Ghostly target, p.7
Ghostly Target, page 7
"Am I the only person who spends my Saturdays at home being lazy?" Franks asked after they left the third house without an answer.
"Maybe they're still in bed?" Angus checked his watch, seeing it was after ten.
"Wish I was." Franks knocked on the next door.
An older man answered with a smile. "Can I help you?"
"Sorry to bother you. I'm Detective Franks, and this is Detective Young. I'm sure you heard about the shooting the other day down the street. We're going around checking with residents we haven't already spoken to in hopes you might have seen something or have surveillance cameras that might have picked up on something."
The older man frowned. "Such a shame. I would wave to him when I saw him coming and going. Never met him, but he seemed like a nice man. Do you know how he's doing?"
"As of this morning, he's in a coma. They won't know more until he wakes." Franks gave the basic narrative the media was sharing.
"I wasn't home that day, so I didn't see anything, but I do have several cameras on the house. One covers the driveway, the other points across the yard from the other corner of the house," the man told them. "The other is here on the porch." He pointed up to where a camera was pointed straight at them.
"Do any of the cameras catch traffic on the street as it drives by?" Angus asked.
"Yes, the one on the far corner does. The one in the driveway might, but I usually have it angled so it doesn't alert every time a car goes by. The one on the other corner doesn't alarm like these two do." He again pointed to the one above them, then waved his hand toward the driveway. "Would you like to look? I didn't even think about that. I won't have the shooting of course. His house is too far down the block, but if you know what car you're looking for…" The man's voice trailed off.
"Would you mind if we looked at the video?" Angus asked.
"Sure, come on in." He pushed the door wider and stepped back. "I have everything set up to play on my computer. These old eyes just can't see well enough on those little phone screens." He led them to a desk in his living room. "Go ahead and have a seat. You can probably do this faster than I can." He nodded to Franks.
"Thanks." Franks sat down.
"It's that yellow icon there." The man pointed. "Click on it, then go to the time you want to view. It keeps everything for a month."
Angus was impressed. This system was much nicer than many of the others he'd seen. "Nice setup you have. Very clear images."
"I figured if I was going to fork out the money, I might as well make it worthwhile. As I said, with my eyes, those black-and-white videos can be hard to see well. With this one, I can tell if the trespasser has a hair out of place." The man stepped back. "Can I get you two anything to drink? I just made a pot of coffee."
"I'm good, but thanks." Angus smiled at the man.
"No thanks. I just finished a cup." Franks clicked to an hour before Tom's shooting. "This should do it." He hit play, then sped it up.
"There we go." Angus pointed and glanced at the time. "Twenty minutes before the shooting." He watched a red Ford drive slowly past the house. "And you can see the driver." Angus prayed they could enhance the image and get the identity of the man. He glanced at the man. "Is it okay if we send a copy of this to our email?"
"Of course. It's set up to open my email when you hit share. Just type in your email and take whatever you need. You can take the whole computer if you need to. I'll do whatever I can to help you find whoever shot that poor officer."
"That won't be necessary, but this will help. It's a very clear image. We'll have the guys back at the station enhance it and hopefully get a better look at the face." Angus was pretty sure that they could get a good picture of the driver.
"See the tattoo there as well." Franks pointed.
Sure enough, the Superman tattoo was very clear in the video. "We should be able to make out that tattoo below it as well once we enhance things." Angus pulled out his phone, sending a message to the captain.
"Now let's see if we have him leaving. I didn't catch anything on the other cameras of the car after the shooting, so I'm thinking he turned around." Franks hit play again.
"That would be stupid. Waste of time if I was trying to make a quick exit after shooting someone," the older man said.
"The other cameras might have just not captured the car. Most aren't aimed at the road," Angus explained. "We just like to make sure we catch everything."
"I wish I'd been home that day. I was playing golf. Most days at that time, I would have been out front working in the yard." The man leaned against the wall. "I heard there was another shooting. Are they related?"
"We aren't sure, but we're assuming they are. We're waiting for ballistics to get back." Franks stared at the screen. "There we see EMS coming. So we know for sure our suspect didn't come back this direction."
"There's only one way out going the other way. Two of the streets dead end," the old man told them. "He had to take Wheatwood to get anywhere."
"Thanks, that helps." Angus made a note. "Well check the houses along there to see if they caught anything."
Franks closed down the app and stood. "Thank you for your help. Again, we're sorry to bother you."
"No bother at all. I hope you catch whoever did this and string him up." The man shook his head. "Horrible things happening in this world. Never would have seen something like this when I was a boy."
Sadly, Angus had to agree. There hadn't been much of this when he'd been younger either. Times were changing, and not for the better. "You've been a big help."
They left the home and headed to the next house. By the time they were done, they'd found three more homes that had caught the car going by as it left, but none of them showed the driver or were as good as the first video they'd got.
"Want to stop for lunch somewhere?" Franks asked.
"Actually, can we get something to go and head over to see Lance? I want to see if the ghosts are willing to help us talk to Joe once more." Angus was too uptight to sit down and enjoy lunch when he could be working.
"Sure. How about that Italian place that opened last year?" Franks asked.
"That sounds perfect." Angus knew just what to get for Lance. "Let me call and make sure he's home." He hit the button for Lance on his phone as Franks pulled onto the road.
"Miss you," Lance answered.
"Miss you too. Which is one of the reasons I was going to see if Franks and I can drop by with lunch." Angus hoped Lance wasn't busy.
"I'm just planting some flowers in the backyard that Bethany wanted. If you don't mind me being grungy, come on over," Lance told him.
"I don't mind at all."
"What was the other reason you wanted to drop by?" Lance asked.
"What?" Angus was confused.
"You said missing me was one reason, what's the other?"
"Oh," Angus laughed. "We have a picture of a tattoo we'd like Joe to look at. If Ray or Bethany could do another trip into his house and just have him come out to the car, we could see if he recognizes it."
"I'm sure they won't mind. We're having a lazy day."
"I'm jealous." Angus would usually be spending the day with Lance, lying around, watching TV.
"How's the officer at the hospital doing?"
"No change. And there was another shooting today, but luckily no one was hit. I'll explain more when Franks and I get there."
"Angus…" Lance's voice was soft.
"I know. I'm being careful."
Lance blew out a loud breath. "Catch this guy so I don't have to worry, okay?"
"Working on it. We'll be there once we pick up lunch. I love you."
"Love you too."
Angus ended the call and sighed. He hated worrying his friends, but this was his job. No matter how hard it got, it was what he was born to do.
CHAPTER NINE
"That smells amazing." Lance followed Franks and Angus into his kitchen. "Thanks for grabbing me lunch."
"Had to sneak a chance to spend a little time with you." Angus set the bags on the table, then turned and pulled Lance into his arms. "Hi." He kissed him softly.
"Hi." Lance moaned against his mouth.
"Feeling left out over here." Franks sat down in one of the chairs, then stood up. "Shit, is anyone already sitting there?"
Lance laughed. "No, Bethany and Ray are out back. Haunt is the only one you have to look out for. She smells the food. She'll be underfoot the whole time we're eating." He smiled as the dog settled right beside Franks' chair.
"It's okay, girl. I might drop something accidentally." Franks reached out and pulled a breadstick from the bag and pulled a small piece from it, dropping it in front of Haunt. "Oops. See how clumsy I am."
Lance rolled his eyes. "Don't get her used to eating from the table. I don't mind it occasionally but don't make a habit of dropping your food. She can have some in her bowl if you want to share."
"Wouldn't think of it." Franks started pulling the rest of the food from the bags. "Hope you like what Angus got you."
"If it's lasagna, I'll love it." Lance sat down.
"Lasagna and a Coke." Angus handed a drink to Lance. "I know what you like."
"Yes, you do," Lance said in a seductive voice.
"I'm sitting right here." Franks stared at them. "Keep the flirting for later."
"Good thing I'm too hungry for anything else." Angus took the lid off his food.
The sweet smell of Italian food filled the kitchen and Lance's mouth watered. "This was a great idea. But I've been dying to know about the new shooting. Was anyone hurt?"
"No. The first shot missed and the officer dove for cover before the next few rang out. I haven't talked to them since it happened, but everyone was safe. We managed to get a shot of our killer's face if he was the one driving the Ford. It will take the tech team a bit of work to magnify the image, but it's something." Angus reached into his pocket. "This is a tattoo on the man's arm that we're hoping Joe might recognize from a prior arrest or something. Though the more shootings we have happen, the more I believe this isn't related to a single case he worked on, but more someone who's angry at police in general."
"I have to agree." Franks wiped his mouth. "This person is following officers as he sees them. There's a chance one of these cops has a past with him, but I don't think they all were involved in the same case. They patrol different areas and work different shifts."
"So you really think this shooter just happened to drive past Tom's home and decided to park and wait for him to walk out?" Lance asked.
"That or he stalked him for a couple of days to learn his routine. Though you have to wonder why he didn't take off when Tom was late leaving. I would have guessed it was Tom's day off and not waited around." Frank reached for his drink.
"Yeah, so would I. I'd worry that sitting in a neighborhood would draw attention from someone seeing a strange car sitting in front of their house." Angus cut into his lasagna. "The others I can see as random. You see a cop turn into the mall parking lot and wait. There's enough traffic there you blend in. I don't have details on today's shooting, but I got the impression the shooter wasn't very close to the officer. We'll know more when we get back to the station."
"I'm just praying my part in all this is done. One body is more than enough. I hold my breath every time a new call comes in the last couple of days." Lance would be happy as ever to never have to do an autopsy on a police officer killed in the line of duty again. He wanted a nice safe world where everyone died of natural causes.
"Three shootings in a week is a bit much. I can't recall anything like this since I've been on the force." Franks tossed a piece of breadstick across the kitchen, landing it in Haunt's food dish.
"Look at you, Mr. NBA." Angus laughed.
"I honestly didn't think I'd make that." Franks looked proud of himself as he watched Haunt happily eat the bread.
"Any update on Tom?" Lance asked.
"Last we heard he was still in ICU and unconscious," Angus told him. "We were thinking about dropping by and seeing what we could do for the family. Maybe take the kid out to the park or something to give Tom's sister a break. I'm not sure how much support she has."
"You know who would be great to help the family? Your mom and dad. They're back tomorrow, aren't they?" Lance asked.
"Yeah, they are. And you're right. This is just up Mom's alley. I'll talk to Captain Marshall and make sure it's okay to ask my parents to help, but I can't see why they couldn't. I know his father was flying in from Atlanta. Hell, for all I know, Tom has a ton of family that flew in to help, but it's worth looking into." Angus sighed. "I hate thinking what that kid must be going through. First losing his mom, now maybe his dad."
"We aren't going to think that way. Tom will be fine. He'll be as good as new in time." Franks sounded so positive and firm.
"He has to be. We can't let this killer ruin another life." Angus prayed no other officers would be shot. "If we can clean up the face on that video, we might be able to get a hit in the system. That would break this case wide open."
Lance nodded to the printed image of the tattoo of the Superman logo. "I would think that's a pretty common tattoo."
"Maybe, but on the arm might be rarer. I don't know for sure. I guess we could ask around at tattoo shops and see if anyone remembers doing it. If we can get a clearer image of the tattoo below that one, it will help. Either way, it's a lead. We'll take what we can get." Franks snuck another piece of bread to Haunt.
"I saw that." Lance grinned.
"Oh, come on. She needs lunch too." Franks pet Haunt's head.
"Told you, he needs a dog of his own." Angus laughed.
"I'm thinking about it. I've been researching breeds. All I know so far is I want a bigger dog. I don't want something that gets underfoot, and I'll step on it as I stumble to the bathroom in the middle of the night." Franks shrugged. "I'll get one at some point."
"You said that about a girlfriend too," Angus teased.
"Girlfriends are harder to find. I'm pickier with them. Honestly, I don't need one of those. I'm content being on my own for now. I'm not home enough to give a woman the attention she deserves. Besides, I like my house the way it is. If I get a girlfriend, she'll come in and start changing things."
"Not if you find the right woman," Lance told him.
"Well, she's going to have to find me because I'm not actively looking for her." Franks scraped the last of his pasta onto his fork.
"You never know where you'll find her. Look at me. I found Angus in the middle of an autopsy."
"True." Angus smiled at Lance. "Though I'd like to think it was more the night I brought Mom over that cinched it for us."
"Yeah, I have to agree there. Could have been the way you took away my migraine too. Maybe I'm just keeping you around for your hands."
"You like what my hands do to you?" Angus waggled his eyebrows.
"Enough. I don't need to know where you two put your hands." Franks stood and took his trash to the can across the room.
Lance laughed. "We'll behave. So what's on your afternoon agenda?"
Angus shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. I'm hoping there's surveillance video of this new shooting. I want to try and contact people from the shooting last year and see if they remember anything about the shooter since I'm pretty sure it's our same guy." He glanced at Lance. "Would you want to hit the town with me tonight and head to this bar? I want to have a look around and maybe talk to the owner."
"Sure. I'm free." Lance was more than happy to spend time with Angus. "Are we taking the bikes?"
"I was thinking of taking mine if you don't mind riding with me since we haven't had yours out yet this year."
Lance nodded. "I was planning on pulling it out next weekend and getting her ready. I'm fine riding with you tonight." He could wear the new boots his brother had gotten him for Christmas.
"We won't stay long. Just enough to see if the owner is in and ask some questions. I've been there a few times with Mike. It's not a bad place. I can show my badge and not get shunned. Most of the guys will talk to us."
"You sure you don't want to ask Mike to go? You haven't gone out with him in a while." Lance didn't want to ever come between Angus and his best friend. He'd met Mike a couple of times and liked him.
"Nah, he's so busy with his girlfriend, he doesn't go out much. Honestly, I think she's overly jealous and thinks any time he goes somewhere without her, he's cheating. I don't expect the relationship to last, but I won't be the cause of them breaking up. He'll call me when he's free again and able to go out without someone making a fight of it."
Lance shook his head.
"And this is why I'm still single." Franks smirked. "Nobody is going to tell me when to come and go."
"I know, but he's got to make the choice for himself. He was dating a nice nurse, but they broke up and now he's with this local model. She's in a lot of commercials and stuff. I haven't met her, but she sounds like someone I won't have much in common with." Angus took a long drink. "It won't last. He'll be calling me soon enough to go grab a beer. So be ready around six-thirty. I'll pick you up and we'll grab dinner there. They have a pretty good menu. You're welcome to join us, Franks."
"Thanks, but I'm good. I need to sleep. I'm exhausted." Franks stretched his arms out. "I've been dreaming about my bed all day."
"That is exactly why we won't be staying out late," Angus agreed with him.
Lance hated seeing how tired they both were. He guessed the whole police force was feeling the same way. And now, with another shooting, it was only bound to get worse. "Are you two taking tomorrow off?"
"I'm going in late," Franks said. "I'm hoping we have a clearer image of our suspect by then. I know most of the guys are taking tomorrow off, but if they can clean up that image tonight, we might have something to move forward with. I won't stay for too long."
"Same. I'll drop by and see where we are in the case, but I need a day away. In fact, I was kind of hoping to stay the night tonight if you don't mind." Angus raised a brow at Lance.
