Tiare unguarded. For some reason, the killer believes she’s a link to discovering his identity.”
“Perhaps so,” José said, “or maybe if you’re gone he’ll just leave her alone.”
“José, I can’t take that chance. I’m going to hang around for a while longer just to be sure. And maybe, just maybe, when the killings start again, I can find a way to catch him.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. Our suspect is craftier than all of us put together. So far he’s avoided the entire Chilean police department and the best the United States has to offer. Somehow I don’t believe that’s going to change.”
Daniel claimed, “In my experience, every killer — no matter how smart he or she is — will at some point make a mistake. And when our killer does, I will be on him like a fly on crap.”
“I wish I had your confidence,” said José
“After what he did to Tiare, I promise you, I will find him, one way or another. Right now, though, I’m headed over to the Englert Museum. Would you like to join me?”
“No, I’ve been in that dusty old place too many times to count over the years, and there’s nothing there that draws my interest anymore. But since you’ve never been, I believe you’ll find it intriguing. I’ll check back with you later.”
“Sounds good,” Daniel replied. He was starting to get the feeling that before too much longer he would have some answers to this seemingly unsolvable mystery.
But where would the answers come from?
His instincts quickly spoke to his own question:
Somewhere I’d rather not go.
Daniel climbed into his car and was en route to the museum when his phone rang. A familiar voice spoke:
“Hawk! You ol’ son of a bitch! I hear you’ve solved another case and are headed back soon to your favorite city in the world.”
“Chief Kelly! How did you know? I left the press conference only a few minutes ago.”
“Seems your new boss, Diaz, had his secretary call my office this morning with the news. What the fuck, Hawk? You’ve never taken more than a day or two to figure out who done it.”
“Well,” Daniel said, “there’s a little problem you don’t know about. You see, the case has not been solved.”
“What do you mean?
“Let’s just say the Chilean police needed to make an arrest, and they did.”
“Are you telling me this is a frame-up?” Kelly asked.
“That’s what I’m saying. I’m sure once the tourists come back, the murders will start again. I need to hang around here until we get the real killer nailed.”
“But that’s impossible. They don’t want you around any longer. In fact, Diaz’s secretary tells me your flight out has already been booked for tomorrow. Whatever, I need you back here. I’ve got a backlog of unsolved murders I want you to sort out.”
“Chief,” Daniel insisted, “I need to stay here — even if it’s in an unofficial capacity.”
“Hawk, listen up! The Chilean police don’t want you there — period! I don’t like doing this, but I must order you to return.”
“I don’t like doing this either, but you’ve backed me into a corner.”
“What are you saying?”
“I quit,” said Daniel
There was a long pause at the other end of the phone. “Damn it, Hawk, are you sure? I’ll throw in a big raise and an extra week of vacation just to sweeten the pot. What do you say?”
“Sorry — can’t do it.”
“Well, shit,” Kelly said, “I think you’re making a big fucking mistake, but if you change your mind, let me know. I’ve always got room for you with the NYPD .”
Daniel then heard a loud click .
Daniel parked his vehicle in front of the museum. It was a bright, sunny day, and the royal blue ocean next to the museum was calm and serene. As he got out of his SUV and strolled up to the front door, he heard the echoing sounds of seabirds.He entered, paid his admission fee and began to look at some of the objects on display.
The first exhibit to catch his eye was one that
“Perhaps so,” José said, “or maybe if you’re gone he’ll just leave her alone.”
“José, I can’t take that chance. I’m going to hang around for a while longer just to be sure. And maybe, just maybe, when the killings start again, I can find a way to catch him.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. Our suspect is craftier than all of us put together. So far he’s avoided the entire Chilean police department and the best the United States has to offer. Somehow I don’t believe that’s going to change.”
Daniel claimed, “In my experience, every killer — no matter how smart he or she is — will at some point make a mistake. And when our killer does, I will be on him like a fly on crap.”
“I wish I had your confidence,” said José
“After what he did to Tiare, I promise you, I will find him, one way or another. Right now, though, I’m headed over to the Englert Museum. Would you like to join me?”
“No, I’ve been in that dusty old place too many times to count over the years, and there’s nothing there that draws my interest anymore. But since you’ve never been, I believe you’ll find it intriguing. I’ll check back with you later.”
“Sounds good,” Daniel replied. He was starting to get the feeling that before too much longer he would have some answers to this seemingly unsolvable mystery.
But where would the answers come from?
His instincts quickly spoke to his own question:
Somewhere I’d rather not go.
Daniel climbed into his car and was en route to the museum when his phone rang. A familiar voice spoke:
“Hawk! You ol’ son of a bitch! I hear you’ve solved another case and are headed back soon to your favorite city in the world.”
“Chief Kelly! How did you know? I left the press conference only a few minutes ago.”
“Seems your new boss, Diaz, had his secretary call my office this morning with the news. What the fuck, Hawk? You’ve never taken more than a day or two to figure out who done it.”
“Well,” Daniel said, “there’s a little problem you don’t know about. You see, the case has not been solved.”
“What do you mean?
“Let’s just say the Chilean police needed to make an arrest, and they did.”
“Are you telling me this is a frame-up?” Kelly asked.
“That’s what I’m saying. I’m sure once the tourists come back, the murders will start again. I need to hang around here until we get the real killer nailed.”
“But that’s impossible. They don’t want you around any longer. In fact, Diaz’s secretary tells me your flight out has already been booked for tomorrow. Whatever, I need you back here. I’ve got a backlog of unsolved murders I want you to sort out.”
“Chief,” Daniel insisted, “I need to stay here — even if it’s in an unofficial capacity.”
“Hawk, listen up! The Chilean police don’t want you there — period! I don’t like doing this, but I must order you to return.”
“I don’t like doing this either, but you’ve backed me into a corner.”
“What are you saying?”
“I quit,” said Daniel
There was a long pause at the other end of the phone. “Damn it, Hawk, are you sure? I’ll throw in a big raise and an extra week of vacation just to sweeten the pot. What do you say?”
“Sorry — can’t do it.”
“Well, shit,” Kelly said, “I think you’re making a big fucking mistake, but if you change your mind, let me know. I’ve always got room for you with the NYPD .”
Daniel then heard a loud click .
Daniel parked his vehicle in front of the museum. It was a bright, sunny day, and the royal blue ocean next to the museum was calm and serene. As he got out of his SUV and strolled up to the front door, he heard the echoing sounds of seabirds.He entered, paid his admission fee and began to look at some of the objects on display.
The first exhibit to catch his eye was one that
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