by Woods, Karen
The detective nodded. “That’s a question that bothers me. I don’t like coincidences.”
“Neither do I, especially when they relate to my life,” she answered. “But, this doesn’t feel like coincidence. It’s more like enemy action.”
Detective Matthews dialed out on his cell phone. Geri excused herself and went to the kitchen. She was in dire need of a bathroom break, a jolt of caffeine, and a dose of aspirin, not necessarily in that order.
Geri returned a few minutes later, pushing a tea trolley loaded with cups, a carafe of coffee, and some of Mrs. Henderson’s homemade white chocolate and macadamia cookies. The room became suspiciously silent as she walked in. “Okay, guys, spill it!”
“This is Brooks’ picture from the Navy’s files,” Bradford said as he handed the fax to Geri.
It wasn’t the best of copies, but it was identifiable.
“That’s the man who worked in my office on Tuesday,” Geri told them.
The detective said, “I just spoke to the plastic surgeon. The doctor says Albert had a computer graphic of how he wanted to look when everything was done. He faxed us the before and after pictures of Albert, as well as the initial computer graphic. It looks like Albert took Brooks’ picture to the doctor as an example of what he wanted to look like.”
“Well, he always was both smart and devious,” she said. “I don’t like the implications of what he is obviously planning. A person doesn’t have himself made to look like another without planning to replace the other person, temporarily or permanently.”
“Which means, he probably killed Brooks, dumped the body somewhere out of the way, and took his place. Or is planning to do so sometime in the near future,” Josh stated.
“Or just wants us to think that he is, and all of this is misdirection. I’ve played chess with this man. His mind tends to layer strategies in the most Byzantine fashion,” Geri said.
“Gee, that’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Brad teased.
“Isn’t it, though?” she answered as she rubbed her neck. “I don’t like this. He’s hacked into the computer system. I don’t like that at all, even knowing that all of the files relating to development and accounting are kept on an intranet system which is totally in house with no outside access and no easy way of linking the intranet to the internet. I really don’t like this.”
“We’ll have Brooks’ dental records. We’ll get Albert’s. And we’ll have both men’s fingerprints. If he shows his face again, he’ll be detained until we can prove his identity, one way or the other,” Josh stated.
“He’s not stupid,” Geri mused. Then she added, “But, he also isn’t in California. He was out at the cemetery this morning watching them dig Momma’s coffin up.”
The detective shook his head. “Do you realize just how this sounds?”
“Crazy?” Geri offered.
“Putting it mildly,” he agreed.
“Find a better model,” Geri said, “and I’m open to considering almost anything else where all the pieces fit.”
“We look at situations and ask ourselves, ‘Who profits?’ Right now, I’d say that you have turned out to be the big winner,” the detective offered. “You, by all appearances, have landed in the catbird seat. Texas is a community property state. Even if you divorce, you have been considerably enriched by this marriage.”
Geri fought her growing anger. She rubbed the back of her neck. The headache was growing much worse by the second. She was certain, now, she was going to be dreadfully ill. She didn’t quite mask her anger with her cold tone, “It doesn’t fit.”
“Why doesn’t it?” the detective asked.
“Why are you playing this mind game with me?” Geri demanded.
“Just tell me why it isn’t a good theory,” the detective insisted.
“First, I’ve not been away from the area since two years ago at Christmas, when Brad, my Mother, and I went skiing in Oregon. I couldn’t have had anything to do with the death of my friends. Second, Josh and I have a pre-nuptial agreement providing that if I ever walk away from this marriage then I will do so with nothing more than I possessed when I entered the marriage. Incidentally, those possessions were limited to my retirement investment accounts, some family heirlooms, and a pile of debt consisting of my mother’s medical bills. That pre-nuptial agreement extends to my being widowed under any causes which aren’t clearly natural. The only ‘profit’ to me from this marriage is personal and not tangible. So, there goes your profit motive.”
“Not necessarily,” the detective replied after a moment. “While you are still a party to the marriage, you will be provided for in what can only be described as luxurious circumstances. People have done stranger things for money and comfort.”
Geri shrugged. “The theory is wrong. It doesn’t fit. I didn’t kill my friends or send these gifts to myself, and while I could have set up a remote system to place the phone calls, I didn’t do that. Do you really think I stole my mother’s body, blew up my car, blew up my apartment, and then tried to blow up Brad’s office, after sending you a fax? Come on, it doesn’t make sense.”
“We don’t know that the deaths of your friends are related. If we discard the Albert as suspect theory, then there is relatively no connection,” the detective offered.
“And I suppose that you’d also dismiss the fact that Albert now wears a face of an employee in the company which is my employer?” she challenged.
The detective shook his head negatively. “No. I can’t dismiss that.”
Brad looked at the detective. “You aren’t serious about this theory Geri could be behind this?”
“She asked for another model,” the detective said. “For now, the ‘Albert as suspect’ theory best fits the situation. Some detectives make up their minds about a case at the offset and try to make the evidence fit. They are the same people who like to keep a picture of what the completed jigsaw puzzle should look like on the table in front of them while they’re working the puzzle. Me, I dump the pieces, never look at the picture of the completed puzzle, and begin working. I let the theory jell on its own, as it will.”
“God,” Geri whispered as she closed her eyes.
Josh went to his wife. “Geri?”
She looked at her husband. “This is a game to him. He keeps talking about how I’m not going to beat him. I think it’s time I started playing offensively.”
“What do you want to do?” Josh asked.
“Don’t you think it is time to turn up the heat on him?” she asked. “I can borrow a hundred thousand dollars from my 401K by the end of the week. I hadn’t wanted to touch that money. But, it would make a nice reward for information leading to his conviction. Don’t you think?”
Brad cleared his throat. “Do you really think a conviction is possible?”
She shook her head negatively. “No. He’ll convince everyone that he’s crazy, again. He’s good at doing that. But, the man’s not insane. He knows what he is doing. He’s simply a sociopath, twisted beyond all redemption. The best thing for the long run is he will resist arrest, be shot, and be pronounced dead on the scene or on arrival. That would put him out of everyone’s misery, permanently.”
Josh placed his arm around her waist.
She continued, “More realistically, he’ll likely go back into a psychiatric institution, being found incompetent to stand trial.”
Brad laughed. “You’ve always been tight with a dollar, Gee. But, this is almost beyond the pale.”
“Oh, I’m willing to pay the reward. More than willing,” she replied with feeling. “I just don’t think I’ll have to.”
“Keep your money, Geri. I’ll make the reward a million dollars,” Josh advised.
She sighed. “A million dollars is more money than most people can imagine. A hundred thousand will seem more real to most people and will get a bigger response.”
“Sweetheart, I understand, and do not share, your opinion. This is the way it’s going to be,” Josh told her
in a gentle tone.
She looked at him for a long moment and shrugged. “If that’s what you think is best.”
Ray looked at his friend. “Are you serious about a million dollar reward for the capture and conviction of this man?”
Josh nodded tightly. “Personally, I would be quite happy to make that reward ‘Dead or alive’. But, that would raise eyebrows, even in Texas. So, I’ll settle for the other. The word will go out to the press tomorrow.”
The detective shook his head negatively. “I wish that you wouldn’t offer that reward. We don’t have the manpower to handle the kind of tip volume that a reward like that would generate. You will be making it nearly impossible for us to do our jobs. I’m asking you both to let us handle this, and not to talk to the press. Let us have a chance of catching this man before he moves against her again.”
Ray, the sheriff, concurred, “For what it’s worth, Josh, I agree with Detective Matthews.”
“Okay. It goes against the grain not to do something actively to speed Albert’s capture. But, I understand your concerns that it may not be in our best interest to offer the reward right now,” Josh agreed. “We’ll lay relatively low for a few days, at least.”
“Josh,” Geri offered, “we have to do something to put him at a tactical disadvantage, to put him on the defensive. If he’s put under pressure, he’ll make enough mistakes to let us get him.”
“His photo and a description of his crimes are going out to the press later today,” Detective Matthews said. “We’ll do what we can to keep this a high profile case. Believe me, there is going to be pressure on him. Let’s keep the reward offer back until we need it to refocus public attention on this. It will be more effective then.”
Geri sighed. “I hate this.”
Ray nodded. “It’s better this way.”
“Gentlemen, is there anything else you need to discuss with me?” she asked. When everyone said no, Geri said, “Then, if you will excuse me.”
“Gee,” Brad asked, “do you have your migraine pills?”
“No. The bottle was in my apartment medicine cabinet,” she dismissed.
“Do you need to have a prescription filled, Sweetheart?” Josh demanded.
“The migraines haven’t been a major problem for almost ten years. I’ve kept the prescription active only as a precaution. I really need to go stretch and unwind,” she explained. “The headache will go away if I can only force myself to relax.”
“Do you have a refill remaining?” Josh demanded. “Can we call the pharmacy and have it refilled for you? Or do I need to get a doctor to give you another prescription?”
“I don’t have the script number,” she replied. “But, there should be a refill remaining.”
“Which pharmacy?” Josh demanded.
“Anyone ever tell you, husband, you have the distinct tendency to be overbearing, demanding, and a general pain in the butt?”
Josh smiled at her. “You’ve had ten years to come to know my character defects and you still agreed to marry me. Now, which pharmacy?”
Geri sighed. “I’ll make the call.” She picked up her cellphone and found the pharmacy number on her phone book. She played handball, occasionally, with the pharmacist. They had served together on the Bishop’s Committee at Church. “This is Geri Erikson. Let me speak to Becky, okay?… Becky, Geri… No, I didn’t stick around for coffee after Church on Sunday. I’m staying pretty well away from crowds of people at the moment as a safety precaution… It hasn’t been fun. Listen, I’ve should have a script on file for migraines… Sure, check…I know it’s not due for refill yet, but it was in the medicine cabinet at my apartment…Yeah. I’m sorry, too. But, at least, I’m alive and relatively uninjured, that’s more than I can say for over thirty other people…Could you refill the script for me?…No, I’ll send someone to pick it up. You’ve got my insurance on file and just charge the card I used last time…No, I forgot it expired. I’ll send someone with cash to pay for this…Okay, Beck. Thanks. We’ll talk later. Bye.”
“Happy?” she asked Josh as she replaced the phone in the cradle.
“At least, you’re taking care of yourself,” Josh replied, his voice low. “Even if I had to be a ‘pain in the butt’ to get you to do it. Which pharmacy? I’ll send one of the men in to get it.”
She told him the pharmacy name and address. “I’ll be in the gym, trying to work off some tension. If that doesn’t work, I’ll be in the spa.”
* * *
Josh looked at the law enforcement people after Geri left. “Is there anything else?”
Ray said, “We’re as close as a phone call. If either of you need anything.”
“Thanks for coming out,” Josh told them. “I’ve got to go check on my wife.”
“Oh, and thanks for inviting your friends to your wedding,” Ray teased.
“Geri wanted to keep it small, simple, and private.”
“Very private, or so I hear from the buzz around the court house. You didn’t even bother with a minister,” Ray stated.
Brad interjected, “Their families were here. And there is a minister who will bless the marriage, as soon as things calm down enough to make it safe to invite their friends to help them celebrate. This is a legal marriage.”
Josh chuckled. “Ray, do you really think I was going to give her a chance to change her mind by waiting for a license and a big Church wedding? Besides, we couldn’t afford to give Albert any advance notice. Can you imagine what a bloodbath he could have created at a Church wedding?”
Ray nodded.
Josh sighed. “Besides, it was difficult enough convincing her to marry me, at all. Waiting would have been courting disaster by letting her rethink her agreement to my proposal. Since when do I look like a fool to you?”
Ray laughed. He stood and extended his hand to Josh. “You never have. Best of luck, Josh. I’m just sorry you had to start your marriage under this cloud.”
“That makes two of us. The sooner Albert is caught, the better I’ll like it,” Josh replied.
“We’ll do our best,” Ray pledged.
“Let’s just hope that’s good enough,” Josh replied.
Brad spoke urgently to Josh, when everyone else had gone, “Her headaches are disabling. I’ve seen her be unable to lift her head or even open her eyes because the pain was so bad. She needs that medicine whether she wants to take it or not. I understand why she doesn’t like to take it—one pill and she’s out cold for several hours. Gee doesn’t like to be that out of control. She’ll take a lot of pain before she resorts to the pills.”
Chapter Thirteen
Josh stood with Brad at the doorway to the gym and watched as Geri mercilessly pummeled the kicking bag with her bare feet.
“Lord, woman!” Josh teased. “You don’t have to tear down the place with your own feet. If you don’t like the house, we’ll build another. It’s just a house.”
Geri turned around. There were tears in her eyes. She blinked them back, but not before he saw them.
He crossed the room to her and took her into his arms. She went willingly, desperately, into his embrace.
“We’ll deal with this, honey,” he assured her.
“At least we have a face to go with the name now,” she replied, her voice tight. “It’s something.”
“We’ll get him.”
“I wish I could believe that,” she said. “That face of his is relatively neutral, pleasant but not striking. There are dozens of ways that he could easily change his appearance and pass unnoticed. With his face publicized, he’s going to take on a different persona. It won’t be difficult. Color his hair, put on glasses, grow a beard or mustache. He can easily change his looks.”
He kissed her forehead. “He’ll trip himself up.”
Brad said, “We need to bury Aunt Gina as soon as the M.E.’s office releases the body. I’ve talked with Padre.”
“So have I,” Geri replied.
Brad added, “When the body is released, we’
ll bury her with the proper rites.”
Geri rubbed her neck, then did some slow neck circles. “Yes. We’ll handle it.”
“Headache still bad?” Josh asked.
“Yes.”
“Go on up. Take a long hot soak, then I’ll be up when your pills arrive.”
“I don’t want to take those things,” she stated.
“I know,” Josh said. “But, you need to.”
“I won’t take the pills, Josh. The headache isn’t that bad.”
“Translated,” Brad interjected, “she can still see and while the head really hurts, she can still hold herself upright. I’ve seen times she couldn’t do either.”
“Brad, please,” Geri begged in frustration and pain. “Lay off.”
“Damnit, Gee,” Brad replied in frustration. “You’ve never taken good enough care of yourself and you still aren’t. Come on, Gerianne Evelyn, shape up!”
“I’m doing the best that I can do, Bradford Edmund. Get off my back.”
Her cousin shook his head. “Gee, I’m not trying to upset you. I just hate to see you in so much pain.”
“I know,” she acknowledged with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“How often do you have these headaches?” Josh asked.
“Not often, anymore,” she replied. “I haven’t had a full blown headache in two years, not since the week Momma came to live with me. The headaches were a lot worse right after I woke up from the coma. They have occurred less frequently over the last ten years. Stress tends to trigger the headaches, but I can usually get them under control without the medicine.”
Josh looked at her in concern. “Well, wife, then it’s my job to eliminate stress from your life.”
Geri dismissed, “Right. We’re going to spend the rest of our lives locked away from the world.”
“That’s not a bad idea actually. We could go away for a while,” Josh offered. “No one would fault us for taking a wedding trip. We could go somewhere and relax for a few weeks.”
“I won’t run away. Albert would just follow us. Or he’d wait for us to return. I won’t hide here. Today has been extraordinary. Starting tomorrow, we’re back in the office full time. I won’t give him the satisfaction of rearranging my life.”