Chase and I lounged on my bed, Carter and John were having a great time next door with blocks and a railway with wooden tracks. They were mostly quiet except when making a case for doing something different than the other proposed. I would have thought they'd be tired of Legos by now but their interest just got stronger. They devoted several hours a week to building projects. I would document them with my phone and then once Dad and Mom got to see them they would be dismantled for the next project. In the time he had been here, he had organized the Lego blocks by shape and size, he even asked for more containers to keep them sorted. He isolated all the oddly shaped pieces in to a special plastic tray so he could sort through them quickly to find what he was seeking. I had always kept everything in two plastic trash cans but now there were even more Legos. Everyone who heard we had a new four year old dropped by with a gift of every boys favorite toy. Mom would return the ones that weren't compatible with John's blocks for items that were. If the plastic trashcans were still in use a third would have been needed by now.
John's only living relative appeared to be his grandfather but he was near the end and living in a board and care facility. The adoption process was roaring along and soon it would be time for him to choose a name to use in place of John.
He was thinking about it, he decided that he didn't like the name John since Lolo had used it to describe her customers. His aunt had never mentioned what she did but Lolo was always complaining to Baba about how they treated her and what jerks men were in general and she always called them Johns, he knew it wasn't good. He asked me to help him choose a new name.
The only good news that had arisen from an investigation of his mother's family was that the man listed on his birth certificate was not his father. A check of the commercial DNA sites failed to turn up any links except distant maternal relatives.
Friday morning Carter and John were safely in the care of Janisse. Mom, Chase and I were on our way to Hiro's shop. We arrived to find Hiro waiting patiently on the small porch, the small enamel sign in Japanese mocked me but I ignored it.
Mom was completely floored by the showroom area and the furniture on display. Several new pieces were now present awaiting delivery to a client who had ordered an entire office suite. They were exquisite in design and execution. No wasted lines, just pure beauty of form and function.
Her second shock was the Japanese garden that separated the office from the shop area. She really loved it and peppered Hiro with questions.
Hiro explained how long it had been there, and that no it didn't show up on Google Maps because the picture was taken in mid-June and the tree canopy obscured the details of the garden.
After selecting a slab for my desk's top, we were essentially done with my business, Hiro led us back to the office to look at a few designs to fit in with Mom's already exquisite furniture. She was again completely impressed by the styling and how well it seemed to agree with the pieces she already had. She chose a design and decided on bird's eye Maple and then Hiro showed her what he had as far as desk tops. Hiro thanked us for coming and we made our way to the car. Mom insisted on taking us to the Great Wheel and said we could use the bus on our return. She dropped us across from the wheel and mentioned heading for a county office to collect a batch of forms.
The view from the great wheel is phenomenal, there are no words that do it justice. The entire city of Seattle was laid out before us. We happened to be in the seats that were at the top of the wheel when it stopped for us to see the view. Chase pointed out landmarks as far away as Boeing field and the City Light building and even the general outline of our school and Columbia city.
Once our car had returned to the loading ramp we were on our way to an area a few blocks East of the Pike Place Market. We visited a couple of art museums and then a different sort of museum. This one revolved around agriculture, logging and the natural resources of the Northwest. Chase was really in his element here. We looked at the exhibits and he explained how the area had been cleared so the city could be built. He mentioned that there were the remnants of the old city that was only accessible by special tour and it was underground. We agreed to look into signing up and seeing what the underground had to offer. He went on to tell me of the great fire of 1889 and how the new city had just been built over the ruins of the old. We stopped and had lunch at a sidewalk cafe and just watched as people came and went. Eventually we decided it was time to make our way back to 1st Avenue to catch the bus to Spokane street. We lucked out and caught the one line that goes all the way to the junction before it loops around and returns downtown. It was too early for commuters so we had plenty of room. Chase dozed off as he leaned against me. Mom had set up an account for Lyft and Uber that I could use to get back home from the junction or Columbia city. I took advantage of it and got us a ride to the house. Chase appreciated not having to hike all the way to our place and we both had a proper nap once we arrived.
***
The surveillance team got a big break Friday afternoon, they were able to confirm that Marina Hobart didn't know about the video cameras on the poles behind her house and that she routinely went out the back gate of her yard to escape prying eyes. Friday she had done something quite unusual. Never a fashionable dresser she had dressed in men's clothes, donned a wig and mustache and then proceeded to walk all the way to the end of the block and back around to her own front door. She opened the screen door and knocked. After a few moments the door opened and it appeared that someone was talking with Marina. Marina appeared to take a set of keys from the unseen person at the door. She waved and nodded and then said loudly, I'll have it back in the morning. Then she walked to her car, unlocked and climbed in. She appeared to be making adjustments to the seat and mirrors and finally drove off. A surveillance team picked up the car and followed it to one of the businesses that maintained a fleet of plain white vans. She parked the small Toyota and walked to the office. She returned to the Toyota with a piece of paper that looked like a job application. It was one of the best ways to check out a building without arousing too much suspicion. She did the same thing with two other companies and returned the car to her own driveway and returning to the door with the keys. The team watched as Marina walked back to the easement and through her back gate. She hunched down to avoid being seen by any neighbors. The team had watched the house round the clock for several days and had never seen any activity that wasn't Marina herself. On her return trip they had zoomed in close and then printed a still frame of video. The techs confirmed it was Marina in a disguise. Herb was astonished by her activities but quickly realized what it meant. Marina was getting ready to kill again. She would probably wear a disguise to do it and then ditch the van at a ferry terminal before her shift.
Herb printed out a copy of Louis' driver's license and compared the surveillance photo with the license. It was close but the husband's license showed scruffy growth on the cheeks and jaw. Still he was sure they had their actor but how far to take it before they arrested her. It would be best if they could catch her with the victim before she did anything violent. Herb reasoned that Marina didn't have an accomplice and they would let her steal a van and tail her until she picked up a sex worker and prepared to strike. She could hardly strangle a woman while she was driving so there must be a spot where she felt comfortable doing her killing. The vans that had been stolen were usually taken a day or two before the crimes occurred so Herb decided that she would stash the van in a safe place. That would mean tailing Marina every time she left the house. The team had already placed a tracker on the Toyota so that couldn't go anywhere in the city without being tracked. They already watched her wherever she was assigned to work but now she would not be allowed out of the sight of the team. Herb put together a ten car rolling surveillance team including two motorcycles. He also set up surveillance of the three businesses that Marina had cased.
It was hard to spot but Marina, dressed in dark clothing, wig and mustache slipped out of her back gate at 2:30 a.m. carrying what looked like a tool bag. The various surveillance vehicles were notified and she was picked up crossing the street to catch a bus. One of the team on a motorcycle followed at a distance and spotted Marina disembarking next to the last business she had visited the day before. In only a few minutes Marina had gained entry and started the van, she wasted no time and pulled out of the lot immediately. The two wheeler followed for a bit and dropped out running a parallel street while the team in the Prius took up the tail. They followed it to an all-night gas station and a team in a Focus took over. Marina went inside presumably to pay for fuel in cash so the team took a chance and placed a tracker unit under the back of the van and then fueled the Focus. The two detectives tried to chat with Marina but she wasn't responsive and may have had the impression that the couple was a bit drunk. They finished before Marina and drove out of the station and the tail was picked up by a Pacifica. Once the locator was confirmed to be operating the Pacifica turned and headed for another parallel street. The van drove to a derelict industrial building on Pontius ave. N., there was no guard posted and Marina parked the van inside. She painted over the company logo and then wheeled a beat up Yamaha trail bike out of the building, donning a helmet she fired up the bike and rode to the Ferry dock for the Bremerton run near Yessler way. A ferry had just docked and Marina blended in with the crowd and boarded a bus that took her back to her own neighborhood minus the bag of tools she had when she left her house. She took the path on the easement to her own back gate and went inside the house at just after 4:15 a.m. after that she made no further movement until 6:00a.m.appearing at the front door dressed for work carrying a lunch box and small pack.
She was followed to the dock and walked aboard as soon as her car was parked in the employees lot.
"Well Mike we've had quite a night with our suspect, Herb explained at 6:30 a.m. once he had received the report from surveillance. Marina picked up a van last night and she was fast. I'm betting the thing wasn't locked or she's got a key to it. It's not hard to bypass the chip in the commercial vehicles that still use keys. But it was still fast, I'd like to know how she learned to do that." Herb explained about the tracker and where the van was parked. It was under surveillance and Marina had placed a padlock on the gate when she left on the motorcycle.
"I'll get a body to find out about the industrial building in a while, there's an agent's sign on the fence so we'll start there. She's gone to bed I presume, she doesn't work again until tomorrow afternoon around 12:30p.m. according to the schedule I have. We'll be watching her though. I think she'll pick a victim tonight, it fits the escalation pattern she's set so far. For safety's sake we'll do a fake accident and pull her out on a side street on her way back to her kill site. I don't want to risk another victim," Herb finished.
"Sounds like you're on top of it, I like your plan but be ready for a curve. She may be doing a little counter surveillance on the kill site just to see if it's watched," Mike supplied.
"We're parking an old Winnebago in the corner of a lot that is full of homeless people. It's rigged up with cameras and we'll have a good view of the gate and the door to the building. It was in impound so it can get trashed and nobody will care, but we plan to keep it manned and Dennis can do surly crazy guy really well. He'll accessorize with aluminum foil if you get my meaning. It should keep the other homeless at a distance," Herb added.
"Okay, let me know when things start to break. I'll make my way to the area and coordinate support," Mike replied.
"Sounds good, I'm headed to the office now but I'm going home and sleep after that. I think it's going to be a busy night, either way I'll be well rested," Herb advised.
"Sounds good Herb, I'll see you in the office, I'm almost there now," Mike told him.
"This is too good to be true, a serial killer rounded up before the media gets a clue. This can't last," Mike grumbled.
Tawny Jarvis was a fairly accomplished independent reporter and she and her camera man had brought plenty of stories to KIRO that beat her competition before they knew something was up. She had a good reputation with the cops and didn't want to jeopardize it for a big splash. She always kept the long haul in mind and that's what she was thinking about when she approached the front desk of the Sheriff's detective bureau.
"Hi Bob, is the new boss in yet and if so can I take a few minutes to introduce myself?" Tawny asked politely.
"Best I can do is check, I know he's here but he doesn't have a lot of spare time lately. He's still straightening a few things out," Bob informed her.
"If you could check, I'd like to meet him at least. I'd like to maintain my contact with the bureau since you have a new chief of detectives."
"Okay Tawny, I'll ask but I can't promise anything, okay?"
"Sure Bob, I know you're straight shooter, I'll have a seat in the lobby," Tawny rejoined.
Bob picked up his phone and dialed Mike's extension.
"What's up Bob?"
"I have one of the better news people here in the lobby. She's always worked with us in the past and she'd like to meet you, do you have a few minutes to spare or maybe a time she could come back?"
"I can't do much until Frank gets here so I'll meet her at the elevator," Mike decided.
"May as well get this out of the way now, let's just hope she's not the obnoxious variety," Mike grumbled to himself.
"Hi you must be Tawny, I'm Mike. I'm the new commander of this outfit," Mike offered.
"That's why I'm here, well that and a case that I'm interested in, maybe you can tell me where you're at with it," Tawny ventured.
"Well there's a small conference room right behind you, you do know that it's illegal to record anything without permission in this building, right?" Mike warned.
"I never pull crappy tricks like that, I was trained better and I have a very good memory, Tawny countered.
"Fair enough, have a seat and tell me what's on your mind," Frank suggested.
They sat and Tawny didn't waste a second.
"Are you aware that five dead women have been found at or adjacent to ferry docks in several counties?"
"Yes I am, it's an active investigation and I can't supply much if any information that wouldn't interfere with our inquiries. However, Bob tells me that you have a pretty good rep with this team. Give me a number where I can reach you 24/7 and I'll give you a call when I have something to share. How does that sound?" Mike asked.
"Too good to be real if I'm honest, but I'll give it a shot and if you're going to give me a head start, I can hold off for a few days. But you know, eventually my less gifted colleagues will stumble over something and then you'll be surrounded everywhere you go," Tawny predicted.
"I think you'll be hearing from me sooner than later, one maybe two days, things are happening so stay ready, it will likely be early a.m. when it happens, Mike supplied.
Okay, I'll wait for your call, I hope it goes well for your bureau, You could use a big one in the win column about now. I hear good things about you so I'm going to trust you. I think Frank just got on the elevator so I'll head back to the lobby and tease Bob for a few minutes before I go," Tawny grinned.
"I'm sure he'll enjoy that, I'll trust you to find your way back to the lobby then, I'll call as soon as I have something to tell you and I'll even call if it looks like nothing's doing, fair enough?"
"I can live with that," Tawny laughed and stuck out her hand.
Mike shook her hand and watched her head for the lobby, Bob would be watching so there was no worry that she'd get lost on the way. Mike walked to the elevator to join Frank upstairs.
Mike brought Frank up to speed on their suspect and his short meeting with Tawny Jarvis.
"Well I knew she'd be around sooner or later, I should have told you about her sooner but we've had other things to worry about. The good news is that she knows we can help her and she values the relationship. It's a two way street and she's been helpful in the past. She's an independent and works with her own camera operator and editor. KIRO will run just about anything she sends them. Other media talking heads don't care for her, mostly because she's smarter than them and gets her own stories. No fluff pieces like the network goons," Frank explained.
Well she struck me as being on the straight so I'll give her the benefit and see where it goes," Mike allowed.
"I don't think you'll be disappointed, she's good and she's professional, you never see her on a crash scene or crowding a crime scene. She's about half detective and half reporter," Frank speculated.
"I noticed a few guys in the bays this morning, did you know they'd be coming in?" Mike asked.
"Sort of, I told Paul we would pay for half Saturdays until the paperwork got caught up and some of the more productive guys took us up on it. I didn't specify mornings and a lot of these guys have families. Some are out on cases because the people they want to talk to work during the week" Frank replied.
"Hey I'm all for getting the backlog squared away, if it's convenient for some guys to come in nights let's do it. I can justify it as training or auditing, either way it's covered. "I think Scot will give me plenty of slack, and it can only get better if we catch our serial. Which sort of reminds me of something Scot said. How would you feel about being a Captain and all that entails?" Mike asked.
"Whoa what? You're not ready to leave already are you?!" Frank choked out through a fresh swallow of coffee.
"No of course not. The command order for this unit specifies that it is supposed to be run by the rank of Major. Only someone of equivalent rank can lateral in as a major so I got hired as a Captain. Scot explained it to me. A captain can run the unit for ninety days and then it's reappoint or promote the Captain to Major. If they do that, I'll need a Captain to fill that spot, I'm hoping you don't make me interview," Mike grinned.
"Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse. You've made this job fun again. I haven't been excited to come to work in ages but now it's different, I think I'm even losing weight," Frank chattered.
"I've noticed that your suit fits better lately, not that you have that much extra to spare," Mike encouraged.
"What about lieutenants, we'll be down to one? Paul can't track the whole bureau on his own," Frank protested.
"Scot has already approved Herb's promotion and we'll be interviewing some of the better managers in the bureau for the third spot. I figure between Herb and Paul they can manage the case work and budgets, we'll play to their strengths. Herb is going to supervise the training program and use some of that budget that's been rolling over for three years. God damn Reyes, I never met the man but he's sure a pain in my ass. He drove off a lot of good people because he thought they might see what he and his cronies were up to. Well he tried to pet the wrong puppy with Paul and it bit him in the ass," Mike said triumphantly.
"Hey when is IA going to release the news about Alvarez and Miller?" Frank asked.
Monday afternoon the day before the grand jury meets. They're being held without bail in a secure location. Their former associates might prefer that they don't testify, so far our former lieutenants are cooperating. Their houses have been searched lots of things have been seized. But that's about all I know for sure," Mike related.
"Are you going to talk to Scot and update him today?"
"Absolutely, and I'll let him in on Ms. Jarvis as well. He needs to know and I'd like to have him on scene if we can coordinate it," Mike informed him. "Let's give him a call and see what he says, eh?
Mike reached for his phone and it rang.
"Hey boss, this is Sergeant Gregge, do you have any influence with SPD's IA unit?"
"Not personally, but I have a good relationship with ours, what's the issue?
"Some jerk named Morales badge 10266 just tried to strong arm me for a bribe. He said he would search my RV and he would definitely find something. I've verified that the mics and the video picked him up and I burned a copy. He said I better have fifty bucks for him next time he sees me," Dennis growled, obviously incensed.
"Okay, I'll get fifty bucks marked and chipped and we'll get it to you, I'll call Ike over at IA and we'll help SPD with a bit of their dirty linen, does that sound like a plan?" Frank asked.
"You bet boss, sorry I didn't go through the chain but Herb is already swamped and I didn't know how much time I had to react," Dennis explained.
"No sweat Sergeant, time is of the essence with this kind of thing, Let me get going on what you need and Herb will get someone to drop the cash by your RV or set up a meet," Frank replied.
"Thanks sir, I better get outside and make my presence known or the bastards will steal my hibachi as soon as it cools down enough to carry," Dennis laughed.
"Okay Dennis we're on it, you'll have what you need soon."
"Well shit, that was interesting," Frank declared.
"I agree, let me get Ike onboard and we'll call Scot after that," Mike suggested.
Ike knew exactly who to deal with at SPD and wholly approved the course of action Mike had decided on. He would let SPD's people make the collar to prevent tribal unrest. Frank agreed and that was that.
"Hi Herb, how are you today?" Mike asked.
"A bit tired but I think we're really close to making an arrest, I think we'll have her today. I'm sure glad you kept us from focusing on men only. We could have missed this bigtime," Herb replied.
"Yeah well, I've been around the block a few times, but something has come up involving Sgt. Gregge, he's being shaken down by an SPD cop. I need you to get someone in a crappy car to take some marked cash to Dennis, IA is working with SPD, and SPD will deal with their man. We're just providing the bait," Mike explained.
Got it, I have someone in mind that can enter a homeless camp no problem and he knows Dennis," Herb supplied.
"Okay see you here," Mike replied and disconnected. He knew Herb had a call to make.
The call to Scott was a non-event. Scott signed off on everything and told Mike to give him a call when he was needed. He'd keep the next two nights open.