The Vigilante Strikes Again

The detectives pull up to a three-story brick building on Luckie Street. Like the neighboring apartments, it is a replica of a southern-styled colonel with its fancy ivory-trimmed awning, shutters, and roof. The hedges on either side of the walkway are neatly trimmed, and the scant bit of yard is mowed.

Toni is met by the responding officers when she climbs out of the car. She quickly realizes they are two seasoned cops who have quickly made a name for themselves. There won't be any screw-ups at this crime scene. She smiles to herself, closing the door behind her. "What can you tell us?" Toni asks, taking a quick look around. Their presents seem to have stirred every living creature on this side of town. I wish they had been this curious when the porn thing was taking place.

"We responded to a disturbance call and found a blindfolded and naked man tied to his kitchen chair. He claims he doesn't know who attacked him and that they came up from behind and knocked him to the ground. He said he woke up a short time later to find himself naked, tied up to the chair, and the intruders gone.

"Have you found any security footage?"

Forensics is looking into it now, and they are dusting the place for prints. We asked the neighbors if they saw anyone besides the residents enter his apartment, and they said a lot of strangers come and go. According to them, Mr. Brock teaches piano from his home."

"Where's the perp? I mean the victim."

The officer thumbs behind him. "He's in his apartment."

The detectives walk in to find forensics busily processing the tidy place. The small office on their left. A small wooden desk on one side of the window, an electrical keyboard on the other. The living room is to the right of the door. Its sparse furnishings include a toffee-colored couch with matching end tables on either side. An oak coffee table sits in front of the sofa. A flat-screen TV hangs from the eggshell-painted wall.

The victim is in the kitchen, adjacent to the main room. He's nervously running his fingers through his short, sable hair. The man is wearing a light-brown pullover vest, an off-white button-up shirt, and freshly pressed brown polyester pants. A burly officer is standing beside him. His arms cross his brawny chest with a nonsense look on his face.

"Mr. Brock, I'm Detective Moore, and this is my partner Detective Robbins. Can you tell us what happened?"

"I was doing laundry in the back when I heard someone walk inside. I thought it might be one of my students, so I checked." He raises his head to the back of his scalp. "I must've been hit in the head because I woke up blindfolded and naked, tied to this chair." He glances up at the stout man, then back at her and says, ``he untied me, let me get dressed."

The officer standing guard adds, "Forensics took the clothes he was wearing to the lab."

Toni nods. "Thank you, officer. So, you didn't see who did this?"

"I didn't see them, but I remember smelling women's perfume, Channel, I believe."

"Them?"

"I heard three voices as a was coming too. All women and two had a thick accent, Spanish, I believe."

Picking up a few pictures, Jamal walks toward him. "What can you tell me about these?"

Archie glances at the photos and then turns away. "I don't know where they came from."

A gravelly voice echoes from the adjoining room. "Detective, there's something you need to see."

Toni glares at their suspect. With her hand on her weapon, she leans in and says, "Move or even attempt to move, and we'll shoot. She glances up at the guard. He nods. "Got it?"

The man gulps and then nods.

Finding the detectives beside them, the forensic technician begins, "The photos on the floor are just the tip of the iceberg." He pulls up file after file of children's pictures on a laptop. "The way the captain reads, I'd say they came from a trafficking site."

"How many are we talking about here?"

"I'd say there is well over a dozen."

Toni stomps to the kitchen. Grabbing her handcuffs from her belt, she tugs on his arm and says, "Stand up, hands behind your back."

His soprano voice raises when he proclaims. "But I'm the victim here."

"A victim with a lot of kiddy porn."

"The photos aren't mine."

Toni points across the room. "I suppose the computer isn't yours either?"

He glances towards his office and then back at her. "My computer is over there." Pointing to the counter, he nervously explains. "I found a recipe online that I wanted to try."

Looking over, Toni sees a small, jet-black laptop surrounded by an assortment of baking utensils. "You have the right to remain silent," the detective begins.

"But I'm being framed."

***

Toni walks into the station to find Keven busy at his desk. He's posted pictures of their two suspects on the board. A summary is beside it. She's heading toward it when she notices a report lying on her desk. She picks it up and reads.

Kevin glances over. "That came in while you and Jamal were out."

"Our first guy died of natural causes?l"

"The ME found toxins in his blood indicative of a heart attack. According to his body temperature, lividity, and rigor. She believes he died somewhere between one and four. She also said his wounds. The hanging was all done postmortem."

"So, one of his victims decided to get revenge."

"Then set fire to get rid of the evidence," Jamal adds, walking to his desk.

Toni turns toward her partner. "You finished your interview already?"

"I put him in holding with a few other guys. Figure a little alone time with them will have him singing like a canary."

"Still denying everything, is he?"

"Yep."

Kevin hands her a piece of paper. "I did a background check on your new guy. Archie Brock. He's a retired schoolteacher. He's been giving piano lessons from his home for five years."

Jamal shakes his head. "So, he's had access to kids most of his adult life."

"And he only lives a few blocks from the school," Toni adds.

Jamal gazes out the window. " It's hard to say how many victims we'll find out there."

Toni turns towards Kevin. "Is there a connection between Archie and the Mayor?"

"I haven't found anything yet. The calls made to our first suspect's phone came from downtown Atlanta. Forensics is trying to narrow it down more."

"What did you find out about the investigation?"

"The DA said there were rumors but nothing to support the allegations."

"Did you talk to his coworkers, the women he helped?"

Kevin pushes away from his desk. "I'm going to do that now. I did find out they all have school-aged kids."

"Jamal and I will interview them. You talk to Mr. Brook's students. Check his finances, and see if anything fishy turns up. Check the mayor's finances too."

"I already did." Kevin hands her another printout. "Mark Hensley has one account, and it's with a local bank here in town. The only deposits made are his social security check, and all his withdrawals seem to be for normal living expenses. A company called Love Unlimited funds the website you found. I was checking into it when you came in."

"I imagine you'll find it's a shell company which is funded by another shell company. That's usually how these guys work. That's usually how the perps work, she repeats softly, turning away.