Chapter Seven
Two days later, the news hit the CSI unit that another FTD letter had been received by the chief of police. The taunting nature of the serial killer was mounting, stating the police were powerless to stop him and that he may be so bold as to strike twice in one day, much like Jack the Ripper did in London in the 19th century. The killer also declared that even the planned alerting of the public through the media was in vain. This was a revelation in that the projected plan of cluing in the media further had not been made public in any form. The rumor mill began to note the suspicion that there was a leak within the police department that the killer had access to.
Iris was on her way into a late afternoon meeting of both CSI shifts that had been called by their lab director. As she head towards the locker area, Iris saw Max headed down the hallway. Their eyes met. Max gave her a sad smile as he approached her.
"Iris, can we talk please? I know you've got a meeting but give me just a few minutes?" Max entreated.
"Sure, Max." Iris said softly.
Finding the break room empty, Iris took a seat across from Max and looked at him expectantly. He reached across to hold hands for a moment before letting go.
"I'm sorry for acting like a jackass the other night. This FTD killer thing has got me on edge. I've been worried about you more than you know. Don't look at me like that Iris. I'm still your friend aren't I?" Max asked.
"You are, Max. I just don't feel more than that for you and I'm sorry. I do appreciate you're being concerned about my safety." Iris replied as she gazed back at him, reaching for his hand to squeeze it gently.
"Don't be sorry. You've always been honest and open from the get-go. I just held out hope for something that wasn't meant to be more than it was. You're gonna make some guy real happy one day and I'll envy him a little, so I hope you don't mind my saying so." Max said quietly.
"No, I don't mind and I'm glad we got to talk this through. You know I value your friendship." Iris said encouragingly.
"Thanks, same here, you know." Max admitted, allowing himself more of a smile now.
Iris glanced at her watch. "Max, l gotta get to this meeting. Tell you what. Let's have breakfast in the morning and it'll be my treat!
"It's a date! Oops! Open mouth insert foot. Breakfast tomorrow at La Madeline's then." Max said with a widening grin.
"MMMM, La Madeline's," Iris said, pretending to drool like Homer Simpson.
"You better get going and I'll call you in the morning at end of shift if we're not working the same crime scene." Max said as he stood up to go as Iris also headed out for the conference room.
Thirty minutes later, the roundtable meeting involving both CSI shifts was in progress to try to strategize the killer's possible next movements.
"So, the next victim should be named Lily if he continues his pattern," Jeri said, rubbing at her temple.
"Do you know how many women with the name of Lily are out there or could be named Lillian for that matter?" Mark asked, who was a CSI from the day shift.
"Right! And now they're sitting on the fence again about involving the media to alert the public." Brenda, another day shift CSI, grumbled.
"The break is out there, people. It's something we've either overlooked or have yet to chance upon. Stay diligent and focused!" Jeri encouraged everyone.
"I still say he's got some tie to law enforcement. Angie and I saw something like a badge flashed at the latest victim and it's the first time we've had actual footage of the killer. The victim was way too trusting to just go ahead and get in the car with him. I just wish we'd been able to get a close-up of the face or at least the ID badge photo." Iris stated flatly, knowing she might get into hot water for speculating that the killer might be someone from their own rank and file.
She received varied looks from the other CSI's, some incredulous and disbelieving, while others took in her opinion without comment. Angie shot her a look of "oh no you didn't".
"I believe that to be a remote possibility, Iris. You're definitely bright and not afraid to voice your thoughts, but you're still just a level one CSI so work with the more seasoned staff and learn." Frank Taylor, the CSI lab director, said bluntly.
Jeri came to Iris's defense. "Frank, Iris is entitled to her opinion and we need to consider all the possibilities. She and Angie are working hard on this case for the graveyard shift."
"Point taken, Jeri, but I stand by what I said. Iris is still new and level one and needs to keep her investigation tactics routine. No random or rogue elements are to be considered." Frank rebutted her.
Iris's jaw went twice sideways, feeling a flush creep into her cheeks, but she said nothing further. Jeri gave her a look out the corner of her eye to warn her to keep quiet for now.
The meeting concluded thereafter with no real progress made. Jeri caught Iris in the hallway.
"Iris, I know you're upset about what Frank said but he says that about all newer CSI's, just don't take it so personally," Jeri insisted.
"Jeri, he just swept what I had to say right under the rug and dismissed it without even further consideration." Iris sighed with exasperation.
"Hun, you gotta admit that what you had the guts to say out loud is in the mind of more than one of us but it makes for a very sensitive topic. I mean, come on, who in their right mind wants to think someone in law enforcement is capable of this?" Jeri continued before she headed on to her office.
"Hey, wait up!" Angie called out as Iris pulled up short, as Iris could eat up ground quick with her rapid stride even though she was on the short side.
"Angie, make it quick. I just want to head home and take a little power nap before shift tonight." Iris said a bit wearily.
'You haven't said anything more about Max! Can't you two patch things up and go on as before?" Angie asked quietly so as not to broadcast her question to other ears.
"As a matter of fact, Angie, we did just that before the meeting. He and I are having breakfast at La Madeline's in the morning after shift but totally as friends." Iris replied, noting Angie's surprised look.
"Okay. La Madeline's huh? Want company then?" Angie asked with a grin.
"Sure. The more the merrier! For now though I am headed home for that nap but I'll see you tonight!' Iris replied as she headed to her locker to get her purse and backpack.
Shaking her head as she watched Iris go, Angie couldn't help but think would Iris ever meet someone she'd fall for. Iris had been by herself now for ten years. David had been buried back in Indiana after his death. Her relatives had begged her to move back but Iris had been resolute to stay in Dallas where she had pursued her bachelor's and master's degrees to become a criminalist. She had graduated with honors before being accepted to work at the Dallas CSI unit in January of 2005. Her work at the forensics lab doing report transcription for the Dallas Police Department had preceded her new career as a CSI and working before then as a nurse. Yet, she found working as a CSI to be stimulating and challenging in ways her other past jobs paled in comparison by.
Iris saw it was now getting dark as she headed out to her Jeep. Her chance to get a nap for a few hours would be shortened further by rush hour. She put the Jeep in reverse and started the trek toward home in far North Dallas. She was headed toward the Dallas North Tollway just a few miles from the police lab when a car pulled up quickly behind her flashing its headlights at her. She knew she hadn't cut anyone off and wondered if this was a jerk with a road rage axe to grind. Iris refused to slow down as the car was tailgating her and then it suddenly rear-ended her. She fought to keep control of the Jeep as she pulled over to the shoulder. The other car pulled up close behind her and the driver got out to walk to Iris's vehicle. She also stepped out to begin the exchange of insurance information.
"Hello, love!" Iris stepped back from the dark figure, just before he seized her and held the cloth over her mouth and nose. She struggled frantically, kneeing him in the groin in the process, punching and kicking as she slowly lost consciousness; his grunt of pain telling her knee had made solid contact with his crotch.