away with it. Again.
The police were thorough in stalking their prey as well. Viper, while frustrated by it, admired the tracking job they were doing. They had a large crew and had been masterful in following him. There was a different cop in the bar every night. They had different cars and vans every day. They rotated the tail well, never getting too close. The familiarity with Knapp’s movements and routes had made that easier, but they had done well nevertheless.
It made it difficult for Viper and Bouchard to get at Knapp. They’d missed their best shot.
Knapp left his hiding place, got into his car and drove away.
Tonight’s little recon mission left no doubt he was ready to move. It wouldn’t be long now and one thing was clear. Viper had to find a way to get to Knapp before McRyan and company did.
Bouchard shook his head, “It’ll be tomorrow night.”
Viper agreed. They needed to move fast. But how?
Chapter Twenty-Three
The meeting started at 10:00 a.m., the night crew still with Knapp, watching him making his way to work. Captain Peters, Helen Anderson, Sylvia Miller, Riley, Lich, Rock, Sally, and Mac were all in attendance. As expected, Channel 6 had run another scathing story on the serial killer and the lack of progress on the investigation. The force was carved in the sweeps story, and Flanagan was seething. Mac had never seen him so mad. He wanted Knapp, if for no other reason, to stick it back in the media’s face.
“Pat, where are we at on Knapp?”
“Could be anytime now, Chief.”
“Tonight?”
“We hope so,” Riles replied, perverse as it sounded, wanting a serial killer to make a move. “Obviously, we can’t predict for-”
“I know, I know,” Flanagan replied, waving him off. “I’m getting fuckin’ inpatient. That Channel fucking 6 is skewering us, and I’m sick of it.”
“Can’t force Knapp to attack, Chief,” Anderson said.
“I know, it’s just… frustrating. You boys are doing good work here. We have our guy, and then those fuckin’ bastards at Channel 6 with this story.” City council members and the mayor had already been on the chief, demanding answers, as if finding a serial killer was a political problem one could solve with a phone call.
“I hear you, Chief,” echoed Miller. “But when we catch this guy, we can spin this. This Knapp isn’t an idiot; we’ll make sure that gets out. We’ll play the work these guys are doing, how they broke the case, tailing this guy while Channel 6 was putting together it’s carve job.” Then she flashed a vicious smile. “Maybe, we’ll give Channel 12 an exclusive, since they’ve showed some restraint.”
“That all assumes we’re going to catch this asshole,” the chief noted. “Pat, where we at on that?”
“We’re good.” Riles went over the planning with everyone. “We have the place covered, and air support’s set up. I’m inside the bar with Doug Long. Rock’ll be next door. Mac and Lich are across the street. Linda Bradley is with us and ready. We’ll get him.”
“Is it just you five?”
“No, no. We’ll have other units in the area, but we have to keep them back until he moves. We don’t want to spook him. The guy was a Marine. He’s got to be checking behind him from time to time. I don’t want to have him abort.”
“I don’t want him getting away,” the chief said, concern in his voice.
“He won’t,” Riles assured.
“Once we get him, then what?” Rock asked.
“I want this bastard in court quickly. I want his arrest to be public. I want a fuckin’ perp walk,” the chief said. “Sylvia?”
“I can handle that,” Miller replied. “We’ll have as early a press conference as possible. We’ll set the time for the perp walk so the media can cover it. Riley and Rockford can walk him in. It’ll be great theatre.”
“How about you, Helen?”
“Publicity? Moi? Far be it from me to stand in the way,” replied a smiling Anderson, drawing a knowing chuckle. “We could have him in court the next day, I think. Sally?”
“We can. Detective Riley has kept me in the loop,” not to mention Mac, nocturnally. “I’ll have things ready for a quick hearing if need be.”
“Good. I want a public spectacle of this thing. The department needs that. Sylvia, Helen, Ms. Kennedy, Marion, I want you to stick around so we can discuss that further. Riles, you and the boys go catch that piece of shit.”
Viper contemplated his next move while sitting on the boss’s couch, drinking a bottled water. They missed Knapp. It was a good plan. Dumb luck really. If Lich hadn’t walked in, Knapp would have been gone. Shit happens. Viper didn’t explain it quite that way to the boss, but that was the gist of what happened.
“So, what are you going to do?” the boss asked.
Good question. Knapp was going to go for Linda soon, probably tonight, tomorrow at the latest. Problem was, the police detail would have cops all over the place. According to the boss’s source, for purposes of prosecution, it would be best to catch him in the act. There would be no shortage of assets in the area. Viper didn’t have many options, so he answered straight, “To be honest, I’m not sure.”
“The police are on him tight?”
“As a drum. Bouchard and I think he’ll go for it tonight, and the cops are swarming this guy.”
“Then we’ll have to come up with something while he’s in custody.”
“In custody, sir?”
“Yeah, somehow, some way, we’ll have to get at him that way.”
Viper, at a loss, said, “How?”
“Let me see what I can find out,” the boss replied.
Mac and Lich resumed tailing Knapp at an Arby’s on University at lunchtime. Knapp had an affinity for fast food, which made him like a lot of people. Difference was it didn’t seem to go to his belly. Mac, on the other hand, felt bloated. He hadn’t worked out in what seemed like two weeks, causing him to check his waste line for a paunch. There wasn’t one. Of course, if he needed to, he could merely look over at Lich. He had enough for the two of them.
“Another day,” uttered Lich as he adjusted in the passenger seat.
“Another dollar,” Mac finished, trying to get comfortable as well.
“So he thinks we have to take him out when he’s in police custody?” Bouchard asked.
“Yeah,” Viper replied skeptically. “I’m not sure how we do it. Any ideas?”
“Not off hand,” Bouchard replied. “I’d think they’ll have him tightly guarded. Not sure how we could get close enough to do anything. Especially before he starts talking.”
“If he does talk,” Viper mused.
“Most serial killers do,” Bouchard replied.
“Could always be a first time.” Viper’s cellphone chimed, it was the boss. “Well, maybe he has some answers for us.”
