The Perfect Scream (11 page)

Lynn just stared at him and saw that he was enjoying his little game. She was trying to calculate if he was smart enough to track down a hit-and-run all the way in Daytona. When she had finished her calculation she looked up at him and said, “When would you like to get together, Dale?”

 

 

 

It was after four when John Stallings decided he had shown the photograph of Jeanie and Zach Halston to enough store clerks along University Boulevard. Of the fourteen stores he’d visited, no one recognized either of the young people. He used the photograph with Zach because if he was questioned by any bosses, he could make it sound like he was only looking for Zach. Only the lieutenant and Patty and a few others at the sheriff’s office would recognize the girl as his missing daughter.

Now he was in downtown Jacksonville, an area he was more familiar with, looking for his most reliable informant: Peep Moran. Peep was a local drug seller who moved between marijuana and pharmaceutical sales as the profits dictated. He had earned his unusual nickname through his habit of watching women urinate in public. The general population didn’t realize how often homeless women had no access to a bathroom and found ways to relieve themselves nonchalantly without anyone noticing. But Peep noticed. He was on the lookout all the time. It was his experience on the street that allowed him the ability to know where to catch the best view.

Stallings waited at a set of bushes where Peep often hung out and sometimes hid his product. It was only a few minutes before he noticed the diminutive man in his late thirties walking up the street dressed like any street vendor in relatively clean jeans and a pullover shirt. When Peep’s eyes met Stallings it looked like the scrawny dope dealer was about to turn and run—a common occurrence when the two of them met. Instead, he continued on his same track and walked directly to Stallings.

Peep said, “Do I bother you at your job?”

“As a matter of fact, you do. This is my job. A second ago it looked like you were going to run from me. Why?”

“Just the sight of you usually startles me. And I thought I was holding when I saw you. It took me a second to realize I ran out of product midday today. With all the students back in town, demand is way up.”

Stallings appreciated an honest answer like that, even if Peep was admitting to a felony. He held out the photograph and said, “Do you recognize either of these two kids?”

Peep stared at the photo for a second, then nodded his head. “I know the boy. He’s been trying to creep into my territory for a long time. As if I don’t have enough trouble with the black guys from Arlington, now I have snotty-nosed college kids thinking they’re Scarface and can sell pot easier than me.”

“When’s the last time you saw him?”

“I don’t know. At least a month. I remember him because couple of years ago he and another college kid had a big hassle out on the street about who should be selling pot. I guess it was just a college thing. It went on for a couple of weeks. I saw the two of them get in a shouting match once. I heard about one or two other encounters between them. They were friends and knew each other, but apparently they didn’t work well together.”

Stallings assessed his informant, then said, “If you see either this boy or this girl in the photo you need to get ahold of me immediately.”

“What’s it worth to you?”

“If it’s information that helps me find them, you can write your own ticket.”

“Stall, you never said that before.”

“I never needed to find anyone this bad before.”

T
he smell of salt water and the sound of the boats passing by on their way out to sea had a calming effect on Kyle Lee. He was shaken by the cop coming down to Winter Park and he didn’t like having to call a meeting of the brothers who may be affected. But here, on the jetty, next to the dock, waiting for the deep-sea fishing boats that docked about this time, he felt the most relaxed he had all weekend.

There was just something about the dock, whether it had fishermen on it or not. Tonight he was all alone, but that wasn’t uncommon for a Monday. He knew later on, the older guys who had families or jobs that kept them a late would show up and try to hook a snapper but settle for perch.

Kyle had first discovered this marina, east of the city, along the St. Johns, when he’d come here with Zach Halston to sell pot to some of the fishermen on Friday and Saturday nights. They’d done great until an off-duty Gainesville police officer took offense at their offer of cheap pot and chased them a half a mile. Zach had been smart enough to split up, double back, grab their car, and pick up Kyle before the cop was able to catch him. It had been a wild night that Zach had thought was great but that had made Kyle vomit as soon as they were a few miles away.

He didn’t miss going out with Zach as he made his rounds, but he would like to hear from his friend. That was one of the reasons he’d decided to come down here and throw a line in the water for an hour or two. He was waiting for the deep-sea fishing boat called the
Catch ’Em All
to arrive from its regular afternoon outing. He loved to see what fishermen had caught a few miles off the coast and enjoyed chatting with the first mate.

He caught the first glimpse of the professional fishing boat coming up the river and started to reel in his line. A thrill rushed through him like he was a little kid. The sun had just set, the temperature was very mild, and, for a change, it wasn’t raining. This was a good night.

 

 

 

Lynn finished payroll in record time. She’d been afraid she’d be distracted by the comments Dale had made until she realized he was just a big, dumb redneck who wouldn’t be able to figure anything out anyway. She had agreed to have a drink with him later in the week just to make sure she was right.

She’d not seen Dr. Ferrero in the afternoon when she stopped by to reconcile his accounts. He sometimes left early to go for a run before it got dark and this time of year the days were getting shorter and shorter. By Christmastime he’d have to leave around 4:30 to finish his run before dark and that was only if wasn’t raining. But it always seemed to rain in Jacksonville.

The work she’d been doing to plan everything so well involved following Kyle and the fraternity brothers around at different times. She knew that Kyle Lee often fished from the dock of a public marina out toward the beach. She didn’t know why he kept going to the same place because it didn’t seem like he’d ever catch anything. All she could figure was he was selling pot to the fishermen. She knew that was how Zach had started.

She didn’t push her Nissan Sentra too hard because the last thing she needed was a smart cop to see she got a ticket near the site of a murder. Lynn drove past the marina one time, then turned around and pulled into the lot. Kyle’s truck was parked in front near the water. A few other vehicles were scattered across the lot. It looked quiet enough for her to do what she had to do.

 

 

 

It was early for Patty to eat dinner, just after six. She’d grown used to the weird hours for everything—eating, sleeping, living. That was one of the major factors in her drug use and she’d been disappointed that a “normal” relationship with someone outside police work had not lessened her dependence on the various prescriptions she used. She also worried that Ken, being a podiatrist, and able to write prescriptions, might notice her pop a Xanax or painkiller. They’d yet to spend the night together so she wasn’t worried about him picking up on her Ambien use. In the months she was with Tony Mazzetti, he’d never had a clue. At least she didn’t think he had a clue about her drug use.

Ken met her at the restaurant, a slightly stuffy, high-end natural food place. He nodded to the waitress like he knew her and the manager came by and said hello. Ken looked fresh, like he had just showered after a workout.

Ken said, “Sorry, my appointment ran late.”

“Did you have to give someone an examination?”

“No, manicure and pedicure.”

Patty tried to hide her astonishment. “You got a mani-pedi?”

“As a podiatrist, I know how important nail care is. Besides, it makes me feel good.”

“You didn’t get nail polish too, did you?” She let a snicker slip out.

“Just a coat of clear on my toenails.” He was completely serious.

Patty wondered if she should worry about who the man in the relationship was. This was definitely a conversation she would’ve never had with Tony Mazzetti.

 

 

 

Lynn left her car to stalk Kyle like a wildcat. After she had learned about Zach and Kyle’s business venture in the marina, she’d seen Kyle twice during the semester fishing here. Both times it was on a Monday night. She thought it had something to do with the fishing boat schedule. He seemed to know one of the boat workers and they talked after the
Catch ’Em All
docked.

Being an organized, numbers person, she had a checklist that she often went through before taking action. First, she had to make sure he didn’t notice her. She wanted complete surprise and shock on her side. Second, no one else in the near-empty marina should notice her so she could slip away without the police getting a description. Third, and most important, she had to get her timing just right. She’d wait for the few deep-sea-fishing customers to wander out to their cars, then move in quick. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of using the knife for the first time. The familiar thrill and satisfaction once it was done excited her, but there were also a few nerves.

Lynn watched as he gathered up his tackle box and rod and stood as the forty-foot fishing vessel rumbled up toward the dock. She had the knife tucked in her front pocket. It would be nothing to flick it open, but then the question became, neck or kidney? Whatever she did she’d have to be quick and it would be out in the open. She intended to strike and move.

 

 

 

John Stallings was drained. The excitement he’d felt earlier in the day looking for Jeanie himself had turned to disappointment and frustration that seem to sap him of all his energy. But now, all he wanted to do was get back to his rented house and collapse in bed. Instead, he found himself at the community center where his father volunteered.

Lately, Stallings couldn’t fall asleep easily without knowing his father was safe. He supposed it was a common enough feeling for children of parents with Alzheimer’s, but it was odd considering how little time he’d spent with his father in the past twenty years. But he felt a wave of relief as soon as he saw his father working with a group of older, homeless men at a large round table in the corner of the giant room.

Stallings didn’t really need to talk to his dad; he just wanted to ensure the old man was safe. But as he was about to turn and leave he heard a voice behind him say, “I thought I might find you here.”

Grace Jackson stood behind him in a sundress that brought out her beautiful, dark complexion and bright smile.

Suddenly he didn’t feel so tired.

 

 

 

Kyle watched in fascination as the forty-two-foot-long fishing trawler revved its twin diesel motors, causing water to churn like the inside of a blender. Even though he’d seen it a hundred times before, he could barely take his eyes from the frothy water. Maybe it was being raised in landlocked Winter Park, or maybe it was because he needed to work on the ocean. That mix of salt air and diesel made Kyle feel like he was at an amusement park. The smell alone was almost enough to make him drop out of UNF and sign on as a mate.

There were only a few customers on the boat as it powered into its berth at the dock. He’d noticed a trend toward empty boats but didn’t know whether to attribute it to fewer fish or fewer tourists.

He waited anxiously for the first mate to acknowledge him.

Lynn watched Kyle in silence from the far end of the marina. He looked like a little kid fascinated by the big boat. He stood motionless on the dock slightly behind the banged-up fishing trawler. But she was committed to her goals no matter how innocent he seemed, now that Lynn had already made the judgment. She’d proved her restraint by not killing the pest Friday night. It had left her with a slightly hollow weekend, but it had to do while Kyle Lee was still away.

The familiar thrill started to creep through her and she imagined approaching the unsuspecting fraternity brother. She craved the satisfaction of completing the task and knowing she was that much closer to a normal life. Sometimes Lynn wondered what exactly a normal life was. Did it mean getting married and having children? Did it mean working at Thomas Brothers Supply the rest of her life? She felt like she had developed a real skill and wondered if there was a chance to apply it for the greater good of society.

She decided to let the big, philosophical questions rest for a while and focus on what she had to do. There was no way she’d let Kyle Lee get away. Not tonight.

 

 

 

John Stallings felt very comfortable in the corner of the cavernous community room, sharing a cup of coffee with Grace Jackson. While he got to spend time with this lovely woman, he was also able to observe his father from a distance and feel more confident about the older man’s ability to function, despite his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

He was so relaxed he found himself telling Grace about personal problems he wouldn’t even discuss with Patty Levine. He told her about his marriage and the disappearance of Jeanie and about Maria’s drug use. He was careful never to blame Maria for the family’s problems, because, as had become clear to him recently, he was more at fault than anyone else. He even told Grace about Brother Frank Ellis.

When he was finished, Grace said, “I hear what you’re saying, John. But I don’t understand why you think Frank Ellis is purposely trying to disrupt your family life. Could it be he was just trying to get you to pay attention to a problem that Maria had?”

Stallings thought about it for a few moments, frustrated by someone who was objective and trying to get him to look at a problem from all angles.

Then Grace said, “I wish my ex felt the same way about me that you feel about Maria. It’s really very sweet. It’s too bad she doesn’t realize how rare it is to find a guy like you.” She reached across the table casually and grasped both of his hands in her delicate but strong hands. “I do have to say that my ex-husband is trying to get his head on straight. He’s been seeing the kids more and catching up on child support. But it has more to do with the kids than with me. He had another girlfriend even before we split up.”

Stallings enjoyed her hands on his. “I don’t know how you do it between a career, raising two kids, and all the volunteer work you do.”

“My mom always taught me to be thankful for what I have and give back all I can. I’m trying to set a good example for my kids.” She paused for a moment and glanced around the immediate area. “That’s why I probably wouldn’t say anything to them if you asked me out to dinner one evening.”

“I’m in a crazy place right now, Grace, but I can’t think of anything I would enjoy more than spending a pleasant evening with you.”

Stallings flinched and yanked his hands away from Grace as his father walked up, saying a loud voice, “Two of my favorite people sitting at the same table. This calls for a drink.”

Stallings turned his head and stared at his father in disbelief until the old man started to cackle and said, “For a cop, you’re awful gullible.”

 

 

 

Kyle spent a few minutes looking over the meager catch of the fishing boat. There were two wahoo, a snapper, and an amberjack that looked more like bait than a trophy fish. The customers must’ve agreed because none of them wanted to take the fish home with them. One of them was so shit-faced he wobbled across the dock and into the parking lot. Kyle was relieved to see he was only a passenger in a big pickup truck parked near the entrance.

He stood patiently while the first mate cleaned the snapper, cutting it into two small but equal fillets.

The mate looked up at Kyle and said, “You haven’t been out with us in a while. What’s wrong, school getting too tough?”

Kyle smiled and shook his head. “You know how it is during the holidays. I had to go home and visit my folks and school’s been getting real busy.”