Icy Betrayal: A Jack Keller Thriller

by David Keith

  “My daughter conspired with someone to commit a crime. She didn’t carry out the actual crime per se, but she did have a role in it—a fairly substantial role. And now I find myself in the rather unusual position of actually being able to help her, and I’m torn as to what I should do.”

  “I see. Would this crime she participated in be a homicide? I mean, those are the kinds of cases you work, correct?”

  “Yep,” Keller said as the sun set behind the Rocky Mountains.

  “And you could help her because of your ‘unusual position’ as you describe it. Is this because you are the person who is handling the investigation of this particular homicide case?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Well, I can certainly see why you are conflicted, Jack. But I think you know right from wrong. Are you looking for me to tell you that it’s okay to help her, to just let this one slide, if you will?”

  Jack turned to Father Jon. “From where I sit, there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who view things as black or white and others that see things in shades of gray. Personally, I’m a black and white kind of person. But now, with this case, I understand shades of gray. Look, my daughter is a good person; she just fell into a bad situation, and now I can help her. She made a mistake. She knows it. And she’s suffered enough, thanks to me.”

  “But Jack, this goes against everything you believe. You have made a career of bringing people to justice. You aren’t the judge here. You’ve got to trust the system. If she doesn’t deserve punishment for this crime, then the system will make that determination, not you.”

  “Look, I haven’t been the best father in the world. I screwed things up with my daughter, and I have a son who, just like his dad, was a drunk by the age of sixteen and managed to get himself killed while driving drunk. I don’t exactly have a stellar record when it comes to parenting, and I think this is my chance to make up for it. Not for my son, it’s too late for him, but for my daughter—because if I don’t do this, it may be too late for her. The good pretty much outweighs the bad. At least, it does from my point of view.”

  “Sounds like you’ve made up your mind. Are you asking for my blessing? I’m afraid I can’t give you that. And you know why.”

  “Thanks for nothing, Father.”

  “Sorry I couldn’t be more accommodating, Jack. But I’ll pray for you both.”

  The next morning, Mia ran into Keller in the hallway at RCSO. “How was your day off?” she asked.

  “Good, thanks.”

  “If you have some time today I’d like to get with you and go over the Lombard case. I did some work on it yesterday and have some stuff I need to fill you in on,” Mia said eagerly.

  “What kind of stuff?” Jack asked, concerned.

  “I did a little checking up on Lisa Sullivan. I went up to Big Pine and did some snooping around.”

  “Without checking with me?”

  “Sorry, but you were off yesterday, and I didn’t want to lose traction on the case. It doesn’t look like she even has a sister, so her story—”

  “Damn it, Mia. Next time let me know what you are doing with the case. We’re supposed to be partners. I don’t need you flying solo on this thing.

  “Okay, Jack, okay,” Mia said defensively.

  Jack turned and marched down the hallway and into the bullpen. She heard him slam his briefcase on the desk.

  “What the hell is his problem?”

  As always, Sasha went a little crazy when Mia arrived home from work.

  “Yes, baby, momma is home. Sasha, you want a cookie?” she teased, walking into the kitchen where Chuck was having a cup of coffee and reading the paper. She kissed him on the cheek.

  “Good evening, Investigator, and how was your day?”

  “It was fine, Dad. How were things around here?”

  “All quiet. Just the way I like it.”

  Mia set down her briefcase and purse and began tossing treats to Sasha.

  “Are you hungry, Dad? I can whip something up.”

  “No Mick tonight?”

  “No, Dad. Look, it was nice having him over last night, but it doesn’t mean we are back together.”

  “Okay, Mia. It was just nice to see him, that’s all.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just that Mick has a lot going on right now, and so do I. Things are more complicated than before.”

  “Can I give you some unsolicited advice?”

  “Sure, why not,” Mia said. Her father would likely tell her anyway.

  “Your mother and I had a special relationship, one that lasted more than forty years. She was my best friend, and we were made for each other; I think you know that. What we had was unusual, better than anyone we knew. All of our friends and family—no one else had the special love we had for each other.”

  Mia smiled. “I know, and it was pretty amazing. Mom used to tell me the same thing. You were so lucky to have found each other.”

  “Well, I think you and Mick have the same kind of chemistry, that same magic. The two of you remind me so much of your mother and me when we were dating. I just think you are meant to be together, that’s all.”

  “Maybe we are, I don’t know. It’s complicated, and I don’t really know what to do,” she said as she started to prepare dinner.

  “Maybe I can help, Mia. I’m a pretty good listener. I mean, if you need to run stuff by someone, I’m here, and I come at the right price.”

  Mia and Chuck had become very close after the death of her mother, but she still wondered if he could be objective about this topic.

  “Okay, here’s the deal. I’d really like to get back with Mick, but the timing couldn’t be worse. Still, I’ve been thinking that if I made a change, we could get back on track. Problem is, I just don’t know how much I’m willing to give up.”

  “Give up?” Chuck asked, wondering where she was going.

  “Mick has done really well in the department, and there’s a lot of talk about him running for sheriff when Connelly retires. Last night, Mick confided in me. He’s probably going to run.”

  “Mick would be a terrific sheriff. But why would you have to give anything up?”

  “Well, first off, he hasn’t asked me to give up anything. It’s my idea, really. Look, if we become involved again, and if it gets out, it could get ugly, especially in the middle of a political campaign. People could accuse him of violating department policy, which technically he is by dating someone under his command. But he’s more worried about my reputation and what they might say about me. How I got my job, wink, wink. I’m sure you can imagine. He doesn’t want to subject me to that, and I’d hate to be a distraction to the campaign. It wouldn’t do either one of us any good if it got out. But I think we could get back together if I took a voluntary transfer out of investigations and went back to patrol. That way, I wouldn’t be working for him. I’d be under the supervision of another captain in a totally different division. I love working investigations, but I can’t work as an investigator and be with Mick.”

  Chuck nodded but didn’t speak. He was so proud of his daughter and all she had accomplished. He also knew all too well that family and love were far more important than work. But he didn’t like the idea of Mia going back to patrol. Any job in the department brought risk, but Chuck felt she was safer in investigations.

  “That’s a tough call, Mia. But if it were me…” Chuck stopped mid-sentence as Mia presented a chicken Caesar salad.

  “Wow, that was fast. Looks delicious.”

  “Wine?” Mia poured, then dished out the salad.

  “Look, I know your career is important to you, and I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished. Since that day at Columbine, you set your sights on something and went after it, but…”

  “Uh huh, go on…” The punchline would be next.

  “Mia, like I said—love isn’t something that comes around very often. Careers are important, but who you spend your life with is so much more importa
nt. I had a good career at WellRock, and I enjoyed every minute of it, but I’d trade my forty years there for one more day with your mother.”

  Chuck moved the salad around his plate and tried to keep his composure. “You work hard to get where you need to be, you know, financially and otherwise…then the day comes and you finally have the money and free time you’ve dreamed about for decades, but the person you want to spend it with gets sick and next thing you know they’re gone. It’s not fair, but it’s life. And I’m not telling you all this so you can feel sorry for me. I’m just telling you that if you have a chance at real love…”

  “I know, Dad,” Mia said quietly. “And keep in mind, this is all in my head right now. I haven’t discussed this at all with Mick. Who knows, maybe he’d rather not get things going again, what with the election coming up and all…”

  “Well, I know what I’d do. That’s all I’m going to say about it. I know you’ll do what’s right for you. Just know I love you and want you to be happy.”

  Mia hugged him tightly. “I love you too, Dad. And I know how much you miss Mom. I miss her, too.”

  “I know, Mia, I know,” Chuck said, as tears welled up in his eyes.

  SIXTEEN

  Mia set out to make her peace with Keller. He was probably still pissed about her “going solo” to Big Pine, but she had every reason to check out the lead. The sooner they talked about it and resolved any bad blood, the better.

  “Good morning, Jack, how you doing?”

  “Hey, Mia, doing okay. What’s up?”

  Mia took a seat across from Keller’s desk.

  “I want to apologize for going up to Big Pine the other day. I should have at least told you or waited till you were back so we could make the trip together. I didn’t want to lose momentum, I think we both know Sullivan’s story isn’t adding up.”

  Jack responded, “Look, Mia, we are a team, a partnership, and neither of us should be doing anything without the full knowledge of the other. If you have a theory or a possible motive in the case, then you should share it with me, and we should work together on it. If that’s a problem for you, then we should talk to the captain and see if something else can be worked out.”

  Keller’s reaction still seemed over the top, but Mia took the high road. “Okay, Jack, I will be sure to keep you posted and share anything I get.”

  “I’d appreciate it. Now, tell me what you learned in Big Pine.”

  “I started wondering about Sullivan after she seemed nervous when I asked her about her sister at her apartment the other day. So I did a bunch of Google searches, checked Facebook, the works. I couldn’t find anything on a sister. Of course, you have the issue of maiden names and such, so I went up to Big Pine and asked around at the local post office. I didn’t tell anyone I was investigating the case, I just said I was in town and was hoping to reconnect with my old friend.”

  Keller interrupted. “Did you use your real name?”

  “No, of course not.” Mia responded, perturbed. She was new at working homicide cases, but she wasn’t an idiot.

  “So, what did you learn? Does she have a sister?”

  “Not that I could find. The clerk at the post office, who has worked there for thirty-five years and no doubt knows everyone in town, said there was only one person named Sullivan that she could recall and they’re long gone. Besides, he didn’t fit at all.”

  Keller shook his head dismissively. “Well, I’m not sure that means much, given the maiden name issue. There are lots of possible scenarios, and I don’t think we can conclude anything about her having or not having a sister up there based on the memory of some Big Pine postal clerk.”

  Mia was irked. She had come up with a bona fide lead and he was dismissing it as nothing.

  Jack continued, “And even if there is no sister and Sullivan is lying to us about that, remember there are lots of reasons people lie about things, but not all lies point to a homicide. Who knows, she could have been driving out there to score some dope for all we know. I’m just saying we can’t jump to any conclusions at this point. I’m not saying we don’t pursue it, I’m just saying let’s move slowly on this. We still think Lennox is behind the murder.”

  “Yeah, I understand what you are saying. But my money is still on Sullivan being involved somehow. That concert ticket on her refrigerator meant something to her. Trust me, it’s a clue that ties her to Lennox.”

  “Sure, it’s possible I guess. My buddy with the ticket agency is checking on it. But Red Rocks holds what, nine or ten thousand people? She and Lennox both went that night, that much we know. I’ll tell you what—I have an old friend up in Big Pine. I worked with him in St. Louis; he retired right before I did, and he moved out here. Let me check with him to see if he can do some snooping around about a sister for Sullivan. I’m sure he’d do that for me if I asked him. Sound okay?”

  “Sure, Jack.”

  “See, Mia, this is how partners work together. I could have saved you a trip up there yesterday. My old buddy can do the legwork on this. We’ll focus on Lennox for now.”

  “Okay,” Mia replied. She took her cue and left the bullpen.

  Keller leaned back in his chair. There was no friend in Big Pine, but hopefully it would get Mia off the sister angle. He needed to think very carefully about his next steps in the George Lombard investigation. His daughter’s future was in his hands, and he wasn’t going to let her down this time. And he could see that Mia Serrano was going to be a big pain in his ass.

  Mia considered the change in Keller. He was acting strangely; definitely different than when they first started working the Lombard case together. Maybe he’d started drinking again, she thought. That would explain the day off with no notice.

  Mick’s text broke her train of thought. “C me when u can re: Lombard Case.”

  She headed to the captain’s office, and found him studying a requisition spreadsheet.

  “Have a seat. I just got off the phone with the sheriff. He asked about the Lombard case… Anything new?”

  “Well, sort of. When Keller took his vacation day, I took the opportunity to pursue some things.”

  “Like what?”

  “When Jack and I dropped in on Lisa Sullivan the other day, I asked her about her sister. The morning of the accident she told me her sister was going through a tough time, and she was headed to Big Pine to visit her. That’s why she was out there that morning. So when I asked her how her sister was doing she just gave me some half-ass answer. I got the distinct impression she was caught in a lie and there was likely no sister in Big Pine. Which begs the question: what was she really doing out there that morning, and why would she lie to me about it?”

  “So what did you do?”

  “I ventured out on my own, that’s what I did.”

  Mia ran down her visit to Big Pine and her efforts in trying to locate a sister, adding how Keller was none too happy about her making the trip without him.

  “He was genuinely pissed that I did this while he was on a day off. Said we were partners and that we need to work together and share each other’s thoughts and theories about the case… It was weird. Almost like something has changed with him.”

  The captain understood. “Listen, Mia, keep in mind Keller is used to running the show. He’s not used to having partners doing stuff on their own in an investigation that he’s involved in. I’m not condoning his actions or saying he’s right, but just keep that in mind.”

  “I know all that. Or at least I do now. He reamed me pretty good.”

  Mick chuckled.

  “I’d like to get together with you and Jack later today to go over the case. Would that work for you?”

  “Sure, I can make that work. Want me to tell Keller?”

  “No, I’ll call him. Better coming from me than you. Don’t want him thinking you’re bossing him around.”

  Mia laughed softly and shook her head.

  “No, we can’t have that.”

  Mick sent off a quick
email requesting a three o’clock meeting to review the “murder book.” Keller had taken on the task of putting the book together when he had been assigned to the case. It contained all the pertinent information—all compiled into one large oversized binder. Common in nearly all police agencies, the “murder book” allows for all information to be kept in one place relative to a specific homicide. It was an excellent investigative tool and also served a valuable purpose in preparing a case for court once an arrest had been made.

  At three o’clock, Mick, Mia, and Keller arrived at the investigations division conference room and took seats around the table. Keller put the murder book on the large wooden table between them.

  “Jack, can you start off by going over what we’ve got so far?”

  “Sure, Captain.”

  Keller opened the book and started by explaining the initial 911 call, the response by deputies to the accident, and Mia’s on-scene investigation and interview of Lisa Sullivan. From there he moved on to the autopsy, describing the findings by the medical examiner and how they were in direct conflict with what was originally believed by investigators handling the incident that morning.

  Specifically, Keller highlighted the very low body temperature, lividity inconsistent with the body’s position, and the glass found in his scalp. He referred to the medical examiner’s findings of terminal cancer. He moved on to the rifle found at the scene, noting it wasn’t a weapon that an experienced hunter like Lombard would use to hunt deer. Further, the ammo didn’t match the weapon—another mistake an experienced hunter would never make. Next, he talked about the $2 million insurance policy, which listed Scott Lennox as the sole beneficiary. He concluded with highlights from the interviews with Lennox and Sullivan.

  Mia detailed the discovery of the concert ticket and the possibility it could be a link between Lennox and Sullivan. “There’s something going on with those two, believe me,” she added.