Nerds

The team left in two Blackhawk helicopters from Logan International Airport, close to the F.B.I. Chelsea, New England Headquarters.  The ground support vehicles had left the regional garage two hours ago. The Connecticut State Police and the local Stamford police department had arranged a landing point and transport to the location of the luxury condominium complex.

It would be a short flight.

Stamford is a commuter town in Connecticut near New York City. Large corporations have made Stamford their headquarters. The city is ​wealthy and is serviced by a commuter rail service that runs all hours, with trains to downtown Manhattan. It's a nice place to live if you work in the city and a good place to enjoy coffee shops, bagels, and golf on the weekends.

Dennis Medocino's condo building had luxury units, and he was on the top floor. Tanaka's report mentions Dennis pulled down a salary with bonuses and long-term travel pay. Last year, he paid taxes on 1.5 million dollars. 

Tanaka's report mentioned he was single, and his life revolved around his job and Jui Jitsu practices. 

The Stamford Police Department had the building under electronic surveillance, with an undercover team ready to follow Mr. Mendocino if he stepped out. Before the takedown, Stamford's finest would call the residents of the other two units on his floor and escort them out of the building.

The local police and the State Police were giddy to participate in this joint effort.

Wally looked down on the highway the helicopters were following and punched Thomas Allston's phone number.

"Allston, this is Wally, the guy that pulled your ass out of Barcelona."

Thomas Allston laughed and thought about his old Russian boss Anatoly and then said in a comical  English, Russian accent, "We will pay for your hotel and food, but you must pay for your whores" 

"What's up, Wally?"

Wally said, "We will take down a genetic match we know is the Mixtape Killer in a little while; we are wheels up and heading for Stamford, Connecticut."

Allston said, "Stamford... that's close to Petra Schultz's house." 

"Yep, If you start heading for Chelsea, you can view the takedown from Comms. Tanaka is there."

"I appreciate the offer, Wally, but Evie and I have been doing a Mexican Hat Dance in the kitchen, complete with a pitcher of margaritas."  "We ask each other trivia questions, and if you get a question wrong, you have to dance around the hat, hum the hat dance music, and then drink half a margarita."

"You two are nerds," said Wally. "Has anyone puked yet?"

"We are practicing for Ben and Lisa's wedding next week."

"So, who is the clown in Stamford, and are you certain about him?"

"As certain as science," Wally said. "His D.N.A. was on the Castona-Meyers frying pan, and blood on the floor in the kitchen."

"Guy is from Virginia, a geologist." "There is no indication he was an animal killer in his youth; He's too clean almost, but the blood does not lie."

"His online search patterns covered each victim." "I'm not sure how we did not pick that up earlier." Tanaka thinks there is a "Fail" in each local department where the killings happened. Tanaka would not have missed common search patterns about each victim before their murder."

"I can't wait for the results of his interrogation, Wally." "I have to "know why" about his killing spree." 

"We are set to take him to NYC after the takedown. The interrogation team is coming up from Washington and Quantico." "I'll tell you everything as soon as I get those results."

The chopper Wally was in began to hover above the landing spot as he signed off with Allston.

Stamford, Connecticut - The Apartment Of Dennis Mendocino

Dennis was satisfied with how lovely this day home was. He went "Yard Saling" and found an excellent cassette player he was sure Petra Schultz would like. He bought her a new pair of dancing shoes for his date and hoped she was okay with brown suede. He hoped she was dressed in a matchy-matchy with what he would be wearing.

He thought about the night all those years ago when he first met Petra. He was amazed at how annoying she was at such a young age. She was good-looking, and all the photos of her that Dennis found online indicated that the years had been kind to her.

He saved her for last because she was the most honest with him that night long ago. 

"Oh, it would never work out for us, Dennis," she said. If I were six inches taller, I would be all over you, Hon, but you see how short I am." "I just like guys a little shorter; it's just how I am." 

 "If I were you, I'd find a honey on the Boston University basketball team." "Tall and tall is a great match." "You stand out at any party."

 "I don't like to stand out with my nose how it is."  

"Thank you for the drink; that was very nice of you, but we are a mismatch."

As he walked away from the table, they all laughed. He looked back and saw that Petra was laughing with them.