by C. C. Wall
Tom knew how nervous Jason was and thought it was funny. He was hoping that this new, good mood that he was in would last through his next meeting. The meeting was apparently happening a good hour before it was supposed to, as Jack Hart walked in early.
“Tom,” Jack said.
“Jack,” Tom said and reached out a hand to shake.
Jack took it and said, “Look, I know you think I was out of line with that story and I get it. But, I really think I have something here.”
Tom nodded, “Come into my office.”
Jack led the way and took a seat in front of the desk. Tom came in and shut the door. He looked hard at Jack as if he were sizing him up for some reason.
“Jack, I have to be honest with you. I didn’t like where you going with that story.”
“It’s okay, man. Sometimes the hard truths out there make people uncomfortable. That’s why we have to expose those truth’s. That’s our duty to the people,” Jack said.
“No, Jack. No it isn’t,” Tom said. “You can’t make stories up just because you have a feeling. If, and I mean if, you have a hunch like that, you need to find the proof to back it up or else no one will believe you. Your credibility will go down and with you, the credibility of the paper you work for will go down too. See, reporters hide behind that paper they work for. If they stir something up, they can get a new pen name, go to a different paper, write a book, etc. But the paper that publishes those lies, has to live with it. They can’t change the name. They can’t hide.”
Jack stared off out the window. Tom couldn’t tell if he was getting through to him or not.
“So, with that said,” Tom continued, “I’m going to have to let you go.”
Jack stood up. “What?” he exclaimed.
“As of right now, you no longer work for this paper, in any capacity.”
“You can’t do this, Tom.”
“Yes, I can. It’s my paper. I can do whatever I want with it or it’s employees. That’s the great thing about having your own paper. You get to decide what to do with it, what goes in it and who puts it there,” Tom said.
“But…” Jack tried to get an argument in.
“I talked to Sheriff Reagan myself about your story. It’s utter crap,” Tom said.
Jack’s eyes opened as wide as they could. “You told the sheriff’s station about my article? You warned them? No, I think you may just have been trying to steal my story. That has to be it!”
“No, Jack. That isn’t it at all,” Tom said.
“You jealous piece of…” Jack laughed. “I totally get it now. You just couldn’t be upstaged by a photographer,” Jack laughed. “I’m glad. I’m out of here. I’m taking this archaic rag down and you, you are a goddamn hypocrite. I’m gunning for you, Tom Harker. Everyone will know how full of crap you and this paper really are.”
Jack stormed out of the office and slammed the door against the wall. The noise from the blinds and door gave Jason a start even though he had been watching almost the whole thing. He finally didn’t feel like he had a nervous stomach.
Tom walked out and put his hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Let’s talk about good stuff,” Tom said.
“Are you all right, Dad?” Jason asked.
“Fine,” Tom answered. “I actually feel much better now that he is gone. One less thing to worry about.”
Jason knew that his dad was still worried, but knew he better change the subject if he wanted to get what he’d gone there for. “So, I was wondering if I could borrow the van tonight? I have to pick up our drummer’s kit.”
“Freaking drummers,” Tom said, “Even when I was a kid, they were always couch surfing and never had a car.”
They laughed.
“Losers,” Jason said.
43 - More Yellow
“When did she wake up?” Lukas asked as he quickly walked with Sue through the hallways of the hospital.
“About an hour ago,” Sue said.
“Have you gotten a hold of Chaney yet?” Lukas asked.
“No. Voicemail,” Sue answered as they turned the corner to see the hallway near Elizabeth’s room a little busier than it was the day before.
Lukas only got a glimpse of Elizabeth before Dr. Clive stopped him in the doorway. “Detective, a word?” Dr. Clive asked.
They moved down the hallway a few steps. Dr. Clive looked unnerved, there was something wrong.
“What is it?” Lukas asked.
“We have been running tests on Elizabeth and there are some things that aren’t making sense,” Dr. Clive said.
“Add them to the list,” Sue said sarcastically.
“I’m serious,” Dr. Clive said.
“Yeah, so are we. Continue,” Lukas said.
“I can’t say for certain where the boils came from. There isn’t really any reason for them to be there. But…” Dr. Clive hesitated.
“But what?” Lukas asked.
“Her uterus is gone. Total hysterectomy,” Dr. Clive said.
“How?” Sue asked.
“That’s the thing. There is no sign of any surgery. It just isn’t there,” Dr. Clive looked down and scratched her head as if this would help her come up with a better answer.
“Maybe, it was something that was done before,” Sue said.
“No. I don’t have any record of it,” Dr. Clive said.
“Okay, this might be a stupid question, but are you even sure she had a uterus before?” Lukas asked.
“Yes,” Dr. Clive said. She gave Lukas a look like he was an idiot for assuming she wouldn’t know. “She had a Pap about two months ago.”
“So, what does this mean?” Lukas asked.
“It means, I don’t know.” Dr. Clive shrugged her shoulders. “Good luck. Take it easy on her.”
“Yes, we will,” Sue said.
Lukas and Sue walked into the room and somehow, Elizabeth looked worse than she had the day before. The boils were bigger and more yellow. One must have opened up over her left eye since they were last there; there was a new bandage covering her eye like a patch.
With her good eye, Elizabeth saw them in the room and her breathing became more labored. Lukas sat down next to her, with Sue right behind him.
“Elizabeth, can you hear me?” Lukas asked.
Elizabeth nodded her head in the affirmative.
“Can you tell us what happened to you?” Lukas asked.
A tear rolled out of her eye as she tried to speak. “…otel…” Elizabeth said.
“Otel?” Lukas said. He thought for a moment. “Hotel?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Were you at a hotel when this happened to you?” Lukas asked.
She nodded.
“Were you alone?” Lukas asked.
“No,” Elizabeth said.
“Who was there with you?” Lukas asked.
Elizabeth looked as though she was about to pass out.
“Elizabeth!” Lukas said to bring her back.
“…enry,” Elizabeth barely whispered.
“Henry!” Sue said.
“Henry Goodman? Were you with Henry Goodman?” Lukas asked.
Elizabeth nodded.
“Why were you two at the hotel? Were you two lovers?” Lukas asked.
More tears ran down her boil covered cheek as she nodded.
“Did Henry do this to you?” Lukas asked.
Elizabeth shook violently and grunted out, “No.”
“Who did this to you?” Lukas asked.
“Man!” Elizabeth screamed and then passed out.
“What are you doing to her?” Francine yelled and pulled them away from her bedside. “Get away from her! She’s sick!”
“Ma’am, we are just trying to find out who did this to your daughter,” Sue said.
“Leave her alone!” Francine said.
“Sue, let’s get some air,” Lukas said. He took Sue by the arm and led her out of the room and they saw Jonathan. The new and abused Jonathan, complete with a black eye, fat lip and dr
ied blood all over the front of him.
“Holy Jesus!” Lukas said. “Jonathan what happened?”
“I tripped,” Jonathan mumbled through his battered face.
“Jonathan…” Lukas said.
“Leave it alone, Detective!” Jonathan said, “I just want to see my daughter.” He limped passed the detectives and went to Elizabeth’s bedside.
“What the hell happened there?” Sue asked under her breath.
“Put a pin in that. One insane problem at a time please,” Lukas said.
They walked down the hallway and turned a corner. Lukas stopped and leaned up against a wall. He tilted his head back, gentle knocking it against the wall before sliding down the wall to the floor. He hung his head. “Man? That really narrows it down.”
“It’s something,” Sue said.
“All that proves is that you didn’t do it,” Lukas said.
Sue put her arms up in the air, “Yay, I’m innocent,” She said sarcastically.
“Really, Sue?” Lukas said.
“I’m sure she will wake up again soon,” Sue reassured him.
Lukas knocked his head on the wall a couple more times while Sue paced back and forth in front of him.
“Let’s swing by Chaney’s place on the way back to the station,” Lukas suggested. “I don’t like that he hasn’t responded yet.”
Lukas and Sue walked down the hallway towards the lobby and didn’t see the man in the black, hooded sweatshirt, cross in front of them. They did however, run into Eugene Wellington who came around the corner with flowers, balloons and an over-sized, stuffed bear that blocked his vision.
“Excuse me,” Eugene said. He walked back towards Elizabeth’s room. Once he was almost at her door, he stopped and tried to fix his coat while trying not to drop all the get-well gifts he brought. He let out a sigh of relief and entered the room. “Oh, no. What a tragedy.”
Jonathan knew who it was without turning around and his blood began to boil. “What in God’s name are you doing here, Eugene?”
“Just a wishing Elizabeth a speedy recovery and to offer any help I may give,” Eugene said, while putting down the gifts. He finally got a good look at Elizabeth’s plight and horror struck his face. “My God…”
Francine took the flowers and put them on the small table on the other side of Elizabeth’s bed. “These are lovely. Thank you, Eugene.”
Eugene was transfixed on the gruesome face of Elizabeth. “Yes… You’re welcome.” Eugene swallowed hard, cleared his throat and composed himself.
“Let’s talk outside, Eugene.” Jonathan said and limped towards him.
“Of course…” Eugene noticed Jonathan’s face. “Now, what happened to you?”
“Outside,” Jonathan grunted.
Eugene followed him out into the hallway. As soon as they cleared the line of sight from Elizabeth’s room, Jonathan grabbed Eugene and with every bit of strength he could muster, threw Eugene up against the wall and tried to lift him off the floor with his forearm shoved up under his jaw.
“I know it was you, Eugene. I know you sent those men to send me a message,” Jonathan said through his teeth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eugene said.
“Oh, you do. We both know you know exactly what I’m talking about, and I’m not going to change my mind on your crap, enrichment project,” Jonathan said.
Eugene broke free of Jonathan’s grasp and pushed him away. “If you have wild allegations you would like to make about me, go to the sheriff. I came by here to offer your family support.” Eugene fixed his coat and tie. “Let me be clear that if you put your hands on me ever again, it will be the last thing that you ever do while running this town.”
“Get out of here,” Jonathan said.
“Give Elizabeth my love,” Eugene said with a smile.
“Get out of here!” Jonathan screamed.
Eugene turned and pulled a cigar out of his coat. He chuckled as he walked out of the hospital. “I feel like skipping,” Eugene said to himself.
44 - Four Reasons
It took about an hour after Lukas and Sue got to Chaney’s before Sheriff Reagan showed up. In his older years, it was always hard for him to get anywhere on time. Usually, he didn’t bother going out into the field at all anymore. Normally, he would just stay in the office and handle things from there, via radio. That day however, was a day that he felt like he needed to be there. He felt a strong urge to help out with anything he could when it dealt with one of his own.
Lukas met him near the sidewalk in front of Chaney’s house. Reagan felt overwhelmed with all the yellow tape, deputies and forensics people scurrying around like roaches in the light. A huge weight press down on Reagan’s chest. This wasn’t the first time he had felt like that. Most of the time he could chalk it up to stress or heartburn but he knew better. He had been having chest pains for days now.
“It’s bad,” Lukas said.
This didn’t make Reagan feel any better, but since the pain in his chest wasn’t getting worse, he decided that he could continue into the house. “Show me,” Reagan said.
They walked up the little concrete steps to the doorway. Reagan saw the disarray of the living room and knew it was just going to get more horrible the farther in he went. He could see the forensics team in their suits, aiming their camera into the kitchen. The flash from the camera made everything go into slow motion for Reagan. Voices began to sound like deep rumblings under water. He followed Lukas through the house as if they were walking on the moon. When he turned the corner into the kitchen, Sue looked up at him with tears in her eyes. Reagan sucked his mustache into his mouth and tightened his lips around the hair to hold back tears of his own. He made it a point to never shed tears on the job or in front of his team.
Reagan hadn’t seen that much blood in a long time, in person at least. He had seen crime scene photos, but it had been years since he had been standing inches from pooled, congealed blood. One thing that was brand new to Reagan was seeing someone bent in half. He was slightly relieved that there was so much blood on the face of the victim that he couldn’t make out exactly who it was, even though he knew exactly who it was.
Sue stood up and gave Reagan a hug. She let out a whimper when she felt how tight his grip was on her. She knew by the strength of it that this was even too much for him. “She was raped. Her legs were popped out of the sockets and held back onto her, to keep her down. Her ribs were crushed. Probably died of suffocation before loss of blood. Chaney couldn’t have done this.”
Lukas grabbed Sue by the arm and spun her around. “Of course Chaney didn’t do this! She was his freaking wife! Why would you even say that?” Lukas said.
“Calm down, Lukas,” Reagan said, “she’s just letting me know what happened.”
Under his breath Lukas said, “Chaney where are you?” Lukas turned his face from everyone, fighting back his emotions. Then he lifted his head up. Something had spooked him. “Did you guys hear that?”
“Hear what?” Sue asked.
“That scream. It was faint,” Lukas said while running through the house. “Chaney!” Lukas yelled as he opened every door.
“Lukas,” Sue said, trying to get him to stop.
Reagan put his hand on her shoulder. “Let me take care of him. Could you just get her covered up please?”
“Yeah. Thank you.” Sue said.
Lukas was sitting on the couch in the living room and Reagan walked up next to him.
“What’s going on here, Lukas?” Reagan asked.
“I don’t know. I dropped him off pretty late last night. Everything seemed normal,” Lukas said.
“Were he and Sara having problems?” Reagan asked.
Lukas gave Reagan a look that could kill, “Chaney didn’t do this.”
Reagan took a deep breath, picked a chair up off the floor and set it upright, “Can I sit? Have they done out here yet?”
“Yeah, they finished out here. Not much of anything,” Luk
as said.
Reagan sat in the chair and leaned back. “I know Chaney didn’t do this, but I’m wondering why he hasn’t contacted any of us.”
“What are you saying?” Lukas asked.
“There are three reasons why he wouldn’t have called this in. Well, four, but I think the fourth is out of the question,” Reagan said.
“The fourth being he killed her?” Lukas asked.
“Yep,” Reagan said. “One would be he would think that we would think he did it, so he went on the run to find out who did it and clear his name.”
“That doesn’t sound right to me. He knows we all would support him,” Lukas said.
“I agree,” Reagan continued. “So that brings us to number two, which is he was abducted. He might have come in and caught the murderer in the act and was overtaken.”
Lukas thought about it and looked around. “I don’t think so. We didn’t find any blood except for in the kitchen. The blood in the kitchen is untouched. It’s contained. If Chaney caught someone in the act, I would think that the murderer would get up in a hurry, probably getting blood all over the walls in the kitchen. Plus, there are no bullet holes in the walls or anything. I can’t see Chaney not drawing his piece. Unless they were waiting for him, but I honestly still can’t see Chaney not putting up a fight.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Reagan said.
“So does that make number three, revenge?” Lukas asked.
“It does,” Reagan said.
“So that means Chaney knows exactly who did this,” Lukas said.
“It does,” Reagan said.
“That means Chaney is off the grid. We won’t hear from him unless he wants us to.” Lukas stood up and paced back and forth. “If we could find out who did this before Chaney does, maybe we can stop him from doing something stupid.”
“I don’t blame Chaney at all for wanting to take the law into his own hands. Hell, I would do it,” Reagan said.
“We just need to find out who did it,” Lukas said.
Reagan looked at Lukas like he was an idiot. “We know who did this!”
“We don’t have proof yet,” Lukas said.
“She was crushed. The person had to be huge in order to pop her legs out of the sockets and break all her ribs by just laying on top of her,” Reagan said.