The Snake Master

By William Wallace

Agents Longfellow and Dickinson were investigating three murders in Philadelphia when they were reassigned to Wilmington, Delaware, to investigate another murder that resembled the three in Philadelphia, as they also used a dog choke collar to murder their victims. As the serial killer's victims began to pile up, a twist to the murders takes place when some of the law enforcement officers had to battle different species of venomous snakes that have become involved in the mysterious battle between man and beast.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798889604433

William Wallace

William E. Wallace is the author of The Judas Hunter, a private detective novel, and Tamer, an upcoming western set in Gold Rush California. He is an veteran investigative reporter who worked 26 years for the San Francisco Chronicle before taking early retirement in 2006 to teach and write fiction full time. As a reporter he specialized in projects about political corruption, organized crime and police misconduct. His investigative reports won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the San Francisco Press Club. Wallace has taught journalism at California State University, East Bay in Hayward and at the University of California, Berkeley. He took his bachelor's degree in political science at Cal Berkeley and served as an intelligence analyst while serving in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He lives with his wife and son in Berkeley, California.

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The Snake Master

William Wallace

Copyright © 2024 William Wallace

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

ISBN 979-8-88960-426-6 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88960-443-3 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

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 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Epilogue

About the Author

Chapter 1

Starting Over Again

With Cornell Charles Conrad (aka 3C) in prison for life without the possibility of parole for the murder of twenty-two people, it seemed to put the finishing touches on the case of the Trashman. FBI Agent Terry Longfellow's partner, Agent Adriana Dickinson, was recovering from the bullet she took in her calf and was now needing only a cane to maneuver around after hanging up her crutches.

Otto Redder, now named Morey Hazelton, courtesy of the CIA, wasn't killed in action in the Middle East after all and was now in a witness protection program of sorts so the Russians, Chinese, and North Koreans couldn't locate him. They all wanted him dead because he was the best translator on the planet, and he knew every move they were making and when they would make it.

FBI Agent Longfellow's cell phone rang. He answered in his typical manner when he saw that it was his boss, FBI Director Harold Wellington, saying, Yes, sir.

Agent Longfellow, we have a new case for you and your partner, if her calf wound has healed enough for her to get around. If she's not healed enough, let me know, and we'll assign either Agent Hart or Dominga to you. Looks like we have a possible serial killer in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area. The local law enforcement has requested us taking a closer look first, and then we can decide whether to get involved or not. Basically, they've had three similar murders in the past month within ten miles of each other, said the director. Also, all three died as the result of a ligature strangling. Also, all three were strangled with a dog choker.

Agent Longfellow and his partner, Agent Dickinson, received the homicide information on the three murders from Homicide Detective Anthony Glorioso IV, the detective heading the investigations in Philadelphia. Both agents were always concerned when they had to meet the lead investigator of the law enforcement team that they were being asked to join, whom they had never met before.

Agents Longfellow and Dickinson flew out of Blue Grass Airport, in Lexington, Kentucky, the next morning. They flew into Philadelphia International Airport in less than two hours.

After gathering their travel bags, they noticed a local law enforcement person approaching them, who greeted them smiling, saying, I guess it's true what they say about individuals in law enforcement sticking out like a sore thumb, as he extended his hand to Agent Longfellow and Dickinson. I'm Officer Leonard Heyman.

Agent Dickinson didn't give the officer her initiation handshake. She was saving it for Leonard's boss.

Needless to say, the two FBI agent partners had their fill of local law enforcement lead detectives interfering with their investigations rather than assisting the two agents.

The FBI agents picked up their SUV at the airport and followed Detective Heyman to the crime scene.

I guess the boss is busy checking in with the coroner and medical examiner, said Detective Leonard Heyman.

I like this detective already, said Agent Dickinson. He's not afraid to use any and all resources available to him. In other words, he's not afraid to admit that he doesn't know it all.

As the FBI agents approached Lead Detective Anthony Glorioso IV, Agent Dickinson couldn't help but notice that he was strikingly good-looking and had blue eyes reminding her of Paul Newman. The lead detective looked to be younger than Agent Dickinson, who was twenty-seven years old at the time.

As they all shook hands, Agent Dickinson was impressed with the way the detective shook her hand—firmly but not lightly because she was a female. She also did not give him her signature vice-grip handshake, which she generally did when meeting a new law enforcement entity. For some reason, Detective Glorioso was spared the initiation treatment.

Lead Detective Glorioso said, First things first. Please feel free to call me Tony if you wish. This is the third recent murder that we've experienced over the past month less than ten miles apart. All three were females in their twenties, and all three were strangled using dog choker chains. Detective Glorioso finished the briefing.

We've sent a group of police personnel to all the local pet grooming and supply stores, along with the mega stores, to see if any of them carried the type and brand of choker that our killer was using to see if we could narrow the search down to a more-specific area, concluded Detective Glorioso.

It sounds to me that you've covered all the proper steps with the hunt for your killer. We just need to look over anything that your coroner or medical examiner uncover that may give us a clue, responded Agent Longfellow.

Was there anything different with the three murders? asked Agent Dickinson.

The only thing different was that the chokers were all different colors, said Detective Glorioso.

Do you think there's any significance in the colors of the chokers being different? questioned Agent Longfellow.

Nothing that jumps out significantly. We examined the victims, and there's nothing that jumps off the page when you compare the three victims. Two of them are twenty-four, and one is twenty-three. All three have different-color hair and different hairstyles. Only one had manicured fingernails. The other two didn't, answered Detective Glorioso.

Found something here, shouted the medical examiner.

The detectives and agents rushed over to where the victim was found. Gloria Hefner, using her tweezers, removed a chain from the throat of the victim. With a quick glance, Agent Dickinson saw that the chain had a medal at the end. At first, they thought that it was a Saint Christopher medal, but upon closer examination, she found that the medal at the end had a skull with bones surrounding it, and she had no idea of its significance.

Chapter 2

The Necklace and Medal

Agent Dickinson forced herself to keep up with the physical demands of the job; even something as simple as walking had become a strain on her after receiving a bullet to her calf. The wound wasn't healing fast enough for her, but she never complained, just kept hobbling with the help of her cane.

Detective Anthony Glorioso brought copies of the investigation reports on the first two murders to Agent Dickinson to allow the FBI agents to review them and hopefully get a better handle on this serial killer.

Any ideas on the necklace with the skull medal on it? questioned Detective Glorioso.

Not so far. Got the investigative specialist teams back at Quantico working on it, replied Agent Dickinson.

Agent Longfellow made his way over to the third corpse murdered in this community. One thing that occurred to the agent was that the first murder took place ten miles to the west, with the second murder five miles to the east, and this one was five miles farther east. Agent Longfellow wasn't convinced that the locations of the murders had any bearing on the killer establishing a map or plan that he was following.

Going to have the victim transported back to our facility, where we can proceed with the autopsy, said Gloria Heffner.

Agent Longfellow handed the medical examiner both his and Agent Dickinson's cards, saying, Please give either one of us a call if you run across anything that you feel is important.

She nodded in agreement, extending her glove-covered hand to shake. Will do, she responded.

Approaching the victim's location, Agent Dickinson offered information on the victim. Carmella Martinez, twenty-one-years-old, bartender who worked less than a mile away, said the agent.

Agent Dickinson continued, We received the information from Lead Detective Anthony Glorioso. The second murder victim was Angela Stevenson, twenty-three-years-old, waitress who was also found murdered close to where she worked. The first murder victim was Audrey O'Connor, who was twenty-three-years-old also and was a hairstylist. Her body was found in the parking garage in the building where she worked. And that sums up about where we are with this serial killer right now.

Agent Longfellow had requested the FBI intelligence team to get the addresses of the burial sites of the first two women who were murdered on the suspicion that their serial killer might visit the grave sites of his first two victims with a gift.

Agent Longfellow's phone rang. He recognized that it was a call from FBI headquarters as he answered, Agent Longfellow.

Agent Longfellow, I have those addresses you requested for the two murdered in Philadelphia, said the member of the FBI intelligence team.

Please text me the information for the two locations, requested the field agent.

It's on its way, responded the FBI team member.

Once Agent Longfellow had the addresses, he excused himself, telling his partner that he should be back in an hour as he jumped into the SUV and set the GPS. He left the crime scene and was on his way to the grave sites of the first two victims.

The first grave site he visited was that of Audrey O'Connor, the first young lady who was strangled with the dog choker. As he approached the grave site, he saw a flashing reflection from the stone with her name on it. The reflection was coming from the chain hanging from the headstone that was identical to the one that was found in Carmella Martinez' throat.

Agent Longfellow was not surprised to find the chain hanging from the tombstone. He'd seen it happen in the past—other serial killers who visited grave sites after murdering the person buried there. And occasionally the serial killer would rearrange the grave site, write a message or clue on the gravestone, or add flowers or leave some food on the site. Serial killers have always been unpredictable, and Agent Longfellow didn't expect things to change anytime in the near future.

After taking pictures of the grave site of the first victim murdered by this killer, Agent Longfellow entered the address of the grave site of the second murder victim, Angela Stevenson, and started on his next inspection of the gravestones.

Upon his arrival, Agent Longfellow was stopped at the front gate by an employee of the cemetery, who told him that he could not be admitted today because they have a very important burial happening within the hour. He knew the employee was just doing his job.

The agent responded by showing his FBI identification and saying, I'll only be ten minutes and be on my way.

The employee was insistent that the FBI agent wasn't getting into the cemetery regardless of who he was and how long he'd be. Please get me the person in charge of the cemetery, requested Agent Longfellow.

I was told not to let anyone into the cemetery even if it was the president of the United States, said the cemetery caretaker.

Eventually, the owner of the cemetery saw that there was something happening at the front gate and decided to drive down to see what was happening.

After parking his car, the owner of the cemetery walked up to the FBI agent's vehicle, seeing the credentials that Agent Longfellow was holding up for the owner to see.

I told your employee here that I'd be out of here in ten minutes or less. I'm working on a murder case where every minute we spend investigating this case is critically important, so I promise you that if I tell you that I'll be ten minutes or less, you can rest assured that's all the time that I'll spend, said Agent Longfellow.

You go and get done what you have to do, son, and good luck with your case. Get that son of a bitch who's killing those young ladies, said the cemetery owner.

Agent Longfellow gestured a salute to the cemetery owner as he drove to the grave site of Angela Stevenson. The grave site was an exact duplicate of that of Carmella Martinez's.

Chapter 3

Southeastern Bound

With the help of Detective Anthony Glorioso, the FBI agents were able to get caught up on the three murders that occurred in the Philadelphia suburbs over the past month.

Agent Longfellow had put all three necklaces in separate evidence bags and forwarded them to the lab, hoping to turn up some DNA that could possibly open the case up completely.

Detective Glorioso asked Agent Longfellow if there could be any significance to the three chokers used to strangle the murdered victims being three different colors.

It's hard to say if the different colors have any significance when it comes to the mind of a serial killer. Usually, as we track a serial killer, we see if there is a pattern that he's following. Unfortunately, it takes time to figure it out, and in the meantime, the death toll usually keeps growing. It can become very frustrating, answered Agent Longfellow.

So what do you do in between when you're waiting for the next murder? asked the detective.

We review, review, and review some more, hoping to see what we're missing. We also knock on neighborhood doors, hoping that someone saw or heard something that could help us with solving the case that we're working on, answered Agent Longfellow. It takes a lot of patience.

Are most of your cases the same? Are the serial killers usually similar in their actions and methods? asked Detective Glorioso.

The cases are rarely alike, and the serial killers are as different as night and day, answered Agent Longfellow.

Agent Longfellow's cell phone rang, and he immediately saw that it was Director Wellington as he answered, Yes, sir.

Need you to pack your gear and head into Delaware. There's another choke-collar murder. It's in Wilmington, Delaware. Need you and Agent Dickinson to get there ASAP, said the director. It's only thirty miles away from Philadelphia.

Quickly agents Longfellow and Dickinson grabbed their travel gear, packed it in their SUV, said hurried goodbyes, set their GPS, and quickly departed the Philadelphia suburbs, knowing that Director Wellington had them on the clock, knowing how long it should take them to get to Wilmington, Delaware, and the next murder.

The actual location where the crime scene occurred was closer to New Castle, Delaware, than to Wilmington, Delaware. They were only six miles apart. Apparently, Director Wellington was given the wrong address from the staff. After adjusting their coordinates, the FBI agents Longfellow and Dickinson were on their way to the murder scene.

The murder scene actually was in between Wilmington and New Castle. The agents found their way toward the crime-scene tape as they approached the local law enforcement to get their feedback on the murdered individual if at all possible.

Agent Dickinson did not see anyone in a suit, so she approached one of the policemen in uniform, asking, Excuse me, but could you tell me who's in charge here?

If you're asking for an investigator, the head homicide detective is Detective Robinson, and he's at his daughter's wedding today, said one of the officers.

Well, who is the backup investigator? asked Agent Dickinson.

He's on vacation in Florida, answered the same officer.

Obviously, there must be a problem in your administration, allowing the lead detective and his backup both scheduled off at the same time. Who in the world is responsible for scheduling leave for your team? questioned Agent Dickinson.

I'm sure that no one contacted the coroner and the medical examiner, said Agent Longfellow. I hope that no one has disturbed the areas around the crime scene or picked up or moved anything?

None of the police had the phone number for the coroner and the medical examiner. They eventually were able to get it and contact the two professionals and summoned them to the crime scene.

As it was uncovered, none of the officers had been at a homicide during their tenure with law enforcement, so everything they were experiencing was a first time for all of them.

The coroner and the medical examiner didn't arrive for another hour or more. They introduced themselves as Bernice Bannister, the coroner, and Gloria Hefner, the medical examiner.

You'll have to excuse us, gentlemen. We haven't had much practice around here lately. This is only the second homicide we've been on in three years, said the coroner, who handed them her card. I'm Bernice Bannister.

And I'm the ME Gloria Hefner, interrupted the medical examiner as she handed her card to Agent Dickinson.

Being there's no one here in charge, we'll take charge in giving out assignments to everyone here, said Agent Longfellow.

Agent Dickinson told the coroner and the medical examiner to look for the necklace with the skull. She told them that the medical examiner in Philadelphia found it in the throat of the victim.

Agent Longfellow's cell rang, and he saw that it was Director Wellington, probably calling to get a preliminary report or to remind him to send his initial report to him as soon as it was complete.

He answered, Yes, sir.

"Just calling to see how things are going and to remind you to send me your