SHADOWS IN THE GLASS -- Chapter 28 (2)

Back at the station they dug into Dr. Cohen's case again. After their initial report the case had shifted to Gangland Division and landed with Brian Cooper, a former marine Sargent. A lot of Gangland had military backgrounds. They rolled into action outfitted in body armor and assault rifles.

The inspectors found Cooper at his desk. He stood and shook their hands when they entered. His light brown graying hair was in a military buzz cut. His manner was precise. A man of action. Seemingly in motion even when he was still.

Using intel they got from Narcotics, Gangland was doing sweeps that focused on skinhead gangs. They were hitting clubhouses and known hangouts under the pretense of shutting down their meth trade. "We go in and arrest everyone. Bring them all in. Search them. Strip them. Photograph and fingerprint them. While this is going on, we go through the shoes. Taking high resolution photos and checking every one of them to the model made from the cast. Everyone gets cut loose a few hours later. Everyone's back out on the street without a clue about what we're really after."

The sneaker print from Cohen's house identified the make and model. A high end sneaker with a distinctive wear pattern. Not the typical shoe of choice for Nazis. But they'd found some.

No matches on the footprint though.

Cooper had visited Southwest Mental Health Clinic to cross reference Dr. Cohen's patient list with his list of skinheads.

"I met with Dr. Vaughn. What a fucking tool. He did everything he could to be a pain in the ass. I got a list of Cohen's patients with a court order. I didn't find any skinheads there."

"Anything in his private life?" Benny asked.

"Two words: earnest and bland." Cooper said. "Wife died of cancer eight years ago. No activities outside of work."

Lisa asked, "You think it was a patient?"

Cooper nodded. "He didn't have a life outside of work. I'd bet my left nut it's one of his patients. The guy's cutting them up and cooking them. You can't stick your nose in that and tell me it don't smell crazy."

"Yeah," Benny admitted. "But it's nut-house crazy. Not outpatient crazy."

"Most serial killers seem normal," Lisa put in. "They think of themselves as superior. It doesn't seem likely that he would seek psychiatric help."

Benny asked Cooper, "Do you think a gang attacked Cohen?"

"Yes I do. I think a gang attacked him. Maybe one of them has his own ideas. He initiated the leg chop, but he didn't tell his peeps that he cooked it up and ate it."

"He likes it and he goes on a spree." Benny finished.

"That's my guess." Cooper said.

Benny said, "Nothing about any of this ever makes sense, and it just makes less sense with every passing day."