Signal to Murder

by Rhone Sonnier

  Ms. Seemore says, “Dillon go get some food and water, I will be back to see you in a little while. You will be all right; I will take care of you.” I like Ms. Seemore. I never growl at Ms. Seemore, because I know she likes Keith and is good to him.

  I walk into the apartment, go to the kitchen and eat and drink. I am so thirsty I empty my water bowl. I am lonesome, but know that Ms. Seemore will be back. I go to the living room, get on the leather couch and relax. I remember where Keith and Francis are and worry that they are lonesome and sad too. I wonder, “Where is Nana Marguerite? I wish Nana Marguerite were here. I wish Nana would come.” I remember hearing Keith and Francis always saying, “Nana Marguerite will know what to do.” I realize that I am still hungry, but too exhausted to go to the kitchen. I fall into an exhausted sleep and dream that Nana is coming to our home.

  Even in my sleep, I think of Nana Marguerite and I know she is coming and will be coming through our door very soon because our family is in big trouble. My heart is aching and I am lonely for my family.

  Something wakes me up; a key is turning in the door lock. I growl as the door opens and a pretty young lady I recognize enters. We have met before. She says in a soft voice, “Dillon, I am Kate remember me? I have gone out with you, Keith and Mr. Francis.” I look at Kate and know her, and I like her. Instantly I pick up a scent coming from her; Kate has changed and has a scent I do not like. She moves toward me to pet me, I growl at her; she quickly backs away from me.

  Knowing that I do not want her to touch me, Kate immediately pulls back. She says out loud, “You don’t like me now, do you Dillon? Do you sense something sinister or bad emanating from me? Well, so much for me giving you food and water; you can go without both for all I care. You little critter, you want me out of here, I will go.” She keeps mumbling to herself as she continues looking at me. She says, “I just want to be able to tell Keith and Francis I checked on you, if they ask.”

  While Kate and the dog stare at each other Kate thinks, “I will have to work hard to gain your trust and affection should I decide to fight for Keith. I am not sure I want to struggle for Keith’s love, anymore. I deserve more consideration, affection and commitment from your Mr. Keith Edwards.”

  Kate backs away, exits the apartment and closes and locks the door behind her. The only time she had ever been in Keith’s apartment and it was a disaster. She thinks and gets angrier, “Keith gave me his apartment key, but never really extended a special invitation for me to visit him in his home. He never has made a real commitment to me.”

  I realize from this time forward I must keep a distance from Dillon. Any negative actions from him towards me will seem suspicious to the Sorrell family. I think my place is at the hospital beside Keith and Francis.

  Confused about her loyalties, Kate heads to the hospital to be with her adopted family. As she drives she continues to think and rage, “This is one wonderful loving family, and I would be fortunate indeed to get welcomed into their good graces. I also never forget that Keith is incredibly wealthy. His wealth would just be icing on a great life together. Matrimony is the answer for Keith and I, but what will I do about Dillon?”

  I know Keith and Francis suffered great trauma this morning and Dillon senses they need him. The word circulating in triage was that a small golden retriever tried to get into the ambulance with his masters this morning, but the EMTs shoved him out the back door just as the driver pressed hard on the accelerator. They say the dog was wearing a therapy harness.

  Kate thinks, “Dillon may love his masters, but he does not like me. I thought he liked me, but I know now that he does not care for me at all. Perhaps he does not like my triage nurse uniform or he remembers his bad experience getting shoved out the ambulance door by the EMT in uniform.”

  Chapter 29

  Anticoagulant Suspected

  Glancing out the rear window of the ambulance the EMT sees the reddish colored dog, a small golden retriever, watch the ambulance and his friends leave him behind. He whispers quietly to himself, “I hate to leave you behind little fella, I know you are worried about your friends. Don’t worry we will do what we can for them.” He turns his attention back toward his patients.

  The EMT notices that his younger patient‘s blood is still not clotting; he probably takes a prescription blood thinner, we must act fast. He administers a clotting agent intravenously with the hope that it will do its job and save his patient’s life. The life giving plasma IV is flowing and will be replaced by much needed blood once he reaches the hospital.

  The EMT turned to help his female partner in checking the old one and making sure he was comfortable. They had previously removed the Kevlar vest from their elderly patient and found two punctures in his chest. One puncture directly over his heart was about a half inch deep, and the second four inches to the center of his chest was almost three quarters of an inch deep, but the EMT saw no visible blood.

  Discoloration and signs of bruising were already appearing as typical reddish, deep purple, and black signatures of two gunshot wounds. “The old one will be all right,” the EMT thinks to himself. “This one will be all right,” the EMT says to his partner.

  The medical technician turns back to check Keith again and finds him with little definable pulse and after a few seconds more he cannot detect a pulse. He immediately performs resuscitation and gets a heartbeat; howbeit the pulse rate is very slow. The EMT notices that they have just arrived at the hospital emergency room entrance and staff is waiting to take their patients into Triage. Pointing down at Keith the EMT says, “This one needs blood fast, we are administering plasma. When you check his blood, check for the presence of a blood thinner, his blood is not clotting.”

  Keith and Francis are both unconscious when they are wheeled into the same room for emergency treatment. Triage personnel are quickly assessing their conditions.

  Francis becomes more lucid and aware of conversation between members of the hospital Triage staff. They are saying that Keith needs a blood transfusion immediately.

  Francis shouts, “My blood, take my blood he is my Grandson.” Francis continues frantically speaking, “We have the same blood type. My DNA is a match to his; we have had our DNA and blood types tested and certified.” Francis is frantic and tries to get up from his gurney.

  The doctor tells the grandfather that they are already testing his and the young man’s blood types The doctor sees the old one reach his arm across and with his left hand grasps the right hand of the younger man and says, “This is Keith Sorrell my Grandson, please do all you can for him, give him my blood.”

  Holding the young man’s hand the old one says to him, “Keith, we have work to do, hang in their boy.”

  Francis speaks again to the doctor and staff, “This is my Grandson, Keith Edwards Sevan Sorrell, and I know you will take good care of him.” Francis keeps insisting that they use his blood to save Keith.

  The doctor says, “We cannot take your blood sir, you are injured and in trouble yourself. We are already setting up your Grandson’s transfusion.”

  As the doctor and staff ready the blood transfusion, Keith leaves this world for a moment and then he returns. Keith expires a second time and the Triage staff performs the necessary life saving techniques of machine and manual resuscitation. They revive Keith; with God’s approval.

  This is the second time in just a matter of minutes that Keith Sorrell has had to be resuscitated. The doctor and staff look into the young man’s face and see a flutter of his eyelids. Keith’s head is slightly turned and when he slowly opens his eyes he sees Francis smiling at him; Keith then peacefully closes his eyes.

  Keith hears Francis encouraging him, “Keep your eyes open and on me, stay, hang on.” Francis says several times, “Keith stay with us, stay with us son, hang on Keith we have some work to do.”

  During the interaction between Keith and Francis, the doctor and his Triage team witness great affection and mutual respect.

  As Keith is readied for surger
y and the old one stabilized to be moved to a hospital room, the doctor tells everyone to listen to the old one, he is our young patient’s Grandfather. He reflects and thinks, Keith Edwards’ name sounds familiar. I just cannot place where I have heard it.”

  The doctor has heard from one of the EMTs that a small golden retriever with a therapy harness tried to jump in the back of the ambulance. He tells emergency room clerks to keep an eye out for the small red dog; he will probably try to get into the hospital. He also tells them that EMT personnel told me that the dog is quite concerned about his owners.

  Standing a short distance away, Kate hears about Dillon and moves about tending to her duties. She tells her associates, “I am certain friends or police professionals at the scene will see the dog and take care of him.”

  Chapter 30

  Detectives Version of the Ambush

  Homicide detective Breau arrives at the crime scene, Elm Street at the entrance to Forest City Park, just as the ambulance carrying Keith and Francis Sorrell, pulls away heading for the Rockford Memorial Hospital.

  Homicide Detective Wang Wei Breau is a disciplined professional. He is proud of the historical significance of his name.

  Breau has the same name as Wang Wei an honorable Chinese fighter pilot hero. Lt. Commander Wang Wei’s fighter and an American EP-3 had a midair collision which sent the Navy aircraft to an emergency landing on Haiman. Wang Wei ejected from his plane over the South China Sea; his body was never recovered. “Air Force Magazine” July 2001, The Last Flight of Wang Wei by Bill Gertz.

  Many people started referring to Wang Wei as Wrong Way. Detective Wang Wei Breau has been teased about his name his entire life and most recently by cohorts. Detective Wang Wei was named after his own Grandfather and not the downed pilot.

  Detective Breau is known to always be correct in his analysis of a situation. When Breau reveals an astonishing fact, his co-workers and superiors often affectionately say, “Wrong way bro.” They know the opposite is true. Contrary to the teasing, Breau is considered a super intellectual sleuth who is always correct in analytical crime solving situations. Even though his associates poke fun at his unique name, he is highly respected.

  Pairing Detective Breau with the ingenious, experienced, and imaginative Javier Hernandez has been a blessing to the homicide department. Many cases have been closed that might have ended up cold cases if the duo had not been assigned to the cases.

  Rain at the crime scene has stopped and the sun is shining; the recent rain storm was short and tempestuous. Passing the departing ambulance, Hernandez arrives at the crime scene after Breau. He greets his partner by handing him a cup of coffee. Quite often when they have an early call Hernandez makes a quick stop for coffee. As Breau accepts the java he thinks, “I can use the pick me up.” Unless the detectives leave their office together to cover a homicide, Breau always arrives at a crime scene before Hernandez; this crime scene is no exception.

  Breau immediately tells Hernandez that it is his opinion that Keith Edwards Sorrell was not the intended murder victim. He believes that the perpetrators meant to kill Sorrell’s grandfather, Francis Rene` Sorrell.

  Breau tells Hernandez that an eyewitness, the Lead SWAT officer, said the lady with the guitar pulled a gun out and aimed it in the direction of the apartment building entrance, but before she could fire the old man threw his cane underhand and side-arm at her. He saw the cane strike the woman and she staggered back as she fired her gun.

  The guy said he knew the old man was fired on and hit, but it was not the shot from the woman with the guitar that struck the old man first. He says he pulled his Glock when he saw the old one had a gun extended toward the two women, the one with the baby carriage and the one with the guitar. Only the lady with the guitar had a gun in her hand and it was pointed toward the old man. I did see a hole suddenly appear through the front end of the baby carriage, but I was not sure what that meant or do I clearly remember the sequence of events. The multiple gunshots all seem to have occurred simultaneously.

  Breau tells Hernandez that the SWAT officer said he shouted out to the old one to freeze and drop his gun, but it was too late to stop him from firing. The officer said he had never seen anything like that cane flying through the air and then a gun firing. Both actions by the old man were quick and accurate. He said, “What the old one did will be a story I can tell my family over and over for years to come.”

  The officer said, “The flying cane caused the woman with the baby buggy to bend down behind it, the cane just missed her. The cane whizzed through the air like a helicopter blade as the baby buggy lady managed to get off what I believe was her first shot. She had to have fired through the front end of the buggy toward the old man. I am positive it was her shot that hit the old one first.”

  He continues, “As the woman with the guitar was hit by the cane and staggered backwards she managed to squeeze out another round. I am positive that she hit the other woman who was ducked down behind the baby buggy; I saw the guitar lady stumble backwards and as she was falling I heard two more shots.”

  According to the SWAT officer, he saw the wooden cane hit the guitar lady in the chest driving her backwards; she staggered and fell in front of the parked bus, the driver did not see her and pulled away running over the woman.

  The SWAT officer reiterated, “The old one had his gun out and fired just as he took a round in his chest. The cane hit the shooter and then the bullet from his Glock struck her. I am sure that is the way it went down. Yes, I am absolutely sure. Everything was happening simultaneously.”

  Breau relates that the SWAT officer said everything seemed to happen at once, but that was what he saw. Breau tells Hernandez that the officer said, “I did not fire my gun because I did not know who to fire at.”

  Unbeknown to Breau, as the SWAT officer told him his story he felt relief, knowing as an accomplice of Six, he would not be found out, and hopefully he would never be found out. The officer remembered Six threatened the life of his son if he did not help him. He remembered also that he was told by the blackmailer, Six, to not fire his gun.

  Breau says to Hernandez, “At some point during the ambush the old one was struck by another round to the chest. My preliminary investigation indicates that the woman with the baby carriage fired her gun through the carriage toward Francis Sorrell hitting him in the chest. At present, it is thought that her second round struck the young man, Keith Edwards, in the leg.”

  Hernandez says to Breau, “Did the SWAT officer tell you all of this? Isn’t it a little soon for an analysis, Breau?” Hernandez knows Breau’s record for solving crimes, and he senses that Breau is onto something.

  Breau responds to Hernandez, “The Lead SWAT officer says that Francis Sorrell was wearing a Kevlar vest. Go figure! This is no ordinary protective Grandfather; I will check him out thoroughly. It sounds to me like he has had some special military training.”

  As Hernandez and Breau talk Keith Edwards is having his near death experience while EMTs remove Francis’ Kevlar vest.

  Hernandez tells Breau, “We need to find some more coffee, maybe when we talk to Keith Sorrell’s landlady, Ms. Seemore, she will offer us refreshment. After we talk with her locate any relative, girlfriend, male friends, etc. of Keith Sorrell’s and talk to them. Find out if he has any enemies. We checked him out after the gassing attempt on his life, but we need to follow procedure and check out everyone associated with him. We found no suspect the last time, but there is someone out there with a grudge against Keith Edwards. Someone hates him enough to continue to try to kill him. It bothers me that the gassing case is still not closed.”

  He continues talking to Breau, “I would like this SWAT officer questioned again. I want to know why he shouted to the old one to freeze and drop his gun and not to the lady with the guitar. Apparently, she and the baby carriage lady pulled their guns first and were pointing them in the direction of the old one.”

  Hernandez pauses then adds, “The old one must have felt thr
eatened otherwise he would not have fired on them. Let’s uncover the facts. In my gut, I know that both attempts on Edwards are tied to one perpetrator.”

  “Remind the SWAT officer when you talk with him that he was behind the old one and this put him in the direct line of the women’s fire. Breau, how could the SWAT officer be certain the women were not aiming their guns at Keith, but were aiming instead at the old one who was directly in front and in between the two women and him? We must interview the SWAT officer again,” Hernandez finishes speaking.

  Hernandez becomes aware of the news media. He thinks to himself, “They are closing in on the scene like vultures on a kill, particularly Rock Savage. He is already asking for pictures and video from bystanders, as well as having his crew take pictures and videos. Rock is already questioning bystanders for a story.”

  Hernandez asks himself, “How did he get here so fast?”

  Rock Savage shouts at Hernandez, whatever he shouted is incoherent to Hernandez.

  Hernandez shouts back, “I will talk with you later, stay back please.”

  Turning to Breau he says, “Have officers keep the news people back.”

  As Hernandez moves away from Breau he turns once more to him and says, “I need a minute to think, excuse me Breau.”

  Hernandez momentarily reflects on Wang Wei Breau, and their partnership, not on the ambush. He knows how fortunate he is to have a partner with Breau’s attributes. Breau’s intellect and experience couple to create a detective extraordinaire. Hernandez smiles inwardly as he thinks, “How pleased Breau would be with that complimentary title.”