The Executioner

Fifty-Two

The press conference room at Parker Center was large enough to comfortably accommodate the herd of hungry reporters that had turned up.

Barbara Blake had to admit that when she took the RHD captain’s job only a week ago she never expected to be facing the LA press on a serial killer case so soon. She also never expected to have to see eye to eye with the Los Angeles mayor on her first day at the job. But if this was what the job demanded, this was what she was prepared to give.

As she entered the room, the loud murmur of animated voices died to a whisper. Captain Blake was wearing stylish straight-legged black pants with a light red satin blouse and a black blazer that was the perfect backdrop for her long dark hair. Her makeup, as always, was subtle and elegant. She took her position behind the speaker’s stand, looking completely at ease and self-confident. Without saying a word, she let her eyes travel around the room, waiting for everyone’s attention. It took her less than ten seconds to get it.

‘I’ll answer questions for five minutes and five minutes only. Maybe we’ll be able to do away with some of the fantasy that’s been published in today’s paper.’ Her voice was as firm as it was seductive, combining a soft, girlish tone with a level of self-assurance that was disarming. ‘Before you start, let me say this. I will not discuss any aspect of any of our ongoing investigations, so please don’t even bother asking. If your questions don’t come in a civilized and orderly fashion, this conference is over.’

Hands flew in the air as reporters started shouting questions and thrusting forward microphones emblazoned with insignia from CNN, Fox, CBS, NBC, Court TV and several of the major newspapers.

The captain gritted her teeth. They didn’t hear a damn word I said.

‘Captain Blake,’ an attractive, long-dark-haired female reporter called from the corner of the room.

‘Claire Anderson from the LA Times.’ She identified herself, and the captain turned her attention to the reporter with interest. Claire was tall, slender and her tone of voice carried a distinct arrogance. ‘Are you saying that last week’s Seven Saints church murder and yesterday’s Pacific Coast Highway one aren’t connected?’

‘At the moment we have nothing to link these two investigations together,’ the captain replied in a steady, non-hesitant voice.

‘So why assign the case to Detective Hunter?’ Claire insisted.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean I have a very reliable source who tells me Detective Hunter is supposed to be dealing exclusively with the Seven Saints church investigation. If the cases aren’t connected, how come he’s been assigned to the Malibu murder as well?’

So that was it, the captain thought. There’s been no leak or tip. Claire had simply deducted that if Hunter had been assigned to the Malibu murder, the cases must be connected. Quite clever, really.

‘That’s why your paper printed what it did this morning?’ the captain demanded furiously. ‘Because of your assumption? You chose to spread panic around this city because you made a silly deduction?’

Claire shrugged without shying away from the captain’s angry stare. ‘As I said, my source is very reliable.’

‘Really? Well, if you’re paying this source of yours more than a buck ninety-five, you’ve been had.’

Restrained chuckles echoed throughout the room.

‘Let me clarify this for you,’ Captain Blake said confidently. ‘In an ideal world, this department would have as many detectives as it has cases, and the ratio would be one to one, but this isn’t an ideal world, is it? This is a world where someone enters a church during confession time and decapitates a priest. This is a world where someone ties an innocent woman to a chair and tortures her in front of a large fire until she’s dead.’

The room went completely silent.

‘Unfortunately,’ the captain continued, ‘the number of violent crimes committed in this city surpasses that of detectives exponentially. Detective Robert Hunter and Detective Carlos Garcia were supposed to deal exclusively with the Seven Saints church investigation, you’re right.’ She nodded at Claire, widening her eyes. ‘But all my other detectives are overloaded with cases. Maybe the LA Times could publish a request to all violent murderers out there, asking them to take a few years’ break so we can catch up. How does that sound to you?’

Nervous laughter came from around the room. Claire kept her face steady.

‘So you’re admitting Detective Hunter is leading the Malibu investigation as well?’

‘Detective Hunter brings us the advantage of also being a forensic psychologist. His knowledge and understanding of how the mind of a violent criminal might work proves indispensable in many of my department’s investigations. Due to the extreme brutality of the crime committed in Malibu over the past weekend, I have asked Detective Hunter to take the investigation, yes,’ the captain finally admitted.

‘Why isn’t he attending this press conference?’

‘I can answer all your questions at this moment. Time is of the essence and Detective Hunter has to use it wisely. He’s not needed in this press conference.’

More hands shot up and shouts filled the room once again.

‘I guess Mayor Edwards won’t be best pleased,’ Claire said, raising her voice above all others. ‘It’s my understanding that he wanted your best detective to work exclusively on the Seven Saints church murder.’

‘In this department,’ Captain Blake hit back fiercely, ‘we don’t have a best or a worst detective. We all work just as hard and we all do our job to the best of our abilities. Rest assured both cases will be solved.’ She hoped the slight uncertainty in her voice wasn’t as noticeable to everyone as it was to her.