“What does that even mean, letters to Santa? Take a deep breath and start over. Please. I want to know. I want to help you as much as I can.”
“I have been writing to Santa since I was a little girl. My mom and dad taught me how to write a letter to him when I was little. When mom died having the baby, the baby died too. But I still wrote letters to Santa, hoping I could find someone that loved me like my mom did and like my father used to.”
“So, he blamed you?”
“Yes. He didn’t want me anymore. He wanted his real child and his wife back. I didn’t know what to do so I just kept writing to Santa.”
“Then what happened?”
“He told me I was no longer welcome in school and that I would be the one to take care of him. Cook, clean, and do his laundry. And…” her voice trailed off.
“That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me anything else until you want to.”
They continued the hike to the cabin. When they arrived, Daniel stopped abruptly before opening the door. He turned to Kei Lien, motioning for her to be quiet. He thought he heard someone inside. He thought he was the only one that knew about this place. But there it was again…rustling of leaves…twigs breaking. Daniel held his breath. His heart started to race a little faster. Suddenly, two squirrels leapt through the hole in the wall. Zigging this way and that…chasing each other up a tree. Daniel let out a little sigh of relief and it gave Kei Lien a smile.
“This is where I thought we could keep you safe, but it will need a lot of work to make it livable. I’m going to hire some locals to help. There are some things that I can’t do by myself.”
“I’ll help you. Please, don’t let anyone know I’m here. I can clean it up if you find me a broom, some rags and some soap and water.”
“Kei Lien, these walls have big holes in them. That’s how the squirrels got in and who knows what else.”
“We can use the blankets you brought to hang over the holes in between the logs. Does that pump work?”
“Not yet, but I was going to see if I could make it work again. What if you need to use the bathroom, there is none except for that old outhouse?”
“There’s also the woods if I need to. You could bring me stuff to use and some food and water to drink, maybe?”
“Well let’s see how far we get today with cleaning it up, okay? No promises. I want to help you, but I want you to be safe first. Blankets won’t help keep out the critters. I’ll have to find some wood that will fit in the holes and maybe some dirt will help hold it in place.”
Kei Lien started sweeping the floor, as best she could anyway. Not much hope for this place. There were nutshells and animal droppings all over. She needed water. She went to the pump and started the task of priming it. Over and over she would pull the handle up and down to get it to spit out some hope of water. Daniel stopped her and told her that they needed some water to pour down the spout to give it that prime. It had been sitting like this for years he guessed.
“When we come back, we will bring water with us in big jugs and something to clean the floors with, okay? You can’t stay here until we know you will be safe. When we leave, I will ask my father to help us and maybe he will let you stay with us for a few days. I promise you, no one will hurt you there.”
“No. My father will find me and take me away with him. I can’t say I’m sorry to any more gifts from Santa. Please.”
He knew then that Kei Lien did not know her father was dead. He wished this conversation were within earshot of those detectives. That way they would know she had no idea about the murder. He deserved to be dead after what he had done to this girl. Her childhood was taken away, along with her teen years. Not much formal education, although she had been schooled on the evil in life and knew more than anyone could imagine. Her father had taken her virginity and sold her into near slavery.
“What kind of animal does that?”
He realized he had said that out loud.
“Kei Lien, I can’t leave you here. I promise to make sure you are safe. Please listen to me and trust me. I am your friend. I will never hurt you or let anyone else hurt you ever again. Do you believe me? Do you trust what I am saying to you is true?”
“You are my friend. You are my friend. You are my friend.” She repeated these words over and over again. They were familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she heard them before. She looked directly at Daniel and then hung her head in defeat. “What else is there for me to do?” Tears began to run down her face, which was caked with the sweat and dirt she had been sweeping. She thought for a moment. If Daniel doesn’t help me, I will find another butcher knife. Just like the one in dad’s kitchen sink and end it all just like I meant to do before. Before father gets another chance to hurt me. Yes. That’s what I will do.
“Okay. I’ll go with you. I’m so tired.”
Daniel knew the fear in her voice was something to take seriously. Perhaps it was instinct from the little medical education he had in the past. “Let’s take a different trail out so you can get to see the beauty in these woods. See the peaceful sights that I see every day. We can talk some more if you like. You can ask me anything you want to. Is that all right with you?”
She nodded her head, still not sure about anything. She was getting more confused by this person who seemed to really care about what happened to her.
Chapter 31
Some remains of the bodies were sent to two different medical examiners in the neighboring counties, to help get a little more control of the situation. More eyes…more answers. Maybe.
Over the next few days, Sara and Bill worked on the bodies that were already in the morgue as well as the new arrivals. Even though there was no knife found or other weapons, it appeared knife wounds were the cause of death in all the new victims. A large knife. At least as far as they could tell with what was left of the bodies.
“Bill, would you mind contacting the detectives to tell them our findings so far? Inform them about the knife blade. I’ll check with the other M.E.’s to see what, if anything, they have to add. Oh. And one more thing. Would mind telling Detective Lake about the brain surgery and dog tag? He’s going to flip when he hears that one. Hell, I still don’t understand it myself.”
“Of course,” Bill replied. “Want coffee or something when I come back?”
“No, I don’t think I could digest anything right now. You think you’ve seen it all in this crazy world.”
Sara contacted one of the other Medical Examiners but there was no new information. The second phone call was to Mark Swanson, a good friend from the Wesley County Coroner’s office.
“Mark, it’s Sara Hunter. Have you found anything? I’m sorry. How are you? We haven’t spoken in such a long time. How is your family?”
Sara was running questions at him so fast he couldn’t even answer them.
“Sara, you need a drink! Give me a chance to at least say hello to you,” he chuckled. “I was just about to call. Just as you thought, two of the bodies were children. But one of them had some dental work done. Not a lot to work with here. Decomposition is pretty bad. Appears they have been dead for quite a few years. I’m just guessing, but I believe they are related. We are sending the dental work to the lab.”
“I thought the same about them all being related, but I need to stick with the facts. Now the police need to search databases for a missing family of six. Who knows where they came from, let alone who did this to them or why? Let’s work on the type of soil left on the bones. Maybe it will help us find out where they were originally buried.”
“Got it! Now go do something that is not related to death for about an hour.”
Sara smiled to herself. “Thank you, Mark.”
Chapter 32
Cromwell Police had immediately started running searches on missing families as soon as the bodies were discovered at the theater. Sara went upstai
rs to speak to the detectives but was disappointed when they weren’t there. Instead, she spoke to Officer Manning.
“We are now looking for a missing family of six,” she announced.
“Already on it,” Manning replied. “This was done immediately after the bodies were found. Sara, you know the way this works like the back of your hand. What’s going on? You don’t look good.”
“Oh, thanks,” she replied with a smirk. “I’ve just been unnerved by this case. I feel like I should know more than I do by now. I wish I could explain it, but I can’t.”
“I get it, kiddo. We are all feeling overwhelmed. I’ll let the detectives know what you found so far.”
Downstairs, the new recruit, Officer Kenneth Sorenson, met the detectives as they walked through the door.
“You guys might want to take a look at this,” he said, pointing toward a television set. “The news, national news, is talking about a possible serial killer on the loose in Cromwell, South Dakota. The phones are ringing non-stop with people asking for answers.”
Emerson tossed his stuff on his desk without removing his gaze from the TV screen. There she was. Beautiful, long red hair and the greenest eyes he had ever seen. Her dream of becoming a national news reporter was right there in front of him. It wasn’t her original plan of covering the White House, but it was close.
“Sir? Sir?”
Lake was speechless for a moment.
“What do you want to do?” the recruit persisted. “Should we set up a press conference, Detective Lake?”
“I’ll take care of it, Ken,” Lake finally said. “Find me a number for that reporter.”
“Right away, detective. I’m on it.”
I wonder how long before she will contact me? She certainly knows where I have been all these years. Brenda seemed to be staring right into his eyes through the television screen. Emerson Lake was deaf to the outside world in that moment. He could almost smell her hair and taste her lips. My God, she is beautiful. His thoughts turning into a jumbled mess.
“Hey, Lake. Isn’t that the girl you used to date way back when?” Officer Manning interrupted. “Boy, she is a knock-out for sure.”
Manning was treading on thin ice and he knew it, but after the remarks Lake had made earlier, it felt good to take him down a notch.
“Yes, she is. Anything else you’d like to comment on? Or anyone else for that matter? Get back to work or the next job on your resume will be station janitor!”
Lake knew he could never go back to that time in his life, but seeing her again woke up that familiar tingle in his chest. He certainly didn’t know how he would handle having her here reporting on this serial killer. And that is what this was for sure. A serial killer.
“Manning, tell Detective Clayton I need her in my office now.”
“Really, Lake?” Clayton asked.
Lake turned around to see her standing with her hand on her hip. Close to her weapon.
“What the hell was that?” she asked. “Are you ordering me into this office? Because the last I knew we were equal partners here.”
“Sorry, this case has got one hell of hold on all of us.”
“Are you sure it’s the case?” she whispered, hoping no one else heard her.
“Look, I don’t need this crap right now, Clayton!”
“Neither do I,” she said taking a step back. “And it’s Detective Clayton to you, asshole! Your partner. Remember?”
Chapter 33
Emerson Lake was born and raised in Cromwell, South Dakota. He always wanted to be in law enforcement, worked hard to get there and now he was a highly-regarded detective. Not much ever happened in his city. Nothing major anyway. But he was still proud to have that title. Detective.
As far as his love life went, there had been several women, but none like the one that stole his heart. He met her around the time his career was about to take him in new directions. She was a real go-getter as well and wanted to become a top-notch writer for big city newspapers. Political press mostly. But she found her way to a D.C. television station WDC 23, and began reporting on air and in the field. She would take on any major story that came along, no matter where she had to travel. She had red hair and pale white skin, as most redheads often do, and a few freckles that kissed her nose. Six feet tall, Brenda Charles was nearly as tall as Emerson. She could easily have been a model. Lake had fallen in love with her almost immediately. Not always a good idea, but she felt the same way about him.
The opportunity for Lake’s dream of becoming a detective was on track. It’s what he always wanted to do. He also wanted Brenda to be by his side when he made it. He would have asked her to marry him in a heartbeat, but when he told her he had the good fortune to stay in South Dakota, everything changed. Washington D.C. or New York were more of what she had in mind. She asked him to give her the breathing room to try out her skills elsewhere. He agreed and hoped she would return to him quickly so they could marry and have a beautiful family.
After a few months of her being away, he realized she was in no hurry to return to their relationship and he reluctantly agreed to break it off.
Lake dated a few women after that, but nothing heavy until a certain very good-looking woman decided to join the force about a year after Lake and Brenda parted ways. Her name was Reese Clayton. Detective Reese Clayton. She was not what you would call a big city kind of girl, but certainly knew the ropes in this field. Lake was no longer top dog in the department. He now had an equal player at the table. Sometimes heated discussions flew back and forth between the two, which to the rest of the precinct was sort of comical, but they did not dare to laugh or even smirk in front of Lake.
After being partners for nearly six months, they both felt an urge that should never be allowed on the force. Too many things can and do go wrong. But you can’t just stop on a dime when it comes to matters of heart, or in this case in matters of desire. The encounters didn’t happen often, only when needed. Lake could certainly go back for more at any time, but knew it might cause a romantic issue. Something he was not ready for currently in his life. Reese would act the same, but that’s all it was…an act. She really cared for her partner but knew it could cost them both their careers.
Chapter 34
Kei Lien and Daniel continued to walk through the woods, being very quiet for a while. It was a different path than Daniel had taken before. He knew the direction he was going. He had just never gone this way. Up ahead, after about a mile and a half walk in silence, Daniel noticed a narrow road. Not much wider than a path, but certainly a road. There were signs of tire tracks. Maybe it was tracks from an ATV, but they looked a little wider than that. This was good news for Daniel. It meant an easier way to haul stuff in to rebuild the cabin. Kei Lien stopped and looked around the woods in a way that Daniel had never seen before. He thought she had finally seen the good in life.
“Isn’t it beautiful out here?” he asked. “So peaceful and alive with trees and animals. You know, mother nature at its best.”
Kei Lien glared at him. “No. This is a bad place. A very bad place!”
She began to run away like a child afraid of a monster under her bed. Daniel grabbed at her wrist and she fell to the ground. She lay there screaming, “No! No! No!”
She kicked and punched at him until he finally said to her, “I’m not trying to hurt you, Kei Lien! I’m trying to help you!”
She was crying now, giving in to the exhaustion. She sat up; her eyes locked on his as he helped her get on her feet. Kei Lien brushed the dirt and leaves off her clothes, clenched her fists and suddenly pushed Daniel, knocking him to the ground. She ran farther into the woods. By the time Daniel could collect himself, she was nowhere to be found. He spun in circles trying to catch a glimpse of her. “Oh my God, what the hell just happened?”
He tried desperately to find her. Running in all directions. Calling her name
repeatedly, but nothing. He was so distracted, he tripped and went headfirst into a hole, hitting his nose on a rock. First came the throbbing pain and then blood squirted out from his nostrils. He pulled his shirt up over his head and tilted his head back, using the T-shirt to apply pressure to the bridge of his nose. He prayed it wasn’t broken.
When he was sure it had stopped gushing, he let go of his nose and looked to see what he tripped over. He nearly passed out. Not from the blood loss, but from the hole he was standing in. It was no random hole. This looked like a shallow grave! Terrified, Daniel scrambled up out of the hole. Once upright, his heart sank as he realized there were five more holes just like the one he crawled out of. He knew this wasn’t random. The holes were neatly placed in two rows and he could tell they were freshly excavated. Daniel collected himself and started running as fast as he could. He knew he had to find Kei Lien. Was she aware of these graves? She said this was a very bad place. Is that why she ran? Did she see something she wasn’t supposed to see?
He eventually came upon the ATV tracks again and decided to follow them. Sure enough, they led to the only road he knew about in the forest. It was farther down the trail, but much closer to the cabin than the path they had hiked.
“I don’t know why I never saw this before,” he thought out loud.
As soon as he got to the road, he caught something out of the corner of his eye. Kei Lien was huddled behind a tree. Shaking. Daniel slowed his run to a walk trying to catch his breath. He didn’t want to startle her. He didn’t know if he should try to talk to her.
“Daniel, I’m scared,” she said and stood up next to him.
Daniel was a little more cautious this time. He didn’t want to get sucker punched again. But his kind heart and common sense took over. “Follow me to Dad’s house.”
She nodded her head in agreement.
Chapter 35
Now Say You're Sorry Page 6