

  “I don’t know. Wayne mentioned some guy in the park got his throat cut two weeks ago, then Don, then our cab driver. A lot of random lately.” Jen leaned back so the bartender could place her burger on the bar. “This looks great.”

  Nick’s burger arrived a moment later and they both ate in silence. Nick wiped his mouth and told her about Eric’s memory of the man that left Casey’s building in the cab. Jen shrugged, “We don’t have anything else. At least he was probably among the last people to see the cab driver alive. But we don’t know who this man was visiting at Casey’s building? He might even be the one that broke into Casey’s apartment for all we know.”

  Nick offered, “Let’s just say he was the one that broke into Casey’s. Would he be so paranoid that he would kill anyone who saw him there? If so, what does he really have planned for Casey?”

  Jen swallowed a mouthful of pop. “Nothin’ good.” She reached in her pocket and p
ulled out a wad of bills. “My turn to buy.” She laid a twenty on the bar and stretched her legs. “Any news on our missing James?”

  “Nothing. It doesn’t look good there either. I asked Eric if he saw anything and he got squirrely on me.”

  “How could you tell? Sounds like he is certifiable.” Jen noticed Nick didn’t think her comment was funny. “Sorry. I know he has probably earned every quirk he has. I just think it complicates trying to put this thing together. Has City Hall sent you the ownership history on that building?”

  “Yep. Nothing useful at first glance. James had an old beater car that patrol found about a block away. It’s been towed to CSU, but I don’t expect them to find anything.” Nick turned on his bar stool to survey the room as he spoke. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this one. That was a lot of blood. Wireless cameras and hidden walls are not usually found in city owned buildings. Too much risk. Someone is keeping that building pristine for some reason. I think our guys just stepped into something they had no warning about.” Nick turned back and stared at Jen. “I think somebody died in that furnace room. Probably James, since he’s off the grid. Jessie should be calling anytime with an update.”

  Jen stood. “I plan to go to Casey’s building to canvass and see if anyone can identify who our mystery briefcase man is. After that, I’m out of ideas.”

  “Are you planning on going to Don’s funeral?” Nick had decided he would attend graveside services if possible. The streets were already swelling with law enforcement from all over the country.

  “I thought I’d play it by ear. I wouldn’t mind talking to the coroner. I’m curious how many cut throats have passed through lately and if they look similar.”

  “Going with Wayne’s theory?”

  “Trying to prove him wrong, for all of our sakes.”

  Tanner could not concentrate on anything. He had three books in front of him that had to be read by tomorrow if he was to stay on schedule. He already knew that wasn’t going to happen. Shelly and Joyce had been whispering all morning. Casey had been pacing her office and rearranging the books on her desk. Tanner’s intercom buzzed and nearly sent him flying off his chair.