by Lisa Bork
“Yes, I’m doing a report. I got the results from the DMV. No one has a white Jaguar registered in the Wachobe area, but plenty of them are registered in the state. Any idea what model year we’re looking for?”
“Brennan said 2007. He knows his cars.” Brennan Rowe had amassed quite a collection of cars, in fact. One of them I’d been fortunate enough to sell him. If he was a forgiving soul, I’d have the opportunity again in the future.
“Okay, that narrows it down. Let me look at the list again.”
I waited, my Lexus rocking in the wake of the other cars flying past me on the road.
“I don’t recognize any of these names, darlin’. I’ll bring the list home tonight for you to look at. Maybe Cory can look it over, too.”
“Okay. What should I do now?” I couldn’t think of any more places to visit or people to question.
“Call Catherine and fill her in. See if she has any more assignments for you.”
I dialed Catherine’s office number after he disconnected. Her secretary answered. When I identified myself, the woman lowered her voice as though sharing a secret.
“Hi, Mrs. Parker. Catherine is in conference at the moment, although … maybe you should hold on a second. I’ll let her know you’re on the line.”
O-o-o-kay.
“Jolene, it’s Catherine. Can you come to the office right away?”
Startled, I glanced at Noelle in the rearview mirror. She slept on, undisturbed by my conversation or the cars whizzing past us. “I have Noelle with me.”
“That’s fine. Bring her. I’ll have my secretary give you directions.” She put me back on hold before I could ask any questions.
The secretary’s directions were excellent. It took me only an hour and a half to find Catherine’s office building, a twenty-story modern building in the heart of the city. Inside, the elevators were encased in green marble walls with polished brass doors and frames. Catherine’s office was on the top floor, with etched-glass windows facing the hall and a lobby filled with brocade and cherry furniture. It all said “expensive,” just like her car.
While I waited for the secretary to announce me, I noticed the building swayed a bit at this height. I couldn’t wait to get out. I preferred to keep my feet on firm ground.
Catherine appeared in the lobby behind her secretary, dressed for court in a black pantsuit and red satin blouse even on a Saturday. I felt dowdy in my capris and T-shirt, even though they were Talbots’ best.
“Jolene, I’m glad you made it.” She glanced at Noelle, still sleeping in her car seat. “What if you leave Noelle here with my secretary just for a minute? I have someone you need to meet.”
I handed Noelle over to the secretary, who cooed over her just enough to make me feel confident of her care. Then I followed Catherine down the hall to the very last door, which opened into an office with a fabulous view of the city skyline. A brown-haired woman in a pale blue linen suit sat by the window. She turned to face us as we entered the room.
She looked familiar. She looked like—
“Jolene, this is Karen Hamm. She saw the picture of Noelle’s mother on television. She came here to identify her.”
That’s who she looked like. The girl. An ever-so-slightly more mature and better-groomed version of the girl.
Karen stood up and walked toward me with her hand outstretched. “It’s nice to meet you, Jolene. I understand from Catherine that you’ve been caring for my sister’s child.”
Heather Graus. The girl finally had a name. Oddly enough, I felt disappointed that I hadn’t been the one to find it out. I would have been very proud of that achievement, even though it meant the beginning of the end.
Catherine gestured to the sitting area in the corner of her office. “Shall we make ourselves comfortable?”
Karen sat on the couch. Catherine and I took the chairs on either side. Karen smoothed her skirt down over her knees, either as a reflex or because of nerves, I couldn’t tell. I tried not to squirm in my seat, but her presence made me uncomfortable in all sorts of ways, not the least of which was her potential interest in Noelle.
Catherine glanced between us. “Karen was just telling me about Heather. Why don’t you start again from the beginning, if you don’t mind?”
Karen tugged at the hem of her skirt again. “Heather is my younger sister. She’s nineteen. I’m twenty-four. We both lived with our stepfather until two years ago when I got married. My husband and I got an apartment, and Heather wanted to live with us. I thought she’d be fine for another year with Dad before she left for college. He’s not the warmest, most affectionate man, but he’s very responsible. He raised us after my mother died of breast cancer seven years ago. We pretty much took care of ourselves anyway.”
She pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and looked at the floor. “But with me gone, Dad focused more attention on Heather and gave her what she called ‘lectures on life’. She got upset with him all the time. He made her come home at ten on weeknights and midnight on weekends, when she wanted to stay out longer. She had to do all the household chores we used to split. She started staying out later and leaving the work undone. He didn’t take that too well.
“They fought all the time. She begged me to let her come live with us, but my husband said he thought Dad’s rules were fair. Maybe they were. I don’t know. The next thing I knew, Heather took off.
“She was seventeen. The police wouldn’t do anything to help us. We hired a private investigator. He took us for lots of money, but he didn’t find her. We had to give up.”
Her face brightened. “But then I thought I saw her picture on the news. And Catherine said she has a tattoo. It’s definitely her. The tattoo is one of the last things she and Dad fought over before she left town.”
The big eagle with its talons bared on the back of Heather’s neck. I could see where that might get her dad a little excited. I wondered if he ever got a peek at her piercings. And, of course, how he’d feel to learn that he and his wife had died in a car crash, according to Heather. Ray was right, the girl was a liar. Had she lied about the danger to Noelle as well? My heart hardened toward her.
Karen shifted on the couch toward me. “Catherine said you and your husband are foster parents for Heather’s daughter. I’d love to see her.”
My stomach turned over. Catherine and I exchanged glances. I could tell she hadn’t told Karen that Noelle was here in the office, leaving me an out if I didn’t want to bring Noelle into the room. Which I didn’t.
I stood anyway. It was inevitable. “She’s just outside. Let me get her.”
Karen smiled with obvious joy.
Noelle had awakened and was now sitting in the secretary’s lap. The secretary handed her back over to me with a smile. “She’s a sweetie.”
I blinked back a tear. My heart beat a little faster, its rate increasing with each step I took down the hall with Noelle in my arms.
When I reentered Catherine’s office, Karen leapt to her feet and held her arms out. “May I hold her?”
Catherine frowned, clearly sensing impending disaster.
I managed to plaster a smile on my face. “Of course.”
Karen gathered Noelle into her arms and kissed her cheeks. Noelle didn’t seem at all afraid of her. Did she realize her relationship to this woman?
Karen sat with Noelle on her lap and examined her tiny fingers, and even pulled off a sock to see her pudgy little toes. Noelle smiled, but when Karen blew raspberries into her tummy, she giggled. It pained me to see her take to Karen so quickly, as though she sensed their connection.
Then she grabbed a handful of Karen’s hair and yanked.
“Ouch. Oh, she’s got me good.” Karen tried to pull Noelle’s hand from her hair, succeeding only in hurting her scalp further.
“Let me help you.” I untangled the hair from Noelle’s fingers. “Here, I’ll take her from you now.”
Karen reluctantly handed Noelle back over to me. “She’s beautiful.”
> “Yes.” I kissed Noelle’s cheek to hide my face. And she’s mine. You can’t have her.
Catherine cleared her throat. “I’m going to call the jail and make an appointment to see Heather this afternoon. Karen wants to see her sister. You’re welcome to join us, Jolene. I’m hoping Heather will be willing to answer more questions now. Of course, you may want to drop Noelle off at the babysitter’s first.”
“Yes.” I welcomed the opportunity to leave and regroup.
Catherine ushered me to the door. “I’ll call you on your cell phone as soon as I know what time we can see Heather. Is Ray working?”
“Yes. Until five.”
“Okay. It might go better if it was just us girls for now, anyway.”
The heat of the early afternoon sun did little to warm me as I scurried across the parking lot to my car. After strapping Noelle into her car seat, I climbed in and rested my head on the steering wheel. Why hadn’t I seen this coming? Why hadn’t I realized the girl could have family, a rather nice sister, at that? I guessed I’d been secretly hoping she’d be a forgotten, unloved child, only too eager to give up her own. I should call Greg Doran to let him know what was going on. We might need him for some legal custody maneuvering soon.
Noelle let out an impatient shriek from the backseat.
“Okay, okay, I’m going.” I fumbled for the ignition key in my purse, managing to spill its contents all over the passenger side floor. Noelle only shrieked louder. I turned the key. The radio blasted and Noelle quieted down.
I had to pull over and call Marcia to make sure she could watch Noelle. She didn’t mind. Jeff had to work today along with Ray. The whole department would rejoice when Gumby got back from his honeymoon tomorrow. Ray and I needed more time with Noelle, now more than ever.
Catherine called just as I was backing out of Marcia’s driveway after dropping Noelle off. “Can you meet us at the jail in half an hour?”
“I may be a few minutes late.” I stepped on the gas pedal. How unfortunate Marcia lived miles from the thruway.
“Listen, now that her sister has identified her, Heather’s trial date will be set. I’m really going to press Heather for more information today. Whatever I do, follow my lead. We need her to tell us what happened the day Theo was killed. Otherwise, I’m going to have a heck of a time building her defense.”
“Okay.” I was more worried about our adoption now. Would the girl want her sister to take custody of Noelle? Had Karen told us the whole truth? Would Heather be happy to see her?
I pressed the gas pedal a little harder. I couldn’t afford to be late.
____
I entered the jail and found Catherine and Karen at the reception desk. Catherine managed to get us inside with minimal questions and inspections, although only she was allowed to carry her briefcase inside. We all left our purses at the desk.
This time we were escorted to a room on the opposite side of the building from the visitors’ booths, a room furnished with a table and four folding chairs. None of us sat after the door closed. Karen and I stood facing the door, waiting. Karen wrung her hands. I tried to harden my heart for what might be a rather emotional reunion and conversation. Catherine opened her briefcase and took out some legal pads and a pen, clicking it then scribbling a few notes.
The guard who opened the door blocked Heather’s view of the room for a moment. But when Heather stepped around her and spotted Karen, I saw happiness flash across her face. Then her expression froze. So did she, refusing to come any closer even as Catherine beckoned her forward.
“I want to go back to my cell.”
But the guard had already closed the door.
Heather looked at Catherine. “I want to go back to my cell. Call the guard, please.”
Catherine took charge. “Let’s all sit down for a minute, shall we?”
I moved to the closest chair in compliance. Karen took two steps toward Heather, paused, then crossed the room to the chair next to me. The forbidding look on Heather’s face must have discouraged Karen from embracing her sister, although Karen’s smile never wavered.
Catherine sat next to Karen, looked at Heather, and waited.
Heather sighed and moved over to sit next to me, dropping into the folding chair with a thump. “I have nothing to say.”
Catherine adjusted the legal pad in front of her. “That’s fine. I’ll do all the talking.” She pointed to Karen. “Your sister has identified you as Heather Graus, age nineteen, a runaway from outside of Jamestown, New York. Is that correct?” She met Heather’s eyes. “A nod will be sufficient acknowledgment for now.”
Heather pursed her lips, then nodded.
“You’re going on trial for murder. The evidence supports the prosecution. You were found, alone, standing over Theodore Tibble’s body with a broken and bloody beer bottle in your hand, a bottle since identified as the murder weapon that sliced open his jugular vein, causing him to bleed to death.”
Heather and Karen closed their eyes, Karen grimacing.
“According to the prosecution, your motive was financial. You and Theo bet on the winning horse in the first race that day, a—” Catherine shuffled through several pages of her legal pad “—Prince Majestic. Your winnings totaled—” she checked her notes again “—$50,000. The ticket was logged in as one of your personal possessions the day of your arrest. Apparently you had it in your pocket.”
Karen gasped. Even Heather appeared surprised. I knew I was surprised. How come Ray had never mentioned this winning ticket to me? Were his sheriff’s buddies one county over holding out on him?
Catherine flipped to a blank sheet in her legal pad. “So now the prosecution has motive, opportunity, and evidence. Let me tell you what we, the defense, have.”
She was silent so long I stole a glance at her.
“That’s right. Nothing. We have nothing. No defense. Nothing.” Catherine leaned back in her chair, folded her arms, and glared at Heather, who lowered her gaze to the table.
Her sister shifted as though uncomfortable, but she kept her mouth shut. Maybe she’d gotten the same instructions from Catherine that I received.
The silence grew heavy. My stomach growled to remind me I hadn’t eaten yet today.
It growled again. Catherine’s frown deepened.
Karen parted her lips, then closed them.
We must have sat that way for ten minutes. Then Catherine threw her notepad and pen in her briefcase, snapped it shut, and stood. “Heather, I can’t even plead not guilty by reason of temporary insanity if you refuse to talk. Psychiatric examinations are required for that defense. You’re going to have to plead guilty. You can expect to spend at least the next ten years in prison, maybe even the rest of your life.”
Catherine stepped toward the door. “Let’s go, ladies. We can’t help her if she doesn’t want to be helped.”
I followed her, but Karen ran around the table, threw her arms around Heather and burst into tears. Seconds later Heather was sobbing, too.
I tried not to cry, but a tear escaped and rolled down my cheek. So much for my hardened heart. Catherine spotted my tears and sighed with disgust.
“I’m sorry. I’m a little postpartum,” I whispered.
Her brow furrowed.
The guard knocked on the door. She swung it open and leaned against it. “Your time is up. I have to take the prisoner back to her cell.”
Karen released Heather. “Her name is Heather, Heather Graus. She’s my sister.”
The guard gave her a look that said “Who cares?”
Heather scuffed her way to the door, taking her time, perhaps dreading being alone in her cell again after leaving her sister’s arms.
Karen smoothed her suit jacket and spoke to Heather’s back. “Don’t worry about the baby, Heather. Curt and I will take care of her. I’ll call Social Services as soon as I leave here.”
“No!” Heather whirled around to face Karen. “Noelle has to stay with Ray and Jolene. She’ll be safe with them. S
he has to stay there. Don’t call anyone. Don’t do anything. Just go home. Go home and forget about us.”
Karen started to sputter, “But, but …”
The guard got hold of Heather’s arm and pulled her toward the door. Heather looked back over her shoulder toward her sister.
“I’m going to plead guilty. If you love me, do as I say, Karen. Just go home.”
Heather and the guard stepped into the hall. The door clicked closed behind them, leaving the three of us staring at each other in disbelief.
Sunday morning Catherine and Karen joined us for breakfast at our house. Ray did his Betty Crocker routine and whipped up some Belgian waffles with fresh strawberries and cream. Karen wanted to cuddle Noelle more than she wanted to eat, but Noelle wanted to eat, not cuddle. I satisfied them both by letting Karen feed her. Catherine talked strategy between bites of waffle.
She addressed most of her comments to Ray, which irritated me more than a little, not because he wasn’t better at detecting than me but because I had done the detecting in this case.
“Heather thinks Noelle is only safe if she lives with you. She implied that someone, a man, would harm Noelle if she didn’t live with you, mainly because you’re a police officer. Isn’t that right?” Catherine fixed her gaze on Ray.
Ray looked to me to answer. He probably sensed I was seething.
I nodded. “She said ‘he wouldn’t kill a cop’s child’.”
Catherine speared a strawberry and popped it in her mouth, speaking around it. “So a man threatened to kill Noelle.”
Ray finished pouring the coffee and sat down next to me. “If Heather talks.”
“Talks about Theo’s murder?” Catherine asked.
I swallowed. “Or something else. I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday, Catherine. There’s one problem with the prosecution’s motive theory.”
Catherine’s eyes glittered with excitement. “Do tell.”
“I heard the starting bell for the first race just as I spotted Theo and Heather. They ran for the parking lot. I chased them. I don’t think the winner of the first race was even announced before Theo’s neck had been slashed. How could Heather and Theo know they held a winning ticket?”