Chapter Four 1
This is the Zodiac speaking. I LIKE KILLING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH FUN. IT IS MORE FUN THAN KILLING WILD GAME IN THE FOREST BECAUSE MAN IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL OF ALL. TO KILL SOMETHING GIVES ME THE MOST THRILLING EXPERIENCE. IT IS EVEN BETTER THAN GETTING YOUR ROCKS OFF WITH A GIRL. THE BEST PART IS THAT WHEN I DIE, I WILL BE REBORN IN PARADISE AND ALL THOSE I HAVE KILLED WILL BECOME MY SLAVES. I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY NAME BECAUSE YOU WILL TRY TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP MY COLLECTING OF SLAVES FOR MY AFTERLIFEEBEORIETEMETHHPITI.
A three part cryptogram (sent to three separate newspapers) that was solved by
Donald Harden and his wife. 2
"I want to report a double murder. If you go one mile east on Columbus Parkway to the public park you will find kids in a brown car. They were shot with a 9mm Luger. I also killed those kids last year. Goodbye.” That was the call the Zodiac Killer made to the Vallejo Police Department after he shot victims, Darlene Ferrin, and her friend, Michael Mageau, who survived. 3
"I want your money and your car keys. I want your car to go to Mexico." said the Zodiac Killer when he confronted victims, Cecelia Shepard, and her friend, Bryan Hartnell, who survived. "I'm going to have to stab you people." he said, just before he stabbed them. 4
"I want to report a murder…no, a double murder. They are two miles north of Park Headquarters. They were in a white Volkswagen Kharmann Ghia. I'm the one that did it.” That was the call the Zodiac Killer made to the Napa Police Department after he stabbed victims Cecelia Shepard and her friend, Bryan Hartnell. 5
1960’s: San Francisco
Among the liberal, peace loving, drug culture arose one of the most prolific serial killers in history. The Zodiac killed five people and wounded two more in a span of 10 months, bringing Northern California to its knees, sending residents of the soon-to-be Silicon Valley scurrying to the gun shops in record sales, while taunting police with letters and phone calls. The Zodiac clammed to have killed at least 37 people, but law enforcement officials agree on only seven victims, with two surviving. In any event, no one was ever caught. These crimes were never solved. 67
Present Day: Troy, N.Y.
John raced back down the hill to the entrance of the tunnel with the four officers in tow. He directed two to go around the mill to the backside to search for another way in. He reasoned there must be another way in or out.
This guy was too shrewd to leave himself that vulnerable with only one exit or entrance. In fact, John didn’t even expect to find him here. He figured he was long gone by now, but they may find something, anything that will give them some idea of who they were dealing with. 8
John wasn’t surprised to find he was right. The perpetrator was gone. Before heading back up to question Julie, he had the officers begin to cordon off the area so forensics could do their thing when they arrived. 9
He found Julie sitting in the back of an ambulance being attended to by the paramedics. “How is she? Can I talk to her for awhile?” he asked. The paramedic closest to him nodded his head yes and both attendants exited the vehicle. John stepped up and in and sat down across from her. “Julie, I’m going to have to ask you some questions ok? Do you feel up to it?” She looked at him with pleading eyes, but knew it was something she had to do. “I’ll try, detective, but it was dark and I was terrified. I still am. I just want to get away from here. He’s not human. His eyes, h-h-h-his eyes, they were black,
unfeeling and uncaring. Please just take me away from here.” she begged. 10
He patted her leg telling her it’s ok and she flinched almost violently at the contact. The paramedics are going to take you to the hospital. I’ll follow and we’ll talk there, ok?” Without waiting for an answer, he stepped out and signaled the attendants to take her. 11
John arrived at St. Mary’s Hospital up on Massachusetts Avenue exactly a half hour later. Showing his badge, he was led to Julie’s room, which really only consisted of a curtain pulled around a bed. Julie lay in the bed hooked up to iv’s replacing the fluids she had lost.The hospital gown was hanging loosely on her. Who knew how long he had held her captive. The nurses had done a good job in cleaning her up, but they couldn’t clean away the fear, and it still shone brightly in her eyes and face. 12
The dark solitary figure sat alone on the ridge of the world, or so Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the America and the center piece of the Andes, always felt like it. The strange figure sat contemplating, deep in thought and then, with a heavy sigh, stood up on the peak of the mountain taking one last look before they began their decent. 1314
John was sitting in a diner down in the city the next day when Dick walked in, spotted him and motioned for a cup of coffee from the waitress as he headed in John’s direction. Sitting down in a fluster and taking off his coat, he finally leveled his gaze on John. “Whatta ya say, kid? How you doing? Did she give you anything to go on?” 15
John just sat staring into his coffee. “No, she was either blindfolded or it was too dark to see. We still have the kids. Maybe they can tell us something.” he said. 16
“No, I already talked to them. I spent the day interviewing them. It was too dark. They only saw a shape, a vague shape.” Dick answered. “So what did you see, John? You got anything?” he said, as he sat back so the waitress could set his coffee down. 17
“Again, I just saw a shadow, Dick. This guy lives in the shadows, I’m beginning to think.” he paused, then went on, “I gotta tell you, Dick, I was scared.” 18
“Of cours...” but John cut him off. 19
“No, Dick, I was terrified. I mean even with my gun. Christ, when he was screaming down in that tunnel and I was running with Julie, I felt like that guy in the King Kong movie when he got the girl and they were running from the ape through the jungle. I was terrified he was going to be around the next bend. That fucking guy scares the shit out of me. I mean he emanates evil. Who or what the fuck is he?” 20
Dick studied him for a minute. “John, he’s a man, ok? We will get him. He’ll slip up and we’ll nail the bastard.” 21
“I don’t know, Dick. I hope so, but I just don’t know.” and he finished his coffee, waving the waitress over for a refill. 22
Later John drove up to Albia where his brother lived with his fiancé. Tim was out in front sitting on the stoop when he pulled up. 23
“Heeey, Johnny boy! What’s up, bro?” Tim asked as John got out of the car and then continuing, “So bro, what’s up with this nut running around killing people? You gonna get him or what?” 24
John threw a couple of jabs at his brother making him flinch. Then, wrestling him into a head lock and noogieing his head, he said, “You know I can’t talk about my cases, and this one I really don’t want to. I need a brew and to just hang out with my bro, ok?” 25
“‘Sure man, that’s cool. Lisa is at work, so it’s just you and me big brother.” Tim replied, as he reached into the Coleman cooler next to him on the porch. He pulled out a Budweiser and handed it to John. 26
Taking a drink from his beer he belched. “So, little bro, you getting nervous? It won’t be long now before you are Mr. and Mrs. Franzese, whew! That’s big, man. But she’s a great lady. You’re a lucky guy and she’s a lucky gal.” he said taking a bigger swig from his beer. Tim was looking at John quizzically, and then sat down next to him. 27
“What’s up, John? Come on, man, give. This is not you! I’m a lucky guy? Lisa’s a lucky gal? Come on, bro, what’s up?” 28
“I don’t know, man. I just got a bad feeling about this case. I can’t shake it. This guy is bad, pure evil. I mean I have seen some bad things, real bad, but nothing compares to this guy. I shouldn’t even be saying anything, Jesus, just forget it.” John shook his head,finished his beer, grabbed another one, twisted the cap off and slammed another drink down. 29
“Whoa, slow down Tex.” Tim said, pausing for a second to study his brother. “Come on, man, I’ve never seen you like this. Let’s go inside. Come on.” Tim waited for him to get up and then led the way into the house. 30
Lenny Wilkins peddled down 14th Street and crossed Congress after football practice. He coasted into his front yard, dropped his bike and ran down the gangway and up the back stairs. He was a normal sixteen year old. He played all three major sports and he was well liked. His black hair was cut short and parted on the side. He had dark features and a square jaw belied his jovial sense of humor. He was into his kitchen before he realized the doors were standing open. 31
Then he saw the blood on the floor. He crossed the kitchen and
entered the living room. The shadows were beginning to dance on the walls from the trees outside as the sun was setting. There was a sweet sickly smell in the air. 32
The living room was awash in blood. Lenny, backing up, stumbled and fell.
He sat there staring into the darkened room when suddenly a shadow moved disengaging itself from the far wall. Lenny’s eyes widened in terror as the shadow started towards him with huge, hulking eyes burning red in the darkness that now engulfed the room. 33
“Welcome home, little boy.” words spoken with a wicked hiss issued forth from the dark shape coming towards him. But they also galvanized Lenny into action.
Kicking the coffee table out in front of him with one leg, he turned and grabbed his helmet he had carried into the house. He hurled it straight at the on coming figure, and then he was up and running for the back door, then out onto the porch and around into the gangway back out to the streets, yelling for help.34
Turning back, he caught a glimpse of the shape staring at him from the darkened passage, and then it turned and melted into the darkness. Lenny ran across Congress to the nearest house for help with tears streaking down his face. 35
When the police had arrived they cautiously entered the house, but found nothing other then blood smeared all over the living room and the upstairs bedrooms. Lenny’s entire family was gone! His 15 and 10 year old sisters, Dayna and Jessica, and his Mom and Dad were gone with only their blood left behind in some kind of archaic pattern.36
Lenny needed only to hear that and excused himself to go to the bathroom. Once in there, he opened the window and out he went. 37
He had always been the girls’ big brother. They looked up to him. He had to find them. He shouldn’t have run. He had to find them and he would make whoever took them pay. Lenny ran along the alleyway, cut across 15th Street and then up into a section called green hills. He followed the trail all the way to Highland Avenue, then down Brunswick and across Congress. He had heard the stories of the killer hiding out in the old mill, so he would start there, but first he had to get back into his house. 38
He came down behind the old Emerald Club which stood right next to his house. 39
Moving slowly and quietly past the Madison’s house, he cut through the old Thornies Diner parking lot 40
41finally reaching Bobby Finney’s house, his best friend. Lenny quickly ducked into the backyard and hurried up onto the porch.
Knocking on the door, he kept glancing around as if in fear the shadow would seek him out and he wasn’t ready yet. A freckled faced, pasty white, sandy haired boy of 16 came to the door. 42
“Dude, I just got back from your house. I heard you bolted. I came right home figuring you may come here. My parents are still up there. Come on; let’s go up to my room.” Turning, he led the way
through his house. “Lenny, what happened up there? Was it that dude everyone is talking about?” 43
“The Shadow! It was a Shadow, Bob. That’s all he is. He’s a Shadow!” Lenny said quietly. “Listen,” he said, as he closed Bobby’s bedroom door, “I need your help, man. I got to get back in my house and you have to help me.” 44
“What do you got in mind?” Bobby said, with a smile breaking out on his face. After explaining his plan, the two boys crept out of the house and through Bobby’s yard. Rounding the corner onto Marshall they were startled suddenly by a girl’s voice. 45
“Hey, where are you two going? Lenny, are you ok?” A very
pretty, light skinned, blond haired girl came running over to them, followed by an even smaller boned petite girl with light brown hair and freckles spotting her face. 46
“Lenny, everyone is looking for you. What is going on? Are Dayna and Jessica ok? Your mom and dad, where are they?” the young blond girl asked. 47
“I don’t know, Jamie, but you better not come with us. You and Tracy better just stay here.” Lenny answered. 48
The smaller girl now spoke up. “Lenny, my mom is going crazy. She’s crying over your dad. You know he is her youngest brother. Then you disappeared. She told me if I saw you to bring you home.” 49
“Tracy, look, I am not going to your house now or ever. I’m hunting this guy down. He’s got my sisters and my ma and dad.” Lenny said. 50
“Ok, then. What do you want us to do? Cause we’re coming with you. We’ve been best friends since we all can remember. We’re in this together and we’ll watch your back.” This was Jamie who spoke up now and seemed to set the rules because no one argued, they just shook their heads in acknowledgement, huddled up talking a bit, and then broke their huddle and then the four started off on their mission. 51
To be continued... 52
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Adding your comment:
. It was another good segment.
