Chapter 4: Nearly Hit
"This can't be it."
"I'm afraid this is."
The partners were out near Chicago's Park District, examining the scene behind the buildings that lined the area. What they were working on was a situation involving a string of innocent victims being brutally harmed, mostly by hard and heavy objects. The evidence available suggested that it was the same person responsible for every civilian that got hurt. The particular spot they were standing in was the location of the last incident.
"Aww, Fraser. Why'd ya have to pick this case out of all the hundreds of them?"
"I believe that you picked up the file, Ray. And not without good reason. See this fracture on the baseball bat here?" The Mountie had picked up it up as soon as he saw it leaning against a corner of a building.
"Ya. It means that someone used it to hit a baseball."
Fraser examined the bat by slowing rotating it while he talked. "Maybe at one time. But this sort of fracture indicates that when it was swung, it hit something exceedingly solid." He looked up in thought. "Perhaps a something as solid as a brick building when missing their particular target."
Kowalski folded his arms, and shifted his legs apart. "So you're saying that this guy got a bat, swung at a random person, hit the brick wall, and then left it there."
"That could be one explanation," the Mountie said, while carefully scanning the brick building for any mark of a dent. "But I was thinking along the lines of-"
"Look, Fraser. The forensics already combed the scene. Don't ya think that they wouldn't have missed that if it was really something?"
The Mountie stopped, and thought for a moment. "They usually only collect small traces of substances. In addition, the workers probably came to the same conclusion as yours." Fraser took another look at the scene.
The detective blew out a breath. "Just leave the stupid bat!"
"You know, Ray, the policy back in Tuktoyuktuk was that if any crime was committed, there wasn't always police authorities to collect evidence. What happened was-"
"What? What are you talking about, Fraser!" Ray exclaimed. He shook his head. Unfortunately, patience wasn't his strong suite. "Okay whatever! Take the bat and let's go," Ray huffed as he started walking back to where he parked his car.
The Mountie smiled to himself. He had used the very technique that Ray used to catch Colin. When you have a distraction, you get the right reaction.
On the way to the car, Ray put on his sunglasses. As he opened the door to the driver's side, he said, "Where now?"
Both inside the vehicle, Fraser took off his hat and examined the again while responding. "I suppose we should track down where the bat was purchased. It is fairly used, and has been for a long time." The Mountie made eye contact with Kowalski. "I suggest we check some pawn shops."
"Hold it, let me see 'er," Kowalski announced as he took the bat from Fraser. He flipped it over and looked carefully at the bottom end. The detective passed it back to the Mountie. "I know where we're going." He started the car's engine.
A few minutes later, the two were walking through the doors of Bob's Discount Sporting Goods.
Fraser slightly leaned over to Kowalski while talking. "How exactly did you know that this would be the place?"
"I told ya," Ray replied. "I used to play some baseball with my friends back in high school and Bob here always marks his stuff."
They came up to the counter where a very friendly Bob gave a grin. "Ray? Is that really you?" The slightly overweight and hearty man leaned over and slapped the detective on the shoulder. "It's been too long. Don't tell me you're gonna be picking up baseball again, are ya?" Bob's stature gave him an illusion of being shorter than he actually was, even though his height ran around 5'11".
Kowalski gave a friendly smile back and removed his sunglasses, hooking it on the front of his shirt. "Not this time. How ya been?"
"Oh, you know, the same old same old."
Ray gave a nod. "I know you always are keeping track of your stuff, so I was wonderin' if you could take a look at this one."
Fraser, giving a polite smile, handed over the bat for Bob's examination.
"Say, a Mountie? Ray, you've been making friends with Canadians now?" There was amusement in the older man's eyes.
"Uh, yeah. You know what they say about Canadians." Ray pretended to cough, covering up his teasing blow.
Bob caught on and there was a glint of humour in his eyes. Before anyone could say anything else, he looked down at the bat, twirling it. "Yep, I've had this one before."
Fraser spoke up. "Would you have any idea who purchased it along with the date of purchase?"
The store owner looked over at the Mountie. "I do keep records of these things. You never know what can happen when you own this type of establishment," Bob stated. He then went to a backroom, coming out seconds later with a small box of records. Bob then placed it on the counter and flipped through them.
"Ah-ha. Here it is. March 22, by a…a Collin Nicholson. Does that help?" Bob looked up in question.
Ray and Fraser's heads turned to look at each other in breakneck speed.
"Thanks, Bob. But we got to be heading out now," Kowalski said, already halfway to the door, and putting back on his sunglasses.
Fraser, a little behind, gave another polite smile. "We're much appreciative," he said, and gave a tip of his hat before advancing to the door.
Once again, at the car, the two sped off to the station. "I'm gonna get that milk-loving delinquent," Ray muttered.