The X-Man by Brian R. Lundin (100 best novels of all time .TXT) 📕

recently been awarded a five thousand dollar college scholarship by the housing authority and the informant said that if he see the man again he‘ll let us know or they take care of him themselves

CAHILL
Any description


SERGEANT HICKMAN
Small man about five feet, one hundred fifty pounds, well built, long straight hair, sharp facial features, dark eyes and a coffee colored complexion

RINGO
Thanks Sarge

We returned to the projects, parked in the parking lot that had it share of broken down and semi--stripped vehicles and interviewed the residents in Deloris building and neighboring buildings, but the people living in this drug and gang infested area did not talk to the police, as we walked toward the building we were stopped by a police officer and handed us a copy of the Sun-Times Newspaper.

POLICE OFFICER
You guys seen this?

On the front page in bold headlines, “HAS THE SERIAL KILLER KNOWN AS THE X-MAN WHO ESCAPED FROM POLICE CUSTODY THREE YEARS AGO RETURNED?” The article was written by Irene Mujhasi, the black columnist who had been critical of the police investigation of the earlier X-Man killings, she accused the department and the city of not being concerned enough or exerting enough effort and resources in apprehending the X-Man since all of his victims were black and poor.I gave the paper back to the officer as we continued to apartment 10B and paid our respects to Bertha. There were three women in the kitchen, the smell of fried chicken, collard greens and cornbread filled the small apartment. Two older men sat in the front room with Bertha drinking beer, Bertha was sitting on the couch next to another older woman. I feel sorry for her, but she still maintained a certain dignity probably because in her life-time she had witnessed too many senseless deaths. Bertha introduced us to Deloris cousins and uncles and one of the ladies brought us a cup of coffee, Evetta again took the lead as we sat on the couch.

EVETTA
Just want to keep you up to date, we’ve got a good description of a suspect and our investigation revealed that no one had broken in to your apartment we think Deloris let the killer in. You told us that she didn‘t have many friends, why do you think she would let someone come in?

BERTHA
I don’t know, Deloris knew how dangerous this place is and after I would leave for work she would double lock the door

EVETTA
What time did you leave for work

BERTHA
I usually leave around noon

RINGO
What time did you get home?

BERTHA (CRYING)
Around eleven-thirty, that’s when I found Deloris

EVETTA
Again our deepest condolences’ and we will keep you informed

BERTHA
Thank you officers


MAN DRINKING BEER
When you catch the son-of-a bitch let me and Clyde have two minutes with him

RINGO
I might do that, after I’ve had my two minutes with him

20 June 2012- 5422 SOUTH WABASH
After leaving Joliet Esau Sneed returned to Chicago and drove to 54th South Wabash Avenue, a run-down warehouse section of the city. Esau parked Ada’s car and walked slowly along the dark street; this time of night, in this neighborhood the streets was deserted. He passed an alley where a group of homeless winos stood around a blazing fire in a garbage can drinking. Most of the warehouses were abandoned and shorted-out electrical signs advertising the businesses had long ago burned out, a three storied apartment building stood like a sentinel in the break neighborhood. He had been here before and knew that the second and third floor was empty and the resting place for the homeless people when the weather was cold and had no place else to go, he also knew that a prostitute, Debra Allen lived alone on the first floor and she used her apartment to entertain her customers. Debra wasn‘t especially attractive but had a nice body that she was more than willing to display in short, tight skirts and low-cut blouses. He knew her routine; she left home at 9:00 pm, walked two blocks to the CTA elevator station, had a drink at Pete’s Joint and then went to work, she never altered her routine. When and if she found a customer she would walk them back to her apartment, she must be good Esau thought because usually in an half hour she was back walking, but tonight he knew she would be busy a little longer. Pete’s Joint was a typical neighbor bar located on the ground floor of a three flat building, rat and roach infected apartments were on the second and third floor. Esau entered and smelled the familiar stench of dry rot and fermenting urine that was so common in these old Chicago neighborhoods bars in the black community. The exterior consisted of a Budweiser sign that blinked on and off over a wooden door. The outside wall was painted dull gray and surrounded a grimy, bullet proof Plexiglas window. The inside walls looked like it had never been painted and the worn hardwood floor was a dirty brown. The u-shaped oak bar had ten bar-seats and was pitted with the marks of forgotten cigarettes. A few small tables were haphazardly scattered around and behind the bar on a lopsided shelf stood a bottle of Gordon’s Gin, Dmitry Vodka and a bottle of unlabeled rum. A juke box sat against one wall and an old, patched up pool table sat in the middle of the room. A telephone booth sat against another wall with an “OUT OF ORDER,” sign posted on the door, Esau sat down and waited to be served. There were only three other customers; one had his head on the bar and was snoring and the other two sat at a booth in the back. The bartender whom name tag read “Oscar,” was sitting on a stool behind the bar drinking an orange colored drink and reading a racing form.

OSCAR (HEAD DOWN)
What do you want?

Esau ordered a beer and Oscar poured him a warm Miller’s Lite sat it down on the bar and continued reading. At nine-fifteen he glanced out the grimy window and was just able to make out Debra swaggering towards the bar; she walked in and sat on a barstool two stools from him. She ordered a gin and water and turned towards him. She slightly opened her legs and he could see her brown thighs and pantyhose, she smiled and he smiled back.

DEBRA (SMILING)
Want a good time?

ESAU
If it’s not too much

DEBRA (DOWNING HER DRINK)
It won’t be I promise

Esau put his warm beer on the bar and said, “Let’s go.” As they walked in silence, Debra thought to herself, “This trick isn’t bad-looking, short but well-built and strong looking, he might be a good fuck, she was tired of those limp-dick motherfuckas that she had to spend a lot of time sucking on their dicks to get it hard and when they finally did come, it was like a dripping water faucet, maybe this time she could get a nut, she needed one. They arrived at her building and she led him into the lobby. The terrible stench nearly overwhelmed him, he wanted to leave but he felt the stirring in his loins and he knew he needed a release. She grabbed his hand and led him into her apartment; a bare bed in the center of the room was covered with threadbare and soiled sheets which, lay across a ragged mattress. Brownish worn carpet was stained with spilled liquor and stomped out cigarette butts. He took in the stench of soiled clothes, unwashed bodies and dishes, he felt nauseas, but he held it back.

ESAU
I have to use the bathroom

DEBRA
First door to your right, sweetie


Debra began taking off her sweater and revealed drooping breasts, Esau smiled as he continued to the washroom. The toilet was unflushed and a blob of shit was in the bathtub. The throbbing between his legs got stronger; he had to release the fullness in his penis. He dry swallowed a Valium and a Librium and immediately felt better. When he returned to the front room Debra was removing her tattered skirt and stood, turned around and smiled. Esau saw the brown stains in the rear of her flimsy white panties, still smiling Debra pulled the front of the panties down exposing her hairless pubic area.

DEBRA (RUBBING ESAU’S PENIS)
I’m a naughty girl. See you ready for some action ten bucks is not too much for the fuck of your life is it?

Esau didn’t answer but sprung like a jungle cat striking Debra in the face with his fist, blood sprayed from her nose and mouth as she fell backward on the bed, her fingernails lashed out cutting his face.


ESAU
Dirty, fuckin’ whore

Debra face was contorted with fear and anger as she flung her thin arms in the air, Esau saw the tracks the needles had made and in the struggle Debra caught his ear between her nails and squeezed, Esau howled and with his right hand he grabbed her thin throat and began to choke her, she twisted loose and hit Esau upside the head with something, he felt dizzy and felt the blood dripping down his forehead, and his head hurt terribly. He got out his knife, but suddenly weak arms were around his waist.

MAN
What you doing mutherfucka

The man’s wine so breathe was suffocating. Esau released Debra and struck the man holding him, the man staggered, Esau looked around and saw two of the neighborhood bums. The other man was rail-thin and Esau knocked him down as he ran out the apartment. Once outside he saw a police car cruising, he walked slowly as the police vehicle passed. His head was throbbing and his face was bloody. He popped a Valium and wiped the blood from his face, “No pussy tonight,” he said to himself and laughed aloud as he drove away and headed towards Interstate 80 West.

CAHILL
Interviewed a couple of the workers at the construction site and was told that Ada drove a black Escalade, it still hasn’t been located

EVETTA
Ten to one Esau took it, I’ll check the DMV for a license and VIN number also just got a call from Sergeant Bill Turner, 2nd District Vice Officer and he told me that there was an attempt rape of a whore at 5422 Wabash, could not be connected at all to our guy, but what was interesting was the description; small man, very handsome, maybe we should interview her

RINGO
Sounds good, but let do it tomorrow, okay?

Evetta looked at Ringo and could sense he wasn’t feeling well. Evetta Lunden was assigned as Ringo’s Field Training Officer after he graduated from the Chicago Police Training Academy. She was a big woman; over six feet and Ringo estimated that she had to weight close to 200 solid pounds; she was twenty years older than him and getting close to the magical retirement age of fifty. Over the six months of his probationary period he was impressed with her street knowledge and take charge attitude and they became good friends. Her husband Clarence was a high school teacher and like Ringo a former Navy Seal. Evetta never wanted to be a sergeant or even a detective; she was content working as a patrol officer and she taught him how to be a street policeman and she was impressed with my quick mind, aggressiveness and willingness to learn. After his probationary period they were assigned to