Chapter 15
Kate wakes early to get ready for her first day as task force team leader. While this was her plan to be prepared for this day. Fate is not smiling down on her. First, her hot water turns so very cold while she is in the shower after about 2 minutes. Then as she is pressing her new blouse she leaves the iron on the garment a little too long and scorched it. And to top it all off, she broke the heel off of her new Jimmy Choo 4" stilettos when she is leaving her apartment. She took the time to correct all those things that went wrong. Finally, she is ready to leave a half hour late.
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She has reviewed the file from the Richard Walker murder case. She has a couple of things for Ryan and Espo to run down. Arriving at the precinct she noticed a dozen red and yellow roses sitting atop her new desk. Curious she walks over to the colorful flowers and pulls the card that read:
"Congratulations on a well deserved promotion Always, Rick"
She smiles at his thoughtfulness. She would have to call or text him later. It is just shy of 7 am. She knows Ryan and Espo would be in by 7:30. She has their first assignments all set. When Hastings arrives she would put her with Espo to gain more experience in the field she is good but with Espo's know how she will be that much better. She boots up her computer then enters her password. She checks to see if Perlmutter has sent his findings on TOD along with the toxicology report for the Walker case. To her amazement he has and she is reviewing the report when Ryan enters. Looking up from her computer she motions him to come over.
"Good Morning Kevin..." Kate says looking up at him.
"Hey, Lieutenant..." Ryan, friendly answers.
"Kevin, you can still call me Beckett. The same applies to Javi as well." Kate replies.
"Okay, what's up Boss?" Ryan asks.
"Kev, I need you to run Walkers financial background. I need to know how much he was worth. Also, will you track his movements on any type of cams that he might appear on?" Kate orders.
"On it, boss, however, it might take me awhile to sift through that much footage by myself." Ryan laments.
"Ryan, I know...do your best, that's all I ask. I'll try to get you help to assist you later." Kate says wondering if her power of task leader could extend to requisitioning the only IT agent in homicide.
She will have to discuss that with the Captain later. She resumes reading the ME's report. The slugs have her very concerned. There was an attempted murder on Richard Castle and the murder of Richard Walker. Both slugs are a match to both scenes. She sits back in her chair and thinks. Hastings draws her from her thoughts.
"Lieutenant Beckett, reporting as ordered." Hastings addresses Kate.
"Good Morning Hastings." Kate responds.
Hastings snaps to attention then address Kate directly.
"Lieutenant, Detective third grade Hastings reporting for duty." She recites.
"Anne, I am happy for you. This is a big jump to be doing what we both know that you're very capable of doing. The case I am assigning you will tell me if I will permanently approve you for this promotion." Kate says.
"I understand Sir." Ann replies.
"Good, my old desk will be yours. So take what you need and get set up. When you are finished…report to Detective Esposito you will be with him." Kate orders.
"Understood, Sir..." Ann replies.
Espo arrives then Kate calls him over to her desk. Thinking that they should make a good team but she has words of warning for him.
"Espo, if it looks like she can't cut it I need you to be straight with me. She is on probation. I need to know that she has what we need to get the job done." Kate forcefully says.
"Not a problem Boss." Espo says looking over at his new trainee then he turns his attention to his Lieutenant.
"Okay Espo, I need you and your trainee to re-canvas the crime scene and see if you can find out anything else that we might have missed. And I also need to find out what happened to his two dogs." Kate says.
Espo went back to his desk and after collecting his notes from the first canvas he strode over to Hastings desk. She had finished setting up her desk with the standard issue office products.
"Anne, are you ready for your first field assignment?" Espo asks.
"I am," She replies.
Taking her weapon from her desk draw she places it in her holster. Hanging her shield around her neck she zips up her coat then gives Espo the okay.
Kate observes as they leave the floor. She is confident she has made the right decision. She would question Espo after they return to see if her instinct is correct.
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On the east side somewhere between 71st and 78th streets of New York the sounds of barking dogs can be heard in a small warehouse.
"Come on Boys it is time for dinner." Their temporary owner says to them. He walks over to the two separate cages then places their preferred dog food. The dogs are happy to be fed since it's the first thing they have eaten in awhile. They devour the food in seconds. They lick their chops wanting more. The dogs now sated dozed in the corner.
"You will never want again, I will make sure of that." He thinks.
He returns to finish his task at hand. He stares at the cursor blinking at him like it has a mind of its own. Deleting what he has written so far he starts again.
Mr. Vick,
I have had a hatred for what you got away with since your 21 months in prison. You, my friend, will pay dearly for clearly taking the life of the dog that did not perform to your standards. You have a large set of balls after watching YOUR own dog be disqualified for jumping out of your so called fighting ring.
Whether you had someone do it for you is not the problem. The fact is that you ordered your friend to commit such a despicable act should never be overlooked. Shooting a defenseless dog is such a despicable act! I promise to make it my goal to see that you get what you have coming to you. So until then...
Signed
Your Number 1 Ex- Fan.
He is wearing gloves as he prints out the letter then folds it in threes. He carefully slides it into an envelope making sure no stray hair would fall into it. He is very careful to not leave any trace of his DNA on envelope either. He uses a damp sponge to moisten the glue and seals it. He prints out the address label to the letter. He does not include a return address. He slips on a new pair of gloves then he leaves the security of the warehouse. He heads to the mailbox on the corner.
He returns to the warehouse. The dogs lick his hand as he plays with them in their cages. They know and obey him. He finishes playing then sits down at his computer. There is DogKiller 54 again on the site. He really makes his head explode! After sending scathing retorts he settles down. He goes to his favorite celebrity site. He is horrified upon seeing the pictures of animal abuse.
"To think I used to work for this guy! Well, he will not abuse any more animals!"
He got into his desk still with his gloves on he pulls out the 9 mm Smith and Wesson. He gets the box of ammo down then removes all the bullets from the box. Inspects them carefully then inserts the right amount in the magazine. He boxes up the rest. He slams home the slide then points the gun at the picture on the screen. He gets up and leaves the warehouse. He knows those dogs' schedule. They should be entering Central Park just about now. He readies his lawn keeping trailer. Having a job with the city affords him everything as he places his cap tightly on his head.
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Kate looks at the notes for the Walker case once again and notes what she found on the murder board. She takes a step back and quietly tries to connect the dots. In deep thought, she is interrupted by the ringing of her phone.
"Beckett" she answers.
"Yo Boss, we have some bad news." Espo says.
"Okay Espo what did you find out." Kate asks urgently.
"Well, Boss you're not going to like this..." Espo warns.
"Espo, don't keep me in suspense," she says jokingly.
"There is a third Victim…The press found him before uni's arrived…" Espo replies.
"Espo what's going on?" Kate asks alarmed knowing what the unbridled press will do to a crime scene.
"Lieutenant, It is a mess the press trampled everywhere…I doubt we will get anything useful from this crime scene. Lanie is finally here." Espo reports.
"Where Javi?" Kate asks.
"The crime scene is near the Belvedere Castle. Lieutenant, it is a mess!" Espo reports.
"Get CSU to sweep for everything I mean every fiber or print. I want to know what went on there." Kate orders.
"Will do Boss. I doubt CSU will be any help…I mean there are tracks everywhere." Espo laments.
Kate thinks for a moment.
"Espo, are there any dog tracks?" Kate asks.
"Yeah Boss, two sets they head off toward the East then they stop. It's like they just vanished. There are no cameras in this area either." Espo says.
"Thanks, Espo keep me up to date on what Lanie finds." Kate says hanging up.
She needs to inform the Captain. This is the third murder except the first is only an attempted murder. It certainly would have been a murder if she did not intervene. Kate heart stops then banishes that thought from her mind.
Kate enters the Captain's office. The TV screen is on… Kate is glued to the TV reporter on the screen as is her Captain.
"This is Hazel Sanchez for CBS 2 news New York, I'm at the scene of a bloody murder in Central Park. About noon today a Richard Salazar the supermarket mogul whose picture is plastered on every supermarket he owns along with his two award winning dachshunds (are shown prominently) is dead from 3 gunshot wounds to the chest. Seen here in his TV commercial. He was 33… More news as it breaks.
"Back to you, Maurice and Kristine," She says.
Kate looks over at her Captain as he turns off the screen then turns to her.
"Kate, get that bastard…The press are calling him the Playboy Murderer! We need to get him. That is three! Now we have a full blown serial killer somewhere out there…I'll give you anyone you need, Lieutenant. The Captain states.
"Thank you, Sir. I would like to request IT help first. I'll get back to you on the others later." Kate says.
"You have it…so any promising suspects?" The Captain asks.
"Not yet Captain we do have several leads which are looking to be promising." Kate informs.
"Good Lieutenant. Keep on it…I'm going to have to face the press…Get me something...and quickly!" The Captain says.
"Yes, Captain I'm on it." Kate says leaving the Captain's office.
"The damn press knows more than we do… The Playboy Murderer indeed!" The Captain is heard to say.
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Back at the warehouse, two more dogs join the others…