Scrabble Spells Murder
Chapter 07
7.1
The Hacker watched as Katherine Denureve entered the building that contained the medical office of Dr Ben Stern. He pulled out his smartphone and checked the Board of Governors. She did indeed serve on the board. Still the Hacker felt uneasy. He knew that she had been seeing Ironside. Yet, there was no indication but he knew that his doctor and friend was his next target. Did Ironside know?
The Hacker shook his head. He was only being paranoid. There wasn't any reason to believe that this woman had any knowledge of what was to happen or that Ironside had sent her. She had every right to be there. She met with Ben Stern on a regular basis.
As she disappeared into the building, he decided that his fears were unfounded... or were they?
7.2
Katherine turned down the hall and headed directly for the elevator that would take her to Dr Stern's floor. She still could not believe that Robert had agreed to this. She had been sure that he would not allow it. It presented very little risk to her and she knew that it was the best way for Robert to communicate with Ben. Even if the hacker saw her enter the building, he would not suspect anything if he had done his homework. The Hacker would know that Katherine served on the Board of Governors and made regular trips to see Dr Stern.
As she stepped off the elevator, she turned to her right and walked directly down the hall to Ben's office. She opened the door and entered the reception area. She was greeted warmly by the woman seated behind the desk.
"Good morning, Ms. Denureve. The doctor is expecting you. If you would like to have a seat, I will let him know that you are here."
Katherine smiled, thanked the receptionist and took a seat in the waiting room. Within just a matter of a couple minutes, Dr Ben Stern came into the waiting room.
"Katherine, such a delight to see you. Come in, come in!" With a wave of his hand, he directed her into his office. She followed him in and took a seat on the other side of his desk. "Circumstances tell me that this is not charity business."
Katherine smiled. "Robert has figured out that you are the next target of the Hacker... "
"So that is what we are calling murderers these days," he interrupted.
"He has not killed anyone yet. Robert would like to keep it that way."
"Then I take it he has some instructions for me?"
"He has indeed. The Hacker has decided that none of his staff can help him with this particular situation. He has to handle it on his own."
"I see," Ben said, rubbing his chin. "Then that means there will be no police officers at the conference."
Regretfully, Katherine nodded. "That is correct but he does have a plan."
"That's a relief. I suppose you are here to tell me what the plan is?"
She nodded once again. "How many of the campus police are ex-cops?"
"I don't know the exact numbers but I do know that many of them are. What does Bob want?"
"He wants them in plain clothes. They are to keep an eye on you and him. When the Hacker makes his move toward either of you, they will be there to stop him."
"Isn't he worried about the Hacker finding out beforehand?"
"Only the ex-cops are to know what the plan is. The campus police will be there to do exactly what they would have been there to do had the hacker not threatened you. In other words, they are just to be visible. The Hacker will not expect anything as he would know the campus police would be assigned to any event this large."
"Alright, I will find out how many ex-cops there are on the campus police." Ben reached for the phone and dialed. Katherine waited patiently as he carried on a conversation with the head of the campus police.
After ten minutes, he hung up the phone and returned his attention to her. "There are more ex-cops on the campus police than I expected. Eight in all."
"I will tell Robert and get back to you on how he wants to divide them between the two of you. May I have a list of those eight men?"
Dr Stern picked up a piece of paper he had been writing on while talking to the campus police, walked over to the copier and made a copy. He gave it to Katherine. "Call me with instructions from Bob and I will relay to the head of the campus police."
Katherine looked at the paper in her hand, looked up at Ben and smiled. "I will be in touch when Robert has had a chance to look over these names."
Ben walked over to the door. He put his hand on the doorknob but did not open the door. "I am surprised Bob involved you in this."
"He objected to my involvement but frankly, even though he would never admit it, he knew there was no better way to communicate with you without letting the Hacker find out."
"Well, don't you worry, Bob will never let you anywhere near this manic." He smiled at Katherine and then opened the door.
"Goodbye, Ben," Katherine said as she walked out the door.
"Goodbye, Katherine." He watched as she left his office.
7.3
The Hacker watched Katherine Denureve come out of Ben Stern's office building. He got out of his car and followed her to the parking lot. He reminded himself the woman was on the Board of Governors but it bothered him that she spent a lot of time with Ironside. He had already been over this in his mind but it kept nagging at him.
It was not unusual for her to meet with the doctor. The Hacker had checked on it and she had met with him on a regular basis. The Denureve woman was very influential. She also was on the board at Saint Mary's Hospital. She seemed to be involved plenty in charity work at several medical centers and hospitals. There was no reason to suspect her as anything but what she appeared to be. Yet, she was Ironside's woman.
Was it just a coincidence or was there more to it? He had to know. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a knife. Looking around, he checked for anyone that might witness what he was about to do. He saw no one in the parking garage. It was now or never. He picked up his pace to catch up with Denureve.
7.4
Ed and Eve knocked on the apartment door of Benny Dodson. After waiting a reasonable amount of time with no response, Ed rapped his knuckles on the door again. Still no one answered.
"The chief is not going to be happy. He wanted this guy on this right away," Eve said.
Ed tried the door. He turned the doorknob. Ed looked at Eve in surprise. "I thought this guy used a lot of expensive computers. Why would he leave the door open for someone to walk in and steal them?"
"Maybe, he didn't leave it open," Eve suggested.
Ed pulled out his service revolver. He motioned for Eve to move to the other side of the door. Slowly he pushed it open with the barrel of the gun. Brown peaked into the apartment. There was no sign that Benny Dobson was home. Ed indicated to Eve to check one side of the apartment as he checked the other. When they had completed a sweep of the apartment, they met back in the living room.
"No one's home," Eve observed.
"He has an office down the hall. It is full of computer equipment. Where do you suppose he is?"
Eve shrugged. "I don't know but now that we have established that Benny is not here, we should leave. The chief won't be happy with us for traipsing around without a warrant."
"We are not searching the place. The door was open and Benny could have been in trouble. I don't understand where he is. His computers are all on in his office. It is unlike him to leave the door open."
Behind them the door creaked. Ed motioned for Eve to move to the other side of the door. Both detectives pulled out their service revolvers and waited quietly.
Slowly the door opened and someone began peaking his head through. Ed nodded at Eve to cover him and then grabbed the individual, pulling him into the apartment. Holding his gun on the man, he turned him to face him.
Benny Dodson swallowed hard and took a deep breath when he saw Sergeant Brown in front of him, pointing a gun directly at him. "Good grief, Ed, are you trying to give me a heart attack? What are you doing in my apartment?"
"You left the door open, Benny," Officer Whitfield said, defending Ed.
Benny looked at her and shook his head. "No, I locked it. I know that for a fact. I checked it before I left." He left the detectives and went immediately to his computer room. Dodson sat down and began typing. He said nothing for several minutes before he turned his chair around to face Ed and Eve. "Someone was in the system. They put a trace in it."
Ed and Eve did not like the sound of that. "Just exactly what will they find out with this trace?" Ed asked.
"It is rather sophisticated. Someone wants to keep track of what I am hacking into." He looked up at Ironside's detectives and asked, "Do you know anything about this? Is the police department snooping into systems? I have been straight for years, Ed, you know that. I even leave myself at their beck and call. I have helped them numerous times... especially your boss."
"We have nothing to do with this, Benny," Eve assured him. "But we think we know who does."
"Who?"
"The Hacker," Ed replied. When Ed saw that Benny was about to ask another question, he interrupted him. "We can't tell you any more right now but whoever the Hacker is knows about you."
"I don't care who this guy is. He is not dealing with an amateur. I can undo anything he has done." Once again he started typing on the keyboard. Eve put her hand over his to stop him.
"We are going to have to ask you not to do that," she said.
"What! You can't be serious. I cannot have anyone tracing where I have been. Remember, the people that I work for includes you."
"Eve is right, Benny," Ed said. "If you do that, there is a good chance that someone will die. The hacker will know that the chief is trying to find out who he is. And if he knows that then there will be no clue for his next victim." That was all Ed was willing to tell him.
"You don't understand. This is how I make my living by hacking into computers for the police, the FBI, and the CIA. I cannot have anyone tracing what I am hacking into."
He knew of no other way to stop him so Ed said, "As of now you are working for the San Francisco police until further notice. You will be paid your regular rate."
"Just exactly what am I going to be doing?"
"Maybe absolutely nothing. I will have to talk to Chief Ironside. One thing you will not be doing is investigating the trace that was put on your computer. You are to do nothing about it. Is that clear?"
"Perfectly. It's your money." If Ironside wanted to pay him for sitting around, who was he to argue?
Ed and Eve left Benny's apartment. When they arrived at the car, Eve said, "Commissioner Randall is going to love you, spending the city's money." She grinned at him.
"Quite frankly, I don't think he would have handled it any different. We cannot allow Dodson to tamper with that computer. It could cost someone their life."
7.5
Commissioner Dennis Randall opened the door to Ironside's office and came down the ramp. Walking over to the main table, he sat down beside Ironside. "Have you heard back from Katherine yet?"
"She should be on her way back now."
Randall watched him as the detective stared at the Scrabble game in front of him. He could not imagine what Bob Ironside was thinking. Most cops would see a Scrabble board but Randall knew that Ironside saw more than that. "What is it, Bob?"
"A pattern. He is building a pattern."
"A pattern? What pattern?" Randall asked.
"I don't know. We don't have enough clues."
"Then how do you know there is a pattern?"
"I know," Ironside replied.
"Bob, that is not an answer. How do you know?"
"So far, Dennis, he has chosen two people that are close to me."
Randall grinned. "I did not realize I meant that much to you."
Ironside looked back at his boss and said with a straight face, "You don't. I was talking about your wife, Patricia."
The grin from Randall's face disappeared. He was lost as he usually was to respond to the wit of Bob Ironside even though he was confident in their friendship. After all, he dropped everything to race to The Wharf to protect him. "Okay, then bring me up to date."
Ironside looked at him with a bewildered look. "Until Katherine gets here there is nothing to add."
Randall drummed his fingers on the table. With an exasperated sigh, Ironside looked at him as he tilted his head.
When Randall noticed, he said innocently, "What?"
"Commissioner, I will keep you updated. It is not necessary to sit here and wait. I am sure you have more important things to do."
"What's the matter? Don't you want me here?"
Ironside tilted his head further to the right. "Quite frankly, no! You are making me nervous. I can't concentrate with you sitting there drumming your fingers on the table."
Mark, who was putting on another pot of coffee, smiled. The chief could be so entertaining at times. Besides, who else could get away with practically telling their boss to get out?
"Alright, Bob. I can take a hint. Call me when you have talked to Katherine." Randall got up and headed for the door.
"I must be slipping if you took that as a hint," Ironside called out in a parting shot.
Mark grinned but quickly wiped the grin from his face as Randall passed by. He nodded at him. "Commissioner."
"How you live with that man is beyond me."
The grin returned to his face as he poured the chief another cup of coffee. Carrying it over to the table, he set it down in front of the detective who once again was staring at the Scrabble board.
7.6
Katherine could feel someone behind her. She pushed down the fear that was beginning to rise and reached into her purse. She removed the mace that Robert insisted she carry and prepared to defend herself. Before she got a chance, her assailant grabbed her from behind. Placing one arm around her waist and the other across her mouth, he said, "I am going to remove my hand. Don't move and don't try to scream. And don't turn around if you want to live. Is that clear?"
Katherine nodded her head. The Hacker removed his hand from her mouth. "What are you doing here?"
"I am on the Board of Governors. I have to meet with Ben Stern on a regular basis. He is in charge of several charity events that I work in as well."
"And that is it?"
"Yes," Katherine lied.
The Hacker put his knife at Katherine's throat. "Don't lie to me, lady!"
Keeping her cool, she replied. "I am not lying to you."
He pondered what to say to get information but not make her suspicious of his intentions. He decided the woman could not possibly be stupid if she was Ironside's woman. He was an intelligent man. He did not suffer fools lightly. A woman that could not keep up with Ironside would not remain his woman for long. Obviously that was the case with Barbara Jones.
"Ironside did not send you?"
She pretended to be confused. "Why would Robert send me?"
"You tell me, lady. I know you are his woman."
"I don't have any idea what you are talking about. I don't know why you think Robert would send me here. I told you why I was here. You can check. You will find that I am on the Board of Governors. You will also find that I come here regularly."
The Hacker moved his hand to Katherine's throat. He squeezed slightly. "You better be telling me the truth."
Katherine reached up, grabbing the Hacker's hands. She was having trouble breathing. She pulled at his hands, attempting to release his hold. "I told you; I have no idea what you are talking about," she cried, barely getting the words out while choking.
He wanted to see her face to know if she was telling him the truth. He was very good at determining when someone was lying. Yet, he knew he could not allow her to see his face. She might not recognize him but he could not take the chance that she could identify him later.
Everything she had told him was true. He had found out that she was indeed on the Board of Governors. He had researched further while she was with Dr Stern. Still, it bothered him that she was here at this particular time. Had Ironside figured out the clue? Or was it just a coincidence that she had met with Ben Stern at this time?
The Hacker worried that confronting her had been a mistake. Would she be able to identify him later? She had not seen his face but she certainly had heard his voice. Dare he take that chance?
He once again grabbed her by the throat and began to squeeze.
TBC...