Computer procedure to access FIVOs was similar to Criminal Records, and Ruby quickly found ODDITIES within the new category, followed by REUGIOUS ~KS. Suddenly the screen came alive with names, dates, and paragraphs of information. Ainslie leaned forward, his attention sharpened. Behind him a voice said, "Hey, look at that!" Someone else emitted a long, low whistle.
As before, they reviewed the names and details, eliminating some, then added those that remained to a new computer file already containing the two possibles from criminal records. At the end, Ruby printed out a half-dozen copies of the combined list and passed them around.
The printout contained six names:
JAMES CALHOUN, w/m AKA ''Little Jesus." DOB 10 Oct 67. 5'11" 2001bs. LKA 271 NW 10 St, Miami. Has tango of a cross on upper chest. Talks about the coming end of world and claims to be Christ making second coming. Has a past for manslaughter, assault, armed burglary.
CARLOS QUINONES, I/m AKA "Diablo Kid." DOB 17 Nov 69. 5'6" 1801bs. Heavyset. LKA 2640 SW 22 St, Miami. Claims to be only Messiah and preaches the word of God. Has extensive violent past for assault, rape, armed robbery with violence.
EARL ROBINSON, b/m AKA "Avenger." DOB 2 Aug 64. 6'0" 1801bs. LKA 1310 NW 65 St, Miami. Lean build, former heavyweight boxer, very aggressive. Preaches on street corners, quotes from Bible, always Revelation, says he is God's judgment angel. Has extensive past for armed robbery, second degree murder, numerous assaults with a knife.
ALEC POLITE, him AKA "Messiah." DOB 12 Dec 69. 5'11" 1801bs. LKA 265 NE 65 St, Miami. Talks about the scriptures to anyone who will listen, says he talks with God. Gets aggressive if doubted, questioned. Could be violent but no record. Been in U.S. since 1993.
ELROY DOIL, w/m AKA "Crusader." DOB 12 Sep 64. 6'4" 2901bs. LKA 189 NE 35 St, Miami. Claims to be a disciple of God, knows God's wishes. Preaches in public. Not believed dangerous. Works as part-time truck driver.
EDELBERTO MONTOYA, I/m, DOB I Nov 62. 5'9" 1501bs. LKA 861 NW I St, Apt #3, Miami. Has thick dark mustache and beard. Claims to be a born-again Christian, quotes from Bible, prays for end of the world. Has past for rape, felonious assault and sexual assault.
As Ainslie, Knowles, and the others studied the names and descriptions, the sense of excitement grew.
Sergeant Greene expressed it. "Malcolm, I think we're on to something."
Detective Garcia looked up eagerly. "Robinson's our man! He has to be. Look at that stuff about Revelation! And he's known as Avenger; that fits. A boxer too, which means he's strong!"
Ruby Bowe added, "Not to mention the 'assaults with a knife.' "
"Okay, okay," Ainslie said. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We'll take a look at them all."
Sheriff-Detective Montes asked, "Will you pull anyone in?"
Ainslie shook his head. "Not enough to go on. We'll use surveillance."
Curzon Knowles cautioned, "Sergeant, you've got to be very, very careful that those people don't catch on.'' Knowles scanned the room, taking in all the detectives. "Please, everyone remember how very little evidence we have so far. And if one of those six is our man, and he suspects we're on to him, he could go totally inactive, leaving us nothing to use against him."
"A little inactivity would do no harm, though," Pablo Greene commented. "We sure as hell don't want him killing someone else."
"If your surveillance is tight, that won't happen." Knowles paused, considering. "The ideal thing would be to catch him in the act."
"Ideal for a prosecutor," Ruby Bowe said. "Risky for a victim."
Ainslie joined in the laughter, then quieted the group with a wave of his hand.
"Ruby's right, though," Quinn insisted. "Surveillance will pose a risk. We know this guy is smart, and he knows we're looking for him."
Ainslie turned to Leo Newbold, who had rejoined the group a few minutes earlier. "What do you think, Lieutenant?"
Newbold shrugged. "It's your call, Malcolm. You're the task force leader."
"Then we'll take the risk," Ainslie said. "And I assure you, Counselor, he'll never see us watching." He turned to Greene. "Pablo, let's plan a surveillance schedule now."
It was agreed that, to begin, Sergeant Ainslie's team would put surveillance on Earl Robinson, James Calhoun, and Carlos Quinones. Sergeant Greene's team would watch Alec Polite, Elroy Doil, and Edelberto Montoya. In every case the surveillance would be total, twenty-four hours a day.
Ainslie informed Newbold, "We need those extra bodies from Robbery right away, sir two to start with, and I'll work them into the schedule."
The lieutenant nodded. "I'll talk to Major Yanes."
Then, as the group prepared to leave, the conference room door was suddenly flung open. Sergeant Hank Brewmaster, who had left when the department conference officially broke up, stood breathlessly in the doorway, his face contorted with shock and disbelief. Brewmaster was heading that day's Homicide Hot Team, so they all knew what was coming.
Newbold stepped forward. "A bad one, Hank?"
"The worst, sir." Brewmaster drew in a breath. "It's City Commissioner Gustav Ernst. And his wife. Both dead, murdered. Call just came in. From the description, it's another just like "
Ainslie cut in. "Oh God! The kind we "
There was no need to finish as Brewmaster nodded. "Apparently it's exactly the same."
He turned back to Newbold. "My team is moving on it now, sir. I thought you should know." His gaze took in the others. "Thought all of you should know because the media's on the scene, and the way I hear it, all hell is breaking loose."
* * *
In the days to follow, media and public outrage blazed through the city like a three-alarm fire; the Ernst murders had become a cause ce'lebre.
As for the Police Department, the savage killing of a city commissioner and his wife was bad enough Commissioner Ernst was one of three commissioners who, along with the mayor, deputy mayor, and city manager, governed Miami. But for Ainslie, Newbold, and everyone else in the force, the crime hit even closer to home because the daughter of the dead couple was Major Cynthia Ernst, a senior Miami police officer.
When the murders occurred, Cynthia Ernst was in Los Angeles on a police business trip combined with a personal visit. She was contacted through the L.A. Police Department, then, "stunned and grieving," as the six o'clock news described her, was flown back to Miami, becoming the focus of attention in a tightly strung, tumultuous city.
6
The hasty first report that the slayings of Miami City Commissioner Ernst and his wife were apparently identical with the savage murders of three other elderly couples the Frosts in Coconut Grove, the Hennenfelds of Fort Lauderdale, and the Urbinasin Miami proved discomfitingly true. Meanwhile the matching killings of Hal and Mabel Larsen in Clearwater the subject of the five-month-old BOLO uncovered by Ruby Bowe were publicly added to the list.
The now-burgeoning investigation centered on the Ernsts' Mediterranean-style mansion in the exclusive Bay Point subdivision enclosed and security protected located on the western shore of Biscayne Bay.
It was there that the battered and bloody bodies of Gustav and Eleanor Ernst had been found by their maid. The maid had arrived before anyone in the house was stirring, and as usual she prepared morning tea, which she carried on a tray to the Ernsts' bedroom. On seeing the couple bound and facing each other in a pool of their own blood, she screamed, dropped the tray, and collapsed from shock.