Wrong Exit

  Nick said, “Call patrol and have them make an arrest on the warrant and find some reason to bring the other guy too. Have them taken to the precinct. Can you come get me?”

  Jen chuckled. “I thought you had a motorcycle?”

  Nick glanced at the gasoline pouring from the bullet sprayed fuel tank. “Not anymore. We need to get to Sunrise Hospital.”

  “Got it.”

  Nick watched as John and the shooter were placed in caged patrol units and driven away. The coroners wagon showed up for the three other bodies. CSU units were on their way. Nick wanted to check out the contents of the van. He glanced to the back of the van and saw the ‘detour’ sign and a large ‘road closed’ sign. Sand bags were stacked against the wall of the van and chains were secured on both side walls. He had no doubts that this was a kidnap wagon. He pictured little Alison chained.

  Under the passenger seat was an IPad. Nick powered it up. It wasn’t even password protected. One icon stood out. A smiley face with GPS stamped on it. Nick tapped the icon and saw a crude screen that simply asked for date, time and exit number.

  Nick called Joy in tech. “I have a program from an IPAD I need to send to you. Can you check it out and let me know what it does? I also need another GPS history.”

  Joy heard the tension in Nick’s voice. He was into something pretty bad.

  Joy walked Nick through the steps to send the program to her. She listened as Nick read off the V.I.N. numbers for the van. “I’ll call you as soon as I figure out what this little program does and I’ll send the GPS history to your laptop.”

  Joy watched as the bar on her monitor showed progression of the download to 100%.

  She clicked on the smiley face icon and whispered, “What kind of bad boy are you?”

  ******

  Tony felt sick. The cops had John. Tony leaned back in his office chair and closed his eyes. His heart was racing. John would sing like the Bee Gees to save his own ass. It sounded like the cops had him cold on shooting up that car this morning. John had kidnapped that girl this morning, too. Could the construction signs still be in the van? How could John explain that? Hell, how could he explain it? That detective was on his way over. He said to call a lawyer. Shit.

  Tony looked at his cell phone. He didn’t have a choice. He had to call Lucas. He put the phone down on his desk and pulled open his bottom drawer. He grabbed a half empty vodka bottle, raised his chin, closed his eyes and felt the burning liquid race down his throat. When he opened his eyes Lucas was standing in front of him.

  ******

  Nick called the D.A.’s office and requested they contact Judge White for a search warrant while Jen drove them to Sunrise. Nick knew he had slim evidence against the hospital but was hoping the Judge would at least allow a search for Sharon. The D.A. called back a few minutes later and patched Nick’s call through directly to Judge White. This was not the normal procedure. Nick listened to Judge White scold him for trying to link the prestigious Sunrise Hospital to a crazed employee.

  Judge White asked, “What proof do you have that this John Martin isn’t acting on his own? Would the hospital have reported the van stolen if they had any inkling it had been used for a kidnapping?”

  Nick sighed. That was the one question he couldn’t answer. “Your Honor, I believe that the hospital administrator, Tony Scalla, thinks the police only knew about John shooting up a car. There’s little chance that Scalla knows we have discovered the kidnappings, the bodies at the brewery and the vacated cars.”

  Judge White’s voice was stern. “Detective Stryker, your reputation for pushing the envelope doesn’t do you justice. You don’t push the envelope; you light the corner with a match! My wife had a heart transplant at Sunrise and would be dead today if those people hadn’t saved her. They are world renown for God’s sake! I’m not giving you a warrant based on unfounded suspicions. I will go one step more and warn you to behave in your dealings with Sunrise Hospital. God knows Chicago needs more outfits like them!”

  Jen watched Nick slip his phone into his pocket and turn his head to look out the window. She waited a minute and then asked, “Well?”

  “Judge White thinks the sun not only rises at Sunrise but sets there too. They saved his wife’s life with a heart transplant.”

  Jen huffed her displeasure. “Yeah, but whose heart did they use? So no warrant?”

  “No warrant and I’ve been warned to play nice.”

  “Uh oh.”

  Nick removed his suit jacket and inspected the damage from the day. Two torn armpits and one missing elbow. He tossed the jacket to the backseat and rolled up his shirt sleeves to conceal the rips at the elbows. “The Judge is right about one thing. We don’t have enough. We have to prove John was following Tony Scalla’s orders.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Detective Wayne Dunfee watched Agent Phillips pace on the other side of the homicide room with his cell phone pressed to his ear. Whatever he was being told wasn’t making him happy. Phillips walked over to Wayne’s desk after returning his phone to his breast pocket.

  “I seem to be the only bear in the woods.”

  Wayne frowned. “What’s that mean? Oh, I get it! They don’t care if the bear shits in the woods or not, right? As long as they don’t have to go in the woods.”

  Phillips leaned his chair back. “You got it. I think I’m the only one that thinks there’s something to this hypnotizing program. It would help to have a little proof. The Mandarin program isn’t even on any of their devices.”

  Wayne nodded agreement. “If it makes you feel any better I believe them, plus they all passed polys. I saw those people when they came in this morning. They really thought they had murdered Nick. This thing could be bad news in the wrong hands.”

  Wayne answered his phone all the while looking at Phillips. When he hung up he said, “You’re either going to have to send those three home or move your circus to your own tent. Stryker’s been busy. Patrol is bringing four people here as we speak.”

  ******

  Darla, Dolly, Cynthia and Peter all sat around a conference table at the precinct waiting for Agent Phillips to come back in and talk to them again.

  Darla looked at her nails and sighed. “I missed my nail appointment.”

  Dolly asked Peter, “Do you think that FBI guy believes us?”

  Peter shrugged. “I don’t know. What proof do we have? The app doesn’t even show on our phones anymore.”

  Cynthia pushed her chair from the table and began to pace. “When you think about it, all the FBI has is Darla’s plot to kill the mayor.”

  Darla stiffened up and pointed her finger at Cynthia. “Darla’s plot? Really? I just took notes! You three are the ones going around confessin’ to murder and shootin’ at shit.” She winked at Dolly. “I bet that FBI man has got agents crawlin’ all over that Dr. Sanford’s office as we speak. Gettin’ all kinds of evidence right now.”

  Just then the door opened and Agent Phillips came into the room.

  Agent Phillips said, “You can all go home now. Keep me informed of any new developments.”

  Peter stood and asked, “That’s it then, isn’t it?”

  “For now. We’ve begun an investigation and increased the security for the mayor just in case you weren’t the only one that got that video.”

  Darla thought Agent Phillips looked frustrated. “Can you get a subpoena for this computer program and have it tested?”

  Phillips considered evading her question but answered, “We’ve tried. We’re a little light on evidence. All we have are three confessions to a murder that didn’t happen, Cynthia shooting her own property as part of an art demonstration and your notes about killing the mayor that no one else can substantiate. The only laws that have been broken, that we can prove, are Cynthia discharging a weapon in a public building and the three of you filing false criminal reports.”

  Darla said, “Well, that ain’t good. So we’re the only criminals?”

  Phillips shrugged and ge
stured for them to leave.

  Outside of the precinct in Dolly’s car Darla broke the silence. “I don’t know about you guys, but if someone was puttin’ shit in my head that could get me in trouble, I’d make damn sure the cops got what they needed to put ‘em away.”

  Peter said, “I agree. The police have to follow rules. We don’t.”

  ******

  J.T. Barrimore arrived back in Chicago from Indianapolis at O’Hare airport and checked his phone for missed messages. His programmer, Matt, left him the message that he had received all of the parasite program from Derrick and understood how it worked. He had added, “Good find. This will come in handy.”

  J.T. found his car in the airport lot and made the final transfer of $500,000.00 to Derrick’s account from Lucas’ account. Now, if the FBI found out about the program, they would trace it all back to Lucas. There was only one person that could tie the program to him. Dr. Derrick Sanford would have to be eliminated.

  J.T. phoned Matt. “I want to know how many ‘subjects’ are ready for video instructions.”

  J.T. pulled his car into traffic and glanced at his reflection in the rear view mirror. Today seemed like a good day to retire from doing hits himself. Of course there would be those few he wanted to do…the real challenges. It was only fitting that Derrick be murdered by one of his own subjects.

  ******

  Kevin was waiting at Peter’s door when Dolly, Darla, Cynthia and Peter arrived at the curb. Peter noticed the bandages on Kevin’s face and neck and bolted out of the car and up the steps. “What happened to you?”

  “It’s a long story. I need your help with something.” Kevin glanced at Dolly, Darla and Cynthia walking toward them. “It’s important.”

  Peter unlocked his door and ushered all of them in. He introduced Kevin as his brother and watched as the gals exchanged nervous glances.

  Darla asked, “None of my business but you look like you’ve been run over by a monster thorn bush.”

  Kevin answered, “A guy shot out the windshield of my car with an AK47.”

  Peter dropped onto the couch. “What?”

  Kevin lowered himself into a chair. “I think…the cops think…this guy kidnapped my girlfriend this morning.” Kevin decided to correct his statement. “Well, she’s not really my girlfriend, yet.”

  Cynthia sat on the couch next to Peter. Dolly and Darla pulled chairs from the kitchen into the living room.

  Darla said, “Start at the beginning.”

  ******

  Two patrol officers arrived at the homicide room with their four prisoners. Wayne locked each of them in holding cells and walked back to his desk.

  Detective Sam Flores said, “I might have a lead on that brewery owner, finally. I’m waiting on a call back from the city assessor’s office.”

  Wayne returned to his computer search for more information on Sunrise Specialty Hospital. He glanced over at Sam. “Have you got any idea what these four guys in holding are here for?”

  Sam shook his head. “Jen just said patrol was bringing them and to lock ‘em up.”

  Wayne looked up and saw a man in a suit standing in the doorway. “Can I help you?”

  “I’m the attorney for John Miller, Vince Thompson and Juan Sanchez. I’d like to see my clients please.”

  Wayne glanced at Sam who shrugged.

  Wayne said, “Show me some identification.”

  The man handed Wayne a business card. Nick wasn’t going to be happy a lawyer was already here. He’d probably listen to the charges and tell them not to talk.

  “It sure didn’t take you long to get here! You’ll have to talk to them through the bars. The arresting officer isn’t here yet.”

  The man frowned, “You can’t keep me from my clients.”

  “I’m not! Are you deaf? You can talk to them through the bars or sit here and wait. You’re choice.”

  The man shifted his briefcase to his other hand and said, “Take me to them.”

  Wayne walked the attorney to the holding cell hall door and unlocked it. “Let me know when you’ve finished.” Wayne walked back to his desk.

  Sam was drawing a diagram on the whiteboard. “Thought Nick would like to see the chain of ownership on this brewery. We’ve got some strange bedfellows doing real estate transactions here.”

  Just then three shots rang out from the holding area. Wayne and Sam drew their weapons and charged toward the hall. The attorney was sprinting for the exit door of the homicide wing.

  Wayne yelled, “Stop! I’ll shoot!”

  The man turned to face Wayne and aimed his pistol. Wayne and Sam both fired. The lawyer was dead. Officers ran to the scene from all directions. Wayne ran into the holding area. John, Juan and Vince were all dead. Single shots to the head.

  Wayne glanced at the fourth prisoner who sat quietly on his bench. “What’s so special about you?”

  The man shrugged and then began laughing. He was the driver of one of the hit cars. Lucas wouldn’t have him shot. He’d do his time for getting caught and be rewarded when he got out. Strictly business.

  Wayne walked out of the hall area, looked at Sam and shook his head. “He killed three of them.”

  Sam began to frisk the body of the lawyer. There was no identification of any kind on him. Sam caught sight of the Chief coming from down the hall at a brisk pace. Sam tilted his head and said, “Chief’s on his way.”

  Wayne moaned. How did this guy get a gun past security downstairs? The Chief stopped abruptly in the doorway, looked at Wayne and said, “What in the hell just happened?”

  Wayne answered, “Ask Sam. I have to call Stryker and find out who these guys are.”

  Jen had just pulled their car up to the front of Sunrise Hospital when Wayne called Nick. Jen could tell from Nick’s set jaw that the news was bad. Nick hung up and took a deep breath. “We just lost our best lead for finding Sharon. The van driver and the Camry guys were just shot and killed in holding.”

  Jen couldn’t believe what she had heard. “How?”

  “Some guy waltzed in claiming to be their attorney. Wayne let him back into the holding area. Sam and Wayne shot the lawyer, if he even is a lawyer. He’s dead now too.”

  Jen knew there was going to be all kinds of hell to pay. She also knew they couldn’t lose focus on finding Sharon.

  Nick called Joy in tech. “Any chance that GPS history is ready?”

  Joy answered, “Just sent it to your laptop not two minutes ago. Still working on this little program you sent me. What I can tell you is that it is an interface designed to interrupt the GPS satellite band and substitute specific code changes for specific times.”

  Nick said, “Give me an example.”

  Joy said, “Let’s say I’m at O’Hare. If I enter an address that takes me to 94 and exit 114 for downtown, the interceptor will change the 114 to Exit 141. From what I can tell the interruption to GPS is usually set to only be effective for 20 to 30 minutes. I hope this helps.”

  “It does. See if you can get me a history of how often and when this has been used. Thanks, Joy, you’ve helped a lot.”

  Nick looked at Jen. “These guys have a program that alters GPS instructions. That’s how all of these cars ended up going to Exit 141. All they had to do when a car came down that exit was to mimic construction detours, select which drivers met their criteria, and direct them to turn toward the carjacking spot.”

  Jen thought about the horror of it. Preying on people unfamiliar with Chicago and having GPS direct them to their own kidnapping and murder. “This is sick.”

  Nick glanced up through their windshield to the three story stone facade of Sunrise Specialty Hospital. He turned to Jen. “Someone knew that John was dropping off the van at Logan’s Muffler and ordered a hit on him. He’s been making too many mistakes and now the police are involved. Someone predicted his arrest and was afraid he would talk. That explains the hit at Logan’s. Not many people knew that the driver of the shooter car, John and the two Camry guys
had been arrested and taken to the 107th. There’s only one way they knew that these guys were at our precinct.”

  Jen said, “Whoever ordered the hit must have had someone else near Logan’s that followed the patrol cars to the precinct.”

  “Exactly. Whoever ordered the hit at Logan’s doubled down and ordered the hit to be done at the precinct. This hit order left nothing to chance; it wasn’t done until John was dead. John was not going to talk to the cops.”

  “That took balls.”

  Nick nodded. “Balls and power. Imagine having the ability to get a volunteer for a suicide mission on such short notice. What size contact list would that take?” Nick was certain now that John’s employer was the organized crime Family. “Most likely the volunteer for this shooting was guaranteed his family would receive big money and protection for life. This smells like the mob.”

  “Do you think Tony Scalla is the head of this?”

  Nick didn’t think that Tony sounded like that level of power. “No, but I think he’s an important player.” Nick made a mental note to contact Agent Phillips of the FBI’s Chicago task force on organized crime. “Phillips might know where Scalla fits in this.”

  Nick opened his laptop and saw the email from Joy with the GPS history of the van. “Let’s see where this van went today. I’ll read off every stop after exit 141.”

  Jen sat ready to take notes. Nick was silent as he read. Finally, he turned to her. “They went from Exit 141 to the brewery street, then to the street where Kevin was shot and then straight here to the hospital. From here, they drove to the street where we found the dumped cars then to Logan’s.”

  Jen clicked her pen shut and put her notebook back in her pocket. “Then Sharon has to be here.”

  Nick called Joy back. “Hey Joy, thanks for the info. Can you run GPS history on the van for each day our missing person cars took Exit 141?”

  Joy chuckled, “Lord save my soul but I expected you to ask for that. I’ve already started. I’ll send you everything as soon as I finish.”

  Nick and Jen walked toward the front doors of Sunrise when Nick’s phone rang again. Nick looked at the caller I.D. and said, “It’s the Chief.”