by Casey Hill
The trio sat in silence around the table for a moment. Then Rob continued, “I tried to talk to him again this morning. Of course he was pissed off at me for losing my temper with him last night, and wouldn’t say much beyond insisting that he didn’t get a good look at the two guys in the bedroom.I asked him to tell me again what had happened. He repeated the same story as last night — almost word for word.”
Reilly looked at him. “You suspect it’s rehearsed,” she stated.
He nodded. “I do.”
Faye looked from Reilly to Rob. “Why? What do you mean?”
“Normal memory has built-in glitches,” Reilly explained. “Our brains don’t have automatic backup, like a CPU. Every time we bring forth a memory and examine it, we change it slightly even if we don’t mean to. We then have to re-remember the entire scenario all over again — except now it’s slightly different. And that happens every time a memory resurfaces or we tell someone about it.”
Nodding in agreement, Rob continued. “Unless it’s what’s called a 'Flashbulb Memory,” which is usually attached to a traumatic event, or a complete memorization of something unchanging, we tend to shift things around when we recall, then re-remember them. It’s one reason why memories we bring forth from long ago change and fade with time, and why you may suddenly remember something from long ago so clearly if it’s the first time you’ve thought of it in ages,” he added.
Faye was contemplative. “So basically what you’re saying is, if a person’s testimony of an event doesn’t shift or change even a little each time they relate it, then it’s likely their testimony is memorized? And not a recitation of actual events.”
“Exactly.” Rob nodded.
“But why would Jake do that?” Faye asked. “He’s got to know he’s going to get caught if he’s lying. He’s an Academy trainee for crying out loud.”
“Maybe not for long,” Rob muttered exasperated. “In order for this to make sense, I perhaps I need to give you a little background. Jake is my sister’s son, and was a problem kid since his parents divorced when he was ten. Pretty much all of it was stupid, like getting drunk and fighting. He didn’t really mess with drugs I guess because he saw the trouble they cause, and he knew he would never have a career in law enforcement if he started messing around with that stuff. But the one thing that always interested in him was my job, and he had a fascination with the FBI.”
“Wait a second,” Faye interrupted again, “you mean to tell me that being in the Bureau is Jake’s lifelong dream? Then why on earth would he jeopardize it by withholding information about a serious incident, especially when he’s so close to graduating?” She looked at Rob. “So he has somewhat of a track record for making poor choices, but doesn’t this strike you as odd? Why would he even risk it?”
“Then we have the issue of the vodka,” Reilly mused, her heart racing as she understood the implications.
“Exactly.” Crichton smiled approvingly at her. “Nice catch Ms Steel. That sharp nose of yours is seriously proving useful.”
Faye was confused. “What nose? What vodka?”
Reilly quickly explained her findings from the night before, and how she’d zeroed in on the fact that one vodka bottle in particular had seemed awry. She was right to be suspicious; the alcohol had been watered down or indeed emptied and refilled with water, evidently by Jake. But why pretend to be drinking vodka, never mind make a witness statement in a serious police investigation admitting as much when he obviously hated the stuff? Clearly he had something to hide.
Crichton’s tone was muted as he confirmed her suspicions. “For whatever reason, my nephew seems to be covering something up. And I’m worried it’s going to mean the end of his career.”
Chapter 8
Later that day, Rob headed straight to Jake’s apartment.
His nephew had insisted on getting his own place off-campus, despite Rob’s offer of free room and board. “Free room and board from you isn’t free,” was Jake’s response and thinking about it now, Rob realized he had probably been right. Still it seemed his intentions in keeping an eye on Jake from the outset might have been the best idea.
Arriving at the apartment building and finding his nephew’s car parked in its usual spot, Rob parked in a visitor slot out of the line of sight of Jake’s unit.
He climbed the stairs to the second-floor apartment. Jake used to have a roommate, a guy he knew from college, but Brian had since quit the Academy and moved out a few months before. He knocked on the door and waited for a response.
Given last night’s confrontation, Rob thought he might have to coerce Jake into letting him in, so he was extremely surprised when his nephew opened the door. Shutting and locking it behind him, he gripped his uncle in a hug and said, “Am I glad to see you.”
Puzzled and concerned, Rob pulled back. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
Jake laughed mirthlessly and shook his head. “Did anyone see you come here? Did you notice any police patrols around?”
“No, of course not. What are you talking about? You’re making me nervous. What’s going on?”
Jake led Rob into the living room. Both of them sat on the couch, and Jake leaned close, his voice low as he said, “Remember last night when I told you that I saw the guys fighting but didn’t recognize them then went downstairs, and heard a thud?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s not exactly what happened ….”
Rob looked at him. “I didn’t think so.”
Jake paled. “What tipped you off?”
“The vodka bottle, for one thing. In the witness statement, you said that you took it with you to the bathroom, but you didn’t mention bringing it back downstairs. Yet we found it in the dining room. That and the fact that it didn’t contain vodka.”
Jake looked terrified. “We? Who else knows about this? Mayridge?”
“Relax. One of the new trainees, Steel. I asked her to look over some of the evidence last night since she was first on the scene . . .”
“Oh yeah, I know her. Bit prim and proper if you ask me…”
“Obviously talented too because she figured out your vodka lie from the get-go,” Rob interjected and Jake looked chastened. “Let’s get back to what you said before,” he continued. “What was all that business last night — especially you pretending to be drunk in front of everyone and when the police were taking your statement?”
Jake swallowed hard and cleared his throat, “You said the vodka bottle in the evidence gave me away. Do you think anyone else noticed I wasn’t really drunk?”
“Jake you’re worrying me. Tell me what’s going on.”
“OK – the reason I forgot about the bottle is because I was too busy faking being drunk, and how I only half-noticed the guys fighting.” He sighed. “But actually, I did see something.”
Rob was horrified. “Then why the hell didn’t you tell the police?”
Jake’s tone grew serious. “Because here’s the thing – I think the police may be involved.”
Rob sat back on the couch, mystified. After a long moment he finally asked, “Who?”
“I don’t know. Last night, I didn’t actually get a close look at any of the cops’ faces to compare. But as I was passing by the two guys fighting, I noticed that one of them — not the guy who fell — was wearing shoes that looked awfully familiar — standard issue police shoes. Then I heard a radio on one of them. It was turned down really low, but I know what a cop radio sounds like.”
Rob nodded in agreement; Jake had been San Diego PD prior to acceptance in the Academy so would easily recognize both the shoes and the radio.
“I guess I was just so focused on getting out of there without being seen or heard, I forgot about the bottle when I gave the report. And after I realized a cop might be involved, I was pretty freaked out.”
“Yes, but why pretend to be drunk in front of Mayridge and co?” This part was still puzzling Rob.
“How was I supposed to know if one of them h
ad been the guy upstairs?”
“But you’d have known if a cop was at the party surely? Everyone would have.”
“Not if he’d been there out of uniform, then changed his clothes or maybe took off his jacket when the police officially arrived.”
Rob’s mind was reeling. “Are you absolutely sure about this Jake? If one of Mayridge’s people are involved…”
“We don’t know that yet. Like I said, I don’t know much at all, other than something about that setup last night wasn’t right. Please Rob, don’t do anything until I get a chance to work this out for myself. If that guy, cop or not finds out that I wasn’t really drunk and might know what he looks like…”
“Well, what did he look like? You said in your witness report, tall dark-haired and dark clothed with a craggy face …” Rob knew most of the local force very well, and this didn’t ring any bells for any of the guys he was familiar with. Still, given Jake’s suspicions about police involvement and his worries about his non-drunkenness being exposed, he was now even more worried for his nephew.
Jake shrugged. “That part I wasn’t lying about. But it was dark and the room was full of shadows. All I can tell you is the guy didn’t seem like a student. He was definitely older.”
“OK. Come stay at my house until all this blows over. I promise you, I won’t hassle you.”
Jake looked at him. “But won’t it look suspicious if I just all of a sudden go stay at your place?”
“Just say you can’t afford your apartment any more since Brian left.”
“But my buddies know that’s not true.”
“So tell them you’re trying to save money.”
Jake barked a laugh. “They’ll know that’s not true, for sure. It doesn’t sound like me.”
Rob had to smile, despite himself. “OK. Tell them it’s me. Tell them I’m ragging on you to stop spending your dough when you can live for free while you wait for your assignment after graduation.”
Jake almost did a double-take. “You actually believe I’ll graduate?” he said with dry humor.
Rob clapped him on the shoulder. “Of course you’ll graduate. It’s in the family. Now get some stuff together. We’re going to my place.”
While Jake gathered his belongings, Rob called Reilly and asked her to refrain from mentioning the vodka bottle discrepancy to anyone for the moment, or the fact that Jake wasn’t as drunk as he’d appeared. She agreed, but he could tell she was puzzled and he resolved to explain all when he could. So far she’d proven sharp as a tack and he wanted her on Jake’s side.
Jake reappeared with a suitcase, and they left together in Rob’s car. That way, anyone driving by the apartment would assume he was home. Since Jake seemed especially fearful of his safety, Rob insisted on mounting a tiny spy camera at the entrance to Jake’s apartment and another inside, just in case any unexpected ‘visitors’ stopped by. They would monitor the feed on a laptop from his house.
On the ride over, he filled his nephew in on Faye’s and Reilly’s involvement and the reasons for it, including Reilly’s keen sense of smell and incisive analysis of the vodka bottle.
“Grade-A student, huh. So that’s what tipped you off that I wasn’t really drunk?”
“It certainly made me even more suspicious of your forgetting the detail about taking the bottle to the john with you. Seems like the smelling thing is pretty unique to Steel though - I doubt anyone else will catch it.” Though it would be interesting to see if local forensics did catch it — if not, it suggested Reilly Steel would be one valuable addition for any crime scene investigative team.
At home, Rob phoned Reilly from his land-line and asked her if she and Faye wouldn’t mind coming over to his house for a discussion. The only reason Jake agreed to keep the girls involved was the realization that the others were already aware of his lie, not to mention the fact that he and Rob needed a trustworthy neutral third party to keep them grounded, and perhaps pick up any information they might miss by being so close to the situation. They couldn’t trust the police or anyone else until they found out more.
Booting up the PC, Rob showed Jake how to scan the camera file for activity in the vicinity of his apartment as well as the live feed. Jake scanned the brief time frame they’d been on the road, but found nothing, so he switched to the feed. Since there was little movement along the passageway in front of his place, he knew he could watch the feed out of the corner of his eye while talking with his uncle and the others.
It didn’t take long for Reilly and Faye to arrive at the house. Jake noticed that Reilly in particular looked very surprised and once again not best pleased to see him. Still she greeted him politely and the three seated themselves at the island in the kitchen. Rob had arranged for some meats, cheeses, crackers and other snacks and they all opted for caffeinated sodas.
Once they were settled, Jake retold all that had happened at the party. “I did see the suspect’s face, but I didn’t recognize him as anyone I’d seen before. I’ve thought about it a lot since last night, and I don’t recall seeing him at the party beforehand either, so I’m thinking he showed up later and snuck in somehow without anyone noticing.” He looked at his uncle. “Then, like I told Rob, I wondered if he just blended in with the police afterwards. And I know he got a good look at me, but I don’t know if he knows my name or that I’m an academy recruit — yet anyway.” He paused a moment, then continued, “So basically, I spent as much time at the drinking game as possible because I was keeping an eye on this girl I like. It was about an hour and a half after the party started, and I needed a bathroom break, so I went to the downstairs bathroom, but it was occupied, so I went upstairs. There was a long hallway to my right leading to several doors, and a short hallway on my left leading to the master bedroom. I figured a house like this had an on-suite bath in the master, so I decided to go there because it was closer. I went into the bathroom, did my thing and washed my hands, and when I came out, there were these two guys in the bedroom. I guess they didn’t realize I was in there. I looked at them as I came out, and they looked at me like I was interrupting something. I had a bad feeling about the whole thing, so I decided to act like I was drunk so maybe they’d think I wouldn’t remember them.”
Faye nodded. ‘Well, you sure had me fooled last night.” Somewhat sheepishly, she added, “I thought you were a buffoon.”
Jake laughed mirthlessly. “Good. I’m hoping everyone did, because a buffoon makes a terrible witness.” After a brief pause, he continued, “After I pretended to stumble out of the bedroom and down the stairs, I paused by the bottom of the stairwell to listen. The drinking game was rowdy at this point, so I couldn’t make out any words, but I could hear the men’s voices upstairs. They sounded strained and angry, like they were having an argument but trying to keep it down. Their voices got louder, and then I heard grunting, like they were fighting. I heard a couple things get knocked over, then a few thuds in the room, some more struggling and grunting, then a really loud thud that sounded like it came from the back of the house. I rushed out to the patio and found our victim on the ground, not moving. I didn’t want to touch anything, and I was worried about the doer maybe still being nearby, so I started hollering for help. Everyone flooded out the door and started freaking out. That’s when Reilly and Faye showed up.”
“Can you describe the other guy — let’s call him the unsub for the moment?” Reilly asked. “I know a description was in your police report, but I’d rather hear it directly from you. It might ring a bell with us amongst the partygoers we saw.”
Jake nodded. Closing his eyes so he could “see” the scene in his mind, he began, “I was across the room from the guy so I’m just guessing, but he seemed to be tall, about 6’ or 6’1” probably. The lights weren’t particularly bright in the room, but I could tell he had dark hair and heavy brows. His face was kind of craggy-looking, like he had bad acne scars, been in lots of fights, or both. Prominent nose, harsh-looking mouth, thin lips. Obviously, he didn’t smile so
I can’t comment on his teeth. And I couldn’t see his eyes well enough to tell you what color they were. He seemed to be the one most concerned with my presence. Now that I think about it, I remember Bill, the victim, looked nervous. But my focus was on the other guy because he seemed angry and so out of place at that party.”
“How so?” Faye enquired.
“Because he wasn’t a student and he wasn’t dressed for a party. He was wearing dark clothes and heavy-duty shoes with thick waffle soles. I smiled at him like I was a drunken idiot, said something like, ‘Hi, great party huh?’ and laughed. The guy glared at me, and I stumbled out of the room and down the stairs.” Jake opened his eyes and said, “That’s it.”
The group sat in silence for a moment; then Rob spoke up. “Well, I think the first thing we need to do is check out the crime scene again. Last night, I didn’t get to go over it as thoroughly as I’d have liked. Jake, it’s important for you to continue to support the belief that you don’t remember what the guy looked like, so you can’t be seen to be curious about the crime at all.”
“No problem there,” said Jake, stealing a glance at the laptop monitor, “I just want to lay low until they catch the doer. That guy looked like a roadmap of bad decisions and harsh circumstances. I don’t want anything to do with him.”
“I’d love to have another shot at the crime scene,” Reilly piped up earnestly. “Something Jake said about the shoes. Heavy-duty soles with deep ridges, right?”
“Yeah, kind of like military or police issue,” he confirmed.
“Okay. Faye, remember the lawn?”
Faye thought a moment, then opened her mouth in a silent “O”. “You’re thinking whoever it was might have picked something up on his shoes if he snuck in across the lawn.”