by Liz Bradford
She pushed the door open and answered the phone, “Hello.”
“Hey, Rebecca, it’s Caleb,” his deep voice was charming. “How’s your day been?”
“It’s been a day. Yours?”
“It’s been good. My small group from church is getting together tomorrow night at Jason and Mary’s house to hang out, eat pizza, and play some board games. I was wondering if you’d like to go with me. Callie can come too; others are bringing their kids. What do you think?”
“Sounds like fun. As long as I don’t end up having to pull a double, we should be good.” She walked out of the station and was greeted by a warm breeze.
“I hope you won’t have to work on a Friday night. Unless of course you are catching a killer, I suppose that takes precedence, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, I suppose,” she chuckled. “Hopefully I’ll catch him by tomorrow afternoon, and we’ll be fine.” She couldn’t believe she said that much. She tried to make a point to not take the job outside of work, and that was closer to the line than she liked to be. “Want us to meet you there? What time?”
“No, I’ll pick you ladies up. I’ll be by six; does that work?”
“Sounds good. See you then. Bye, Caleb.”
“Bye, Rebecca.”
She leaned up against her SUV and soaked in the evening light. A second date. Anticipation bubbled in her stomach. Rebecca knew her sister, Amy, would be excited, probably more than Rebecca. She wished she was more excited, but maybe it was just this case that had set her in a funky mood. Either way she would let it be. Maybe tomorrow evening would help clarify her emotions.
Rebecca handed Caleb her empty paper plate as he stood from Jason and Mary’s couch Friday evening. He winked at her causing her cheeks to warm before he turned toward the garbage. Her date was quite handsome. His strong, scruffy jaw gave proof he hadn’t had a shift as a paramedic for a couple of days. But what made him truly attractive was his passion for Christ.
Jason had been telling them about a difficult situation at work. And Caleb’s advice exuded his faith. His encouragement to trust God’s timing warmed Rebecca’s heart.
She stood and followed Caleb to the kitchen where the adults were gathering around the long kitchen table to play a board game. The kids had already disappeared into the basement to play their own games with Jason and Mary’s teenage daughter. Rebecca twirled her hair and stood back from everyone, unsure of where to go and what to do.
“Rebecca.” Caleb pulled a chair out for her.
“Thanks.”
Jason said, “So how are we going to play a six-person game with ten people?”
Mary opened the box and started spreading out the board. “We’re all here as couples. So, let’s play in five teams.”
Rebecca glanced around the table. Every person in Caleb’s small group was attached to someone, whether married or seriously dating. She could only imagine how grateful he must be that she had said yes to coming.
The game started, and Rebecca tried to restrain her competitive side. She only sort of knew these people from church. She knew Caleb from church, too, although they also ran into each other on the job from time to time. Friends, both from church and work, had been trying to set them up for a while, but it wasn’t until a month ago that they finally gave into their friends’ encouragement. And she was glad. They had only been on one other official date; mostly they had just hung out with friends and at large group church events they were both attending anyway.
Caleb was a lot of fun to be around, and he knew how to make everyone laugh. When Jason wasn’t looking Caleb reached over and moved several of Jason’s pieces out of the perfect little rows that Jason had created in front of himself. Rebecca put her hand over her mouth in attempt to smother a laugh. Everyone except Jason saw him do it.
“Caleb!” Jason huffed and fixed his pieces.
Laughter rippled around the table.
The game continued, and a couple that sat across from Caleb and Rebecca stole the longest road points away from them. Caleb shook his head. “Oh no, you didn’t.”
“Actually, we did,” the guy said.
He put his palms on the table and leaned forward. “Game on.”
Rebecca laughed. If Caleb could be competitive, maybe she could be too.
When it was their turn again, they had enough cards to build more road. Becca grabbed two road pieces and placed them emphatically on the board regaining the longest road points.
Caleb laughed. “There. Told you.” He placed his hand on her shoulder.
She waited for the electricity to fly through her body. But it didn’t. She didn’t mind his touch, but it didn’t excite her the way she expected. She was intrigued by the possibilities that lay before her with Caleb, however, at the same time, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to be back into the dating world. One would think that five and a half years would be long enough, but her last relationship had been so intense and had given her Callie. Unfortunately, getting over the love of your life takes a lot longer than one might think. But why was she thinking about him? She needed to focus on what was ahead not what was behind. She needed to connect with Caleb.
“Good bye.” Rebecca waved to Jason and Mary as they walked out to Caleb’s Camaro. Rebecca and Caleb had won the game, and while she was glad for the distraction of this evening, she was ready for some quiet. The case was jabbing at her mind, begging to intrude on her nice evening. Maybe she could pull the files out of her briefcase and look at them again before bead. She shoved the idea aside as she waited for Callie to climb in and buckle herself into her booster seat. Rebecca reached back and tugged on Callie’s seatbelt. “Good job, sweetie.” She pushed the seat of Caleb’s Camaro back into place and slid in.
Caleb smiled at her. “Thanks for coming with me tonight.”
“Thanks for inviting us. It was fun.”
Her sister’s words echoed in her head. “If you are so afraid of being alone, you have to learn to let people in and actually make real connections with living humans.”
She chuckled silently at herself. “You have any big plans for tomorrow?”
“Sleeping in. I have to work three overnights starting Sunday night.”
“Yuck. Those kinds of shifts are one thing I don’t miss about being a patrol officer. Of course, I’m always on call now…”
“I’m not sure which is worse.”
“Me neither.” Silence fell. Her insides burned. Why did talking make her so nervous? She knew she needed to ask him questions to get to know him, but what? “So… family. Do you have family around here?”
“Nah, grew up in the mid-west. My brother lives in Chicago.”
“Oh yeah? What’s he do up there?”
“He’s a cop.”
Callie’s voice came from the backseat. “Mommy? Didn’t you say they need new cops here in Hazel Hill?”
“That’s right I did. There are all sorts of positions open at the station. If he’s open to it, he should check it out. I know I love living close to my sister.”
“That would be awesome. I’ll have to tell him.”
A few minutes later they arrived back at Rebecca’s house, and Caleb walked them to the door.
“Callie, put your booster seat by the garage and then run up and start getting ready for bed. I’ll be up in a moment.”
“Okay, Mom.”
She turned back to Caleb.
“Again, thanks for coming.”
“Of course.”
“See you Sunday.”
“Yep.”
He turned and walked to his car, and Rebecca went inside. She giggled as she closed the door and locked it. It had been a good night, and Caleb was such a likable guy. This relationship definitely had potential.
Callie hollered from upstairs, “I’m ready for you to brush my hair, Mom.”
“All right, on my way.” Rebecca took the stairs two at a time, her spirit light.
As she sat on the edge of Callie’s bed brushing the five-yea
r-old’s long dark blond hair, the precious girl caught her off guard. “Mom, Chris said that he thinks it’s weird that Mr. Caleb is always rubbing his hands together. Chris said that it’s stupid because it isn’t cold.”
Rebecca just stopped mid-stroke. Her stomach turned. That was it. That was the thing about Caleb that had been bothering her, and now she knew why, and it had nothing to do with an eight-year-old’s opinion.
“Mom?”
“Oh, sorry, Hun.” She resumed brushing. Ignoring her own feelings for a moment, she focused on Callie’s thoughts. “Callie, what do you think?”
“It doesn’t bother me. I don’t understand why Chris even cares. I like Mr. Caleb; he’s nice.”
“I’m glad that you like Caleb. What did you say to Chris?”
“I just said that he should be nice, and I walked away.”
“You are so kind, Callie. Sounds like you handled that situation well.”
The girl shrugged and changed the subject, but Rebecca’s mind stayed focused on the silliness of her gut’s reaction to Callie pointing out such a meaningless mannerism. As soon as Callie was tucked in for the night, Rebecca pulled her cell phone out of her jean’s pocket and called her big sister.
Amy answered before Rebecca even made it to the bottom of the stairs. “Hey sis, how was the date?” Amy asked with a little too much exuberance.
“It went well. We had a great time. Caleb and I dominated in Settlers.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less. But if it was so great, what’s the hesitation I hear in your voice?”
Rebecca closed her eyes. Was it that obvious? “Well, Callie mentioned something this evening. She said that one of the other kids pointed out something about Caleb. That’s not the big deal, it’s what it is…”
“Okay. What is it? Don’t leave me hanging.”
Rebecca took the kettle off the stove and filled it with water before returning it and turning on the burner. “Well, she said that Caleb rubs his hands together a lot. I hadn’t realized it, but once she said it I was like ‘oh, yeah, he does.’”
“Oh, Rebecca, that’s exactly what--”
“Exactly, what he did. I knew I was thinking about him more lately, and I couldn’t figure out why, but that has to be it. What a stupid little thing!”
“You do know you can say his name.”
“No, I can’t. And don’t you dare.”
“I won’t - even though it’s totally tempting… I respect your wishes.”
Rebecca smiled at her sister’s teasing. “Thank you. I know it’s dumb, but it’s easier to not say it.”
Their conversation dropped off for a moment while Rebecca poured the boiling water over her tea bag in her mug.
“Rebecca, please don’t get mad, but…”
“Not the way to lead off, Amy.”
“Yeah, I know, but you might not like what I’m going to say, but I think it needs to be said.”
“Oh joy, fine, say it.”
“I think there is more about Caleb that reminds you of him than just the silly mannerism.”
Rebecca froze. Her heart slammed against her chest.
“Rebecca? You still there?”
“Yeah… I’m just trying to think about what it could be. They don’t really look alike. What on earth makes you say that?”
“I’m not really sure, but I’ve thought that since the first day I meet Caleb.”
“That’s just weird. I don’t see it. Well, other than the stupid hand thing.”
“I don’t know what it is. But I do know, you start thinking about him every time you entertain the idea of having a relationship.”
Rebecca settled on the couch with her tea. Her mood was no longer as light as it had been earlier. A weight, a sadness, sat in her heart. “Amy, why do I still feel so sad? Why can’t I just move on and be happy?”
Amy sighed sympathetically. “Oh, Bec, I don’t know. But I’m sure having Callie’s eyes look just like his is a constant reminder. Just keep being patient with yourself.”
“I’m trying, but just when I think I’m really moving past him, we’re having this conversation again.”
“It’s okay. And we may for the rest of our lives. Hang in there. You are not alone in this at all. I’m here for you always, and remember to press into Jesus.”
Rebecca let herself sink a little deeper into the couch. She wished that these emotions would just go away so that she could be happy with Caleb. He really was great. “I will, Amy. Jesus has sustained me this far, and I know He will continue to. And for what it’s worth I really want to like Caleb.”
“Interesting choice of words. Want to like him?”
“I do like him…?”
“Do you?”
“See you Friday,” Rebecca said to Caleb who stood next to her in foyer of their church Sunday morning.
“Looking forward to it,” Caleb said. His smile brought a little blood to her cheeks. She did like him!
She turned and exited the large glass doors of the church with Callie. The service had been wonderful; the worship uplifting and the sermon challenging. The pastor had taught about a passage from the book of Joshua when the Lord admonished Joshua as he prepared to lead the Israelites into Canaan. “This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go,” the Lord told Joshua in Joshua 1:9.
The hairs on the back of Rebecca’s neck stood up as she unlocked the car and opened Callie’s door. She looked around but didn’t see anything. What on earth, Rebecca? You just listened to a sermon about how we don’t need to fear because God is with us, so what are you afraid of? She couldn’t place it. She helped Callie buckle up. As she closed the door, she looked around the emptying parking lot. Nothing appeared to be amiss, but something had set off her “spidey” senses. She paused with her hand on the door handle and looked along the tree line at the east edge of the parking lot. Nothing there. There were still a dozen cars in the parking lot, half of which she recognized, including Caleb’s black Chevy Camaro. The others didn’t stand out, except one, an old, green Pontiac. Was that the same one she had driven past as they left their subdivision on the way to church? But there was nothing ominous about it, so she opened her door.
Rebecca’s phone rang. She pulled her phone from her purse as she slid into the driver’s seat of her Honda CR-V. The car and strange feeling left her mind. The caller ID revealed it was the medical examiner’s office. “Detective Palmer.”
“It’s Henry. Finished the autopsy. You and Ramirez need to come here so I can give you the rundown.” The phone clicked.
So much for enjoying a Sunday afternoon. She and Doug had already spent part of yesterday at the station throwing ideas back and forth, but now it looked like they would spend part of Sunday working too.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, Callie?”
“You have to work again today, don’t you?”
“Yes, Hun, I’m sorry. Hopefully it won’t take long.”
Rebecca called her sister as she backed out of her parking spot, but hung up as soon as she saw Tom, Amy’s husband, walking out of the church. She drove over to him.
“Hey, Tom, I got called into work, can you take Callie?”
“Sure. Come on, kiddo. We’re having grilled cheese for lunch.”
Callie unbuckled herself and hopped out the door. “Yummy. Bye, Mom!”
“Bye, Sweetie, love you. Thanks, Tom.”
“Anytime.”
Rebecca pulled out of the parking lot and dialed Doug’s phone.
“Ramirez,” Doug answered on the third ring.
“Hey, Doug. Henry wants us to come get the rundown of the autopsy.”
“Seriously, on a Sunday afternoon?”
“My thoughts exactly, but yes, apparently. Want me to pick you up?”
“Yes, we are at my in-laws.”
“Need food?”
“Nope, we just ate.”
“Ok. See you in ten
minutes.”
After picking up a sub sandwich and Doug, they arrived at the medical examiner’s lab that was in the basement of the police station. When she pushed through the heavy metal doors that led to the autopsy lab, she nearly ran into Jocelyn, the thin forensic photographer, on the other side. “Sorry, Jocelyn.”
“It’s okay. Wait ‘til you see what we found!”
Rebecca lifted her eyebrows, but before she could say anything Henry stood from his desk and said, “There you are, finally.”
Jocelyn slipped out the door.
Rebecca tried not to let her annoyance with the gruff ME show. “Got here as soon as we could. Please tell me you’ve got something big.”
“Well, don’t know if it’s going to solve the case but I found some interesting details.”
As they walked into the chilly morgue, Doug asked, “What took so long, Henry?”
“I’d like to see you catalog and examine 100 separate bruises and cuts in three days.”
Doug didn’t react to Henry’s tone. “100? That’s a lot. Seems like significantly more than the last victim.”
“It is, but the count on the first victim may have been a bit skewed because of the medications she was on. Her bruises were larger, which is what led us to believe that she had been beat with a larger object, but after cataloging Ms. Jenning’s injuries I’m not sure that is what we are looking at. It is possible that Ms. MacDonald’s bruising was simply intensified because of her medications.”
“So, what you’re saying is,” Rebecca said, “that Tonya’s injuries are too small to be the results of blows from a bat or fists?”
“Exactly.” Henry lifted the cloth that covered Tonya’s body, exposing her bruised arm and shoulder. “The bruises measure anywhere from one quarter inch to five inches across.”
“That’s a huge discrepancy. What on earth is he beating them with? Rebecca pointed to a large bruise on Tonya’s upper arm, “That bruise looks just like the one I had after I took a softball pitch to the shoulder in high school.”
“So maybe he’s throwing balls at them?” Doug suggested.
“That’s one possibility; however,” Henry said, “some of the bruises have cuts as well, as if something harder and more jagged struck her.”