Tom Dayton is Loose Again
Chapter 11
1
Ed and Eve spent the rest of the day checking the remainder of the costume shops in San Francisco. No one rented a police uniform from any of them. It was getting late in the afternoon, and they realized they would have to return to the chief's office without having accomplished much of anything. They drove back in silence. Both of them feeling they were letting the chief down.
"Ed, we should have some kind of handle on this case by now. We are no further in finding out who is doing these killings than when we started. The chief is getting restless about this case," Eve said.
"Whoever is doing it is not leaving us much to go on," Ed said in their defense. "Sooner or later, he is going to make a mistake, and then we will break the case wide open."
Eve turned her head and looked out the window of Brown's vehicle. "In the meantime, how many women are going to lose their lives to this maniac?"
Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, Brown could understand her frustration. He felt it too. "I don't know, Eve. We just have to keep trying to discover the mistake he makes and find him."
Eve continued to watch out the window at the women walking down the street. She wondered which of them might end up the maniac's next victim. Why was finding this man so difficult? Then a thought occurred to her. She looked back at Brown. "What if Tom is somehow getting out of the office at night?"
"Are you suggesting he might be the killer?"
"Well, considering how unstable he is, don't you think there is a possibility?" Eve asked.
The sergeant remained quiet for a moment. Like the chief, he never dismissed anything Eve had to say. "Okay, let's examine this for a moment. Say you are right and Tom is the one doing the killing, how do you account for the fact that the elevator security has never recorded him going out at night?"
That was the monkey in the wrench Eve hadn't figured out yet. "I don't know. I admit that I have no idea, yet I can't help but feel he is somehow responsible for these killings. You have watched how he is with me. I don't believe for a minute he is cured. He can't handle it when I get after him. Really, Ed, I think the only thing that keeps him in line is that I am always doing it when the chief is there. Maybe it is time to see how he handles it when the chief isn't there."
Brown cocked his chin to the right. "If you are right, and Dayton is responsible for the killings, provoking him when we aren't around could be very dangerous."
"I don't think so. I am a cop after all. I know how to handle myself. I think I should give it a try. Let's see how he reacts. What do you say?"
Not comfortable with the idea, but not wanting to let Eve know he didn't like the idea of her alone with Dayton and provoking him, he fell back on the only thing he knew she would respect. "I think we ought to talk to the chief about it first. See what he thinks."
"I don't have a problem with that," she agreed. "I'm betting he will be all for it."
"Eve, I know you suspect Tom Dayton is not cured; just remember there is that chance that he is. We don't want to accuse him without any proof."
"Who's talking about accusing him? I am saying we need to settle this once and for all. We need to know if he still has a hatred for female authority. If he does, then there is a chance he is finding some way out of the building at night. Look at the facts, Ed. These killings started after he was released from the institution. They are always at night, and no one can positively account for Tom's whereabouts."
"You are forgetting that the security on the elevator is not recording anyone leaving the building at night," Ed pointed out again.
"So he isn't using the elevator. There is still the stairway."
"That is locked as well and Tom doesn't have the code for it either. I am listening to you, Eve, really I am, but there are holes in your theory."
Brown pulled his Ford into the police garage and parked it next to where the chief's van was normally parked. It was gone at the moment. He shut off the ignition and sat there quietly for a moment. "All I am saying is if you are right, and I am not saying you are, you will have to find an explanation as to how he is getting out of the building without the chief or Mark knowing."
"Okay, I know there are holes in my deductions," she said, emphasizing the word deductions; she didn't like them being called a theory, "its just that I feel strongly that Tom Dayton is not cured anymore than when he went into that institution. He is trying to keep his temper in check to get the chief to send him on his way."
Brown opened the door and got out of the Ford. When he did, Eve got out of the passenger side. They walked to the elevator together. Ed punched in the four-digit code, and the elevator returned to the garage floor. When the doors opened, they stepped inside. Ed pushed the button to the chief's floor.
"Okay, let's test your theory . . . "
"Deductions," Eve said, interrupting him.
Brown smiled at her. "Deductions," he conceded. "We'll run it by the chief."
Satisfied she had finally convinced him, Eve smiled back at him.
Moments later they enter the office of Robert T. Ironside and came down the ramp. The chief turned his chair to see his officers coming toward him. It didn't take much to deduce they came up empty on the rest of the costume shops. It was looking more like it was a cop doing the killing. There was only one other possibility, but Ironside didn't have enough evidence pointing to his suspicions.
"Chief, Eve has a theory I think we should discuss," Brown said, "but we don't want Tom to overhear us."
"I sent Mark and Tom grocery shopping. I am getting tired of being served eggs for breakfast. Now what is this theory?"
Eve look directly into the eyes of her boss. She hesitated as she thought about what she wanted to say.
"Well," Ironside said.
"I don't think it is a cop doing the killings, Chief." She sat down beside him as Ed sat on his other side.
"You think there is some way Tom Dayton is sneaking out of the building at night and killing these women," Ironside surmised.
Eve and Ed couldn't help but smile. They should know better by now that anything they would think of, chances were the chief had thought of it as well.
"That's exactly what I think," Eve said. "Like I told Ed, the killings started after Dayton was released and they are only happening at night when we can't absolutely account for his whereabouts."
"You're forgetting something, Eve," Ironside began before she interrupted him.
"No, I realize there hasn't been anything recorded by the security system indicating he is leaving the building at night."
"Then how is he getting out of the building. Is he sprouting wings and flying out the window?" Ironside asked sarcastically.
"I don't know yet how he is getting out of the building, Chief. I only know that I feel he is."
"Okay, for the sake of argument, let's say you are right, and Tom is leaving the building at night; how is he getting past the entire police force in this building? He certainly couldn't walk out the front door. Everyone is alerted to the fact he is working for me. Nor could he walk out of the police entrance. He would stand out like a sore thumb in civilian clothes."
"Not necessarily, Chief," Ed said. A lot of cops change their clothes in the police locker room before going off duty."
"True, but everyone in this building knows what he looks like. How do you propose he is getting by everyone?" Ironside demanded. He knew the answer to his question; he wanted to see if Ed or Eve came up with the same answer.
"He could easily get past them if he were in a police uniform," Eve said. "I think we should search his room for a uniform."
"Just how do you suppose we do that, Officer Whitfield?" Ironside questioned. "We have given him a room in this building. It is his just the same as an apartment would be if he rented one. We can't go searching his room without a warrant."
"Then we get one," Eve said.
"On what grounds?" Ironside said.
"Well, I don't know. Can't we think of something?" Eve asked.
"If you think of something, be sure and let me know," the chief said with sarcasm.
The door to the office opened. Tom and Mark entered with groceries in their arms. "No more eggs for a while, Chief," Tom said. "We have pancakes, waffles, and sausage and gravy."
"There goes his waistline," Mark said.
"What about dinner?" the chief growled.
"Hamburgers," Tom said. "With french fries, unless you want something else. I haven't yet perfected the chili."
"Hamburgers are fine," Ironside said.
Mark turned his head. "If I said we were having hamburgers, you would complain."
"Even I like a burger now and then," Ironside responded. Turning to Ed and Eve, Ironside dismissed them for the evening. "We'll take up where we left off in the morning, and think about plugging those holes in your theory, Eve. By the way, what about that barmaid you were bringing to headquarters to describe the cop to the sketch artist?"
"When I tried to pick her up, she said her father had a heart attack and she had to go to the hospital. She will be here tomorrow to describe the cop she saw."
Dayton put his fingertips to his temple to quell a stabbing pain there. It didn't help. The pain was getting worse. Every time he was making progress in getting the hell out of Ironside's office to get back to his life, the damn bitch interfered. He couldn't let the barmaid describe him to a sketch artist. Ironside would know he was the one she saw. He would have to do something about it.
"See that she does, Eve. I want to know who this officer is, if it is an officer."
"You think it is not an officer?" Tom said, alarmed that Ironside didn't think so.
"We explore every possibility, Tom," was all Ironside said. "Now, I would appreciate it if you good people would get out of my office so dinner can be prepared and served."
"That's a hint," Ed said.
"That's no hint," Eve said. "The chief is throwing us out of the office," she said as she headed for the door.
Ironside smiled. "Goodnight, Eve, Ed."
"Goodnight, Chief," they said in unison.
They took the elevator down to the police garage. Ed walked Eve over to her car. "That went well. It looks as if the chief took you seriously."
"He was already thinking along the same lines, Ed. We need to find out one way or another if Tom is the murderer."
Eve got into her car, and Ed closed the door. "Goodnight Eve."
"Night, Ed. She watched as Ed got into his car and drove out of the garage.
Eve sat there. She couldn't bring herself to leave. The feeling that Tom Dayton wasn't cured was nagging at her. If he was responsible for the murders, he had to be sneaking out of the building. Eve just had to find out. She would wait and see if he came out tonight. Obviously, he wasn't using the elevator, so waiting here wouldn't do her any good. She got out of her car and headed for the stairs that led up to the chief's office.
The stairway was located near where most of the police officers park their squad cars before heading over to where their own cars were parked. Since officers were heading in and out all the time, the only way Tom could get out of the building without being notice would be in a police uniform. Eve then realized there were uniforms that were kept on the chief's floor. She didn't think he knew about them since they were brought in when he was out of the office. Mark was the only other person who knew about them. She was surprise neither one of them thought of it. Tom Dayton would have access to police uniforms if he discovered that room.
Eve was more convinced than ever that Dayton was using a police uniform to get out of the building. Somehow, he had to be getting the code to the stairway door. Technically, that door shouldn't have a lock on the inside. Eve knew the fire department would never allow it. Dayton would never be able to get out of the building if he were in the chief's office and a fire started. On the other hand, if she was right and he was getting the code to the door, then getting out of the building wouldn't present a problem for him. Eve was going to find out if he was leaving the building.
2
Tom began clearing the table of dirty dishes after dinner. Ironside watched him. Eve was right. They needed to find out if he discovered a way to get out of the building. If he wasn't responsible for killing the women, they needed to eliminate him as a suspect and concentrate on finding who was. The constant focus on Tom Dayton was slowing down their investigation and that had to stop. It was time they find the maniac who was killing the women.
"Tom, let Mark do that. You have not had any time to yourself. Go out and enjoy yourself," Ironside said.
"I think I'll let Mark handle the dishes, Chief, but I am really tired. I think I'll take you up on your offer another time. I'm going to go to my room and hit the sack. Thanks anyway." Dayton headed for the door.
When he was out of the office, Mark confronted his boss. "You still don't trust him, do you, Chief?"
"I don't want to get into this, Mark. I know how you feel, but Eve is right. We need to find out if he is leaving this building."
"Just how would he be doing that? We would know if he was. The computer system records every time someone uses the elevator or the stairway."
"I don't know, but we are getting no where with this investigation. If he isn't guilty of anything, we need to confirm it and move on. Constantly spending our time on Tom Dayton is slowing things."
Mark said his peace. He started picking up the dishes and headed for the kitchen.
Dayton entered his room. A severe pain drove him to the floor. Holding his head with both hands, he waited for it to subside. Eve Whitfield was the cause of the headaches; he was sure of it. She had been riding him since the day he walked through the door. Now, she was bringing in the barmaid to have his likeness sketch. He couldn't allow it. Tom had to do something about it. He didn't have a choice, he was going to go to her apartment. Unsure of what he would do when he got there, he would figure it out on the way over there.
Dayton laid down on his bed, closed his eyes, willing the headache to go away. He hadn't realize how tired he actually was. In no time he fell asleep. It was around midnight when he woke up. Glancing at his watch, he couldn't believe it! He left Ironside's office at around 6:00! He slept for 6 hours. Tom wondered if the headaches had something to do with it.
He sat upright wondering how he should handle the situation with Eve Whitfield. If he went over to her apartment, he would have to be careful. Whitfield was a cop; she would be armed. How could he possibly break into her apartment without getting shot. Then he remembered; Ironside kept a gun in his desk. The bitch probably got him to change the codes again as well. He would have to check before leaving. The gun would come in handy in handling Whitfield. It would be risky to go into Ironside's office after both. Tom didn't see where he had any choice. He couldn't chance leaving the office without checking the code, and he would need the gun to handle Whitfield.
Dayton stood up, reached under the bed and pulled the police uniform out. Getting out of his street clothes, he put the uniform on. If he got caught in Ironside's office with the uniform on, it would be all over. Yet, if he got caught in night clothes, he could make up some reason why he was there. Tom took the uniform back off and put on pajamas. Slipping out of his room, he headed for Ironside's office. He only hoped the door wasn't locked. If it was, he would have a real problem. The barmaid saw him up close. She would be able to identify him. Tom would have to do something about her as well. He simply couldn't allow her to describe him to a sketch artist.
When he arrived at the chief's office, he turned the knob; the door wasn't locked. Of course it wasn't! Why would Ironside lock his door in a building full of cops? He slowly opened the door, not remembering if it squeaked upon opening. It didn't. Dayton tiptoed in as quietly as he could. Looking around, there wasn't any sign of either Ironside or Mark. He was in luck! Both of them must've gone to bed. He hurried over to the chief's desk as fast as he could, opened the drawer, found the codes and memorized them. Ironside had, indeed, changed them. Whitfield! She was responsible for that; he was sure of it. She wanted to catch him. The bitch was trying to get him in trouble with Ironside. She just couldn't let it go. She had it in for him. Well, she was going to regret it. He would see to it. She deserved whatever he decided her punishment was.
Tom opened the drawer below and removed Ironside's service revolver. He headed for the door.
"Chief, is that you? Why didn't you call for me? What do you need?" Mark said from the next room.
Tom quickly placed the gun under his pajama shirt into his waistline. He hurried over to the refrigerator, opened the door, and pulled a Pepsi out.
Mark entered the main room. "Oh Tom, I thought you were the chief."
"I woke up thirsty." He lifted the Pepsi up to display it. "I came to get a drink. I apologize for coming into the office after hours, but I was so thirsty."
"You don't have to apologize, you live here. You are welcome to come in for soda after hours," Mark said.
"I am sorry I woke you up," Dayton said.
"You didn't wake me. I was working on a paper I have to turn in in a few days. I heard the floor creak. I thought the chief was up."
"Well, I'll head back to my room now." Dayton headed for the door.
"Goodnight, Tom."
Dayton turned, looked back and smiled. "Goodnight, Mark." He left the office. When he got on the other side of the door, he stopped and leaned against it. He swore his heart was up in his throat. It was beating so fast, he thought he might be in danger of a heart attack. He breathed in deeply a couple times to try to slow his breathing. Dayton pulled away from the chief's office and went back to his room. He opened the door, went inside, closing it behind him. His heart had slowed, but was still beating fast.
Dayton removed his pajamas and put the police uniform on. It was time he dealt with Eve Whitfield. What that would entail, he still didn't know. Tom left his room with the gun shoved at his back behind his belt. He peered out the door into the hall. It was empty, but then he expected it to be. Dayton hurried toward the stairway. As quickly as his fingers would allow, he keyed in the four-digit code, opened the door, and stepped into the stairway. Taking the steps two at a time he reached the bottom.
Eve Whitfield decided she would be spotted if she just hung out around the stairway, so she had gone back and brought her car around. The policewoman passed the time reading a novel on her smartphone. It was nearly half-past twelve and Dayton failed to appear. She was getting ready to give up and go home, when the stairway door opened, and Tom Dayton appeared in a police uniform! Despite being certain he was the one doing the killing, she was shocked to see him in a full police uniform. No wonder they couldn't find a costume shop that rented out a police uniform. Tom Dayton didn't need one. He obviously found the room where some of the uniforms were being stored. Tom Dayton was the one killing the women!
"I knew it!" Eve said. She ducked down and waited for him to pass her car. As he did, she opened the door and stepped out. She made the mistake of not pulling her gun out of her purse. When she reached back in to get it, she dropped her keys on the ground.
Dayton turned sharply toward the sound of the dropped keys. He couldn't believe his fortune. There was the bitch waiting for him! He had her now! Reaching around his body, he pulled the gun out of his waist ban. "Hello, Officer Whitfield."
When she looked up, she saw that he was armed. She wouldn't be able to get her gun now. "Tom, you need help. We can get it for you. Just give me that gun."
"You would like that, wouldn't you? Well, I am not about to give you the gun. Nor am I going to allow you or Chief Ironside to send me back to that mental institution. There is nothing wrong with me."
"Will you listen to yourself, Tom. You have killed several women. That is not normal. Please, let us help you. Give me the gun. I promise I will get the chief to help you."
"I don't need yours or his help for that matter. I just want to get on with my life, but you just couldn't help yourself. You have been a bitch to me ever since I arrived here. You are just like all the others. Now, pick up your keys. We are going for a ride."
"Where?"
"Never mind. I'll decide that later. Pick up your keys."
Eve bent down and picked up her car keys, never taking her eyes from Dayton. "Now what?"
"I am going to go around the passenger side. Remember, I will be holding a gun on you the entire time. If you make one move I don't like, I will shoot you dead right here and now. You got that?"
"Yes, I got it." She watched as Dayton went around the passenger side of the vehicle.
He tried the door, but it was locked. As Eve attempted to get in her car, he said, "Stop right there. Throw the keys back on the ground, then reach in and unlock the passenger door. I can't have you diving into the car and taking off."
"How could I do that? You could just shoot me through the window before I could ever get the car started and drive out of here."
"How do I know the glass isn't bullet proof. Now do what your told and you'll live a while longer."
Eve dropped the keys on the cement, reached in and unlocked the passenger door. Dayton slipped into the seat. "Okay, pick up the keys and get in." She had no choice since he had the gun pointed right at her. She wondered where he got the revolver. The only one he could possibly get his hands on was the chief's. He kept it in his desk drawer. Somehow, Dayton was able to get it and the code to the stairway door without being detected. Eve picked up the keys, got in the vehicle and faced Tom Dayton. "Now what?"
"Quit asking me that!" Dayton shouted. "How the hell am I suppose to know? Just start the car and drive out of here. Don't try anything because I will shoot you if you give me no choice. Just drive and obey all traffic laws. We damn well better not get pulled over by the police. If we do, you will be one dead woman."
3
Ironside wheeled into the main room after having showered, shaved and dressed. He looked over at the bare table and saw that Tom had not started breakfast. "Mark!"
Sanger heard the chief, came out of his room into the main office. "Yeah, Chief."
"Where's Tom? It is 8:30. Ed and Eve will be arriving soon. We aren't going to have time for breakfast if he doesn't get in here and make it."
"He was pretty tired last night, Chief. I'll make the breakfast. Let him sleep a little longer." Mark prepared waffles with sausage and placed it in front of Ironside. The chief began eating his breakfast while Mark put on a pot of coffee. When it was ready, he brought his boss a cup of the hot brew.
The door to the office opened. Ironside looked over his shoulder to see Sergeant Brown come in and down the ramp. "The autopsy is ready on that last woman, chief. One of the assistants are going to bring us the result."
Ironside looked at his watch. "Where in the blazes is Eve? She is usually here by now."
Once again the door opened and George, the sketch artist walked into the office with Diana Sanchez, the barmaid. "We're ready to get started, Chief."
"Good morning, Miss Sanchez. You can use the other table. Just describe as much as you can remember. George will do the rest," Ironside told her. They sat down at the table and got down to work.
"Where's Tom?" Ed asked.
"Sleeping," Ironside said. Looking at his watch again, he complained, "Seems members of my staff don't think they have to be on time."
"When are the results of the autopsy coming in?" Ironside demanded.
"Should be here anytime, Chief," Ed answered.
Ironside couldn't wait any longer. "Mark, go get Tom out of bed. We have all been working long hours. He can sleep on his own time."
Mark left the office to get Tom. He would talk to him about being late. The chief didn't tolerate his staff members being late without informing him why. He walked down the hall and knocked on Dayton's door. "Tom, you better get up. The chief is on the warpath. Both you and Eve are late today."
When Dayton didn't respond, Mark knocked on the door again. Still there wasn't any answer. Sanger worried something might be wrong with him, so he opened the door. Tom Dayton was not in his room. It was clear by the wrinkled bed that he had slept on it for a while. Since the covers weren't pulled back, Tom must have laid down on the bed, probably fully clothed. He left the room to go back and report what he found to the chief. Had Eve been right about Tom, and had he been wrong. Then he remembered Eve was also late. What could be detaining her, or more accurately who?
Mark hurried back to the office, opened the door and practically ran down the ramp. "Chief, Tom is not in his room. He must have slept on the bed for a time because the bedding is wrinkled."
"Eve hasn't called in either," Ed said.
Ironside wheeled to the table, picked up the phone and dialed her apartment receiving no answer. Hanging up the phone, he said, "Ed, call her cellphone?"
Brown reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. He called Eve, but got the same result as the chief. "No answer."
"I don't like it. Tom couldn't obtain a police uniform. That is what has held me back . . . "
That set up a red flag for Mark. "Chief, just before Tom arrived here, one of the officers came up here and asked if we had a room they could store some uniforms in. The room they keep them in was being painted."
"Where?" Ironside shouted.
"Down the hall from Tom's room."
"Is there an inventory as to how many are stored in there?" Ironside asked.
"Yes." Mark went over to Ironside's desk, turned on the computer, and check the inventory list of uniforms. He ran off a copy to the printer. After grabbing it off the printer, he ran out of the office.
"Chief, how could he get out of the building without the security alerting us?" Ed asked.
"He only could if he found access to where we were keeping the codes." The chief's face showed an instant worried look. He wheeled over to his desk and open the second drawer. It was gone! "My service revolver is missing."
"Maybe you left it in the van. You have been known to do that," Ed suggested.
Mark burst into the office. There is one full uniform missing, and it's Tom's size," he reported.
"The chief's gun is missing as well," Ed said.
"He was in this office late last night. He came into get a Pepsi, at least that is what he said," Mark told them.
"Well, then he had opportunity to get the gun and he must have known where we were keeping the codes," Ironside said.
"Chief," George called out, "we are done with the sketch. You are not going to like it." He walked over to the table and handed Ironside a sketch of Tom Dayton."
"Well that about does it," Ed said. "Tom Dayton is our killer."
"No, he isn't," Carl Reese called out as he came down the ramp. "I have the autopsy report. There was skin under Stacy Lomax's fingernails. We ran a check on them. The DNA belongs to Frank Vincent."
"Vincent?" Ironside said. "Sound familiar, Ed?"
"Yeah, how could I forget? He is the one we put behind bars. He and his wife ran a small Italian Cafe. He has an extreme hatred for cops, and killed the two cops who arrested him. We got him when he was with his mistress. He came after me. We forced him to go after the murder weapon and caught him red-handed with it. But, he's in prison. How could his DNA be under her fingernails?" Ed asked.
"I checked on him, Ed. He was being transported to another prison. Somehow, he slipped out of the handcuffs, overpowered the cop guarding him. He killed the cop driving the vehicle when he tried to stop him."
"Why wasn't I informed? Ed should have been informed as well," Ironside complained.
"I don't know, Chief. But, that isn't all. We found out he was renting an apartment. I took several cops with me. He wasn't there, but we found plenty of bloody clothes. How much do you want to bet when they are tested, we find it is blood from the murdered women?"
"That means Tom is not the murderer," Mark said. "But why then would he take Eve?"
"There is a simple answer for that, Mark. Eve has been riding him under my orders, and he is not cured. He still has a problem with women. We better find him before he does become a murderer."