“I don’t know nothin’. I swear.” Geoffrey held his hands up and then slumped back in his chair. His legs were spread apart but his arms were crossed and he wouldn’t look Nate in the face. He was certainly lying about something.
“You raped a little girl!” Nate wanted to place his hands around the man’s small throat and squeeze but that was not the regulation way of gathering information. And Nate didn’t want this man’s confession or words to be thrown out in court. So far he hadn’t asked for a lawyer.
“I told you man, I didn’t rape her. This guy told me she was eighteen.”
Nate had to laugh at the man’s stupidity. He was a terrible liar. “How could you possibly mistake a ten year old girl for an adult?”
“It was dark. I couldn’t see her real well and she, um, felt older. Told me she shaved.”
Yea right. “I don’t believe you for a second, Winterbrook. I think you paid someone $8,000 to sleep with a ten year old girl and now all you’re doing is lying about it. No judge or jury is going to believe your story for a second.”
“I want a lawyer.”
And just like that, Nate’s interview was over. If he asked another thing everything could get thrown out. It would have to be enough that Geoffrey admitted to having sex with a minor. It was a felony but wouldn’t get him as much time as murder which is what Nate wanted to nail him with.
Nate tapped the table and smiled at Geoffrey as though his asking for a lawyer wasn’t a big deal. Sure, sure, ask for a lawyer but I’m still gonna nail your backside. It was all there in Nate’s smile if Geoffrey knew how to look for it.
He stepped out of the interrogation room and the smile was gone. He opened the door adjacent to the interrogation room that allowed the other agents to view the interrogation by monitor and stepped inside. Eric and Annabeth were watching the monitors closely.
“He lawyered up,” Nate said as if they didn’t already know.
“We still got him on rape. The DNA evidence is solid,” Annabeth said. “I want you two to check out his place. I already have a subpoena, judge granted it in a heartbeat. See what you can find out. See if there’s any trace of the other girls there. Do it fast.”
Nate needed no more encouragement, he and Eric were out of the office and on their way. The sooner they searched the place the better. If Geoffrey had an accomplice or even a very loyal wife, vital information could be lost or deleted. Deleted files could still be recovered, of course but not if the computer landed at the bottom of a river. Forensics could work minor miracles, the major ones were left up to God.
Nate prayed for a major one on the way to the house.
“What do you think we’ll find?” Eric asked.
“I don’t buy his story completely. I know he’s hiding something I just can’t place what. I don’t believe he thought the girl was an adult. He knew she was a minor and he paid to sleep with her. The question is who he paid and why.”
“Why? He’s a pervert. Does he need a reason?” Eric only said what was on everyone’s mind.
“No, I mean, if he stole the girl then why would he have to pay to sleep with her? Unless he paid to have Jonathan Gardner killed. We don’t really know where the money is going.”
“$8,000 isn’t enough to pay someone to kill,” Eric commented. “Not for me at least. I’d need somewhere around $100,000.”
Nate smiled, “Good to know.”
“Seriously, it isn’t much.”
“For the right person it could be. For someone you already own, or who works for you or who partners with you, it would be plenty. Like a bonus,” Nate said.
“It’s possible but I think he just paid to rape a little girl. He strikes me as an idiot, not a mastermind.”
“I agree. You did your research on him?” Nate glanced over at Eric, his bald head reflecting the sun.
Eric smiled, his white teeth a sharp contrast to his dark face. “What you know is that he was arrested twice for money laundering. What you don’t know is that he was also suspected of laundering something else. Wanna guess what?”
“Why don’t you tell me,” Nate said.
“People.”
“He was suspected of laundering people?”
“Yes. From Russia mostly but also Thailand and China. Never got caught on that though.”
“The reason?”
“I think he knew the right people and had the money to make that count,” Eric said. Nate nodded as he digested the information. Geoffrey could be a very dangerous man but was he dangerous enough to have committed murder?
Nate slowed the car as he entered the parking garage attached to Geoffrey’s condominium building. From the address Nate knew Geoffrey lived on the top floor which could only mean the penthouse suite. A flash of his badge kept the guard at bay and Nate eased into the garage as the gate opened. After searching for a full twelve minutes Nate found an empty visitor’s spot and pulled into it.
Nate and Eric exited the vehicle and moved quickly to the elevators. The elevator required that they enter the lobby before they could actually enter the building. What Nate would have given for street parking. With a second flash of the badge at the lobby’s security guard Nate and Eric obtained Geoffrey’s key card and were once again on the elevator. This time they were on until the eighteenth floor give or take a floor to let someone on or off.
As the door opened Nate saw a hallway in front of him with traditional hotel carpet, flat and maroon except this carpet had a large swirling white crest with a large W. Behind the W was an ornate cherry door. Double door actually. Using the key card, Nate swiped his way into Geoffrey Winterbrook’s penthouse.
Expecting to find ornate furnishings and lush carpet, Nate was not disappointed to find cream marble floors in the entryway. The hallway led to a very open living room with ceilings that had to have been fourteen feet high. Skylights let light into the room but were unfortunately lost on the scuffed floor. One small couch sat in the middle of the living room and faced a large screen TV, the only thing that Nate could see where Geoffrey spent any money.
Sliding glass doors behind the living room opened to a balcony beyond. Blue sky greeted Nate as he stepped out on to the balcony. Looking down he could the sand and the waters lapping at the land. What Nate wouldn’t give for a view like this. This was what he loved about Florida. The heat, he hated but the beaches he couldn’t get enough of. With no furniture or any other items on the balcony of interest Nate stepped back inside.
To his right was the kitchen. To his left was a closed door that Nate assumed was the master bedroom. Nate went to the right. The kitchen was more of what Nate would expect with exquisite dark cherry cabinets that mirrored the front door. Granite countertops mirrored the cabinets. But the table that sat in the middle of expansive kitchen and on top of the hardwood floors was a small, round wooden table that appeared to be falling apart.
“It’s weird,” Nate said as Eric opened the door Nate had noticed earlier off of the living room. “It seems that everything that comes with the penthouse is ornate but everything that Geoffrey brought in is basic, almost trashy.”
“So either he wanted to hoard all his money and doesn’t care what his house looks like or he’s had to get rid of everything to keep his head above water,” Eric called back.
“I’m guessing the latter. He looked horrible when I arrested him though his clothes were certainly brand name. Could’ve been old though.”
“I have another theory,” Eric called from the room he was in.
Nate crossed the living room and entered the master bedroom as Nate had guessed correctly. The bedroom was almost as large and open as the living room. A fireplace connected the room to the bathroom beyond. While the carpet was plush under Nate’s feet the bed that took up a small part of the room was only a mattress on top of a box spring. On top of the bed was a cream quilt but on top of that is what interested Nate the most. An open suitcase lay on the bed overflowing with men’s clothes.
“He was heading out of here,” Eric said.
“But why was he at the country club?”
“He’s probably an alcoholic and needed a drink before he left.”
Nate smiled at the thought. “No, something spooked him. He was on his way out but something stopped him. But what?”
Nate backed out of the room and searched the living room for an answering machine or phone. Finding none he moved on to the kitchen. He finally found an answering machine on the counter next to a corded phone hanging on the wall. Who had a corded phone these days? Zero messages were on the machine and after pressing every button Nate could only get the outgoing message with Geoffrey’s voice. The phone did not have caller ID.
“Find anything?” Eric asked.
“Nothing. If he got a call he didn’t keep a record of it.”
“Makes sense. He got orders and he’s following them.”
“But why would my arresting him be helpful to anyone?”
“I don’t know. Keep looking.”
Nate nodded even though Eric couldn’t see his non-verbal sign. Nate went through the kitchen and to the stairs beyond leading to the second floor. At the top of the stairs was the same plush carpet as in the master bedroom. An open hallway led past the living room giving it a loft feeling. At the end of the hallway and above the master bedroom and dining room where two rooms, one to Nate’s left and one to his right. A bathroom connected the two.
Glancing to the left, Nate found nothing but an empty room. To the right, Nate found an office. A large mahogany desk sat in the middle of the room with a large leather chair behind it. A flat screened monitor sat on the desk. Nate was grateful to at least find something in the house though the monitor didn’t mean much without the computer to go with it.
Sitting in the chair, Nate was relieved to find the computer sitting underneath the desk and the keyboard on the desk in front of him waiting his command. Touching the mouse slightly the monitor sprang to life. A basic blue screen with icons greeted him.
Not being a computer guy, Nate had no idea where to go so he clicked on the icon that opened Internet Explorer. The “Yahoo” front page waited for him to make a search or click on a news link. Instead Nate looked up at the address bar and pulled down a list of websites that Geoffrey had recently been to.
Nate clicked on the first link that popped up. When the page opened he almost threw up. Although not fully displayed, small children covered the page in provocative positions. A girl no older then ten smiled at Nate. A banner strategically placed over her private parts urged him to click on her for some fun.
Nate closed quickly went to the second address on the drop down menu but came up with the same type of site. He found ten of the similar sites on a drop down menu that held fifteen. The other five included Geoffrey’s bank and what appeared to be his mortgage company. He also had an internet link to Geoffrey’s e-mail. Nate clicked on that but wasn’t surprised to find it password protected.
“Find anything?” Nate jumped at the sound of Eric’s question.
“Too much actually. Take a look at this.” Eric rounded the desk and Nate pointed out the websites he had found.
“Click on one of them,” Eric said.
“Are you nuts? It’s child pornography.”
“I know that but it’s possible that Geoffrey subscribed to these sites so that he would have full access. There may be something in there we can use.”
“Like what?” Nate asked wishing he could do what Eric requested without having to actually use his eyes.
“I don’t know, call it a hunch.”
“Fine…”
“Look, let me do it and I’ll let you know if I find anything.”
Clearly glad to oblige, Nate stood from the seat and held it out for Eric to take over. Eric sat down quickly and began tapping away at the computer. Nate did not look over his shoulder as he worked. And after seeing Eric grimace at least twelve times, Nate was glad he hadn’t.
“There. There, look at this.” Eric’s excitement made Nate curious but still he was reluctant to look back at the computer.
“What?”
“Do you see it?” Eric pointed to a small girl’s face. She couldn’t be more then twelve. Her face wasn’t clearly visible; instead she was looking away from the camera and at the girl lying next to her on the bed. Both of them were naked. How sick were these people?
“See what?” Nate asked.
“Look, this is our girl. I know it is.”
“Which one? I can hardly make out her face.”
“I know and if we were in a TV show I could enhance it for you but this is reality and that’s the best shot you’re going to get but I swear it’s her. Same blond hair and everything. This has got to be Jessica Lambert.”
Nate looked closer and though maybe if he squinted hard enough that Eric was right. And if Eric was right it meant that Jessica Lambert was still alive or at least was at the taking of this picture. The bad news was that this little girl was already being made to do horrible things and if they did find her alive it would be a long time before anything was right in her world.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Chapter 28
Nate shut the door behind him and was almost surprised to see Ashley standing in front of him. Her normally perfect demeanor was replaced by a normal looking girl with wet hair. She must have recently showered.
She flipped her cell phone closed and stared at him. He could sense he was worried about her just by a glance.
“Nate, what’s up? Are you okay?”
“Hey Ashley. I’m sorry, I don’t meant to disturb you. You can go back to your phone call. “I’m just stopping by to get a change of clothes and head out to work.” Nate walked past Ashley and down the hall to the house’s master bedroom. He opened the double doors at the end of the hall and stepped into his sanctuary. A large king-sized bed took up most of the wall opposite the door. A black headboard kept the bed from looking like it was floating in the middle of the room. A cream pillow still sat against the headboard where he had left it. The walls were a soft blue which Nate found to be a calming color for the room. Other then the bed Nate had not paid attention much to detail. Both sides of the bed had a nightstand with an alarm clock and a plasma screen TV covered the wall opposite the bed. What more did a guy need?
Nate crossed the room in three quick strides and swung open his closet door. He began to unbutton his top shirt when he heard Ashley clear her throat from behind him. He hadn’t noticed that she had followed him into the bedroom.
“What’s the hurry? I thought you were at church.” Ashley said.
Nate turned around to face her. “I was. But just as the opening hymn began I got a text from Dr. Folek.”
“What about?”
Nate looked at Ashley’s face. She wasn’t prying, she was truly concerned. “He autopsied Jessica early this morning. She was definitely pregnant. Four months along which obviously is before she was kidnapped. Dr. Folek found no sign of sexual trauma or any semen in her vaginal cannel. She was taken like the other girls but not killed like them. Jessica was strangled by a rope but not in a frenzied manner like the others. She was deposed of carefully. Like someone was trying to hide the body. The other girls were killed in a hurried and sloppy manner. One off of the highway and one in the house and then hidden but still messy. Not meticulous like this one. How is that possible?”
“Maybe you have more then one killer,” Ashley said.
Nate had almost forgotten she was there. He was just talking the information out loud trying to determine how they were connected. “That makes the most sense. That’s what I believe too but what I can’t understand is why.”
“Maybe they lost two girls so they’re going to kill all the rest as well.”
“But Jessica was dead before the other two. Dr. Folek estimates her time of death as almost three weeks ago which was just one week after she was taken. So, it means they’re not being killed in order which is what we would expect from a serial killer even one that works with a partner.”
“Nate, I think she was damaged goods,” Ashley’s look had turned from interest to sorrow. Her eyes looked more sunken. She sighed as she leaned against the wall. Nate waited for her to continue. “I think there’s a connection with these girls coming from broken homes and their being taken. Whatever your killer wants it has something to do with that. Maybe he thinks he’s helping by taking them out of a bad situation. But with Jessica it was too late. She was already pregnant and if I was a betting woman, which I’m not, I would bet you’ll find the stepfather to be the babies father. This made your killer angry and he killed Jessica.”
“What about Daisy and Emma?”
“I think you’re assumptions are right. They were killed in a hurry. Probably to avoid detection of some kind. Of what kind I don’t know. But I think that’s your job.” Ashley pointed at Nate’s nose, smiled and walked back to the kitchen. Nate followed and watched her pour a cup of coffee into the mug she was holding. Must’ve been her second cup.
“By the way, how’s Kyle doing?” Ashley asked.
“He’s doing much better today. There’s a possibility he may even come home in the next day or so.”
“Have you seen him?”
“Not this morning. I was going to take you over there later. But right now I have to change and be back at the station. We have a hit on DNA extracted from Daisy Brandt. I have to bring this guy in. He may have information we want.”
“I’m going with you.”
“No, Ashley, this isn’t a child. You may have information and help for us but it’s going to have to wait. You are not going with me to pick up a suspect.”
Ashley looked ready to argue but Nate held up his finger. He knew if he didn’t cut her off right away she would talk her way into going and he would let her. Then she would be in harm’s way again and Nate just couldn’t live with that. No, it was better she stuck with talking to Kyle and not to random suspects.
If there was one thing Nate knew about the FBI is there was always a choice. But once made that choice could not be undone. Eight years ago Nate had made the choice to join the FBI. He had chosen to chase killers, serial or otherwise and he had chosen to lock them up. In his eight years he had seen things no human should have to see. Mutilated children, rotting body parts, countless dead bodies and the suspects that made them that way. Pure evil. That’s what it was. Nate had seen the worst of humanity and lived to tell about it.
What he did know is that some people didn’t.
Ashley had chosen to help children. She had become a Forensic Psychologist but not to chase murderers or profile serial killers. She had gone into it to save children from abusive parents or those bent on using their children in custody cases. The term “forensic” for her was an after thought. She was a Psychologist and a darn good one at that. She would help Kyle in her own time and way.
But this, this she didn’t have to see or hear or know. Listing details and information was one thing. Actually seeing the reality was another one all together. Yes, she’d seen her fair share. Three dead bodies now and children’s bodies to boot. But she didn’t have to see the evil that made them that way. She didn’t need to look into the eyes of a man who raped a young girl. She didn’t need to lie awake every night wondering why things had to happen as they did.
That was his job. That was his oath. He had taken it knowing the consequences and he would live with that choice forever. Ashley had enough to keep her awake at night. She did not need to add this.
So without another word or backwards glance, Nate left the house. Feeling the gun at his belt to make sure it was there he got into the driver’s seat of his car. Of course he saw Ashley watching him leave through his front window but he didn’t look at her. Didn’t acknowledge that she had seen him. She already knew too much. The fear and pain that he was sure was in his eyes is something she didn’t need to see.
Nate rolled his window down as he backed out of the driveway. Officer Williams was at his door immediately. “Sir?”
“Don’t let her leave the house. She may try to follow me but she is not to leave. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Nate rolled his window up and pulled on to the street. Ashley may feel like a prisoner where she was but if Jimmy or anyone else associated with him had their way Ashley would be in a permanent jail and that would most likely not be air conditioned. Heck, there may not be any air at all. And Nate couldn’t live with that. Truth was, Nate couldn’t live without her.
Two hours later Nate picked up his suspect, Geoffrey Winterbrook. They had found Geoffrey in a country club bar. The man already looked drunk and it wasn’t even two in the afternoon. Geoffrey had been sitting alone, three empty shot glasses in front of him. He had been motioning to the bar tender for more.
Nate motioned for the bar tender to back away as Nate withdrew his gun and approached Geoffrey. “Geoffrey Winterbrook, you’re under arrest for the rape and murder of Daisy Brandt.”
Geoffrey looked at him now. His blue eyes were dull, his face was drawn. His brown hair was out of place and hanging in his face almost covering his eyes. It was a wonder Nate could see them at all. The back of Geoffrey’s hair was almost long enough for a ponytail but he let it hang there un-brushed. Geoffrey had a sweater hanging around his shoulders over his polo shirt. Nate couldn’t help but wonder how long ago that style had gone out of style but yet there it was right in front of him.
Geoffrey gave him half a smile, “Get in line, buddy.” He tapped his shot glass on the bar. “Come on, where’s service in this place! Another shot bartender!” He followed his declaration with curses.
“Geoffrey Winterbrook, put your hands on your head and face the bar,” Nate moved close enough to put the barrel of the gun to Geoffrey’s neck. Geoffrey just shrugged it off and stood. Nate moved quickly and pushed Geoffrey down onto the bar with his left hand, his right hand never leaving the gun’s trigger. “Spread your arms.”
For once Geoffrey complied and spread his arms on either side of him. Only when Nate was sure he had him securely and his arms were empty did he re-holster his gun and handcuff the man.
Eric, who had maintained his position by the exit and had watched the whole exchange spoke into his wrist, “We’ve got him.” Nate knew ten officers outside were relieved to have arrested the man without incident.
Not without incident yet, Nate thought as he scanned the parking lot through the bar’s small windows. “Cover him,” Nate said to Eric and instantly Eric was in front of Geoffrey as a human shield. While Nate didn’t doubt this man’s guilt in the rape of Daisy he wasn’t fully convinced that this man had anything to do with her murder. And they knew there were at least two men involved. It was yet to be proven that Jonathan Gardner had only one partner. Nate was taking no chances. He wanted this man to question and he wanted him alive.
By the grace of God alone, Nate knew, they arrived back at the station with Geoffrey Winterbook intact. Two officer escorted Geoffrey to an interrogation room and there Nate left him for an hour while reviewing his file. Geoffrey had been arrested twice for money laundering, had been convicted once but somehow he still sat on a boat load of money that no one could figure out where it came from. An $8,000 withdrawal for cash peaked Nate’s interest. Could this man have paid to have these girls killed? Probably not enough money for three girls but might be enough to have paid someone to kill Jonathan Gardner. Maybe Geoffrey was their man.
She flipped her cell phone closed and stared at him. He could sense he was worried about her just by a glance.
“Nate, what’s up? Are you okay?”
“Hey Ashley. I’m sorry, I don’t meant to disturb you. You can go back to your phone call. “I’m just stopping by to get a change of clothes and head out to work.” Nate walked past Ashley and down the hall to the house’s master bedroom. He opened the double doors at the end of the hall and stepped into his sanctuary. A large king-sized bed took up most of the wall opposite the door. A black headboard kept the bed from looking like it was floating in the middle of the room. A cream pillow still sat against the headboard where he had left it. The walls were a soft blue which Nate found to be a calming color for the room. Other then the bed Nate had not paid attention much to detail. Both sides of the bed had a nightstand with an alarm clock and a plasma screen TV covered the wall opposite the bed. What more did a guy need?
Nate crossed the room in three quick strides and swung open his closet door. He began to unbutton his top shirt when he heard Ashley clear her throat from behind him. He hadn’t noticed that she had followed him into the bedroom.
“What’s the hurry? I thought you were at church.” Ashley said.
Nate turned around to face her. “I was. But just as the opening hymn began I got a text from Dr. Folek.”
“What about?”
Nate looked at Ashley’s face. She wasn’t prying, she was truly concerned. “He autopsied Jessica early this morning. She was definitely pregnant. Four months along which obviously is before she was kidnapped. Dr. Folek found no sign of sexual trauma or any semen in her vaginal cannel. She was taken like the other girls but not killed like them. Jessica was strangled by a rope but not in a frenzied manner like the others. She was deposed of carefully. Like someone was trying to hide the body. The other girls were killed in a hurried and sloppy manner. One off of the highway and one in the house and then hidden but still messy. Not meticulous like this one. How is that possible?”
“Maybe you have more then one killer,” Ashley said.
Nate had almost forgotten she was there. He was just talking the information out loud trying to determine how they were connected. “That makes the most sense. That’s what I believe too but what I can’t understand is why.”
“Maybe they lost two girls so they’re going to kill all the rest as well.”
“But Jessica was dead before the other two. Dr. Folek estimates her time of death as almost three weeks ago which was just one week after she was taken. So, it means they’re not being killed in order which is what we would expect from a serial killer even one that works with a partner.”
“Nate, I think she was damaged goods,” Ashley’s look had turned from interest to sorrow. Her eyes looked more sunken. She sighed as she leaned against the wall. Nate waited for her to continue. “I think there’s a connection with these girls coming from broken homes and their being taken. Whatever your killer wants it has something to do with that. Maybe he thinks he’s helping by taking them out of a bad situation. But with Jessica it was too late. She was already pregnant and if I was a betting woman, which I’m not, I would bet you’ll find the stepfather to be the babies father. This made your killer angry and he killed Jessica.”
“What about Daisy and Emma?”
“I think you’re assumptions are right. They were killed in a hurry. Probably to avoid detection of some kind. Of what kind I don’t know. But I think that’s your job.” Ashley pointed at Nate’s nose, smiled and walked back to the kitchen. Nate followed and watched her pour a cup of coffee into the mug she was holding. Must’ve been her second cup.
“By the way, how’s Kyle doing?” Ashley asked.
“He’s doing much better today. There’s a possibility he may even come home in the next day or so.”
“Have you seen him?”
“Not this morning. I was going to take you over there later. But right now I have to change and be back at the station. We have a hit on DNA extracted from Daisy Brandt. I have to bring this guy in. He may have information we want.”
“I’m going with you.”
“No, Ashley, this isn’t a child. You may have information and help for us but it’s going to have to wait. You are not going with me to pick up a suspect.”
Ashley looked ready to argue but Nate held up his finger. He knew if he didn’t cut her off right away she would talk her way into going and he would let her. Then she would be in harm’s way again and Nate just couldn’t live with that. No, it was better she stuck with talking to Kyle and not to random suspects.
If there was one thing Nate knew about the FBI is there was always a choice. But once made that choice could not be undone. Eight years ago Nate had made the choice to join the FBI. He had chosen to chase killers, serial or otherwise and he had chosen to lock them up. In his eight years he had seen things no human should have to see. Mutilated children, rotting body parts, countless dead bodies and the suspects that made them that way. Pure evil. That’s what it was. Nate had seen the worst of humanity and lived to tell about it.
What he did know is that some people didn’t.
Ashley had chosen to help children. She had become a Forensic Psychologist but not to chase murderers or profile serial killers. She had gone into it to save children from abusive parents or those bent on using their children in custody cases. The term “forensic” for her was an after thought. She was a Psychologist and a darn good one at that. She would help Kyle in her own time and way.
But this, this she didn’t have to see or hear or know. Listing details and information was one thing. Actually seeing the reality was another one all together. Yes, she’d seen her fair share. Three dead bodies now and children’s bodies to boot. But she didn’t have to see the evil that made them that way. She didn’t need to look into the eyes of a man who raped a young girl. She didn’t need to lie awake every night wondering why things had to happen as they did.
That was his job. That was his oath. He had taken it knowing the consequences and he would live with that choice forever. Ashley had enough to keep her awake at night. She did not need to add this.
So without another word or backwards glance, Nate left the house. Feeling the gun at his belt to make sure it was there he got into the driver’s seat of his car. Of course he saw Ashley watching him leave through his front window but he didn’t look at her. Didn’t acknowledge that she had seen him. She already knew too much. The fear and pain that he was sure was in his eyes is something she didn’t need to see.
Nate rolled his window down as he backed out of the driveway. Officer Williams was at his door immediately. “Sir?”
“Don’t let her leave the house. She may try to follow me but she is not to leave. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Nate rolled his window up and pulled on to the street. Ashley may feel like a prisoner where she was but if Jimmy or anyone else associated with him had their way Ashley would be in a permanent jail and that would most likely not be air conditioned. Heck, there may not be any air at all. And Nate couldn’t live with that. Truth was, Nate couldn’t live without her.
Two hours later Nate picked up his suspect, Geoffrey Winterbrook. They had found Geoffrey in a country club bar. The man already looked drunk and it wasn’t even two in the afternoon. Geoffrey had been sitting alone, three empty shot glasses in front of him. He had been motioning to the bar tender for more.
Nate motioned for the bar tender to back away as Nate withdrew his gun and approached Geoffrey. “Geoffrey Winterbrook, you’re under arrest for the rape and murder of Daisy Brandt.”
Geoffrey looked at him now. His blue eyes were dull, his face was drawn. His brown hair was out of place and hanging in his face almost covering his eyes. It was a wonder Nate could see them at all. The back of Geoffrey’s hair was almost long enough for a ponytail but he let it hang there un-brushed. Geoffrey had a sweater hanging around his shoulders over his polo shirt. Nate couldn’t help but wonder how long ago that style had gone out of style but yet there it was right in front of him.
Geoffrey gave him half a smile, “Get in line, buddy.” He tapped his shot glass on the bar. “Come on, where’s service in this place! Another shot bartender!” He followed his declaration with curses.
“Geoffrey Winterbrook, put your hands on your head and face the bar,” Nate moved close enough to put the barrel of the gun to Geoffrey’s neck. Geoffrey just shrugged it off and stood. Nate moved quickly and pushed Geoffrey down onto the bar with his left hand, his right hand never leaving the gun’s trigger. “Spread your arms.”
For once Geoffrey complied and spread his arms on either side of him. Only when Nate was sure he had him securely and his arms were empty did he re-holster his gun and handcuff the man.
Eric, who had maintained his position by the exit and had watched the whole exchange spoke into his wrist, “We’ve got him.” Nate knew ten officers outside were relieved to have arrested the man without incident.
Not without incident yet, Nate thought as he scanned the parking lot through the bar’s small windows. “Cover him,” Nate said to Eric and instantly Eric was in front of Geoffrey as a human shield. While Nate didn’t doubt this man’s guilt in the rape of Daisy he wasn’t fully convinced that this man had anything to do with her murder. And they knew there were at least two men involved. It was yet to be proven that Jonathan Gardner had only one partner. Nate was taking no chances. He wanted this man to question and he wanted him alive.
By the grace of God alone, Nate knew, they arrived back at the station with Geoffrey Winterbook intact. Two officer escorted Geoffrey to an interrogation room and there Nate left him for an hour while reviewing his file. Geoffrey had been arrested twice for money laundering, had been convicted once but somehow he still sat on a boat load of money that no one could figure out where it came from. An $8,000 withdrawal for cash peaked Nate’s interest. Could this man have paid to have these girls killed? Probably not enough money for three girls but might be enough to have paid someone to kill Jonathan Gardner. Maybe Geoffrey was their man.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Chapter 27
Ashley sat up on the side of the bed. It had been a day exactly since she had found a little girl’s body. She knew because she had been watching the clock ever since. Watching the minutes tick by. She was now “stuck” at Nate’s house under constant surveillance. No going back to Michael’s. This was fine with Ashley. At Michael’s house she couldn’t get her head on straight or her feelings in order. At Nate’s her feelings weren’t any more under control but there were enough distractions to keep her from having to dwell on them.
Except for now.
Now the house was completely quiet. Nate was at church. The one day he took off was Sunday. He said the office could have him the rest of the week at any time but Sunday he needed. It was a day of worship, he said.
This Ashley couldn’t understand. To her Sunday was just another day. At one point she had gone to church. Back when she almost believed in God.
Donnie had believed in God. He had believed in a sovereign God who had a plan for his life. What kind of God planned to have a man gunned down in his driveway with his little boy?
Plodding across the bed room in her bare feet Ashley stopped at the mirror in the adjoining bathroom to look at herself. Her blondish, brownish hair was flat against her face. Her blue eyes looked dull and gray. If it was possible her face looked skinnier then it used to. While she hadn’t been on a scale in weeks Ashley guessed she had lost weight since arriving in Florida. Too bad it wasn’t bikini season.
Ashley looked down at her abdomen. She could see her ribs pressing against her shirt. When she was pregnant with Aidan she had been so sick the first trimester that she had actually lost weight. She had gained it all back plus twenty pounds in the second trimester. By the third she had felt like a whale even though Donnie would never admit to that. Fortunately, she had been young enough and fit enough that she had gotten her shape back quickly.
Ashley slipped out of her pajamas and stepped into the shower letting the water drip over her, washing away bed head hair. Unfortunately, it didn’t wash away her fear and pain. Yes, she was under deep guard and Nate had promised that no one would find her but still there was a nagging feeling. A feeling that Jimmy Livingston could still find her.
She could still remember the first time she had heard his voice. It had been just two months after the trial that the first call came.
“Ashley, do you know who this is?” The voice had been deep and unrecognizable.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” Ashley shoved the tears away. She was sick to death of the tears. Sick to death of crying over Donnie and Aidan. It had been just two months and she knew in her heart that she wouldn’t get over them any time soon. Maybe never but still the tears were getting old. Her face was hurting. Her eyes had been hurting for a month. And her face was getting a permanent red tint.
It took heavy breathing for Ashley to realize that there had been no answer, “Who is this?” Ashley asked again.
“This is Jimmy. Remember me?” A soft laugh followed his words.
“Jimmy?” Ashley’s heart began to race. This couldn’t be possible. “But you’re in…”
“Jail? Yes, I am. But the thing is Ashley people owe me. People owe me favors and I’m cashing in. I may be in jail now but you will never, ever be rid of me.”
“You took my family, you… you…” The words wouldn’t come out. Mostly because the words were bad ones. Ones she wasn’t supposed to say even her deepest, darkest moments.
“Ah ah now, don’t be nasty. I’m just letting you know it isn’t over.”
And it wasn’t over. Twelve years had passed but it felt like no more then just a day. Every month she received one rose on the ninth. Every year on June 9th she received a dozen. Jimmy Livingston had not left her alone for even a month in twelve years. Moves hadn’t mattered. Even when she moved to Maryland to go back to school Jimmy had found her without missing a beat.
For six years her numbers had been unlisted. She had told as few people as possible where she lived and what she did but it hadn’t mattered.
He still found her.
After seven years she considered changing her name but decided it didn’t matter. Jimmy had a way of finding her. Instead of trying to run she just stayed put and began to live her life. Or at least pretend to. After finishing her Masters with honors, she threw herself into work.
Seventy hour work weeks turned into ninety turned into never being home. Not that there really was a home. Her apartment had been barely furnished for five years. A square bed took up her bedroom with a memory foam mattress. It was comfortable but it was very plain. Not exactly inviting.
Kind of like her life.
Ashley rinsed the conditioner out of her hair, turned off the water and stepped out to find her towel. Wrapping it around her she made it back to the bedroom and found the change of clothes that Nate had picked up for her. Or sent an officer for. She had not been able to go back to Michael’s house for her things.
After dressing in jeans and a striped button-up top over a cami she stepped out of her room for some coffee. The scent of a fresh pot burned her nose as she made her way to the kitchen.
Nate had a nice home. It was certainly well maintained. Much more homey and comfortable then her own place. The kitchen was full of white cabinets. The floor was black and white tile but not in a checkerboard pattern. Instead the white tile was dotted with a few small black tiles turned to look like diamonds instead of squares. Black appliances and black granite countertops echoed the black tiles.
Ashley liked it. It suited Nate. His world, after all, had always been black and white.
Ashley poured herself a cup of coffee, added cream and sugar and took a sip. Stale but palatable. She added more flavored cream. It wasn’t until she took her second sip and leaned against the counter that she noticed a uniformed officer laying down on the couch in the living room. She stepped closer to him and cleared her throat to alert him of her presence.
The officer sat up and stared at her. “Are you okay?” He asked.
“Yea, I’m fine. Just wanted you to know I was up.”
“I’m Jack Williams. Nate’s at church. He said he’d be back soon.” Jack stood up and looked down at Ashley. His blond hair was cut short. So short that if it had been any shorter it wouldn’t have been there. His brown eyes were dark with concern and sadness. It had only been a day since they had found Cole’s body. Ashley had no idea how close the men were but judging by the deep set eyes, the circles underneath him and the redness of his face they had to have known each other.
“Have you heard anything?”
“Nothing yet.” Jack made his way into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. He took a sip of it without adding anything. “Not too bad. I made it a few hours ago.” He smiled at himself as he lifted his cup.
That would account for the stale taste.
“Any word about Cole?”
“The coroner took his body with Jessica’s. The ME will do the autopsy today to retrieve any bullets or bullet fragments left behind. Maybe we can match it to a gun. Possibly find a suspect.”
“Did Nate find anything out yesterday?”
“Not a lot. Jessica was the step daughter. Nate said her step father didn’t much care about her whereabouts.” Jack shook his head. “How can a girl wash up like that and no one care about her? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Unfortunately that’s life. Happens all the time.”
“This I know but I wish it wasn’t. We’re missing two girls still. We have five women dead. And we have no idea who is responsible. Now we can add a dead officer to that. If we don’t find answers soon, I’m afraid of what else could go wrong.” Jack downed the rest of his coffee and set the mug in the sink. “Now that you’re up I’m going to sit out front and wait for Nate to come home.” He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Should be soon now.”
“Thanks.”
After Jack closed the door behind him Ashley sat on the couch and flipped on the TV. Despite the few hundred channels that Nate seemed to have there wasn’t much on. At least two channels were covering the missing girls both locally and nationally but they didn’t have any new information to offer. One station was covering Lea Rappaport’s funeral but so far news of Jessica’s death hadn’t hit the airways. Ashley wondered how Nate managed to keep that out of the news.
Two hours of nothing was making Ashley tired. Her eyelids were slipping closed when her cell phone rang. The faint sound beckoned her from the bedroom and she made her way to find it. Grabbing it out of her purse she recognized her parent’s number. She groaned and flipped her cell phone open.
“Hello.”
“Ashley, oh my goodness, we haven’t heard from you in over a week.” It was her mother. Ashley imagined her mother patting her mound of black curls as she talked. She had a habit of constantly making sure they were perfect. And they always were. Ashley couldn’t recall a time when there had been a curl out of place.
“Hi Mom. I’ve been busy.”
“Where are you dear? Are you working?”
“Yes, mom I am. But I’m in Florida right now. With Nate.”
“Nathaniel Zimmerman? You’re with Nathaniel?” Her mother always called him that. She hated nick names.
“Yes, I’m with Nate.”
“But why?”
“We’re working on a case together. Have you heard of the missing girls here in Florida? I’m helping Nate with that case. He called me in to talk to a witness.” It was enough of the truth that her mother would believe her and hopefully not press for more but not every detail. No need for her mother to worry. Betty Voigt loved to worry.
“What about your patients in Maryland?”
“Trish is taking care of everything. I’ve talked to her a few times. Dr. Borin is covering for me while I’m here. He’s pretty good.”
“Not as good as you. I’ve seen him on the stand.”
Ashley smiled. Her parents could sometimes be difficult but they never, ever failed to support her. She loved and missed them a great deal but it was hard for them to travel from Colorado and Ashley didn’t get out to visit them as much as she would like. “Thanks mom.”
The sound of the front door opening and closing interrupted Ashley’s conversation. She kept the phone to her ear and walked back out to the living room. It was Nate. “Hey mom, I’m going to have to call you back. Nate’s here and I think something's wrong."
Except for now.
Now the house was completely quiet. Nate was at church. The one day he took off was Sunday. He said the office could have him the rest of the week at any time but Sunday he needed. It was a day of worship, he said.
This Ashley couldn’t understand. To her Sunday was just another day. At one point she had gone to church. Back when she almost believed in God.
Donnie had believed in God. He had believed in a sovereign God who had a plan for his life. What kind of God planned to have a man gunned down in his driveway with his little boy?
Plodding across the bed room in her bare feet Ashley stopped at the mirror in the adjoining bathroom to look at herself. Her blondish, brownish hair was flat against her face. Her blue eyes looked dull and gray. If it was possible her face looked skinnier then it used to. While she hadn’t been on a scale in weeks Ashley guessed she had lost weight since arriving in Florida. Too bad it wasn’t bikini season.
Ashley looked down at her abdomen. She could see her ribs pressing against her shirt. When she was pregnant with Aidan she had been so sick the first trimester that she had actually lost weight. She had gained it all back plus twenty pounds in the second trimester. By the third she had felt like a whale even though Donnie would never admit to that. Fortunately, she had been young enough and fit enough that she had gotten her shape back quickly.
Ashley slipped out of her pajamas and stepped into the shower letting the water drip over her, washing away bed head hair. Unfortunately, it didn’t wash away her fear and pain. Yes, she was under deep guard and Nate had promised that no one would find her but still there was a nagging feeling. A feeling that Jimmy Livingston could still find her.
She could still remember the first time she had heard his voice. It had been just two months after the trial that the first call came.
“Ashley, do you know who this is?” The voice had been deep and unrecognizable.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” Ashley shoved the tears away. She was sick to death of the tears. Sick to death of crying over Donnie and Aidan. It had been just two months and she knew in her heart that she wouldn’t get over them any time soon. Maybe never but still the tears were getting old. Her face was hurting. Her eyes had been hurting for a month. And her face was getting a permanent red tint.
It took heavy breathing for Ashley to realize that there had been no answer, “Who is this?” Ashley asked again.
“This is Jimmy. Remember me?” A soft laugh followed his words.
“Jimmy?” Ashley’s heart began to race. This couldn’t be possible. “But you’re in…”
“Jail? Yes, I am. But the thing is Ashley people owe me. People owe me favors and I’m cashing in. I may be in jail now but you will never, ever be rid of me.”
“You took my family, you… you…” The words wouldn’t come out. Mostly because the words were bad ones. Ones she wasn’t supposed to say even her deepest, darkest moments.
“Ah ah now, don’t be nasty. I’m just letting you know it isn’t over.”
And it wasn’t over. Twelve years had passed but it felt like no more then just a day. Every month she received one rose on the ninth. Every year on June 9th she received a dozen. Jimmy Livingston had not left her alone for even a month in twelve years. Moves hadn’t mattered. Even when she moved to Maryland to go back to school Jimmy had found her without missing a beat.
For six years her numbers had been unlisted. She had told as few people as possible where she lived and what she did but it hadn’t mattered.
He still found her.
After seven years she considered changing her name but decided it didn’t matter. Jimmy had a way of finding her. Instead of trying to run she just stayed put and began to live her life. Or at least pretend to. After finishing her Masters with honors, she threw herself into work.
Seventy hour work weeks turned into ninety turned into never being home. Not that there really was a home. Her apartment had been barely furnished for five years. A square bed took up her bedroom with a memory foam mattress. It was comfortable but it was very plain. Not exactly inviting.
Kind of like her life.
Ashley rinsed the conditioner out of her hair, turned off the water and stepped out to find her towel. Wrapping it around her she made it back to the bedroom and found the change of clothes that Nate had picked up for her. Or sent an officer for. She had not been able to go back to Michael’s house for her things.
After dressing in jeans and a striped button-up top over a cami she stepped out of her room for some coffee. The scent of a fresh pot burned her nose as she made her way to the kitchen.
Nate had a nice home. It was certainly well maintained. Much more homey and comfortable then her own place. The kitchen was full of white cabinets. The floor was black and white tile but not in a checkerboard pattern. Instead the white tile was dotted with a few small black tiles turned to look like diamonds instead of squares. Black appliances and black granite countertops echoed the black tiles.
Ashley liked it. It suited Nate. His world, after all, had always been black and white.
Ashley poured herself a cup of coffee, added cream and sugar and took a sip. Stale but palatable. She added more flavored cream. It wasn’t until she took her second sip and leaned against the counter that she noticed a uniformed officer laying down on the couch in the living room. She stepped closer to him and cleared her throat to alert him of her presence.
The officer sat up and stared at her. “Are you okay?” He asked.
“Yea, I’m fine. Just wanted you to know I was up.”
“I’m Jack Williams. Nate’s at church. He said he’d be back soon.” Jack stood up and looked down at Ashley. His blond hair was cut short. So short that if it had been any shorter it wouldn’t have been there. His brown eyes were dark with concern and sadness. It had only been a day since they had found Cole’s body. Ashley had no idea how close the men were but judging by the deep set eyes, the circles underneath him and the redness of his face they had to have known each other.
“Have you heard anything?”
“Nothing yet.” Jack made his way into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. He took a sip of it without adding anything. “Not too bad. I made it a few hours ago.” He smiled at himself as he lifted his cup.
That would account for the stale taste.
“Any word about Cole?”
“The coroner took his body with Jessica’s. The ME will do the autopsy today to retrieve any bullets or bullet fragments left behind. Maybe we can match it to a gun. Possibly find a suspect.”
“Did Nate find anything out yesterday?”
“Not a lot. Jessica was the step daughter. Nate said her step father didn’t much care about her whereabouts.” Jack shook his head. “How can a girl wash up like that and no one care about her? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Unfortunately that’s life. Happens all the time.”
“This I know but I wish it wasn’t. We’re missing two girls still. We have five women dead. And we have no idea who is responsible. Now we can add a dead officer to that. If we don’t find answers soon, I’m afraid of what else could go wrong.” Jack downed the rest of his coffee and set the mug in the sink. “Now that you’re up I’m going to sit out front and wait for Nate to come home.” He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Should be soon now.”
“Thanks.”
After Jack closed the door behind him Ashley sat on the couch and flipped on the TV. Despite the few hundred channels that Nate seemed to have there wasn’t much on. At least two channels were covering the missing girls both locally and nationally but they didn’t have any new information to offer. One station was covering Lea Rappaport’s funeral but so far news of Jessica’s death hadn’t hit the airways. Ashley wondered how Nate managed to keep that out of the news.
Two hours of nothing was making Ashley tired. Her eyelids were slipping closed when her cell phone rang. The faint sound beckoned her from the bedroom and she made her way to find it. Grabbing it out of her purse she recognized her parent’s number. She groaned and flipped her cell phone open.
“Hello.”
“Ashley, oh my goodness, we haven’t heard from you in over a week.” It was her mother. Ashley imagined her mother patting her mound of black curls as she talked. She had a habit of constantly making sure they were perfect. And they always were. Ashley couldn’t recall a time when there had been a curl out of place.
“Hi Mom. I’ve been busy.”
“Where are you dear? Are you working?”
“Yes, mom I am. But I’m in Florida right now. With Nate.”
“Nathaniel Zimmerman? You’re with Nathaniel?” Her mother always called him that. She hated nick names.
“Yes, I’m with Nate.”
“But why?”
“We’re working on a case together. Have you heard of the missing girls here in Florida? I’m helping Nate with that case. He called me in to talk to a witness.” It was enough of the truth that her mother would believe her and hopefully not press for more but not every detail. No need for her mother to worry. Betty Voigt loved to worry.
“What about your patients in Maryland?”
“Trish is taking care of everything. I’ve talked to her a few times. Dr. Borin is covering for me while I’m here. He’s pretty good.”
“Not as good as you. I’ve seen him on the stand.”
Ashley smiled. Her parents could sometimes be difficult but they never, ever failed to support her. She loved and missed them a great deal but it was hard for them to travel from Colorado and Ashley didn’t get out to visit them as much as she would like. “Thanks mom.”
The sound of the front door opening and closing interrupted Ashley’s conversation. She kept the phone to her ear and walked back out to the living room. It was Nate. “Hey mom, I’m going to have to call you back. Nate’s here and I think something's wrong."
Friday, May 30, 2008
Chapter 26
Nate wound his way through a small subdivision to find the one house that belonged to Jessica Rappaport’s father, David. Nate had not been the one to break the news to David about his wife Lea. For that he was grateful. Maybe the fresh face wouldn’t bring back so many bad memories.
After circling the neighborhood for what seemed like hours Nate came upon a small stucco house that looked like the small stucco house next to it except this one was painted a light brown while the other was painted a light mauvish color. Nate couldn’t be sure. Both homes had Spanish tiles on the roof, brown painted garages and no less then three palm trees in the front yard.
The yard was neatly trimmed but on the brownish side. This didn’t surprise Nate since they hadn’t had much rain lately. The sun was still up but hanging on by a thread. It was Fall, October to be exact and the sun was going down earlier and earlier but still there was a twinge of light at 7 in the evening and Nate was grateful for it.
The neighborhood was strangely quiet for so early on a Saturday evening. No children on bikes or playing in driveways. No elderly men and women sitting on their chairs on their porches watching the world go by. Instead there was nothing. He didn’t think his car was too obviously a police vehicle nor did he think this neighborhood would have been that concerned. Maybe there was something he didn’t know.
Nate lifted his hand to knock but before any sound came the door opened. A woman with a bikini top and very short shorts stepped out. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her skin was a leathery tan like she had been outside too much. She pulled sunglasses over her eyes as she stepped into the sun. She didn’t look Nate’s way.
“Get back here woman!” A man’s voice came from inside the house.
“I ain’t comin’ back. Besides, you got visitors.” The woman replied as she climbed into the Ford Mustang Nate had been sure not to park behind.
“What the…?” The man’s words were cut short when he saw Nate on his front doorstep. “Who the heck are you?” Only he didn’t say “heck” and his question was followed by more curse words. Nate waited without saying a word. Then, “Well, what do you want?”
“Mr. Rappaport?”
“That’s me. Are you some kind of reporter? Cause I’m sick of talking to reporters and I don’t got nothing else to say.” David Rappaport wore no shirt and his shorts were far enough down that Nate could see his underwear underneath. The distinct smell of cigarettes and alcohol had assaulted Nate the moment the door had opened. The smell was stronger when David was in front of him. David’s hair was what anyone would call “dirty blond” with a mixture of blond and brown. Unfortunately for David his appeared to also be truly dirty. It also lacked any style and was sticking up and laying down in no particular order on his head.
“No, sir, I’m with the FBI and I need to talk to you for a moment.”
“The FBI?” David’s brown eyes bore into Nate full of suspicion and wariness. This seemed odd to Nate since he had checked the man’s record and he’d had none. What was there to fear from the FBI or the police?
“Yes, sir. I’m here to talk to you about your daughter.”
A quizzical look crossed David’s face. “My daughter?”
“Jessica. You are David Rappaport, are you not?”
“Call me Dave.” A string of curse words followed his statements. Then he added, “Come in.” Dave stepped aside and Nate stepped through the door next to him. The smell became stronger like a stale bar that hadn’t been aired out in months. A non-smoker Nate was almost overwhelmed by the stench. There was almost no furniture in the small house. A torn up sofa sat across from an older but quite large TV. A TV stand table sat next to the couch. Empty beer bottles took up most of the tabletop.
The living room connected to the dining room which was empty except for a hanging chandelier indicating where a table should go and a desk to write on sitting against the wall. An opening above the desk gave Nate a peek into the kitchen beyond.
“Did you find her body then?” Dave asked with no emotion in his voice. Immediately Nate got suspicious. Why would he ask such a thing? Apparently sensing his uneasiness Dave added, “I seen the news. I ain’t no idiot. If you’re here that has to be why.”
“Unfortunately, Mr. Rappaport that is why I’m here. We found Jessica’s body this morning beside a lake in Sarasota. Do you know anything about this?”
“Look, Jessica was Lea’s kid. I adopted her when she was six to make Lea happy. I’m not really into kids so I didn’t much care for her but I liked Lea enough.”
“Mr. Rappaport, I have to tell you that I have come here to inform you about Jessica’s death. I must also tell you that Jessica was murdered so for me to hear a response like that from you does not make me think well of you. Do you understand what I’m saying?” The last sentence came out slowly and carefully to ensure that David Rappaport did not miss Nate’s meaning.
Dave quickly back peddled making clear to Nate that he understood. Dave threw his hands up in the air, “Look man, I didn’t have nothin’ to do with Lea’s or Jessica’s death.”
“Looks like you’ve moved on pretty quickly.”
“Her?” Dave indicated outside the window with his thumb. Nate nodded. “She’s just a friend.”
“Do you have a lot of ‘friends’?” Nate held up his fingers to indicate quotes.
“I have a few.” Nate looked at Dave again. His hands went up again. “It’s not like me and the old lady was getting on well. We had a few fights, no big deal. I’ve made a few new friends since we got married and Lea ain’t happy about it. But she was getting over it. She had to if she wanted to keep me.” Dave paused then added, “And she did.”
“Because you’re such a wonderful guy?”
Dave shrugged.
“Mr. Rappaport, did you have any idea that Jessica was pregnant?”
“What the…?” Dave proceeded to curse again. More than once. Saying things about Jessica that Nate had never wanted to hear. He was talking about a twelve year old girl. His words should not be coming out of a grown man’s mouth.
Nate cut him off, “Do you have any idea who the father is?”
“How should I know? That girl ran around with anybody.”
“Mr. Rappaport, she was twelve. I haven’t met any twelve year olds who run around with people.” Nate moved closer, “If you did anything to her, I swear that you will not get away with it. I will personally see to that.”
“Check me out, man, I’m clean.” The hands were in the air again.
Nate nodded. “I need to check out Jessica’s room.”
“Sure, fine.” Something flashed across his eyes. Then it was gone. “This way.” Nate followed Dave down a small hallway that ended abruptly in a bright pink room. The room was painted a bright pink on all four walls. Underneath the lone window opposite the door was a twin sized bed. It was covered in a black and white animal print comforter. The matching pillows and shams had a pink trim. A black-painted dresser was on the bed’s left. A matching desk was on the bed’s right. Animal print and pink trim were everywhere. Nate smiled. This girl had taste.
The room was perfectly neat and tidy. Not a thing was out of place. The bed was made and all the toys were put away. Pictures hung straight on the wall and sat straight on the desk. A pink laptop lay closed on the desk. Perfectly placed. Nate threw open the closet doors and found small clothes lined up in a row. The top of the closet was empty, the bottom was lined with shoes. Also perfectly straight. Three white boxes the size of shoe boxes were stacked in the closet corner. Flipping them open he found some papers inside each one.
Nate didn’t know that many kids but he had yet to meet one that kept their room this perfect without a reason. That reason was either a parent made them keep it this way or a parent did keep it this way. As Nate looked over the room Nate was betting on a little bit of both.
For all its cleanliness the room looked searched. When Nate opened up the desk drawers they had definitely been rummaged through. There were no papers in any of the drawers. There were plenty of pens and markers and crayons but no paper. The girl had to write on something.
Next Nate moved to the dresser and opened each drawer. Instead of being neat like the rest of the room the drawers were a mess and overflowing. Shorts were mixed with tops were mixed with pants. The entire room had the feel of being gone through and then straightened out afterwards in an attempt to make it look like no one had been there.
Someone had been looking for something.
Nate looked under the bed. Nothing.
Walking slowly across the floor Nate listened for a squeak or a crack. The floor beneath the carpet felt solid. Even at the corners and molding.
Assuming the obvious places had already been searched Nate checked out the less obvious ones and carefully began cutting open the mattress. Without a warrant he had to do his work discreetly. He had been given permission to search the room but if it appeared that he was tearing the place apart Dave could quickly ask him to leave. Then, if Dave had been the one to search the room he would search again and possibly find what he had been looking for and hide it. This was assuming he hadn’t already found it.
Nate couldn’t think about that.
Whatever might be hidden was not in the mattress. Or the pillows. Or under the bed.
Feeling between the mattress and box spring Nate felt something strange. A lump that shouldn’t be there but could easily be missed if one was just glancing. The question was how to get at it without attracting the attention of Dave who had left Nate alone to get a beer.
Nate knew he had left for a beer because he had offered Nate one. Twice. The man was into this alcohol. No surprise to Nate.
Quickly Nate unmade the bed and flipped the mattress. He ran his hand over the mattress again and found the same discrepancy. He cut into the mattress with a pocket knife. If Nate had been honest he would have hoped for a diary. The kind that spilled her guts. Said everything that needed to be said. Told him who got her pregnant and why she was kidnapped.
Instead he found a piece of paper with one word: zebra98
Nate made it for a password of some kind. Glancing at Jessica’s laptop Nate had a thought. But first he had to remake the bed as carefully as he had found it.
“Find anything?” Dave was standing in the doorway with his beer. Nate took a deep breath and hoped that Dave didn’t see him jump.
“Nothing yet.” Nate made a show of smoothing out the bed’s comforter and passing over the rest of the room with his eyes. His eyes landed on the laptop. “Can I take the computer? Maybe she stored something in there?”
“I don’t know, maybe. I checked around the room a bit, didn’t find anything.” He made a swirling motion with his beer to indicate the entire room.
That would explain the lousy search job.
“I understand. I’m going to take the computer and a few boxes from the closet. Maybe something in there will give us an indication as to who the father of her baby might be. DNA takes time.”
“DNA? What can they test?” Dave asked.
“Technicians will take DNA from the baby. When we have something to compare it to we’ll be able to tell who the father of the baby is.”
“And how long does that take?”
“Right now we have nothing to compare it to. Once we do it depends on how quickly the lab can get us the results. Sometimes a week, sometimes as much as six weeks.”
“Hmm, yea, I hope you find something.” Dave stepped out of the doorway and towards the front door of the house. Nate took that as his cue to leave, grabbed Jessica’s computer and a few boxes, then followed Dave to the front door.
With a wave and a nod the two parted ways and Nate made his way back to his cruiser. He left Dave staring after him on the front doorstep. Not for a second did Nate buy Dave’s innocent and helpful act. Nate could only hope Dave’s secret was contained in the laptop and three boxes he had taken from the house. And that that secret would lead to a break in his case and not a bigger set of complications.
After circling the neighborhood for what seemed like hours Nate came upon a small stucco house that looked like the small stucco house next to it except this one was painted a light brown while the other was painted a light mauvish color. Nate couldn’t be sure. Both homes had Spanish tiles on the roof, brown painted garages and no less then three palm trees in the front yard.
The yard was neatly trimmed but on the brownish side. This didn’t surprise Nate since they hadn’t had much rain lately. The sun was still up but hanging on by a thread. It was Fall, October to be exact and the sun was going down earlier and earlier but still there was a twinge of light at 7 in the evening and Nate was grateful for it.
The neighborhood was strangely quiet for so early on a Saturday evening. No children on bikes or playing in driveways. No elderly men and women sitting on their chairs on their porches watching the world go by. Instead there was nothing. He didn’t think his car was too obviously a police vehicle nor did he think this neighborhood would have been that concerned. Maybe there was something he didn’t know.
Nate lifted his hand to knock but before any sound came the door opened. A woman with a bikini top and very short shorts stepped out. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her skin was a leathery tan like she had been outside too much. She pulled sunglasses over her eyes as she stepped into the sun. She didn’t look Nate’s way.
“Get back here woman!” A man’s voice came from inside the house.
“I ain’t comin’ back. Besides, you got visitors.” The woman replied as she climbed into the Ford Mustang Nate had been sure not to park behind.
“What the…?” The man’s words were cut short when he saw Nate on his front doorstep. “Who the heck are you?” Only he didn’t say “heck” and his question was followed by more curse words. Nate waited without saying a word. Then, “Well, what do you want?”
“Mr. Rappaport?”
“That’s me. Are you some kind of reporter? Cause I’m sick of talking to reporters and I don’t got nothing else to say.” David Rappaport wore no shirt and his shorts were far enough down that Nate could see his underwear underneath. The distinct smell of cigarettes and alcohol had assaulted Nate the moment the door had opened. The smell was stronger when David was in front of him. David’s hair was what anyone would call “dirty blond” with a mixture of blond and brown. Unfortunately for David his appeared to also be truly dirty. It also lacked any style and was sticking up and laying down in no particular order on his head.
“No, sir, I’m with the FBI and I need to talk to you for a moment.”
“The FBI?” David’s brown eyes bore into Nate full of suspicion and wariness. This seemed odd to Nate since he had checked the man’s record and he’d had none. What was there to fear from the FBI or the police?
“Yes, sir. I’m here to talk to you about your daughter.”
A quizzical look crossed David’s face. “My daughter?”
“Jessica. You are David Rappaport, are you not?”
“Call me Dave.” A string of curse words followed his statements. Then he added, “Come in.” Dave stepped aside and Nate stepped through the door next to him. The smell became stronger like a stale bar that hadn’t been aired out in months. A non-smoker Nate was almost overwhelmed by the stench. There was almost no furniture in the small house. A torn up sofa sat across from an older but quite large TV. A TV stand table sat next to the couch. Empty beer bottles took up most of the tabletop.
The living room connected to the dining room which was empty except for a hanging chandelier indicating where a table should go and a desk to write on sitting against the wall. An opening above the desk gave Nate a peek into the kitchen beyond.
“Did you find her body then?” Dave asked with no emotion in his voice. Immediately Nate got suspicious. Why would he ask such a thing? Apparently sensing his uneasiness Dave added, “I seen the news. I ain’t no idiot. If you’re here that has to be why.”
“Unfortunately, Mr. Rappaport that is why I’m here. We found Jessica’s body this morning beside a lake in Sarasota. Do you know anything about this?”
“Look, Jessica was Lea’s kid. I adopted her when she was six to make Lea happy. I’m not really into kids so I didn’t much care for her but I liked Lea enough.”
“Mr. Rappaport, I have to tell you that I have come here to inform you about Jessica’s death. I must also tell you that Jessica was murdered so for me to hear a response like that from you does not make me think well of you. Do you understand what I’m saying?” The last sentence came out slowly and carefully to ensure that David Rappaport did not miss Nate’s meaning.
Dave quickly back peddled making clear to Nate that he understood. Dave threw his hands up in the air, “Look man, I didn’t have nothin’ to do with Lea’s or Jessica’s death.”
“Looks like you’ve moved on pretty quickly.”
“Her?” Dave indicated outside the window with his thumb. Nate nodded. “She’s just a friend.”
“Do you have a lot of ‘friends’?” Nate held up his fingers to indicate quotes.
“I have a few.” Nate looked at Dave again. His hands went up again. “It’s not like me and the old lady was getting on well. We had a few fights, no big deal. I’ve made a few new friends since we got married and Lea ain’t happy about it. But she was getting over it. She had to if she wanted to keep me.” Dave paused then added, “And she did.”
“Because you’re such a wonderful guy?”
Dave shrugged.
“Mr. Rappaport, did you have any idea that Jessica was pregnant?”
“What the…?” Dave proceeded to curse again. More than once. Saying things about Jessica that Nate had never wanted to hear. He was talking about a twelve year old girl. His words should not be coming out of a grown man’s mouth.
Nate cut him off, “Do you have any idea who the father is?”
“How should I know? That girl ran around with anybody.”
“Mr. Rappaport, she was twelve. I haven’t met any twelve year olds who run around with people.” Nate moved closer, “If you did anything to her, I swear that you will not get away with it. I will personally see to that.”
“Check me out, man, I’m clean.” The hands were in the air again.
Nate nodded. “I need to check out Jessica’s room.”
“Sure, fine.” Something flashed across his eyes. Then it was gone. “This way.” Nate followed Dave down a small hallway that ended abruptly in a bright pink room. The room was painted a bright pink on all four walls. Underneath the lone window opposite the door was a twin sized bed. It was covered in a black and white animal print comforter. The matching pillows and shams had a pink trim. A black-painted dresser was on the bed’s left. A matching desk was on the bed’s right. Animal print and pink trim were everywhere. Nate smiled. This girl had taste.
The room was perfectly neat and tidy. Not a thing was out of place. The bed was made and all the toys were put away. Pictures hung straight on the wall and sat straight on the desk. A pink laptop lay closed on the desk. Perfectly placed. Nate threw open the closet doors and found small clothes lined up in a row. The top of the closet was empty, the bottom was lined with shoes. Also perfectly straight. Three white boxes the size of shoe boxes were stacked in the closet corner. Flipping them open he found some papers inside each one.
Nate didn’t know that many kids but he had yet to meet one that kept their room this perfect without a reason. That reason was either a parent made them keep it this way or a parent did keep it this way. As Nate looked over the room Nate was betting on a little bit of both.
For all its cleanliness the room looked searched. When Nate opened up the desk drawers they had definitely been rummaged through. There were no papers in any of the drawers. There were plenty of pens and markers and crayons but no paper. The girl had to write on something.
Next Nate moved to the dresser and opened each drawer. Instead of being neat like the rest of the room the drawers were a mess and overflowing. Shorts were mixed with tops were mixed with pants. The entire room had the feel of being gone through and then straightened out afterwards in an attempt to make it look like no one had been there.
Someone had been looking for something.
Nate looked under the bed. Nothing.
Walking slowly across the floor Nate listened for a squeak or a crack. The floor beneath the carpet felt solid. Even at the corners and molding.
Assuming the obvious places had already been searched Nate checked out the less obvious ones and carefully began cutting open the mattress. Without a warrant he had to do his work discreetly. He had been given permission to search the room but if it appeared that he was tearing the place apart Dave could quickly ask him to leave. Then, if Dave had been the one to search the room he would search again and possibly find what he had been looking for and hide it. This was assuming he hadn’t already found it.
Nate couldn’t think about that.
Whatever might be hidden was not in the mattress. Or the pillows. Or under the bed.
Feeling between the mattress and box spring Nate felt something strange. A lump that shouldn’t be there but could easily be missed if one was just glancing. The question was how to get at it without attracting the attention of Dave who had left Nate alone to get a beer.
Nate knew he had left for a beer because he had offered Nate one. Twice. The man was into this alcohol. No surprise to Nate.
Quickly Nate unmade the bed and flipped the mattress. He ran his hand over the mattress again and found the same discrepancy. He cut into the mattress with a pocket knife. If Nate had been honest he would have hoped for a diary. The kind that spilled her guts. Said everything that needed to be said. Told him who got her pregnant and why she was kidnapped.
Instead he found a piece of paper with one word: zebra98
Nate made it for a password of some kind. Glancing at Jessica’s laptop Nate had a thought. But first he had to remake the bed as carefully as he had found it.
“Find anything?” Dave was standing in the doorway with his beer. Nate took a deep breath and hoped that Dave didn’t see him jump.
“Nothing yet.” Nate made a show of smoothing out the bed’s comforter and passing over the rest of the room with his eyes. His eyes landed on the laptop. “Can I take the computer? Maybe she stored something in there?”
“I don’t know, maybe. I checked around the room a bit, didn’t find anything.” He made a swirling motion with his beer to indicate the entire room.
That would explain the lousy search job.
“I understand. I’m going to take the computer and a few boxes from the closet. Maybe something in there will give us an indication as to who the father of her baby might be. DNA takes time.”
“DNA? What can they test?” Dave asked.
“Technicians will take DNA from the baby. When we have something to compare it to we’ll be able to tell who the father of the baby is.”
“And how long does that take?”
“Right now we have nothing to compare it to. Once we do it depends on how quickly the lab can get us the results. Sometimes a week, sometimes as much as six weeks.”
“Hmm, yea, I hope you find something.” Dave stepped out of the doorway and towards the front door of the house. Nate took that as his cue to leave, grabbed Jessica’s computer and a few boxes, then followed Dave to the front door.
With a wave and a nod the two parted ways and Nate made his way back to his cruiser. He left Dave staring after him on the front doorstep. Not for a second did Nate buy Dave’s innocent and helpful act. Nate could only hope Dave’s secret was contained in the laptop and three boxes he had taken from the house. And that that secret would lead to a break in his case and not a bigger set of complications.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Chapter 25
**** Author's note: I apologize for the delay in getting up another chapter - it's been a busy week with the end of school and traveling to Florida - now that I'm here I will try to update and write more frequently - thanks for bugging me! ******
Nate cut the interview with Annabeth short. Ashley had been through enough. She didn’t need the third degree on something Nate was sure she didn’t do nor had anything to do with. With a gentle hand, Nate steered Ashley past Annabeth and to Nate’s car. Nate opened the passenger side door and waited for Ashley to seat herself comfortably before closing it behind her. He walked around the front of the vehicle keeping his eyes on Ashley the entire time in case she decided to get out of the car and run.
“You need a break,” Ashley said when he made it to the driver’s seat. Always like her to think of others first.
“I’m fine. You’re the one I’d worry about,” Nate said. “You’re not leaving my sight again until we catch the monster responsible for this.”
“I’ll be okay, Nate, really…”
“You say that and yet you’re not,” Nate said. Nate looked out the front window at the chaos in front of him. Part of him wanted to jump out of the car and get back to work but the rest of him knew he needed to be right where he was. In the quiet with Ashley.
“Ashley, I just… It’s been twelve years…”
“Nothing’s changed.”
“Why not?”
“Nate, they were shot down in cold blood. You don’t just get over that.”
“Have you thought about forgiving and letting go?” Nate chose his words carefully. To him it had been twelve years, to Ashley it was yesterday.
“How can I forgive the man that murdered my only son? Who murdered my husband? While I was twenty feet away!” Ashley looked out her own window leaving Nate to stare at the back of her head. It was a nice head, with her brown hair pulled back into a playful ponytail. Or it would have been playful if the head it was on wasn’t so angry.
“Ashley, the man who murdered them is in jail. You have to let it go…”
“I can’t!” The ponytail swished as she turned back to him, her face now red and flushed. “This man took my family away. The life I had. Everything I loved. What am I left with? What does it matter?”
“But you’re still here. And that isn’t an accident…”
“I’m here so Jimmy can taunt me. So he can flaunt what he did in front of me for twelve years. I wish he would’ve killed me that day. I wish I had died there with Donnie and Aidan.”
“But you didn’t.” Nate couldn’t help but push a stray strand of Ashley’s hair back behind her ear. She blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall and looked away once more. “Have you ever thought there could be a reason?”
“Of course,” Ashley looked Nate in the eye. “I’m here to help find the scum of the earth who hurt children. I’m here to save the children even when I couldn’t save my own. I instruct the courts when to take children out of their homes to keep them safe and yet, I couldn’t keep my own son safe…” Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip.
“Ashley, that sounds like a rehearsed speech. Have you thought deeper then that? Like there’s a chance that someone higher then you is keeping you here for another reason?”
“Like a higher power?” Her sarcasm was not lost on him.
“Yes, like a higher power. Like God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. That kind of higher power…”
“Not your God speech again. You can’t seriously be throwing this in my face.”
“Ashley, I’m not throwing it in your face. I’m worried about you. I have been for a long time,” Nate paused and ran his hand down Ashley’s cheek. “Sometimes, Ashley, the forgiveness isn’t for the person who has done the wrong but the person who has been wronged. The anger that you’ve been holding in has been affecting you. Jimmy’s rotting in prison and he doesn’t care if you hate him or not. In fact, he may want you to. Maybe it’s time for you to do something for you and not for him.”
“But I don’t know how.” The tears were spilling out now. With his eyes, Nate traced them down her cheek and onto the collar of her shirt. Nate wasn’t sure what to say so he said nothing. The truth was he didn’t have the answers. He had never experienced such a painful loss as what Ashley had been through. What he did know is that after twelve years she hadn’t been able to move on and she truly needed to.
“The truth is, Nate that I want to move on. But every time I try I see Aidan’s face and I feel like I’m being unfaithful. Like I’m not a good mother…”
“But you were the best mother. Aidan knew that as tiny as he was. He loved you and so did Donnie and I know that both of them would want you to be happy. They wouldn’t want you sitting around miserable,” Nate said.
“I know all that. I’ve tried. I went back to school. I got my Master’s and I got a job. I started helping kids. I did go on with my life but yet, it doesn’t feel like it at all.”
“When was the last time you dated someone?”
Ashley looked down at her perfectly manicured hands. Painted a light pink they sparkled when the sunlight hit them making the tan on her arms appear even darker. “It’s been a while.”
“And how did that end?”
“Look, I have a mad man following me. You know about the flowers but what you don’t know is every time I start seeing someone strange things happen. One guy went missing. One guy got hit by a car.”
“That might not have been related…”
“After each incident I got a note from Jimmy taking credit for whatever went wrong.”
“It doesn’t make sense. He’s in prison. How can he be contacting you?” Nate rubbed his chin in thought. “Stranger still, if he truly was a deranged husband why would he still care about you?”
“I don’t know. I’ve gone over it again and again. All I can come up with is that his actions caused him to lose his girlfriend permanently and he still blames me.” Ashley sighed and Nate wished there was some way he could take away her pain.
“Seems like it was his own fault.”
“I know that and you know that but delusional people don’t necessarily understand. When he was tried and convicted he said his reasons for killing Donnie and Aidan was because he was angry with me for counseling his girlfriend to leave him and he wanted me to know the same pain he felt.”
“And you have. The only way to move on now is to be better then him. To not continue to feel the pain. Maybe even to date someone else.”
“Nate, I’ve already told you what happens when I date someone…”
“I’m willing to take my chances.” The words came out before Nate had a chance to stop them. The smile Ashley tried to hide after he did said them made him glad he had.
“Thanks Nate, I appreciate all you’re trying to do for me. I have to work through this. I know that. I’ve spent so many years hiding and crying that I feel like I’ve lost myself.” Ashley wiped away the tears that still remained on her cheek and forced a smile. Nate understood from her demeanor that the conversation was over. “You’ve got work to do and so do I. Thing may not be right in my life but these families need my help and that’s something I can do.”
“I agree. I need to finish up a few things here and then head back to the office. I don’t want you out of my sight so please stay put.” Nate drilled into Ashley with his eyes but she did not respond or nod. “Am I clear?” Finally an almost imperceptible nod. The real question was whether or not she would actually listen.
Nate climbed out of the driver’s seat and headed back to the scene. As he gathered information from Eric and Annabeth he found that not much had changed. The medical examiner had Jessica’s remains on the way back to the morgue and the crime scene technicians were processing the scene. So far they had gathered very little. It appeared that the girl had not been killed here, instead her body had either washed up on the shore of the “lake” or it had been dumped next to it. Because of Ashley’s phone call Nate was going with dumped next to it.
The homeowner’s of the house directly in front of the lake had been contacted and checked out. They had been out of town for over a week. While it appeared Jessica had been dead for a few weeks the technicians had not yet found any indication that the body had been in its final resting place for more than a few days.
“See the soil impressions here?” One of the technicians asked pointing to the area that once held Jessica’s body.
Nate had nodded as though he understood.
“If the body had been here for a longer period of time we wouldn’t see as much leaf breakage,” the technician pointed to the branches around the indentation. “The trees would have had time to re-grow but as you can see they haven’t. These branches have been recently broken. I’d say this is where they left her body.”
Nate nodded again. He didn’t care about the science behind what the technicians found just that they did their job and that their reports made sense both to him and to a jury. Juries these days wanted hard evidence including DNA to tell them who did it and why. Science had never been Nate’s thing but he knew how important it was and why he needed it to put criminals behind bars. And so, he always politely nodded when the techs gave him information and never rushed them.
“Thanks for your work.” Nate left the technicians and other agents to do their job. Now he was left with the dreaded task of informing another father about the loss of his child. While his talk with Ashley had made him feel better nothing could take away the pain and dread he felt when notifying a family of a deceased loved one. Especially when that one was a child. Nate prayed for at least the thousandth time that this would be the last one. Because if it wasn’t he didn’t know what he would do or how much more he could handle.
Nate cut the interview with Annabeth short. Ashley had been through enough. She didn’t need the third degree on something Nate was sure she didn’t do nor had anything to do with. With a gentle hand, Nate steered Ashley past Annabeth and to Nate’s car. Nate opened the passenger side door and waited for Ashley to seat herself comfortably before closing it behind her. He walked around the front of the vehicle keeping his eyes on Ashley the entire time in case she decided to get out of the car and run.
“You need a break,” Ashley said when he made it to the driver’s seat. Always like her to think of others first.
“I’m fine. You’re the one I’d worry about,” Nate said. “You’re not leaving my sight again until we catch the monster responsible for this.”
“I’ll be okay, Nate, really…”
“You say that and yet you’re not,” Nate said. Nate looked out the front window at the chaos in front of him. Part of him wanted to jump out of the car and get back to work but the rest of him knew he needed to be right where he was. In the quiet with Ashley.
“Ashley, I just… It’s been twelve years…”
“Nothing’s changed.”
“Why not?”
“Nate, they were shot down in cold blood. You don’t just get over that.”
“Have you thought about forgiving and letting go?” Nate chose his words carefully. To him it had been twelve years, to Ashley it was yesterday.
“How can I forgive the man that murdered my only son? Who murdered my husband? While I was twenty feet away!” Ashley looked out her own window leaving Nate to stare at the back of her head. It was a nice head, with her brown hair pulled back into a playful ponytail. Or it would have been playful if the head it was on wasn’t so angry.
“Ashley, the man who murdered them is in jail. You have to let it go…”
“I can’t!” The ponytail swished as she turned back to him, her face now red and flushed. “This man took my family away. The life I had. Everything I loved. What am I left with? What does it matter?”
“But you’re still here. And that isn’t an accident…”
“I’m here so Jimmy can taunt me. So he can flaunt what he did in front of me for twelve years. I wish he would’ve killed me that day. I wish I had died there with Donnie and Aidan.”
“But you didn’t.” Nate couldn’t help but push a stray strand of Ashley’s hair back behind her ear. She blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall and looked away once more. “Have you ever thought there could be a reason?”
“Of course,” Ashley looked Nate in the eye. “I’m here to help find the scum of the earth who hurt children. I’m here to save the children even when I couldn’t save my own. I instruct the courts when to take children out of their homes to keep them safe and yet, I couldn’t keep my own son safe…” Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip.
“Ashley, that sounds like a rehearsed speech. Have you thought deeper then that? Like there’s a chance that someone higher then you is keeping you here for another reason?”
“Like a higher power?” Her sarcasm was not lost on him.
“Yes, like a higher power. Like God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. That kind of higher power…”
“Not your God speech again. You can’t seriously be throwing this in my face.”
“Ashley, I’m not throwing it in your face. I’m worried about you. I have been for a long time,” Nate paused and ran his hand down Ashley’s cheek. “Sometimes, Ashley, the forgiveness isn’t for the person who has done the wrong but the person who has been wronged. The anger that you’ve been holding in has been affecting you. Jimmy’s rotting in prison and he doesn’t care if you hate him or not. In fact, he may want you to. Maybe it’s time for you to do something for you and not for him.”
“But I don’t know how.” The tears were spilling out now. With his eyes, Nate traced them down her cheek and onto the collar of her shirt. Nate wasn’t sure what to say so he said nothing. The truth was he didn’t have the answers. He had never experienced such a painful loss as what Ashley had been through. What he did know is that after twelve years she hadn’t been able to move on and she truly needed to.
“The truth is, Nate that I want to move on. But every time I try I see Aidan’s face and I feel like I’m being unfaithful. Like I’m not a good mother…”
“But you were the best mother. Aidan knew that as tiny as he was. He loved you and so did Donnie and I know that both of them would want you to be happy. They wouldn’t want you sitting around miserable,” Nate said.
“I know all that. I’ve tried. I went back to school. I got my Master’s and I got a job. I started helping kids. I did go on with my life but yet, it doesn’t feel like it at all.”
“When was the last time you dated someone?”
Ashley looked down at her perfectly manicured hands. Painted a light pink they sparkled when the sunlight hit them making the tan on her arms appear even darker. “It’s been a while.”
“And how did that end?”
“Look, I have a mad man following me. You know about the flowers but what you don’t know is every time I start seeing someone strange things happen. One guy went missing. One guy got hit by a car.”
“That might not have been related…”
“After each incident I got a note from Jimmy taking credit for whatever went wrong.”
“It doesn’t make sense. He’s in prison. How can he be contacting you?” Nate rubbed his chin in thought. “Stranger still, if he truly was a deranged husband why would he still care about you?”
“I don’t know. I’ve gone over it again and again. All I can come up with is that his actions caused him to lose his girlfriend permanently and he still blames me.” Ashley sighed and Nate wished there was some way he could take away her pain.
“Seems like it was his own fault.”
“I know that and you know that but delusional people don’t necessarily understand. When he was tried and convicted he said his reasons for killing Donnie and Aidan was because he was angry with me for counseling his girlfriend to leave him and he wanted me to know the same pain he felt.”
“And you have. The only way to move on now is to be better then him. To not continue to feel the pain. Maybe even to date someone else.”
“Nate, I’ve already told you what happens when I date someone…”
“I’m willing to take my chances.” The words came out before Nate had a chance to stop them. The smile Ashley tried to hide after he did said them made him glad he had.
“Thanks Nate, I appreciate all you’re trying to do for me. I have to work through this. I know that. I’ve spent so many years hiding and crying that I feel like I’ve lost myself.” Ashley wiped away the tears that still remained on her cheek and forced a smile. Nate understood from her demeanor that the conversation was over. “You’ve got work to do and so do I. Thing may not be right in my life but these families need my help and that’s something I can do.”
“I agree. I need to finish up a few things here and then head back to the office. I don’t want you out of my sight so please stay put.” Nate drilled into Ashley with his eyes but she did not respond or nod. “Am I clear?” Finally an almost imperceptible nod. The real question was whether or not she would actually listen.
Nate climbed out of the driver’s seat and headed back to the scene. As he gathered information from Eric and Annabeth he found that not much had changed. The medical examiner had Jessica’s remains on the way back to the morgue and the crime scene technicians were processing the scene. So far they had gathered very little. It appeared that the girl had not been killed here, instead her body had either washed up on the shore of the “lake” or it had been dumped next to it. Because of Ashley’s phone call Nate was going with dumped next to it.
The homeowner’s of the house directly in front of the lake had been contacted and checked out. They had been out of town for over a week. While it appeared Jessica had been dead for a few weeks the technicians had not yet found any indication that the body had been in its final resting place for more than a few days.
“See the soil impressions here?” One of the technicians asked pointing to the area that once held Jessica’s body.
Nate had nodded as though he understood.
“If the body had been here for a longer period of time we wouldn’t see as much leaf breakage,” the technician pointed to the branches around the indentation. “The trees would have had time to re-grow but as you can see they haven’t. These branches have been recently broken. I’d say this is where they left her body.”
Nate nodded again. He didn’t care about the science behind what the technicians found just that they did their job and that their reports made sense both to him and to a jury. Juries these days wanted hard evidence including DNA to tell them who did it and why. Science had never been Nate’s thing but he knew how important it was and why he needed it to put criminals behind bars. And so, he always politely nodded when the techs gave him information and never rushed them.
“Thanks for your work.” Nate left the technicians and other agents to do their job. Now he was left with the dreaded task of informing another father about the loss of his child. While his talk with Ashley had made him feel better nothing could take away the pain and dread he felt when notifying a family of a deceased loved one. Especially when that one was a child. Nate prayed for at least the thousandth time that this would be the last one. Because if it wasn’t he didn’t know what he would do or how much more he could handle.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Chapter 24
Todd Purcell zipped up his pants as he exited the room. With a grunt and a shrug he made his way to the kitchen to get a beer. Always good after a little pleasure.
He stopped short when he sensed him. He hadn’t seen him yet but Todd could always tell when he was there. His heart beat faster and his palms started to sweat. Todd called him the Man. Truth was he didn’t know his name but he knew he answered to him.
“How was she?” He asked from darkness of the living room.
“Louder then the others. That ones a screamer but we’ll break her. We always do.” Todd tried to keep his voice light, to keep the tremor out of it but it was impossible when he was around. This was the one man that Todd both feared and admired.
“What about the others?” It was more of an accusation then a question. Todd knew he would have to answer for his actions but had hoped that killing Jonathan would have been enough. Now he wasn’t so sure.
“That was Jonathan’s mess. I took care of him.”
“I know. It’s all over the news. Your incompetence is not encouraging.” The Man was close enough to see now. The faint light of the kitchen was absorbed by his black eyes. Did this Man even have a soul?
“It wasn’t me. Jonathan…” He held up his hand and Todd stopped his words.
“I know who it was but I paid you for five girls. Now you only have two. I expect you to make up the difference. And you only have one week to do it. I am not leaving the country without all the girls I need.”
“Two? What about Jessica?” Todd’s palms were sweaty again. This wasn’t part of his deal. Where would he find three more girls on such short notice?
“Let’s just say that she didn’t work for me and her family will pay the price.” He moved back his jacket and Todd didn’t miss the gun in his belt. “The price was for five girls and I will have them or you will meet Jonathan’s fate.”
“What about the other girl?” Todd asked.
“Which one?”
“Kayla. When do I get to break her?” Todd licked his lips. Of all the girls she was the youngest and most beautiful. He yearned to feel her soft skin.
“She is mine and she is off-limits. Take the other one but do not touch her.”
Todd held up his hands, “Fine, fine! I get the idea.” Todd shrugged and grabbed his beer out of the refrigerator. He took a swig and looked back at The Man. Why was he still here? He only showed up when he wanted something and yet he hadn’t said anything. Todd eyed the Man’s gun again and his heart began to pound. Was he here to kill him?
The Man grinned, “Don’t worry Todd, I’m not here to kill you. I, do, however need you to do something for me.”
He handed Todd a list of names. These would be the other three girls they needed. The Man gave explicit instructions that these girls were not to be taken in the same way as the others. They already had enough trouble with the FBI especially Agent Zimmerman.
“You will get this done or you will meet the same fate as your friend Jonathan,” The Man patted his gun and left Todd alone in the apartment. Making appointments for Julia’s suitors would have to wait. He had a lot more work to do and not a lot of time to do it in if he valued his own life.
Ashley held on to Nate’s hand and let him bring her to her feet. She leaned against the tree and looked around her. The woods, the lake. Something just wasn’t right. Something had been wrong with Jessica.
“Something’s wrong,” Ashley said.
“What do you mean?” Nate asked.
“I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about Jessica. Something isn’t right.” Ashley began walking towards the lake and towards Jessica. “I need to see the body.”
“The medical examiner isn’t here yet and you need to clear the scene. I can’t let you…”
“Nate, you called me here to help. My gift may be to talk with children but I am a trained Forensic Psychologist and you need my opinion. I wasn’t wrong about the other things, I’m not wrong now.”
Nate sighed but allowed Ashley to come with him to examine the body when Dr. Brekken showed up. Ashley said little as they waited. She kept her eyes averted from the tiny form that still lay covered by the lake. She could tell by the gray color of Jessica’s hands that she had been there for a while.
Ashley looked the girl up and down. Despite her grayish tone Ashley could see old bruising. Her wrists and ankles appeared to have rope marks around them. She had been bound. Some of her wounds looked fresh but some looked old. Ashley crouched down to get a better look. Tree limbs covered most of the body. Her tank top was covered in mud but Ashley thought it used to be yellow. A bright color for a beautiful child. Child, who did this to you? Ashley raised her hand to lift away a branch from across Jessica’s legs.
“Don’t touch the body,” An officer chided from behind her.
Ashley held up her hand in acknowledgement. She hadn’t been around long but she knew enough not to touch things. Without the branch it was obvious that Jessica’s pants were torn and hanging on by a thread. Blood pooled around her groin area, soaking into the dirt. “She didn’t wash up here, she was placed there.”
“It’s a bad body dump if I ever saw one,” Nate said.
“I don’t think anyone was trying to hide her. Remember, someone sent me here. It had to be for a reason.” Ashley pointed to marks on Jessica’s shoulders and legs, “Do you see these marks, Nate? These are old wounds. This is a deep scar underneath her arm that doesn’t look like it healed properly.”
“How can you tell?” Nate asked.
“See how wide the scar is? It looks like there was gaping skin open in this area. If it had received proper treatment it would have been healed in a straight line, or at least a jagged one. This looks untouched…”
“Good observation Ms. Parks,” a female voice came from behind Ashley. She stood to see the medical examiner, Dr. Brekken walking towards them. Her short brown hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and she wore dark rimmed eyeglasses that made her look like a TV nerd. But the freckles on her face gave her such a girlish look that one would know the glasses were only there to accentuate her intelligence.
Ashley stepped out of the doctor’s way and let her get to work. Crime scene technicians took photographs of every move that was made. This tiny girl was being reduced to a sum of photographs and whatever her family remembered of her. At least what was left of her family which as far as Ashley knew only included her father. Twelve years reduced to a nightmare ending. Maybe it was better that Aidan’s life ended so young. Better to avoid the real pain of this horrible life.
“She was pregnant,” Dr. Brekken’s words cut through Ashley’s tirade against life.
“What?” At least four voices around Ashley asked the same question.
“Tell-tale bump right here,” Kelly pointed to Jessica’s abdomen. How Ashley had missed it she wasn’t sure given the clinginess of the girl’s clothes.
“She’s only been missing for four weeks…” Nate said.
“Then this was from before the kidnapping. I’d say she’s between three and four months along.”
“She was only twelve,” Ashley bit back the tears that threatened to overflow. How could it be worse? Nate grabbed Ashley’s shoulders and attempted to turn her away from the scene but Ashley dug her rubber soled heels into the ground. She wished she’d had her stilettos, those would stick better. When Ashley didn’t move, Nate let her go but his eyes relayed the message that they would discuss the topic later.
“What was the cause of death?” Nate asked turning his attention back to Kelly.
“Strangulation. Looks like with a belt around the neck. If I had to guess I’d say a man’s belt but we’ll know more once I get her back to autopsy.”
“Same COD as the other victims,” Eric said.
“True,” Kelly replied, “But if I remember correctly, Dr. Folek told me those girls were strangled by hand, this girl was strangled by a belt. More forethought, less anger. I believe you have more then one killer.”
“Was she raped?” It was Nate again asking the question that everyone wanted to know the answer too but didn’t want to ask.
“I can’t tell that here, I need to get her back. Dr. Folek and I will perform the autopsy and I’ll get you results as quickly as I can.”
One of Kelly’s assistants had rolled the black gurney down between the houses and the trees and back to the pseudo lake. After Jessica was loaded onto the gurney and zipped into the black bag that covered her face, Ashley finally felt free to leave the area. Nate followed without a word, making no attempt to hide his protective stance. If someone was going to get to her, he would have to go through him.
Despite her desire to be self-sufficient, Ashley didn’t mind Nate next to her. She didn’t mind his protective nature.
The kiss.
Ashley had just discovered a dead body after a voice on the phone told her where to go and all Ashley could think about was Nate’s kiss. She hadn’t really noticed him before… No, that was a lie. She’d always noticed Nate but she never thought that he wanted anything to do with her. Sure they’d flirted in college but when Donnie came along Nate never said a word. He was in their wedding. He called and visited when Aidan was born. He never said a word. Had she missed it or just chosen to ignore it?
Ashley walked with Nate through the backyard and into the front. Unlike the other girls Ashley felt no evil here. No terror. No fear. Jessica hadn’t been killed here, only dumped.
The once quiet cul-de-sac now bustled with police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Officers were working everywhere, canvassing the neighborhood and taping off the scene. Horrible yellow tape already covered the yard Ashley had exited. With nothing better to do two paramedics rushed Ashley and walked her to their bus leaving Nate standing alone in the driveway.
“I’m fine, really.” Ashley pushed the paramedics back.
“Are you injured ma’am?” One of them asked.
“No, seriously I’m fine. I need to help Agent Zimmerman, please let me go.” Ashley pushed to stand. Her world swam around her but she stood still lest the paramedics decide she needed to go to the hospital for some reason.
“Wait there Ms. Parks. I have some questions for you.” Ashley recognized Nate’s Lieutenant, Annabeth Porter and sighed.
“Yes, Ms. Porter?”
“How did you find Jessica’s body?” Annabeth’s black hair was slicked back into a bun and away from her dark face. Her brown eyes had a tint of purple around them and her large lips were colored soft lavender. Ashley thought it looked nice on her.
“I was jogging when my phone rang. I answered it…”
“Do you know who called you?”
“No, I didn’t recognize the voice or the number.”
“And yet you did what he said,” Annabeth’s tone was no less then demeaning.
“He told me that if I didn’t listen he would kill Officer Easton.”
“And yet Officer Easton is dead. How do I know you didn’t shoot him and then find this little girl?”
“I didn’t kill anybody.”
“But maybe you’re working for someone who did…” Ashley knew Annabeth had to ask these questions but they were still painful to hear.
“I have no idea…”
“Then why are we always coming back to you? What’s your connection?” If only Annabeth knew how much Ashley wanted to know the same thing.
He stopped short when he sensed him. He hadn’t seen him yet but Todd could always tell when he was there. His heart beat faster and his palms started to sweat. Todd called him the Man. Truth was he didn’t know his name but he knew he answered to him.
“How was she?” He asked from darkness of the living room.
“Louder then the others. That ones a screamer but we’ll break her. We always do.” Todd tried to keep his voice light, to keep the tremor out of it but it was impossible when he was around. This was the one man that Todd both feared and admired.
“What about the others?” It was more of an accusation then a question. Todd knew he would have to answer for his actions but had hoped that killing Jonathan would have been enough. Now he wasn’t so sure.
“That was Jonathan’s mess. I took care of him.”
“I know. It’s all over the news. Your incompetence is not encouraging.” The Man was close enough to see now. The faint light of the kitchen was absorbed by his black eyes. Did this Man even have a soul?
“It wasn’t me. Jonathan…” He held up his hand and Todd stopped his words.
“I know who it was but I paid you for five girls. Now you only have two. I expect you to make up the difference. And you only have one week to do it. I am not leaving the country without all the girls I need.”
“Two? What about Jessica?” Todd’s palms were sweaty again. This wasn’t part of his deal. Where would he find three more girls on such short notice?
“Let’s just say that she didn’t work for me and her family will pay the price.” He moved back his jacket and Todd didn’t miss the gun in his belt. “The price was for five girls and I will have them or you will meet Jonathan’s fate.”
“What about the other girl?” Todd asked.
“Which one?”
“Kayla. When do I get to break her?” Todd licked his lips. Of all the girls she was the youngest and most beautiful. He yearned to feel her soft skin.
“She is mine and she is off-limits. Take the other one but do not touch her.”
Todd held up his hands, “Fine, fine! I get the idea.” Todd shrugged and grabbed his beer out of the refrigerator. He took a swig and looked back at The Man. Why was he still here? He only showed up when he wanted something and yet he hadn’t said anything. Todd eyed the Man’s gun again and his heart began to pound. Was he here to kill him?
The Man grinned, “Don’t worry Todd, I’m not here to kill you. I, do, however need you to do something for me.”
He handed Todd a list of names. These would be the other three girls they needed. The Man gave explicit instructions that these girls were not to be taken in the same way as the others. They already had enough trouble with the FBI especially Agent Zimmerman.
“You will get this done or you will meet the same fate as your friend Jonathan,” The Man patted his gun and left Todd alone in the apartment. Making appointments for Julia’s suitors would have to wait. He had a lot more work to do and not a lot of time to do it in if he valued his own life.
Ashley held on to Nate’s hand and let him bring her to her feet. She leaned against the tree and looked around her. The woods, the lake. Something just wasn’t right. Something had been wrong with Jessica.
“Something’s wrong,” Ashley said.
“What do you mean?” Nate asked.
“I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about Jessica. Something isn’t right.” Ashley began walking towards the lake and towards Jessica. “I need to see the body.”
“The medical examiner isn’t here yet and you need to clear the scene. I can’t let you…”
“Nate, you called me here to help. My gift may be to talk with children but I am a trained Forensic Psychologist and you need my opinion. I wasn’t wrong about the other things, I’m not wrong now.”
Nate sighed but allowed Ashley to come with him to examine the body when Dr. Brekken showed up. Ashley said little as they waited. She kept her eyes averted from the tiny form that still lay covered by the lake. She could tell by the gray color of Jessica’s hands that she had been there for a while.
Ashley looked the girl up and down. Despite her grayish tone Ashley could see old bruising. Her wrists and ankles appeared to have rope marks around them. She had been bound. Some of her wounds looked fresh but some looked old. Ashley crouched down to get a better look. Tree limbs covered most of the body. Her tank top was covered in mud but Ashley thought it used to be yellow. A bright color for a beautiful child. Child, who did this to you? Ashley raised her hand to lift away a branch from across Jessica’s legs.
“Don’t touch the body,” An officer chided from behind her.
Ashley held up her hand in acknowledgement. She hadn’t been around long but she knew enough not to touch things. Without the branch it was obvious that Jessica’s pants were torn and hanging on by a thread. Blood pooled around her groin area, soaking into the dirt. “She didn’t wash up here, she was placed there.”
“It’s a bad body dump if I ever saw one,” Nate said.
“I don’t think anyone was trying to hide her. Remember, someone sent me here. It had to be for a reason.” Ashley pointed to marks on Jessica’s shoulders and legs, “Do you see these marks, Nate? These are old wounds. This is a deep scar underneath her arm that doesn’t look like it healed properly.”
“How can you tell?” Nate asked.
“See how wide the scar is? It looks like there was gaping skin open in this area. If it had received proper treatment it would have been healed in a straight line, or at least a jagged one. This looks untouched…”
“Good observation Ms. Parks,” a female voice came from behind Ashley. She stood to see the medical examiner, Dr. Brekken walking towards them. Her short brown hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and she wore dark rimmed eyeglasses that made her look like a TV nerd. But the freckles on her face gave her such a girlish look that one would know the glasses were only there to accentuate her intelligence.
Ashley stepped out of the doctor’s way and let her get to work. Crime scene technicians took photographs of every move that was made. This tiny girl was being reduced to a sum of photographs and whatever her family remembered of her. At least what was left of her family which as far as Ashley knew only included her father. Twelve years reduced to a nightmare ending. Maybe it was better that Aidan’s life ended so young. Better to avoid the real pain of this horrible life.
“She was pregnant,” Dr. Brekken’s words cut through Ashley’s tirade against life.
“What?” At least four voices around Ashley asked the same question.
“Tell-tale bump right here,” Kelly pointed to Jessica’s abdomen. How Ashley had missed it she wasn’t sure given the clinginess of the girl’s clothes.
“She’s only been missing for four weeks…” Nate said.
“Then this was from before the kidnapping. I’d say she’s between three and four months along.”
“She was only twelve,” Ashley bit back the tears that threatened to overflow. How could it be worse? Nate grabbed Ashley’s shoulders and attempted to turn her away from the scene but Ashley dug her rubber soled heels into the ground. She wished she’d had her stilettos, those would stick better. When Ashley didn’t move, Nate let her go but his eyes relayed the message that they would discuss the topic later.
“What was the cause of death?” Nate asked turning his attention back to Kelly.
“Strangulation. Looks like with a belt around the neck. If I had to guess I’d say a man’s belt but we’ll know more once I get her back to autopsy.”
“Same COD as the other victims,” Eric said.
“True,” Kelly replied, “But if I remember correctly, Dr. Folek told me those girls were strangled by hand, this girl was strangled by a belt. More forethought, less anger. I believe you have more then one killer.”
“Was she raped?” It was Nate again asking the question that everyone wanted to know the answer too but didn’t want to ask.
“I can’t tell that here, I need to get her back. Dr. Folek and I will perform the autopsy and I’ll get you results as quickly as I can.”
One of Kelly’s assistants had rolled the black gurney down between the houses and the trees and back to the pseudo lake. After Jessica was loaded onto the gurney and zipped into the black bag that covered her face, Ashley finally felt free to leave the area. Nate followed without a word, making no attempt to hide his protective stance. If someone was going to get to her, he would have to go through him.
Despite her desire to be self-sufficient, Ashley didn’t mind Nate next to her. She didn’t mind his protective nature.
The kiss.
Ashley had just discovered a dead body after a voice on the phone told her where to go and all Ashley could think about was Nate’s kiss. She hadn’t really noticed him before… No, that was a lie. She’d always noticed Nate but she never thought that he wanted anything to do with her. Sure they’d flirted in college but when Donnie came along Nate never said a word. He was in their wedding. He called and visited when Aidan was born. He never said a word. Had she missed it or just chosen to ignore it?
Ashley walked with Nate through the backyard and into the front. Unlike the other girls Ashley felt no evil here. No terror. No fear. Jessica hadn’t been killed here, only dumped.
The once quiet cul-de-sac now bustled with police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Officers were working everywhere, canvassing the neighborhood and taping off the scene. Horrible yellow tape already covered the yard Ashley had exited. With nothing better to do two paramedics rushed Ashley and walked her to their bus leaving Nate standing alone in the driveway.
“I’m fine, really.” Ashley pushed the paramedics back.
“Are you injured ma’am?” One of them asked.
“No, seriously I’m fine. I need to help Agent Zimmerman, please let me go.” Ashley pushed to stand. Her world swam around her but she stood still lest the paramedics decide she needed to go to the hospital for some reason.
“Wait there Ms. Parks. I have some questions for you.” Ashley recognized Nate’s Lieutenant, Annabeth Porter and sighed.
“Yes, Ms. Porter?”
“How did you find Jessica’s body?” Annabeth’s black hair was slicked back into a bun and away from her dark face. Her brown eyes had a tint of purple around them and her large lips were colored soft lavender. Ashley thought it looked nice on her.
“I was jogging when my phone rang. I answered it…”
“Do you know who called you?”
“No, I didn’t recognize the voice or the number.”
“And yet you did what he said,” Annabeth’s tone was no less then demeaning.
“He told me that if I didn’t listen he would kill Officer Easton.”
“And yet Officer Easton is dead. How do I know you didn’t shoot him and then find this little girl?”
“I didn’t kill anybody.”
“But maybe you’re working for someone who did…” Ashley knew Annabeth had to ask these questions but they were still painful to hear.
“I have no idea…”
“Then why are we always coming back to you? What’s your connection?” If only Annabeth knew how much Ashley wanted to know the same thing.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Chapter 23
“Anything yet?” Eric leaned over Nate’s desk looking at the spread of paperwork covering it. Pictures of the missing and known deceased girls were all over it. Even though the entire group had a working white board covered with pictures and marked with timelines Nate liked to have things right in front of him. It allowed him to move things around and rearrange them in his own mind whenever he needed to.
“I just got back the financial analysis from all five families…”
“You got access to the Fleming’s financials?”
“Michael allowed it. Claims he has nothing to hide.”
“And does he?” Eric asked.
“Not that I can tell so far. We have accountants digging deeper. This is just their preliminary report. Everything seems pretty normal. Three out of the five couples filed for divorce.”
“Which ones?”
“Sykes, Rappaports and Lamberts.”
“Do you think it’s significant?”
“Could be. It’s easier to target a single mother but when I talked to Collin Lambert he said they were reconciling and not going through with a divorce,” Nate said.
“But maybe whoever was stalking them didn’t know that.”
“Then they weren’t very good on their surveillance were they?”
“Not all bad guys are smart, Nate!”
“We could only hope they were all dumb.”
Nate laughed at Eric’s comment as Eric returned to his desk. It would certainly work in their favor if all criminals laid it out for them and made it easy to find and arrest them. Unfortunately for Nate this wasn’t the case for their current situation.
As Nate continued to sift through his paperwork he heard his cell phone ring. Digging through the stuff on his desk he found his phone and saw that it was Ashley’s number. Odd, he thought, didn’t I just talk to her?
“Zimmerman.”
“Nate, its Ashley,” her voice was a low whisper. Nate sat up on high alert.
“Ashley, what’s wrong?”
“I’m in trouble, Nate. Something is wrong. Hold on…” He could hear crunching noises coming through the phone followed by an “ouch” and then she was back. “Nate, I found Jessica.”
“Where is she? Is she alive?”
“No, I found her body. It’s not far from Michael’s house.”
“Where are you right now?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a long story.”
“Where is Officer Easton? He was supposed to cover you.”
“He’s not very good at his job. But Nate he might be dead…”
“What?” Nate stood up from his seat and began motioning for Eric. When Eric didn’t look up at him he began snapping. That got his attention and he was by Nate’s side once again.
“I heard shots fired. At least two. I was talking to this guy on the phone. He told me where to go. He said if anyone came or if Officer Easton followed me he would kill him. I did as he said but then I heard shooting. I don’t know if it’s at me or him. Nate, I’m scared.”
“Ashley, tell me where you are and I will be there in minutes.”
“I’m around the corner from Michael’s. Maybe a mile or two away. I don’t know the street. I was jogging. I’d gone like a mile when my phone rang…”
“Ashley, what happened?”
No response. More crunching, then heavy breathing, then “Oh God, no, no, no!”
Nate lost the connection.
“Eric, we have to go. Ashley’s in trouble. I need them to put a tracker on Ashley’s cell phone. I’m not getting a connection but I don’t think she turned it off. We should be able to find her.”
“Got it.”
“I’m leaving now. She said she’s not far from Michael’s. I’m heading there now. Call me when you have the exact spot.”
Nate didn’t wait for an answer or response. Instead he grabbed his keys and ran to his cruiser. With lights blazing and his foot on the gas he was near Michael’s house in just under thirty minutes. He had yet to hear from Eric as to Ashley’s exact location so he went to Michael’s and began to bang on his front door.
“What is wrong with you?” Michael asked as he opened the door. “Didn’t Ashley just talk to you?”
“Where is she?”
“She went for a run.”
“How long ago?”
“I don’t know an hour, maybe two.”
“Two hours. You don’t find that odd?”
“I have no idea how long she normally runs for.”
“Michael, she’s in trouble. She just called me. We have to find her. Do you know which way she went?”
Michael’s face changed and in place of his anger was concern. He stepped out onto his front lawn and pointed down the street. “I have no idea but I would guess she ran down the street this way and out of the neighborhood. It’s where I would go.”
Nate didn’t wait for a second guess and took off running in the way he thought she would go. He picked up the pace when he spotted Easton’s cruiser a few blocks ahead of him. He was out of breath by the time he made it to Easton’s driver side window. How did Ashley run this much?
He didn’t have to look to know something was wrong. Easton should have, would have seen him coming and yet he wasn’t moving. Wasn’t turning to look. Red streaked the window around the two small holes that punctured it. Cole Easton was slumped over his steering wheel. From what Nate could tell the holes through the window continued into Cole’s head. Blood streaked the driver’s seat and down Cole’s back.
Ashley.
Nate pulled out his cell phone. Searching through the numbers received he found Ashley’s number and dialed it. “Please, please, Ashley pick up the phone.”
“Nate?”
“Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m okay. I don’t think he was shooting at me.”
“No, he wasn’t.”
“Is it Cole?”
“I’m afraid it is. I’m standing by him now. Where are you?”
“I’m just past the fence, turn right and go down the street. I haven’t heard anything in a while. I thought he was here, Nate. I thought he’d found me…” She cut off her words with sobs.
“Stay on the phone with me till I find you. I’ll be right there.” Nate walked around the car and to the end of the fence. Houses dotted the landscape in front of him. These homes were much closer together then the houses in Michael’s neighborhood. The houses were much smaller too but there was no doubt in Nate’s mind that the owners of these houses had money or at least enough credit card debt to keep their homes looking perfect. Twelve manicured lawns later Nate came to a dead end.
“Ashley, were are you?”
“I’m… I’m in the wo..” Ashley’s voice was muffled and distorted but Nate think he caught “woods”. Woods? Where were they? Nate turned in a circle but all he saw were houses. One of them must have led to woods but which one?
“Dispatch this is Agent Zimmerman, I need backup at 1141 Sequoia Court Port Richey.”
“Copy that Agent.”
“Ashley?” Nate spoke into the phone. When he got no answer, he yelled into the air, “Ashley!”
“I’m behind the house in front of you. There’s a stream or a large puddle but you have to go through the yard.” Ashley’s voice came through Nate’s phone more clearly now. Nate looked in front of him and saw trees behind the house at the end of the cul-de-sac. He carefully picked his way through the yard.
“This is not good. I need a warrant. I’m in a yard that I shouldn’t be. Ashley, are you in danger?”
“I don’t think so. Not right now. Nate, I thought he came back…” Her voice was coming through louder now. She had to be close.
Movement caught his eye behind a tree. Straight hair behind a tree. Ashley.
Nate tiptoed over to her not missing the small grayish hand that protruded from the water that was attempting to pass for a lake in the backyard. “Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m in one piece,” Ashley said and smiled at Nate. It was a sad attempt but Nate was grateful for it. “That’s Jessica.” Ashley pointed to the hand.
“I know.” Nate took Ashley’s hand and knelt in front of her. “Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“No, Ashley, you’re not. You haven’t been okay since you lost Donnie and Aidan. Please stop lying…”
“Nate, you’ve always wanted to take care of me. Always. Even before Donnie and Aidan. You don’t have to do it…”
“But what if I want to? What if I care enough about you to care for you?” Ashley wouldn’t meet his gaze. Just like her to avoid confrontation, to avoid her feelings, to avoid feeling at all.
“Nate, it’s not your job.” Ashley pulled her hands out of Nate’s.
“It’s not about a job, Ashley. I’m here because I care for you, I care about you. Sometimes maybe too much.” Nate clamped his lips together. Maybe he was sharing too much. No, for the first time he was finally saying what he needed to. “Ashley…”
Sirens stopped Nate short. His back-up had arrived. He had to work. He had to rope off the scene. He had to take pictures. He had to question Ashley about the phone call and the dead body. Make that two dead bodies. But first, first, he had to try just one thing.
Nate leaned in to Ashley and gave her a small kiss. More of a peck at first but when she returned his gesture he kissed her more. Did she know what he felt for her? What he had always felt?
“Agent Zimmerman, we need you to clear the scene. The Lieutenant is here to question you both.”
Nate nodded his response and stood. He held out his hand to Ashley. When she placed her hand in his Nate knew that it was his time to fight for what he wanted. But would Ashley truly return his feelings? After fourteen years of rejection Nate wasn't so sure.
“I just got back the financial analysis from all five families…”
“You got access to the Fleming’s financials?”
“Michael allowed it. Claims he has nothing to hide.”
“And does he?” Eric asked.
“Not that I can tell so far. We have accountants digging deeper. This is just their preliminary report. Everything seems pretty normal. Three out of the five couples filed for divorce.”
“Which ones?”
“Sykes, Rappaports and Lamberts.”
“Do you think it’s significant?”
“Could be. It’s easier to target a single mother but when I talked to Collin Lambert he said they were reconciling and not going through with a divorce,” Nate said.
“But maybe whoever was stalking them didn’t know that.”
“Then they weren’t very good on their surveillance were they?”
“Not all bad guys are smart, Nate!”
“We could only hope they were all dumb.”
Nate laughed at Eric’s comment as Eric returned to his desk. It would certainly work in their favor if all criminals laid it out for them and made it easy to find and arrest them. Unfortunately for Nate this wasn’t the case for their current situation.
As Nate continued to sift through his paperwork he heard his cell phone ring. Digging through the stuff on his desk he found his phone and saw that it was Ashley’s number. Odd, he thought, didn’t I just talk to her?
“Zimmerman.”
“Nate, its Ashley,” her voice was a low whisper. Nate sat up on high alert.
“Ashley, what’s wrong?”
“I’m in trouble, Nate. Something is wrong. Hold on…” He could hear crunching noises coming through the phone followed by an “ouch” and then she was back. “Nate, I found Jessica.”
“Where is she? Is she alive?”
“No, I found her body. It’s not far from Michael’s house.”
“Where are you right now?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a long story.”
“Where is Officer Easton? He was supposed to cover you.”
“He’s not very good at his job. But Nate he might be dead…”
“What?” Nate stood up from his seat and began motioning for Eric. When Eric didn’t look up at him he began snapping. That got his attention and he was by Nate’s side once again.
“I heard shots fired. At least two. I was talking to this guy on the phone. He told me where to go. He said if anyone came or if Officer Easton followed me he would kill him. I did as he said but then I heard shooting. I don’t know if it’s at me or him. Nate, I’m scared.”
“Ashley, tell me where you are and I will be there in minutes.”
“I’m around the corner from Michael’s. Maybe a mile or two away. I don’t know the street. I was jogging. I’d gone like a mile when my phone rang…”
“Ashley, what happened?”
No response. More crunching, then heavy breathing, then “Oh God, no, no, no!”
Nate lost the connection.
“Eric, we have to go. Ashley’s in trouble. I need them to put a tracker on Ashley’s cell phone. I’m not getting a connection but I don’t think she turned it off. We should be able to find her.”
“Got it.”
“I’m leaving now. She said she’s not far from Michael’s. I’m heading there now. Call me when you have the exact spot.”
Nate didn’t wait for an answer or response. Instead he grabbed his keys and ran to his cruiser. With lights blazing and his foot on the gas he was near Michael’s house in just under thirty minutes. He had yet to hear from Eric as to Ashley’s exact location so he went to Michael’s and began to bang on his front door.
“What is wrong with you?” Michael asked as he opened the door. “Didn’t Ashley just talk to you?”
“Where is she?”
“She went for a run.”
“How long ago?”
“I don’t know an hour, maybe two.”
“Two hours. You don’t find that odd?”
“I have no idea how long she normally runs for.”
“Michael, she’s in trouble. She just called me. We have to find her. Do you know which way she went?”
Michael’s face changed and in place of his anger was concern. He stepped out onto his front lawn and pointed down the street. “I have no idea but I would guess she ran down the street this way and out of the neighborhood. It’s where I would go.”
Nate didn’t wait for a second guess and took off running in the way he thought she would go. He picked up the pace when he spotted Easton’s cruiser a few blocks ahead of him. He was out of breath by the time he made it to Easton’s driver side window. How did Ashley run this much?
He didn’t have to look to know something was wrong. Easton should have, would have seen him coming and yet he wasn’t moving. Wasn’t turning to look. Red streaked the window around the two small holes that punctured it. Cole Easton was slumped over his steering wheel. From what Nate could tell the holes through the window continued into Cole’s head. Blood streaked the driver’s seat and down Cole’s back.
Ashley.
Nate pulled out his cell phone. Searching through the numbers received he found Ashley’s number and dialed it. “Please, please, Ashley pick up the phone.”
“Nate?”
“Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m okay. I don’t think he was shooting at me.”
“No, he wasn’t.”
“Is it Cole?”
“I’m afraid it is. I’m standing by him now. Where are you?”
“I’m just past the fence, turn right and go down the street. I haven’t heard anything in a while. I thought he was here, Nate. I thought he’d found me…” She cut off her words with sobs.
“Stay on the phone with me till I find you. I’ll be right there.” Nate walked around the car and to the end of the fence. Houses dotted the landscape in front of him. These homes were much closer together then the houses in Michael’s neighborhood. The houses were much smaller too but there was no doubt in Nate’s mind that the owners of these houses had money or at least enough credit card debt to keep their homes looking perfect. Twelve manicured lawns later Nate came to a dead end.
“Ashley, were are you?”
“I’m… I’m in the wo..” Ashley’s voice was muffled and distorted but Nate think he caught “woods”. Woods? Where were they? Nate turned in a circle but all he saw were houses. One of them must have led to woods but which one?
“Dispatch this is Agent Zimmerman, I need backup at 1141 Sequoia Court Port Richey.”
“Copy that Agent.”
“Ashley?” Nate spoke into the phone. When he got no answer, he yelled into the air, “Ashley!”
“I’m behind the house in front of you. There’s a stream or a large puddle but you have to go through the yard.” Ashley’s voice came through Nate’s phone more clearly now. Nate looked in front of him and saw trees behind the house at the end of the cul-de-sac. He carefully picked his way through the yard.
“This is not good. I need a warrant. I’m in a yard that I shouldn’t be. Ashley, are you in danger?”
“I don’t think so. Not right now. Nate, I thought he came back…” Her voice was coming through louder now. She had to be close.
Movement caught his eye behind a tree. Straight hair behind a tree. Ashley.
Nate tiptoed over to her not missing the small grayish hand that protruded from the water that was attempting to pass for a lake in the backyard. “Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m in one piece,” Ashley said and smiled at Nate. It was a sad attempt but Nate was grateful for it. “That’s Jessica.” Ashley pointed to the hand.
“I know.” Nate took Ashley’s hand and knelt in front of her. “Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“No, Ashley, you’re not. You haven’t been okay since you lost Donnie and Aidan. Please stop lying…”
“Nate, you’ve always wanted to take care of me. Always. Even before Donnie and Aidan. You don’t have to do it…”
“But what if I want to? What if I care enough about you to care for you?” Ashley wouldn’t meet his gaze. Just like her to avoid confrontation, to avoid her feelings, to avoid feeling at all.
“Nate, it’s not your job.” Ashley pulled her hands out of Nate’s.
“It’s not about a job, Ashley. I’m here because I care for you, I care about you. Sometimes maybe too much.” Nate clamped his lips together. Maybe he was sharing too much. No, for the first time he was finally saying what he needed to. “Ashley…”
Sirens stopped Nate short. His back-up had arrived. He had to work. He had to rope off the scene. He had to take pictures. He had to question Ashley about the phone call and the dead body. Make that two dead bodies. But first, first, he had to try just one thing.
Nate leaned in to Ashley and gave her a small kiss. More of a peck at first but when she returned his gesture he kissed her more. Did she know what he felt for her? What he had always felt?
“Agent Zimmerman, we need you to clear the scene. The Lieutenant is here to question you both.”
Nate nodded his response and stood. He held out his hand to Ashley. When she placed her hand in his Nate knew that it was his time to fight for what he wanted. But would Ashley truly return his feelings? After fourteen years of rejection Nate wasn't so sure.
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