Black Rose Revenge

Chapter 16

Detective Sierra Ryan’s POV

“Are you sure that you’re okay?” Mack asked me for the thousandth time. He tried to hide his concern behind humor, like always. “I don’t want to find that you’re coming down with something, I love you but I can’t afford to be sick.”

I could see the concern in his eyes. I nodded. “Yes, Mack, I am fine. I don’t know exactly what happened and I am going to talk to Chancey when I get to your place. I hate that my home is a crime scene.” I said as I tried to reassure him when my phone rang. “Ryans.”

“Is this Sierra Ryans?”

“Yes, who is this?” I asked a little confused.

“Oh, sorry, this is Kevin Bentley. I have replaced all the locks at your home. Where do I drop off the keys at?”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh good, that was fast. I am at work right now, I will be free in about 2 hours. Where is your shop located?” Once the relief subsided, disappointment quickly set in, I had hoped that it was someone from the M.E.’s office with news on my case.

“My shop is on the corner of Chesapeake St. and Butler Blvd. I will be open until 4:30 pm.” He rushed out in one breath which threw up a couple red flags.

“Okay, see you in a couple of hours.” I hung up but I could not shake this weird feeling. I stared at my phone for a minute, trying to work out what was off about that phone call.

Mack watched me for a moment before coming over to me. “Who was that? Why do you have that look on your face?”

“He said his name is Kevin Bentley and apparently he is the locksmith who replaced my locks at home. He was just letting me know I can pick up my keys.”

Mack eyed me. “What is so wrong with that? I’m actually impressed that it didn’t take longer to get that accomplished. You’re lucky to have gotten it done so quickly.” Mack was clearly confused.

“I know, I know, I just have this weird feeling about it that is all. I could just be tired but something feels off about this whole situation.” I said as I shook my head and headed into the station house. I needed to focus on catching O’Grady and fast! “So, what do we know about the mystery killer?”

“Well, we know that he pulls out his victims teeth, gouges out the eyes, and clips the tips of the fingers off. He also beats his victims resulting in broken bones. He also washes the body off with bleach inside and outside of the body. That is all we know so far.” Mack said as he was typing on his computer. He was trying to see if there was any other unsolved cases with the same parameters that we have. “I won’t have anything further for a while. Why don’t we order some lunch?”

I was just about to tell him that I needed to pick up the keys and check on Chancey when my desk phone began to ring, interrupting me. I quickly picked it up. “Homicide, Detective Ryans speaking…okay, what is the address?...Any ID on the victim?...We are on our way.” I hung up and grabbed my jacket. “Let’s go, Mack, we have a dead body!”

Mack stood and joined me. “Where are we headed?”

“We are headed to the Golden Estates Condos.” I said as I started my car.

“Awesome, are we sure it’s not one of O’Grady’s latest?” Mack asked. “I’m afraid that he is escalating, it’s only been a week since his last kill.”

“I don’t know right now, I guess we will find out when we get to the scene.” We rode the rest of the way in complete silence, each of us in our own spiraling thoughts. We arrived at the crime scene to find FBI agents trampling my crime scene! I practically sprinted to the group of agents. “Um, excuse me but what the hell is going on here?!” I waited for an answer but no one spoke up. “Who the hell do you think you all are?! You are contaminating my crime scene!” I all but spat.

“Detective Ryans, glad that you could make it. My name is Special Agent Trip Johnston. I was told that you would be working jointly with my investigation. I would like to start by getting everything you currently have on Garrison O’Grady.”

I was stunned and the audacity of this man. “Who gave you the right to take over MY crime scene?!”

“The victim is the daughter of a wealthy oil tycoon from Texas. Her family has requested that the FBI take lead on this case.” Special Agent Johnston turned to walk away clearly dismissing Sierra.

I was so f*****g pissed but could do nothing other than piss him off myself. I walked ahead of him. “Well, until I hear it from my boss directly, I am going to conduct this as my investigation. Who is the victim? You said that her family is wealthy? What businesses do they own? Besides we are not even certain that this the handiwork of Garrison O’Grady.”

Special Agent Johnston turned to stare at me, when he saw that I meant every word I said his own anger flared hot. He answered anyway. “In regard to this investigation I will tell you what you want to know, but so that we are clear, I will expect you to give me everything that I have already asked for. This is my investigation, the FBI has jurisdiction over state lines!” He took in a slow breath then handed me a file. “The victim’s name is Cole Anderson, she is the only daughter of Chad and Katherine Anderson. They are the owners of Anderson Oil Industries. They are worth more than 2.5 billion dollars.”

I scanned through the file following along with what Agent Johnston was saying. I wasn’t liking that this might actually be the work of Garrison O’Grady. “Let’s head to the coroner for more information. Since we will be stuck together for a while.”

I just looked at Mack and nodded to him then I began to walk to the morgue. I didn’t trust Special Agent Johnston, one little bit. I ignored the commotion behind me as Mack escorted the FBI agent. I made it to the morgue before the other two so I started without them. “Hey doc, sorry I’m late, we ran into an issue. Do you have a cause of death, yet?”

The doc looked up at me. “What issue?”

I was about to respond when Mack and a very furious FBI agent walked through the doors. I rolled my eyes and motioned toward the man in question. “Doc, meet the issue, Special Agent Johnston. Johnston meet the doc.” I made the introductions then got back to business. “You can tell us what you found now that everyone is present.”

The doc let out a sigh and turned back to the body. “The victim is approximately in her mid to late 20’s, no s****l assault that I can tell. There is a small puncture wound between her third and fourth ribs. There is a long s***h starting from the top of her sternum and ending at the bottom of her sternum. What I have already bagged for evidence was stuck inside of the wound.” I was handed the evidence bag, which held the long stem of a black rose.

Special Agent Johnston pulled the bag out of my hands so he could examine it closer. “What is the significance of leaving the black rose at the crime scene?”

Mack answered this time. “Garrison O’Grady has adopted a calling card, the black rose. He views it as his mark of death, we believe that he is escalating since his brother’s death.”

“Why would you believe that?” Johnston handed me back the evidence bag.

I growled in frustration. I had explaining this s**t to everyone. “Well, since his previous crimes were completely different from what we have now. After I killed his brother, Brent Cummings, he completely changed. We discovered a black rose at another crime scene a week ago.” I could tell that Johnston wasn’t convinced but I really did not have patience for this s**t and neither did Mack.

“Doc can you tell what killed this woman?” Mack asked.

“Once I open her up I will know for sure but my bet is on the slit in her throat.” The doc pointed to the body. “May I take the body back for the autopsy?”

“You will have to ask Special Agent Johnston about that.” I could not hide the sarcasm in my voice.

I could tell that he was irritated. “Do what you can to verify how she died.” He then turned to me and Mack. “Shall we head to the squad room to brainstorm where to go from here with this case?”

I nodded. “Sure, why don’t you head out first and Mack and I will meet you there. We have some errands to run right now.” I said as I quickly ushered Mack out the door to the morgue. We quickly made it to the parking lot and into his car. We weren’t very far down the road when Mack finally broke the silence. “So, where are we really headed?”

I smirked. “First to pick up my new house keys and then to check on Chancey. By the time we return to the station we might have a better idea of what is going on.” I could not hide the uneasy feeling that was growing stronger by the minute!