Larceny of the heart

“Here’s what we got, Cap’n,” Bannon began, “The assistant gave us access to the appointment book and Doestal was at the capitol on the day of the first victim, hosted a party during the second victim and was teaching a class during the New Mexico murder years ago. Everything confirmed.

“I had Junior chat up the assistant while I interviewed Doestal. Doestal seemed genuine to me. Certainly, no surgical skills to remove a heart. I don’t think she’s bright enough to do this, Cap’n.”

Junior added, “Blanck, the assistant, was elusive when I asked about her past and her relationship with Doestal.”

“Something was off about her, Cap’n,” Bannon said. “I asked for a tracker, if you’ll okay that. Doestal may be involved, maybe not, but I think Blanck is running it.”

“Done,” the captain replied. “You better be right this time.”

The detectives left the office as the captain ordered the tracker. The rest of the day was spent digging into the past of the assistant. They weren’t finding answers.

End-of-shift, Junior went home and Bannon stopped for a quick dinner. In the middle of his third bite, he got the notice that the trackers lost Blanck. He wasn’t far from Junior’s apartment and rushed over to pick him up. As Bannon reached the building, he noticed the out-of-place car.

It was Blanck’s.

Calling for backup, he pulled his pistol and rushed to Junior’s apartment, breaking the door to enter. There was Blanck on her knees next to Junior’s prone body, holding a black cube to his chest.

“Freeze, B...” Bannon never finished his command. He stood frozen with his pistol pointed into the room.

A blue light flashed between the cube and Junior. Satisfied, Blanck calmly walked to Bannon to place the cube on his chest. She pulled the trigger but nothing happened. She tried again. Nothing. In a panic, she fled the apartment and Bannon collapsed to the floor and crawled to Junior but he knew.

“Mike, why didn’t you…” Junior would never hear Bannon speak his name.

Bannon’s rushed out of the apartment. Blanck’s car was there as she disappeared down the dimly lit street.

Those neck hairs were standing again.

Posted to Poets and Storytellers United: Friday Writings #6: The shorter the sweeter?

Part One: The Dead Need No Words

Part Two: Partners

Part Three: Zen Detective

Part Four: Connections

Part Five: The Usual Suspects