“That’s it.” Janice was looking down again, her voice low and tired-sounding.
“But now you’re here,” said Drumm. “Why?”
Janice looked up. “Because I am angry! And I want to get that animal! He treated me like a dog and left me in the snow. I could have died and he would have cared less.” Her eyes were blazing with anger. “When I got home, I just lay down on my bed and collapsed. I was so exhausted, I didn’t even take my boots off. And I slept for a while.”
Drumm interrupted, “Did you take a bath or shower?”
“No, I fell asleep like I said. And when I woke up, I knew what I had to do. I knew enough not to…clean myself… or get rid of any possible evidence. So I called a taxi and came here.”
“You did absolutely right,” said Lori.
“Was I in time?” asked Janice. “I mean, does it matter that I waited a few hours to get here?”
“It shouldn’t make any difference at all,” said Drumm. “I mean, obviously, the sooner the better, but as long as you get yourself examined within the first few hours, it will be fine. I’m curious, though – why didn’t you call a friend to bring you here? Or a boyfriend?”
Janice looked down again. “I don’t have a boyfriend. And I didn’t want my friends to know.”
They were interrupted by a nurse who entered the examination room. She looked at them sharply and asked, “Who are you?”
Drumm showed his card and said, “YPS. Homicide.”
The nurse said, “I see. I’m almost done here. But I need you to wait outside. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
It was actually closer to fifteen minutes before the nurse found them in the waiting room. “Right,” she said briskly. “She’s got a broken rib on the left side and severe bruising. The cuts on her cheek and under her eye are from a knife being stuck into her. They aren’t serious but might have been if he had meant business. He could have taken her eye out if he was a little less careful.”
“Have you done the rape kit?” asked Drumm.
“Yes, and she’s had x-rays. She’s gotten off lucky really; she’s not hurt badly. The rib is the worst of it. There’s no vaginal tearing. Mostly she’s just shaken up. I’ve seen much worse.”
“Has a doctor examined her?” asked Lori.
The nurse nodded. “Of course, and will do so again before we release her. That won’t be long, either; she’s stable and obviously in control of herself. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get on.”
Drumm asked, as she was leaving, “You’ll send the rape kit along?”
“Of course.” And the nurse was gone.
“I’ll wait here and drive her home,” said Lori.
“Good idea. See if you can get some more details. I want to get back to the station before Drennan starts having a bird.”
Lori grinned. “We wouldn’t want that. See you shortly.”
It was some hours later that Lori found Drumm in his office.
“You took your time,” he said, looking at his watch.
Lori was unperturbed. “It’s snowing quite hard,” she said. “The roads are bad already.”
Drumm nodded. It had already started when he left the hospital.
Lori went on. “And you know hospitals,” she said. “Nothing happens quickly. And then I had to take Janice home. She offered me tea.” She smiled.
“Which of course you accepted. Did she tell you anything more?”
Lori took out her notebook and opened it to a page full of small, neat notes. “It’s the same guy, Nick; there’s no doubt. Right arm across her mouth, left sticking the knife against her cheek. The same low, husky voice, not speaking much.”
“Okay,” said Drumm. “Victim number six confirmed. What else?”
“He’d chosen a private spot again, a little place in the bushes, hidden from the street.”
“We’ll see if we can find that later,” said Drumm. “How’d he do things this time?”
Lori looked at her notes. “He put the knife down and ripped her sweater open, pushed up her bra, pulled down her pants. Then he turned her over.”
Drumm nodded. This exact thing had happened twice before.
“She’s a good witness, Nick. She noticed the wiry hair on his fingers, a husky voice – it sounded like he had a cold, she said – and the blue eyes. Pale blue eyes, she said.”
Drumm sat back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. “Same guy, for sure. And he finished the job, like always?”
“He did.”
“So we’ll have his DNA again. And it will help us just as much this time as with the other women. Anything else?”
“She thought he was quite a bit taller than she was – she’s five seven – and he was strong.” Lori looked up at Drumm. “We already knew that, of course. But she said he got her off the sidewalk and into the bushes with ease.” She looked at her notes again. “Let’s see, what else? She works at Seeborne Technologies. That’s the factory over on Alliance Boulevard. They make seatbelt assemblies.”
“I know it,” said Drumm.
“Do you? It’s new to me. She’s trying to get out of there and get a better job. She’s a university graduate but can’t get anything decent.”
“We’ve heard that a time or two, haven’t we?”
“We have,” Lori agreed. “She said he was white, and he didn’t sound Hispanic. White, but with darker skin than most.”
“Not Hispanic? How can she be sure?”
Lori closed the notebook. “She said she has a couple of Mexican friends. She’s very familiar with the way they speak. She said he definitely didn’t talk like her friends. She’s a smart woman, Nick, and very observant. I think we can trust her.”
“I don’t doubt it,” said Drumm. “But not all Hispanics are Mexican. Still, she did very well.”
“And you? What have you been up to? I don’t see any bruises on you. So Drennan took it easy on you?” Lori smiled.
“I haven’t seen him,” said Drumm. “Which is fine with me. I had a look on the transportation network website to see if I could find any security cameras in the area. I couldn’t find any and didn’t expect to. He hasn’t made that kind of mistake yet. I checked with the YTC and that bus didn’t have a security camera either. They gave me the name of the driver; we’ll hook up with him later.”
“He won’t know anything,” said Lori positively. “The attacker always makes sure he can’t be seen. And even if the bus had a camera, it wouldn’t show anything. Just Janice Lange getting off.”
“We’ll check all the same,” said Drumm. “But you’re right, I’m sure.” He stood up. “Come on, let’s get out to the scene, before it’s completely buried in snow.”
The two of them stood on the sidewalk on Parkside Avenue, shivering in the cold. The wind had picked up and was driving the snow into their faces. Beside them the traffic was crawling along, the drivers trying to cope with the slippery road conditions and the reduced visibility. Drumm pulled the collar of his coat tighter and said, “I am looking forward to when the weather report stops using the terms ‘accumulation’ and ‘wind-chill.’ That’s when I’ll know winter is over.”
Lori said, “We’re not going to see anything at all in this stuff.”
“No,” Drumm agreed. “It’s like he planned it.” He gestured to a small garden with shoulder-high bushes, shrouded with snow. “Maybe there?”
They walked over to the spot and found that there was a gap in the bushes. Drumm shouldered through, dumping powdery snow onto his shoes. He stopped and looked at a small area, oval in shape, and completely hidden from view of the street. “This looks like it could be it,” he said. “But there’s nothing to see.” The clearing was covered with an inch or so of snow already and more was accumulating rapidly. He squatted and brushed the snow away with his gloves as far as he could reach. Then he moved into the space. Lori followed.
The two of them methodically searched the area as best they could, moving snow around. It was Lori w
ho found the ring. Her hand knocked something and she had to search for another minute to find it again in the snow. It was a cheap gold ring with a blue stone. Sitting on the red wool of her Olympic mitten, it reminded her of a child’s ring. She said as much to Drumm.
He was doubtful. “Look at the size. That’s a man’s ring.”
“I meant the quality. It looks like something you’d buy in Wal-Mart. Or the Dollarama.”
Drumm said, “It could be our guy’s, I suppose. Or the gardener who looks after this area. Bag it and bring it along.”
They spent another ten minutes searching the area before giving up.
“God, I hate winter,” Drumm said. “Let’s get out of this.”
Lori looked at him. His hair and eyebrows were caked with wet snow; even his eyelashes were white. “Ever heard of a toque?” she asked. “Highly recommended.” Her own was red and matched her mittens.
“Nag, nag,” he said. “When it stops snowing, bring Ms. Lange back here and see if this is the right place. Not that it really matters, unless that ring proves to be useful. But it looks like kiddy junk to me.” He stomped his feet. “Come on. Let’s get to somewhere warm. I’ll buy you lunch.”
Their meal was at the Sunnyside Grill, a cheerful, crowded restaurant in a nearby strip mall. They each had hot soup in front of them.
“How does Will like the snow?” asked Lori.
Drumm smiled. “He loves it. Funny thing about Shelties: they hate water but love the snow. When he was a puppy, I tried taking him into a lake for a swim. He practically ripped my hand off trying to get away but I eventually got him in and dunked him. And then I felt terrible because he looked so miserable, just like a drowned rat. I never did it again. But the snow! He loves playing in it. He noses around in it as long as I’ll let him and he tries to eat it all.”
Lori laughed. “I’d like to see that.”
“You can come to my place sometime and observe,” said Drumm, smiling.
“I’d like that,” said Lori, and then she went quiet.
“How’s it going with Dean?” asked Drumm, after a pause.
Lori finished her soup and said, “It’s not. That’s over with. It was okay while it lasted but…” She patted her mouth with her napkin. “I see Emily’s signs all over town. She looks like she’s doing really well.” She avoided looking at him.
Drumm took his time answering, but eventually he said, “Did you two ever meet?” At Lori’s shake of the head, he said, “No, I didn’t think so.” He opened a package of crackers and crumbled them into what was left of his soup. “She’s hooked up with that dynamo of a salesman, Randy Richards. Between them I think they’re selling half of the houses in York.” He took a spoonful of soup. “But I’m okay with it. It was never going to work out between the two of us. I’m better off with just Will.” He smiled lopsidedly.
“And I’m better off without Dean,” said Lori.
“Oh, well,” said Drumm. He looked out over the crowded restaurant and then back at Lori. “There’s always Dick,” he said, with a little smile. “He’ll be back on Monday.”
Lori crumpled up her napkin and threw it at him. “Don’t remind me,” she said.
ten
“Thank you all for coming,” said Staff Inspector Harold Drennan. “Especially on such a chilly day.” His breath was making puffs of vapour as he spoke, despite the Saturday morning sunshine.
“Why the hell aren’t we inside?” asked the cameraman from the local all-news channel. He was speaking in an undertone.
“Because he thinks he looks better, posing there in front of the police headquarters sign.” Susan Benitez, the on-air talent, was rubbing her gloved hands together trying to keep them warm. “Look at him, all noble and heroic, standing there without a coat. Do you think he doesn’t know this looks better?”
“Thirty-six hours ago, there was another sexual assault on a woman here in our city,” went on Drennan. “This makes the sixth such attack in the past couple of months.”
“Was it in Riverwood?” called out a voice.
Susan craned her head to see who had spoken. It sounded like the man from CTV.
Drennan frowned. “It was in the Riverwood area, yes. But please wait until the end when I will be happy to take a few questions. I just have a brief statement to make.” He cleared his throat and went on. “I am happy to report that the woman involved was not seriously injured and has since been released from hospital. We continue to have an increased police presence in the area and we are confident that we will soon be making an arrest. In the meantime, we urge all women, not just those in the Riverwood area, to be extremely vigilant. Avoid walking alone and report any suspicious individuals immediately to the police. That’s all for now. I’ll be happy to take a few questions.” Drennan folded up the sheet of paper he had been reading from and tucked it inside his jacket. “Ben?”
The reporter from CTV asked, “You said you’d soon be making an arrest. So you think you know who it is??
Drennan put his hands behind his back. “We are getting closer to an arrest, yes.”
Ben Trudeau persisted, “You know who the Riverwood Rapist is, Staff Inspector Drennan?”
“We have several persons of interest,” said Drennan. “I am confident that the officer in charge of the investigation will soon be making an arrest.”
“My turn,” said Susan to her cameraman. “Make sure you get this.” She spoke in a louder voice. “Staff Inspector, what makes you so sure an arrest is coming? Do you have more evidence, like a witness?”
Drennan turned to her. “Susan, you know I can’t give out that kind of information. It might compromise the investigation.” He put up his hand as he saw she was about to speak. “I’ll just say again that the York Police Services are confident that the officer in charge of the investigation will soon be making an arrest. That’s all. Thank you for your time this morning.” He turned as if he was about to walk away.
Susan called out quickly, “Who’s the officer in charge, Staff Inspector?”
Drennan said, over his shoulder, “Detective Sergeant Nicholas Drumm. That’s all. Thank you.”
Susan asked her cameraman, “Did you get all that, Sam?”
The cameraman nodded. “Was that what I think it was?”
“Hanging some detective out to dry? Yes, I believe it was.”
Sam asked, “Ever heard of this Drumm guy?”
“Nope. Let’s see if we can track him down.”
Inside the building, Drumm and Lori Singh were standing in the kitchen chatting with Sue Oliver, an officer from the Sex Crimes unit. Drumm was standing drinking coffee with his back to the newly-installed television, which was mounted high up on a wall. Lori was watching the screen and she said suddenly, “Turn the volume up on that thing.” She pointed at the television.
When no one moved, she grabbed the remote herself and pointed it. Drumm turned to see Staff Inspector Harold Drennan onscreen, with Breaking News crawling across the bottom of the picture, repeating over and over. Breaking News….Riverwood Rapist…Arrest Imminent…Breaking News… Riverwood Rapist…Arrest Imminent.
“…the officer in charge, Staff Inspector?”
“Detective Sergeant Nicholas Drumm. That’s all. Thank you.”
Sue Oliver said, “Oh, my God.” Then she said to Drumm, “Never mind, Nick. Nobody watches CN24/7. Well, I don’t anyway.”
A voice came from a group of officers over by the window, “Geez, Nick. You could have told us you were such a star!” There was laughter.
The image of Susan Benitez filled the screen. She was standing outside with the York Police Services logo visible behind her. “Those were the words of Staff Inspector Harold Drennan a few moments ago. The story is that another sexual assault happened in the city some thirty-six hours ago, the sixth in the past few months, and once again the work of the so-called Riverwood Rapist. Staff Inspector Drennan assured us that the police are close to making an arrest. We hope to speak to the officer in charge
of the Riverwood investigation, Detective Sergeant Nicholas Drumm, shortly. In the meantime, Bev, I guess the message to the women of the city is: Good news, the guy will soon be behind bars. Back to you.”
Lori turned the television off and took Drumm by the arm. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” She followed Drumm back to his office.
“Geez, Louise,” she said as she flopped into a chair. “What did you ever do to him, Nick? To deserve that, I mean?”
Drumm sat carefully down in his chair. “You haven’t heard? I thought everybody knew.” When Lori shook her head, he said, “Drennan and I had a bit of a tussle some years back. I grabbed him and we scuffled a bit. There were some other cops about. I don’t think he liked it much.” He grinned at the memory. “I shouldn’t have done it.”
“So he’s getting back at you?”
“Looks like it.” His phone rang.
“Don’t get that!” she said. Lori leaned over and answered his phone herself. “Homicide.” She listened for a few seconds. “I’m afraid he’s not here at the moment. Leave me your name and number and I’ll give him the message.” She listened some more and wrote on his pad. “Right,” she said, and hung up.
She sat back in her chair and said, “Susan Benitez from Cable News 24/7. Will you call her back?”
Drumm smiled. “Not at this time, no.”
“There will be more,” Lori warned.
“There certainly will,” said Drumm. His phone rang again.
Lori went through the same routine as before. “That was the local CBC news station,” she said. She sat back again and asked, “What are you going to do?”
Drumm sighed. “Well, I could do what my teacher friends used to say. ‘When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.’ But I’m not in danger and I’m not in doubt, so I guess I’ll just go about my business and try to get this bastard.”
Lori looked at him sharply.
A Cuban Death Page 6