Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 03 - Thrilled to Death

by L. J. Sellers

  “Sorry. It’s not on the agenda.”

  “She’s dying, you know. She could die today and I want a chance to say goodbye.”

  Jackson gave it some thought. Was Elle that close to death? She had sounded weak when she called him that morning, but he hated to be played. “I don’t trust you.”

  “Look, I’ll tell you everything, but only if you let me see my mother first.”

  A full confession? To what? Did Brooke know about Goodbe’s sex slave business? “Will you tell me about the women on the boat?”

  “Only if you take me to my mother’s first. Please. She’s dying. Have a heart.” Brooke sounded near tears.

  Jackson pulled over, put the car in park, and turned to face her. “Why were you on a boat at the coast with Elias Goodbe instead of at home with your mother?”

  “I was running. I thought I couldn’t face watching her die.” Brooke’s eyes pleaded with him. “I love her and I need to tell her.”

  Jackson decided there was little harm in a five-minute stop. He would do it more for Elle than for Brooke.

  The house loomed large as ever, but the wealth it represented no longer made Jackson feel inadequate. The Durhams’ money hadn’t helped them in the long run. They were still human and still vulnerable to disease and death. He wondered if the money had made the daughters even more vulnerable.

  “Hey, my arms hurt,” Brooke said, as she climbed from the back seat. “Will you at least move the cuffs to the front, so I can change positions?” It was a reasonable request. Most suspects had a much shorter ride to custody than the sixty-mile trip Brooke had experienced. Jackson uncuffed one wrist, spun her around, and quickly recuffed her in the front.

  “Thanks. It will still be weird for Mom to see me like this.”

  Jackson kept Brooke in front of him, and she was able to open the front door and lead them in. The housekeeper was nowhere in sight.

  “Mom’s probably in bed,” Brooke said, heading down the hallway.

  Jackson followed, realizing for the first time since Elle told him she was dying that Brooke would inherit this house, and all the property they owned around town, and all the money in the bank. Depending on what she was convicted of, Brooke was likely to have most of her life to enjoy it.

  They entered the largest master bedroom Jackson had ever been in. The suite of connected sitting areas was decorated in beige and peach like Elle’s office. Elle Durham seemed tragically tiny in the oversized bed in the oversized room.

  “Mom, it’s Brooke. Wake up for a minute.” With her cuffed hands, Brooke gently nudged her mother’s shoulder.

  Elle opened her eyes. “Brooke, dear, you’re back early. I’m so glad.”

  “I had to see you. How is the pain today?”

  “The same, but more.”

  Jackson shifted, feeling like an intruder.

  Brooke turned to him, and before she could ask, he said, “I’ll give you a little privacy.” He moved back about ten feet, still blocking the only entrance to the area. Brooke wasn’t going anywhere without him.

  It wasn’t easy to offer comfort with her wrists cuffed, but Brooke tried. She stroked her mother’s hair and handed her a glass of water. After a minute, Brooke began to cry. Jackson thought maybe he’d done the right thing in letting her come here. Losing a parent at twenty was a shock to the system, like having your roots yanked out of the ground. Jackson had never had that chance to say goodbye to his folks. He’d learned from his supervisor at work that their names were on a crime report and he would never see them again.

  He watched as Brooke leaned over and hugged her mother. He wanted to believe she hadn’t known about the captive women in the bowels of the yacht, but it seemed unlikely. What had Brooke been doing with Goodbe? Looking for Daddy love? Either way, they would have a hard time prosecuting her as an accomplice unless Goodbe turned against her. He remembered Goodbe was in the hospital. So was Schak. Was it time to call and ask how his partner was doing?

  Jackson moved toward Brooke. “Let’s go.”

  She gave her mother a final kiss, then slipped away from the bed.

  At the department, Jackson put Brooke in the interrogation room. He went to his desk to call the Florence hospital. He learned Schak was still in critical condition.

  He jumped up as Evans approached his desk. “I got the warrant,” she said, waving the thick stack of papers. Then she frowned. “What do you hear about Schak?”

  “Still critical.”

  “I hate it that he’s in Florence.”

  “We’ll go see him tomorrow. Right now, we have a suspect to interrogate.”

  “Let’s do it.”

  Brooke, being young, female, and well groomed, seemed out of place in the dingy room. The women who ended up here had usually lived much harder lives. Brooke also seemed strangely serene. She smiled softly as they sat across from her.

  “This interview is being recorded,” Jackson said, getting the legalities out of the way. “State your name, please.”

  “Brooke Ashley Durham.” Jackson studied her face. She had the same features as Courtney, only subtly bigger. Her cheeks were wider, her nose a little longer, her chin a little more pronounced. She was still attractive, but not in the head-turning way Courtney had been. He felt guilty for comparing them. Brooke had probably spent her whole life feeling like the not-so-pretty sister.

  “I’m Detective Jackson and this is Detective Evans. What were you doing on that boat this morning?”

  “Having sex, right up until you showed up, that is.” She grinned, amused at herself.

  “How long has Elias Goodbe been your lover?”

  “About eight months.”

  “Why did you help him hold those women hostage?”

  She stopped smiling. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “There were two women in a small room downstairs in the boat. They were drugged and bound.”

  “I didn’t know.” Her eyes flashed with anger. “The bastard!”

  “In the car, you said you’d tell me all about them.”

  “I just wanted to go see my mom. I didn’t know about the women, I swear. Did Elias kidnap them?” She looked puzzled and hurt.

  “What do you know about Elias Goodbe?”

  “Apparently, not much.”

  Evans spoke up. “You’ll likely be charged with accessory to kidnapping unless you tell us what you know about Goodbe’s sex slave operation.”

  “I don’t care what you charge me with. I don’t know about any sex slaves. I mean, I knew Elias financed local porno films, but that’s legal as far as I know.”

  “Do you know Seth Valder?”

  “Nope.”

  “How did you meet Goodbe?”

  “At the center. I volunteered there for a while to make my mother happy.”

  Jackson was impatient. “You said you would tell me everything. Remember?”

  “I will. You’re just not asking the right questions.”

  Evans leaned in. “Did Goodbe know Courtney?”

  Brooke winked at her. “Of course, the woman gets it.”

  Jackson’s brain spun, trying to make the connections. He’d been seeing Goodbe as an opportunist who took Danette off Valder’s hands, thinking he could make some easy money. Was Goodbe involved with Courtney too?

  Brooke looked at Evans. “He wasn’t fucking her if that’s what you’re asking. Not that Courtney didn’t try. I mean, once she knew Elias and I were lovers, she made a play for him, but it was too late.”

  “How did you feel about that? Courtney going after your guy?” Evans kept up the questions, while Jackson reeled.

  Brooke gave a little shrug. “I’m used to it. But Elias didn’t go for it. Courtney repulsed him.”

  It hit Jackson, like a baseball bat to the chest. Brooke was intensely jealous of her sister and repulsed at the same time. How deep was the resentment?

  “Where were you the night Courtney died?”

  “Home, with M
om.” She waited, then said, “For a while.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “I got an e-mail from Courtney asking me to pick her up. Her stupid little kidnapping adventure was over and Brett had refused to play taxi.”

  “You knew about the kidnapping in advance?”

  “Of course. I’m the one who told her about ThrillSeekers.” A small smile played on Brooke’s lips.

  “Where did you hear about them?” Jackson was laying the foundation for what was coming next. It felt like a freight train shaking the ground, even though he couldn’t see all of it yet.

  “Elias, of course. He’s very well connected in a variety of circles. My mother only knew of the one though.” Brooke’s tone was so flat and serene, it was unnerving.

  “Why would you tell Courtney about a company like ThrillSeekers?”

  “It was fun to watch her bounce from one freaky thing to another. She was so easy to manipulate. It was a like a game for me.”

  “Did you expect Courtney to get hurt during the kidnapping?”

  “It was certainly a possibility.” Brooke smiled slyly, and Jackson felt a shiver of disgust.

  “After Courtney e-mailed you, you went to pick her up, didn’t you?”

  “Of course.”

  “Tell us what happened.”

  “I’d like some water first please.”

  Evans moved without being asked. While she was gone, Jackson said, “Did Elias Goodbe ever discuss Danette Blake with you?”

  “No.”

  “What about someone named Marcella?”

  “No. Listen.” Brooke shifted forward, a little more intent. “I didn’t know he was holding women on the boat. It disgusts me, and I would never participate in forcing other women into sexual slavery. I’m a mess, I know that, but I’m not a sociopath and I’m not heartless.” She flopped back. “I can’t believe I fell for someone who would do something like that.”

  At the end of her spiel, Jackson thought her words had begun to slow a little. She was probably exhausted.

  Evans came back with a paper cup of water and set it down in front of Brooke. With one of her cuffed hands, Brooke reached for the water. Both hands came up together as she took a long drink. She set the cup down slowly.

  “Where were we?” Brooke stared straight at Jackson.

  “You were going to tell us what happened when you went down to pick up Courtney.”

  “When I got there, she was having trouble breathing. She gets like that when she goes outside sometimes.” Brooke’s eyes shifted away. “It was hard to see her like that. I mean, I knew it would happen, but still, to stand there and watch.”

  “How did you know it would happen?”

  A sad little smile. “I emptied her inhaler.”

  Jesus. What was wrong with these Durham girls?

  “You wanted her to have an asthma attack?” Evans was surprised and forgot to hide it.

  “Oh, come on.” Brooke rolled her eyes. “That’s why we’re here, right?”

  There was a moment of silence, and a creepy dread filled Jackson’s stomach. Dear God. Brooke had murdered her sister.

  Brooke kept talking, her voice flat. “I loved Courtney. And I hated Courtney. She got all the attention, yet she still had to steal my boyfriends. She also broke my mother’s heart over and over. Courtney was so selfish.”

  “Tell us what happened that night.”

  “She was having a serious asthma attack, but she wouldn’t die. Courtney started walking for the car, carrying that empty inhaler and gasping like an old emphysema patient in her last throes.” Brooke gave her head a little shake, as if to ward off sleepiness. “I really hoped I wouldn’t have to get involved, but it was taking too long. So I came up behind her, put my hands over the little love bruises Brett left on her neck, and squeezed. She went down fast after that.”

  Jackson struggled to keep his voice neutral. “What happened next?”

  “I took her cell phone so no one would know she e-mailed me. Then I drove away and tossed it in a dumpster.” Brooke’s speech seemed slower, more slurred than before.

  Oh shit. “Brooke, did you take something when you were in your mother’s room?”

  “I’m just tired. So let’s finish up.”

  Jackson didn’t believe her. “What did you take?”

  “One little pain pill. To make this easier. Can you blame me? What else do you want to know?”

  Jackson wanted to hear every piece of her confession, but what was the protocol here? For one little pain pill, there was nothing he could or should do. She was not the first suspect to come into this room under the influence.

  “Did you plan to kill Courtney when you emptied her inhaler?” Evans asked, filling the silence.

  “Of course.” Brooke sighed. “It was Elias’ idea. As soon as he heard my mother was dying, he started thinking about the money. We all did. Courtney would have wasted her half of it.” Brooke’s head fell forward, but she caught herself and pulled back. “I didn’t know until I got down there if I could go through with it. But I did.” Brooke closed her eyes. “Now I’m sorry cuz I’ve got no one left.”

  “Brooke!” Jackson raised his voice.

  She popped her eyes back open. “I’m fine. I want to tell you about Daddy too.”

  “Your father? Dean Durham?”

  “I killed him, you know.”

  Jackson’s heart missed a beat. He’d been so clueless. He glanced up at the camera, grateful the city had finally approved the expenditure. “You took more than one pill, didn’t you?”

  She gave him a sloppy smile, like only a drunk or a druggie could. “Yep.”

  “What was it and how many did you take?”

  Brooke struggled to get the words out. “Ox-y-contin. I took three at home. And…three more…here.”

  Jackson leaped up. “Call an ambulance.”

  He rushed around the table as Evans dialed 911. Jackson grabbed Brooke by the hair and tried to get his hand into her mouth. He thought he would stick a finger down her throat and make her puke. He didn’t know what else to do.

  Brooke bit him hard and he instinctively pulled his hand back. “Help me hold her mouth open.”

  “Daddy… molested… us. For years. Courtney…and… me.” Brooke was still trying to get everything said. “No… one…ever…knew.”

  Evans rushed to their side of the table. “That’ll never work. We just have to keep her up and moving until the paramedics get here.” She put her arm around Brooke’s shoulder.

  Jackson took the other side. “We might as well walk her out to the street.”

  They shuffled down the hall, though the empty detective’s area, and toward the front.

  “Need any help?” the desk officer called out as they passed.

  “Not unless you’ve got a stomach pump.”

  Out the door and down the covered walkway. On a Saturday, city hall was quiet and no one was around to witness the trauma. At intervals, Jackson grabbed Brooke’s chin and shook her head, trying to keep her conscious. It was a losing battle. By the time the ambulance pulled up in front of the wide cement stairs, Brooke was no longer breathing.

  Chapter 30

  Quiche and fried sausage aroma filled the air. Jackson’s stomach growled as he kissed Kera in the kitchen and held her close. “Oh man, that smells good. I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”

  The night before, he’d gone from the hospital to Elle Durham’s house to tell her about Brooke’s suicide. He’d found Elle dead too. Jackson had come home to Kera’s, drank a beer, then crawled into bed and slept like the dead for twelve hours.

  This morning he’d woke to the sound of women laughing in the kitchen. A joyful noise that filled his heavy heart. He’d stayed in bed, listening for as long as he could. The smell of coffee and sausage had finally driven him into the kitchen. This would be his last meal before his surgery the next morning.

  “I’ve missed you,” Kera whispered.

  Jackson squeezed h
er again, too choked up to speak. It was so easy to lose people. Often without any warning. “The best thing about this surgery is that I’ll get to see you every day for a while.”

  Kera stepped back and put her hands on her hips. “Are you and Katie going to stay here with me, or do I have run back and forth for three weeks?”

  Jackson poured himself a cup of coffee. Kera sat, waiting for an answer. “Don’t tell me you don’t need my help.”

  “I won’t need help for that long, but it would be easier for Katie if you stayed with us.” Jackson looked around. He could smell the food but not see it. Maybe it was in the oven staying warm.

  Katie stuck her head into the kitchen. “Morning, Dad. It’s about time. “ To Kera, she said, “Where are Danette and the baby?”

  “In the guest bedroom getting changed.”

  His daughter grabbed a cinnamon roll off the counter. “I wouldn’t mind staying here. I’ve been here since Thursday already.” Katie popped back out of the kitchen.

  Kera and Jackson stared at each other in disbelief. “That’s quite a change of heart,” Kera said, stepping in close.

  “Maybe we should move in together.” It came out in an unplanned rush.

  Kera chewed her lip.

  “Forget it. I’m rushing this. I’m sorry.”

  “No. Don’t be.” She kissed him on the mouth. “I’ve wanted you to move in here since our second date. It’s just that I told Danette she could stay with me. I don’t want her to go back to that duplex and be alone. Not yet. Not after what she’s been through. Her mother can’t handle having the baby around all time, so Danette can’t go back to Corvallis.”

  “You’re a wonderful person.” Jackson loved her generosity. The two of them would get their time together eventually.

  “I’m not saying you can’t move in too. I just wanted you to know that it will be a full house.” Kera grinned. “It could be fun.”

  “Let’s see how it goes. Still up for our trip to Florence this afternoon?” They were planning to see Schak, who was out of intensive care, still weak but recovering from his heart attack.

  “Oh yes. I’ve reserved a hotel room for afterward.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You and I are going to be naked and alone for an hour while we have a chance. I’m already deprived, and once you have surgery…”