Mid-West Campaign
Session Three

Monday, 2 October 2000

At 02:45 the serial killer Apache Joe struck again, killing Susie Reddan in Van Zandt, Texas. This is Apache Joe's thirty-first victim. Joshua Blackthorne gets a called from Eisenstein soon after the body is found. He is told to inform Jane and stop her from doing anything stupid.

Joshua telephones Jane and tells her the news. He tells her that she banned from setting foot in Texas and interfering with the investigation. Jane spends the rest of the nigh researching the progress of the case, and reports for work the following morning in an agitated state.

A new box of hard drives arrives at the office. Tucked inside it Agent Harlow discovers a playing card: the two of hearts. There is nothing written on the card this time, but later test discover it has been soaked in the caustic alkali, potassium permanganate (KMnO₄).

It is time for Jane's first weekly psyche evaluation with Artemis Black. Black expounds his crazy theories from his recently published book Victim Schmictim and infers that in her encounter with Apache Joe, Jane was "asking for it". Jane flies off the handle and almost becomes violent. Blackthorne calms everyone down. He tells Jane that he will see what he can do to find out more about the Apache Joe case (reference S73) for her, but Jane has to keep her head down and not rock the boat. Jane agrees, but refuses to have any more psyche evaluations conducted by Black.

Three new cases arrive from Eisenstein: ES174 (body of civil rights activist found), BR056 (theft of Indian artefacts from Texas warehouse) and BV004 (discovery of body of US Marshal). Joshua brings out the details and the agents discuss which new case to tackle first:

Although Jane is keen to use any excuse to go to Texas, Case BV004 is deemed the most important and the team fly to Alabama. They arrive in Birmingham a little after midday and proceed to #1432 Penson Boulevard. The community is poor, black and resentful of local law enforcement. Crime is rife in the area. They meet Ellen Rabowich at the scene, along with Officer Kidd who found the body and is currently securing the house.

The house is owned by postal worker Heath Emmentine. The neighbour from #1433, Miss Eden, looks after the house. Emmentine hasn't been home in a week, but she does not know why. Miss Eden reported scrabbling sounds and a rank odour to police at 17:00 on 1 October. She suspected rats. Kidd searched the place and discovered Renford's body in the crawlspace underneath the house. He had been pushed in about ten feet and jammed in the struts. This would have required a great feat of physical strength. Kidd reports no obvious signs of death. Renford was in uniform and carrying a loaded gun.

Ellen Rabwich tells us that Renford was last in work on 17 September 2000. He phoned in sick on 18 September, and then phoned again on 21 September to book his holiday. His holiday was due to start on 25 September and last two weeks, so Renford is still officially on vacation. Renford's ATM account was last used on 17 September. Renford's last case involved searched for Peter Hulham, a rapist and murderer.

Agents Stone and Harlow go to the local postal depot and arrest Heath Emmentine. He says he has not been back to his house since 26 September. He has been having an affair with Lydia Elkins (the wife of his supervisor) and has been staying with her while his supervisor was out of town. His story checks out and, despite being arrested for public affray three years ago, it is decided that he had nothing to do with the death.

Jane, Black and Blackthorne prepare a forensic analysis of the house, the crawlspace and the garden. They find very little. The only fibres found in the crawlspace are those of Renford himself. It does not seem possible. Fibres from Renford's clothing are also found on the back wall of the property that backs onto #2432 Penson Avenue. Blackthorne calls in information regarding Emmentine's other neighbours.

Next door at #1431 is professional bouncer, Bubba Black who has a prodigious rap-sheet that goes back twenty-five years. The agents have his phone bugged on the off-chance he is doing anything wrong. The inhabitants of #2432 are infamous in Birmingham. They are the Jacksons and the police are itching for an excuse to take them down. Four members of the family squat at #2432, although there are always more comings and goings. They are Richard Jackson (aka The Jackson), his son Tom Jackson (arrested for petty crime and assaulting a police officer), his daughter Lola Jackson (prostitution and drug-pushing) and his other daughter Liza Jackson (petty theft).

They are certainly not a savoury family, and the forensic evidence justifies a search of their house. The Alabama police are very keen to do this, but they advise a full SWAT team as there are bound to be repercussions. Blackthorne agrees. The SWAT team is overseen by Black and Harlow.

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