CHAPTER 2: Rendezvous in the Rain
It began to sprinkle rain as the ambulance arrived. The medical vehicle came only moments before Petrofus. As the medics tended to the wounded shooter, Fern and Buster described the incident with their boss. Petrofus absorbed every word her two detectives said with unbreakable eye contact. Her intensity was similar to Fern's, but at least Fern could make a joke on occasion. DCI Kaylie Petrofus rarely even smiled. "This shooter was trying to take you two out because you were on his lead," stated Petrofus, as she watched the medics pull the shooter out of the car and onto a stretcher. Fern nodded in agreement. "DCI, why would he come alone though? I thought there were six in the group," asked Fern. This question had bothered her since the moment she saw the shooter all alone in the vehicle. Petrofus pulled out her cell phone and started to dial a number. "Couldn't tell you, Walters," she replied as she put the phone up to her ear. "But we'll have Powers look over the forensic evidence here and see if we can come up with an explanation."
Alan Powers, or "Brain" as he was called in school, was the Head of the Forensics Science sect of the Elwood City police force. His intelligence was beyond compare, but he was difficult to contact after 11pm. By that point, he claims, he needed to restore brain cells through sleep. Petrofus had no success contacting Powers, and tried calling again. While their boss was busy, Fern and Buster watched as the medics loaded the injured shooter into the back of the ambulance. "Will he make it?" asked Fern to one of the medics. The medic picked up his bag of medical equipment. "Probably. You just missed his right lung. Nice shot." He then got into the ambulance, and it drove off.
Fern tried to conceal a smile of pride. She always had confidence in her aim ever since she won a target pistol competition as a sophomore in high school. Buster noticed the look on his partners face, and let out a chuckle. "If you actually used a pistol issued by the police force, your shot would be even better." Fern pulled out her revolver and looked at it with admiration. "I don't think so, Baxter," she said. "There's something about having only six shots. Makes you really conscientious about how you shoot." Baxter pulled out an already-opened granola bar and started to take a bite. "True, but I'd rather have my GLOCK." He put his free hand into his holster and felt the touch of the black weapon. "22 rounds per magazine. A lot better than six."
Petrofus hung up her phone and placed it back into her pocket. "Powers said he'll be here in fifteen minutes," said the DCI. "As expected, he wasn't happy to be awoken, but he's getting paid for a reason." Petrofus walked up to the sedan and inspected it. "Did you check for any clues?" she asked without breaking eye contact with the vehicle. Fern and Buster walked over beside their boss. "No other weapons besides the .22 rifle," commented Fern. Buster continued to munch on his granola bar. "No license plate or personal ID either," added Buster with a mouth full of food. Petrofus put on her inspection gloves and leaned over into the sedan. She opened up the compartment in between the two front seats. "Empty," said Petrofus with a hint of frustration.
The three detectives methodically checked the vehicle while they waited for Alan to arrive. Roughly fifteen minutes later, the rain began to fall more intensely as a car pulled up to the scene. Forensic Scientist Alan Powers stepped out the car and ran over to his detective colleagues. He already had his inspection gloves and glasses on. Without saying salutations, he pulled out tweezers and swabs. The three detectives stepped back as their genius scientist began collecting samples: fingerprints, blood, hair, dead skin, whatever piece of forensic evidence was available. Normally this part of the investigation was detective work, but with the high stakes of the current case, Petrofus decided it would be better if their best mind had the first crack at the evidence. After what seemed like hours in the rain, Alan wiped the sweat and rain off his forehead. "I'll take these to the lab and find a match," he said as he started putting away collection tubes into a small bag. "Good work, Powers," grunted the DCI.
Alan got back into his car and drove off. Petrofus turned to her two junior detectives. "Any luck with interrogating her?" asked Petrofus with an extra-stern look on her face. Fern shook her head no. "Without evidence, it's hard to believe her story." Buster pulled out a lollipop and stuck it in his mouth. "If she's faking, she's a pretty good actor though," he added. Petrofus looked over at the prison. "The accusation, the shooting…they're all related," observed the DCI. Fern pulled her collar closer to her neck to keep the rain out. "I agree, DCI. Let's see if Baxter and I can connect the two." Petrofus looked at Fern and Buster. "You two are the best we got in Elwood City," she said solemnly, "and with all these rapes and murders happening, the culprits have to be stopped asap. I'm counting on you." Petrofus then walked away to her car, and got in. As their boss drove off into the night, Fern and Buster started heading back into the state penitentiary.
"This time, I'll do most the talking," said Fern to her partner. Buster shrugged. "Fine by me. Wonder if she has anything convincing to say this time?" Fern checked her phone: 3:56am. "I don't know, Baxter," replied the female detective, "but DCI is right. I bet the girl's story and the murder are related. We just have to see how."