Unlawful Imprisonment

by Tracey Higgins

  “I don’t blame her.”

  “That’s not all.” Chris rubbed his temples and sighed. “She was a virgin.”

  Frank looked confused. “What?”

  “I asked her friends about any bad relationships she might have had and they said no. Kylie was a great student, never dated and she never had a sexual encounter, with anyone.”

  “Are they sure?”

  “These girls all grew up together so I’m sure they would know.”

  “Alright, but that still doesn’t mean anything.”

  “That’s what I thought, until I had a little talk with Crystal’s friends.”

  Frank put the pictures down and crossed his arms. “And?”

  “According to her close, personal friends, she was a virgin too.”

  They stared at each other in silence. Frank couldn’t believe it. “You think this guy is hunting for virgins?”

  “I don’t know, possibly.”

  “It could be just a coincidence.”

  “Maybe, maybe not.”

  “Okay, why don’t you talk to Mueller about this. I’m going out.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I am going to take Crystal’s photograph and stop along every place from her house to the college she was going to visit. Somebody had to see something.”

  “Good luck.”

  Frank Riser took a picture of Crystal Silverman that her parents had given to the police when they filed the missing persons report. He walked over to Maggie’s desk, where she was engrossed in her reports.

  “Hey, I’ll be out for a while.”

  “Do you have your pills?”

  “Yes mom.” He replied jokingly. “I’ll call you later.” Frank threw on his jacket and went to his car. Three blocks away from Crystal’s home was a deli and a shopping center. He went in and showed Crystal’s picture to every employee, but nobody remembered her. This is the only thing I can do at this point, he thought to himself as he was going from shop to shop. Frank drove around showing her picture for hours. He was on the edge of Millers County when he stopped at a diner. The waitress poured him a cup of coffee as he sat down.

  “No thanks, just water.” This sucks, he said to himself as he popped his medicine. The waitress was Margie. She was a heavyset woman with blond hair and black roots and was overly friendly.

  “Anything to eat honey?”

  “No thanks. Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m a homicide detective and I was wondering if you would remember seeing this woman at all?” He took out the picture and handed it to Margie.

  “Yes I remember her.”

  Frank’s heart was pounding. “You do?” He was shocked.

  “Yeah,” Margie was snapping her gum. She reminded Frank of a southern waitress that are in the movies. “She came in and was going over a map. She was lost and I tried to help her out, but I didn’t know where she was going.”

  “Was she with anybody?”

  “No, she came in by herself. But then there was a guy talking toher.”

  “What did he look like?”

  “I’m sorry honey but it was awhile ago. I know he was a cop.”

  “A cop?” Frank asked slowly.

  “Yeah.”

  “Jesus!”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Margie, you’re an angel. Thank you.” He left her twenty dollars and ran out. Frank felt like he was finally getting somewhere. He took off to see Captain Mueller and Chris. A cop, he couldn’t believe it. He knew this guy was not really a police officer, but just posing as one. Ted Bundy did similar things to get his victims. He used fake injuries to get women to help him. It was incredible how smart some of these criminals were. He also wanted to check the updated list of missing people. He could now assume that these were stranger abductions, and the victims did not know their attacker.

  Chapter 47

  It was hours before Tony got back. He walked into Andrea’s office, threw his leather jacket on a chair and sat down. He put his hands to his face and sighed.

  “Where’s John?”

  “I’ll buzz him.”

  Tony was staring at the ceiling while Andrea buzzedJohn. She didn’t know what to say. John ran in and shut the door. “Well?” John and Andrea asked.

  “Tony looked at the floor. “We have a big problem.”

  “Why?” she asked. “It can’t be any worse than what’s happened already.”

  “Yes it can.”

  “How worse?” John was leaning on Andrea’s desk.

  “Turns out, Reese never caused any trouble, but he did get his ass kicked by a gang. When they went after him again, his cellmate came to the rescue. Now, this is the kicker. David’s cellmate and only friend in New Stone was none other than Nicholas Miller, still wanted for the murder of his parole officer.”

  “Oh my God!” John looked like he was ready to pass out.

  “John, I want you to get me Miller’s file so I can go over it.”

  “I’ll go make a copy so I can go over it too.” John walked out and Tony came up to Andrea. “Are you alright?”

  “Yeah, I guess. This can’t go on forever.”

  “It won’t.” He smiled. “This will be over soon, I promise.”

  John went through the file as he was copying it to refresh his memory. He had never read the file all the way through, until the death of Tina Sterner. Miller was just another dirt bag who he had to pass on to someone to supervise. John had no idea he would take the life of one of his officers. His pre-sentence investigation report was unbelievable.

  DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION PRE-SENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT Name: Nicholas Robert Miller

  Date of Birth: May 15th, 1962

  Race: African American

  Height: 6’2

  Weight: 240 pounds

  Eyes: brown

  Hair: black. At the time of his arrest he was bald. Marital Status: single

  Work History: construction for one year after his

  release from county jail

  Military: none

  Education: one and a half-year of college,

  psychology Family: none. Offender has spent most of his adolescence in foster care

  Living Arrangements: had his own apartment

  Charges Pending: none

  Offense: rape in the first degree

  Plea: not guilty

  Prior Offenses: trespassing

  Harassment

  Time Served: Juvenile Hall – two years Shock Incarceration – similar to boot camp

  County Jail– six months

  Date of Arrest: July 2nd, 1987

  Arresting Officer: Sam Roberts

  Bail: denied

  Prosecuting Attorney: William Collins

  Defense Attorney: Daniel Simmons

  Presiding Judge: Jason Corona

  DEFENDANT’S VERSION OF OFFENSE:

  On July 2nd 1987, Nicholas Robert Miller claims he was on a date with Miss Tanya Banks. He admits having sexual intercourse with her, but insists he did not do it forcibly. They were at her home and after they had sex he left to see a friend. As soon as he got home, the police were there waiting for him.

  VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT:

  He acted as if I was enjoying myself. It was terrifying. The more I said no, the more excited he became. But, this statement is not about the crime; it’s about how this violation has affected my life. I now have to go for AIDS testing regularly. Six weeks after the rape, I learned I was pregnant. have an abortion, so overwhelming. I never want to see that animal again. I hope and pray that he will receive the maximum sentence for rape. Although, I doubt it would be enough to make me feel safe.

  PROBATION OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

  Although Mr. Miller seems sincere in his plea of innocence, I do not recommend probation. Due to his previous record and shaky family situation as a child, I recommend incarceration as well as intense counseling. He carries himself well and is extremely intelligent. I
feel that the victim’s wish for Nicholas Robert Miller to be sentenced to the maximum amount allotted by law is a more than reasonable request and should be carried out. Mr. Miller not serving the maximum penalty would be the biggest crime of all.

  John was so disgusted with the system. This asshole’s own probation officer wanted him in prison for as long as possible and he gets paroled.

  I thought my only way out was to I did it. The guilt has been Buddy went to the basement early in the evening. First, he put a new tape in the camcorder then put his mask and gloves on. Dina shuttered when he sat next to her.

  “I missed you. You still look a little drowsy, so I’m going to turn you over now.”

  He wasn’t wearing his gloves. Dina couldn’t put up a fight because of the intense pain she was in. He removed the straps and noticed a wet spot on the bed when he turned her over. He was immediately outraged.

  “Shit!” His voice echoed in her head. She was trying to figure out what he was doing. Her blindfold was left on as well. Dina heard him go across the room and come back seconds later. She heard water splashing around and suddenly he was straddling her. She tried to move, but couldn’t. He was starting to calm down.

  “This is our fault. We should have known you wouldn’t have been able to hold it. I guess I’ll just have to come see you more often.” He ran his fingers along the side of her face. The water was cold and he was washing her all over. He turned her over and washed her back and paid special attention between her legs. He then dried her off roughly.

  “I’ll have to put you on the floor for a few minutes.”

  He picked Dina up and laid her on the cold floor and proceeded to clean off the sheet. He would have to take it off the bed and let it dry. “Okay,” he said as he put her back on the bed, “all done.” He wanted Dina on her back. He cuffed her hands to the bedpost and did the same with her ankles.

  “I’m sorry, but since you wet the bed I have no choice but to use the cuffs.” Dina still wasn’t putting up a struggle.

  “What’s wrong with you today? I think I have something to wake you up.” He took out a vibrator. He was very impressed with himself for thinking of it. Dina started to move around when she heard the noise.

  “Relax. Believe me, this isn’t going to hurt. Would you rather I hurt you?” She was silent. He removed the gag and she screamed.

  “PLEASE STOP! PLEASE LET ME GO!” He was thrilled to hear her beg. He began tormenting her with the vibrator, first on her breasts, then her thighs. She was putting up a fight the best she could.

  “DON”T!”

  “I knew you would like this.” He said as he slid the vibrator inside her and left it there while he masturbated. When he was through, he removed his toy from her and put the gag on and left. The tears were falling from behind it and she was left there once again for another day alone, until the other guy came back. Tabitha was in for a major confrontation. Daniel Marks, a parolee of hers for three months was arrested for the rape of a thirteen year old girl. She was called in the afternoon to come to the police station. The young girl’s brother was there and stormed up to her as soon as he heard her name.

  “Are you the parole officer?”

  She was nervous. “Yes I am.”

  “Thanks for doing your job!” All heads turned when he screamed. “Why weren’t you supervising him!”

  “Sir, we can’t follow them around twenty fours a day. I’m so sorry…”

  “Don’t give me you’re sorry. Let me tell you something if that asshole doesn’t get convicted, you’re gonna be sorry!”

  With that, he left. Tabitha was petrified. She went to the ladies room and waited for the others to leave. In the stall she broke down and cried. She knew that was the end of her career.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Andrea and Tony were sitting on the couch with the television on, knowing neither of them was going to get much sleep. Tony threw the file on the coffee table.

  “What an asshole this guy is.”

  “You’re surprised?”

  “Not really, I just didn’t know what else to say.” “Ha, ha!”

  “You know,” Tony started pacing the floor, “why

  would he hang around here after he killed his parole officer?” “Tony,” she said matter of factly while trying not to yawn, “you were a cop. It’s hard, if not impossible to find anybody who doesn’t want to be found, if they’re smart. Apparently, this Nicholas character is very clever.”

  “He maybe in on this with David, so here’s what I’m going to do.”

  “Oh God.” She sighed.

  “I’ll stake out Reese’s house.”

  “From where?”

  “I drove past there from your apartment the other

  night. There’s an office building across the street and the third floor is vacant. If I notice anything…” “That’s enough. I don’t want to know what you have planned if you notice anything.” He smiled like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar.

  "Don’t worry. I’ll let John know right away. Besides, I am allowed to make an arrest.”

  “I know, just don’t be so quick to do anything.” “I won’t.”

  Andrea knew that David had to be the obvious

  person who sent those notes. But it didn’t sit right with her. John was on his way to see David when he ran into Andrea in the elevator. “Hi, I’m on my way to pay David a visit. Did you come here by yourself?”

  “No.” Andrea threw back her long hair that she didn’t bother to put up. “Tony dropped me off. He’s going to watch David’s house today.”

  “Ah! Well, he’s about to see me there. Make sure you don’t go out.”

  “John, I have visits to make.”

  “I told you not to worry about that.”

  “Trust me…”

  “No!” He commanded. “Paper work and phone calls are enough. Understand?”

  “Yes. I’ll see you when you get back.”

  “Okay, it will be awhile. I’m going to make some of your visits.”

  “Okay, if you insist. Just don’t visit Michelle Parker.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’ll call her myself. She’s pregnant and I think she feels more comfortable with me.”

  John rolled his eyes. “It never ends, does it?”

  “Never. See you later.”

  “Bye.”

  While Andrea was walking to her office, she was relieved that she didn’t see Brandon or Michael. She did not have the energy to deal with either of them. Tabitha came to Andrea’s office as soon as she heard what happened.

  “Hi Andrea, how are you doing?”

  “I’m hanging in there.”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “No but thanks. Believe me, John is covering every base. Now I get to sit at a desk all day.”

  “I wish I was.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Tabby sat down and shook her head. “I’m quitting.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. I will be giving John my resignation soon.”

  Andrea didn’t need to ask why. “It’s gotten to that point, huh?”

  “Yes.” Tabitha’s eyes started to well up with tears. “Look I have to go.” She couldn’t look up at Andrea. “Good luck. I won’t say anything to John.”

  “Thanks.” Before Andrea could say anything else, Tabby was gone.

  Chapter 50

  Maggie had so much work to do that she didn’t realize the time. It was already almost ten o’clock when she heard Frank. She could see the gleam of hope in his eyes as he dashed past her desk. He didn’t even bother to get Chris. Instead, he immediately went to his computer and pulled up the missing person’s file. Maggie went over to his desk and looked over his shoulder.

  “Frank, where have you been? Did you find anything?”

  “Yes, I would like to know what you found out too.” Christopher came up in front of him. He was aggravated with Frank for not calling him all day while he
was out. “The ADA would also like to know what’s going on. He personally put me in charge of this investigation and left you on as a favor for the Captain. When he called this afternoon, I had to tell him that I had no idea where you were, or when you would be back. Do you know how that makes me look?”

  Maggie rolled her eyes and held back her laughter.

  “And what the hell were you doing all day?” Frank snapped back.

  “Alright you two.” Maggie said. “Frank, what happened?”

  “Are you on this case?” Chris asked Maggie sarcastically.

  “Chris, get off her back. Do you want to know whatI found out or not?”

  Captain Mueller came out of his office and walked to Frank’s desk. He didn’t say a word.

  “Yes.” He sighed while looking over at the Captain.

  “I stopped at a diner towards the school Crystal was going to visit. The waitress remembered her. She said Crystal was lost and a cop was helping her with a map. She may have left with him.”

  “Shit, a cop!” Chris was disgusted.

  “No way.” Maggie was shaking her head.

  Frank popped his pain medication. “Right. He was most likely posing as a cop. This guy is not stupid; far from it, actually.”

  Chris crossed his arms. “So where does that leave us?”

  “We are going to look at the most recent list of missing women and interview the families.”

  Chris was annoyed. “Shouldn’t we be concentrating on the two dead women Frank?”

  “No.” Frank gritted his teeth. “That’s what this asshole wants. He wants us to run around like idiots trying to find clues that aren’t there. He wants us to look for footprints and fingerprints that don’t exist, and stare at crime scene pictures all day. Crystal was reported missing about two weeks prior to her death. He probably already has another woman. If we can go through the list and investigate the missing women who fit Kylie and Crystal’s profiles, maybewe can track him down.”

  “But what about Kylie? She was missing for a little over a month.”

  Captain Mueller continued to stay out of the conversation.

  “Crystal would have been held for the same amount of time as Kylie if it wasn’t for her asthma.”

  “How do you know?”