From a Single Seed: A Novel

by Teri Ames

  “You mean on the back deck?”

  “Right.”

  “Did you see them struggle?”

  “Yeah, that sounds right.” Dustin watched Jenna carefully, looking for signs she was holding back. He didn’t see any. She was staring into the middle distance as if searching her memory.

  “Where were you when this was happening?”

  “I was in the kitchen.”

  “Did you see him hit her?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know, but I know he grabbed her pretty hard.”

  “Did he shake her?”

  “Yeah, a little.”

  “Okay, good. Was he yelling?”

  “Yeah, he was mad.”

  “Why didn’t you do something?”

  Jenna scowled and looked Dustin in the eye for the first time since the interview started. “I figured it was between them. How was I supposed to know he was going to hurt her?”

  “No, you’re right, what happened isn’t your fault. I wasn’t trying to blame you. What makes you think that Keenan did something to Shannon?”

  “Well, you guys are investigating him. And it’s all over Facebook.”

  “What exactly are people saying on Facebook?”

  “Just that Keenan is a suspect in Shannon’s disappearance.”

  “Anything else?”

  “That he was the last one to see her alive.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “People have been posting when they saw her. Somebody from the party posted that Shannon and Keenan left together.”

  “Who was that?”

  “I don’t remember.”

  “Can you help me find it later?”

  “Sure.”

  “Did you talk to Shannon after you saw her fighting with Keenan?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “She left.”

  “Did you see Shannon and Keenan leave together?”

  “I’m pretty sure.”

  “How did they leave?”

  “Must have been out the back. I’m pretty sure they didn’t come back in through the kitchen.”

  “Did it look like Shannon went willingly?”

  “Yeah. I mean, if he’d been dragging her, I would have stopped him.”

  “Yeah, okay. Did you call Shannon to check up on her?”

  “No.”

  “How did you get back to campus?”

  “Greta and I caught a ride from a guy in her sociology class.”

  “Do you know him?”

  “No.”

  “Anything else that you remember about that night?”

  “Not really. I mean, I just never thought it would be the last time I saw Shannon.”

  “Well, you can help us get justice for her. Can you find those Facebook postings on your phone?”

  “Sure.”

  After a minute of thumb movement, Jenna showed Dustin a series of Facebook postings about Shannon’s disappearance. He made a note to track down a kid named Jeremy Rollins. When they were done, Dustin had Jenna wait a few minutes while he typed up a written statement for her to sign. He put it in front of her.

  “I’m going to read you what I wrote,” Dustin said. “If you agree, I need you to sign this statement at the bottom and we’ll notarize it. Okay?”

  “Sure.”

  “It says: ‘I, Jenna Davidson, was with Shannon Dawson on the evening of Friday, December 20, 2013. We went to a party at 853 Maple Street. While we were there, Keenan Brody came to the party looking for Shannon. He wanted her to leave with him, but she did not want to go because she had just told him that she had slept with her old boyfriend and he was angry. I saw Keenan grab Shannon hard and shake her. He was also yelling at her. Eventually, the two of them left together. I did not see or talk to Shannon again after she left with Keenan.’”

  Jenna signed the statement. “Can I go now?”

  With the help of Public Safety, Dustin tracked down Jeremy Rollins. When Jeremy finally arrived, Dustin put him in the interview room.

  “Thanks for coming in.”

  “Man, it’s not like you gave me much choice, calling my parents.”

  “Look, Shannon Dawson is missing, presumed dead. Don’t you want to help us figure out what happened to her?”

  “I don’t know anything.”

  Dustin had a gut feeling that Rollins did not think highly of cops, but he decided to try to win him over. “That’s not necessarily true. You were one of the last people to see her. You’re an important witness.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “The stuff you posted on Facebook.”

  “Oh, that.”

  “Was it true?”

  “Was what true?”

  “That you saw Shannon the night she disappeared?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And that you saw Keenan?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And that he was looking for Shannon?”

  “Sure.”

  “That they had a fight?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Dustin decided to back off. “An argument?”

  “Keenan lives in my dorm. I don’t want to say anything against him.”

  “But you made some posts on Facebook about a fight?”

  “Yeah, but that was just Facebook.”

  “So? Are you saying you lied about what happened that night on Facebook? That’s not good.” More likely he was lying to Dustin to protect his friend.

  “No, it’s not like that.”

  “What is it then?”

  “Look, I can’t really remember what happened that night. It was weeks ago.” Okay, it was clear they were going to have to do this the hard way.

  “But you saw Keenan and Shannon together that night?”

  “Sure.”

  “Did you see them leave together?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? You posted on Facebook that they had a fight and then they left together.”

  “That’s because I heard it.”

  “From who?”

  “I don’t know. There’s been a lot of rumors in the past few weeks.”

  Dustin was beyond frustrated with this kid. “I’m not the bad guy here. I’m trying to help this girl’s parents find some peace, some closure.”

  “I get that. But I’m not the guy to help you.”

  Dustin stared at the kid for half a minute. “Okay, who can help me? Give me some names.”

  “You want me to rat out my friends?”

  “No, I just want to know who was at the party. Who saw something?”

  “Like I said.”

  “Look, I’ve been reasonable with you, but we need answers. If you’re not telling me something, I can go to the state’s attorneys. They can haul you into court and make you answer. You don’t answer, you go to jail. You want to go that route?”

  “What the fuck? I already told you everything I know.”

  “Did you? How about who saw Shannon and Keenan leave together?”

  “I don’t know, man.”

  “How about who was at the party? Who might have seen them leave together?”

  “I can tell you who was at the party, but I don’t know what they saw.”

  “Okay, do it.”

  “There’s some girl named Heather from my English class. I don’t know her last name.”

  “Okay, who else?”

  “Kyle Perkins from our dorm. That’s who I went with.”

  “Anyone else?”

  Jeremy shook his head. “I don’t know. I recognized a bunch of people, but I don’t know them.”

  “Okay. This is a start. What else are you not telling me?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Are you friends with Keenan?”

  “I wouldn’t say friends, but I know him.”

  “Are you protecting him?”

  “What? No, I just don’t know anything.”

  Dustin typed up
a short statement for Jeremy to sign. It helped put Shannon and Keenan together that night, but little else. Rollins was definitely protecting Keenan. His Facebook posts made it sound like he saw the whole thing, including the argument and the physical stuff. According to Jeremy’s Facebook posts, Keenan had practically dragged Shannon off. But Facebook wasn’t usually admissible evidence, at least that’s what the state’s attorneys always told him. He needed to find someone from the party who saw something and could swear to it.

  A few more phone calls located Kyle Perkins and Heather, whose last name it turned out was Turner, from Rollins’ English class. They both agreed to come for interviews that day.

  Kyle Perkins described Keenan as an acquaintance from his dorm, but had no idea who Shannon was.

  “That missing girl was at the party on Maple Street?” Kyle said. “I had no idea. I mean, I saw a bunch stuff on Facebook, but I didn’t realize it was the same party I was at.”

  “Did you see Keenan that night?”

  “Yeah, that’s right. He was there.”

  “Did you see him with a girl?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Blond girl?”

  “Could be.”

  “Were you drinking that night?”

  “Me? No way. I’m under age.” Dustin scratched the corner of his eye in an effort to disguise his eye roll.

  “Did you see Keenan do anything with a girl?”

  “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. I don’t know the guy well enough to care.”

  “Do you know anyone who might help us?”

  “Nope, sorry.” Dustin had a feeling that Perkins had already spoken to Rollins and that he was playing dumb, but there was nothing he could do about it.

  Fortunately, Heather Turner had a much better attitude.

  “Yeah, I know Shannon,” she said.

  “Did you see her on the night she disappeared?”

  “I did.”

  “Did you see her with Keenan Brody?”

  “I saw her with a guy, but I didn’t know who he was.”

  “Did you see them talking on the back deck?”

  “I did.”

  “Were they arguing?” Dustin stressed the last word.

  “Yes, they were.”

  “Did you see him do anything physical, like hit her or grab her?”

  “Yeah. He hit her.” The answer was surprising, but not necessarily disappointing.

  “Are you sure he hit her?” Dustin asked.

  “You’re right, maybe he grabbed her too.” Heather’s expression was serious.

  “Was it rough?” Dustin said.

  “Definitely.”

  “Did it look like he was mad?”

  “Very much so.”

  “Where were you when you observed this?”

  “I must have been in the living room.”

  It had been a while. It wasn’t a surprise she was having a hard time with the less important details. “Could you see the back deck from the living room?” he asked.

  “You’re right. I must have been in the kitchen. Can you see the deck from there?”

  “Yes.” Dustin nodded.

  “Then, I was in the kitchen.”

  “Who were you with?”

  “I really don’t remember.”

  “That’s okay. You’ve been helpful.”

  “Is there anything else you remember?”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know, just anything you noticed about Shannon or Keenan, the guy she was with. Did you see them leave?”

  “Yeah. She left first like she wanted to get away from him, and he followed her.”

  “Okay. That’s good. Let me type up a statement for you to sign.”

  Chapter 22

  Monday, January 13, 2014

  “I WANT something done!” Olivia said. The chief leaned back, looked over at Fred Dutton, and decided to let the state’s attorney be in charge of the meeting.

  “What do you want us to do?” Fred said, taking the cue. He had made the trek to the police station to attend the meeting with Olivia Dawson and her investigator. Dustin also seemed happy to let Fred handle things.

  “I want him charged with murder.”

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Dawson, but the evidence isn’t there,” Fred said.

  “Officer Shores just finished reciting all the evidence against Keenan Brody. Does anyone here doubt that he killed my daughter?”

  Nobody answered. The chief would have felt more certain if the case was less circumstantial, but it wasn’t the time to say that. After an appropriate pause, Fred broke the silence. “Unfortunately, there’s a difference between having a good idea of what happened and proving it in a court of law. I have a sworn duty to only bring cases that are supported by the evidence.” It was definitely good to have Fred be the one facing off with Olivia for a change.

  “I know some AUSAs who’d have no problem getting a conviction on these facts,” Halliday said, raising an eyebrow. “But they’re used to high-profile trials.”

  “And what about your duty to my daughter?”

  “Hold on. Both of you. I wasn’t finished. From what Officer Shores has said, there may be enough evidence for a domestic assault charge. We know Brody grabbed her and shook her and hit her. That may qualify as an assault. They were dating, so it would be a domestic.”

  “Why would she be with someone like that?” Olivia said.

  “I don’t know. But, if I can get Officer Shores to go back and get more statements, we can probably get enough for a domestic assault charge.”

  “How long would he be in jail?”

  “There’s an eighteen-month maximum, but judges in this state rarely impose the maximum.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. He murders my daughter and he might go to jail for eighteen months. Might?”

  “I can’t charge a murder without a body. At least not on these facts. And it’s my call to make, not some AUSA in New York City.”

  Halliday shrugged and smirked. He really was a prick.

  “Just do something. Anything, “Olivia said. “I can’t take any more waiting around for something to happen.”

  “I understand. I am truly sorry for what has happened to your family.”

  “She was all I had, my only child.” Olivia closed her eyes and bowed her head.

  “I know, ma’am. We’ll do our best to get you some form of justice.”

  “Are you a religious man, Mr. Dutton?” Olivia met his eyes.

  “I am.”

  “I’m sure that young man will burn in hell for what he did to my daughter. In the meantime, please do what you can to avenge her death.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  WHEN OLIVIA and Halliday were gone, Dustin and the chief continued their meeting with the state’s attorney.

  “What do you need from me?” Dustin said. He was kicking himself that he hadn’t thought of the assault angle. It had been right there in front of his face.

  Fred Dutton shook his head. “As domestic assault cases go, this one is weak. I probably wouldn’t charge a case like this if it weren’t for the fact that the girl is presumably dead. You did a good job getting all those kids to describe the altercation on the deck. But you were focused on the murder aspect of this case.” Dustin was grateful that the state’s attorney wasn’t dressing him down in front of his boss.

  “The girl’s got to be dead. It seemed like the right course,” Dustin said.

  “I’m not blaming you. But, if you were investigating an assault on the deck, what would you have asked?”

  Dustin sat and thought for a moment. “The only thing I would have done different is ask the victim if she was hurt.”

  “That’s right. Vermont law requires us to prove that the victim experienced some pain.”

  “But I couldn’t have asked her. She’s missing.”

  “Of course. But you can go back to the witnesses and ask them if she was hit or shaken hard enough that she would have been caused pa
in. That’s how we get around the missing victim. We do it sometimes in domestics when the victim won’t cooperate.”

  “That should be easy enough.”

  “Okay. When can you get supplementary affidavits from the witnesses and get the whole thing to me?”

  “It’s going to take time to round up the students again and write up the affidavit of probable cause. Day after tomorrow?”

  “That’s fine. Take your time. For the sake of the girl’s parents, I want this thing airtight.”

  It felt like they were finally getting somewhere. Finally.

  Chapter 23

  Wednesday, November 27, 2013

  AFTER A long drive in holiday traffic, Shannon and Amy arrived at Amy’s Lexington Avenue apartment. Shannon was used to suburban California, so the uniformed doorman and the elevator ride to the fourteenth floor felt weird. Exciting, but weird. “I can’t believe how old everything feels. And gray. It’s so different from L.A.”

  “You’ve never been to New York before?”

  “I’m a California girl, remember?”

  “I just assumed... Well, in that case, I can’t wait to show you my town.”

  “I can’t wait to see it. But don’t forget, I’m meeting Jake on Saturday.”

  They had a late dinner with Amy’s parents that night. Then, Amy offered to take Shannon clubbing. But only after she had spent an hour doing Shannon’s makeup. Shannon giggled when she saw herself.

  “You expect me to go out looking like this?”

  “You’ll fit right in, trust me.”

  “I suppose it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I know anybody here.”

  Amy laughed. “Exactly. And I have the perfect dress for you to wear.”

  They waited in line for an hour to get into a club that Amy said was the edgiest place around. “And they never card the hot-looking girls,” she added. Shannon was just glad to get in out of the cold when it was finally their turn at close to midnight.

  Inside, the music was loud and discordant with a strong beat. The girls danced together until Amy’s friends from high school showed up. Then, there were introductions that Shannon couldn’t hear over the music.

  A tall, thin boy with a spiky haircut took an interest in Shannon. “I can get you drinks if you want––I have a fake ID.” He leaned in close so they could hear each other. She could smell smoke on his breath.

  “Thanks, but I’m happy just dancing.”