by Rayna Morgan
“Jeffrey shrewdly suggested the barking dog and the shining light frightened the thief off,” Warren resumed.
Lea leaned forward in her excitement. “But was it a botched robbery or the clever cover up of an intentional plan to commit murder?”
Warren nodded. “We suspected Jeffrey set the stage to look like a burglary. He used the barking dog to his advantage by having it appear the dog chased the burglar away. That gave him time to carry out the next part of his plan.”
“The next part of his plan?”
“Discovery of the body,” he said. “Jeffrey left the premises. When he came home a short time later, he called the police and told them he found the home burglarized and his wife dead.”
“Did he call an ambulance as well?” Lea asked.
“His field is plastic surgery, but as a doctor, he knew she was dead just looking at her.”
Sam spoke in a lifeless voice. “He knew she was dead before he got home.”
“Time alone in the house gave him ample opportunity to ensure he left nothing to implicate himself,” Warren suggested.
“You mentioned Jeffrey had an alibi. What was it?”
Warren looked at Sam before responding to Lea’s question.
Sam nodded.
Warren lowered his voice. “He was with a woman with whom he was having an affair.”
For a moment, no one spoke.
Lea finally looked at her father. “What did you think of Jeffrey during your investigation?”
“I found him arrogant and condescending. I tried not to let those feelings cloud my judgment of his guilt or innocence.”
She turned to Emma’s father. “What can you tell me about your son-in-law?”
Sam hesitated. His breathing seemed labored.
“At the beginning, we didn’t understand what our daughter saw in him. He and Emma had little in common. They came from different backgrounds. Emma and her brother grew up in privileged wealth. Jeffrey’s father had a low-paying job at the naval base. His mother worked at a second-hand clothing store.
“Unlike Emma who attended an upscale university, Jeffrey struggled to put himself through med school, dividing his time between work and studies. His parents had no interest in their son’s goals and were unwilling or unable to support his efforts.”
“Your daughter was obviously taken with him.”
Sam snickered. “He puts on the charm when it gets him what he wants. Jeffrey is an egotist driven to succeed by a sense of self-preservation and a need to prove himself.”
“Prevalent qualities in our competitive society,” Lea observed.
“I agree. Normally, I would be happy to see such ambition, especially in a person interested in my daughter. It was the other side of Jeffrey which I distrusted.”
“What side are you referring to?”
“He appeared to have anger issues. When I asked Emma about it, she blamed his upbringing.”
“What made her think his family was responsible?”
“It wasn’t until after they married that Jeffrey told Emma his father was a drunk. As a child, the boy was subjected to daily arguing between his parents. When his father drank, the argument ended with his mother being struck.”
“Did the boy fight back?”
“Not until the young man grew taller and stronger than his father. That’s when the man came home drunk and pushed Jeffrey’s mother around. The son finally found the courage to stand up to his old man. He landed a blow that knocked his father to the ground.”
“What happened?”
“His father got up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and laughed. ‘You want to take care of your mother, son? She’s all yours.’ He walked out and never returned. Jeffrey thought his mother would be happy, but she resented him for driving her husband away.”
“It’s tough to learn appropriate responses to frustration and anger in an environment of argument and abuse,” Lea said. “Do you think Jeffrey became an alcoholic abuser like his father?”
“As far as being an alcoholic, my son-in-law rarely drank except an occasional cocktail.” The muscles in Sam’s neck stood out like cords. “But, yes, he appeared to have anger issues of his own.”
“Did his upbringing affect him in other ways?”
“I believe he developed a need to control other women because he couldn’t control his mother’s feelings. Plastic surgery allows Jeffrey to change women in ways which make them grateful. His patients reward him with gratitude he never received from his mother.
“In his efforts to control Emma, he worried about outsiders influencing her. Increasingly, he discouraged her from spending time with friends or developing interests of her own. He suffered painful memories of his father’s abandonment and admitted to Emma that thoughts of her leaving terrified him.
“The last time they visited, they seemed in constant conflict. It was painful to watch. Jeffrey no longer acknowledged Emma’s feelings. Her will had been extinguished like the flame of a candle.”
“How did they meet? They didn’t run in the same social circles.”
“He came to town one weekend with a friend from med school. The friend threw a party and invited Emma. I still remember that night. She came home and told us she met the man she intended to marry.
“At first, we paid little attention. There was hardly a time Emma didn’t have boys hanging around. We took more notice when she invited him for Thanksgiving, a celebration reserved for the family. They chose that occasion to announce their engagement.”
“How did you respond?”
“I won’t deny I had reservations. Beyond wanting my daughter closer to home for selfish reasons, I questioned her decision to put aside her career to have a family. I asked why she couldn’t do both. Apparently, Jeffrey preferred his wife stay home at least until any children were of school age.”
“Was your daughter content with her decision?”
“Initially, she was. But she had trouble getting pregnant. She was on the verge of using fertility drugs when she tested positive for pregnancy. Her joy convinced us she made the right decision to postpone her career. Sadly, she miscarried two months later.”
Lea shook her head. “A difficult situation for any couple.”
“Emma ended up trying fertility treatments, but nothing worked. Her disappointment was heartbreaking.”
“Did they consider adoption?”
“Jeffrey was firmly opposed.”
“Did their inability to have children put a strain on the marriage?”
“Emma talked about going back to work. Jeffrey interpreted her desire as giving up on having children. He shut her out, refusing to discuss any career she might pursue. For Emma, that was intolerable. She talked of leaving him.”
Lea turned to her father. “What were your reasons for suspecting the husband?”
“Their friends witnessed arguments. They saw him start to strike her on more than one occasion. There were suggestions he inflicted mental cruelty by isolating her. They had no children. There seemed no reason for her to stay home.”
Sam rubbed his hands, his anguish clearly mounting. “Pressure on their marriage escalated. Shortly before her death, someone sued Jeffrey for malpractice. His livelihood was at risk. Their prenuptial agreement prevented him from rights to her estate. If they divorced, it would leave him with nothing more than half the house they purchased after marriage. He became a time bomb waiting to explode.”
“You stated he was sued for malpractice. Did you say he’s a plastic surgeon?”
“The kind who earns a great deal of money feeding on women’s insecurity by reshaping their nose or enhancing their breast.” Sam made no attempt to hide his low opinion. “He thought of his clients as works of art. He fell in love with one or two of his creations and seduced them. His cheating was another reason Emma was leaving.”
Noting Sam’s agitation, Warren changed the direction of the conversation.
• • •
“Sam’s working with
his son now. I’m discovering how rewarding such an experience can be.”
Lea smiled fondly at her father before turning to Sam. “When did you and your son start to work together?”
“I planned to turn the company over to Emma. Besides having a head for numbers, she loved every aspect of business. She was like her mother in that regard.”
“It must have been difficult with both parents so involved in business.”
“We made it work. Until our daughter was …” His voice trailed off.
Warren nodded. “That kind of tragedy impacts any marriage.”
Sam continued. “Sheila and I responded in entirely different ways. I, perhaps, in a manner contrary to the natural order of things.”
“What do you mean?” Lea asked.
“I became morose and withdrawn, unlike the typical father who seeks revenge. My wife was the one who turned bitter.” His lips thinned. “My desire for retribution came later.”
Lea repeated her question. “When did your son join your company?”
“Until the tragedy, Brad had no intention of being involved in the business. He leaned toward artistic endeavors. Music, mostly.” He shook his head dismissively. “My son had an ill-conceived notion that his band could burst onto the music scene with only mediocre talent.
“After his sister’s passing, I sought his help with the company. He could hardly refuse. I put him in charge temporarily, but he wasn’t ready to take over. When I regained enough of my sanity to resume a leadership role, I convinced him to stay on. I can’t be sure, but I think he’s taking an interest.”
“As I recall, Dad, this case occurred about the time the mayor nominated you for the position of chief of police.”
“My appointment was confirmed during the middle of the investigation. But that’s not why the case turned cold. The reason was we had no proof of anything other than an accident. We had no choice but to accept Jeffrey’s version of events.”
Lea looked at Sam questioningly. “No new information has surfaced. Why are you eager to reopen old wounds after all these years?”
Sam lowered his head and folded his hands in his lap. “My second marriage is on less than solid ground.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Warren said.
Sam gestured dismissively. “I have no one to blame but myself. I made the same mistake as Emma. I married a person with whom I have nothing in common. But the failure of this marriage makes me nostalgic for a happier time in my life. The time I spent with my first wife.”
He stopped a moment to reflect. “The one thing I regret is that I never gave Sheila the peace of finding our daughter’s killer. I owed her that, and I failed. I’d like to give her the closure we were robbed of.”
“But why now?” Lea persisted. “Besides my father opening an office, did something happen to trigger your interest?”
“My current wife has the looks of a goddess. I’m embarrassed to admit, it’s one of the reasons I married her. But like other women, she’s unhappy unless she maintains a small dress size and resembles the airbrushed images of media stars. She plans to get a nose job at a private clinic close to home where she can stay while her eyes are black and blue.” A smile oozed across his face. “According to my wife, the surgeon who runs the clinic is the rage among those who can afford him.”
Warren’s face lit up as he leaned forward. “Let me guess.”
The two men locked eyes and Sam nodded.
“Precisely. Jeffrey Grant. The man who broke into his own home disguised as a burglar and murdered my daughter.”
• • •
After warning Sam there was slim hope of finding anything substantial enough to reopen the case, Warren agreed to look into the doctor’s activities since the death of his wife. When Sam left the office, Lea and her father discussed his decision.
Warren shook his head. “I should know better, but it was one of the most frustrating cases I ever worked.”
“In what regard?”
“Sam never believed Jeffrey truly loved Emma or was concerned for her welfare. I agree with Sam’s assessment. Contrary to his public persona, the doctor struck me as an uncaring, cold fish.”
“From Sam’s account, public opinion swayed in the doctor’s favor.”
“That’s one thing that bothered me. His grief seemed calculated. As though he rehearsed the words he spoke and the emotions he portrayed to the media. Yet, there were moments during our questioning and in the ensuing weeks when he didn’t realize he was being observed. Moments when he was off camera, so to speak…”
“What did you see, Dad?”
“Glimpses of an ego which made me doubt him capable of caring for a person enough to register the despair he paraded in public. He appealed to the sympathy of women as a man pained by the loss of a wife who meant the world to him. There were rumors which denied such a claim, but the press prefers a wounded hero to a tainted villain. It’s difficult to change opinion once it turns in the wrong direction.”
“Did his mistress support his alibi?”
“Of course. Interestingly, he broke off that relationship soon after the case was closed.”
“Are you sure we should take this on? If none of the facts changed, what hope can there be for a different outcome?”
“I have new weapons at my disposal now.”
“What weapons are you referring to?”
“Your intuitive instincts and Maddy’s gift for gab. Time is also on our side. This far removed from the crime, the good doctor will be off guard. If Maddy can talk her way into getting close to Dr. Grant, we may learn some things he was careful not to disclose.”
“What, for instance?”
“Her husband reported Emma took tranquilizers and other drugs. Before her marriage, her parents saw no sign their daughter used medications of any kind. In a best-case scenario, Jeffrey was lax in seeking help if he was aware of the drugs his wife was consuming. Another doctor may have diagnosed the overdosing and undertaken treatment to prevent the tragic outcome which resulted.”
“And the worst-case scenario?”
“He intentionally got his wife hooked on drugs with an ultimate outcome in mind.”
“Surely, someone followed up on your suspicions.”
“Once I turned the file over to become Chief, no one was interested in pursuing a matter the medical establishment was eager to close to preserve the reputation of one of their own.”
“This assignment is a challenge, Dad. Witnesses who may shed light on the matter will be hard, if not impossible, to locate. There’s also the problem of their accurate recall of a matter which occurred so long ago.”
“I never said it would be easy. What did I teach you and Maddy?”
“I know. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. So, how should we proceed?”
“Review the evidence, talk to any witnesses we can locate, and examine the photographs with fresh eyes. We might make a connection which was missed the first time.”
“How can we get our hands on that information?”
“I kept copies of a few cases in the garage, unless your mother threw them out with some of my other stuff,” he grumbled.
“Why did you keep the files?”
“A cop never forgets a case he feels had an unjust ending. Instinctively, I hoped for a chance like the one we’ve encountered.”
“Assuming we locate witnesses, what good will it do to interview them again?”
“Perhaps the right questions weren’t asked. A witness may remember something he or she thought was unimportant at the time, information which could break open the case.” Warren stroked his chin. “We should find out what the doctor has been up to, professionally and personally. I can learn the details of the malpractice lawsuit or other legal actions taken against him.”
“I’ll check social media for relevant news,” she said. “He hasn’t become the go-to-doctor for nips and tucks without publicity.”
“The most important thing is to make contact with t
he suspect. If he got away with murder for this length of time, he’s bound to be less cautious. Approached casually, he may be enticed to answer questions or make statements which provide evidence of his involvement.” He tapped a pen on his desk. “I have no legitimate reason to call on him, but a woman seeking to enhance her looks would raise no suspicion.”
Lea smiled. “Do you have someone in mind?”
“One with a gift for gab and a love of acting.”
At that moment, Maddy returned carrying a plastic container with three cups.
“Coffee, tea, or me?” she asked.
“You,” they answered in unison.
Warren explained her first assignment. He didn’t share impressions of the doctor held by himself or Sam.
Maddy frowned. “You won’t give details about the subject of my surveillance?”
“People change,” he said. “We need to allow him the benefit of your unbiased opinion.”
Lea squinted her eyes, but made no comment. She knew if her father believed that, he wouldn’t have taken the case.
“Everyone has forgotten except Mr. Swanson,” Maddy complained. “What does it matter?”
“That’s not how I see it,” Warren argued. “Is a crime less serious because time has passed? Is a wrong done long ago any less wrong? Sam is still haunted by thoughts his daughter was murdered. We have a responsibility to take his feelings seriously.”
“Why do you suppose the doctor established his clinic in Vista Harbor?” Lea asked.
“He settled the malpractice suit out of court. But I imagine he felt he could better salvage his reputation at a new location away from headlines and innuendos.”
“It was a good choice,” Lea said. “That city revolves around people with money to spend. People overly concerned with their looks and the impressions they make.”
Maddy raised an eyebrow. “It’s also a perfect setting for the Hollywood set to recover, away from the prying eyes of paparazzi.”
“Be careful, Sis. You will be on the doctor’s turf. Don’t be swayed by his good looks and charm.”
“When have I ever—?”
“Do you really want to go there?” Lea asked.