Glimpse Page 15

  She began to realize, I think, things were not going to end well for her when we walked through the old butcher shop and into the cool room, but by then it was too late, and she knew it.

  “Please don’t hurt me, I will do what you want,” was the first thing she said when I took off her gag.

  Looking back now, at that time of night without the main lights on, it did look eerie, almost reminiscent of the horror movies I watched. She began to moan and sob as I undid the cuffs and re-chained her to the eye bolts in the wall, then stepped back to look at my captive.

  Quite calmly I went and closed the huge thick vault-like door, and switched the overhead lights on, all the better to see you with, my dear I thought. Then, very slowly, enjoying every moment, I undressed. This was going to be my first time with a woman, and I wanted to make it special for both of us. Plus, I didn’t want to get her blood on my clothes.

  “So,” I said when I was ready, “you are running away, abandoning your children? Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.”

  She denied it, as I knew she would. But I realized that that was all just part of the game. I used the knife to cut all her clothes off, then stepped back again for a good look. Oh, yes, much nicer than Carly.

  I’ve been told by people who have gone away for a long holiday, that when they return, no matter how good a trip they have had, they feel wonderful when they get home. That was how I felt that night, making her suffer: as if I had come home, at long last.

  Chapter 11: Cut and Thrust

  Excerpt from the front page of The West Australian Newspaper May 16th 2000

  BREAKTHROUGH IN BODY IN SUITCASE MURDER?

  By Crime Reporter Simon Rollins.

  Police are tight lipped and angry about the leak from police headquarters regarding the grisly ‘Body in the Suitcase’ murder breakthrough. A senior well informed source has told this reporter they have had a surprise witness come forward and describe in detail both the driver and vehicle used that left the suitcase at the Midland Refuse Center. The secret witness has been away overseas and only recently returned and is believed to be credible.

  When pressed for a response, Sergeant Richard McCoy, who has been with the case from the beginning became angry and would only repeat “no comment,” before walking away. Sergeant McCoy has been criticized for the lack of an arrest in the brutal murder of Melanie Cartwright. Insiders say he could have been demoted because of his handling of the case but with the latest development and a possible imminent arrest he could be looking at a promotion.

  ****

  “McCoy.” Rick distractedly said his name into his desk phone while sitting reading a report.

  “Oh, Rick, I’ve just read the paper and its brilliant. I especially like the part saying you could be up for a promotion; that is going to drive him bananas,” Patricia Holmes said, breathlessly.

  “It already has, he’s sent a parcel with a finger in it, and another note to me.”

  “How did he send it this time?”

  “Oh, just through the mail, post marked in the city.”

  “That’s a relief, and it’s good news, in a way.”

  “Not for the victim it’s not Pat.”

  “Well, no, sorry. I didn’t mean to sound flippant, but she is most likely dead already, you know that, don’t you? And if she is alive, you are not likely to get to her in time. No, I meant it’s good news because he must have sent it before the news story hit the streets. It’s unrelated, he was sending it to you anyway.”

  “The M.E. is sure it was removed while she was alive.”

  The silence hung in the air between them as each imagined the horror of having a finger removed while awake. “Rick, as hard as I know this must be, especially for you, you must try to take the emotion out of this, it’s playing right into his hands.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “He is a narcissist. It’s all about him, and him being on top of the heap looking down on you. To fight him you must be up there on his level, not down in the dumps about the victim. I think he is going to contact you, directly, possibly quite soon. I don’t know how or when, but if he buys the story in the paper he could worry that things will come to an end before he wanted them to. Do you have a witness who saw him at the dump, do you know the car he used, are you about to knock on his door with a search warrant? Oh, and he will also be annoyed you’ve not gone to the press to announce his latest victim.”

  “Yep, he is annoyed about that all right.” Ricks fingers drummed on the desk in anger and frustration. “The note I mentioned? If we don’t go to the press about him, he will send us her leg, up to the knee, then her arm up to the elbow. He has upped the ante; he was threatening one piece of her every few days, now it’s one a day until we acknowledge he has her.”

  “I was afraid of that. I understand why you wanted it secret, but he was never going to stand for that, I’m afraid. He wants his time in the sun. But, by doing it now, all it’s going to do is buy time. He is still going to send you her leg next regardless.”

  “I know, that’s what is really getting to me, no matter what we do, she is doomed.” He looked down at his hand; his knuckles were still bruised from where he had punched the desk in anger and frustration when the finger had been unwrapped.

  “Unless you catch him first. How are you going looking at old cases?”

  “We are looking at narrowing the list down, the parameters were very wide. We started with all unsolved assaults, violent home invasions, sexual attacks and of course murders going back five years. There are a lot of them to wade through.”

  “Not to burden you further, I’d also look at cruelty to animals. Often it is where this type of personality disorder starts. Knowing what you now know though, those will be easy to spot, I think. They will be cut up, not beaten or kicked; it will be more like a dissection. And if you find any of those, they will be near where he lives, works, or went to school. They will be opportunistic, rather than planned.”

  “Okay, Pat I will get those looked at too. Can I see you this evening, and bring you any files that look promising?”

  “Yes, but we are going out for dinner, so bring them between say, five and five-thirty. It takes an old broad like me a long time to get ready these days.”

  “You’re kidding, right? I think you look good wearing anything.”

  “Why Rick, are you flirting with me?”

  “No Ma’am, I’m just stating the facts. I will see you later, I must go and meet with your old buddy Monkton, and brief him, he is holding a press conference later. They have decided to not let me be in front of the cameras, in case it antagonizes our man further.”

  “Oh, no, don’t let him do that, he has to see you there, Rick. I’m sorry but he wants to see you suffer, and if you don’t let him see that, then I shudder to think what he will do next to make sure you’re there. Let Darryl hold center stage, but you must be there, looking suitably chastised, and defeated.”

  “But won’t that conflict with the leak about the suitcase and the possibility of an arrest?”

  “Yes, it will, and that’s what’s so beautiful about this, it will contradict, and he cannot possibly have foreseen this development. You not talking about the lead will intrigue him, especially looking so crestfallen at the press conference. Do you see what I mean?”

  “I suppose.”

  “Think of it this way, he is the ultimate planner. He thinks about things and imagines scenarios and comes up with contingencies. Suddenly in the space of one day, he will worry he has lost control. It could mean the end for his captive, but it could make him rise to the challenge, make him do something he hasn’t spent weeks planning, and then, if he does, you might catch him out. How are your acting skills?”

  ‘I once played a tree in a primary school Christmas play. Mum said I was very convincing, why?”

  Because you are bound to be questioned about the leak, and he will be watching you very closely. What I think you should say is that you cannot and will not talk about operational matte
rs, but make it sound like you are about to knock on his door any time soon. Make him think you are genuine, make him come to you.”

  ****

  The press conference was scheduled for three o’clock, so there would be enough time to make the six pm news broadcasts. At one-thirty the team, now totaling twenty officers of both plain clothes and uniform, gathered in the incident room for a briefing. Assistant Commissioner Monkton was there waiting as they all took their seats.

  As usual Colin Harris held center stage. His tie was loosened, collar undone, and sweat stained. His hair looked clumped and he needed a shave. Detectives who had worked with him before saw all the signs, simmering below the surface, of a man who was about to lose his temper. No one wanted to be the one he would turn his erupting Mt Vesuvius-like rage on.

  “Listen up everyone. There have been some developments in the case and we need to ensure we are all up to speed on what’s going on. Thank you all for your individual reports to me. What I want to do is share those reports with the rest of the team, so we are all going in the same direction. You all know of the assistant commissioner who is giving us the benefit of his experience and overseeing the case because of its complexity, and seriousness.”

  Monkton nodded to the group and sat on the edge of a desk. Thin and gaunt, he looked seriously aloof, if not disdainful.

  “Okay, make sure you note any new developments on the incident board and check it often to see if someone else has made a comment which you may have some impact on. I’m pissed off majorly at the lack of headway we are making. Things have taken a turn for the worse. We have had another note from our killer, again addressed to Detective Sergeant McCoy. For those who don’t know it, it is thought possible sometime in the past, the two have met, and the killer holds Rick responsible for some real or imagined harm. I want to stress there is no implication of any wrongdoing, we have the utmost confidence in Rick’s integrity and professionalism over the twenty years he has been on the force.”

  Everyone nodded their agreement, signifying that those that had had previous dealings with Rick attested to his high standards as a police officer.

  “The note, which accompanied a human finger, which the ME informs us was removed while the person was alive, tells us he is angry that he has not been given credit in the media for the abduction of June Daniels. He wants the world to know of his threats to dismember her slowly over time if we don’t catch him first. He has threatened to speed up the process from a dispatch of a body part every couple of days, to a daily one, all the time we do not notify the public. If he is going to use the mail system, then she is due to lose a part of her body today.” He paused for effect.

  One of the detectives held up his arm to ask a question: “Why would he want that? Most people try to get away with crime, not be in the spotlight.”

  “Graham that’s a good question, and one not easily answered. As you all know we have asked a very well credentialed Criminal Psychologist, named Patricia Holmes, to consult with us. Clearly this offender has some serious mental health issues. She has agreed to provide some limited help though she thinks it best to be in the background giving advice rather than on the frontline with us. Suffice to say she has given us some very helpful insights and a possible line of inquiry, which I will come to. It’s important though, she insists, that her involvement in this case remains secret so as not to enrage the killer, does everyone understand?”

  Everyone nodded so he continued: “I’m not familiar with all the technical mumbo jumbo, but I do know that she knows her stuff. She says the man we are dealing with is a narcissistic, sociopathic killer capable of complex thought processes allowing him to strategically plan his moves. He has some sort of God complex. At the same time, she believes, he wants to drag Rick McCoy through the gutter. Mr. Monkton and I have decided for the victim’s sake; we must agree with his wishes to buy as much time as possible to save her. We have a press conference at three pm.”

  “Other areas of investigation are not going as well as we had hoped. Re-interviews are progressing with as much as we know about the killer, being small and diminutive. So far we are drawing blanks everywhere. This man is like a chameleon, he blends in with his surroundings and no one remembers him, unless he wants them to.”

  Graham held up his arm again and the DI nodded for him to speak up. “What’s the story behind this leak that we have and the new witness?”

  “There is no witness. And the leak was created by myself. Rick came up with the idea to his credit, and Patricia Holmes was in full accord that it may put our killer off his stride. For this reason, you must all, and I repeat YOU MUST ALL be on your guard. Now we have put this story out into the media, we must make it believable. No one can let it slip that it was a hoax. When asked, your response will be that you cannot comment on operational matters, this is a serious murder investigation and we are closing in on a suspect. That is all you are permitted to comment do I make myself clear?”

  Everyone agreed. Another detective, Clive Peppercorn held up his arm and got the nod to speak up. “Sir, you mentioned earlier that our shrink has given a line of inquiry?”

  “The use of the word shrink I find disrespectful, detective,” Assistant Commissioner Monkton interrupted.

  “Sorry sir, I didn’t mean it to sound that way.”

  “Rick, why don’t you take the floor and explain about this,” the DCI said, taking control back. It showed to everyone in the room, the eruption was creeping ever closer.

  Rick stood and walked to the incident board. He clasped his hands together in front of him and cleared his throat. “Firstly, if I can, guys, I want to agree with Mr. Monkton. Before I met with Patricia Holmes, I thought they were all shrinks, and bleeding heart liberals, who wanted to get violent offenders out of jail and into hospitals. But, can I tell you I find Mrs. Holmes to be extremely helpful and insightful? Let’s not forget, that just by listening to me about him, she predicted the witness, Bridget Schaeffer, would be murdered, and that the description we had of him was fake. Her understanding of the type of person we are hunting I find not much short of incredible, so please, do not call her a shrink, or anything demeaning in front of me. I don’t want to get bogged down in this, just don’t do it, okay?”

  The murmurs of assent traveled around the group, and Rick thought he had made his point. “Right, what Pat says, is that this man did not suddenly come to who and what he is now, he evolved.” He spent the next few minutes explaining the profile, scant though it was, she had provided him, watching the faces of the officers. He wanted to try to pick the ones who would be supportive of the radical step of bringing in a psychologist, and those who would be against it.

  “We thought that Melanie Cartwright, was his first murder. Patricia says it most definitely was not, it was just the first one that he wanted us to know about. She says that that is how we will catch him. That he killed others where he did not use the same level of planning. Not only that, but those victims he would have known. If we can find, as she calls it, his foot prints in the sand, we will catch him by looking at the victim’s acquaintances. We are currently pulling files and looking again at unsolved violent crimes, and murders. We are also looking at extreme cruelty to animal cases, because she says this type of personality often starts on domestic cats and dogs. She adds that if we do find any that he did, they will be close to where he lived, worked, or went to school.”

  “So far I have pulled about thirty files, where the victim has been attacked with a knife. Clearly he isn’t responsible for all of them, but each need to be re-examined and hopefully find something that may point to our man. In the months that I’ve been working this case, I feel that this is the closest we’ve come, the next couple of days could be critical if we are going to save June Daniel’s life, it must be now. Another avenue to investigate are the wigs. We are putting a team of detectives onto every wig reseller in Perth. We know he has used at least two, one blonde, one gray, possibly it’s a way we can track him down.”
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br />   ****

  The press conference started on time. In front of over a dozen reporters, TV cameramen and radio journalists was a desk where the three police officers, led by the assistant commissioner, sat. Above them was the Western Australian Police logo and a phone number.

  “Thank you all for coming, I am Detective Chief Inspector Colin Harris. This is a very serious situation we find ourselves in, and we are pleading for the public’s help to find a very dangerous offender. We have prepared a handout folder with maps and locations, to which I will be alluding where offences occurred. We can now confirm that all of the events we will be describing today have been committed by the same man, who would like us to call him PPP.”

  “Everyone is aware of the abduction and one month later the murder of Melanie Cartwright, and the subsequent dumping of her body inside a suitcase left at the Midland Refuse Tip last year. Naturally we investigated thoroughly the possibility it was someone in her acquaintance, but we now believe her attacker was not known to her.”

  “Is this because of the mystery witness that has come forward?”

  “The commissioner shook his head. Please keep your questions until the end, but even then, we will not answer on matters of procedure, obviously. We must be mindful of the safety of any witness who comes forward, and secondly we don’t want to give too much information to the murderer, do we?”

  There were some mumblings, not all of which sounded supportive but before any further questions could be raised, the commissioner interjected. “Eight days ago, Mrs. June Daniels was abducted from outside the supermarket shown on map two in your handout; we can now announce this abduction was carried out by the same man. He is currently holding her captive.” He paused.

  “Four days ago, we received an anonymous phone call from a call box at the location marked on map number three in the pack. We have also marked all relevant times on that handout so we don’t get bogged down here. A note was left for us at that call box addressed to the head of the Melanie Cartwright investigation, Sergeant Richard McCoy. The note says that PPP has Mrs. Cartwright as his prisoner and he challenged the police to capture him before he murders her. He has threatened to send us a piece of her body every few days that he remains free.”