James Andrus - The Perfect Scream

She eased into the chair next to Patty’s desk, then let her green eyes scan the room. When she felt comfortable that they were alone, Sergeant Zuni said, “Anything new on the missing fraternity brother?”

“It’s like he just disappeared. John is out checking with informants and a lead he had about businesses on University Boulevard and I’m going back to his phone records.”

The sergeant nodded, then looked over her shoulder at Tony Mazzetti working quietly at his desk. She leaned in closer to Patty and said quietly, “Just between us girls, what’s going on between you and Tony? I know I wasn’t supposed to sanction a relationship between two of my detectives, but you guys weren’t causing any problems.”

“It’s all over. He’s even started dating one of the assistant medical examiners.”

“Lisa Kurtz?”

“How’d you know that?”

“She’s the only one over there that’s smaller and less hairy than Tony.”

Patty had to laugh at the only joke she’d ever heard her sergeant tell.

Sergeant Zuni placed her hand on Patty’s arm and said, “Are you doing okay?”

Patty nodded her head. “It is what it is. I just don’t think the stress from a job like this helps a relationship.”

“Stress from anywhere is tough on a relationship. But I’m very impressed you guys handled it so quietly. That shows maturity and common sense. One thing a detective bureau does not need is extra drama.”

“I appreciated it.”

“Now that we’ve got that out of the way, go find Zach Halston for me so my boss will get off my ass.”

Lynn sat at her desk working on the accounts receivable for the Thomas Brothers supply company. She was surprised how well she could concentrate after the events of Friday night. Spending the weekend with her family had helped calm her down, but she still got a little charge thinking about slapping the pest in the face with the closed knife. But the pace here at the supply company could be hectic and cause her to stress. The whole day was planned from money coming in during the morning to money going out in the afternoon. She’d have no break before she headed directly to Dr. Ferrero’s office to handle his payroll and pay the bills for the month. He made more money selling supplements for animals than actually tending to them medically. He had two employees who did nothing but sell and deliver special food.

She liked the young doctor’s easygoing manner and the way the office always seemed calm and efficient. There was never anyone shouting obscenities over the noise of a forklift. No one in the office smoked. That was so nice. Lynn liked it so much she had even considered going back to school and earning a degree in the medical field. The practical side of her said that not all offices would be like Dr. Ferrero’s. No matter what she did, at least she’d avoided the family business and all the associated pitfalls. Besides, Dr. Ferrero was a veterinarian and only a few could afford to hire professional help like him. Most of the poor vet techs Lynn had met barely made enough money to live.

As Lynn sat at her desk reviewing the pile of accounts receivable, a huge shadow fell over her like an eclipse. She knew without lifting her head who was standing in her doorway. She mumbled, while keeping her eyes on her work, “Hey, Dale, what can I help you with?”

She heard the deep, creepy chuckle, then looked up to see the sweat-soaked T-shirt of Dale Moffitt.

“You have a good Thanksgiving?”

“I did. What about you?”

“We had a fine time. And we had a cookout for the Florida-Florida State game. Maybe you’d like to come to one of my cookouts sometime.” The way he looked down as he said the last comment made her smile.

Lynn gave him a noncommittal nod, waited, then said, “Is there something I can do for you, Dale?”

The big man stepped into the office and ran his hands down his dirty T-shirt like he was trying to spruce up. “Well, that was kind of it. I was wondering if you would like to come over for a cookout or have a drink sometime.”

“I appreciate the offer, Dale, but between both my jobs and all that’s gone with my family, I’m short on time.”

“You short on time or you just don’t want to go out with my kind?”

Lynn caught the edge to his comment and noticed him step in closer and lean toward her desk.

The loading dock foreman said, “We can’t all have a fancy Florida State degree. I know I’m just a workingman, but I make a fine living and I haven’t seen you going out on the town much.”

“How would you know anything about that, Dale? I keep my private life very private.”

“I bet I know a little bit more about your private life than you suspect. You forget I was raised around here and I know your older brother.”

“So?”

“So I probably know a few family secrets. I also know you returned the company Suburban with front-end damage.”

Lynn’s face flushed as she said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do, but you don’t got nothing to worry about. When the tubby Mexican fella that washes the cars showed it to me, I told him I’d take care of it. I scrubbed it really good and straightened the grille the best I could. It’s hard to get blood all the way off a car grille.”

Lynn just stared at him and saw that he was enjoying his little game. She was trying to calculate if he was smart enough to track down a hit-and-run all the way in Daytona. When she had finished her calculation she looked up at him and said, “When would you like to get together, Dale?”

It was after four when John Stallings decided he had shown the photograph of Jeanie and Zach Halston to enough store clerks along University Boulevard. Of the fourteen stores he’d visited, no one recognized either of the young people. He used the photograph with Zach because if he was questioned by any bosses, he could make it sound like he was only looking for Zach. Only the lieutenant and Patty and a few others at the sheriff’s office would recognize the girl as his missing daughter.

Now he was in downtown Jacksonville, an area he was more familiar with, looking for his most reliable informant: Peep Moran. Peep was a local drug seller who moved between marijuana and pharmaceutical sales as the profits dictated. He had earned his unusual nickname through his habit of watching women urinate in public. The general population didn’t realize how often homeless women had no access to a bathroom and found ways to relieve themselves nonchalantly without anyone noticing. But Peep noticed. He was on the lookout all the time. It was his experience on the street that allowed him the ability to know where to catch the best view.

Stallings waited at a set of bushes where Peep often hung out and sometimes hid his product. It was only a few minutes before he noticed the diminutive man in his late thirties walking up the street dressed like any street vendor in relatively clean jeans and a pullover shirt. When Peep’s eyes met Stallings it looked like the scrawny dope dealer was about to turn and run-a common occurrence when the two of them met. Instead, he continued on his same track and walked directly to Stallings.

Peep said, “Do I bother you at your job?”

“As a matter of fact, you do. This is my job. A second ago it looked like you were going to run from me. Why?”

“Just the sight of you usually startles me. And I thought I was holding when I saw you. It took me a second to realize I ran out of product midday today. With all the students back in town, demand is way up.”

Stallings appreciated an honest answer like that, even if Peep was admitting to a felony. He held out the photograph and said, “Do you recognize either of these two kids?”