Lights Out

By Dominic Fino

Lights Out is a murder mystery that takes place in present-day Baltimore, Maryland. The mystery unfolds as one of the corporate executives from the Baltimore Light Company is kidnapped and held for ransom. Soon the stakes are raised when it is discovered that uranium fuel rods, cocaine, and weapons' grade plutonium are all part of a huge clandestine deal. Several murders are committed, which leave clues that make the reader suspect more than one character throughout the book. At one point, a company merger worth billions of dollars enters as one of the many scenarios in the mystery. Ultimately, it is left to four investigators to sort through all of the details in the case. Through logic and common sense they manage to piece together clues that help solve the puzzle one piece at a time.

The police commissioner, an FBI agent, and two employees from the Baltimore Light Company are the primary characters trying to solve the murders. However, it is the missing merchandise that drives them to finding answers to many unresolved questions. One week in September, the four investigators manage to team up to piece together the clues in the case. The ending will surely surprise the most avid mystery reader.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 9, 2001
• ISBN: 9781462814152

Dominic Fino

Dominic Fino makes his living in the computer technology arena near his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. The technology field is constantly changing and challenging for those who make it their career choice. Writing, says Dominic, is more interesting than technology because the imagination of the reader allows the final product to be viewed differently by each individual. As for why Dominic selected murder mystery as his subject he says, “There never seems to be a shortage of murder in our society and it is something that everyone can relate to in their daily life. Especially if they live in or near a large city like Baltimore.”

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Paul Marco started working for The Baltimore Light Company or the BLC in 1971. He was a high school graduate who had just finished a three-year hitch in the army and needed a job. The BLC was hiring laborers to work in the ditches laying high-tension electric cable. Since Paul had only mechanical skills, he decided to take the job until he could find something better. After Paul’s first few months with the company, he learned that there were plenty of other job opportunities within the organization for those employees who applied themselves. This seemed to suit Paul, so he immediately enrolled in night school under the GI Bill.

Paul Marco was twenty, married, and had no children. After working for a few years, Paul was promoted several times, so he and his wife, Diana, bought their first home. Several more years passed; then in 1978 Paul graduated from Johns Hopkins with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences. All the hard work Paul had put in for the past seven years started to pay off at the company. The supervisors and his manager started to realize that Paul was hardworking and that he had a strong drive to succeed in whatever task he was assigned. Paul worked daily with many hardworking laborers, whom he was able to communicate with at their level, and soon he became one of the boys. He played softball on the company team and regularly socialized with the others when he was not pursuing his scholastic goal. By the same token, Paul was able to hold conversations with managers, supervisors, and engineers. This unique trait made Paul one of the better employees in the company, because he was versatile and could communicate with all levels of employees within the corporation.

In 1981, Paul received his big break. He was interviewed and accepted for a job in the personnel office. The job was just what Paul was looking for, because he could apply his education and experience to hiring new employees into the company. The first few months on the new job were a real eye-opener for Paul. He had to learn the very necessary requirements of corporate politics. This was an extremely difficult transition for Paul. He was used to speaking his mind and blowing off steam on the job site with his coworkers. In the office environment, however, Paul soon learned that he had to control his emotions and never ever speak his mind. Those employees who did speak their mind were soon marked for self-destruction. Although the lessons of corporate politics were hard for Paul Marco to swallow, he learned them well enough to be noticed for doing the right things. Some of the more important lessons Paul learned were: first, never give an opinion unless you are asked; second, never speak your mind; and third, always tell the boss what he or she wants to hear, even if it is not true. These hard lessons did not sit well with Paul. He had a temper that was now suppressed, and soon his health began to suffer. At one point Paul went to several doctors so they could evaluate his severe stomach pains. The specialist performed upper and lower gastrointestinal tests, suspecting an ulcer. Paul was relieved to find out that the tests were negative, but he would have to find ways to vent his frustration if he was going to survive in the corporate world.

The personnel office was an ulcer factory, and there was no getting around the problems that lay ahead. The telephone would constantly ring all day long with perspective applicants following up on their applications and resumes. The existing employees were allowed to apply for jobs in the company through a job posting system that Paul administered for about three thousand of the over nine thousand employees. Each job opening had an average of ten employees applying, and only one person was going to be selected. Paul’s job was to counsel the nine unsuccessful candidates about why they were not selected. This daily activity was taking a toll on Paul’s nerves. On several occasions the mere sound of the telephone ringing would shoot pains through Paul’s stomach. He knew that when he picked up the phone the person on the other end would be unhappy about something and Paul was going to get an earful of complaints and criticism.

Paul learned to tame his temper and his emotions as he became more proficient at his job. He learned some tricks that would lessen the impact on his nerves and stomach. The key was to sound and act as if he were sympathetic and listening to the other party while at the same time he did not really give a damn. It was hard to do at first, but Paul’s internal survival instincts soon enabled him to master the skills that made him effective in his job. Paul also learned to leave the office at work by not discussing what went on during the day with his wife when he got home. At first, Paul’s wife was inquisitive and asked many questions about what her husband did at work. She soon learned to stop asking questions about Paul’s work when he started giving curt answers in response. Without being told, Diana learned not to bring up the subject of work, and things were better for both of them.

Between 1981 and 1990, Paul settled into a routine that was hectic by most standards but easy enough for him to handle. Paul’s good work was rewarded several times through promotions within the division. He was promoted to benefits coordinator, then retirement coordinator, and finally supervisor of personnel. Apparently Paul was being tested by his superiors with each assignment. He was steadily given more responsibility and more personnel to oversee. Along with all the extra work and responsibility came much more money. Paul and his wife sold their small home in Baltimore and moved to the country. They purchased a few acres of land and built their dream home. Life was looking good for the Marcos, and the sky was the limit concerning Paul’s career. Paul soon became an efficient supervisor, in which capacity he learned the art of delegating responsibilities to his junior staff. This allowed Paul to work fewer hours and still get all of his assignments done on or before their completion dates.

Since Paul was now responsible for all the hiring and firing at the BLC, he spent much of his time with corporate executives making decisions about who should be hired and who should be fired. One such executive was the chief of security, Vincent DeLuca. Paul and Vince met often to discuss how security should be beefed up in the area. Paul was responsible for hiring the right personnel, and Vince was responsible for beefing up the security forces. Together Paul and Vince were charged with putting a security force in place that would make the downtown Baltimore office building safer for its over two thousand employees. Paul and Vince were also responsible for staffing the nuclear power plant owned and operated by the BLC. Although the security in the two areas was very different indeed, Paul and Vince wanted to put together a versatile security force that could work at either location depending on specific operating conditions. For example, the Baltimore riots in 1968 and the terrorist activities in the United States during the late seventies called for two very different types of security at each location. The plan Paul and Vince wanted to put together would allow them the flexibility to staff for the worst-case scenarios at either location.

Vincent DeLuca was in his midforties and had served several years in the army as an investigator for the Criminal Investigations Division (CID). After being honorably discharged from the army, Vince worked for the Baltimore City Police Department for several years before being hired by the BLC as chief of security. Vince was divorced from his second wife, and he, too, had no children. When Paul first met Vince he thought he was a bit on the shy side; however, as they spent more time together Paul soon realized that they had a lot in common. Both men were Vietnam veterans and immediately shared experiences that brought them closer together. When the frustration levels were high, the two men would stop talking about the tedious work at hand and digress to their military experiences to clear the air. After a few minutes, the two were able to return to their task and move forward with much less stress.

For three months Paul and Vince spent countless hours planning the new security needs for the BLC. Although there was no overtime pay, neither man objected, since they were still trying to climb the corporate ladder. Neither seemed to mind the long hours or the frustration they experienced each time they presented their plans to the CEO of the company, Louis Trustler. Louis was a small man, maybe five-foot-four, and was often referred to as Napoleon by his underlings. Trustler earned this reputation by being very dictatorial and simply a son of a bitch to deal with. Louis Trustler would receive great pleasure in humiliating someone in a meeting. He would usually present a question and then ask for someone to respond. No one would volunteer to give answers at Louis’s meetings. When the singled-out person gave a response to Louis’s question, he would cut the person off at the knees by criticizing his response in front of the group. It did not take long for those at the corporate headquarters to realize that you always stood clear of Louis Trustler and under no circumstances did you ever volunteer information at one of his meetings.

Since the CEO was extremely busy, it was difficult for Paul and Vince to schedule meetings with him to discuss their progress on the corporate security plans. On several occasions Louis Trustler would tell the two men to meet with his second in command, the president of the BLC. Paul and Vince met with the president several times and found his personality to be the exact opposite of that of the CEO. The president was Robert MacDonald, and he seemed to always have time to meet with his subordinates on important matters. Robert was a nuclear engineer who had worked his way up through the ranks of the company. He spent several years as the chief plant manager at the nuclear plant that the BLC operated. Robert would listen to the security plans that Paul and Vince put together and then ask intelligent questions. Robert’s firsthand knowledge of the nuclear plant’s inner workings was very helpful and allowed him to offer constructive criticism and suggestions to improve the original plans.

Paul and Vince scheduled a meeting with Robert at four o’clock Monday to discuss their latest security plans. As they entered the elevator on the first floor of the huge corporate headquarters’ building, Paul and Vince were discussing some of their latest changes.

Paul pushed the elevator button for the nineteenth floor, where Robert MacDonald’s office was located. The nineteenth floor also housed two vice presidents and their secretaries. The twentieth floor was reserved for the remaining vice presidents and the CEO. All the offices on the nineteenth and twentieth floors were lavishly carpeted and had dark mahogany-paneled walls. As the elevator reached the nineteenth floor, the doors opened and Paul and Vince made their way to Robert’s office.

The first person they met was Robert’s secretary, Rose. Rose was in her midfifties and knew everything about the personalities on the nineteenth and twentieth floors. Rose looked up as Paul and Vince approached her desk to greet them.

Paul said, How’s it going, Rose?

Rose smiled at the well-dressed pair of young executives and replied, Things are just great. Have a seat. Mr. MacDonald will be with you in a few minutes. He is on the phone.

Paul and Vince sat in two of the plush well-padded brown leather chairs in the waiting area. Vince looked over at Paul, then asked, How would you like to have an office on this floor?

Paul laughed a little and replied, Not me. This place reminds me of a funeral parlor. The portraits of past CEOs hung on the surrounding walls like a hall of fame for the dead.

After about ten minutes, Rose looked over at Paul and Vince and said, Go on in. He is off the phone.

Paul and Vince picked up their briefcases and walked into the president’s office. Robert was sitting at his desk writing something on a yellow legal-sized pad. He looked up for a second to tell the two men to have a seat at the conference table. Both Paul and Vince sat at the large heavy conference table that was about twenty feet from Robert’s desk. Each opened his briefcase to start pulling stacks of papers out and laying them on the table. After a minute or so, Robert got up and walked over to Paul and Vince to sit at the head of the table.

Vince had started to speak when Robert quickly cut him off by saying, We don’t have time to discuss the security plans right now. We have bigger problems.

Paul and Vince looked at each other for a split second, then turned their attention toward Robert.

Robert told the two men that he was just on the phone with the police commissioner, Jim Doukup. Apparently one of the BLC managers was being held for $1 million, ransom.

Vince looked at Paul with a shocked look on his face and then looked back at Robert to say, I know Commissioner Doukup, let me give him a call to see what I can find out.

Hold on Vince, Robert said. I don’t want one word of this to leak out, for the time being. Commissioner Doukup is on his way over here right now. I am going to give Louis a call and ask him to join us. So clear off the table and sit tight for a few minutes.

Robert left the table to go back to his desk to call Louis Trustler.

Paul leaned over to speak to Vince in a low voice so Robert could not hear. Vince, what in the hell is going on? Paul asked.

I don’t know, replied Vince. I don’t like the sound of this. The last time I was involved with a high official being held for ransom was seven years ago, and it didn’t turn out pretty.

Paul leaned back in his chair and tried to hear the one-way conversation Robert was having with Louis.

Yes, I understand, Lou, but we have to act now . . . . No, they are both with me right now and the commissioner will be here in a few minutes . . . . No, I don’t know how he found out, but I think you should attend the meeting to hear it for yourself . . . OK, OK I will handle it myself.

Robert slammed the telephone receiver down and sat behind his desk with his head down. Paul could tell that Robert was very upset. Apparently Louis was not interested in being involved with the ransom situation just yet and wanted Robert to handle the meeting with the police commissioner.

Robert finally looked up and said, Vince, you said that you know Commissioner Doukup, didn’t you?

Sure I worked with him when I was on the force, said Vince.

Great. Why don’t you go downstairs and meet him at the door? said Robert.

Vince replied, Sure thing. I’ll be right back. As Vince got up from the conference table he said, By the way, which manager is the victim?

Robert looked up from his desk and said, George Pendler.

Both Vince and Paul looked at each other, and without saying another word Vince headed out the door to go meet the police commissioner. Paul simply sat there wondering how all this could have taken place. George Pendler was the manager of the nuclear power plant, and security there was the best the company had to offer.

After a few minutes, Paul took a deep breath and said, Robert, where was George abducted? His house? While driving in his car?

That is the worst thing about this whole mess Paul, said Robert. He was taken right outside the damn nuclear plant.

Vince entered the lobby of the downtown office building and sat in one of the many large heavily padded leather chairs. He sat there for a few minutes with a million thoughts racing through his mind. As chief of security, his most pressing thoughts were about how George was abducted. Deep within his brain he thought, I hope it did not occur at the nuclear plant. That would be the worst-case scenario. Maybe it happened while driving home from work. A carjacking could be a possibility in this crazy world. Then he thought, No, it probably happened while he was getting out of his car after he arrived at home. That certainly would be the most likely place for the abductors to grab the unsuspecting manager.

Vince! Vince! The voice Vince heard was coming from a large figure of a man, that is, Commissioner Doukup. Vince, snap out of it, said the commissioner.

Oh, how are you doing, Commissioner? Sorry, my mind was a hundred miles away, said Vince.

I could see that, Vince. Thinking about the case, I bet, said the commissioner.

Vince replied, You know it. Once a cop, always a cop. Vincestood up to shake the commissioner’s outstretched hand and said, Let’s go upstairs. President MacDonald and the supervisor of personnel, Paul Marco, are waiting for us.

Lead on, said the commissioner.

Both Vince and Commissioner Doukup headed for the elevator that would take them up to the executive offices. During the elevator ride, Vince asked the commissioner how George was abducted and the commissioner simply said, Let’s wait until we meet with the others. It’s a long story and I don’t want to go through it twice. Vince knew that the commissioner meant what he said. While Vince worked for the Baltimore City Police Department, he had many meetings with the commissioner. Vince clearly remembered that Commissioner Doukup was a serious professional who never pulled punches. His reputation as a no-nonsense type of guy was well known in the Baltimore area. Commissioner Doukup was an ex-marine and still tough as nails on the outside but also fair with his subordinates as long as they didn’t cross him.

The elevator finally stopped and after the doors opened Vince and the commissioner exited to walk past Rose’s empty desk. It was now 4:45 p.m., and apparently Rose had gone for the day, so the two men walked directly into Robert’s office. As they entered the large room, Paul stood up to greet them. Robert was on the phone again with Louis. When Robert spotted the two arrivals, he waved them in and pointed to the large conference table to suggest that they take a seat.

After a few minutes, Robert slowly placed the receiver into the cradle and in a low voice mumbled, Son of a bitch. He said it softly enough that the others were not supposed to hear him, but they did. Robert walked over to the conference table as Commissioner Doukup stood up to shake his hand. Good to see you again, Commissioner, Robert said.

I am glad to be here, Robert, I just wish it were under better circumstances, said Doukup.

Robert said, You already know Vince, but have you met our supervisor of personnel, Paul Marco?

No. I haven’t had the pleasure, replied Doukup as he extended his hand to Paul.

The two men shook hands, and then Robert said, Let’s all have a seat and get down to business, shall we?

Robert started the meeting by speaking in a low voice. Let me first begin by setting some ground rules. First, I do not want a word of this incident to leak out to the press until we have some answers. Second, I do not want any of you talking to anyone else in the company about this matter. Robert was directing his last comment to Paul and Vince. Robert continued. Third, we need to figure out where we are and what should be our next step. Commissioner, I suppose this is as good a place as any for you to fill us in on what you know up to this point.

Commissioner Jim Doukup looked at the three men sitting around the table for a few seconds before speaking. The commissioner said, I personally received a call at 3:50 p.m. today from an unidentified male saying that he had kidnapped a manager from the Baltimore Light Company named George Pendler. He said the ransom for Mr. Pendler was $1 million, and that I would be contacted in eight hours about where to drop the money. I first thought this was a crank call but decided to ask the caller a few questions. As soon as I opened my mouth, the caller told me to shut up and listen. He said that I was to notify the Baltimore Light Company about the call and that a package would be delivered to the CEO shortly, which will verify that he has George Pendler. The caller then hung up. I immediately put a call in to Louis Trustler, who told me that I should deal with Pres. Robert MacDonald concerning this matter. I then called you, Robert, and here we are.

Robert looked around the room at the others, then said, Yes, here we are. Now what do we do?

Paul decided to ask a few questions. He looked at the commissioner and said, You referred to a package earlier. Have we seen it yet? Is it coming to you or to the company? Do we know if George has actually been kidnapped?

Commissioner Doukup held up his hand as if to motion a vehicle to stop and said with a smile on his face, Hold on there, young fellow. I can only handle one question at a time. The package is supposed to be delivered here to the company. I already have my people staking out the loading dock down in the basement, and I have another man at the front security desk in case the delivery comes via UPS or FedEx. As to your question about are we sure that George has been abducted, I will say this. We have tired to contact him and we talked to people at the plant. No one has seen him since about one-thirty this afternoon, when he left for lunch. Also, I sent an investigator to his home, and they are standing by in case the family is contacted by the kidnapper or kidnappers.

Robert looked up at Commissioner Doukup and said, Jesus Christ, I forgot all about George’s wife, Marie.

Not to worry, said Commissioner Doukup. You have had enough on your mind, so my people have taken care of notifying Mrs. Pendler.

As Vince was about to speak, a beeper sounded. The high-pitched sound was coming from across the table. Both Vince and the commissioner looked down at their belts to see whose beeper had been activated.

The commissioner said, It’s mine. May I use your phone, Robert?

Robert said, Sure, and pointed to the desk phone behind him.

The commissioner was obviously talking to one of his men about the case while the other three men in the room were watching him. The commissioner said, OK . . . . Yes. That’s correct. Have them dust it for prints and make sure the bomb squad X-rays it before you bring it upstairs.

The commissioner hung up the phone, then said, That was my man at the front desk. A UPS driver just delivered a package addressed to Louis Trustler, Care of George Pendler. As you probably heard, my people are dusting it for prints and checking it for explosives before they bring it up to us. The commissioner looked at Robert, then asked, Do you want to ask Louis to come down to look at the package or do you want to do it?

Robert said, I will do it. Louis told me to handle the situation, so I will.

Up to now Vince was quiet. He wanted to know where the commissioner thought George was abducted. Not that it made that much difference now, but still Vince wanted to know. Vince decided to break the silence in the room by speaking up. Gentlemen, said Vince, it will take the lab boys a while to process the package. In the meantime, I would like to hear more about where and how George was abducted.

The commissioner looked at Vince with cold eyes and said, You are not going to like it. The commissioner went on to explain that he had called a friend of his at the State Police Barracks in Lusby, Maryland. That is the closest barracks to the nuclear power plant. The commissioner said he went through the academy many years ago with the major, so he asked him to investigate the case but to keep it low-profile. They did not want to arouse suspicion or get the troops in an uproar without making sure there were an actual kidnapping. The commissioner went on to explain that the major had sent a team of undercover investigators to the power plant and they talked to the head of security there to gain access to the nonrestricted areas of the plant. Anyway, the major’s people were able to place George outside the plant at about one-thirty. He was seen getting into his car in the parking lot by one of the employees. The employee, a John Hackett, said he saw Mr. Pendler and waved to him as he drove by. Hackett said he was sure it was Mr. Pendler, who had waved back to him as if nothing was wrong. That was the last anyone had seen or heard from Mr. George Pendler. Incidentally, the commissioner added, I contacted the FBI just in case he really has been kidnapped.

Just then there was a knock on the office door and there were two uniformed police officers and two plainclothes officers standing in the opening. The commissioner said, These are my men. One of the plainclothes officers was carrying a small box about the size of a shoe box. It had obviously been opened and gone through by the various lab people.

The two plainclothes officers were still wearing rubber gloves as the one not holding the box started to speak. Commissioner, you may want to come out here to take a look at the contents before you show the others.

The commissioner looked at the young officer strangely, then said, Don’t be silly. Bring the box in here and set it on the table so we can all take a look.

Sir, the young officer said, I think it would be best if you took a look at it first.

Very well, said the commissioner as he stood up to walk over to the four officers standing at the door.

As Doukup approached the officers, the one holding the box extended it at waist-height and said, Let me open it for you, sir, so you don’t get any blood on you.

Commissioner Doukup looked at the officer as he opened the box. Doukup then looked inside and asked, Do we have a positive ID?

The plainclothes officer not holding the box said, Yes, sir. It belongs to one George Pendler.

Any prints? asked Doukup.

The officer said, Not yet, sir. The lab boys want this right back so they can take some tissue samples.

Very well. Keep me informed, Officers, and the commissioner fished for their names.

Drake and Monahan, said the officer holding the box. The two plainclothes officers rejoined the two uniformed men, and they all headed for the elevators.

What’s going on Commissioner? Robert asked. The commissioner was watching the four officers as they entered the elevator and the doors closed behind them. Jim Doukup turned around and walked back into the office where the others were patiently waiting. Again Robert asked the question. What’s going on, Jim? Commissioner Jim Doukup slowly sat down at the table and looked at the others before speaking. He wanted to choose his words carefully before explaining the situation.

The contents of the box are very disturbing. This information is not to go out of this room, the commissioner said. Is that understood, gentlemen?

All three men nodded their head to signify that yes, they understood. The commissioner said, The box contains the severed left hand of George Pendler. It has positively been identified as Mr. Pendler’s hand. On the top of the box there was a message that read: pay me now or pay me later. The commissioner stood up and said, I have a lot of work to do. I need to bring in the FBI, and I suggest that we all meet here at seven o’clock tomorrow morning, if that’s OK with you, Robert?

Robert took a few seconds to respond. He was obviously still shaken over the news that George’s hand was in the box. Paul and Vince simply looked at each other in disbelief and waited for Robert’s response. Finally Robert said, Sure. Sure, seven o’clock is fine. As he spoke, Robert looked at Paul and Vince. They simply nodded their heads to signify that yes seven o’clock tomorrow was fine with them also.

The commissioner said, Good. Guys, try to get some rest; we are going to have a long day tomorrow. I will contact my man at the Pendler house to have him break the news to Marie.

With that said, all four men stood up and shook hands. The commissioner immediately headed for the elevator so he could get back to headquarters. Paul and Vince gathered up their things and left Robert sitting at his desk shuffling some papers. As the two walked out of the office and toward the elevator, they simply said goodnight to Robert MacDonald. Without looking up from his desk Robert could hardly be heard as he said, See you in the morning, men. Thanks.

Paul and Vince walked toward the elevators. The commissioner had already gone, so Paul pressed the down button and looked at

Vince, who was staring at his shoe tops. Vince, do you think any of this makes sense?

Vince quickly looked up and into Paul’s eyes, then said, No way. There has to be more to it then simple kidnapping. I am beginning to get a very bad feeling about this whole thing.

The elevator bell rang, so the two men boarded and then pressed the button for the lobby. It was 7:30 p.m., and most of the workers had long since gone home. The elevator did not stop once on the way down to the lobby. Vince was in deep thought as the elevator finally stopped and he and Paul headed for the front revolving doors.

All of a sudden Vince stopped and said, What I don’t understand is why I was not brought into this situation much earlier.

Paul looked at Vince, who was staring into space, and asked, What do you mean, earlier?

Vince cut him off by saying, Think about it. The commissioner said he called his State Police buddy and had them investigate the plant. My own people let them in and did not contact me regarding the situation and . . .

Hold on, Vince, said Paul. You’re getting carried away. Maybe your people were told to keep everything quiet until after the investigation at the plant was complete. Maybe you have a ton of messages at the office describing what went on. Maybe, just maybe, you are tired and need some sleep.

Vince looked at Paul and said, "Yeah, maybe you’re right. I do get carried away sometimes, but something just doesn’t sit right with me about this whole