Silent Radio Murders1
By Andy Stephenson and Geri Fitzsimmons2
Chapter twelve3
The storm rushed down from the mountainous upstate region of New York bringing cooler air, while it bathed the city proper in large splashing raindrops. Nature’s shower had come so quickly, rivers of sparkling water rolled over the sidewalks and down the curbs.4
Brad Benson darted from his car, across the parking lot, and into the side door of precinct 66. He’d finished up some paper work at his own desk this morning so he’d be free to join Farley. Powers That Be had decided the investigation should be worked out of 66 for reasons known only to them. Unprepared for the change in the weather, his thin shirt was quickly soaked and plastered against his skin changing its whiteness to pink. His coppery shaded hair had taken the heaviest dose of rain and now looked rusty as it leaked onto his shoulders. “Fucking weather,” he mumbled and shook himself like an irritated dog.5
Joe Farley had been coming from the evidence room. He paused in the hall to eye Benson and give a sharp laugh before he said, “Teach you to be late. I came in before seven—the sun was shinning then.”6
“Yeah…right.” Benson decided against making excuses even if they were the truth. He wasn’t giving Farley the edge by explaining his own actions. They held the same rank and were sharing responsibility for this investigation--damn if he’d let the older guy run the show.7
Farley shrugged. “Towels in the locker room,” he said. “I’ve got a dry shirt in my locker 216. You are welcome to use it. Offer pants.” He grinned as he let his eyes travel up Benson’s tall lean frame. “But you’d look weird in ‘High Waters’.”8
“Right,” Benson said but thought. ‘Weirder still holding them up with one hand.’9
“Your guys showed up on time,” Farley continued as he followed Benson into the locker room. “I put them to work. Tomaino’s parked on Goodwin until we finish checking him out and the rookie is on the computer doing traces on the Radio show’s personal. They have a young fellow, kind of a gofer, Josh Hammond I’m curious about.” 10
Benson retrieved a shirt from Farley’s emergency supply in locker 216. He checked the collar for the XL that seemed to be the modern equivalent of fits all and then pulled his own shirt off as Farley tossed him a towel. Rain, no matter how hot the temperature, tends to turn freezing when it connects with skin and Benson rubbed vigorously with the towel at goose bumped flesh.11
“I had Hayes and Hamlin pay a return visit to the crisis center early this morning. Figured they could question the crew that was on the night Michelle called,” Farley said. “Who’ll be tired, unprepared and less apt to be thinking up excuses.”12
“Makes sense.” Benson finished shoving the shirt into his waistband. “You got decent coffee around here?” 13
“It may turn your hair black, but it’s drinkable.” Farley preceded his new partner on a slight tour of the building. As they entered the operation center to locate a coffee machine, the officer on duty answered the ringing phone.14
“You got a call Joe,” the desk sergeant indicated with the receiver he held. “Shall I put it through to your office?”15
“I’ll take it here.” He set his cup down and stepped to the desk. “Sergeant Farley.” He acknowledged the caller.16
“Joe, this is Janet Mitchell, M. E.'s office." There was excitement in her voice. "As you know by my report, I was able to determine the same chemical mixture in similar amounts had killed those women?"17
Farley said, "Yes? Have you found something new?" 18
“I’m able to label the drug combination for you. We’ve isolated the brand. It's Norvasc a blood pressure medication. Fairly new on the market, there is no generic at this time."19
Blood pressure medicine? Farley pondered. A prescription drug?20
After a minute, Janet said, "Are you there?"21
"Yes, still here. By no generic, you mean it can only be purchased under the brand name?"22
"Precisely. And it isn’t a drug of choice to treat young, skinny, and active women. If these are assisted suicides, it has to be someone with access to a large amount of Norvasc.”23
Joe's heart skipped a beat. It was a major break. Was there another Dr. Kavorkian out there? Now they knew what had killed the women, they had to find out how that much of the drug was obtained and by who. "Janet, that's marvelous. I could kiss you."24
"Promises, promises." She giggled then became serious. “Joe, there isn’t a whole lot of ways to obtain large amounts of a prescription drug. No MD is going to proscribe a lethal dose. Pharmacies have buy and sell ledgers. Samples would mean a drug rep or doctor’s office connection.”25
"Thanks."26
"You're very welcome and I'm gonna hold you to that kiss."27
Benson left Farley with his phone call, and headed for the sergeant’s office. In an open anteroom before the offices started, he came upon a familiar face bent into a monitor. “How’s it going Cody?” He leaned down to study the screen. 28
The rookie looked up and grinned at his boss. “Thought you could ride tail, “ he said. “Farley’s got you beat three ways from tomorrow. My butt’s been glued to this chair since seven.”29
“Anything interesting?”30
“You can cross out Josh Hammond. He’s Oldman Connelly’s sister’s kid. Junior at Princeton, he’s only been in the city three weeks. I traced him back to high school. Carries a 3.9 average and is so squeaky clean he’s never had so much as a speeding ticket.”31
“Who else did you look into?”32
“Mark Gheil. The producer. He came from Los Angelus a year ago.—dirty book has it he made some costly goofs on a couple of movies—came here looking for a break in TV. He’s still trying there. He was producing a few weekly shows, when Connelly approached him about Harris’s talk show.”33
“Business—what about personal life?” Farley stopped beside them. He set a cup of black coffee next to the computer. “Figured you could use some.”34
Cody distastefully eyed the coffee but didn’t admit he’d prefer a Coke only said. “Gheil’s likes the ladies. He was only married for two years when his wife filed for divorce. Infidelity bought her a generous settlement. Then for about four years he operated a pretty active Bachelor pad with a swing shift. Seems last November he met a lady lawyer and not only does it seem an exclusive; but she moved in with him recently.”35
Farley let out a whistle and snickered. “You found all that out in a few hours without leaving that chair?” It wasn’t meant as a question. “Damn—give you a week and you can give us the complete background dirt on the Joint Chiefs.” 36
“Cody’s good,” Benson agreed. “Make hard copy on what you have.” He gave the rookie’s shoulder a light punch. “Drop it in the office. Then get out of here. Get yourself some lunch. You can tackle Harris when you get back.”37
“Harris?” Farley remarked as they walked down the hall of the detective division. Remodeling, a few years back, had created several walls of windows to allow daylight to cut down on the use of electricity. Every light brightly lit a desk area occupied or not twenty-four-seven. No one noticed.38
“If it wasn’t for Neil, I wouldn’t have got involved.”39
“The Doc’s your friend Joe,” Benson reached into the drawer of Joe’s desk and removed the smokeless astray. He tapped out a cigarette from the shinny green package. He was making himself to home. “Friends can outfox the fox. I’m not saying Harris has anything to do with the murders—believe me I’d like to clear him—the faster the better. The more we know didn’t do it the tighter becomes the group who may have.” Benson sat down at the desk next to Farley’s that’d been emptied out just that morning. He lit his Kool.40
“I ran Neil through records myself,” Farley said. “A couple of parking tickets he paid. Had a break-in a few times at his office. He doesn’t keep drugs there, so they vented their anger and didn’t take much. That’s New York.” 41
“He’s a Psychiatrist—a licensed professional means he can write prescriptions.”42
In a list
A bit of editing would help along with opinions [Reward: double points]
Comments
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Ok so i'm adding a new name to the list...or maybe two but still a little unsure about the last one...but yet i still can't seem to put my hand on it...i'll have to really start to jot down now instead of making mental notes...hmmm
. Rewarded 4
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Okay. This is getting pretty damned interesting and you two are definately trying to stop us from finding this killer. Afew hidden clues i suspect are being overlooked by the readers such as myself so i will have to do some backchecking on earlier chapters to have a look at a couple of people. This chapter holds a lot of intrigue and i like the little bit of bitchiness coming from Benson towards farley. The young Rookie sits well in the story and reminds me of the young fellow in 'Criminal minds'. Never did like that Mark character but i think he is too much of a drongo to be a killer. Besides, he's profile doesn't fit with the killer. Can't add much more at the moment. Nice work.
. Rewarded 8
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Thanks
Thanks for continuing with our little story.
So you don't like Mark, but you don't think he's the killer? Hmm? New York's finest haven't ruled him out yet.
I'm glad that you're enjoying our story.
Andy
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I thought they were the Secret Radio Muders, not the Silent Radio Muders, Geri! *laughs* Does that mean you've decided on a new title for the series, or is it a typo?
I'm so behind - I suppose that's what happens when I volunteer to help out with everything. No time to read or write for myself. I actually liked this chapter, even though it wasn't a high-action section. We learn a lot, both about the investigation and about the characters and how they interact. The power struggle is subtle, but makes for an interesting background for the investigation. Things are moving well, though I feel sorry for these poor cops - they're not even close yet. *laughs*
Notes:
* Para 5: I think in this context, "paperwork" is one word.
* Para 6: "the sun was shinning then." Something tells me you actually meant "shining."
* Para 8: "Offer pants." I would try this: "I'd offer pants..." He grinned... The ellipsis will help connect that bit of dialogue to his next bit, and the "I'd" makes it more clear - as is, it sounds like a command. "Hey you, offer some pants already."
* Para 10: You don't need to capitalize "radio." Also, I think you mean "personnel" and not "personal." There is a very definite difference. *laughs* As for rain always feeling cold, I beg to differ; apparently you've never been in a rainstorm in 90 degree weather with 300% humidity.
* Para 14: "his new partner" - only temporary partner, right?
* Para 19: You might try a comma between "It's Norvasc" and "a blood presure medication."
* Para 25: "proscribe a lethal dose." I believe you mean "prescribe." Also, no doctor ever prescribes a lethal dose, though often if someone takes all of the pills for the entire week it will do the job. *laughs*
* Para 29: You have a space before the quotation mark after "ride tail."
* Para 33: "Los Angelus" is spelled incorrectly - I doubt those Californians would appreciate it. Also, there's a period after "a year ago" that I don't think you need.
* Para 35: Get rid of the "only said" after Coke and you'll have a fine example of a sentence. Also, no need for the possessive apostrophe in "Gheil's" and take a moment to recheck your semicolon.
* Para 39: If you move this dialoge to the end of the previous paragraph, it will be clear that Farley is still speaking.
* para 40: "shinny green package" - "shiny" please.
* Hm...this chapter ends rather abruptly. I see what you're trying to do, but I think it could be done without making it seem quite so...well, abrupt. *laughs*. Rewarded 8
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Some suggested grammar/punctuation/spelling edits:
[4] In the second sentence, try replacing the comma with 'that' - the second half of the sentence seems incomplete.
[5] 'The powers-that-be' rather than capitalizing - as this is a recognizable word combination and should be hyphenated. So too, 'coppery shaded' should contain a hyphen - it is a compound adjective.
[8] These are fragments: '...Offer pants.” He grinned as he let his eyes travel up Benson’s tall lean frame. “But you’d look weird in ‘High Waters’.”' - and I'm certain that there should be a comma after pants, and frame, instead of a full stop - as 'offer pants' belongs to the rest of the speech 'But you'd...' I would suggest that it appear as; '...Offer pants,” he grinned as he let his eyes travel up Benson’s tall lean frame, “...but you’d look weird in ‘High Waters’.”
[9] Comma after 'thought'
[10] the last part of the final sentence needs more definition. Possibly re-order the words or give emphasis to 'Josh Hammond' by placing it between two hyphens
[11] 'goose bumped' is another compound adjective
[14] verb confusion 'preceded' - there should either be more words around this, or try replacing with something somewhat clearer. 'slight' in the sentence is likewise misused - 'brief' may be a better fit.
[17] the question mark is not required - and is grammatically incorrect in its current placement.
[19] comma needed after 'Norvasc'
[33] 'Los Angelus' - pretty sure that's not how that is spelt
[35] comma after 'said'
There were a couple of others, but I believe other reviewers may have found them first.
Overall, a good chapter. More clues coming to light - some obvious, others not so much. I am inclined to believe that the identification of the drug will lead to more questions than answers.
. Rewarded 8
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Jodie, you are going to make the next draft a breeze for us--thanks so much.
Geri.
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*scratches head* Yep. I've already read this one too.
*looks off into distance for clues*
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You sure did and we never said thank you for picking up all our goofs. Duck here come the clues
Oh Andy
See I don't just pick on you.
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Wait a minute, I thought I'd already read this...and I have...hmmm...so I guess I'll move the next one...I really like this story guys, so keep it coming!
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You sure did and we never said thank you for picking up all our goof.
Oh Andy
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Icky stuff:
'graph 10: "personnel" instead of "personal"
'graph 14: Farley preceded his new partner on a slight tour of the building.--> this sentence reads awkwardly...I think it's the word "preceded" that ruins it. It just seems misused here. Perhaps re-word?
'graph 40: "astray" should be "ashtray", "shinny" should be "shiny"
Hmm...so they've caught a break in the drug that killed the women...excellent! Now, who has access to it? Besides, Dr. Harris? Hell if I know! Excellent write...damn I wish these chapters were longer! LOL
Excellent stuff, guys! Keep it coming!
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Interesting discovery here.
So they all died from a dose of a new heart pressure medicine that can only be gotten by or through a licensed physician.
That should help narrow the field.
Nice job of capturing the feeling of being in the precinct. The occasional casual banter thrown into the mix in the office and on the phone makes it sound like your part of the group.
Wouldn't that be interesting if they found something that tied Neil into the picture now. Joe wouldn't like that a bit, to find a friend involved.
Good chapter here. Let's see where the new lead takes them.
Greg
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