by Allen Gates
“We should know the answer to that later today. I’m telling you, partner he goofed this time. I feel it way down in my gut.”
There were several messages for them when they got to their desks all unrelated to the murder except a message for Anne from a man reporting a car parked behind the Roadside Bar that had been there all night. He was concerned for the driver who was a regular.
Lon predicted that it probably belonged to someone who drank too much and took a ride home. Anne listened and acknowledged that he might be right, but was not taking the chance on the possibility of it being significant and punched in the numbers.
“Roadside bar, speak now.”
“Hello, this is detective Anne Cummings. Someone named Marty called about a car parked in the lot overnight.”
“That would be me that called detective. I was concerned when I opened this morning and noticed Sherry’s car was still in the parking lot. She left by herself last night and as I recall it was fairly early.”
“Do you recall her condition? Could she have had too much to drink and realized she was in no condition to drive?”
“Sherry never over does it detective, and when she walked out last night, she was in perfect control.”
Anne asked the type of car and directions to the bar. She went into the office to notify Lon and explained to him and the chief what she had just been told. After a few directives from him, they headed out.
When they arrived at the Roadside Bar they pulled around to the back parking area of the bar and parked behind the car matching the description received over the phone. Anne put on gloves before trying the doors and found them locked. She couldn’t see anything strange in the front or back seats.
“Lon, somebody was either with her in the bar or was waiting for her to leave the bar. We have to assume that she knew whoever it was and she willingly left with that person.”
“I think you’re dead on, Anne. If this Sherry who owns this car turns out to be the dead girl, I think my hunch that he screwed up this time is going to prove correct. I tell you partner, we’re getting close to this guy. I’m ready to bet my pension on it.”
155
AT ELEVEN THE next morning, Terry called Cassandra and she agreed to meet him for lunch. He was uncertain if she had checked on him the night before, but if he was laying a bet down he would bet on the affirmative. Just to be sure he was going to be very careful how he answered the questions he knew were coming. She was already there waiting for him in the parking lot. She waved, got out and they walked into the restaurant.
“How was your night, she asked?”
Here comes the trap was all he could think of as he answered.
“It was fairly short and uneventful. I left you and set out on a direct line for home, then decided to stop off for a drink.”
He waited briefly expecting her to respond.
“I may have had more than one and then it was home to bed. How about you?”
“I stayed at the bar and had a conversation with your favorite detective and her friend.”
Terry felt his anger rising inside, but somehow suppressed it.
Her eyes said, I know you were there.
“Your friend and I came to an agreement. Then I went home and now here we are. Let’s order, I have a hair appointment.”
156
ANNE AND LON watched the man coming out of the Roadside Bar and analyzed his mannerisms closely as he approached looking for anything that might implicate him in some way.
His expression was one of concern as he neared the detectives.
“Are you Marty,” Anne asked.
He shook his head yes and Anne introduced herself as Detective Cummings, the one who had called him. He looked over at Lon who said nothing simply stared at the young man as a test to check his nerves for possible guilty actions.
They asked a few leading questions to test his responses before letting him know she may have been murdered. His whole demeanor changed as he was obviously shaken by the news. Lon pulled out the photos taken at the scene and asked Marty if it was indeed Sherry. He looked away and shook his head yes. He turned back and said, “I became worried when I saw her car still parked in the lot. I just felt something might be wrong. Sherry is a wonderful person with many friends and this doesn’t fit her life style. That’s why I called it in.”
“Was she drinking with anyone special, Marty? More important did she leave with anyone?”
“She was with two of her good friends, both of whom she meets here regularly. The two of them stayed around for quite a while after Sherry left. There was one other person, a classy looking lady who left a minute or so after Sherry had walked out. They should have been in the back lot around the same time.”
“Do you know the names of her friends?”
His answer was first names only, but he said they were there three sometimes four nights each week; usually with Sherry”
“We need to talk to all the people who were here last night.”
“Can you check and see if the lady used a credit card, also if the friends paid the same?”
“I remember the lady definitely used a credit card. She was sort of a tease; you know the type, looking at Lon.”
He noticed Anne’s displeased expression at his remark and regretted having said it.
“That’s just men talk detective, I meant nothing by it. Let’s go inside and I’ll look up the credit card slip.”
157
IT WAS VERY unpleasant being on the job the next morning. He was deeply disturbed by his previous night’s selfish act and for the first time he couldn’t shake the guilt. More and more aware of his growing problem he knew it had grown to a point that he could no longer control it. He was doing things that he did not understand and even more of a concern he knew he could not prevent them from happening again. The feelings of pleasure he gained with each new act were brief and passed quickly. Nothing compensated for the guilt he carried inside after the act was complete. He deeply loved all six of his girlfriends and hoped they forgave him for how he had treated them.
“Maybe now I can stop, he thought. No, that can’t be. I will stop after her. Yes, right after I finish with her, I’m definitely going to stop, no matter what!”
Feeling better at reaching a definite conclusion, he put on a fresh smile and prepared to return to the work he loved.
158
THE DETECTIVES, SATISFIED with the man’s responses, suggested that the final questions should be answered inside the bar. So, they followed him in and waited as he searched through the previous day’s receipts. He selected one and handed the credit card slip to Lon.
“Her name is Joan Raymore, and its American Express and Cory and Andrea her two friends definitely paid cash.”
He paused in thought staring at Anne causing her to glance at Lon to see if he noticed his strange action.
“You know,” he said coming back from somewhere, “come to think of it, I think Andrea works with Sherry someplace. Yeah, I think I have heard them discussing that they work together at the hospital.”
“That’s terrific information, Marty. It gives us a starting point to locate her friends. Listen, if any of the other people who were here last night come in tonight, explain to them the importance of contacting us so we can talk to them.
“Take my card and if any agree to hang around, call one of us and we’ll be here to meet with them. If they don’t want to meet us, give them the number on the card and have them call us. Tell them it’s important and remind them we will find them if they decide to hide. We appreciate your help, Marty. Listen we’re going back outside to take a look around her car. Someone will be here soon to take it to the crime lab.”
“It’s locked, I tried it.”
“Thanks Marty, we’ll take a look anyway.”
As they were surveying the area around the car they were interrupted by the arrival of the police wrecker. After a few directions to the driver from Lon to be careful of the handling, the two of
them were on their way to the hospital.
“This could be the beginning of the end for this guy, Anne. If this lady caught a glimpse of the person she left the parking lot with, we’ll finally be on his tail with some real ammunition.” He nodded his head in a show of confidence to his statement.
“Hey, I need you to call headquarters and request an address for this Joan Raymore. We need to get to her while last night’s scene is still fresh in her mind.”
Anne immediately called her name in to the station, explained the situation and received a promise for a quick response.
Lon was still in a jubilant state as they approached the hospital sign and turned in to the visitor entrance. Parking in a no parking area, he placed the blue light on the dash, looked over at Anne and smiled. After showing their identification at the information desk they asked for all Andrea’s on their personnel roster.
Meanwhile on the upper floor Len was all smiles as he approached the station where Stephanie was filling out forms.
“Hey Doc, I haven’t seen you lately. I’m sure you’ve missed me, right?”
“Right Len, I have been languishing for just the sight of you and here you are. I’ll join you for coffee at the break.”
“I’ll be there Dr. Wearing, I’ll even treat.”
“Wow move over Bill Gates, big spender in town.”
He laughed and waved as he walked away.
Stephanie went back to her paper work and decided to check in on the status of her new home search. Her loan had been approved and now she was waiting for all the final details to be completed. Her phone call to the realtor resulted in a possible closing date for the following week.
As she filed the last of the day’s forms she remembered her commitment after work with Leo Trent. A sudden realization came over her. He said he would pick me up at my place. “How does he know where I live?”
It turned out there were two Andreas on staff at the hospital. Based on the ages it was easy to figure out which fit the friend of Sherry’s. They asked that her name be called over the intercom to report to the main lobby. When she arrived she was confused to learn her visitors were detectives.
“How can I be of service? I don’t think I’ve broken any laws.” Lon smiled at her causing her to ask, “Have I?”
“No Andrea,” Anne said, “let’s sit over here. We need to tell you something and ask you a series of questions.”
“Were you at the Roadside last night with Sherry O Donnell?”
“Yes, with another friend. Why is that important?”
“She was murdered last night after leaving the bar.”
Andrea drew back in shock at the news. She then explained they had made plans to meet again at the Roadside on Saturday with a small group from the hospital.
“Was there anyone inside the bar that was overly attracted to her or made eye contact or most importantly followed her outside?”
“No, I would have noticed, it was a slow night.”
“Does she have a regular boyfriend?
“No, she seldom dates.”
“Would she get into a stranger’s car?”
“I would say no. She is hit on all the time at The Roadside and I can only think of one time she ended up with an unknown.”
“Was it recently?”
“It was about a week ago. I remember she left early just like last night and we ran into her later at the drive-in restaurant just outside of town. We were surprised to see her there with a man. She was all giddy about being there with this guy. I could tell she liked him and seemed to want my opinion of him.”
Anne could relate to the two women using their eyes to communicate about an opinion of a man one or the other was with and asked, “Did you approve?”
“He was very cute, but either shy or very rude.”
“Why did you say shy?”
“He avoided any direct eye contact and faced straight ahead or out the driver side window. He only turned to me when I specifically asked him a direct question, and I avoided more conversation after sensing his attitude.”
“Did she ever see him again after that night?”
“No, she was really disappointed that he didn’t call or accept her invitation to meet her at the bar.”
“So, what you’re saying is he picked her up in the parking lot?” Lon added.
“They must have met out there or perhaps previously, and he was waiting for her to leave for home, because he never came inside.”
Anne asked, “Did you notice anyone else leave around the same time as Sherry? You mentioned a lady.”
“A very nicely dressed lady came in and sat at the bar. She stayed a very short time and left around the same time as Sherry. She seemed to be out of place in The Roadside.”
159
THE ATTITUDE AROUND the office was considerably more relaxed for Terry since his reconciliation with Cassandra Jones. His boss was opening a new office and announced he was considering him as the branch manager. Jill, the secretary, walked into his office and laid the newspaper on his desk.
“That creep struck again, Terry. Another young female’s body was found murdered somewhere along the coast. The police have got to find a way to stop this pervert!”
“He seems to be getting more daring and more frequent. It’s like he wants to get caught. There is less and less time between each attack.”
Terry added, “Well, I hope they find him and shoot him on the spot.”
“Why waste time in the court, kill the so-and-so.”
Terry did not respond and continued to read the article.
160
ANDREA PROVED AN adequate witness to the very thorough questioning session with the two detectives and she assured them that she could identify the man she saw with Sherry at the drive-in. She described his car as a red sporty type, but she had no idea what model or make. Her description of the driver was basic, attractive with blond or light hair, forties, good physique. She never saw him outside the car so she guessed his height to be average.
“Anything else about him you can remember? How he was dressed, tattoos, scars.”
“No I can’t think of anything else.”
“Here’s my card Andrea, if you think of anything else give us a call.”
“I want you to understand if we nab a suspect, we’ll want you to stand a lineup to see if you can identify him.”
“I understand.”
In the car on the way back to headquarters they received word that the medical report was complete and waiting for them. Also the office had located Joan Raymore and relayed her address to them. The young medical examiner greeted them and led them to the refrigerator room. Anne shook her head not approving of her description of the body’s location which caused Lon to laugh at her, but said nothing.
“There are a few things I need to point out detectives. First, remember I pointed out the tear and mascara mix on her facial area. She evidently carried a pepper spray apparatus and attempted to use it on her attacker. She must have partially hit her target as she was struggling with him, but caught herself in the back spray. He most certainly would have been in agony as he continued to deprive her of air and after she was gone he wiped his eyes as best he could on her shoulder continuing to embrace her and I must add he cried real tears. The good news is we have his DNA. His tears dried on her shoulder. Plus we have a pubic hair.
“He tried to have sex with her, but apparently couldn’t perform. Maybe that’s the motive we have been looking for, the why he is killing these ladies. He has become frustrated to the point that he has to take control over something. It appears that his sexual urges are in irreconcilable contrast to his high moral values. The guilt after his hideous acts never dissipates, so he is in a constant fight with himself. That is just a theory with no basis except an educated guess, I’m not a psychologist.”
“Psychologist or not this is the first good news we have had that might be a break in the case. Now we can search and hope he is in the DNA bank for a match.”
Interrupting Lon’s excitement, she walked back to the girl’s body.
“I need to point one more thing out to you,” she said as she pulled the sheet down below the breast area.
“Look closely at the red blotches around the left breast.”
“This explains the theory I gave you earlier that he continued holding her after she had expired.”
Anne bent down to look closely at the marks, but Lon stayed his distance bending only slightly obviously very uneasy with the situation. The Dr. smiled at Anne noting his hesitation to examine too closely. Anne had picked up on it also and planned to use his reluctance to get near her breast later in the car to question his big talking male ego he was so fond of.
“It’s his hand imprint. He must have squeezed her so tight and for so long it actually left an impression of his fingers on her skin.”
“Is that normal, Doctor,” Anne asked softly?
“This only happens with post trauma, detective, sometimes a bruise will appear hours or even a day later with a change of temperature. What else do you see, Anne?”
“He was wearing a ring. You can see the ridge imprint.”
“You are very good, I need an assistant; are you interested?”
“Absolutely not, this stuff gives me nightmares.”
Lon listened intently to their discussion then finally joined the conversation.
“I am really excited Doc. This is the first good news we have had on this case and potentially it gives us hope of finally nabbing this madman.”
“I do not think he is a madman. I would rather suggest he is probably a nice man who is troubled over sexual frustrations in his life. A madman would be using mutilation and other deviant acts to their bodies. No, I think this is somebody that people like and are friends with. Then one day he gets the desire and feels it might work this time and that new unexpected urge either sexual or psychosis makes him seek a victim. He is unable to fight it.”