“Why do you suppose whoever did this stitched him up?” asked Bill.
“Probably because they didn’t want to take away the startling effect of the butcher knife plunged in his heart. Which would mean he was already dead, or near dead, when he was stabbed. Or, maybe he was stabbed first. Either way, more questions than I can or want to answer right now anyway. We need more to make a solid cause of death.”
Bill proceeded to open Adam Chandler. He found mostly the same kind of fragments, possibly pieces from the stone fireplace, but then noticed a very small piece of metal.
“Sara, what the bloody hell is this? I’ve seen some strange objects in the dead, in all cavities of the body, but this is bizarre.”
Chapter 13
Once again at Cromwell Police headquarters, Detective Clayton was at the board trying to figure out this whole scenario. She needed time to absorb all that happened.
Captain Brown, appeared at her side, “What have we got so far, detective?”
“I’m just adding to the list. Chandler’s daughter was found alive at a neighbor’s home and now escaped into nowhere. How did her father get away with not sending her back to school after the mother died? Why did the teachers not report that she wasn’t in school? Neighbors heard her crying in the house and assumed it was because she missed her mother. How many years could she or would she do that and why did no one investigate? Was she really crying because she missed her mother? Where did the blood come from on her legs? Was she assaulted? Or, did she murder her father and the Sergeant? The list is growing.”
Walking in late to the conversation, Lake commented, “The list just got longer. Bill Oosterhout just called. It seems during the autopsies; he and Sara discovered a dog tag placed in the back of Chandler’s head. It has one word etched on it. Santa.”
“Did they find anything in Kelsey?” asked the Captain.
“That’s all he said. I told him I would check in later with Sara.”
“Reese, we need to pay Teresa a visit in the hospital. Maybe she remembers something by now. Quite a mess. Don’t you think, Captain?”
“Indeed, Detective Lake.”
On the way to Cromwell Medical Center there was little conversation between Reese and Emerson. Both knew the other’s breaking points and respected quiet when needed. Their relationship had grown over the years. Grown from friends to good friends and occasionally friends with benefits. Nothing more than that. Of course, the rest of the precinct thought differently. How could it not happen? Reese was very bright, had a great sense of humor, and was stunning. Long brown hair always neatly pinned at the back of her head when on the job. Rock hard abs, a gold shield and packing heat. What’s not to like? Emerson, with his aqua blue eyes could turn heads on a dime. His face was chiseled with a strong jaw line. Six foot two, short black hair with a hint of gray around the temples. Handsome. A little more intense than Reese. Being in law enforcement hardened his views on the world’s problems with no room for gray areas. Reese and Emerson were in their mid-forties and yet the two of them looked like they had just walked off a magazine cover.
Reese smiled at her partner as they entered the parking lot. “Ready for the scent of alcohol swabs and disinfectant?”
“Are you ready for me, hot lips?”
She smiled and just shook her head back and forth as they walked into the hospital, preparing to talk to their murdered Sheriff’s wife, Teresa Kelsey.
“I’m Detective Emerson Lake, this is my partner Detective Reese Clayton. We’re here to speak to Teresa Kelsey. She was brought in earlier this evening?”
After scanning the computer screen, the woman at the front desk replied. “Hmmm, I’m sorry, but I have no record of a Teresa Kelsey in our computer system. Maybe she was brought to a different hospital.”
“And just what hospital might that be Nurse…uh…Carter?” Lake asked, scrutinizing her security ID. “The only other place is an hour away at least. Makes no sense. Could you look again?”
Nurse Carter glared at him. She deserved more respect than this arrogant ass was giving her.
“Call St. John’s to see if she might have been taken there. I have patients to tend.”
She wrote down the number, and passed it to him across the top of the counter.
“Have a nice day, Detectives.”
“Guess she told you,” Clayton teased. “Maybe you could have been nicer?”
“Bite me, I’m in no mood.” Immediately regretting that remark, he gave her a wink.
Cromwell Medical Center was much the same as any hospital these days. Understaffed and overcrowded. Patience is a virtue, just not with Emerson Lake. He did make the call, but was much nicer to the person who answered. He even said thank you. Both he and his partner looked at each other, bewildered.
Teresa Kelsey was officially missing.
Chapter 14
The sunlight was nearly gone in the almost forgotten cabin hidden among the trees. Almost three miles separated the cabin from the nearest road. A dirt road. It had been a very long time since laughter, or any type of happiness, rang through here. Now it stood cold and damp. Most of the weathered shingles from the roof lay on the ground. Water, the color of rust from the pump, lay in the kitchen sink. Would take a while to clean that. No modern-day facilities either. An old outhouse sat tilted in the back yard of the cabin. Whatever was left in the single hole must have been long ago absorbed into the earth.
When he first found the run-down cabin, he imagined a family living there, a happy family. Lots of children even though it must have been crowded. He imagined a large dining table, one that looked like a picnic table, but meant for indoors. Nice kitchen, not modern by any means, but workable. A place to have family dinners. A place called home. Could this old falling down structure of someone’s memories once again be filled with warmth? Maybe I should try. Should I try?
If I focus and do one thing at a time, his thoughts racing, I just might be able to restore this run-down cabin. It was in the thick and lush woods of the mountains. I don’t believe I ever saw a park ranger anywhere near here. Probably because it isn’t considered as park property. But it is mine now. I’m taking it over, like it or not. I think I can get a few guys together to help me. The ones that stand on street corners in that nearby town. They’re always holding up signs that say looking for work. I’m sure they can use the money even if it is just for booze and drugs. First, I will need some help with cleaning it all out and fixing the well pump. I hope its deep. It will need to be pumped many times though to prime it. Boring task, but worth the effort. Nothing tastes as clean and pure as water from an old fashioned well. Plus, this type of supply should last forever; if it can catch the run off from the mountain, I would think. Just have to wait and see, I guess. I’ll need to find some shingles. Somewhere there are no questions asked. There will be no permits needed because no one that matters will know about my cabin. I will have to use logs from the woods to replace some of the walls being eaten away. The outhouse will do for now. But one important thing I will need to finish the cabin is a lot of bricks, bright red bricks. To hang the stockings with care.
Chapter 15
“Daniel, where were you last night?”
Daniel, still half asleep, was not prepared for the question. His father repeated himself, this time in a much harsher tone.
“Just out. What’s going on, dad? I’m 24 years old. You’ve never questioned where I’ve been before. What’s the matter?”
Minh went through the whole story about the incident with Kei Lien the night before. How she had run off when paramedics were trying to help her.
“Daniel, when I told her I knew who she was she surprised me by asking if you lived here? How do you know her? The police want to talk to you. They need to ask you a few questions. I told them I would call when you got home, but I never heard you come in. I’m going to make that call. I’d like for you
to be here when they arrive. Got it?”
“Dad, I have seen her in her back yard, but yesterday was the first time I ever spoke to her. I was just looking to make a new friend. You know how hard that is for me.”
“Well, we will wait for the police to arrive so you can explain okay?”
“Got it. I’m going to take a shower and have a bite to eat before they get here.”
“There are scrambled eggs and a few sausages left. No orange juice though. I could have sworn I bought some.”
“I drank it. I was thirsty last night when I got home. I’ll be ready by the time they get here dad, go ahead, and notify them. Daniel finished his breakfast and headed for a shower.
“Thank you for contacting us. Your son is here?” Detective Lake inquired.
“Yes, he is. Daniel,” he summoned. “Detective Lake and Detective Clayton are here.” Daniel appeared in the living room; hair still wet and a second cup of coffee in hand. Introductions were made.
“Daniel we would like to know how well you know Kei Lien Chandler?”
“Like I told my father, I just met her yesterday. I’ve seen her before, but never had spoken to her. This time I said hello, told her my name. I could see she was close to my age…a pretty girl under all that anger.”
“Anger?” questioned Detective Clayton. “What do you mean by that?”
“Well I was just trying to make a new friend; she just about took my head off. Told me she couldn’t talk right now, she had to make dinner for her father. I told her I was sorry to have bothered her and started to walk away. She yelled to me as I was leaving and said don’t say you’re sorry, I’m not.”
“Was there anything else?” asked Detective Lake.
“That’s all I can think of.”
“Well thank you for the information.”
“Daniel,” Reese said. “Where were you last night?”
The question took him by surprise. “Just out walking around town seeing what was happening in the local hang outs.”
“Can anyone verify your whereabouts last night? Another friend perhaps?”
Minh chimed in quickly. “Wait just a damn minute detective. Are you accusing my son of something? Now furious with the detectives’ statement, he opened the front door. I think we are done here! Have a nice day Detectives.”
The detectives headed out and got back into their car.
“Well that went well, don’t you think? For Christ sake, what the hell were you thinking throwing that out there so fast Lake? They are the only family on the block willing to talk to us.”
“I know. I trust the father, but wanted a reaction from the son and didn’t get it.”
When they were gone, Minh asked his son, to not say anything further to the police, any police, not without a lawyer at least.
Daniel agreed and left the house for a while. Said he needed fresh air. He decided to take a bus to the next town Willow Falls. Once there he sized up the men standing on the corner holding signs with the words Looking for Work printed on them. He wanted to rebuild the cabin in the woods. Make it a happy place once again. A safe place. Now with all that has happened within the past few days, he wondered if this was possible. He made mental notes of the men he would choose and took the next bus back to Cromwell.
Chapter 16
Daniel’s birth father was a soldier, killed, driving his deuce and a half truck over a land mine. He never knew about the pregnancy. Daniel’s extremely curly blonde hair and height no doubt came from his birth father. His mom later married Minh Nyung and they moved to the states.
They lived in California for a few years before moving to South Dakota. They sent him to college hoping Daniel would be a doctor one day. A parent’s dream. He was an extremely intelligent young man. He made it through the basics and started medical school. He came back home when the news arrived that his mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. He spent what seemed like forever watching his mom suffer the torture of going through chemo and radiation. The vomiting, day after day, dry heaves because food of any kind was not an option for her. Countless doses of medication that didn’t help. Losing her hair by the handful until she was bald. Watching his stepdad hold her hand to comfort her and hold her head while she vomited nothing. Rubbing lotion on her to prevent sores on her scalp. It was difficult because she did not want Daniel to see her this way and certainly did not want him to help with her care. According to her, mom’s care for their children, not the other way around. He did what his dad allowed him to do while watching her wither away praying for recovery and wishing it to end at the same time. Nightmare for her and a definite nightmare for him and his dad. He couldn’t return to medical school. If he couldn’t save his own mother, then why do it at all was his response to his stepdad. Minh could not argue with that. He knew all too well the heartache of losing the love of his life. He also knew that life with a stepson without a mother would be one of his greatest challenges.
Daniel began a job in a park preserve in Cromwell. The pay was decent. He could be alone. Another benefit of being in the preserve was he could hide away from all the people that made fun of him. The squirrels and deer didn’t care what he looked like.
Chapter 17
Daniel waited, for what seemed like forever, for Kei Lien to meet him at the barn. While walking around the property he began to envision the torture that his new friend had endured. How long had this been going on? She had said her father was one of the men and I know the Sergeant was another. Was it possible there were others? Many others? Would make sense. Why else would her father keep her away from the public all these years?
Daniel checked his watch. 2am. He couldn’t stay any longer without his dad worrying. He grabbed the insulated bag and hung it on a nail protruding from the railing. If Kei Lien did show up, at least she would have something to eat and drink. Saltines, cheese and OJ wasn’t exactly a gourmet meal, but it was all he could steal from the house without being noticed. He started walking back out to the road.
Kei Lien never did show up at the barn that evening. Instead she decided to run for her life. Run somewhere no one would find her. She stopped at the edge of the woods and remembered that there was a camp a few miles in. Maybe it’s still there and I could hide for a while, but how would I get food? Maybe that’s not a good idea after all. Wait, I think I remember a lake. Yes, there is definitely a lake. She remembered being there with her mom and dad once. She had dropped a toy in the water. The water was so clear she watched it slowly sink and could still see it when it gently landed at the bottom. I’ll go there she thought. I can go in the water and clean off. Maybe then I will feel better. My stomach really hurts.
When she came upon the lake, it was a beautiful sight. The moon was shining a beam of light across the water making it glisten. The lake was partially surrounded by ponderosa pine, some elm that casted shadows on the lake’s surface. It was clean and cold. She felt very sick and her body was extremely sore, partially from the hike to the woods, the rest from her final encounter with her father. Nausea overcame her and she vomited on the shoreline. The skin on her bloodied legs felt raw when she entered the water, but soon the pain subsided, the cold water numbed her body.
Although the name of this crystal-clear lake eluded her, it became hers and hers alone for tonight. The water may have been cold, but it felt like a clean, calming bath for her. And she did not have to listen to her father telling her it was her fault while he washed her sore body and broken spirit. And for sure she did not have to say I’m sorry to anyone. She would have to find food soon, but not just yet. For the first time since her mother died, she felt clean.
Chapter 18
Teresa Kelsey lay wide-awake in her bed at the Strasburg Hotel, wondering what to do next. How was she going to make it through the next few days? She had told the paramedics to bring her here after they were far enough away from her home. The home she always imagined. Th
e home she was supposed to live in and have a family and devoted husband. The home that was now crawling with reporters and police. The home where her prince charming lay murdered in front of their fireplace. How was she supposed to plan a funeral for Cromwell’s beloved Sergeant Kelsey? The thought of trying to be the grieving widow nauseated her. How come he was not happy being with me? I should have…her thoughts trailed off. I planned our future. I had him ready to run for Mayor and climb that ladder to success. Why did he need to have another woman to make love to? Did he think I didn’t know? All women know, eventually anyway. The words were a jumble in her mind. Teresa Kelsey decided it was time to face the public about her husband’s death. She contacted Cromwell Police and asked to speak to one of the detectives on the case.
“This is Detective Clayton.”
“Reese? This is Teresa Kelsey. I know you’ve been trying to locate me. I’m sorry I disappeared like that. I just wasn’t ready to face the police, or the community for that matter.”
“Why didn’t you go to the Medical Center? And where are you now?”
Teresa was hesitant about giving the detective answers over the phone and nearly hung up, but decided it would be better to get it over with.
“Why did you run, Teresa? I need to ask you a few questions about your husband’s death. Are you okay? I’ll come to get you. Have you spoken to anyone else? Where are you?” Reese was stalling while Lake had someone else doing a trace. Emerson gave her the thumbs up. They had a location. Strasburg Hotel.
“Teresa, what happened? Can you tell me now?”
While Reese kept Teresa on the line, a squad car in the area of the Strasburg was dispatched to the hotel. The patrol men arrived and asked the desk clerk for Teresa’s room number. “I’m sorry sir, but there is no Teresa Kelsey registered here.”
“She has to be here. We just had the phone traced to this hotel.”
Now Say You're Sorry Page 3