Godsend
The phone rang on Driscoll’s desk and the Lieutenant picked it up. It was Moira.
“Where on earth have you been? I’ve been scouring the city for you.”
“Been doing my job. You’re gonna love the progress I’ve made on the case. Check your computer, Lieutenant. You’ve got mail.”
Driscoll positioned himself in front of his monitor and hit the e-mail icon. “Catherine’s” latest communication from Godsend filled the screen. A surge of adrenaline flooded through Driscoll’s body as he read the killer’s latest message.
“Where are you?”
“Home. Don’t you wanna hear my plan on how I’m gonna capture the bad guy?”
“Moira, if you think for one minute-”
“What? You think I should just ignore his offer?”
“On the contrary, I think his instructions are to be followed exactly. But it won’t be you following them.”
Chapter 58
Driscoll’s voice filled the room. “Listen up, everybody. This may be our one good shot at this guy, and I don’t want any screwups.” He moved toward the easel that had been placed in the middle of the Command Center.
“This is a plan of the Toys R Us parking lot. There are two ways in and out. I want each entrance covered by two cars. I’ll be in the TARU van with Danny O’Brien. Sergeant Aligante, and Detectives Butler and Vittaggio will be inside the store. Danny’s hooked up a pole camera so that he and I can see everyone who goes in or out. I’ll be in radio contact with the three officers inside the store and will give them a heads-up when anybody goes in we think looks good. I borrowed encrypted radios from Technical Services so that if this guy’s got a scanner, he can’t pick us up. We take him outside the store. Is that clear? I want everybody in this room to understand that. The last thing we need is to have some civilian or Toys R Us employee get hurt. Also, I decided against letting the Toys R Us people know what we’re doing. They might inadvertently give it away and spook the guy. We take him as he goes through the exit doors. Coming out. You got that, coming out! Sergeant Aligante, Liz, and Luigi will approach from the rear, and Danny will be up front with me. Cars two and three will pull up in front of the store, and cars four and five will block the exits from the parking lot. Once he’s taken down, I’ll ride back to the house with him along with Sergeant Aligante and Liz. Everybody else will meet back here. OK? Any questions? Good. We’ve all done this a hundred times before. Everybody knows what’s expected of them. Cedric will hold down the office. See Sergeant Aligante for your assignments. Liz, Luigi, over here.”
Both detectives walked over to Driscoll.
“When you guys get inside, grab a baby stroller and throw a couple of packs of Pampers in it. It’ll look more natural if you have something to push around. Besides, you never know, Luigi, you may get lucky some day.”
Liz laughed, and Vittaggio looked embarrassed.
“Seriously, I put you two inside because I trust you the most. Keep your eyes open and use your heads.”
“Will do,” said Butler. Vittaggio was still trying to recover.
Driscoll wished them luck.
“Margaret,” he yelled. “When you’re finished…” He pointed to the inside of his office.
Margaret finished giving out the assignments and walked in to meet with Driscoll.
“Yes?”
“What do you think? Will he show?”
“My woman’s intuition says yes. It’s obvious the guy likes to play games, and Moira’s set the game ball in motion.”
“Think we’ll be able to spot him?”
“I think he’ll give himself away. He’ll be a lone male, waiting in aisle three for Moira.”
“That’s why I want you in there.”
“I know. I’ll know him when I see him. I’ll feel him.”
“All right, but remember, stick to the plan. We take him as he comes out.”
“Yes, Lieutenant,” she said mockingly.
“I want you to be careful. This guy’s no joker.”
“I know. I’ve seen his work.” Her tone turned serious.
“OK, then. Let’s rock.”
Driscoll stood up from behind his desk, and he and Margaret walked out of the Command Center together.
“Hold on a sec.” Driscoll ducked back inside the squad room. “Cedric?”
“Over here, Lieutenant.”
“Call the Division dispatcher and have them keep all radio cars away from the shopping center. I don’t want some nosy cops snooping around and scaring him off.”
“You got it. Anything else?”
“Yeah. Here’s a radio. I want you to monitor what’s going on out there. If anything goes wrong, you can switch to Division and get us help right away.”
“Good thinking, Lieutenant. I am, as always, ever-vigilant.”
“Thanks, Cedric. Wish us luck.”
“Lieutenant, when you’re as good as you are, you don’t need luck.”
“Never hurts, though,” said Driscoll and in a flash, he was gone.
Chapter 59
Driscoll and Danny circled the Toys R Us parking lot just to make certain everything was as Driscoll had planned. Finding everyone in position, Driscoll had Danny guide the TARU van into an empty parking space some sixty feet from the store’s main entrance. Driscoll picked up the encrypted receiver. “Radio check,” he barked.
One by one the units responded. Now the waiting game began.
“Danny, is the pole camera working?”
“Perfectly, Lieutenant. We’ve got a clear view of the store’s only entrance.”
“OK, then. Let’s settle in. It may be a long wait.”
Moments later, another van slid slowly into a parking space in the Voyager Boatyard and Marina. It sat across Flatbush Avenue, some 300 yards from the Toys R Us parking lot. Using a pair of Tasco high-powered binoculars, its driver took note of the Chevy sedan that was sitting close to the lot’s west exit. Under the car sat a pool of water, condensation from a running air conditioner. On the ground, just under the driver’s door, was a pile of cigarette butts. Inside the car two middle-aged men dressed in suits occupied the front seats. On the Chevy’s dashboard were two Styrofoam coffee cups and what looked to be a folded newspaper. A grin formed on the driver’s face. “Let the wait be on,” he muttered.
For the next four hours the entourage of police personnel fought boredom. It was one-thirty in the afternoon when Driscoll depressed the speed-dial button on his handheld radio.
“Margaret. Anything? Anything at all?”
“Nothing. I guess my woman’s intuition was out to lunch.”
“Liz, what about you?”
“Besides aching feet and a deep hatred for pushing a baby stroller, nothing. I counted four customers in the last hour, none fitting the profile of our guy. Four customers! How does this place stay in business?”
“OK, then. That’s it. The guy’s a no-show. Margaret, Liz, Luigi, you can come out now. You guys in cars one, two, and three get something to eat. Meet me back at the Command Center in an hour. Car four, you’re to hang on a minute until I make sure everyone has a ride back.”
“Ten-four,” the radio crackled.
“Danny, I’ve got to stretch my legs.” Driscoll slid open the van’s passenger door, stepped outside, and watched as his three detectives exited the store. He walked over to the weary cops. “We gave it our best shot,” he said. “I guess luck wasn’t with us today. Luigi, Liz, you guys got a ride back?”
“We came with Sergeant Aligante,” said Detective Vittaggio.
“Here. Take my keys.” Margaret said. “I’ll ride back in the van with Danny and the Lieutenant.” She handed Luigi her keys.
Driscoll went to say something further when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. “Goddamn it, Moira. What the hell are you doing here? I thought I made it clear I didn’t want you within a hundred miles of this place. How did you get here?”