Murder at Tri-City Mall (eBook)

Chapter 1

Dino had been unlucky. He should have been right up to the guy when the man got out of his car. But he hadn’t been able to keep up with him in the noon traffic. His target was now but a dozen yards from the mall doorway just as Dino parked. He feared he would fail and have the wrath of Angelo to deal with. He wiped at the sweat on his brow. Angelo had told him when the man would be leaving his job, what he looked like, and that Dino had to get the man’s briefcase or satchel or whatever he was carrying before the man entered the bank. He didn’t know what was so important about the briefcase, just that he had to grab it. He now rushed to catch up to the man before the guy got to the bank. He had to get the briefcase. He put his hand to his sweaty upper lip, making sure the mustache was well attached, as he ran to the mall doorway, a minor alcove to the main corridor. He glanced behind him. There was no one nearby.

Dino was at the edge of panic. He pushed open the doors to the closest mall entrance to the bank, now only yards ahead. He had wanted to get to his target outside the mall, preferably as he got out of his car, and grab his briefcase then. A rap on the head would have slowed the guy enough to let Dino escape. Maybe he should have aborted the plan, but what would he have told Angelo? Things were getting out of control, but he had to stop the guy before he reached the main corridor or he’d lose the briefcase. He reached for his gun, a .32 caliber semiautomatic.

A quick move, the gun against the man’s back, a single shot from the silenced pistol. The man started to fall; Dino grabbed him by the armpits before he totally collapsed.

“You alright, man?” He said it loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.

The man groaned and went limp.

Dino felt the man’s weight sink into his arms. He managed to hold onto the gun while he struggled to keep the man from crumbling, talking to him as if he was a heart attack victim. He then pocketed the gun to keep it out of view from people walking nearby. He propped the limp man against the wall, grabbed the man’s briefcase, and pulled out his cell phone. He feigned a 9-1-1 call as a passerby came close, who only shook his head and kept walking, not stopping to help. Dino cursed as he pushed at his loosened mustache. Heart pounding, he picked up the briefcase and stood up. Had anyone really seen what happened?

He gasped, “Oh shit.” A woman stared at him from across the main corridor. Had she gotten a good look? How long had she been there? She kept looking at him with her mouth open. A chill went up his spine. Does she know me? I can’t let her get away, I just can’t. Terror gripped his heart at the possibility of being identified. Who the hell is she?

Fear crowded into his thoughts. I had to kill the guy, didn’t I? He was only seconds from the front of the bank. What else could I have done?

It took Dino only a second to abandon his plan to leave the mall by the side entrance, even though it was closest to his car. No, he had to get to the witness—just had to. With a tight grip on the briefcase, he started up the wide corridor toward the main entrance. He had to find her and stop her. Someone yelled something unintelligible behind him. Dino didn’t look back. He cursed under his breath. He had been told only to retrieve whatever the man was carrying; it’d most likely be a briefcase or a leather satchel. He realized shooting the man had most certainly been a risky and foolish thing, but there had been only seconds to spare. He’d have to explain it, but would Angelo understand?

He moved quickly through the crowd. No one paid attention to him—no one but her. He saw that she was almost running, darting glances back toward him, and heading for the main entrance. Where have I seen that face? Gotta catch up to her. Maybe out in the parking lot. I can’t leave a witness. Does she know me? That face … where?

She was running now. Dino picked up his pace. “Get the hell outta my way,” he said to somebody as he shouldered through the crowd. He saw her dart to the entrance. He turned to cross the corridor to follow her, but a rush of noisy teenagers slowed him. Finally, he was at the door and pushed it open.

“What the hell,” he muttered. “Who’s he?” Dino slowed as the woman approached a man in the parking lot and they walked toward the cars. “A friend just happens to leave the mall same time she does?” he mumbled. “What’re the fuckin’ odds of that?” He saw her get into a car, the man getting in the driver’s seat.

Feeling helpless, his heart pounding, he turned and rushed along the sidewalk to the south end of the mall and then to the east side and on to his car. He started the engine and drove rapidly to where he had seen the woman and man get into a blue Chevy Malibu. Would they still be parked there? Driving up an adjacent aisle, he spotted them and pulled into an empty parking spot. What should he do?

He was certain she had recognized him. The shocked look on her face had said it all. Then a realization dawned on him. That face. What the hell’s her name? Christ, isn’t she the niece of Roy Wilson? Sure. That’s where I saw her. He wiped the sweat from his brow. I’ll have to get rid of her. What else can I do? She saw me. This place will be crawling with cops any second. Better not stick around. Get her later. He started the car. Gotta find out where she lives. He knew he didn’t dare tell Angelo there had been a witness. No, that would be the end of him. He’d be a loose end they couldn’t afford. He would have to take care of the problem himself and quickly, but not here.

•••

The trip to the mall hadn’t been a total waste of time, Tim thought. He’d been able to purchase a nice leather wallet. However, the tooled-leather briefcase he had ordered hadn’t arrived as promised. The old and well-worn briefcase he’d had for years had become an embarrassment. He was on his own now, doing consulting work for large electronic companies in the Boston area. He had recently splurged on new suits, new shoes, and the custom tooled briefcase. The recent haircut—shorter now, more in style—augmented his clean-cut business look. Appearance counted for a lot in the face-to-face consulting business.

He glanced at his watch before turning to leave the mall and allowed he had time to grab a bite to eat. He stopped in at Rossetti’s, where he purchased a slice of pepperoni pizza and a soda. The standup lunchtime crowd in the small and narrow shop was close and uncomfortable with hardly a spot to place his drink. Whiffs of perfume, aftershave, and body odor, mixed with that of pizza, overwhelmed his senses. Even though the sight of attractive eye candy interested him, he ate quickly and departed.

Tim stepped through the west entrance of the mall and into the sunshine, glad to be out of the crowded and noisy environment. He was pleased at the warm spring day after the cold, snowy winter of 2009. The parking lot had filled, and now only the distant rows were empty. He pulled the car keys from his pocket, stepped off the curb, and then clicked the button on the fob to sound the horn and flash the lights. He saw his car 150 feet away. He went to the crosswalk, waited for the cars to stop for him, and then started down the nearest aisle.

“Pardon me, sir.”

Startled, Tim turned to see an attractive woman hurrying toward him on his right. “Yes?”

“Would you please escort me to my car?”

He saw she was carrying only her purse. “Uh, sure. Where’s your car?”

“Three rows over on the left, toward the back. Please don’t look back. Just hurry.”

The fear in her voice was palpable. He stole a glance at her. Mid-twenties, light-brown hair, medium height, and 120 pounds maybe. Another glance confirmed his initial observation: attractive, statuesque, and dressed in expensive threads.

“What’s wrong?” Tim glanced behind him. “Someone stalking you?”

She wasn’t able to walk fast in high heels and stumbled a few times. “Let’s just hurry. Please.” She sounded frantic.

“My car is just on the other aisle, the blue Chevy Malibu. See it?” He pointed. “We can sit there. I don’t think anyone would bother you in my car, and they wouldn’t get your license number.”

She stopped and looked boldly at him for a second. “Okay.”

They walked to the next aisle on their right and to the Malibu. He opened the passenger door and she sat down, pulling the door closed quickly. Tim hurried to the other side while looking around, but he saw no one following. What the hell is her problem?

He sat down, closed the door, and pressed the door-lock button. “I didn’t see anyone coming this way. You okay?”

She nodded.

He could see fear in her eyes as she turned around to look out the rear window.

“Nobody is going to bother you in here,” said Tim, not at all sure he believed himself. He saw her lip quiver. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

“I … I saw a murder,” she said in a whisper. “He saw me.”

“In the mall?” Tim couldn’t stifle his shock. He stared at her wide-eyed.

She nodded. “Just a few minutes ago. And … he saw me.”

“The killer saw you? He knows...