Yes it was...he would be right at home at one of these things making a big announcement about a big case...He called these things on a regular basis, every time he was involved in a major case..We never called them..We solved the case first..Then Sissy and I appeared with the brass and made a statement..
This was a first...Allowing one of her detectives to call a press conference...It showed how much faith Sissy and the others had in Carlotta...
"Detective Wallace are you the lead investigator in these shootings?" asked one reporter...
"I am the lead detective in one of the shootings....The first one..."she said..
"These shootings have now grown to three.....Do you know for sure that the same man is responsible for all three?" asked another reporter...
"Yes...we have proof through ballistics and patterns and other things that I am not at liberty to tell you." she said..
"What are you guys doing about this? You have three shootings, you haven't made an arrest, the city is in a panic right now...People are afraid to walk in parts of Center City...Especially young women."said another reporter...
"We have beefed up security..We have Tactical squad and uniformed police doubled in the area....covering all empty buildings that he might use..."she said..
"Two days ago this guy apparently changed his game up...He shot somebody on the ground..."said another reporter...
''Yes..We now have a description of him...White male, scraggly beard...about six feet...mid thirties..and in a hoodie...We've even captured a photo of him..two at least...but we didn't get his face."she said...
"So it sounds like you guys still don't have much..Why call a press conference?" asked still another..
If we can talk...Maybe I can help you....Please don't harm anyone else...You Don't have to do this.."said Carlotta passionately...
I stood there and began to daydream about the first time I'd ever kissed her...
I was parked two cars behind her......
''Well..this was nice." I said.
"Yes it was.." she said.
"Any chance we can do this some other time?" I asked.
"ADA...I-I mean Keith...This is our third date!" she said with a grin...
"I suppose it is...Maybe you might...uh ruh let me take you on a real date sometime." I said.
"Are you asking me?"she asked.
I was hesitant for a moment...then I got my courage up...
"Y-Yes..I'd like to take you someplace nice...You know, a nice dinner...Maybe some music, dancing.." I said.
"That would be nice...Maybe after we crack this case." she said.
"You sound really confident." I said.
"Oh I'm certain we'll crack this case." she said.
"Glad to hear that." I said..
She leaned over and kissed me lightly on the lips.... I pulled her to me and kissed her passionately....I couldn't believe this was happening...she didn't pull away though........Then she broke our embrace....
That seemed like so long ago....Here we are now...Married...Who would have thought that then?
II-
He and Tyriq ,Jimmy,Sirena and Carlotta..
III-
"If the killer didn't use this rooftop with it's better cover..There is only one reason..."said Tyriq..
IV-
"That narrows your suspects down to three.." she said..."Your partner feels so much better."she said.
V-
That night...Carlotta got the call she had been waiting for...
"That was a nice move you made today...I saw you ...I saw you on television..."came the voice of the man....He sounded calm now...
"I take it you are a woman of your word and I'm not being traced.." he said..
"Yes...Now tell me..who hurt you? Who left you at the alter?" asked Carlotta...
"You know her...You know her quite well...Think very hard....I got down on one knee...when I had a knee and I asked her to marry me...You were there...You were there..." he said..
"I was? When was this??"asked Carlotta...
"You were engaged to that Mickey Lolo fella...I heard he's dead now..I asked her right in front of you ,I told her and your father that I had enlisted in the Marine core and after boot camp I planned to take her with me...We'd live on the base together...Have a family...then we'd live in off base housing...And she ..She crushed me Carlotta...She crushed me...She told me NO..She told me that she was sorry I had taken things the wrong way....that she was never into me like that and she said she could not marry me.. She gave me the ring back ...She told me that I took things the wrong way...The wrong way Carlotta...I gave my heart to her...and she crushed me..."he said..
"Aye Mios Dios...You!!!...You!!!...You're talking about my sister!!!" she said..
"Yes...Now you know who you're talking to don't you? Don't say my name...just in case you are tracking me....DON'T SAY MY NAME!"
"I went through boot camp and then I became a sniper....I did a tour of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq...I had 27 kills...I was good...Then I accidentally stepped on an IUD....Lost my left leg....I did a year in rehab...Learned how to use my new prosthetic leg well..."he said.
"It's been very lonely for you hasn't it?" said Carlotta...
"Yes...I have searched the city from top to bottom for Carmen...I couldn't find her...Couldn't find your father or your cousin, Mercedes....Then I located you...Found out you were a cop..A Detective in the Criminal Investigation Division.....You don't live in our part of the city any more...You got married I see...To an Assistant District Attorney....How nice for you Carlotta...Now if you want me to stop killing...You must tell me where your sister is or bring her to me.."he said..
"My sister...My sister doesn't live here anymore.."said Carlotta..
"I know where she lives...She lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico...She's an Attorney...She's chief counsel for your fathers import business.. I know all about her...Bring her to me..and the killing stops...Try and trick me and I'll just kill some more..You and your partners will never find me or figure me out..." he said.
"Your sister is the only help I need...I need to see her..I need to plead with her to marry me.." he said.
"My sister won't marry you...Please...you need help...You've killed three people...Every cop in the city is after you...What kind of future can you give my sister?"
"I just need to see her Carlotta...I NEED TO SEE HER...I NEED HER....ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH LAWDDDDDDDDDDD..I NEED CARMENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! SHE CAN MAKE MY LIFE WORTHWHILE AGAIN!!! ONLY CARMEN" he wailed..
He imagined her.....The way she looked the last time he had seen her...Carmen Rodriguez..
''Stop crying...Stop Crying.."said Carlotta...
He hung up...
"No don't hang up...come back!!! Come Back!!!" she pleaded...
Carlotta had told a half truth...She said the Philadelphia Police would not trace him..She didn't say the FBI wouldn't...
An FBI Agent raised his hand...
"Bingo..We got him...We know definitely where that call came from..."he said..
"Forget those two...You're looking for this guy...I know him...I know who he is..."she said.
"I have to..." she said glumly..
(CONCLUSION NEXT)
No comments:
Post a Comment