Cat and Mouse
By Terri D. Thomas
Part 5
Cassy's head hurt. She had just read Ollie Murdock's file for the umpteenth time. She studied every detail of his adult life from the time he was sentenced to the federal prison in Tallahassee to the time of his escape from custody last year.
He only had one surviving family member. His father. Apparently, Ollie and Burt Murdock were estranged. Burt lived in Miami and had nothing to do with his mentally disturbed son. 'Can't really blame him,' Cassy reasoned. Ollie Murdock gave new meaning to the words 'problem child'.
She sighed and leaned back in the chair. She glanced up at her partner, who was deeply involved in completing his report about what had happened earlier that morning.
She returned her attention to the Murdock file. There had been no word on Murdock's location since his escape. At the time, Harry had reasoned that the man had fled the state. But Cassy had always doubted that they could be so lucky. The man wouldn't let go of his need for revenge that easily. Ever since his escape there had been a nagging fear that the man was right there, in Palm Beach, watching her every move, waiting for just the right time to pay her back for her indiscretion. It was almost impossible to believe that all of this was over a now meaningless incident in a parking lot.
On several occasions after the arrest, Cassy had thought back to that afternoon when Brad had told her of his marriage and she had lost control of her temper. Had she just been able to walk away, had she just kept her emotions in check, Brad would still be alive. . .as would Sara, now.
'No, St. John,' her mind whispered. 'Don't go there now. Piling guilt on you for things of the past will do no good. Brad's dead. You can't change that. Besides, maybe Tom and Harry are right. Maybe this is all just a horrible coincidence.' Her mind pictured the partially deteriorated body of the woman pulled from the ocean. 'Yeah. . .right. . .just a coincidence.'
A sudden thump startled her from her thoughts. An office assistant had just dropped a pile of mail and interdepartmental envelopes on her desk. Without commenting, Cassy began to thumb through the correspondence.
Most items were immediately identifiable. They were files and reports which had been requested from various agencies pertaining to cases the detectives were currently working. One envelope, however, was addressed to her, marked confidential, but had no other identifying mark. Neither a return address nor postal mark was visible.
She grabbed the letter opener from the corner of the desk and sliced the envelope open. Inside was a thin piece of paper and a photograph. When Cassy saw the picture she couldn't help but gasp at the sight. She immediately dropped it to the desk. "Harry, Tom!" she called out. Tom looked up from his position across from her, startled.
"What's wrong?"
"It's him!" she gasped.
Tom quickly stood and at the same time could hear the sound of approaching footsteps from behind. Harry joined him at Cassy's side. "Don't touch them," the woman ordered as she leaned over and pulled gloves from her purse and slipped them over her hands. She moved the photo to the side so that Harry and Tom could see it. It was a photograph of Sara McCarthy. . .undoubtedly taken while she was unconscious or. . .dead. She opened the folded over piece of paper accompanying the picture. In hastily scrawled letters written in black pen were the words, 'You must accept the consequences of your behavior.'
"It's not signed. How do you know it's from Murdock?" Tom asked, even though there was no doubt in his mind.
"He. . .he said that to me when he attacked me," Cassy's voice held a slight tremble.
Harry picked up the phone on Cassy's desk and dialed a number. "Morton, I need your unit in the detectives' squad room now," he ordered. He then turned his attention back to his two detectives. "Are you sure?"
"Don't you remember, Harry? It was in my report." Her words were harsh as the memories of Murdock's hands on her body returned. The sound of his deranged voice rang in her ears once again.
Harry nodded his head. "Okay, we presume it's Murdock. I want you," he pointed to Cassy, "off this case and in protective custody."
Cassy vehemently shook her head before Harry could complete the statement. "No! I will not hide from this man. If he's out there then I want him to come to me before. . .before anyone else is hurt."
"Cassy, I don't think it. . ." Tom started to console.
"No, Tom. I won't cower in a corner. And I won't let someone else be a victim because of me."
Harry stepped forward, hands on hips. "I'm sorry, Sergeant, but it's an order. You are off this case and under wraps until we have an idea of what's going on here."
Tom turned the key and the Mustang's engine came to life. He glanced at Cassy in the passenger seat. He could see the barely controlled fury in her eyes. She was like a powder keg ready to ignite and he was pretty sure that when she did decide to blow, he would suffer the brunt of the explosion.
He had seen her like this only a few times in the past. It wasn't her normal 'angry' emotion. It was more than that. It was something. . .uncontrolled, something more dangerous.
He only knew the general details about her encounter with Ollie Murdock, but those generalities were sufficient for him to understand the depth of the insanity she had faced.
"I want to go to Miami," his partner whispered.
"What? Why?" Tom couldn't hide his confusion.
"Murdock's father lives there" was the simple answer.
"Cass. . ."
"Tom, he may know where his son is."
"He didn't before. What makes you think he would now?" Tom argued.
"I know it's a long shot, but it's the only lead I. . .we have."
"I think you've forgotten something. There is no 'we' on this case. You've been removed from it."
"Don't do this to me, Tom." Cassy spat. "I deserve better."
Tom tried to keep his words calm and even. "Look, I'll make you a deal. You go into protective custody like Harry ordered and Harry and I'll go check on Murdock's father."
"Tom, no. . ."
"Take it or leave it, Cass," Tom warned.
"Tom. . ."
"Take it or leave it."
In a huff, Cassy sat back in the seat, her mind spinning about possible ways to defy the order without losing her badge.
End Part 5
To Part 6