Behind The Lies by Mark Beckner (the chimp paradox .txt) 📗

is to change his type of weapon, as it is the only fact that clearly ties the crimes together. Community members are implored to help police by providing any information they may have or to pass along any suspicious activity. Unfortunately, they are unable to provide any description of a suspect. Marshall then opens it up to questions.

Reporter #1: “You say there have been nine murders going back over two years ago. Why have you not been able to make an arrest?”

“We simply do not have enough information to identify a clear suspect at this time.”

Reporter #1: “Wouldn’t this have gotten more attention and resources if the victims hadn’t been black drug dealers?”

“No, we have as many resources on this case as we need. We are now asking for assistance from the public. Whoever this person is, he is very smart and careful.”

Reporter #2: We’ve heard the unknown assailant is referred to as the Candy Man Killer. Is this true?”

“Yes, that is the name we’ve attached to an unknown suspect.”

Reporter#3: “Isn’t that somewhat disrespectful to the victims in these cases?”

“I don’t think so, it’s just a name we’ve attached to identify the particular case. We could call it the drug dealer killer. Would that be any better? The fact is, each victim has been a known dealer of drugs.”

Reporter #4: “Is this a case of vigilante justice?”

“We don’t know the motive at this time.”

Reporter #2: “What have you done to protect this community?”

“As I said in my statement, we’ve increased our patrols of the neighborhoods, we have detectives working their sources for information, we have extra detectives assigned to assist our two lead investigators, and we are asking for help from the community. We are sharing what we know with you so that everyone is aware to be on the lookout for anyone or anything suspicious.”

Reporter #3: “Why aren’t you calling this what it is, a hate crime?”

“It could be, but we don’t know the motive at this time. Once we make an arrest we will know more about what is driving this killer. With that, I’m going to end this press conference. Thank you for coming.”

On the following morning, the headline in the Chicago paper screams, CANDY MAN KILLER STRIKES AGAIN.

“Nice,” mutters Garcia sarcastically.

When Ricci walks into the office, Garcia notices he is not looking so well. Garcia thinks he looks thinner and a little pale. Ricci does not seem to be in a talkative mood. Maybe the case is getting to him.

“Are you okay Mike?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, just a little tired.”

“Why don’t you take the day off, I can handle things here today.”

“No, just a little nauseous. My ulcer is acting up, that’s all.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had an ulcer.”

“It’ll be alright. It comes and goes.”

“I can handle the neighborhood canvass today if you’d like,” volunteers Garcia.

“Why don’t we split it up,” says Ricci. “I’ll take south of Logan’s residence and you take the north. Maybe we can find someone who saw something.”

Both Ricci and Garcia go door to door looking for anyone who may have some information or saw something over the weekend that could help them solve this case. A few neighbors offer vague information like seeing a nondescript car driving in the area, or hearing screams late at night, but nothing the detectives can say with any certainty has anything to do with the case.

Garcia does find one person who describes a dark-colored, mid-sized four-door sedan he had never seen before parked three blocks from the crime scene in the early morning hours of last Saturday. He cannot provide a make, model, or license plate, but it is more than they had gotten from anyone else. Maybe it is unrelated, or maybe not. It did strike Garcia as coincidental the described vehicle was seen three blocks away from the crime scene. In the third homicide from two years prior, Mrs. Henderson had described the person in black walking three blocks from the scene. Is there any connection?

On Thursday, the investigative team once again meets with the Commander. Ricci is not there. He again calls in sick for the day. Garcia is becoming more concerned over Ricci’s health.

The conversation centers around the information obtained during the neighborhood canvass. Commander Marshall says he will put the information out to patrol and send out a press statement asking residents to be on the lookout for a dark-colored sedan not familiar to their neighborhoods.

“I know patrol will now get dozens of calls over the next couple of nights on every dark-colored car someone doesn’t recognize,” laments Commander Marshall. “But, we have to put it out there.”

“I agree sir,” adds Jackson, “the residents are genuinely concerned now, and I think this will at least give them something to do. It might also temper the tensions between some of our gangs. At least they will know the police are working the cases. I’ve had some of our people working the streets trying to keep a cap on things.”

“Thanks Trevon,” responds the Commander. “Anything else?”

“I’ve not been able to track down the purchases of the knives,” announces Garcia. “There are just too many places to purchase them, and they sell thousands of them. I did check with some of the major online retailers, including Amazon, and no one could find multiple purchases by any individual.”

When no one can provide anything further, the meeting is adjourned.

Tenth Attack

It’s now the first Saturday in October when Garcia’s phone rings at 4:00 am, waking him from a sound sleep.

“Hello? Oh, hi Sergeant. No, that’s okay, what’s up?”

“Our Candy Man Killer has struck again,” advises Sgt. Pennington.

“Oh my god, not again,” sighs Garcia.

“Yep, this time off South Cedar in the North Lawndale area. A neighbor discovered our victim about thirty minutes ago. Heard a commotion in the back alley, trash cans and such, and went out to investigate. Found the victim bleeding out behind the trash cans. He called 911, but it was too late. He bled out before the medics could save him.”

“Alright,