"Don't try to play mind games with me. I know them all."
"I'm not saying you're going about this the right way. In fact, I think what you're doing is about a half a bubble off plumb, but that doesn't mean the results wouldn't be worthwhile. I can see how it would benefit those boys to see that justice was done. So how are you going to get out of this alive and not go to prison so you can finish what you started?"
Chapter 60
As soon as Sabre hung up the phone with JP, she called Deputy Sheriff Ernie Madrigal's cell phone.
"JP's in trouble," she said.
"Where is he?"
"He's at a Dr. Bell's office in El Cajon." She gave him the address.
"I'm on my way." She heard a car door open and close and the car engine start. "Does this have anything to do with a case you’re working on?"
"Yes, the goof-killer cases," she said.
"What kind of trouble is he in?"
"I think he's being held hostage. I'm not one hundred percent certain, but I know there's something seriously wrong."
"Why?"
"He left me a message earlier saying he was going to Dr. Bell's office. I called him back and he didn't answer. When I called him the second time, he answered and said he was at the doctor's office, but he was going to stop and get a Shiner Bock on the way home. He would never drink a Shiner Bock or even joke about it. We had an old case once where I was held hostage by a gunman who drank Shiner Bock. I'm sure he was trying to tell me he was in the same predicament. Oh, and when he answered the phone he said, 'Hi, Sabre.' He never does that. He always says, 'Hey, kid.'"
"I'm about seven minutes away." Ernie asked Sabre a lot of questions about the layout of Bell's office. She told him everything she could remember about it. "Is this Greg Nelson's case?" he asked.
"Yes, it is."
"I'll call Nelson and let him know."
"I'll see you there," Sabre said.
"No! Do not come!"
"I won't go into the building, but I'm going." She hung up.
***
The sound of a door closing gave JP hope, but it didn't seem to deter the doctor. Bell glanced at his clock on the wall behind JP. Even though his glance was very quick, JP considered trying to take him out, but he was too far away. JP was sure Bell knew exactly how far to stay from him—just out of arm’s reach.
"It's the custodian," Bell said, "always right on time, but don't get too excited. He won't come in here. He's been instructed to not enter when there's a light on. He understands the importance of privacy." Then, almost as if the doctor could read JP's mind, he said, "Don't bother to make noise because he's deaf. And if he were to see something, I'd have to kill him too. So, if you don’t want an innocent man to die, you'll just ignore him."
JP thought he heard another sound, but Bell didn't react. He hoped it was because Bell's hearing wasn't that good either, or maybe it was nothing. He prepared himself just in case. He sat up a little straighter, ready to plunge forward if he needed to but without looking like he was about to attack. He had to keep him talking.
"I know you killed Carl Murphy. Was that your first?"
"My first in San Diego." His eyes took on a haunted look. "That was a tough one."
"Why's that?"
"Jacob wasn't an easy subject. He was all over the place and it was difficult to get him to concentrate. I was afraid he'd remember things, but he never did."
"You had good control over Tray, didn't you?"
"He was my easiest because he tried to do what he was told. He's a good kid. It's a shame he had to go to prison."
JP wanted to punch him, but he kept his cool. Instead he asked, "Did you kill them all where you buried them?"
"Yes, moving them would’ve been too risky."
"How did you get them there?" JP asked, observing that Dr. Bell seemed to be enjoying the conversation.
"I recorded all the sessions with the boys. I’d hypnotize them and then have them role play. I got a lot of good material to use. Then I pieced together the words I needed to lure the goofs to where I wanted them."
"Did you take the boys with you?"
"No."
"Not even Tray?"
"Irving was very suspicious, but I knew he couldn't resist if he saw Tray. Some of them are like that. They get real attached to their victims, telling themselves that they only do this because they love them. Irving was like that." Bell spoke in a very even tone as he explained. Then he spat out the words, "That guy was sick."
"So, that's why you took him to Albertsons? So Irving could see him? But you had messed with Tray's mind so he wouldn't remember anything."
"Of course. He could hardly even talk about Irving. I knew how devastating it would be if he had to face him. As far as Tray knew, we were at therapy."
"And Tray was in the store with you, not Irving."
"How did you figure that out?"
"You put on sunglasses, a baseball cap, and you covered your 'Semper Fi' tattoo with makeup or something. But it was hot and some of the concealer was gone. On the security footage it looked like a dirt smudge, but when I magnified it, I could see the 'Fi' and I remembered seeing you with a tattoo that day in Sabre's office. It was unusual and it stuck in my mind."
"Good memory."
"You were very careful to never look at a camera. How did you know where the cameras were?"
"Reconnaissance. A good Marine always knows his surroundings. These things take careful planning."
"Where was Irving? I never saw him on the video."
"He didn't come inside the store, but we passed him when we came out. I made sure Tray didn't see him."
"And then after you killed Irving, you put the clothes on him that you were wearing just in case someone saw you."
"You're pretty good at your job, JP. Too bad you can't use the information you have." He glanced for just a split second at the clock. "It's been fun chatting with you, but it's time. The custodian will be gone soon and the building will be empty." Bell took a small step closer to JP, but he remained outside JP’s reach.
Chapter 61
Detectives Nelson and DuBois, an old colleague of JP’s, met Ernie outside of the doctor's office building. Ernie explained there was only one way into the doctor's office and there were no windows. They made a plan to reach the door without being heard. If the door was closed, Nelson and Ernie would go in guns-a-blazing. If the door was open and they could see what was happening, Ernie would be the designated shooter after they tried to distract Bell. Ernie had a flashlight on his belt to use if he needed it to get Bell's eye off his target. Plan B was to call in a swat team, depending on what they saw when they got to the office.
They walked up to the building and opened the door, guns in hands, in case Bell was not in his office. When they opened the door, they saw the custodian emptying a wastebasket into a large bin. He had his back to the door and didn't turn around when they entered. They circled and positioned themselves just as the custodian turned around. The man recoiled in fear, throwing his arms up in the air and then standing there speechless.
"Is anyone else here?" Ernie whispered.
The custodian shrugged and then pointed to his ears with his index fingers without lowering his hands. Then he waved his finger back and forth at the same time he shook his head from side to side.
"Can you hear me?" Ernie asked.
He shook his head again from side to side. Ernie asked him more questions, moving the fingers on his right hands in a poor attempt to spell in sign language. The man still did not understand.
DuBois stepped forward. "I'll take care of this."
"Don't tell me you sign, DuBois," Nelson said.
"Of course not." He took a pad of paper and a pen out of his pocket and wrote on the paper, Are you deaf?
The man nodded affirmatively.
He wrote, Is Dr. Bell still in his office?
He nodded again.
Is anyone else in the building?
He shook his head
no.
Where is Dr. Bell's office?
He pointed straight down the hallway, then turned his hand sideways and pointed to the right. Then he held up his fingers until he had three fingers in the air.
Down the hallway to the end, turn right, third door?
He nodded again.
Is the door on the left or the right?
He raised his right hand.
Thank you. Go outside. Get away from the building.
Nelson opened the door for the custodian, held onto it while the man exited, and closed it softly behind him. Then they worked their way down the hallway with their guns in position. They sneaked up to the open door. Ernie and DuBois were on the right against the wall. Nelson was across the small hallway. He kept creeping forward until he could see inside the room. All he could see was JP sitting in a chair, but he could hear voices. He turned back, pointed, and mouthed the word, JP.
Ernie moved all the way up to the door and peeked in the crack. He could see Bell leaning against the desk with a gun in his hand. From his view the door was blocking JP. He listened to the conversation. He heard Bell say, "The custodian will be gone soon and the building will be empty."
***
JP hoped he could distract Bell in some way. Bell was talking about leaving, which meant he was either going to kill JP before he left or they would walk out together and he’d try to kill him somewhere else. JP thought he might have a chance to catch Bell off guard as they walked out. On the other hand, he would likely have his back to Bell, who'd have his gun fairly close to JP's head. Then JP saw movement in the hallway. He thought he saw a glimpse of Nelson out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't dare look to confirm it.
Just then a black flashlight flew across the room to the back wall. Bell instinctively turned in that direction. Ernie and Nelson burst into the room and Ernie fired a shot just as Bell aimed his gun towards him. JP dived to his left to avoid the gunfire and to retrieve his gun. Bell shot, but he was already going down and his bullet went over Nelson's head. Bell dropped to the floor. Nelson kicked his gun out of the way. By then, JP had picked up his own gun and DuBois was by his side. It was over. DuBois reached his hand down to help him up.
"Thanks," JP said, as he stood.
"You okay, Torn?" Nelson called out.
"I am now."
Ernie called 9-1-1. He and Nelson knelt at Bell’s side and Nelson cuffed him. Blood was oozing out of his chest.
"Grab that towel on the file cabinet over there," Nelson said.
JP asked, "Is he alive?"
"So far, which means Madrigal needs to go back to the shooting range," Nelson said.
Ernie returned with the towel and applied pressure to the wound. Within seconds, the blue towel was spotted with clouds of purple as it filled with blood. "I took him down with one shot. Saved your sorry ass," Ernie said, as he continued to render first aid.
"You were less than ten feet away," Nelson said. "You'd have looked pretty sorry if you had missed."
Bell groaned, his face contorted in agony. Nelson asked him a few questions, but he didn't respond.
"I hope he lives," JP said, looking directly at Detective Nelson. "It'll be a lot easier for all of us to prove what really happened in the goof-killer cases. Besides, I'd like to see him get a little taste of what Tray has suffered for the last three years for the crimes this idiot committed."
"He's our killer?"
"At least four that I know here in the U.S., maybe more, and his own father years ago. And I'm pretty sure there were some goofs in Canada he murdered."
Within minutes, sirens sounded. DuBois went out front to lead the police and paramedics inside.
Four firefighters entered and approached Bell. Nelson was explaining the situation when two paramedics entered with a gurney. Nelson, JP, and Ernie stepped out of their way and let them work.
The DA came in just as they loaded Bell onto the gurney. Nelson attached the handcuffs to the stretcher and then joined the DA and the lieutenant who had just arrived. JP came up and tapped Nelson on the arm, and said, "Thanks, bud."
"You can thank Sabre, Torn. You want to come to the station and give me your statement?"
Just then Ernie and DuBois approached. "Sure," JP said, "but I need to call Sabre first and let her know I'm okay."
"She's probably outside waiting for you," Ernie said. "I told her not to come, but she's pretty stubborn."
“I’d better get out there."
"You've been off the force for over ten years, McCloud, and we're still saving your ass," DuBois teased.
“No one has called me that since I’ve been off the force until I saw you the other day, DuBois. Let it go before you get others calling me that.”
“Whatever you say, McCloud.”
JP shook his head.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ernie asked.
"I can't tell you how happy I was to see the cavalry show up. Thanks, guys."
"How happy are you, McCloud?" DuBois asked.
"Don't encourage him," Nelson said, raising his voice. "You know he's going to give us one of those hick JPisms."
JP grinned, pushed his hat up with his index finger, and said, "I'm as happy as a 'coon in a cornfield with the dogs all tied up."
Nelson smacked him on the back. "Get out of here, Torn."
JP walked out the front door and spotted Sabre almost immediately standing back on the sidewalk. He started toward her, but before he could get there, she ran toward him. She threw her arms around him and held on. "I heard the gunshot. Are you okay?"
"I'm finer than frog fur."
She let go of the embrace and stepped back. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"Not a bit."
Then she smacked him playfully, but with a little more force than she meant to, across his upper arm.
"What's that for?"
"For coming here without backup, and for scaring me half to death."
"I really didn't expect to encounter what I did. I thought I might get a little information that backed up the lies I had uncovered." He met Sabre’s gaze and he kissed her. "Thanks for figuring out my cryptic message and for calling Ernie."
"I'm just glad you're okay," she said. They walked toward their cars. "Want to go get that Shiner Bock now?"
Chapter 62
Oscar, looking a little nervous, sat next to Sabre at the defense table. Sabre reassured him. Judge Jon Charles Trapnell was on the bench. He had returned a week earlier after a three-year bout with cancer, which he managed to beat. Sabre was more than thrilled to see he had returned, not only because he was physically well, but because he was a reasonable, fair judge and she liked him.
Deputy District Attorney Benson requested that the charges be dropped without prejudice.
Sabre stood up. "Your Honor, please dismiss this case with prejudice. This young man has been through enough. He doesn't need this hanging over his head. He's been sitting in juvenile hall for weeks for something he did not do. While incarcerated, he was teased, threatened, and beaten up, and he feared for his life. The DA has a full confession from the perpetrator and is fully aware that Oscar had no involvement of any kind with the exception of writing some words in a notebook, which he was not even aware he was doing.”
"Were the parents notified of this hearing?" the judge asked.
"Yes, they were, Your Honor," Benson said.
"As you know, Your Honor, Oscar was a dependent of the court when this case was filed. I've filed a motion with the court to reinstate his dependency if this case is dismissed. Department Four will hear the case this morning. The social worker is waiting outside as well as the director of Mary Ellen Wilson Group Home. The administrator from Wilson is willing to take Oscar back upon his release from the Hall and after his dependency case has been heard."
"I'll see that the minor is delivered to the social worker," the bailiff said.
Judge Trapnell said, "This case is dismissed with prejudice."
Sabre turned to Oscar. "It's ove
r."
"What did that mean about the prejudice?" Oscar asked.
"That means these charges cannot be filed against you again."
For just a second Oscar looked like a little boy as he smiled at Sabre. Then the smile turned more to a look of smugness. Teenage Oscar was back—always the tough guy.
“The bailiff will take you to the Hall and get you released, and then he’ll bring you to the lobby so we can do your dependency hearing,” Sabre said. “When that is done Jesse will transport you back to Wilson.”
Sabre waited until the bailiff escorted Oscar out the back door and then she left the courtroom, passing Roberto on her way out. She gave Roberto the thumbs up. He smiled. Then Sabre whispered to him, "Ask for the dismissal 'with prejudice' on Barlowe's case. The judge just gave it to me. You should get it too."
Sabre met Bob and they walked down the hallway to Department Four. The social worker was there with County Counsel Canedy. Jesse Alder was present, but no parents were in court. Judge Hekman reinstated dependency and ordered Oscar placed in Wilson Group Home.
As soon as Roberto obtained Barlowe Carrasco's dismissal, he came to Department Four to inform Bob. Sabre and Roberto waited in the hallway for Bob to finish Barlowe's reinstatement.
"I think Barlowe learned a lesson from all this," Roberto said. "I don't think he'll ever wind up in juvie again."
"Sometimes it works that way," Sabre said. “Other times, being incarcerated gives them status and just makes them think they're tough. They often forget too quickly how much they hated being there. I worry that Oscar might fall into that second group."
"All done," Bob said, as he exited the courtroom. "Anyone for lunch?"
"You bet," Roberto said.
"Let's go to Pho’s,” Sabre said.
“Yes, let’s Pho-Nicate," Bob said, as they walked out of the courthouse.
Chapter 63
Bob and Sabre were sitting in her office when Roberto stopped by.
"Can anyone join this party?" Roberto asked.
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