Seven Targets

Chapter Two

The drive home from the office  which was supposed to last two hours was a long one as he stopped by the mall to get Stephanie some gifts which he would use to pacify her after telling her about the change of plans by the commander. On arriving home Stephanie and the kids were already at home. When he entered the sitting room and called out to Stephanie. 

“Honey I’m home”.He called with a loud but exhausted voice and threw himself lazily on the couch.

Stephanie walked out of the kitchen towards him wiping her hands with a towel. She picked up his jacket alongside his bag and they both headed upstairs.Robert and Christine were both in their rooms. When they entered the bedroom facing Christine’s room Daniel peeled for a shower and helped himself with a cold drink. Stephanie returned downstairs to arrange the food on the dining table. By this time Robert and Christine had left their rooms and were already sitting at the dining table.

Some minutes later when they had almost started eating Daniel came downstairs.  He had heard the conversation between Stephanie and Robert on the staircase.

Robert, who is a good looking youth, would clock sixteen in a month's time. He looked much in the face like his dad but has a carbon replica of Stephanie's sharp-witted eye. He just became an undergraduate at Orwell university.

“Started making new friends?” Daniel asked As he pulled a chair from the dining table facing Megan and sat down.

“Yes dad, I made friends with two guys today.

Dave and Jason, cool guys,and they live two streets away from our home” Robert said with excitement ringing in his voice.

“Oh! That’s good “.Daniel responded as he picked up the spoon on the plate.

“I would be going over to see them this weekend”. Robert added as he watched Daniel's face to see his reaction.This was what he was telling his mum Stephanie before he arrived.He knew the mum would not allow him go without his dad's consent. But he knew his dad was always detailed to know those he moved with. This had kept him bound for a long time he felt. But he had made up his mind and had promised them he would come this weekend. Two days before, Robert had overheard the conversation between Daniel and Stephanie in the kitchen and knew they were planning to go out together by weekend and he had planned to go when they would be away but he would be back before they arrived.

“Why not invite them to come over so we can get to know them” instead of going there?”Daniel said, turning his face to Robert and then back to his plate.

The dining table was quite for a while and then Stephanie broke the short silence and asked Daniel about the case of the burglary he told her about. For the past two decade and some years Stephanie had always shown perennial interest in Daniels job and had always asked him how the day went as normal couples would. She also knew practically all the cases Daniel had investigated since he was made a detective.Daniel at first feigned as though he didn’t hear her while he concentrated on the food on his plate. 

“Have you interviewed the culprit who burgled the couple's apartment at Bradford street?''she asked again in an informal tone.

“No I have not”.he said still looking at his plate 

This time Stephanie Understood what his quick reply meant. She kept silent and finished up her food then  packed up the plates to the kitchen which was at the left corner of the staircase.By this time Christine had raced upstairs to continue her assignments while Robert still waited behind to see if Daniel would say anything again about his visit to Dave and Jason’s flat. Daniel said nothing but focused on his food. When he was done he drank some water. In his mind he was searching for the best way to inform Stephanie of the change of plans.he could already predict how her reaction would be. After helping himself with some water he steered at the direction of the kitchen as though he would see Stephanie walk out. Robert  stood up greeted Daniel good night and headed towards the staircase while mumbling some silent words to himself. Now Daniel and Stephanie were left in the living room. Seconds later she walked out and moved close to him. Placing the towel in her hand on the table she drew one of the chairs close to Daniel and sat down. 

“Are you okay “ she asked as she touched his right hand shoulder.

“ I have been assigned a new case by the commander and I would be going to the crime scene Tomorrow “

“ You still have not told me about the outcome of the case I asked you about earlier” Stephanie said in a relaxed tone.

“I have handed over that to detective Desmond.”

Robert on the other hand had lingered by the wall of the staircase listening to their conversations. It has become clear to him that his dad would be going out that Saturday to investigate a crime scene,this would give him the opportunity to visit Dave and Jason.As for Stephanie his mum,she’s was not as strict as his dad so she would be easy to handle. With this he smiled sheepishly and slowly walked upstairs without making any noise.

“And our outing on Saturday?”Steffany asked not expecting any answer from Daniel as the answer was already clear. 

“ That would be after the case,I don’t know how long it would take though, it depends on the graveness of the case and the obtainable evidence or eyewitness”

“Where exactly did it happen?”she asked.

“ I am still uninformed concerning that 

I would stop by at his office to pick up the case file upon my way to the office tomorrow”

Upon hearing this, Stephany could feel the bubble of abhorrence from within her towards the commander whom she hadn’t met in person but had heard about him. Seeing the expression on her face Daniel said. “Don’t worry honey, I will be through with this case soon enough and we will have all the time to ourselves” then he held her hand and said “.Honey guess what I got for you at the mall on my way back?”

Still not happy about the new development she replied with a fading smile.

“You know I have never been good at guessing, you tell me”.

“Come”.He held her hands as they both headed upstairs.

Hopefully this would make her happy Daniel reasoned.

Not even sure how long he had slept before the alarm clock wrenched him awake from sleep on Saturday morning Detective Daniel picked up his phone from the little cupboard beside the bed. Still tired,he jerked himself from bed.he would be going to pick up the case file at the commander's office and after that lead the team to the crime scene to investigate and carry out a series of interviews with the neighbors.

The time was already 8:15 a.m He had to prepare and start heading to the commander's office. Stephanie was already out of bed and in the kitchen. He quickly took his shower and headed down stairs. She had prepared a light breakfast of bread ,tea and egg for him. After he finished he kissed her and headed to his car. When he arrived at the commander's office. The commander was arranging the files which he handed over to Detective Daniel as soon as he greeted him and sat down 

“Morning sir”.

“Good morning  Detective “.

“Here are the case files” The commander handed over the files  to Daniel while he made a call”.

Daniel picked up the file And skimmed through what was written on it. Mr Andrew who just moved into Walnut Street was killed yesterday at 3a.m. His wife and daughter were also kidnapped. Similar cases had occurred in the state in the space of two years and the only evidence found was the fingerprints that were left on surfaces and the autopsies carried out on the bodies.. As he read through the profiles he also observed that only the men were killed while their wives were kidnapped alongside their kids.

“What do you observe from these cases” the commander asked looking at Daniel. 

“The fingerprints recovered from the two cases match with that of the same individuals. This  means  the same perpetrators carried out the first and second crimes.

“I want you to be in charge of this case ,you can go to the fifth division to get more information. I also want you to lead the investigation team down to the place to see if you can get any evidence. As for your retirement ,this would be your last case after which it would be handled.

“Noted sir”. Daniel replied as he stood up and headed towards the door.

When he arrived at Philadelphia fifth division police department he met with Mr James who had been to the crime scene already. Without  wasting much time they both drove to the crime scene. Nancy had been at the station throughout Friday and had followed them back to the apartment to pick up some of her stuff. She would be returning to her parents place as the Police Investigates the case.

“When did you move into this resident”. Detective Daniel asked Nancy when they arrived at the place and got down from the car.

“I was employed as a cook a year ago.”She replied.

“Mr Andrew and his family also came in a year ago?”

“No, I think they had a female cook they had employed before she got sacked and I was employed.”

“Do you have any clue as to why she was sacked?”

“None sir.” Nancy said as they entered the apartment.

“The cook, where did she come from and where does she stay?”

“I have no idea sir.”

“After she was sacked, you don’t know where she went to?” Detective Daniel asked her as  he looked around.

“ I do not know sir, I was employed days after she was gone.”

When he ended the conversation with Nancy he headed upstairs. The application of forensic science and the use of automated fingerprint identification (AFIS) would be of great use detective Daniel thought.The men must have touched somethings when they came into the building the previous night. 

As he headed towards Mr. Andrews's bedroom he examined carefully the grip of the door with the Alternative light source he found a fingerprint on the handle. He quickly dipped his hands in his pocket and brought out his phone. After carefully taking several pictures of it He did the same thing for the other two doors. If the men were more than one then the fingerprints should be different he thought.

After collecting the fingerprints he headed downstairs to meet Mr. James who had already gone outside.Nancy was quietly sitting on one of the chairs facing the big tv screen. 

“Did you say they were more than three?”

“I don’t know sir.”I heard footsteps,one was banging on Mr. Andrew's door and when I heard other footsteps coming towards my room and that of MeganI quickly hid in the closet.”