I liked Funcher. To the point. No fuss. And smart enough to realize when he was in over his head.
Harry walked into the office, passing Funcher on his way out. My lieutenant strolled over to my desk and asked, “Who was that?”
“He dropped Macy off here.”
He and I both looked over at Macy, who appeared to be recovering from the blow to the testicles. Harry dropped his voice, “Jesus, what’s that ass want now?”
I shrugged and said, “I guess he just wanted to hang out.”
We both gave the motionless mayor’s aide another glance, then I said to Harry, “Let’s talk.”
As soon as we were out of Macy’s earshot, I said, “I need to fill you in on a computer company that may be important to the case.”
Chapter 85
I had never done so much investigative work from my desk. By the afternoon, I had compiled all the information on Computelex I could find from the internet. I even had the phone number of the head of human resources, one Lynn McKague. The photo on the company website showed an attractive, friendly-looking woman with a broad smile.
I dialed, and as the phone rang, I said a silent prayer that she’d answer. I needed to actually talk to her. I didn’t want to risk leaving a message. For all I knew, the man in question could be Computelex’s employee of the year, or she could even be his girlfriend.
A bright, friendly voice answered the phone with “HR, this is Lynn.”
“Lynn McKague?”
“That’s right. Who’s this?”
I gave her my full, formal title.
“Hello, Detective,” she said cautiously.
“Ms. McKague, I need a few minutes of your time.”
“Before I answer any questions,” she said, “you’re calling about company business, not about me personally, correct?”
“That’s correct.”
“I’m sorry, but unless you’ve got a subpoena, company policy forbids me from continuing this conversation. The privacy of our clients is important to our business model.”
“This isn’t about one of your clients. It’s about an employee.”
“I wish I could help, but I’m afraid the same rule applies.”
I had to take a moment to consider my next course of action. I said, “Can you confirm an individual’s employment status?”
“If you have a name, I can verify that employee’s work history. That I can do.”
“Is there a white male Computelex employee currently working in the New York area?” I rolled the dice, hoping I wouldn’t spook her—or the man I was looking for. “It’s important that I speak to this person about a lead on a string of homicides.”
“Is he a witness? I can send him a message to contact you.”
“No, I would ask you please not to say anything to him.”
“So he’s not a witness. This sounds more serious.” It was half statement, half question.
I didn’t respond.
There was a long silence on her end.
I finally said, “Ms. McKague? Did I lose you?”
“No, you didn’t lose me. I was reviewing some records.” The HR manager hesitated again. Then she stammered, “What ki-kind of questions do you need answered?”
I almost leapt up from my chair and cheered. Instead, I focused and said, “We understand that a man in your employ travels on contract work. I’m going to give you some dates and locations. A name would help a great deal. Barring that, a yes or no on whether at those times this employee was working in those cities.”
Lynn McKague spoke slowly. “Yes, I am able to merely confirm information you have already.”
I gave her the dates of the Atlanta and San Francisco homicides. I could hear her fingers tapping at her keyboard. I waited while she checked the information.
When she came back on the line, there was a slight tremor in her voice. “Yes, one employee was also in Atlanta and San Francisco during the dates you gave me. He has worked for us for a number of years.” After an awkward pause, she asked, “What’s this about?”
I could’ve given her some snarky reply like I’m not allowed to tell you without a subpoena. But this case was too important to screw around.
“And when did he arrive in New York City?”
“He’s been there for slightly over six weeks.” Well within the range of the homicides here. I could almost hear Lynn McKague mentally debating her next admission. “His name is Daniel Ott.”
Daniel Ott. This was our man. I was sure of it. “One last question, Ms. McKague. Would you be willing to share with me the name of the hotel where Mr. Ott is staying in New York City?”
After only a brief pause, she gave me the name and address of a chain hotel in the Flatiron District.
She also gave me Daniel Ott’s cell phone number.
“Ms. McKague,” I said, “thank you for your help.”
I meant it.
Chapter 86
The instant I ended the call to Omaha, my phone rang. Pam Lundsford from San Francisco PD was on the line.
She started right off with “These cases weren’t mine. The original detective, Sean Lynch, has retired since then. This case aged him. He left the force, but he’s never given up on it. His theory was that the killer left town. Maybe he was right.”
I agreed. It’s what he did while he was in town that I needed to pin down.
Detective Lundsford said, “I saw your homicides on CNN. Bad break that the killer you caught was a copycat. I hope this doesn’t kill your lead on the main suspect.”
“I have some new information there,” I assured her.
“Good, because I contacted the victims’ employers like you asked. No link to Computelex. I checked it four different ways and made sure the representative from the employer knew exactly what I was asking.”
Not the answer I was expecting. I explained that Computelex had just confirmed our killer’s presence in San Francisco at the time of both murders.
“I have an idea,” Detective Lundsford said. “Can I bring Lynch in? He might have another angle.”
“Sure. Either it’s going to be over soon or this lead won’t mean anything.”
After I hung up the phone, it rang again. Detective Alvin Carter from Atlanta calling. I answered it immediately. “You got good news for me, Alvin? I got confirmation from Computelex that a Daniel Ott was working in Atlanta on the dates of all five homicides, but I need more.”
Carter said, “Well…”
He was about to drop something on me. Most detectives can’t pass up a chance for a little dramatic pause.
Carter continued, “The victim who was murdered at a realtor’s office, Holly Jones? This was my case.”
I said, “I sense you’re about to impress me with some spectacular police work.”
“You have no idea.”
“Go ahead. Hit me with it.”
Alvin Carter said, “I canvassed the area after the homicide. Went a couple of blocks in each direction. One of the companies about a block away delivered wholesale flowers to florists and grocery stores all over Georgia. A really big operation.”