Book 3 - Part 6: Facing Evil - Chapter Ten
The Squad Room – 8:22 a.m.
Friday – December 30th
“These are composite sketches of our boy, Freddy, according to what the motel clerk at the Lazy Rest Inn could give us. But I wouldn’t be surprised if little Seth Marsh’s description is more accurate when he said, scary man.”
“There is one thing in this guy’s favor,” said Rick Lowery. “At least he goes after some of the same kind of bad guys we do.”
“True, Rick,” replied Baker. “But he doesn’t do it with the backing of the judicial system or the Constitution, or, with a shield on his shirt. He’s a killer, plain and simple. And he plans to target innocent people before too long. People that are doing their job.
“If any of you entertain the idea that Freddy is a good-bad boy, forget it. Keep in mind, he is also responsible for several police officers losing their lives.
“He’s smart, always aware of his surroundings, always manages to stay a few steps ahead of us. The only real photograph we have of him, dates back to when he was a teenager we found in his brother’s personal effects. All we know there is that they were supposed to be identical twins, but years can change a person.
“Make no mistake about Freddy. If you get in the way of his plans, he will do his damndest to take you out.
“Be aware of what goes on out there more than ever before. Any questions? If not; get out there and stay safe and keep our streets safe.”
“I have a question,” said Roberts.
“What is it, J.W.?”
“If we, or any of us come across this character, do we have the authority to terminate without prejudice?”
“You weren’t here when Freddy started his killing spree. He went abroad and assassinated a few other men as well. He’s a trained professional. For those of you who also weren’t here, when the issue was ordered; terminate only if he will not surrender peacefully.”
“Good enough for me.” J.W. stood up and headed out the door with McNeil. Baker went to her office and sat down behind her desk.
Where are you, Baker thought.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
She looked up at Ed.
“You need more pennies. I wish to heaven, Freddy would make his move now, so I could pump a few rounds into him.”
“You and me both, but we both know we are living his nightmare on his terms, not ours.”
“I know, that’s what worries me. No matter what happens, I have to protect Stevie at all costs; even if it means my death.”
“No, Jan. Make that, our deaths.”
The Baker-Manning Home
111 Homestead Lane – 8:45 p.m.
Baker and Ed pulled up in her red Hummer in time to see Ellie’s parents, Barry, and Joline Whitmore, in their driveway, helping to load two small bags belonging to Stevie, into their trunk.
“Just so you’ll know, we’ll be back around nine, Monday night. Since Tuesday’s, a school day and all that. We’ll call when we get there and call just before we leave to come back. Otherwise, we’ll have a wonderful time, and take plenty of pictures to email you.”
Baker hugged Stevie.
“Be safe, but have tons of fun, bub.”
“I will, mom. I love you.”
“Love you, Stevie.”
Watching them drive away, a tear fluttered down her left cheek.
Turning, both her and Ed walked inside their home, each with an arm wrapped around the other’s waist.
The last weekend of the year has begun.
Hampton Real Estate – 10:30 a.m.
“Thank you very much, Miss Hampton, for speeding this up for me. Sorry about not coming in yesterday, but I had an unexpected matter to take care of. I really have wanted to move into that house the moment I first saw it. Were it not for other business matters requiring my attention, I would have been settled in by now.”
“Quite understandable, Mr. Murray, and please, call me, Marie.”
“Then Marie, call me, Craig.”
After having paid a full year on the house, well in advance of what Marie Hampton was expecting, her commission would be $8,800. She would call him anything he wanted after this deal.
And he is an attractive man.
“Craig, at least after all this, allow me to buy you lunch,” she asked with a dazzling sparkle of a smile.
“Any other time I would accept the offer, but I have other commitments today, and I already called the mover’s as I was coming here. I have a great deal to do. Perhaps another time.”
“I look forward to it, Craig.”
Craig Murray picked up a small 3x5 manila envelope that held the keys to the house, stood up, shook Marie’s hand, and walked out of her office.
Marie would always wonder why he wore leather gloves the whole time he was in her office. She would also wonder why he never called her as well.
But we know she will live longer if she doesn’t ask and leave him alone.
The Rest of Montie’s Weekend
Most, if not everyone, was grateful that no more snow fell, and there wasn’t any forecasted any time soon. The temperature’s climbed above forty but dipped below freezing at night.
Those that drank; would purchase their alcohol and drove directly home with every intention to celebrate bringing in the new year with either a few beers, champagne, or perhaps rum and eggnog. All the supermarket shelves were empty where the eggnog used to be. The people would be sitting on their couches or in a recliner, watching the big ball make its move in Times Square.
The few bars that would be open normally, would close at nine, New Year’s Eve. Anyone who appeared too drunk to drive, the bars would call a cab. The cab company would drive them home for free, and the city reimbursed the cabs.
It was part of a plan put together a month ago by Mayor Jean Marsh and voted unanimously by City Council members. “Stay Alive – Don’t Drive” plan.
Police were to stop motorists if they were weaving on the roads and take their keys and drive them home as well.
In her pitch to the City Council, Jean Marsh said, “I’d much rather have an empty jail, and people home and alive the next day with their family, than waiting for an autopsy at the city morgue.”
If anyone refused a cab ride, and wanted to drive themselves, they would be faced with a traffic fine up to $10,000 and their license revoked for life. “Call it incentive,” she said. That too, was added to the plan.
Jean Marsh and other council members, and the Twenty-Second, felt satisfied this would cut down on accidents and deaths this time of year to near zero.
They were right.
New Year’s Eve would find everyone celebrating the birth of another year. One of hope, faith, love, and continued friendships; hopefully better economic times. Hoping more troops would return home to their families from the war overseas, and that this country would have a turn-around on jobs, gas and food prices, and anything else that is important to every person in America.
Soon to be a new year, and an election year. Many hoped (and many feared), it would be four more years of “Obamaism.” When it came to politics, there are no clear winners when it came to the voters.
Baker and Ed wished for a long future of happiness together, regardless of what they both knew what was ahead of them.
Captain Raymond Todd and his wife, Elaine, wished for more closeness, and added comfort in their year ahead and the years to follow.
Satchell wished the transition in his new position would go smoothly, and that he always made the right decisions by his position, and for those who serve alongside him, never under him.
Individual units that patrolled the area when midnight struck, each partner either said Happy New Year, or just high-fived each other.
There was another couple who sat next to one another on a small couch, both drinking a beer as they watched the year change numbers.
When the madness on television started, what with the constant and continued screaming of joy, the blaring music of rock bands performing; they turned toward each other to clink bottles and make a toast, when their eyes locked onto each other.
In that single moment, “maybe” just became “a possibility.”
New year. New start.
Two-hundred miles away, upstate, two other couples hugged and kissed as well.
Stevie and Ellie, however, kissed a little longer.
And then came Sunday, as in daylight.
A quiet day for some. Others were in their own house of God to give thanks.
By noon, many TV sets would be turned to ABC, CBS, or ESPN to watch the AFC and NFC games. Denver and the Steelers, followed by the Giants and Packers. The late games would be the Saints and 49’s, followed by New England and Baltimore.
In two weeks, four of these teams would play for the AFC and NFC Championship game for the right to go to the Super Bowl in February.
And come Monday night, there will be a lot of buzz over the BCS game between Boise State and the Texas Longhorns. What a match-up that will be.
But Sundays are, has, and always will be a day given over to God and sports.
Hell of a combo, huh?