The officer didn’t answer. He resumed the search.
She turned slightly when she heard the female officer speaking in a hush with the park ranger. His voice was deeper and more audible than hers. “It’s hard to read people these days. I’d never have thought that nice young couple was involved in what happened in Sweetfern Harbor...”
Carrie wanted to shout at him that they were not involved in anything. Instead, she swallowed hard and became aware this search had been going on for quite some time. Perhaps since she and Rick left the bed and breakfast. What did the police in Sweetfern Harbor know about Rick? She felt sick to her stomach as she waited for the search of her car to end, and the whole time, she pictured Rick on foot, fleeing farther and farther away from her.
Brenda was at her computer when word came from Mac that Carrie was en route to Sweetfern Harbor in a squad car and Rick Dawson was considered on the run. Brenda had time to finish up her research before Carrie arrived at the police station. She had found a series of articles dating back almost a decade regarding an interesting incident in Rick’s anesthesiology career. He had been investigated by the hospital for improperly administering anesthesia to patients and causing the death of two individuals during surgery. The investigation had turned into a lawsuit and a counter-suit, a protracted series of courtroom battles as Rick claimed his innocence and tried to prove what had really happened, at times even arguing against the CEO of his own hospital. She did a double-take when she saw who that CEO had been.
Patrick Anderson, at age twenty-five, had longer hair back in those days, but in the courtroom photo she found online she recognized the same self-confident glint to his smile. He was described as unpopular with the staff, and one board member anonymously stated the inexperienced young man had been placed in the chief executive position by his famous father, who happened to be the chief physician and director of a large nearby hospital managed by the same company.
In testimony, Patrick Anderson described Rick Dawson as inept and careless, even though other witnesses described how Rick had obtained his degree with honors, held a spotless record until those two patient deaths, and seemed to be universally liked by his colleagues. Patrick had never even set foot in an operating room, but he seemed confident enough to pass judgment on the smallest details of Rick’s work, once on the witness stand.
As Brenda continued reading, she understood why Rick’s anger remained with him until Patrick’s death. Rick Dawson spent years in and out of court, fighting lawsuits and appeals, both state and civil. If Patrick had been behind all of these lawsuits, obviously the Anderson family had spent a lot of money on lawyers to keep the fight going for quite some time. Rick even declared bankruptcy but at the last hour, he ultimately won his case and the hospital had been ordered to pay his remaining legal costs. His medical license was later reinstated, and his job restored, and a follow-up article from a few years later reported that Rick maintained a sterling reputation.
Nothing Brenda found explained why Patrick singled out Rick. Yet she felt this could be the key to breaking a confession wide open.
She closed her laptop and freshened up. When she walked the path from the cabin to her bed and breakfast, she met Phyllis and told her the latest.
“It’s hard enough to believe Rick is guilty. But do you really think Carrie knew he did something like that?” Phyllis asked. “I do remember they grew rather quiet before taking their getaway. Do you think she knew and was in agreement that they had to run away?”
“I don’t know.” Brenda frowned. “I don’t think she knew. Allie said she was very relaxed before they left. She talked a lot about how happy she was that Rick had thought of a romantic day together. I think she really did think that was his only plan. I’ll know more when I hear her side of things.” Phyllis asked how they got all the luggage out without Allie seeing it. “I think Rick must have done that while Carrie chatted with Allie. He could have easily taken it down the back stairs. I asked Chef Pierre if he saw any action like that go past the kitchen. He said he and his staff had been down in the wine cellar for a few hours taking inventory.” She told Phyllis about Alexandra’s involvement.
“Are you sure Daniel’s telling the truth, that Alexandra helped kill Patrick? How do you know he and Alexandra aren’t both lying?”
“I’m fairly sure he’s telling the truth, but we’ll know more detail soon. She’s been arrested.”
Phyllis almost asked to join Brenda at the police station, but several guests had checked out and there were rooms to deep clean and prepare for new arrivals. “Brenda, you go do what needs to be done. Don’t you worry about the bed and breakfast, we will make sure everything is neat as a pin and running like clockwork.”
Brenda smiled gratefully at her friend and headed for her car.
When she arrived, Brenda opted to park behind the police station. The yellow tape once cordoning off the back door where the footlocker had been found was now gone. She quickly found Mac and discussed all the findings and how the questioning should proceed.
“I think we need to know Carrie’s role in all this,” Brenda mused. “I think she was innocent. But if Rick and Carrie were together at the time he was in court back then over the lawsuits, there is no mention of her. I’m curious about when they met and how. He told me they’d been together for a long time, but he never mentioned anything about these court cases. I didn’t see her in any of the pictures of the courtrooms, either. If they were together back then, wouldn’t she have been sitting with him, supporting him?”
“If you think it’s important and will help get her to acknowledge Rick’s recent actions, go ahead and ask. But I don’t see the relevance.”
“The relevance is whether she knew he had been falsely accused by Patrick Anderson back then. If she was involved in that from the start, then maybe she shared Rick’s animosity against him. In any case, she’s been with Rick for years. That’s plenty of time for him to tell her all about his past with Patrick.”
Mac’s door was open. He and Brenda looked up when Officer Natalie Sims walked by with Carrie Porter. Carrie’s face was ashen. She walked forward like a robot, her legs moving but nothing else betraying a ghost of her usual vibrancy.
“Let’s go take a look at what they found in her vehicle before we talk to her,” Mac said. They headed for the evidence room where the second officer set two bags down.
“We’ve impounded the car and still have to go over that,” the officer said. “There is something we found in her purse that may interest you.”
Mac and Brenda put gloves on and she took the envelope. Brenda read the note Rick wrote to Carrie aloud. “Wow. He admits getting revenge, though it’s a little vague what he means. What do you think this ‘great cost’ means? And it does appear that Carrie had no idea he had committed any crime.”
The detective asked the officer to make sure every law enforcement agency had a description of Rick Dawson.
“He has to be on foot,” Brenda said. “He left the car for Carrie and there is no public transportation near the wildlife refuge, according to Officer Sims.”
“Let’s go have a talk with Carrie Porter,” Mac said.
Mac asked if she wanted a lawyer present. “I don’t know any lawyers. I suppose not.” Carrie’s eyes were wide and unblinking, and she still appeared to be in shock.
Brenda did not want to mention to the woman that they could get her a court-appointed lawyer after she was arrested. Technically Carrie was not even under arrest. She figured explaining the precarious situation would only make things worse. After voicing their initial planned questions, Brenda asked Carrie if Rick was a strong hiker.
“We have done a lot of hiking over the years. Why?”
“Do you think he has hiked up into the mountains? The White Mountains are only a couple days north of here, but there are other mountainous areas around here, too.”
Tears edged beneath her thick eyelashes. Carrie’s wavy blonde hair draped over her cheek before she pus
hed it back and blinked back the tears. “I don’t know where he is. I don’t know why he left, either. He was acting so odd yesterday…he kept talking about how Patrick almost ruined him years ago. I’m scared he did something drastic. Has anyone found him yet?” Neither Brenda nor Mac answered her, so she continued. “Anyway, it took Rick years to recoup from that court battle, he’s never let it go. He managed to restore his good reputation at the hospital. I thought that was all that mattered.”
“What was his reason for dredging it all up again?” Brenda asked.
“I didn’t want to ask at that moment. It was our romantic getaway…I changed the subject and he was back to his old jovial self.” She sniffed, and Brenda handed her a tissue. “I thought he had taken an early morning walk when I woke up this morning. When he didn’t show up, I drove to the wildlife refuge’s camp store and asked if he had been in there. No one had seen him. That’s when I decided to search the roads, and that’s when the park ranger pulled me over. Listen, Rick could be hurt. Someone needs to find him!”
“We’ll find him,” Mac said.
“Why can’t I help? Am I under arrest? If I’m not under arrest, I want to leave.”
“No. We don’t have any reason right now to arrest you. Leave a contact number for us. We’re keeping the note Rick left for you as evidence, also.” Mac stood up. Carrie’s eyes widened as she realized they had read the note. “Stay around town unless we say otherwise.”
“If you want to keep your room at Sheffield Bed and Breakfast, you are welcome to remain until you are released to leave the area,” Brenda said gently.
Carrie thought about this, clearly reluctant. She asked Brenda if she had to go down for meals. “I know word will get around that Rick is on the run. I want people to know that he just needs to get help,” Carrie pleaded. “All the nightmares of the past hit him when he saw Patrick here.”
“You certainly don’t have to come down for meals, but you may find that socializing will help you cope. I certainly won’t let anyone gossip,” Brenda said.
Brenda told her she would take her back to the bed and breakfast. Mac said she should have her car back in a couple of days or so. Carrie had no option other than to go along with things the way they were now. She yearned for Rick.
In the car, Carrie asked Brenda if she thought Rick had anything to do with Patrick’s death.
“I can’t talk about the case with you, Carrie. Just know this much…there is evidence we don’t have yet. We’re expecting final results within twenty-four hours.” She glanced at the woman next to her. “Hang in there. I’m sure things will work out for the best.”
“I forgot that you are a police officer, too, Brenda.”
Brenda explained her role with local law enforcement. “I’ve had investigative training and since Sheffield Bed and Breakfast is my first priority, I only come in on a case here and there.”
She asked Carrie about her nursing career. By the time they reached the bed and breakfast, Brenda knew Carrie loved her job and loved working with her boyfriend. She also knew Carrie was likely only another minute or two away from collapsing in tears, so Brenda pulled into the rear driveway. They walked the pathway to the bed and breakfast and entered through the back door.
In the meantime, Mac decided to take Detective Bryce Jones with him to prod Daniel. After asking if he wanted his lawyer present, Daniel stated he was innocent and wanted to be set free.
Bryce and Mac sat across from him. “I want to hear every detail of what you saw happen,” Mac said. “I find it hard to believe Alexandra managed to kill Patrick and then drag the box up the beach and get it into a car. Tell us what really happened.”
“They had it on rollers. Surely you don’t think she’s stupid. The whole thing was planned out. Rick came up behind him in the water. Alexandra flirted with him and Patrick got distracted enough that he didn’t hear Rick until it was too late. It was quite a fight, but Rick overpowered him.”
“We didn’t find any car tracks on the beach.” Mac waited for that explanation.
“I told you, Alexandra is smart. She took low branches from the beach shrubbery and swept the tracks away.”
“Did you and Rick know one another?” Bryce asked, changing tactics.
“We met after we checked in at Sheffield. He knew Patrick would be here, though I didn’t. We got into a conversation when I told him I was so surprised to see someone from my past who almost ruined me. After talking in private I learned we had something in common when it came to Patrick Anderson. We both were hurt because Patrick got away with so much because of his family’s status. I later saw Rick talking with Alexandra. You know, they left for walks twice that I know of.”
Once Daniel Swift was released, Officer Sims caught Mac and Bryce in the hall. They were getting ready to go home.
“We just received word on Rick Dawson,” she said. “He was less than five miles from the wildlife refuge.”
“Call me as soon as he gets here,” Mac said.
“That won’t happen, Detective,” Natalie said with a grim look. “He’s on his way to the coroner’s office. They found him hanging from a white oak in the wetlands.” She gave details of the hangman’s knot and the rope looped tightly over the limb of the majestic tree and the dead body dangling a few feet from the ground.
When Mac asked Brenda to convey the news to Carrie, it was the last thing she wanted to do. Brenda climbed the stairs of the bed and breakfast slowly to Carrie’s room. When the guest let her in, she came in and sat on the bed next to her and gave her the news.
Fresh tears streamed down Carrie’s face. “I knew it,” she said between sobs, “why didn’t I see? I could have helped him. He didn’t want to go through that ordeal with the courtrooms again...but I could have helped him. I know he didn’t murder anyone. But if he had only let me help him prove it. If only…”
For the moment, Brenda chose to let her believe whatever she wished. She waited until Carrie cried herself into a fatigue and then finally stretched across the bed, exhausted. Her eyelids closed. She drifted into a fitful sleep, twitching a little with nighttime interruptions, the same which would invade her nights for years to come.
Alexandra huddled on her bed in the corner of her cell. She sat with her knees drawn up at the corner where her hard cot met the cement walls and watched the tiny barred window in the door until she grew too exhausted to remain sitting and fell into a disturbed sleep. Her dreams roamed through Japan, her early childhood, happier times with her sweet young brother at her side, her mother only a distant shadow.
Early the next morning, she awoke, unrested and restless. Dreaming about the past was futile, she realized. There was too much about the present day crashing in upon her and she knew now what she needed to do. She accepted a cup of coffee, dry stale toast and an overcooked egg on a tray for breakfast and waited until her appointed time. At nine, she sat across from Brenda and Mac in the interrogation room. Her court-appointed lawyer, who was no help at all, sat next to her, and Officer Thompson stood by the door.
“Did you kill Patrick?” Brenda asked her. “How did you manage it?”
The lawyer tapped his client’s arm. “You don’t have to say anything.”
Alexandra’s smile lit the semi-darkened room. “I don’t have to do anything. But I want to. I’m ready to tell them. Patrick’s dead and I did it. He thought I was so weak, just some woman he could push around. He didn’t know I had a hidden strength from all those years of workouts,” she said, delicately flexing her hands against the edge of the table. “It proved to be my path to victory. You can release Daniel now. He’s innocent. Now Daniel will see, I’m the one who saved him from a life of incarceration. Soon he and I will be together without interference from the likes of that awful Patrick.”
Brenda chose to ignore the delusional assumptions. “How did you manage such a thing?”
“It was easy. Rick swam with me toward Patrick. I think he was surprised that we wanted to join him. As usual, he taun
ted me and asked why I was hanging out with Rick. Was I going to stalk Rick now? Where was Daniel? That kind of thing. I simply smiled and flirted with him. It didn’t take much. I told him I’d been hoping he would just get jealous of my attentions to other men and try to hook up with me. Can you believe he fell for something like that? Me, going for Patrick? He was oblivious. He loved it. And he had no idea Rick was behind him, ready to headlock him and push him under water. I helped, you know. It isn’t easy keeping such a strong swimmer subdued. He thrashed like a fish.” Alexandra did not seem to think her words strange or disturbing at all. “But even a slippery fish can be subdued. It was two against one. Rick and I rolled him into the case. But then he woke up, and I realized even Rick was too weak for the job. I grabbed Rick’s silk tie from the towel nearby and wrapped it around his neck. I heard something snap. I think it was his neck.” She laughed sharply. “Yes, his neck cracked, I’m sure of it.”
Thick silence filled the interrogation room. Mac shifted, not losing his composure. “Who decided to bring him here?”
“That was Rick’s idea. He said the man had never paid for any of his crimes and it was time to dump him where he belonged. That was the best part of the whole thing.” Her laugh pierced the small room again.
Her lawyer stopped everything at that point and asked to see a judge, to order a psychiatric evaluation before any further action in the case. Mac and Bob attempted to argue against it, claiming she had planned everything, but in the end, it proved fruitless and she was carted away to a locked mental ward for long-term treatment. Alexandra Cornell would never see the inside of a regular jail. Her DNA was on the tie, her fingerprints were on the footlocker, and there were two witnesses, but that would not be enough to convict the kind of woman capable of feigning such convincing, diabolical mental illness at times. She was mentally ill, they were convinced, but she was also sometimes faking it. That was the worst part.
Is This Suitcase Taken? Page 10