Excerpt
As soon as I opened the office door Pete Lawson, the Operations Officer, was screaming my name. I think the guy is tele-something or other.
In this business to have the Ops yelling for you first thing in the morning is bad news. It usually means you have either screwed up something or he is about to hand you something you really dont need or want. Since I couldnt recall any run-ins with anyone in the past few days, at least not of the severity that it would have been reported to him, I wondered why he was calling for me. It could only mean that I was about to be handed the shitty end of the stick on something.
Behr, in here! That was the second call and Pete didnt make it a practice of calling the third time. If he had to call you the third time, you generally lost about ten pounds of your rear end. So, to avoid any injury to my beautiful All-American body, which I dearly treasure, I quickly headed for his office not knowing what to expect but hoping for the best.
Good morning, Chief! How are you?
Morning, Easy. Im fine, how about you?
Easy was a nickname stuck on me a long time ago based on my initials, E. Z., and the girls found it cute. So, whether I liked it or not the name stuck, but only very close friends are permitted to use it.
Doin great, Chief. I didnt like the look on his face. This was our third tour together. Years ago I had served with him here in Okinawa as a novice investigator fresh from the MPs before I attended CID School. We also spent a few months together in Vietnam and now he was my Operations Officer here on the Rock. I knew him well enough to know that when he had that look on his face there was something really wrong. It was a sort of a quizzical scowl with one eyebrow higher than the other and the ends of him mouth turned down. That look could easily frighten anyone who didnt really know him. Petes actually a pretty nice guy, but like all Operations Officers when he walks through the office door in the morning he reverts from nice guy to hard ass. The rumor is that he takes an ugly pill somewhere between the parking lot and the office entrance.
He had a stack of papers in his hand. That meant I had either badly screwed up a report or he had a new case that he was about to drop on me. I already had some forty plus cases and really didnt want any more just now.
Were you down in Koza last night?
Yeah, Chief. It was a strange question as he knew damn good and well that I am there almost every night. I was on the streets until almost midnight, then stopped off at Jeannies and stayed there until about two. Whats up? Something wrong?
Ray was trying to reach you at the BOQ last night to get your help. He had a homicide on the road in back of the Crown Club. A guy was robbed and his throat cut.
Oh, shit. Thats just what we need.
Yeah and the eyebrows went up further. When the MPs found the guy he was already dead. He had no identification on him so we dont even know his name. Ray did what he could at the scene and a good job of processing the body but thats it. Not a hell of a lot, is it? He paused for a second and handed me the case file he was holding. I want you and Charlie to take the case. You can also use the new kid, Bronowski, as your gopher. Itll be good training for him.
Is it the same MO? A Black dude, about six feet tall and muscular. Knife to the throat from behind, wallet taken, pants dropped, and the victim knocked to the ground so he cant chase the robber?
Yeah, its the same thing. Only this time the victim was killed. This is about the tenth robbery and, Easy, this shit has got to be stopped.
How does giving the case to us set with Barker? He has the Robbery Detail.
I dont really care how it sets with him. He hasnt solved one of the cases yet. There was an obvious air of displeasure in his voice as he paused. Anyway, he doesnt work the streets like you do and that is where this crap is going to be resolved. I instructed him to turn over all of his cases, open or closed, that even remotely match this modus operandi to you for review. He is still responsible for the cases but I want you to carefully recheck everything hes done or not done. I want this guy stopped, Easy, and quick. Alright?
Piece of cake, Pilgrim, I replied in my best John Wayne imitation. Why Ill have the critter in the pokey before the sun sets today. It must not have been too good but at least it brought a sort of grin, or was that a grimace, to Petes face.
Yeah, sure. Now, did I hear a note of skepticism in his voice? Surely he didnt doubt his ace investigator, his go-to guy? Dont let me down. Now get your smart ass out of my office.
Ive got to get him to lighten up a little. Stop him from taking those damn ugly pills.
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