DEVIL'S FOOD
CHAPTER 4
Julie arrived at Lomax's home a little before 2 pm. She was feeling better...but still a little worse for wear. Smithe and Jhones were already there. The EMS were standing around waiting for orders to leave. All heads turned in Julie's direction, as she pulled up with tires screeching. Smithe shook his head disapprovingly at her. Jhones walked over in her direction, needing to fill her in on all the information they had already gathered while waiting for her arrival.
"The vic's name is Lomax Dev'Roe. He's employed at the Morgenstein Law Firm...as a junior partner. He's twenty-seven, single, no kids, lives alone...and has an off-again, on-again relationship with a co-worker, Miss Elisa Medaze."
"Who found him?"
"Miss Medaze."
Julie knew time was of the essences. She would get around to Lomax later...after all she told herself...he wasn't going anywhere...but Miss MEdaze might.
"Where is she?" Julie asked as she searched the gathering crowd...looking for a familiar face. A demon. Her natural abilities had kicked in. "The demon is here," her psyche screamed out. "Did she leave? Is she still here? Where is she?" Julie asked, coming back to reality...searching the crowd again with eagle eyes.
"We got her over here in my car," Jhones replied. He and Julie walked over towards his black Crown Victoria parked a block away...away from the reporters. He didn't want her seen...or questioned before Julie got there. The reporters were merciless...like wolf-hounds. He had to keep her out of sight.
She sat in the back seat. Elisa Medaze was in a daze. When Jhones and Smithe first got there...she was hysterical...inconsolable...and could barely speak. They decided to wait for Julie before they questioned her...less paperwork for them...and besides, it was Julie's case. And then they'd take her downtown, for an official report...at Julie's directive.
"Hi, Ms. Medaze...I'm Julie Mars, Senior Homicide Detective. " Julie bent over slightly and leaned into the car window. "I'll be handling this case. I'm sorry for your loss. I just want to ask you a few questions, if you are able to answer...and then I'd like for you to come downtown for an official statement. Will that be okay with you?" Julie asked in her softest voice. The one reserved for children...and little-old-ladies.
Elisa looked up at Julie with black streaks of mascara running down her stunningly-beautiful face, red-eyes...that were still shedding tears...and a heaving-breast...that could only sob..."Yes."
Jhones slid in the driver's seat. Julie crawled into the front passenger seat...set up on her knees and faced Elisa. "I'm only gonna ask you a couple of questions, and then we'll go downtown...if you're able too. Okay?"
"Okay."
"How did you come to find Mr. Dev'Roe?" Julie asked as she reached into her coat for tissue. Elisa reached out for the napkins and thanked Julie with a slight smile.
"Well...we work together, and he didn't show up for work today....which was strange for him. He never missed a day of work...not even if he was sick."
"In what capacity do you work at Morgenstein? What is your job title?"
"I'm a junior partner at the firm. Been with the firm at least five years."
"I understand you were the victims on-again-off-again girlfriend. Is this correct?"
"Yes...we saw each other. But we didn't date other people. We were really in a monogamous relationship, but we kept it to ourselves. We didn't want others at the firm to know about it...due to company policy."
"Which was?" Julie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Really I don't remember all the in...and outs of the rules...and besides that's not important now. My love is dead. Murdered! What are you going to do about that? Snapped Elisa!
Elisa's eyes turned hard...she sniffled. Julie flinched at the hardness of Elisa's voice. "My how the tide has turned," she thought as she looked at Elisa in a new light. "Perhaps she could be the killer. After all, the...monster could be anyone"
"I have a key. Lomax gave me a key about six weeks ago. He told me if I didn't hear from him every day...to come and check on him...and as far as my knowing he was dead...well he had no eyes... and blood at his neck. I don't think he cut himself shaving...and then got mad because he saw blood...and ripped his eyes out...and besides... I didn't see his eyes anywhere in the vicinity!"
"Why did he want you to check on him? Why was that? Was he threatened by anyone? Was he afraid of someone?"
"No...no...not someone...something. He was afraid of something!...He was afraid of something!"
"Something...What do you mean by that? Something! He was afraid of something. Did he by chance say what that something was?" Julie asked with apprehension...dreading the answer.
"No...he never told me...because he didn't know. However, I will tell you all that he told me. What happened to him, to make him think something was after him!"
"Okay, I think we need to go downtown to headquarters for this. It's now become official. Do you mind Ms. Medaze?"
"No...I don't mind. Anything to help poor Lomax...to help find his killer. No, I don't mind at all. I'll go."
Julie's cell rang. She flipped the phone open. Checked the id..."Ti" Julie looked at Elisa, "Excuse me Ms. Medaze...I need to take this." Elisa shook her head in approval as she wiped a new barrage of tears from her streaked, and stained face.
"Ti...I was going to call you tonight. How do you always know when I need you?"Julie whispered into the phone.
"How's my number one girl. I got a one-track mind...and it always leads to you...I called your office, and they gave me your number."
"Yeah...right." Julie hesitated for a moment...looked around...not wanting anyone to overhear...what most of her colleagues thought was her made-up joke about the monster. Ti...I think he's here...the demon...but you already know that don't you? That's why you called..isn't it? That's why you're here...am I right?"
"Well yes and no. I miss you Julie... and I've been retained as part of your team until this situation is neutralized."
"Well, I can't talk now. Meet me at headquarters in about an hour.And Ti...don't tell anyone why you're here...you know this can't get out. No one in Maryland knows there's a monster...a demon from the pits-of-hell, on the lose...and we'd like to keep it that way." "Yes ma'am, at your request. But you know I wouldn't say anything...and I don't answer questions...but if anyone does ask...I'll just say...'I'm your baby-brother.'" Spoke Ti, in-between laughs.
Julie laughed from the belly...a much-needed stress reliever. If anyone could help her with this case, it would be him. She could never go outside for help on her own under direct orders from the higher-ups at FBI. They had to assign someone...because of the horrific nature of the case.
Ti...Takeshi Akihito...She called him Ti for short...well really everyone called him Ti, except his family. Takeshi Akihito...Fierce-Warrior, and Person of Distinction...in Japanese...was all that and more for her. He seemed to always know when she needed him, and he would just appear...like he had mental-telepathy.
Thinking back to how they meet...she smiled while reliving a happier time in her life. They'd meet well over ten years ago when she was a freshman at Harvard, and he a Junior. At the time she couldn't get over his six-feet-two, striking good looks...and he was charming, witty, and a great kisser. They fell enlo.....
"Excuse me.....Do you know when....." Julie looked around when she heard Elisa's voice. The spell was broken, as the memory of Ti faded...and she was forced back into reality,
"Sorry about that." Avoiding direct eye contact with Elisa, Julie spoke to Jhones..."Can you drive Ms. Medaze downtown? I've got to stay and inspect the crime scene." She didn't want Elisa to know any more than she already did. She didn't want her statement tainted, and besides...Ms. Medaze could be the monster!
Julie looked at Elisa as if she was already in custody...never mind the tears...and heaving breast...she was going to slice, and dice her like a
razor blade. She believed...thought maybe, she was the monster. But she was going to find out. There would be no mercy...for sexy-little-Miss Medaze. None. Ms. Medaze was now a prime suspect in the murder of one Lomax Dev'Roe! Julie nodded to Jhones to follow her as she walked away from the car.
"Yeah...what's up? You want me to transport her to headquarters now, and wait for you...or wait til you work the crime scene...and we leave together?"
"Well, I gotta wait for Sam, try to get as much information before the autopsy as I can. When I question Ms. Medaze...I want to lock her statement in. See what she knows...and what she won't tell. You know she's a lawyer too...and things can get tricky if she suspects she's a suspect, and haven't been read her rights. So it's gonna just be friendly chit-chat from a sympathetic officer of the state, woman-to-woman. So you can go on and take her downtown. Keep her occupied until I get there, which shouldn't belong. I just need to ask doc a couple of questions...which I already know the answers too."
Jhones and Julie walked back to his car. Julie bent down and looked at Elisa., "Ah Miss Medaze Detective Jhones will escort you downtown."
"Okay." Whispered Elisa...as she let out a sigh and wiped more tears from swollen almost shut-eyes.
Jhones got in the drivers seat...smiled weakly at Elisa, as he turned to look at her crouched in the back seat almost in a ball, "Ms. Medaze, I'll be taking you downtown now okay"...he said almost in an asking voice. His emotions had kicked in. He was lusting after the possible suspect...or as Julie called her... 'The monster!'
Elisa lifted up her head slightly and tilted it to the right. Her long silky reddish-blond curls fell across a stunningly beautiful face...even with the black streaks of mascara...she was forbiddingly-beautiful. With a come-hither smile...she looked into the eyes ofJhones. Eyes as green as emeralds...only prettier...reached down into his soul. Took his heart...and other things. She led him to a place he had never been before...and he never wanted to leave...as shivers of unbelievable intense-pleasure went through him. Her soft-sexy voice released him...
"Okay!"
Jhones...Tomi Jhones...six-feet-two...one-hundred-ninety pounds...muscular pounds...set in a handsome-tan frame....with light brown eyes...eyes so light...they almost looked yellow...was the heart-throb of many women...young and old. But he was particular...and... "any-old-thing"...would just not do. No woman had ever subdued him until....until.... He thought to himself, as he put the car in drive...
"Yes...Julie might be right. Elisa very well could be the murderer. 'Cause just looking at her...is killing me!" And then he sped off with a smile on his face, as he looked into the future, and saw his career in law enforcement...go down the drain. Something he had worked for over ten years to obtain....one year away from his Master's Degree in Criminal Justice. No...he would never let her be charged with murder....taken away from him...no! No...that was never going to happen...murderer...demon...or whatever. Tomi was in lust-love! He wanted to go back to the place where only she could take him...and never leave. No...Elisa would never be charged with murder! He'd make sure of that!
Julie walked into the house. The air was drenched with the smell of Sulfur. She went into the bedroom...saw the naked body of Lomax draped across the bed on his back. Strangely he reminded her of a twisted and mangled old doll. with his eyes missing...and the tell-tale sign of two small holes in his chest...right above the heart. The monster was here. Her heart sank!
Lomax's face was contorted into a mask of extreme terror. Even in death, there was no release. The muscles had frozen into place from extreme fright, and with the eyes missing...it was a gruesome sight. Julie felt her stomach lurch. She mumbled under her breath. "I can't take another Vic today. Will this day never end?" She felt herself being pushed towards the edge. She gripped her gun...for no particular reason...She knew bullets could not kill a demon. But still...looking at Lomax, she felt something she had never felt before. Fear! Over two years after this monster. Her determination to catch this killer might be her downfall. She was driven. She had followed this monster across the United States...from Tacoma, Washington...twelve murders...in four months. Laredo Texas...twenty mutilations in eight months. Baton Rouge, Louisiana...twenty-three murders in six months...and now Baltimore, Maryland...four murders...two months. This was the first murder to occur in a residential location...all the other murders in Baltimore were in Leaken Park.
There was suppose to be a task force formed to help with the capture of this demon. But no such luck. She was it. She walked through all the rooms. Nothing out of place. Everything was as it should be...sulfur smell, victim with no eyes, and two small holes in the chest...right above the heart. Yup...everything was in place. She walked over to Sam.
"Doc...I got to go downtown. Call me when you get the vic. down to the morgue. You know the routine. My eyes only...I got to get the report first-hand. Call me when it's completed, and I'll pick up the reports from Leaken Park...and the preliminaries for Mr. Dev'Roe. Do you think I can get both?"
"Okay...I'll try. But I'm not making any promises...I know Leaken Park for sure today...but I'll try."
"Oh...one other thing, call me if you find anything different...anything you might feel I need to come and observe...before you close...understand."
Sam looked at her with understanding...and words best not said. "Okay, Julie...I understand. I'll call you."
Julie walked back to the CSI crew, left instructions for everything in the bedroom to be bagged, and tagged...especially the bed linen, laptop, cell phone, all the usuals...and unusual. She walked over to the front door, reached out her trembling hands and ran them down the five locks. Pretending to examine them, her fingers lingered, and for the first time...she felt the heart-pounding-terrifying fear that gripped Lomax. Fear that Lomax must have felt...to have five locks on a door...locks on a door...that did not keep out the butcher!
She looked around the foyer...at the five locks again...and realize the magnitude of what she was up against. She was glad Ti was there. She headed for her car passing Smithe on the way. She looked in his direction..."You still gonna back me up tonight?"
"Yeah...sure...I'll be calling you around ten to find out when, and where. Okay."
"Okay," smiled Julie. He smiled back. Julie walked to her car, fumbled with her keys, and nervously dialed Mercer...but pushed the hang up button, as she thought better of it. Her stomach gripped. It hadn't been fed...now that it was no longer revolting...it was time to eat. The call to Mercer would just have to wait.
Just as she was about to give Smithe a last look, her cell went off. She saw Mercer's name pop up. With a sigh, she answered the phone. "Yes, chief...you know I was just about to call you...must be intuition!" Julie said sarcastically.
"Hey what's up? Are you on your way back here? Jhones just got here with Ms. Medaze. He put her in your office. Said you were gonna take her statement. Why ain't you here...like ten minutes ago?" Spat Mercer...ignoring Julie's remark.
"I had to leave special instructions with CSI, and with the Doctor Sam, but I'm on my way. Leaving Dev'Roe's residents as we speak. On my way to get the autopsy report for the vic in Leaken Park...didn't have a chance to pick them up. See what preliminaries I can get on Mr. Dev'Roe...before I question Ms. Medaze." Well, I want you here within the next thirty-minutes. I don't want nobody talking to her but you. We don't want Ms. Medaze to leave before we know all that she knows...and don't know. I heard she's a lawyer. I think you're the only one that can get next to her...know what I mean?"
Julie's shoulders dropped...she spoke in a deadbeat monotonous voice "Yeah Mercer...I know...I'm the only one."...reminding herself...she was the task-force. "I'm on my way. Be there in about thirty minutes."She muttered under her breath on the way to her crown vic. "Yeah...I'm the only one. If the public knew, there would be panic-unimaginable. If they even had a clue, Maryland would..." She didn't even want to think about it. Her foot pressed the gas peddle, wanting to get to headquarters. This was the first person in almost two years, who might be able to give her information, hopefully, pertinent information to help catch the monster.
She opened her cell...dialed Mercer..."Ah, Mercer...we need to talk."
"We will when you get here."
"I ne.....click."
Julie's voice trailed off...realizing that he hung up on her intentionally. It was like a slap to the face. She slammed the phone shut. Cursed under her breath, now realizing he was not going to give her any slack...and none would be forthcoming. She was going to work this case, and solve it...even if it took her ten years. She needed time off...before she became a suspect...in a homicide of her own. She was overdue, and this case was getting to her.
Barely avoiding two accidents...both her fault...she finally arrived at the ME'S office. This was a day best spent in bed, but work came first. She was still queasy, faint, and a killer headache had now become her best friend. She dragged herself to the elevator. The smell made her want to wretch. Funny, she thought, the smell never bothered her before. Now it was overwhelming. " Bed...hot lemon-tea, and rum would feel so good now." She mumbled while holding down vomit...before it had a chance to reach the surface and spill-out. She turned the doorknob to the ME'S office. Before she could do a 180 on it, the knob was yanked from her hand...and the door swung open.
"Hey, Julie. I didn't hurt you did I?" Sam asked with inquiring eyes. "You still look bad. In fact, you look worse then you did this morning. How do you feel? You didn't faint again did you?"
"No doc. I haven't fainted anymore. But I sure do feel worse...and I got a monster of a headache. Came on all of a sudden. I guess its all just part of the flu, cold, or whatever it is that I got. With this case...I haven't had a chance to get a check-up. But I'm take the time. Other than that I'm good. You got the report for me?"
"Sure do. Right here on my desk. You know Julie, if this is the same person and I believe that it is...he's getting more violent...if that's possible. To cause death is the most violent that one can get. But there is something extremely evil going on here. I would almost think, that this was the work of a demon...or devil of some sort, but of course, we know that's impossible. Oh well.....It was just a passing thought. Just thought I'd run it by you. What do you think?"
She looked at Sam. He suspiciously studied her. Waiting for her to speak a brand-new-revelation. Julie answered cautiously...not wanting to give anything away. No one at headquarters knew the real reason why she...and only she had total control of this case. No partners allowed. Only her and Mercer...they were the only ones who knew she was a "P.D."...Paranormal Detective. Had natural abilities to deal with evil...evils the public knew nothing about. Evil's of the unearthly kind! Supernatural-demonic-evil!
"Well...I don't know about all of that Sam...demons and devils..and such. I suppose all of us have some devil...some evil in us. At least we act like it. Even little kids do wrong. So doc, really I can't say, except to say...some of us have more evil than others. And about this case...well it could be a really evil person...or some sicko...who likes to torture...and do mayhem...looking at too many slashers movies. What can I say? I'll just be glad when I catch the s.o.b.. Heck. I might act like a devil myself...if I don't get a vacation soon." She said with a loud laugh...while lifting the report off the desk. Hoping to end the conversation, she laughed again. "Yep, I need a vacation."
Doc smiled at Julie, but was not fooled "Well take care of yourself, and next time I see you, I hope it's a social event."
"Yeah, doc...me too...but only in our dreams." She walked to the door, turned, looked at Sam..."Can I ask you something?"
"Sure Julie. You can ask me anything...anytime. What's your question?"
"Doc...I was just thinking...not being a doctor or knowing any medical...or surgical procedures that is ...what are the chances...what are the chances that this monster...this devil-demon...could be a doctor? A deranged doctor. Doc...you would know something like that...wouldn't you? Do you see any indication that the murderer has medical skills...and you're just not putting it in your reports...because you're not sure? Is this possible...could this be possible? Does the monster have medical skills?" The last word spoken. The look on Sam's face. She regretted!
"Julie...I'm surprised at you...that you would even think ...or ask me something like that. If I ever felt that, that was the case, and didn't put it in my official report...I would be derelict in my sworn-duties as an Officer of the state of Maryland. No! I have never saw anything in any of the autopsies that would indicate a person with any medical training or knowledge committed these atrocities! But I would never rule it out. Anything is possible. At this point...this level of evil...I wouldn't rule out anything...or anyone!" Hurt, he looked past Julie...avoiding all eye contact.
"Okay, doc. Don't be mad. I had to ask. Just doing my job. You don't wantme to be derelict do you?" Julie asked with a weak laugh...hoping to lighten the mood. It did. "It's okay. No harm taken." Doc said as he gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder and a toothy smile. "Take care. I'll call you in a day or two, see how you're feeling."
"Alright. I better go. Mercer's gonna have a tantrum-baby unless I get this report to him pronto. I'll be looking for your call." Julie smiled as she headed for the door. She turned, looked at doc. "Bye. Take care."