Minds on Murder: Ryker Bartley Mysteries, #2

By A.M. Holloway

Ryker joins his unit in a puzzling investigation after a weeklong profiling course in Dallas.

To add to their workload, dead bodies begin piling up around them.

The unit investigates two major cases which leave the four detectives stressed and tired.

Once they solve their first case, they turn their attention to the murders. But nothing makes sense until they find Ryker's badge number tattooed on a victim's forehead. Then, the realization hit Ryker full force.

He knew who was involved in these killings. He might not have committed the crimes, but the killings happened under his guidance. Just to satisfy himself, Ryker and his guys travel to the state prison to meet with Erik Cleggman.

Erik remains in a single cell, without speaking. He hasn't spoken since his arrest. So, how does Erik get another person to kill for him if he doesn't communicate and he has no visitors?

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.M. Holloway
• Release date: Mar 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9781956648218

Book preview

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 1

Detective Ryker Bartley, Ft. Worth Police Department.

Here, sir. Ryker raises his hand, proving his attendance to the instructor.

While the instructor finished roll call, Ryker wondered what his unit was doing in his absence. He trusts his partner, Jo Samples, to keep the guys in line, but he misses the action even though he’ll only be away a week.

At Commander Huxley’s urging, Ryker agreed to attend a course on profiling killers because it would boost his knowledge in his current role and help prepare him for his next promotion. But he wasn’t so sure he wanted a different job. However, people change, and he might find he enjoys a new role. The one constant is his love for police work, which always comes first.

Two days into class at the Dallas Police Department training school, Ryker sat with the other attendees at a round lunch table. Dallas Police Detective Cabello shared information about a case assigned to his unit two nights ago.

An officer answered a call for a suspicious vehicle parked on the roadside that had been there for several days. When the officer arrived, a tow truck driver was on the scene, prepared to tow the vehicle when he called for the police. Everyone at the table waited for the detective to sip his tea before he continued, the smell was undeniable. So, the officer popped the trunk, finding a body of a middle-aged female nurse with no signs of trauma. It looked like she crawled into her car’s trunk and fell asleep.

He scrolled through his phone’s photos, showing his audience the pictures he referenced, and he had described it to a T.

Cabello, what’s the victim’s background? Ryker inquired, clearly interested in the case.

She was a nurse at Dallas Medical Center, as she still wore scrubs and her ID badge. When her shift ended on Friday at 10:00 PM, she left for home, and the medical examiner confirmed the time of death as Friday between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM. A small puncture mark on her neck showed during the autopsy. We’re waiting for the toxicology results. Cabello explained, then he added. Her death devastated her coworkers. The victim had a good working relationship with everyone at the hospital, leaving us with no suspects.

That’s rough, Cabello. Ryker looked down at his coffee cup as he worked through scenarios. Then he asked, Was there any noticeable vehicle damage?

As a matter of fact, there was on the rear bumper. It wasn’t anything major, but I suppose the victim would have stopped to check the damage. Cabello typed a text and sent it on its way. Thanks, Bartley.

Bartley nodded in agreement as the group returned to class. But the case still haunted him.

The following days were nothing more than lectures and case studies, and when Friday came, everyone rejoiced. Most police officers struggled to sit still for class time, and five days tested their wills. Friday was the day to show your stuff. The instructors wanted to see if the students learned anything.

Ryker stared at the front of the room, waiting for instructions, especially since they could leave after their test. The instructor handed each student a piece of paper with their test printed on it, with no two tests being the same. That tidbit was by design.

A grin spread across Ryker’s face when he read his case. Ryker wondered if the instructor realized he’d given Ryker a case he’d worked on eighteen months ago. The courts convicted the serial killer, who sits in a maximum-security jail. Ryker lost himself in thoughts for a few minutes while remembering the case involving Erik Cleggman. He lost his wife, Madge, in a car accident, and Jo was almost a victim during that case. How can it be that eighteen months have passed?

Ryker was the first detective to finish his test, so he walked to the front, handed the instructor his paper, faced the class, and said his goodbyes, followed by his escape. He drove to the Ft. Worth Police Department with his things already packed in his car. His unit should be at lunch, and that’s perfect timing

Jo, It’s Ryker. I’m coming home.

We’re in the conference room. Can you stop by here?

With a pause, Ryker replied. Sure. But he wondered why she sounded so stressed. Was someone in the room with her when he called?

Traffic was heavy inside the city, which was nothing new, but he was eager to see his group. Ryker parked in the lot and entered the police department’s back door. He took the stairs to the detective division, and Jo was right. His unit sat around the conference table, staring at pictures. It took him a minute to figure out the shape was a person who had suffered a horrendous beating.

What’s this? Ryker asked, clearly out of the loop as he studied a photo.

Jo explained as she twisted her earring. Tuesday night, this one happened, then Wednesday night, this one followed. We’ve no other reports of beatings, but we’ve hit a snag. The beatings occurred at different bank ATMs, but someone hid from the camera before the attacks in both cases. So, we have nothing. Jo stopped talking and looked at Ryker. He saw her distress and questioned why she didn’t call him.

She continued, I didn’t want to interrupt your week with this. Besides, we had hoped to solve it before you made it home. She gave me a slight grin and a shoulder shrug as I studied the bright pink lipstick.  

Has anyone had lunch? I’m starving. We can order in and eat while we dig into the case. Ryker suggested as everyone let out a sigh.

Jo ordered sub sandwiches while Ryker reviewed what little case information they had gathered in his absence. When he finished reading the reports, he stated, Has anyone checked to see if the victims knew each other? Also, what other businesses are close to the banks? We might use their cameras to find our attacker.

Schiller answered, neither victim knew the other, or if they did, we’ve not found the connection yet. We’ve scoured the surrounding buildings for cameras, coming up with a few possibilities. Finally, we received the footage, but it offered no help.

Running the scenario through his mind, Ryker offered, Our first step is to get backgrounds on the victims, and I’ll speak with the crime lab. With that much blood, there must be something we can use. Again, Ryker emphasized the need for evidence.

Schiller and Sanchez stepped away from the room, and once they devoured their lunch, they handled Bartley’s request. While they were out of earshot, Ryker and Jo had a few minutes. Ryker, I’m glad you’re back. And not just for the case.

I know, Jo, me too. Five days doesn’t sound like a long time, but it can be. I wish you would’ve called me on this. Although Detective Cabello shared a strange case they got last weekend, so that gave me something to dwell on. I guess we all get our weird ones. Ryker wanted to reach out and hug her, but the department would frown upon it if he did, so he refrained. Can we have dinner tonight?

I’d like that. As she lifted her hand from Ryker’s arm, Sanchez entered the room holding papers, which meant they had something.

Sanchez lifted them in the air, here are the backgrounds of both victims. Both are clean. One man and one woman with no known associates. These make me wonder if they’re crimes of opportunity.

That’s a thought. Has anyone reached out to gangs? Something like this could be an initiation. If not, I have a contact in gangs I can call. All heads shook. So, Bartley had his next step. He plucked his phone from his pocket and hit a speed dial button. Bartley described their scenes, waiting for a response. Jo grew anxious as the wait lasted longer than she expected.

Bartley’s gang contact returned to the phone, explaining a new gang has been trying to grab a piece of the action but has failed so far. This new gang uses beatings as its trademark. They steal nothing. Instead, they beat people, leaving them to die, no matter their location.

When Bartley’s call ended, he shared it with the group. The gang division agreed to help Bartley’s unit dig into this new gang. But Bartley promised his gang contact they wouldn’t make a move on a gang member without notifying them first, and his contact vowed to share their gang information with his unit.

Everyone nodded in agreement when Schiller said, that avenue sounds promising because it’s the only thing that makes sense. Schiller’s phone rang, so he stepped out to take a call.

Jo and Sanchez jotted a note while Sanchez added, Our male victim owns a small business, but his financials seem in order. The female victim worked as a bookkeeper from her home, and the business owner wasn’t her client. Sanchez flipped papers, making sure he covered everything.

Schiller returned. The female victim at the hospital died. A blood clot formed and ruptured in her lung. So, now, we can upgrade the charges to murder.  

Ryker shook his head in disbelief. I’ll notify our gang contact and drop in on the lab. Maybe the killer left us something. He reached down to gather his things when Commander Huxley stuck her head in the doorway.

We have another one. The bank closed at 4:00 on Friday, and when the manager left, he drove around the bank’s side, finding the latest victim curled in a fetal position. I’ve texted the address to you all. Huxley turned and stomped off toward her office.

Everyone looked at Ryker as the texts sounded. Without speaking, they trotted to their vehicles. Jo climbed into Ryker’s car, thankful he had arrived home in time to join them.

Eight minutes later, the vehicles turned left into the parking lot. An ambulance parked at such an angle that it protected the victim from passersby. The detectives parked on the opposite side of the lot.

Ryker led his group to the victim as the EMS attendants lifted her onto a stretcher. Can she talk? Ryker asked.

Not now, Detective. She’s unconscious. We’re assuming from the gash on her head. You’ll see why over there. The EMS guy slammed the door and raced to the driver’s side, speeding out of the lot with his sirens blaring.

The foursome worked their way to the area where the attack occurred. Ryker sighed, this is what the EMS guy mentioned. The victim must have hit her head as she fell. There’s blood on the curbing here. Ryker pointed to it, laying out the scene in his head. She must have tried to stand because there’s more blood here where the bank manager found her.

We’ll go speak with the first on-scene officer. Sanchez and Schiller volunteered.

Okay. We’ll speak to the manager. Let’s meet at the cars before signing off for today. Ryker suggested when he heard someone call his name.

He turned and realized the bank manager, Hunter Boone, was an acquaintance. Hi, Hunter. Is this your bank?

Yes, it is. I was hoping you’d catch this investigation. Can we talk? Hunter asked.

Hunter, this is my partner Jo Samples. Jo, this is Hunter Boone. We met at the gym. Ryker explained. So, Hunter, what can you tell me about this incident?

I’d heard about the other beatings, so I added security to this bank. There’s another camera posted in the ceiling’s corner. It’s hard to miss. Care to join me inside, and let’s see if we have a picture of the attacker? Hunter grinned.

Jo looked at Ryker. This might be our break. Let’s go. The threesome walked off toward the bank. After Hunter entered the security codes multiple times, the door opened with a whoosh. Inside was eerily quiet as Hunter led the group into his corner office.

Ryker and Jo took the chairs in front of his desk since he had to log into the bank’s computer system. Again, Hunter sped through the multiple layers of security, finally accessing the camera footage. The bank closed at 4:00 PM with employees clearing out by 4:30 or a little after. I think I left around 5:45. I’ll start the video at 5:00 PM, hoping the attackers were lying in wait.

The group watched the video play in real-time for the next several minutes. Finally, at 5:12 PM, they spotted movement outside the camera’s angle. Then, a few minutes later, a foot appeared to be resting on the curbing, but the person’s body remained undetected. Finally, Ryker asked, what is the person doing? Are they waiting for the ATM?

That would be even better, Bartley. Our ATMs have cameras, but only the ATM company can access those for us. Hunter stated as he returned to the video.

The only visible action was shadows. It looked like someone raised their hand above their head, but we had no visual of the attacker. The bank has three ATMs, and they centered the camera over the ones undercover by the drive-in, not the ones out front.

Bartley, I knew we had them. While I doubt they’ll return to my bank, I’m adding cameras to all ATMs. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help. Hunter stated.

Ryker replied, this is more than what we had before. Can you send me that video in my email? I want our lab techs to look at it. They might enhance the shadows somehow. Also, the scene with the shoe will help convict the attacker by placing them at the scene if we can find the shoe.

Once Ryker explained the process, Hunter nodded, proud to help the police. He accepted Ryker’s card, and they watched him email the video footage.

Then Jo asked, did you know the victim?

I can’t say that I do. Her face was so bloody I only looked for a second. Hunter stated.

That’s fine. We’ll check back in with you when we identify her. Thanks for your help, Hunter. Jo said as she looked at Ryker.

The threesome shook hands and promised to stay in touch. Ryker and Jo discussed the crime on their way to the cars. Sanchez and Schiller walked up at the same time.

Schiller started with their news. Officer Hutton was the first on the scene and described it as horrific. The victim suffered massive head trauma with so much blood around her head and neck that he checked for a pulse on her wrist. The victim didn’t move or moan, not even when the EMS guys loaded her onto the gurney. Hutton found her purse in her car. Her name is Lucinda Delfin. He paused.

Why does that name sound familiar? Jo asked with a head tilt.

With a finger pointing to the sky, Ryker stated, that.

Everyone grimaced at the billboard showcasing Lucinda as the attorney to call for any criminal defense matters. The group knew her by name but had never met her in person. But Sanchez said, we’d better get ready for the ride. She’ll be all over this attack.

Her involvement might be just what we need. All eyes turned to Ryker. Think about it. The newspaper and every news outlet in Texas will want a part of this one. I hope Lucinda survives her injuries so she can relish her newfound fame.

Ryker shared about the bank’s video, and that’s when the group split. He sent Sanchez and Schiller home while Jo agreed to stop by the hospital with Ryker before dinner. The group planned on reconvening at ten tomorrow morning.

Commander Huxley called, asking, Bartley, any updates?

He gave her the condensed version since they pulled into the hospital parking lot and wanted to check on the victim’s condition. Ryker agreed he would text the victim’s condition to her. Ryker glanced at Jo. Huxley wasn’t happy to hear the victim’s identity.

The duo entered the emergency room area, finding a nurse escorting an injured ballplayer behind closed doors. When the nurse recognized Jo, she stopped. Detective Samples, everything okay?

Hi, it’s not me this time. But, since she couldn’t mention the woman’s name with other patients around, she said, We’re looking for a woman that suffered a beating, and we’d like to speak with her if she’s awake.

The nurse shook her head. She’s in CT scan now. Then she’ll have an MRI on her neck. It will be a few hours before anyone can see her. The ballplayer shifted on his uninjured leg, and the nurse said her goodbyes to Jo as the door closed.

Ryker pondered their dilemma by waiting for the chance to visit with Lucinda or letting her rest tonight and returning in the morning. Jo, we’ll stop after dinner and see if Lucinda can speak. If not, maybe she can tomorrow.

Stepping out in the night air, Ryker glanced around the parking lot, thinking about the people that lay in the hospital beds in the building behind him. It wasn’t long ago when his wife did the same. She spent weeks in this same hospital, succumbing to her injuries resulting from a car accident.

Jo saw the change sweep over Ryker’s face. What are you thinking about, Bartley? Or should I ask?

Nighttime at the hospital brings back unpleasant memories, that’s all. It reminds me I need to sell my house and move into something smaller. Ryker chided himself for delaying something like selling a house because everything attached to Madge would be gone once he did that.

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked, Ryker. Jo paused, not realizing Madge remained in his mind. But then again, how does anyone lose a spouse and not remember them?

Ryker tried to make light of it because he didn’t want to put a sour note on their first night together in a week. So, he changed the subject back to the case, and they conducted a mini brainstorming session on their way to dinner. The aroma hit their noses as they entered the restaurant, and their stomachs rumbled. They shared a laugh when their hostess greeted them.

After a ninety-minute dinner break, the twosome returned to the hospital. They entered through the emergency room entrance since the front door locked after 10:00 PM, and a different nurse worked at the admission desk when Ryker asked about Lucinda.

Lucinda’s doctor is in with a patient. Let me get her for you. Have a seat over there. She pointed to a pair of empty seats.

While the duo waited, they watched the nightly news. Of course, Lucinda was the top story. Ryker and Jo shared a glance because they expected Lucinda’s attack to make the headlines. But this hit faster than they thought. It made Ryker wonder how the news folks found out so quickly.

A few minutes passed when Lucinda’s doctor stepped into the room. Detectives, I’m Dr. Jurden, Lucinda’s doctor. She’s resting now, but we’re watching her brain swelling. If we can keep it at its current level, she should be able to speak with you in 24-48 hours.

Thanks, Doctor Jurden. Here are our cards if anything changes. We’ll call for an update tomorrow afternoon. Ryker