Ash Return of the Beast

CHAPTER 42



The Next Day…

Wheeler strode into Kane’s office. “Hot enough for you?”

“Yeah. What the hell is it with this weather, anyway?”

“I dunno but I’ve got something for you. Couple of things, actually.”

“Lay it on me.”

“Those mystery bullets from Bodine’s apartment. They’re for a Russian-made semi-automatic handgun. Pretty rare. They call it a silent gun. Those bullets are constructed in such a way that they absorb the sound of the shot when it’s fired. Least that’s what the ballistics guys told me. They also match the slug that was found lodged in the wall at Cowl’s place.”

“So our victim number eight was the shooter that tried to kill Cowl? Interesting. Must have blamed Cowl for his son’s suicide and was out for revenge. And somehow Cowl got back at him. Damn strange twist of fate.”

“Yeah, but there’s more. Turns out Bodine wasn’t just a janitor. He was the pastor at the Sea View Community Church but he left that position when his son died.”

Kane’s eyebrows arched. “No shit? Well, that explains it.”

“Yeah. Those twists of fate are getting more twisted every day.”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

Wheeler looked confused. “Meaning?”

“Nothing. Good work. Let me know if anything else comes up.”

Wheeler flopped the report on Kane’s desk and left the office.

Kane was about to call Ravenwood when his desk phone buzzed. The intercom light and line-2 were blinking. He picked up the phone and punched the intercom button. “Yeah, Tom. What is it?”

“Your daughter’s on line-two, Lieutenant.”

Kane’s eyes lit up. He punched line-2. “Sarah! How’s daddy’s girl? You’re back from camp? Great! How was it? Can’t wait to see you. Maybe we could… When? Tomorrow? I don’t know, I… I mean, heck yeah. I’ll figure out a way. We’ll do lunch. How about Monkeyshine’s? Okay, sweetheart. Love you, too.”

He hung up and then called Ravenwood. He was more excited to tell her about his date with Sarah tomorrow than about the latest info on Harlan Bodine. He remembered he’d recently asked Ravenwood if she’d like to meet Sarah. Maybe this would be a good time. Before he could talk himself out of it, the invitation just tumbled out of his mouth in an awkward sort of way. Hearing his own words caused his entire body to go rigid. But it was too late. The words were out and the invitation was accepted. He suddenly wondered if this could be construed as a date. Or misconstrued. Or whatever. Jesus, everything was getting so complicated. These twists of fate were turning his life into a surreal pretzel of bizarre proportions. Ravenwood was talking but he realized he’d been absorbed in his own inner dialog and had no idea what she’d been saying. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I said, what time?”

“What time what?”

“Tomorrow. Lunch with Sarah.”

“Oh, yeah. High noon. Work for you?”

“I’ll meet you at your office. We can leave from there.”