by Gloria Obizu
Ok listen, Jenkins, Norman and Nicole cases are closed, dead and never to be resurrected so forget about opening a canker because none of us want to go there, okay? Kempis continued. The culprits are already doing their prison terms, please! The same gun might have shot Norman and Teri but certainly did not shoot Nicole, ok? So I suggest we focus in the present, I mean the murder of Teri. And we do know this culprit is still out there mingling with society alright. I think why we are here right now is to try to find how to get this fellow and make him pay for his crime, period. I’m not saying is a bad thing you are thinking so don’t get me wrong. The thing is that I just don’t think your suggestions will be of much help in this matter. We have a murder to investigate here in LA and I don’t see how these things that happened in Dallas some five years ago have to do with this particular case. So, why flog a dead horse, get my meaning?
I simply don’t think the horse is dead! Jenkins insisted.
Thomas Please! Things happen to people! Stephen came in. There are a lot of depressed humans out there, don’t forget that. And all it takes is a step on their wounded toes one time, and they snap, racking havoc till they are apprehended and stopped. It is possible that this Lulu and boy Randy are connected somehow but don’t want anybody to know of it. A guy named Norman died, killed by someone, his step daughter disappeared, later found dead, murdered also, picture the scenario. Nicole might have seen Lulu kill Norman and by some sort of manipulations Lulu got boy Randy into the whole mess. Boy Randy may not even be aware of the fact he was licked, understand? According to this Randy of a boy, some guy he met on the block few months before the incident introduced him to Nicole. He had known her just for six weeks before she was shot. And what does this suggest? Some ulterior motive! I believe that Lucinda’s death is most unfortunate because she probably took some secrets that would have served us today to her grave. There could be something else in the family that triggered both murder, we don’t know and may never get the answer without her.
In other words Lulu might not have been only a hawker but someone out to get Norman for some other reasons. Jenkins said.
Is a possibility ‘cause there are many sides to every case with many answers blowing with the wind never to be found, Kempis continued.
Guys don’t forget that Psychos do just about anything, another officer lent his voice. There was this case I myself worked on some years back in which a runaway girl about the same age with this Lucinda’s daughter as at the time she died was taken from the street, kept captive and turned into a sex slave by this real Waco. She was locked up in a room large enough to contain a big dog and never allowed to see the sun light for months. The weather got real hot in summer and she died in that room of heat exhaustion so the guy panicked and did something horrible with the body. While the Police sought after the killer, he went after the girl’s mom but luck ran out on him. The hang man he contracted to kill the woman was a Police undercover agent and that nailed him for good. I’m sure all of us share different experiences that can easily connect with Lucinda and her family so there is nothing strange in what happened. If anything, that missing link Jenkins talks about may be Lucinda herself.
What I can say is this; the fact that Lucinda died before Nicole helped complicate my quest, no doubt about that, Jenkins continued. But she was not killed by Lulu.
Nature did it before the devil, who knows? Kempis began again. Maybe her pregnancy got Lulu distracted, we don’t know. Maybe she never intended killing Lucinda simply because she didn’t see her kill Norman. She wasn’t home when the incident occurred so Lulu simply left her out. like I said we may never have all the answers.
Ok! What about this? Just like in the case of Lulu and Norman, boy Randy also denied ever having anything to do with the murder of Nicole, Jenkins pressed on. Till this day the boy still insists he is innocent of the crime. Again Randy had no previous records whatsoever just like Lulu. Everybody around him testified to the fact that he was a regular kid on his block like any of his age.
That only goes to confirm my argument that the boy was licked Kempis pressed on. Lulu probably used him by some other means we are yet to unravel. I’m sure we will discover all these by the time this whole thing raps up.
There was no evidence whatsoever suggesting Lulu has any connection with Boy Randy, Jenkins insists. Something much more is creeping out there in the dark Kempis! I mean I insist the murder of Norman, the death of Nicole, the shooting of Teri and the case of the missing gun which I consider the crucible in all of this might all be connected in some ways. If only I can pick up each of the piece and tie them all together, this case will break even. Both guys accused in the two separate murders relating to this Norman and his step daughter denied any wrong doings. Both were well loved by friends and family. Lulu might have been a whore, but everyone that knows her says this, if being a whore is bad, then that’s the only wrong she ever did?
So what? Kempis snapped.
And then Isabel Diamond! This girl on whose birth day party this whole thing happened, I’m not even so sure on how she came into the US! Jenkins continued unrelenting.
Oh that! I know how she got here, Kempis continued. The boat she was travelling with her dad and some others from one of the Islands capsized and she turned out one hell of a lucky girl as the sole survivor. Somehow she was rescued by a Mexican Fishing boat and eventually joined another group that trekked their way into the US. That might sound mysterious but there is mystery in how all of us came to be here today. Come-on Jenkins, you know what our country is like, a safe haven for immigrants. If is not you yourself that made the journey to the New World, is your mom, dad, grand mom, great grand dad, great grand mom, the list is endless. Please guys let’s focus in the present. Nicole and Boy randy went through due process, found guilty and sentenced accordingly. Our jury system still rocks gentlemen.
Even the most effective jury can go wrong sometimes. Don’t forget that? Thomas continued. What about the case of Kinston Blake? What about Jimmy Chancy? Felicia Ducks and many others too who were found guilty by a default jury? If I decide to research on this, you’ll be surprised on the number of people embarrassed by this top most part of our law adjudication system and now languishing in jail for a crime they didn’t commit.
Thomas! Don’t tell me you fell for all that drama Lulu was putting up the day we went to see her, Kettles who has not said much came in. She was just acting out the drama queen she has always been, that’s what it was. What we need do is pay her another visit but this time we put it to her that she is compelled by law to disclose information concerning a crime she committed. May be this will crack her and if we succeed, you’ll be surprised with what Lulu is hiding. You know these things Thomas, so what is happening to you? Come-on now men! You are one of the officers I’ve the greatest regard for and I’ll like to keep it that way please.
Forget about paying Lulu another visit because we are not going to be welcomed there any time soon. I got a phone call from Dallas Police stating our last visit did more harm than good. She attempted suicide few days later so they don’t want us back soon, Thomas stated. Anyway, gentlemen, I might be wrong here, I don’t know, but no matter what anyone is thinking I’m shifting my attention right away to this Isabel Diamond period.
No one is saying is a wrong thing to do! But to say conclusively here at this time that this girl Isabel has any connection whatsoever with Lulu or Norman, his wife Lucinda and step daughter Nicole is absurd to say the list. And you can’t just go ahead and make an arrest without evidence to back it up so we need to work extra hard and dig up what we need and the culprit will surface. Is as simple as that and that’s what thrills me about Police work.
If I may add something, Stephen began again, this Isabel wasn’t even in the United States when Norman was killed and that makes it absolutely hard to understand what Jenkins is trying to prove. Norman died in Dallas, but our data shows that Isabel came
into the country through Los Angeles about two years after his death and has not travelled outside of LA since then. So you see, assuming she was even in the US at the time of the murder, the opportunity to commit a crime did not exist. I don’t even know how you came about the idea she dropped onto the earth from the damned blue sky because everything is here in black and white. Take and read, he said and passed over some documents to Jenkins.
I’ve read all that and know what I’m talking about but don’t have the proof to back it up, that’s all. Guy Freddy also said something about a gun, right? This girl Isabel may possess a gun, we don’t know. Jenkins said after a long pause.
That is if you take the words of lazy greedy Freddy for it, Stephen continued. He couldn’t even pick out Teri from our photos. Again he never said he saw Isabel with a gun but only thought she could kill somebody. He probably wanted something from her that he didn’t get, we don’t know what happened. I researched on the guy and found he has never held a good job. He doesn’t even like leaving his mama’s couch often, so what time did he step out to go be with Isabel and her roommate? He’s just after the money, period. I know that because as soon as we finished talking with him, he asked for the ransom fee. And I was like wow! Take it easy! You get the money only if you prove your case. He got angry and stormed out of the building. I’ve called him many times today to see if he could be here so that everyone will hear it straight from the horse’s mouth but he is not picking up his call. And you know why? Is because he is not sure of what he is talking about.
He was in that apartment. I know this because he confirmed this girl Isabel has a roommate named Carissa, Thomas pushed further.
Yes! That is true! Stephens agreed. That’s no fresh news to any of us either. But how does that help us in solving this case? That’s the question.
We’ll see! Jenkins continued to push his case. Remember we met this Carissa on the day of the crime and she denied she was at the party but she might end up saving me as a bridge in this whole thing. I also discovered in the course of my investigation that this Isabel is in relation with two different guys. One of them is a guy named Wallis. I checked him up and found nothing on him. Nothing! Clean as the air we breathe. No previous record but just a loafer who depends on well fare for his up keep. Then the order guy in Isabel’s life is named Gary, he co-works with her in a store. No previous records too. Never been arrested or charged with any crime. Some difficulties growing up, that’s all. However, the interesting thing about Gary’s case is this; he aspires to join the LAPD so desperately and you know what Thomas Jenkins is going to do? I’ll take it upon myself to bring him in and use whatever tools available to me to work on him until I get what I’m looking for. Also, I don’t believe Carissa Stevens was not at the party where Teri got shot. I think she is lying. What I believe is that all the four were present at that party and one or more of them must have seen something he is not willing to disclose. It is been more than three months now since this incident happened, right? Yet no results so far from all our efforts and I’m getting really frustrated. So what I tend to do is change style right away. The beam on my flash light focuses on those four but Isabel Diamond in particular. Let’s see what happens next!
Chapter Nine
Carissa was at work on a Friday when vibration from her cell phone caught her attention and the moment she found it was a call from the LAPD, her eyes went round to see who might be listening and found she was the only one behind the counter. She waited until Fatima showed up before she took leave of her to go use the restroom and left. Once in there, she called back at the LAPD and at the end of a short conversation, she agreed to be at the Police department the next day.
That Saturday, she left home and arrived just on time for the appointment into the waiting hands of Jenkins.
We meet again Miss Stevens, just like I said we would, right? Jenkins said as soon as she took her seat.
And what do you want me do about that? She snapped.
We’ll see! You used to know a guy by the name Teri Parkinson, right? Jenkins went straight to business.
Yes! She responded.
Good! I’ve some pictures here to show and want you pick him out if you can.
Carissa looked at the different pictures displayed on a table before she took one. This is Teri.
How sure are you about that? Jenkins asked.
Hundred percent!
Do you know he is dead? He continued.
Yes I heard!
Who told you?
It’s been on the television, right? Carissa retorted.
How well did you guys know each other?
We were really close, Carissa admitted.
Something was going on like boyfriend, girlfriend thing, and right?
Not really! We were just pals, she said.
How did you meet him?
It was at a friend’s party, understand? And this guy approached me, you know, girl boy stuff and we kind of talked. Later things started heating up between me and him and we got together.
How often did you guys get to see each other?
Quit often!
And where do you guys usually meet?
Sometimes it would be at his place and sometimes at my place.
Do you live alone?
No! I have a roommate, Carissa answered.
Interesting! What is the name of your roommate?
I don’t wanna bring any one into this shit, okay? She responded.
You have to answer the question.
I don’t have to do anything I don’t wanna do, dig?
Listen! He is gone at a very young age, I hope you understand that! And this is a guy you were involved with until his death. The officer paused a while before he continued. He was killed by someone who is still out there and we do sincerely need your help in finding who did this. That’s all we ask of you, Miss Steven
Is that supposed to make me do what I don’t wanna do? She said instead.
We want you to do the right thing, that’s what I’m talking about, Jenkins said.
What is right for you or for me?
Wait a meeting! I should be asking the questions here, okay?
What I’m gonna be doing is what is right for me, understand?
That is not gonna work in this case Miss Stevens! Now did he visit anytime your roommate was home?
Yeah! Sometimes!
I assume they got along, is that right?
I don’t know. They could be sneaking around behind my back for all the hell I cared.
And you sometime argue a lot with him? Jenkins continued.
Come-on men! Are you in a relationship?
Did you guys argue sometimes? He now raised his voice with assertiveness.
Like every relationship we had our ups and downs if that’s what you wanna know. Damn! She said.
And what about your roommate, did she argue with Teri sometimes also?
I don’t know.
It was your roommate’s birth day party and you refused to attend, why?
You need to be invited to a party before you show up, okay? And if you must know we don’t get along and she didn’t invite me. What’s hard to understand in that?
Teri was at the party but you were not, why?
Only Teri can answer that question, get what I’m saying?
You need to take it easy Miss Stevens and answer the questions the way they are being put to you, okay? This is no fun stuff, don’t you get that? Now, is there any one you can think of who might have done this to Teri?
No body that I know of!
Is that right? And where is your roommate now?
Come-on officer, how am I supposed to answer that question? I’m not her fucking watch dog, okay? Damn!
Alright! Miss Stevens I can see you are not
ready so that will be all for now! But I’m telling you once again; call me when you decide to say some, understand that? Anyway, you can leave when you want! He said with a hint of anger before Carissa got up and walked away.
Gary received his letter of admittance into the force in mixed feelings but then the need to become an Officer which he had nurtured since child hood overruled every other considerations and he seized the chance without question. Thomas also took it upon himself to follow Gary through with his orientation into the force; therefore the package for the new recruits took a different design this time around. Thomas Jenkins had it tailored in such a way that his main target will be at the receiving end of his intents right from start. The idea is use the program to channel Gary’s mind towards thinking in a way that could break his barrier and make him reveal information about Isabel. It was Jenkins also who chose Malory an officer with an impeccable record and a man well known in the circles for his eloquence and motivational speaking abilities to be the lead speaker for the new recruits.
Gary himself was already getting used to the orientation package that is now on its second week. But within him, continued the struggle to understand the true meaning of his hasty admission into the Force. Yet the program lined up, filled him with excitements all the same.
Today Malory speaks again and he couldn’t wait to listen again. He loved the charisma he displays and admires his eloquence so much that the guy is already affecting his thinking in some ways. Right now, he wasn’t sure anymore weather he is doing the right thing by concealing a crime he witnessed because in the present, that means working against some of the basic rules the force stands for and most of which Malory hammered on in his last outstanding address to the recruits. So, a heated debate goes on in his mind concerning what to do with Isabel and the shooting of Teri. Report it or continue to hold on to a lie?