Now, after the assault, I know I have to try and find out who picked up the SUV. My associates in the car theft ring are not optimistic about finding out who picked the car up. The guys will ask around the area and see if anyone spotted a white SUV moving along the streets at any time after I dropped it off.
CeCe’s death and the scenes of the ambush keep running through my mind. I do not know if her shooting was accidental or planned. CeCe must have been told to fire a gun at someone otherwise she would never have been involved in that ambush. El Sicko forced her to be there, he is responsible for her death no matter who pulled the trigger of the gun that shot her.
I have been in Forest City Park on and off since the assault. It is difficult to stay in one place and not draw attention to oneself, therefore I am trying to keep a low profile and give the appearance of a casual park visitor. I am observing all activity looking for anything that appears out of the ordinary.
A Homicide Detective named Wang Wey Breau flashed me his badge and asked me some pointed questions and left. Breau asked me what I was doing in the park, and if I frequented the park often. I told him that I stop by occasionally to walk the paths for exercise. Breau asked me if I was in the park the morning of the ambush. Lying, I told him I was out of town. He did not ask for identification, nor did he ask my name, I did not offer it either.”
I was not asked if I knew any of the victims, and I did not offer any information about the victims. I know that Breau will eventually learn that I was CeCe Brown’s boyfriend and the father of her child. I figure that it may take the police a couple of days to make the connection, and I need all the time I can to pursue the extortionist. I know that El Sicko was probably responsible for the massacre in the street, although he told me that the SUV was not going to be used in anything illegal, like a stickup. The vehicle was illegally stolen, and I am holding the blackmailer up to higher standards than mine.
After receiving a call from El Sicko, I went to CeCe’s apartment and upon finding Prince safe and unharmed I took him to my Great Aunt Fabida. Since then I have continued my stakeout near the ambush scene. I leave periodically for coffee purchases and bathroom breaks; I am careful to change locations frequently and alter my appearance using items I keep in my car.
While looking around I notice that bus schedules are still altered and through traffic stopped and detoured away from the crime scene. The crime scene is well marked off. I notice that there is a large sign by the apartment building detouring occupants and anyone else from the apartment building’s front entrance to the side entrance.
I have been in the vicinity of the park and crime scene for hours, I am tired and restless, but I need to stay in place and follow my rather weak plan, observe and hopefully notice something unusual.
From my vantage point, at about 1:45 a.m., on the morning of April 15th, I see a female exiting the side door of the apartment building where Keith Edwards lives. I think I saw this young woman standing in the apartment building entrance yesterday morning; there was another woman standing there with her. The young woman is carrying two duffle style bags and stops briefly to light a cigarette. She crosses the street and proceeds around the park. I wonder out loud, “Where is she going this time of the morning, and is she going to the bus stop on Birch Street?”
I notice someone get out of the news van that is parked by the sidewalk and the man follows the woman. I stay in the shadows and go around the park perimeter in the opposite direction, heading for Birch Street. When I get near Birch, I stop and see the woman sitting on the bench at the bus stop; I see the man from the news van, he has stopped at the opposite corner and is watching her as I am watching her.
The 2:00 a.m. bus pulls up to the bus stop, I check my watch to verify the time, and see the woman enter the bus. As soon as she enters the bus I see Detective Breau enter behind her. Apparently the woman does not know Breau, because he looks directly at her and she has no reaction. He chooses a seat on the opposite side of the aisle a couple of seats down from her. I can see well enough to note that he is watching her intently. After the woman and Breau enter the bus the other observer leaves. I remain where I am.
I continue watching the bus; I see Breau partially turn and rise in his seat facing the back of the bus; He is peering out the back windows of the bus looking directly at my SUV. I parked my vehicle down from the bus stop on Birch. The bus begins moving toward its next stop. After Breau has turned around, I walk over and get in my vehicle. I then drive slowly, keeping a distance behind the bus. My plan is to follow the bus until the woman gets off; I will not trail her after that. I need to find a place to get something to eat I am ravenous.
When the woman finally exits the bus, she stops and lights a cigarette. I think, “This broad must be a chain smoker. I would not want to see an x-ray of her lungs.” For some reason I think that this woman is connected to the extortionist, and if I continue following her, she will lead me to CeCe’s killer. This is just a hunch.
I have been busy and have not heard any local news so when I enter my SUV I turn on the radio, and as I follow the bus I listen to local news updates that started at 2:00 a.m. The reporter says, “Keith Edwards Sorrell and his Grandfather Francis Sorrell are in Rockford Memorial Hospital recovering from injuries received in yesterday morning’s assault in front of Keith Sorrell’s apartment building on Elm Street. Two women were killed, and they still have not been identified. Keith Edwards Grandfather, Francis Sorrell, has been living with and caring for him since an earlier attempt on Mr. Edwards’ life.”
I say out loud to the darkness, “I want to talk with Francis Sorrell and see if he can help me find the extortionist. Those reports that I heard yesterday are not true, The Sorrell’s are alive. I need to talk with the Grandfather as soon as possible.” I turn my radio off and continue watching the woman.
As I continue following in my vehicle I watch the woman pick up her two bags and begin to walk to a street crossing. I become aware that a familiar looking SUV passes between the woman I have been following and my vehicle. The SUV looks just like the one I stole for El Sicko. The driver of the vehicle appears to be a small man or possibly a woman. I can see the driver well enough to note that he or she is wearing a dark exercise type jacket with a hoody, and has dark glasses on.
I ponder, “The driver of the SUV seems to be following the woman with the bags. Could be an undercover law enforcement officer watching her.” Backing off the accelerator, I decide I will catch up with the SUV later. I make a U-turn in the middle of the road and suddenly remember the SUV stalking the woman. That is the SUV that I stole for El Sicko on the thirteenth. The license tag had three sixes visible, but most of the plate was covered with a spattering of mud so that I could not see any other numbers or letters. I put the mud on the license plate. This cannot be a coincidence, it is the same vehicle.
For further assurance, I look back at the rear of the SUV and see the license plate number and reassure myself that it is the same vehicle. I am even more certain the number is the same as the SUV I stole on the thirteenth. I ask myself out loud, “What is El Sicko’s connection to the woman driving the SUV?”
Suddenly my stomach rumbles, and I remember that I am very hungry; I have not eaten since yesterday. Looking ahead I see a twenty-four hour McDonald’s. I enter the restaurant and satisfy my growling stomach.
Temporarily abandoning any plans to try and find the SUV, I decide to drive to Rockford Memorial Hospital and see if I can get any information about the Sorrell’s. As I am passing a parking lot marked For Nurses Only I notice a white SUV. The vehicle is backed in and I can see the license plate. It is the same SUV that I saw before going to McDonald’s and that vehicle is the one I stole for the blackmailer. The license plate confirms the fact.
I know that the Sorrell’s are recovering at Rockford Memorial this was verified by the 2:00 a.m. news. Maybe I can locate their rooms; I need to talk with Francis Sorrell as soon as possible. As I enter the hospital I notice police and security
personnel. I know that Keith Edwards is very wealthy and that this was the second attempt on his life. The news report said that the Sorrell’s were recovering at the hospital. This protection is for them, I am positive about this fact. I feel confident that I will be able to talk with Francis Sorrell. He will listen to me.
I notice a couple of police officers entering an elevator; I walk over and check the floor indicator and see that they have exited on the fourth floor. Taking the stairs, I intend to check out the fourth floor.
Opening the stairwell door slightly, I look down the hall and see two police officers entering the elevator and two taking positions outside two hospital rooms. There are also two men in security uniforms posted down the hall. No one has noticed me and I hear one police officer say, “The guy that just left says that Edwards and his Grandfather are going to make a full recovery. The Grandfather was not hurt too badly, and young Edwards is recovering from surgery.”
I decide to go home and get a little sleep and come back later. If Francis Sorrell was not badly injured the hospital will not keep him long. As I walk down the stairs I think, “I will come back in a few hours and see what I can find out. The old one will talk with me, I am positive of that. I need his help in finding the extortionist. Francis Sorrell is probably not even aware of the existence of El Sicko and his involvement in the ambush. The extortionist is one sick puppy; the old man needs to know about him.”
I am going to have to borrow an orderly’s identification and uniform to get past the security and police outside Francis Sorrell’s hospital room.
Chapter 46
Keith and Francis Compare Notes
Marguerite has arrived in Rockford, and visited with Francis and Keith in their hospital rooms. Francis is cleared to check out of the hospital the afternoon of April 15, but before he leaves he is eager to see Keith. Marguerite informs him that they are scheduled to meet with Raj just after noon in Keith’s room.
Francis has heard from Keith’s doctor that when Keith woke from the anesthesia he discovered that he no longer had amnesia. The doctor said, “We cannot be sure how much of his memory has returned, but over time he will fully recover. Also, his personality seems to have integrated. Keith told me that he knew he was Keith Edwards Sevan Sorrell.”
After Francis went into Keith’s room he and Francis discussed their health then the two began to compare ambush and subsequent emergency treatment efforts received in the ambulance and in the hospital.
Marguerite listens in amazement as the two adventurers relive the various scenarios. They praise the wonderful EMT’s and hospital Triage personnel that cared for them.
Francis and Keith agree that the ambush was an attempt to murder Francis, not Keith. Francis tells Keith that Detectives Hernandez and Breau paid him a short visit yesterday after he was in his hospital room and they share the same opinion.
Francis tells Keith, “Hernandez and Breau said that CSI has verified that your injury was caused by a large shard of cement from the curb. The shard was caused when a stray round hit the curb; a round fired by one of the women in the street. The large piece of cement that I saw lying near you had blood on it. I am sure Detective Hernandez is expecting crime scene techs to locate discharged bullet fragments and compare them to the guns fired during the assault. I know the crime scene will remain cordoned off until a thorough search is completed.” Keith and Francis both agree that Francis was hit by bullets from two different shooters; shooters who were expert marksmen/markswomen.
“When emergency personnel arrived at the ambush scene and began treating you, they could not stop your bleeding. Your blood would not coagulate, and you were bleeding profusely so they administered a coagulant. Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) has analyzed a sample of your blood and found traces of an anticoagulant. When my blood was checked, they found traces of anticoagulant. I had my vest on and the indentions that the bullets made in my flesh did not cause bleeding, just severe bruising. As a preventative, I was given a coagulant also,” Francis updates Keith.
Francis recounts, “Hernandez and Breau are having CSI check all the liquids and other foods in our refrigerator. After samples are taken for analysis, all the food stuffs will be discarded. They say that most of the time the drug is administered through consumables. Just like the narcotic that you were given before the last attempt on your life. After the gassing attempt, CSI found narcotic in your milk. The apartment will be stripped of all food stuffs. I guess we have a major shopping trip ahead of us.” Francis chuckles, “I guess it is safe to say that we are out of milk.”
Keith and Francis both agree that the women shooters definitely were expert professional quality shooters especially given the situation and movement of both the shooters and the chosen victim or victims. Their determination to exact the crime is remarkable. Both men question what situation caused them to participate independently in the ambush.
Francis says, “After I exited the apartment building to try and protect you, I immediately sensed and observed subtle body movements and knew something was wrong. I became acutely aware that the women were entering the crosswalk and walking toward our building entrance. They did not appear to be together, but were doing the same thing. I remember thinking that their slow fluid movements were as choreographed as dance steps. I had noticed the two women in the park, but they had never previously ventured far from their respective park benches. I am positive that they did not know each other.”
I found their actions strange and so fortunate for me I began stepping backward toward the security guard. I had no weapon with me and knew that I would have to relieve him of his Glock. Stepping back probably saved my life. The impact of the bullets was softened by them travelling a longer distance.
I heard one shot and knew I could not make it to the Glock in time, and so I threw my cane toward both of them missing the woman with the baby carriage because she ducked, but hitting the woman that usually carried a guitar. They both got a shot or two off just as I fired at them with the security guard’s Glock.”
“I was told to freeze and drop my weapon by a SWAT officer standing behind me in the building entrance, but for some reason he did not fire at me or the women that were firing toward us, or just me as we surmise. I have thought it over multiple times and cannot understand why he told me to freeze and did not shout at the shooters,” Francis tells Keith and Marguerite.
Francis continues his narrative, “I received a call this morning from Detective Breau and he says a preliminary investigation has revealed the names of the women shooters. Breau says a firearms check was run on them and they both have recently completed extensive firearms training and target practice. Their weapons were registered and they both were licensed to carry concealed weapons. In my opinion there is nothing coincidental in any of this.”
“The woman with the baby carriage was CeCe Brown, mother of a son named Prince and girlfriend to a Devon Carter a petty thief suspected of being involved in a car theft ring. To date, Breau and Hernandez have not been able to talk with Carter. Neither Brown nor Carter has any felonies or outstanding warrants. CeCe Brown was arrested for solicitation once and the charges were dismissed. Devon Carter has been arrested for petty theft, but all charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence. Devon Carter has been arrested once for grand theft auto but charges were reduced thanks to a shrewd lawyer,” Francis concludes.
Francis begins to once more update Keith, “The lady with the guitar was Celina Gomez Valenzuela. There is an outstanding warrant for her in California. She is the prime suspect in the murder of her boyfriend. She has been living in Rockford for about a year and worked for a local landscaping business.”
Francis says, “Detective Breau believes that the two women were being blackmailed and were forced into the murder attempt. So far he has not been able to uncover a definitive connection between the two. They will question Devon Carter when they locate him. I was so relieved to find out that there was not a baby in the baby carriage. Apparently, the child is bei
ng cared for by Carter’s Great Aunt Fabida, and she will not allow anyone near him.”
Francis adds, “Devon Carter approached me very early this morning. Marguerite you had stepped out for a breather. He managed to get past security and the police, because he was dressed as a hospital orderly and wore an identification tag. It does not make me feel good that he managed to dupe the guards; I do know that they are checking everyone, even doctors and hospital staff, for dangerous weapons. I plan to talk with Raj about ensuring tighter security.”
Francis continues his narrative once more, “Carter and I had a brief conversation about an extortionist he calls El Sicko. Devon has intimated to me that he does not hold me responsible for CeCe’s death since I had to defend myself. He has questioned my shooting her in the face after she appeared to be dead saying he felt that it was overkill.”
I told Devon, “Her free visible hand flinched and her other was in the carriage where I could not see the gun and so I shot her. I thought she might fire at my Grandson again. This answer seemed to satisfy Devon. He wants to join forces with us and seek out this El Sicko character. He believes that the extortionist was responsible for CeCe Brown’s death. This all sounds convoluted, but makes sense to me. Devon has our phone numbers and e-mail addresses and will stay in touch.”
Continuing Francis says, “Devon understandably wants to keep the police in the dark about his contacting us or any possible involvement in looking for this El Sicko character. He believes this individual will follow the Sorrell family wherever we may go. He does not know where, but Devon is considering moving if necessary to try and find CeCe’s murderer. If and when he does move, he will leave his son with his Great Aunt Fabida until he finds El Sicko.”
Signal to Murder Page 24