LITMIR.BIZ

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do, give us a slap on the wrist.”

      “Yeah, all right. You talked me into it.”

      “Wasn’t too hard, was it Mavis?” Miles said as his eyes danced mischievously in her direction.

      Mavis looked back at Miles with a full smile as the three of us made our way down the hall and into the conference room. It really wasn’t much of a conference room to speak of: just an old eight foot table, six old oak chairs, a map of the precinct on the far wall and an old weathered brown bulletin board that covered the near wall with all the victims’ vitals and crime scene pictures from the red necktie killer murders.

      Mavis was the first to speak up, eagerly asking the both of us, “What have we got?”

      “Not much,” Miles responded.

      “Come on Miles, poor attitude. There’s got to be something.”

      “All right Mavis, just for you I’ll go through it again. The first killing was five weeks ago on Saturday night in the upper section of the precinct in Mooney’s building, the Seven Star Apartments. The second was four weeks ago, again on a Saturday night. Down on the lower east side by the old Star Cinema. The third was three weeks ago on the west side by the intersection of Lennox and East Third Street.”

      “Miles, isn’t that right by Starbucks?”

      “Yeah Mavis, it’s…”

      “Hold it Miles. STAR.”

      “What are you talking about Mooney?”

      “STAR. Every murder scene you’ve mentioned has a business near it with star in its name. You think this bastard is playing a game with us?”

      “No, just a coincidence. The last murder scene doesn’t. The last one was on the east side. I don’t know a damn thing over there with star in it.”

      “Excuse me gentlemen, I’ve lived in this precinct my whole life. The old planetarium was right around the corner.”

      “Give me a break Mavis, that old place has been boarded up for the past eight years.”

      “So what. I think Mooney’s onto something.”

      “Thanks for the support Mavis. Now, Miles look at the map. Draw a line from murder scene to murder scene in order. What have we got?”

      Miles took out a grease pencil and starting connecting the pins. The first line went down and to the right, the second half way up and far to the left, the third was straight across to the east side of the district. “Okay, what the hell does this prove?”

      “Do you see what I see, Mavis?”

      “I think I know where you’re going.”

      Regarding Mooney, “I don’t see shit,” Miles said.

      “Finish it Miles. Pretend your drawing a star, just like you did as a kid.”

      Miles, drew the forth line down and to his left on a forty five degree angle equal to second line and then up to the first murder scene.

      “I’ll be damned, it’s a star. Mooney you magnificent bastard. I’m really impressed, this is a brilliant piece of police work. Let’s get the chief and show him what we’ve got.”

      “I don’t think so Miles. It’s still pretty thin. I’d prefer we stake that area out tonight and see what shakes out.”

      Mooney turned to Mavis, “What do you think? You’re part of this.”

      “ME? I didn’t do anything.”

      “Sure you did, Mavis. You forced Miles and me to go over the case in a way we never would have. It may have been dumb luck, but it never would have happened without you.”

      “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves boys, this is weak as hell. If I were you guys, I’d do as Mooney suggested. If you go to the chief and you’re wrong, you’d make us all look like fools. I can hear Tony and Max laughing now. Personally I don’t need the grief. If you’re right, you two are up for commendations and a pay jump.”

      “If we get lucky, we’re all up for commendations Mavis. You’re part of this, that’s the way Mooney and I play it.”

      “Then it’s settled, we’ll stake out the intersection of East Thirty First Street and Wilcox from around 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Hell, we don’t have anything better to do, besides that’s right around the corner from the Shady Cage,” I said in an authoritative tone.

CHAPTER THREE

      Mavis seemed somewhat taken aback and genuinely touched by Miles comment about sharing the credit. It was the first time I’d ever seen her get emotional. She nodded, wished us well and quickly exited the conference room without another word.

      “Mooney, what the hell got into her?”

      “You ever realize how people treat her? We’re probably the closest friends she’s got and we hardly know her.”

      “Yeah, I hope it works out. She could use a break.”

      “Miles, let’s go over the map one more time so we can pick our best spot for the stakeout.”

      “Mooney, you think we should ask the chief for more uniforms in the area?”

      “No. The chief will only ask more questions and besides more uniforms in the area could spook our boy. Remember, in battle victory is gained by surprise. Let’s just play it out on our own.”

      “Who the hell said ‘victory is gained by surprise,’ Churchill? I know damn well you didn’t just come up with that line.”

      “No, my father always said it. Served him well in a number of big court cases.”

      “That’s the first time I ever remember you mentioning him. Want to talk about it?”

      “Miles, please don’t try and analyze me. We’ve got work to do. Let’s get the hell out of here and get on the road, time’s running short.”

      Miles had to go back to his desk, so I followed him back into the office and got a quick drink at the water cooler. My mouth was parched and the cool drink went down well. As I turned for the door, I was abruptly stopped by a large hand on my chest. Slick Tony was blocking my path and he was in my face, up close.

      “Tell me Mooney, the lesbo give you any new insights into the case or are you just changing teams.”

      “Actually she did, Tony.”

      “Want to share it with Max and me?”

      “No, it’d be a waste of time.”

      “Say what? I’m not good enough to talk to, but some lesbo dike is?”

      I didn’t like him in my face; hell I didn’t like him anyway. I forced myself to respond in a reserved tone, not wanting him to know that I was burning inside with rage at his cheap shots about Mavis, “You’ve got it, take it anyway you want.”

      “Well I want to know why? Tell me why I’m not good enough and Mavis is?”

      There were plenty of reasons, but I thought I’d bring up the one that would anger Tony the most.

      “You remember six months ago that nasty scene over on the roof of Papa Who’s bar? Mavis was right there when Miles and I needed her. You and Max were no shows. The way I hear it, you stopped short to tie your shoelaces and Max was so close to you he almost clipped you from behind. That a good enough answer for you?”

      By this time our voices were raised and we were attracting attention. Miles shot over from his desk and tried to get between us. Miles, ever the peacemaker, spoke up in an agitated tone, “Come on, chill out, there’s no reason for this.”

      “I’ll give you one Miles: how about your big mouth partner saying I was in Jew Cohan’s pocket. What did you think; the chief wasn’t going to tell

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