Chapter One continued

Chapter One continued


Detective James Cameron jostled the stacks of files under his armpit and picked up his coffee mug and briefcase. The meeting about the West Gang murders would be starting in five minutes and he had to give a profile of the perpetrators. James had been on this case for nearly five years now and finally they had a break through.
Two nights ago, when the young man was shot in the alley a little past midnight there had been a witness. This witness had recalled a very good description of the murderer. A sketch artist had sat with her at the hospital for over two hours to get a very strong likeness and now they were about to release it to the media.
He was not too happy about the media network these days, especially when they had used the witnesses name when urged not to. But they were the best means at getting the picture out and right now he needed them. So, he would not get into any argument with the reporters until this was gone and done with.
The conference room was packed full of agents, detectives and police officers ready to listen to what he had to say. As soon as he made it to the front of the room eh handed out the files he held in his arms and clicked the overhead screen on for use throughout his presentation.
As soon as everyone quieted down, he began to speak, “Over the last five years, a series of murders, ranging between thirty and fifty, have occurred in Vancouver alone. At first we thought them to be singular murder crimes, but we have now tied these together.”
James flipped through some pictures of the deceased on the screen, “As you can see, each victim was shot three times, two to the heart and one to the head. That was our means of connecting these murders along with the areas and times of each murder.”
Chief Cohaz, a good friend and father figure to James, stepped forward then. His tall, lean form commandeered attention from those around him, but his carefree attitude put them at ease. At forty-three, he would seem too young to be chief but his actions, hard work and sacrifice daily made him more than up for it.
“Two days ago, James and his partner Pierce went on a call about a murder taking place in an alley near China town. There, they found a witness who later described the perpetrator as a tall man with striking red hair and a tattoo of a snake on his neck. She gave a good description to the sketch artist.” Captain Cohaz turned to James and smiled, slapping him on the back, ‘We were lucky to get a break on this, so do your best to locate this guy.”
After all the questions were answered, James quietly disappeared back to his office. His head was pounding and he needed his morning coffee urgently. He had been sitting merely ten minutes behind his desk when his secretary announced he had visitors. Frowning in annoyance, he gestured for her to let them in and relaxed back in his chair. He was surprised to see Phoebe Banks and a pretty black woman enter his office.
“Miss Banks, what brings you here today?” he stood and walked around the desk to shake her hand, “Is everything alright?”
She blushed prettily and turned to look at her friend who nudged her and gave her a glare, then spoke up, “I wasn’t exactly truthful to you before and I came to set things straight.”
His eyes narrowed and he led her to a chair indicating for her friend to follow. Once he was settled back behind his desk, he crossed his hands before him on the large oak top, “Now then, what is you abstained from telling me?”
“He saw me; direct in the face just after he shot Keagen. Luckily, someone honked their horn at him and he disappeared. I presume it was a fellow gang member.”
Anger flashed through him as he thought about the danger she put herself in by not telling him the truth, “Do you realize how much danger you are in right now? You’re all over the media and he probably knows where you live; did you come in with the two officers I sent over?”
“I was at Cassie’s when I decided to come and talk to you. Did you send them to my apartment?”
He nodded, “Yes, but they haven’t reported in yet, which is very odd. I’ll have to give them a call.”
When there was no answer at the other end, he immediately called a squad car to check out the vicinity of Phoebe’s apartment complex. Then, he took out the paperwork for her fill out regarding protective custody.
“What about my family back in Rosedale? Will they be okay?” Phoebe asked as she filled in the necessary information.
James smiled reassuringly, “I’ll call a friend at the Chilliwack Police Station and get a squad car put out front of their home twenty-four seven. They will be fine, right now you need to worry about yourself and your friend Cassie here.”
Cassie stood up directly, “What do you mean me? Do I have to be put in protective custody too?”
He nodded, “I would advise it, yes. Since you were together the last few days, are close friends and work at the same place; it could easily be that they know exactly who you are and your entire life story,” James leaned over on the desk, “These men are not to taken lightly ladies, they are vicious, insane murderers who have been on a killing spree for nearly five years. Do not think that they will not come after you, because I know for a fact that they do not like loose ends.”
“You know who these people are? Why don’t you just go and arrest them?” Phoebe looked angry, but James knew that she just did not understand all that was happening.
“Miss, we know about these men but we do not know who they are. I have put together a profile and your description of Mikey who fits the gang exactly.”
“There is a whole gang of these guys?” Cassie shrieked, running her hands through her short hair, “How can we hide from a gang? They’ll be everywhere and we can’t just leave the country.”
He smiled, “You may have an idea there.”
Both Phoebe and Cassie groaned then and James watched his witness bend forward holding her head in her hands. He hated seeing her so overwhelmed and although he couldn’t even think of her in a romantic way, the attraction was still there. She was incredibly beautiful, her large innocent eyes made his stomach clench nervously and her lips…her lips were meant to be kissed.
“Are you alright?” Cassie’s sharp voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. He blushed when he noticed that she had caught him ogling Phoebe.
Quickly he pressed himself to continue on, “I am fine. Listen, I’ll drive along with the undercover agents who will bring you to the safe house. You will have to leave everything behind, but all expenses will be paid up and you’ll be able to live at the safe house until this is resolved. Hopefully they won’t find you before then. If so, we’ll have t o move you again.” James looked at them as they listened intently, “Any questions?”
The shook their heads, so he continued, “The first group, including me, will take you to a safe house in Whistler. Its actually a cabin but its remote so we will be able to see if anyone unexpected comes up. Once we get there, another team will already have situated and we will leave you in their capable hands.”
Phoebe seemed overwhelmed so he left at that and called his secretary in with tea and biscuits for the ladies. Then, he spent a few minutes setting things up with witness protection. An hour later they were on their way in a ghost car to Whistler, Phoebe sandwiched between James and another agent in the back seat of the suburban.