Stacey Page 9

  "Damn!" the uniformed police officer said.

  "You guys check upstairs," Iris said to the boys from Queens. "And we'll check down here.”

  "Look," Lori said. She was pointing at a pair of bloody footprints that led from the kitchen to the staircase leading to the second floor. There was also a bloody hacksaw in the far corner of the room. "There's some blood-soaked clothing up here!" one of the boys from Queens called out from the second floor.

  "Bathroom is clear!" Toni shouted.

  Casper called an all clear from the pantry.

  "O.k.," Iris said. "Let's go check the basement.”

  "Here's the entrance to the basement," Toni called out.

  "Is it locked?" Casper asked. Toni said no. Casper, who took the lead, pushed the door open and slowly made his way down the stairs. Iris and the rest of the female detectives followed. The pungent smell of death combined with the fetid aroma of urine and feces produced a symphony of overwhelming stench so unimaginably wicked that it stung Iris’ eyes. She unzipped her fanny pack and removed a small jar of Vicks Vapor Rub. She opened it and smeared a little under her nose, then she passed the jar to Toni, who did the same before she passed it over to Casper. Lori declined, calling her comrades wimps. Toni suggested that they rub some of the ointment onto their respective handkerchiefs and cover their noses.

  The basement was dark and dank. Iris shined her flashlight toward the ceiling searching for a light fixture. She found one. It hung precariously from a wooden beam. The light was broken.

  Chapter 30

  DETECTIVE LORI TAIL, who was now leading the crew, stepped in something. "What the hell?” She shined her light at her sneakers. She'd stepped on a puppy's carcass. "Holy shit!" she shouted as she jumped to another spot. But in this new spot, Detective Lori Tail stumbled on the severed head of a large dog. "Fuckin' gross, man," she said as she took up the rear.

  Iris panned her light all around the basement. There were human and animal feces all over the basement's floor. Dusty shelves and empty cupboards lined the walls. A bicycle lay in the corner. Iris shined her light at a box. She looked at Casper, who looked at her. "It's only a box," she said to the big man. Casper reached into his pocket and removed a pair of latex gloves. He put them on, then he bent down and opened the box.

  "Damn! It's full of bones,” he said, “looks like animal bones to me." Everyone took a peek. Next to the box stood a fish tank that was filled with liquid.

  "What's that?" Toni asked. "There's a dog's head in here," she said, answering her own question. "This thing is filled with acid."

  "Look over here," Casper said. He shined his light on the wall next to a door. There were photos of men and women engaging in the most extreme acts of S&M.

  "Do Y'all hear that?" Lori whispered; a faint sound of something whimpering. “It’s coming from the other side of this door.” The detectives all pointed their weapons at the door. Casper shouted, "Billy Madison. This is the police. Come out with your hands up, now!" The whimpering continued.

  "Billy Madison, you have five seconds, then we're coming in." He looked at Iris, who was counting down on her fingers. As soon as she reached one, she pointed at the door. Casper kicked the door opened. Instantly, every inch of air space in the room—beyond the door—was buzzing with carcass-chewing Blowflies. "Sweet Jesus!" he shouted as he covered his head and closed the door.

  Outside, the blood moon hung overhead. Lori ran out of the building first. She was rubbing her hands through her hair to make sure that there were no flies caught up in it. Iris told the skinny detective to call a forensic team and CSI; she also asked for a heavy-duty vacuum.

  An elderly woman who lived across the street from the crime scene asked Iris what was going on. Iris told the woman that everything was under control. "You know, Detective," the elderly said. "I saw Billy with an older woman not more than an hour ago. That’s who you're looking for, right? In fact, you passed her as you came roaring down the street." Iris waved Lori over and told her to take a statement from the woman. "Is Billy all right?" the elderly woman asked.

  "We'll know for sure in a minute, Miss."

  When the CSI vehicle pulled up, a female technician and two males jumped out the back. One of the men was carrying a large vacuum. The female tech stared at Iris and said, "I've been dying to meet you, Detective Williams," she said enthusiastically. "May I shake your hand?" Iris glanced at Toni; then she extended her hand. "And you've got to be Detective Annette Toni." The enthusiastic tech also shook Toni's hand. "The way you guys hunted down the twins—" The female technician shook her head. "Absolutely brilliant police work."

  "O.k.," Iris said. "Can we get down to business?"

  "Sure," the tech said. She stood in front of Iris and Toni and stared at the detectives like they were rock stars. "Oh," she said. She reached into the back of crime scene van and removed two hazmat suits. She gave one to Iris and the other to Toni. Iris asked for two more for Casper and Lori. Iris and her team suited up. When they done, they stood in front of Billy's aunt's house. The detectives looked like refugees from a Ghostbusters movie.

  Chapter 31

  THE FEMALE CRIME SCENE technician—who was apparently the team's leader—made Iris wait as the male techs strung a line of Nebo-CSI Quatro lights from the basement entrance down into the basement itself. "Holy shit!" one of the technicians shouted when his partner turned on the Lights. Three hundred and fifty watts of luminous power lit up the dank basement. Blood splatters covered the four walls, and semen droplets were all over the floor. Iris felt her skin crawl under the hazmat suit. What the hell is this? She thought. Iris and her crew stood in front of the wooden door; she nodded to a male tech who carried a large vacuum. "Open the door slowly—" she said, but it was too late. The male technician pushed the door in. The infuriating sound of thousands of blowflies sent chills down the spines of everyone that was present.

  "Good lord!" the male technician shouted. He fumbled with the vacuum before he switched it on. Flies filled the entire room; it was impossible to see your hand in front of your face. The flies seemed to be attacking the technician. He pointed the wide nozzle of the vac to his right, sucking the flies into it—hundreds at a time. Iris, Toni, Casper, and Lori all took a few steps back as the male technician battled with the angry blowflies. A minute or so later more than half of the flies were sucked into the vacuum cleaner. The female technician shined her flashlight into room. "Give me that," Iris said as she snatched the flashlight out of her hand. Iris let the beam of light glide across the floor, then she passed it across the wall to her left; what she saw chilled her to the bone. A large German Shepherd hung to the wall by its tail and ears; pneumatic nails from a nail gun kept the animal in place. Just below the dead animal was a retriever; Iris could see only the outline of another dog because the remaining blowflies covered its entire body. What was even more shocking about the sight was the fact that the retriever was still alive. The blowflies were crawling in and out of the dog's muzzle, ears, and one of its eyes. The dog was whimpering as its legs moved in slow motion; the animal was hairless, and its hairs were all over the floor, in fact, all the animals were hairless.

  Iris gave the flashlight back to the CSI leader and snatched the vacuum from the shocked CSI tech. She pointed it at the retriever and sucked the remaining flies from its body. "Get it down, now!" Iris shouted. She looked around the room. Dogs in various stages of decomposition covered the walls. Iris had never seen such a sight. The female technician called to Iris for help. Detective Lori Tail had fainted. "Get her out of here," Iris said to the female technician.

  “Iris, down here," Casper said. He was looking underneath a large table that sat in the middle of the room. Under the table was a large, metal tub. Casper pulled it out slowly as he fanned the blowflies away from his face. "Damnit! These are human body parts." Inside the metal tub were the arms, legs, torso, and head of a man. A note, written on a piece of cardboard, apparently in the man's blood, read: This pig killed my mommy and daddy
, and you two bitches killed me.

  Chapter 32

  IRIS SUCKED UP GOD's sweet air as soon as she pulled off the head portion on her hazmat suits. Outside, a large crowd had gathered. Crime scene barricades kept the crowd at bay. Iris stared at the faces on the other side of the street, searching for the old woman who told her about seeing Billy with a woman. Iris spotted the old lady talking to some of her friends. "C’mon, Toni." Iris and Toni marched across the street. The old woman and her neighbors froze when the detectives, who were still wearing their hazmat suits, stopped in front of the woman's yard. "Excuse me, please, may we have a word with you?" Iris said flatly; her face was stoic. Toni asked the woman her name. She told the detective that it was Deborah Fields. Toni looked down at the hazmat suit that she wore; she took it off. Iris removed hers also. The detectives walked Ms. Fields toward Iris’ vehicle. "You said earlier that you saw Billy with a woman?" Iris asked.

  "Yes, they came in together, but they didn't leave together. I gave that detective over there a statement." She was pointing at Lori, who was heaving in Billy's aunt flower garden.

  "Yeah, I know, but I'm gonna need for you to tell me what you told her."

  "Is she going to be all right? She doesn't look to good."

  Iris and Toni looked over at Lori. "She'll be o.k.," Iris said. "Listen, did you get a good look at the woman that was with Billy?"

  "Not really.”

  "I want to show you some pictures." Iris opened the back door of her Durango and retrieved her laptop. She tapped a few keys. The drawings that a homeless man had drew of the twins a few months back popped on the screen. The homeless man had drawn the pictures from memory after Stacey and her sister had destroyed the body of his friend. The old woman said that she'd never seen those faces before.

  "HAVE A SEAT, LADIES," Lt. Stone said. He stood by the window and watched the construction crew below for a few second before he sat at his desk. "What the hell happened?"

  Iris and Toni looked at one another. "It was Stacey McHill, sir, she killed Billy.”

  "What? Are you sure?"

  "Yessir, she left a note."

  Just then there was a knock at the door; Iris opened it. Dr. Susan Patterson stood on the other side. Lt. Stone stood. "Doctor Patterson, it's good to see you again." Dr. Patterson was fidgety. "Please, may I sit down?" Iris stood up and motioned to the doctor to take her seat. Dr. Patterson wore an oversized correction officer's uniform. "This is all so unbelievable," the doctor said. "She's loose." Doctor Patterson jumped out of her chair and began pacing. "What she did to those correction officers, my God! You've got to catch her, Detective Williams. She must be stopped."

  "Take it easy, Doc, please, sit back down," Iris said.

  "She's coming after you two.”

  Iris didn't tell Dr. Patterson about Stacey McHill's connection with the death of Billy Madison. Dr. Patterson rambled on about how Stacey McHill was hell-bent on destroying everyone associated with the Double 0 precinct. "Doctor Patterson, please, calm down.”

  "You all are in danger," she said as she stared into Iris’ eyes. "All of you." Dr. Patterson wrung her hands together as she looked into Iris’ eyes. And almost in a whisper, she said, "Remember what I told when you came to visit me in Shreveport, Remember?"

  "Don't worry about that now, Doc, just take it easy."

  "I told you, detective, that if you have to kill one of them kill the other also, remember?" Dr. Patterson had a sad, frightened look in her eyes. Iris didn't know what to say. She'd remembered the doctor's warning, but she couldn't bring herself to shoot the second twin, Stacey. Lt. Stone stood up and cleared his throat.

  “Doctor Patterson, the Deputy Mayor, the Deputy Police Commissioner, and most of the top brass in law enforcement will be meeting here tomorrow morning to discuss Stacey McHill. I would truly appreciate it if you showed up. The recapturing of Stacey McHill is our top priority.”

  "Why? I'm not a police officer. I don't know a thing about—"

  "You're an expert when it comes down to Stacey McHill," Lt. Stone said, cutting the doctor off. "And, frankly, Doctor Patterson, we're going to need all the help we can get."

  Dr. Patterson stood. "Yes, o.k., I'll be there."

  Lt. Stone turned to Iris. "And given that you two caught the twins the first time, I want you there, too." Iris, Toni, and Dr. Patterson all looked at one another. They were the experts on Stacey McHill. "So, you were there when Stacey McHill escaped?" Iris asked.

  “Yes, detective, and let me tell you that it was the most terrifying experience I ever had, ever...." Dr. Patterson rubbed the palms of her hand against her thighs. She explained all that went on once the lights went out at Tanawan Correctional Facility. "Stacey McHill is hell bent on revenge, Plain and simple."

  Iris thought about the way Stacey McHill had destroyed Billy Madison's body. She literally tore his body to pieces. The thought of Stacey McHill focusing her attention solely on her and Toni made the detective nervous.

  "Lt. Stone, what time did you say the meeting will start?" Dr. Patterson asked.

  "10:00 a.m., doctor." Dr. Patterson was still a little shaky.

  "Are you gonna be o.k., Doc?" Iris asked.

  Doctor Susan Patterson stared into Iris’ eyes. "God help us all."

  Chapter 33

  THE DOUBLE 0 WAS BUZZING with activity. Masonry workers stood upon scaffoldings that rose twenty-five feet above the ground on either side of the entrance to the Double 0. Several vans from different companies lined the street: Raymond Ventilation Company, Artel's Masonry, Roquan's Plumbing Ltd. An ABC Eyewitness News van was also parked on the block.

  At 10:30 am a white Ford Explorer followed by a shiny, black Expedition pulled into the parking area of the precinct. The Deputy Mayor, the Deputy Police Commissioner, and four large men stepped out of the white Explorer and marched toward the building and entered through a side entrance. Security was tight inside and outside the Double 0.

  Men wearing large tool belts around their waists scurried to get out of the way of the most powerful men in the city as they made their way toward the basement. A Latino man from Raymond's Ventilation Company, who was carrying an R-22 Freon tank on top of his shoulder, stepped to the side as the Deputy Mayor passed. The Captain of the Double 0 and Lt. Stone greeted the Deputy Mayor and his entourage. Two large police officer stood guard at the entrance of the conference room.

  Special guests included: the borough president of Manhattan, the Chief of Police, investigative supervisors from every precinct in Harlem, and detectives from different precincts throughout the city. The conference room was packed, and a cacophony of excited voices filled the room.

  Detectives Iris Williams and Annette Toni sat in the front row. "There's a lot of big shots up in here, Iris," Toni said as she looked over her shoulder, scanning the room.

  Stacey won't be crazy enough to show up here, will she? Naah, Iris thought.

  "Iris." Toni nudged her partner.

  "Huh?"

  “Lieutenant Stone is trying to get you attention.”

  "Iris!" Lt. Stone called out to the famed detective. "Over here." Lt. Stone introduced the detective to the Deputy Mayor.

  "We want you to get this...this girl as soon as possible, Detective Williams."

  "I'll do my best, sir."

  "Oh, there's Doctor Patterson," Lt. Stone said. He called the doctor over as Iris excused herself.

  "What was that all about?" Toni asked.

  “They want Stacey off the streets, that’s all. "Did you bring the USB for our little presentation?"

  Toni patted her front pocket as she scanned the room. “Yes, I got it.” Iris also scanned the room; her eyes had never been so busy. Iris looked at every face in the room, twice...three times.

  "Are you all right?" Toni stared at Iris. She could see that Iris was in full detective mode; she left her partner alone.

  Lt. Stone walked up to the podium and tapped the mic. "O.k. I guess we can get this thing started." He introduced t
he Deputy Police Commissioner.

  "Good morning, everyone. I'm thankful that you all took the time out of your busy schedules to attend this morning's meeting. Our key speakers will be the renowned psychologist Doctor Susan Patterson, Detective Iris Williams, and her partner Detective Annette Toni.” The Deputy Police Commissioner relinquished the mic to Detective Williams.

  Iris walked up to a small table where a computer was sitting. The computer was hooked up to a fifty-five-inch flat screen. Iris inserted the USB into the port Iris’ fingers danced across the keys. A still shot of Toni Bates from Eyewitness News filled the screen. Iris looked up at the flat screen, then she tapped another key and the image of the beautiful reporter came to life. The report was from yesterday's news:

  "This just in. One of the most dangerous serial killers that this city has ever known has escaped from Tanawan Correctional Facility for the criminally insane—a new state-of-the-art facility in Queens—last night during a blackout. Two correction officers loss their lives during the brazen escape. Eight months ago, Stacey and Jannifer McHill, who were identical twins, and who were sixteen years old at the time, went on a vicious killing spree that lasted three months. Twelve men and two women were killed by the teenagers including: Derrick Simmons, the son of the academy award winning actor Troy Simmons, and Detective Andrew Taylor of the Double 0 precinct. Stacey and Jannifer McHill were apprehended by Detectives Iris Williams and her partner Annette Toni also from the Double 0. The police commissioner has vowed to use all of his resources to bring this elusive killer to justice—" Iris pressed pause, and the image of Toni Bates froze.

  Chapter 34

  TONI TAPPED DR. PATTERSON on the shoulder, then she whispered something in her ear. Dr. Patterson nodded and walked toward the podium. "Good morning everyone, I'm Doctor Susan Patterson. I'm a psychoanalysis who specializes in abnormal psychiatry." Dr. Patterson paused and ran her hands through her hair. She looked the crowd over, then she continued. "Stacey and Jannifer McHill were patients of mine back in Shreveport, Louisiana. At the age of thirteen they were the victims of the worst kind of physical and mental abuse imaginable."