Vengeance of the Freeway Phantom
Chapter 5
The following morning, while all the officers were waiting for briefing to begin, many were caught up in the laughter at some of the poor victims who were suffering from the effects of the California sunshine from last night's picnic. Grossman's face mirrored a tomato, but there were a number of others that came pretty close to matching his description. He also made sure no one came even close enough to slap him on the back. He hoped he'd be able to make it through the day without having to do any roughhousing with any of the "general" public.
Getraer finally walked into the room, which immediately quieted down. His face once again spoke volumes. "Okay, people, I just found out that we lost Stevenson earlier this morning. He...he never came out of the coma. Stevenson's been with the department for fifteen years," he paused briefly to collect himself. There was more he wanted to say, but at the moment all he could think of was getting that crazed lunatic off the highway. "People, the Captain wants this guy--and he wants him now!!! But no one wants this guy more than I do!" he pointed at himself in an angry manner, showing just how incensed he was. Then he continued, "The charge of vehicular homicide has now been added to the already long list of charges against this guy and we have no idea who we're dealing with. This 'Phantom' seems to be only targeting the CHP, and we don't even know why! He's picking us off one at a time people. He uses different highways, different times of day and stolen vehicles. And that is all we have to go on. I can't emphasize it enough, if you find yourself having to deal with a situation, and you somehow manage to smell a trap, back off!! Just get out of the way...if you can." Getraer then got into the more somber details of the morning. "Stevenson's wife Kathy and son will be staying at her parent's home till the funeral. I'll announce the arrangements as soon as I get them." He continued the briefing on other notes. After he was done, he dismissed everybody but two, "Jon, Frank, in my office."
"Okay, Sarge," they answered almost in unison.
Both officers went straight from the Briefing room to Getraer's office. But when they stepped up to the doorway both of them stopped. Their sergeant was standing at the window, totally unaware of their presence. He just stood there, sadly shaking his head. Then suddenly, he slammed his fist down on the cabinet that was beside him. Getraer couldn't help but think of the senselessness of this whole situation. Why can't they nail this guy?!! How many more officers were going to be injured, or...?!
"Joe, you wanted to see us?" Jon asked. Apparently, Getraer was so deep in thought he hadn't heard him. "Ah, Joe..."
Getraer finally turned, cleared his throat and waved them on into the room. "Jon, Frank, come in and sit down."
Whenever they were offered a seat it generally was because they were in some sort of trouble or Joe really needed them to do something important. With the news they had just learned at the briefing, both of them had a feeling it was the latter.
"Jon, Frank, I need both of you to take part in the honor guard part of the funeral. As I mentioned in briefing, we don't know when it is, but the Captain asked that I request two of my best motor officers to represent our shift," Getraer paused and pointed at them, "that means you two."
"Sure, Joe, no problem, we'll be there," Jon replied as both he and Ponch looked at each other nodding their heads in complete agreement.
"Okay, good. I'll let you two and everybody else know the details as soon as I'm told."
"Okay, Sarge," Ponch replied.
Then Jon spoke up, "Joe, we are going to get this guy."
Getraer looked up at both officers, "Yeah, and let's do that before he gets a chance to injure, or God forbid kill another officer. Now go hit your beats."
Both young men simply nodded once again in agreement and then silently left the room. Joe stared at them as they left. He found himself wondering who was going to be the Phantom's next victim. He couldn't help but shudder at the very thought.
Ponch and Jon met Stephanie out in the hallway. Both could tell by the expression on her face that she was more than likely still reeling from the effects of hearing about the death of the fellow officer. She looked as if she was in a daze.
"Hey, you okay" her partner asked in a worried tone. He didn't get a reaction. "Stephanie?" he gently shook her shoulder.
"Huh? Oh...sorry, Jon, did you say something?"
"Yeah, are you okay?" Jon repeated. Both he and Ponch were extremely worried about how distracted she still seemed to look.
"Yeah...ah, no, I'm feeling a little off my feet, I guess. Ah, Jon, I've gotta go talk to Getraer. I've gotta see if I can take the day off. I really don't think I'd be any good out there today. I certainly wouldn't want to put you or any other officer at risk because I can't focus today, " she announced, and then quickly turned to head to Getraer's office, leaving the two friends standing there in a state of confusion. Stephanie just couldn't contain her emotions anymore. If she hadn't turned her back to them as quickly as she did, she would have lost it right there and she didn't want to do that.
She approached the open doorway to Getraer's office and saw him looking down at his paperwork. It appeared to her that the man really wasn't seeing what he was looking at. 'He's in a daze, too...' she thought and realized that he also had been blind-sided by this crazy 'Phantom' guy. She cleared her throat, "Uh, Sergeant Getraer?" That didn't get his attention. "Sergeant?!" she spoke up a little louder, and this time he looked up to see her standing there.
"Oh Stephanie, come in." He took a really good look at her face. "Is something wrong?" he wondered and then thought, 'Dumb question.'
"Sarge, I...I think I need to take today off. I...I just don't think I'd be any good out there today. I just can't deal..."
"Listen Stephanie, I understand this 'Phantom' character along with the death of Stevenson, isn't helping you in dealing with your own loss. I'd really hate to lose you today, however, if your judgment is telling you that you'd be endangering yourself and your partner because you wouldn't be thinking clearly, I think I can deal with that. Just try to get yourself pulled together okay? I need you back here tomorrow."
"Okay, Sarge, I'll...I'll try," she vowed and then walked out of his office, hoping she wouldn't meet up with either Jon or Ponch. She snuck out the back door and started her trip home.
Getraer watched her as she left his office. He didn't like having one of his officer's leave like this, but he knew in Stephanie's case it really wouldn't be a good idea to have her out on the highways. As distracted as she obviously was she could very easily become the Phantom's next victim.
He stepped out of his office, hoping to find a certain couple of officers. With any luck they'd still be in the building, more than likely waiting for Stephanie's return. Before long Joe spotted them, "Jon, Frank, I need you two to double up today."
Both men looked at each other, but it was Jon who spoke up, "Us two? Where's Stephanie?"
"She went home."
"Home? Well, she did say she wasn't feeling so good," Jon admitted.
"Okay, so go on hit the bricks will yah!" Getraer didn't really want to give them a chance to question further as to the reason why Stephanie had gone home.
"Okay, okay, we're goin' already!" Ponch retorted, as both he and Jon headed out the exit.
Stephanie was, er, well, she seemed to be fine before briefing. But, again, they figured it had to be this Phantom thing and now the death of Jim Stevenson. It was actually getting to be more than they could even handle. But they had to move on, so they got on their motors and were just about ready to head out of the parking lot.
But for a moment or two, both officers were lost in their own thoughts. Neither of them was blind to the fact that something else had to be definitely troubling their fellow officer--and new found friend as well. Both men wanted to help the woman, but couldn't because they were clueless as to what was wrong.
Ponch was the first to break the silence just as they started their motors to head out, "What do yah say we head over to Stephanie's sometime today. You know, just to check to make sure she is okay and also to make sure we're still on for tomorrow night."
As they slowly headed toward the end of the driveway to get on the highway where they stopped, Jon couldn't help but smile, "Ponch, the lady isn't feeling well. It may not be such a good idea to intrude."
"Intrude?!! We're not intruding! Okay, we'll call it a 'welfare check'. We're just checking on her well being, okay? There's nothing wrong with that."
Jon quickly realized his partner wasn't going to change his mind on this one. Well, as usual when Ponch latched onto an idea, he was like a pit bull and wouldn't let go, no matter how hard Jon tried to get him to drop the idea. So Baker simply resigned himself to that very fact, "All right, Ponch, you win." He turned to see his partner's toothy grin.
"I always do, partner." Then they got on the highway and proceeded on patrol
After traveling quite a few miles, in his right side mirror Jon spotted a car coming up from behind them, but two lanes over. As he and Ponch were as usual riding side by side he got Ponch's attention and pointed in that direction. As the vehicle was going well over the speed limit it passed by them quite quickly. They immediately checked to make sure they could move over to that lane and then as soon as they could they worked their way up behind it, turned on their lights, signaling the driver to stop.
When the driver finally spotted the flashing lights behind him, he had to forcibly hold himself in check. The man steered the car over to the shoulder and waited for the inevitable.
This time, Ponch took the driver's side. He carefully studied the sporty looking vehicle as he walked up to the car. "Morning, sir," he said, as he stepped up to the driver's open window.
"Officer," the driver acknowledged as he bit his lip.
"Sir, we stopped you because you were traveling well over the posted speed limit. May I see your license, registration and insurance please?"
"Sure." The speeder than gathered and then handed over the requested paperwork. As he did, he made a mental note of the officer's nameplate. Well, at least he tried.
"Thank you. I'll be back in a minute," Ponch promised and went back to his motor to call it in to dispatch.
While the man's driving record was being checked out, he sat in his car-- absolutely fuming! His hatred for cops and everything they stood for just moved up an extra notch...or two. The man quickly decided that he had just found his next victim. Yes, unknowingly, both Ponch and Jon had stumbled quite innocently upon the 'Freeway Phantom'. But it was the officer that was going to give him the ticket that he wanted.
As the psycho sat there, he burned the CHP officer's name into his memory, well, part of it anyway. Poncher--something or other. Fortunately, he'd gotten a very good look at the officer's face as well. Then he smiled when he realized the officer's name would be on the ticket.
Ponch finally came back to the driver's window and handed him the ticket book for his signature. Ponch gave the guy his own personal copy of the citation, along with his papers and then turned him loose.
Before the Phantom drove away, he looked at the paper and sort of figured out how to pronounce the officer's name, and then he crumpled up the paper and threw it on the floor. "That pig is mine!" he yelled. He was glad that he had been driving his own vehicle. But then again, even if he had been driving a stolen one, he would have simply led those two Chippies on a merry chase. A chase that he would have made sure ended up exactly like the others--with one or perhaps both kissing the pavement. Now, the Phantom had some very serious thinking to do. He had to start formulating a plot of revenge. He headed for home to calm himself down, clear his head and get busy planning. The Phantom figured this would be a challenge, although a welcomed challenge.
As Ponch and Jon walked back to their motors, they made the decision to take the time to check on Stephanie. So they went roaring off the highway towards their new destination.
The two motorcycle officers arrived at their colleague's home and knocked on the door. As they stood there waiting, both noticed how quiet the house seemed to be. Stephanie finally met them at the door and greeted them with a somewhat shaky voice, "...Hey guys, what's up?" she asked, hoping they could see past her fake smile.
"Stephanie, sorry to bother you, we just wanted to make sure you were all right," Jon told her as diplomatically as he could.
"Oh, I'm doing a little better, thanks," she somewhat fibbed. She bit her lip as she knew she had to get a hold of herself. The world continued on and she had to learn to move on with it. It was just that it was a lot harder than she thought it would ever be.
Then it was Ponch's turn, a little less diplomatically, of course, "Then we're still on for tomorrow night?"
She couldn't help but smile at his boyish, toothy expression, "Ponch, actually I honestly think it's something I really do need right now."
"Good, tomorrow night it is," he quickly confirmed.
"All right, Stephanie, if you're certain everything's okay. We just wanted to make sure," Jon was more concerned about how she was doing then he was about Ponch's dinner 'date' tomorrow night.
"Sure, I'm doing okay and again thanks for checking. I'll see you guys tomorrow," then she closed the door.
As they walked back to their motors, Ponch couldn't help but comment, "Jon, I'm glad she didn't change her mind about tomorrow night."
"So am I. But I sure wish she'd level with us, er, somebody anyhow. Whatever she's got bottled up inside can't be good for her," Baker added, and then both men started their motors and headed back on the highway.
As they continued on their way Ponch added, a little louder to be heard over the sound of both engines, "Well, maybe after tomorrow night she'll feel more comfortable around us. Even if it's something we can't really help her with, we at least could listen and let her get it off her chest!"
"Yeah, but it'll have to be all up to her and her alone!!" Jon responded.
When the Freeway Phantom arrived at his apartment, he couldn't get that cop off his mind. He walked over to the couch, clenching and unclenching his fists. He wanted him bad, so bad he decided he didn't care if he 'took him out' on or off duty. That sudden little revelation intrigued him as it would be a nice change. He figured he'd have to change his strategy though. When he started this, it was any cop that simply got in his way while he was out on the freeways. He didn't care who in particular it was, it didn't matter--it was just a cop. This guy, though, he was a special project. He'd take some figuring out as to how it could be done. He'd need to be patient on this one, as he needed to do some planning, which included learning more about this guy. If it turned out that he'd end up doing it while he was off duty, he'd have to find out where he lived, the car he drove and maybe a few other things. So that evening he spent thinking that in time a plan would form. But this was one time he really hoped his imagination wouldn't fail him. It wouldn't.
Back at Central all the officers were glad their day had passed without any mishaps, er, any problems as far as the Phantom was concerned. But there still was the afternoon and midnight shifts and those seemed to be the Phantom's favorite targets at the moment. Right now, everyone was just concerned about finishing up their reports so they could head for home. As usual, there was the continual humorous banter between Grossman and the others. Well, that is until Sergeant Getraer walked in.
"Jon, Frank, come to my office before you leave, okay?" Joe requested.
"Sure," they replied almost in unison.
No one in the room had missed the look on their senior officer's face. Whatever their sergeant wanted to talk to Ponch and Jon about it seemed to be something on a sad note. Then they realized he probably had some news about the funeral that he wanted to fill them in on.
The two summoned men quickly finished their paperwork then headed to Getraer's office. As they entered his office, Jon asked, "Joe, you wanted to see us?"
Both young men saw the look on Getraer's face hadn't changed and he was now drumming the end of his pen while appearing miles away. Then it suddenly occurred to him that they were in the room, "Huh, oh yeah. Ah, Jon, Frank, I've been requested to have you two in full-dress uniform for Stevenson's funeral on Sunday. The ceremony is at 11 am. But you'd better be there at least an hour or so earlier. Oh, you may want to join the others at Patterson's Funeral Home on Saturday afternoon around 4 to go over the details."
"Ah, Joe, how's Kathy doing?" Ponch asked with a very concerned look on his face.
"About as well as can be expected under the circumstances, I guess. Betty's been trying to help her out with the funeral arrangements and other details as much as she can. She doesn't think it's really hit her yet. She's afraid reality will hit at the funeral." Joe paused a moment, "All I can say is we'd better get this guy soon...real soon."
"We'll be there Saturday afternoon and then early Sunday for the funeral," Jon told him, then both men left his office to begin their trek home for the evening.
Ponch already had ideas in mind for what he was going to have for dinner Friday night. He just had to go shopping tonight to pick everything up and then get it ready so he could just put it in the oven tomorrow night. So after he had arrived home after his shift he quickly changed into his street clothes and then climbed into his Firebird for the drive to the grocery store.
Driving his own sporty looking car got him to thinking about the past few days, the injured officers along with the death and upcoming funeral of Jim Stevenson. Why? Why was this guy doing this to them? Sure a lot of people disliked, yes, even hated cops for one reason or another. That was a given. Yes, there were those that 'hated' everything cops stood for. Every officer knew this. But for someone to have that much hatred to carry out something like this was still hard to comprehend. The person or persons had to have a vendetta against the Highway Patrol for some reason. That was the only logical explanation. Well, the only one Ponch was able to come up with at the moment anyway. The whole thing was very unnerving.
His train of thought was broken when he heard the short blip of a siren coming from behind. Well, he knew he wasn't speeding, exactly. Well, maybe a couple miles over, but not enough to warrant a cop to pull him over. It had to be something else. He pulled the car onto the shoulder and brought it to a complete stop. As he watched the officer cautiously walk up to his car he placed both hands on the wheel, something most people don't realize how important that is. But he knew that was the safest place for them to be for himself, as well as serving as a non-threatening position for the officer.
The officer was now at his window and he greeted the motorist, "Afternoon, sir." As the driver turned towards him, they both recognized each other. "Ponch! Ah, sorry to pull you over like this, man. How you doin'?"
'Terrific!" Ponch answered him with a broad grin. Then it suddenly dawned on him as to why the officer pulled him over. "Ah, it's the car, isn't it?"
The officer couldn't help but smile, "Yeah, that Phantom does have us all pretty jumpy."
"No kidding!"
"Hey, I won't hold you any longer, Ponch, have a good evening."
"Yeah, you too...and be careful tonight." Ponch definitely hoped this CHP officer was going to go home safe and sound after his shift. Then the officer stepped out of the way and Ponch moved his car back on the road leaving the patrolman to walk back to his vehicle.
Upon arriving at the market, Ponch quickly found and paid for the ingredients he needed. He didn't want to take too long because he wanted to get home so he could start working on preparing his dinner items for tomorrow night.
As soon as he arrived back at his apartment, he put on the TV and then got busy in the kitchen. It wouldn't be long before the local news came on. When it finally did, the first piece of news naturally started out with the death of Officer Jim Stevenson.
Ponch dropped what he was doing so he could listen intently. The report began, "The California Highway Patrol Officer, Jim Stevenson, died early this morning from injuries he received when he was involved in a hit and run. Officer Stevenson was the third officer involved in the recent apparent highway attacks on CHP officers. From what we've learned, the unknown suspect seems to steal a car and then use it to create a highway accident involving numerous vehicles and always a motorcycle CHP officer. Officer Stevenson was a fifteen year veteran and leaves behind his wife of five years and his one year old son." Then he added, "If anyone sees anything suspicious regarding any sporty, revved up looking vehicle, please contact the CHP Central Division."
The part of the report about Jim's little boy made Ponch's eyes water and his jaw tighten. The captain and Getraer weren't the only ones that wanted this guy. He had to force himself to go back to the kitchen to try to finish up what he had started. He had to remind himself of the reason for his doing this. The dinner party was being held because Stephanie was troubled about something and, as a fellow officer and friend, she had to learn that he and Jon wanted to help her...if they could...if she'd even let them. After today, with her leaving work, Ponch figured that whatever was bothering her had to be something pretty big. He assumed that her problem didn't have to do just with the Phantom and what he was doing to them. He felt there was just too many subtle hints that she was giving them.