“No, that will be all,” said the officer in charge of the task force, as though something else was on his mind. After that he walked over close to where Luke was laying and asked, “How is he?”
“Sir, his pulse is very weak and threaded. I don't know if we can save him. He needs to get to a hospital immediately or he'll be dead soon.
“Then let's get him there immediately.”
12
Epilogue
THE TELEVISION SCREEN WENT MOMENTARILY BLANK, interrupting normal programming. The screen filled with the words “SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN.” A darkened newsroom appeared; the lights brightened quickly, showing the television station’s news anchorwoman, seated behind an impressive oak news desk, immaculately attired in a fashionable blue blouse. Consummately in control, her blond hair looking as though she just stepped off the cover of Vogue, she spoke confidently:
“Good evening. This is Nancy Young reporting. Our lead story this evening: Fourteen California National Guardsmen died this morning, and eight other Guardsmen were wounded, when the person thought to be the San Diego Woodlands Killer was taken into custody by law enforcement officials earlier today.
“Police say the Woodlands Killer is responsible for eleven deaths that began nearly fourteen years ago with the gruesome, "commando-type" slaying of San Diego State University student Steven Kwong on one of the many remote bike paths around the university’s campus.
“Two common elements of the murders police attributed to the Woodlands Killer were that they all happened near heavily wooded areas in mountainous terrain within the greater San Diego area and they all appear to have been committed by someone with advanced military training. Four of the slayings happened in the hills and ravines near San Diego State University. The others were near Balboa Park and similar wooded areas within the west county.
“Before today, the latest victim attributed to the Woodlands Killer was fifty-eight-year-old Jonathan Weiser, found just over a month ago on one of the foot trails southwest of Balboa Park. His friends said he had a long habit of early morning walks. Until today, all efforts to identify or apprehend the killer by the special task force formed by the San Diego Police Department were unsuccessful.
“Authorities say the suspect was seriously wounded during the police effort and was taken to nearby Mercy Hospital for treatment for multiple gunshot wounds. Police say he is listed in very critical condition.
“The police statement gives the suspect’s name as Luke Sims, a long time resident of the Kensington Heights area. Police say that he was employed as a janitor at San Diego State University, and was also a part-time student there. And now for more details we go live to our own Chip Morgan at the scene.”
“Thank you, Nancy,” Chip said. The obviously tired reporter was wearing a wet and wrinkled raincoat and standing in front of several police cars, all of which had their external lights flashing.
“I am standing near the police command center located in the parking lot of Toltec Hall, just off Remington, just west of the Aztec Baseball field. Now that the rain has stopped and the clouds have lifted somewhat, you can see the red-top of the University's bell tower there behind me.
“Police spokesmen say the immense manhunt began in the very early hours of this morning. It was triggered when a jogger reported seeing a man heading toward the hillside wearing a camouflage military uniform and carrying a rifle.”
Checking his notes, Chip continued: “I should point out that the names of the slain National Guardsmen are still being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. We will bring that news to you the moment the authorities make it available.
“Here is what the police have released about the suspect: He served as a Marine in Vietnam in 1967 and ’68, and was a sergeant in the Force Reconnaissance Marines. I should note that a Recon Marine is the elite war fighter of the Marine Corps, similar to the Army’s Green Beret or the Navy’s Seals. Some I have spoken to this evening say that with their stealth training they are exceptionally lethal in combat situations. Sims was awarded the Silver Star and other commendations for repeated acts of heroism. So, he is a real war hero. They show he was released from active-duty with an Honorable Medical Discharge in 1968. That’s all they have released thus far. This is Chip Morgan reporting from San Diego State University. Now back to you, Nancy.”
The anchorwoman reappeared. “Thank you, Chip. On the phone with me now is Mr. Randall Rinke. He is a counselor at the Vet Center here in San Diego. Mr. Rinke, I understand that you know the suspect, Luke Sims. Is that right?”
“Yes, I do,” said Mr. Rinke. “First let me say I am a counselor, not a doctor. But I still have to follow the confidentiality rules of the Center. So I can’t tell you much specifically about Luke Sims.”
“Okay. Thank you. So what can you tell us about Luke Sims?
"Just that he has been attending group sessions at the Center for a number of years. I can’t tell you why.”
“Do you know him personally?”
“Yes. He attended a group session I conducted recently and we’ve spoken a couple of times.”
“What can you tell me about Luke Sims, the man?”
“Like many of the Vets who come to the Center, he came here because he had troubling experiences in Vietnam that he, like many others, had not been able to move beyond on their own. You may be familiar with the term PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. That is mainly what Vets that visit us suffer from, or something related to PTSD. By coming here and talking with others who have had similar traumatic war experiences, many Vets are able to reveal feelings about those experiences that they may have never discussed with anyone before, or may not even have known they felt before. Suppressed memories about the trauma are what Vets need to face and move beyond. For many, their sessions here do that. They confront those issues with others who understand what they went through and finally put things in a manageable perspective and put the war behind them. Group sessions are our main tool. Luke had participated in these sessions for years. He was a regular attendee.”
“I assume he talked at these sessions. Can you tell us what he spoke about?”
“I am sorry. I can’t,” said Rinke. “I can say that like many Vets with PTSD, Luke felt survivor guilt.”
“Could you explain what that is?”
“They feel guilty for surviving when their friends and comrades died. It is very common among Vets. They often feel that had they done something “better” or “faster” or not made what they consider was a mistake that their friends would still be alive today.”
“How would that cause someone like Luke Sims to kill so many people?”
“Again I can not speak about Luke specifically, but I can say that the human mind is amazing and very complex; once traumatized it tries to heal itself. There are many techniques it may pursue. Here are just a few: It can block out the memory of a traumatic event; it can choose what it remembers about the event–rearrange the facts so to speak–or in its simplest and most common form, it may rationalize the elements of the event in an effort to bring one’s recollection of their actions, their beliefs and memories, into congruence.
“For example, when their actions, or memories of actions, don’t align with their strongly held beliefs, it results in what is called cognitive dissonance. Most people call this condition ‘stress.’ The wider the gap between the two, the more stress or dissonance exists. To reduce this type of stress over past actions, we either change our perceptions of our behavior, our actions, or we change our perceptions of our reasons for these actions–justification aligned with our core beliefs. Our mind tries to do this automatically as part of the healing process. We, as individuals, in striving to reduce dissonance, let’s call it mental stress, are generally successful. As a matter of fact, we do it all the time. In its simplest form, it is called rationalizing. We rationalize more often then we realize.
“Contrary to some people’s views, as humans, we generally try to make our world less stressful
. We try to make all of the pieces of our lives: our behavior, beliefs and experiences–including memories–fit together, so that we have a rational, orderly view of the world and our place in it.
“But what happens with some Veterans is their experience in war was so obtuse to the rational view of the world they’ve returned to that it challenges their ability to make sense of it all. They find it hard to rationalize the gap away. Their subconscious mind tries to overcome this disparity, sometimes in dreams or nightmares, as it tries to compensate for the stress, attempting to find the most rational path. The problem for some of them is the gap is so wide there is only darkness–an abyss and no reasoning can catch hold there. This void needs to be bridged.
“I believe most people would agree that many if not most people have vivid imaginations. Sometimes Veterans, who are trying to find their way back, unknowingly allow their mind to use their imaginations to solve the dilemma. The possibility of where their imagination might take them is limitless.
“I am not sure I addressed your question directly, but this should give you an idea of the challenges similar Vets from any war face when trying to find their way back and become whole and normal again.”
“Thank you, Mr. Rinke. That leads me to the question: Did you suspect that he was the Woodlands Killer?”
“I just met him very recently so I hadn’t formed any clinical opinion about his mental state yet. But the answer to your question is no. That is all I can say about Luke.”
“Thank you, Mr. Rinke. And now back to our Chip Morgan who has an update on the story.”
Chip began: “Nancy, several members of the task force I talked to this evening say they are confused by Sims’s actions that resulted in him being apprehended. It seems that nobody knew accurately where he was in the heavily wooded, immense hillside until he walked out in a clearing in front of a Marine helicopter and was shot. They say if he hadn’t done that they may have never caught him. They say the terrain with steep ridges and gullies is so rough and impenetrable and covers such an immense area that it would have been easy for him to escape. Even with all the manpower the police had, the people I talked to said it was impossible to cover all of the possible escape routes. So there are still important questions that need to be answered.
“Additionally, the Task Force leader, Lt. Brownman, told me that he requested the use of Guardsmen from Governor Samson when he first heard where the manhunt was to take place because of the type of terrain involved and the scope of the search. Lieutenant Brownman said neither the city nor county authorities had the manpower to fully conduct the sweep of the area on their own and that their purpose was to push or drive the suspect toward the authorities not to engage him.
“The National Guardsmen, he said, were inexperienced novices when it came to combat and guerrilla warfare. Most, if not all, of the Guardsmen were weekend-warriors–clerks or car salesmen who had never served on active duty. He said looking at Sims service record showed that the Guardsmen were no match against, as he put it, “one of the most highly trained soldiers our nation has ever produced.” He said not only was Sims highly trained by the Marines, but judging from what he saw of Sims’ physically as they prepared him for the ambulance, he did not look like he was forty-three years old. He looked in top form and ready for combat.
“That’s it from here, Nancy. Now back to you at the studio.”
“Thanks, Chip.”
Nancy continued with more details: “Experts say the Task Force mobilized this morning was one of the largest combined law enforcement and National Guard tactical efforts ever in the state’s history. The task force included units of the California National Guard, FBI, San Diego Sheriff ’s Department and San Diego Police Department. Because of the wide search area and rough terrain, it also included police helicopters from various police departments throughout the county. When the search area was unexpectedly doubled in size mid-morning, authorities requested assistance from Marine Corps air units temporarily stationed at Mira Mar Naval Air Station, just a few minutes away. Lt. Brownman said he wanted to thank Marine Helicopter Squadron HMH-361 for contributing two helicopters to the search. He said it was one of the late arriving Marine helicopters that located the suspect, and a San Diego Police SWAT Team member on board, who was an expert marksman, that shot and critically wounded the suspect.
“We’ll have more details on this unfolding tragedy and the shooting of what appears to be the San Diego Woodlands Killer as they become available...”
13
One Week Later...
NOBODY LIKES HOSPITALS, THOUGHT JERRY SIKES AS HE walked down the wide, highly polished entry hallway of Mercy Hospital. He included himself in that group. Normally he would not go near a hospital when his friends and family occasionally found themselves entombed in one. He hated the smell and the vibe associated with them. So he would wait until they retuned home. That didn’t always work out well. His father died in the hospital and he didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. Today he made a special exception. His Marine Corps brother was in serious trouble with the law and was in the hospital with gun shot wounds inflicted by the police. Nothing in the world could have kept him from seeing his friend.
Finding his way to the nursing station on the sixth floor, Sikes asked, “Which room is Luke Sims in?”
“Who are you?” asked the nurse as she looked up from the counter top covered in stacks of folders.
“His brother.”
“Maybe they will allow you in. He is in room number 618 down the hall to your right. You can’t miss the room. There is a policemen seated outside his door.” Then she turned back to the papers in front of her.
Sikes thanked the nurse and turned to leave. In a rush of words the nurse added, “He’s stable now. So if they let you in you should be able to talk to him.”
“Thanks,” he said as he continued to walk.
The policeman asked for Sikes’s ID and wrote down the information and then allowed Sikes to enter the room. “Hey bro,” he said as he looked at Luke laying in the bed with two pillows beneath his head. Three IV bags hung high next to the bed with lines running down to his arm. Sikes saw a tube came out of Luke’s chest and emptied into a container down below. A mixed colored fluid could be seen in the clear tube.
Luke opened his eyes. Sikes could see that Luke was drugged. Perhaps a full minute passed before Luke smiled and said, “Hey, Sarge, what took ya?
“Came as fast as I could.” Sikes had tears running in a torrent down his face. He didn’t bother to wipe them away. After a couple of failed attempts to say something, Sikes finally managed to say, “How are you?”
“They tell me I’m going to be fine. I don’t feel fine right now. The docs say it will be a long recovery.” Luke grimaced as a wave of pain overcame him. After it subsided, he grabbed the red button clipped to his bed and pushed it once. A devise on the pole next to his bed clicked sending a pain killer into his system.
“That sounds good.” Sikes was unsure how to proceed. Without talking further, he went to the bed and gave Luke a careful hug. A long hug. As he pulled away he said, “I’m here and I’m not leaving ‘till your okay.”
Luke seemed to relax.
Sikes said, “Just rest now. We’ll talk more later.” With that he went over to the chair in the room and sat down. He watched as Luke closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
When the doctor made his afternoon rounds, Sikes asked to speak with him outside the room, explaining that he was Luke’s brother. The doctor nodded and joined Sikes in the hallway. “How is he, Doc?”
“A week ago when he was admitted, we weren’t sure he’d make it.” The doctor paused as he studied Sikes. “You know why he’s here and what he did?”
“Yes,” replied Sikes. “I know. But how is he?
“He’s one tough guy. If he hadn’t been in such good physical shape, he probably would not have made it. But as of today, he’ll make a full recovery from the two bullets we took out of him. As to what happens
to him after that I don’t know. It will be up to the psych docs to determine that and then the police after that.” With that the doctor turned and walked down the hall. Sikes went back into Luke’s room.
Sikes had heard the stories on national TV and read everything he could about the incident that got Luke into the hospital. He knew that Luke had had a mental breakdown and why. Reporters said he thought he was back in Vietnam. Doctors had called it a Reoccurring Dissociative State or a series of psychotic breaks. The press called it severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder suffered in Vietnam when his Recon team died and he was the only survivor. Sikes knew his friends were dead and he would have been there if he had not rotated back to the States when he did. Sikes heard Luke had killed civilians. The media said he had thought what he remembered were dreams, bad nightmares and did not realize what he had done had been real.
Sikes returned to the hospital every day. On his fourth day, he saw that the policeman was gone. When he entered Luke’s room, he saw that Luke was handcuffed to the bed rail. Luke saw him looking at the devise. He rattled it. “Yeah, they said I wasn’t permitted to leave.”
Sikes sat in the now familiar chair. “Do you know what happened?” It was the first time Sikes had dared to bring it up.
“They told me what I did,” replied Luke in a whisper. “It seems like a dream to me. I really don’t remember anything.”
“What do the doctors say?”
Luke fidgeted with has hands as he formed his response. “They say there is no rush to figure it out. Whatever that means.” Luke’s facial expression showed the grief he felt. “How could I have done that?”
By What is Sure to Follow Page 29