“Now let’s continue. Mr. Cole? You were about to tell me about your home life. Do you need a drink of water before we begin?”
Tim’s face returned to its normal coloring; he was now breathing easier. He sat down in the recliner this time and put his feet up. He liked the feel of this leather monster of a chair. He knew exactly the right thing to say to this shrink because the truth will set you free. The corners of his mouth turning up slightly into a distorted smile. “When I was sixteen, I was taken out of Saturn by my father as a trial-run at freedom.”
“Freedom from what, Mr. Cole?”
“Freedom from that shithole where they injected my arms with stuff that would give me bad dreams. Freedom from that machine they put on my head. You know, the one that had wires. I didn’t like that machine. I didn’t like my brothers and sisters, either. They got all the attention from mom. I told mom I would be good if they let me go on vacation with them. It was a place in the woods, a camp I guess.”
Doctor Brickman listened very carefully to how Tim told his story. The way he spoke, his movements, his eyes, as well.
“Dad insisted we have fun scouring the woods and learning how to survive with very little. I always liked the squirrels the best. It didn’t take much to kill them.”
Tim saw the doctor take a deep breath and heard the creak of the leather as he shifted slightly in his desk chair. He continued.
“Then I would wrap them up and put them under a pine tree for my brothers and sisters to find. Dad got so mad at me. He yelled at me for being so mean. He said he was going to punish me so I would learn a lesson.”
Tim pulled his knees into his chest and started rocking. Eyes focused on the floor. His voice sputtering like a scared child.
“He took me out…out back, stripped me naked and…and…rubbed dirt from around the outhouse all over my body. And then shoved the dead…dead…squirrel so close to my face. I could feel the fur…fur on my cheek. I threw up and then he told me to say I’m sorry to my brothers and sisters.”
The doctor feared he had a Dissociative Identity Disorder case on his hands, but he let Tim continue. It was too soon to tell.
“I told my mom what Dad did to me. She was mad at my Dad, but even more at me. She slapped me across the face, sent me out to the pump to wash off and then to bed.”
Tim scrunched up his face and took a long pause, as though the memory was too hard to handle. His face eventually relaxed, and he continued.
“Later that night I crept down to the kitchen. I was hungry. I didn’t get supper. I wasn’t sure I could keep it down. When I got close to the doorway, I heard my parents talking about sending me away. Somewhere I wouldn’t hurt anyone or anything again. Mom was crying. I know she loved me. I just know it. I killed all of them that night with a butcher knife and then buried them in the yard. Even my mom. I love her.”
Doctor Brickman stiffened, trying to keep a poker face despite the bile creeping into his throat. He had his report for the attorneys and the judge.
“What about the cab driver, Mr. Cole? And the X-ray technician?”
“That was different.”
“How so, Mr. Cole?”
“They were trying to hurt me. Well, maybe not the kid, but the other guy.”
“Can you tell me a little about your life in Cromwell?”
“What do you want to know?”
“Did you have a job there and what kind of job?”
“I watched people.”
Dr. Brickman thought for a moment and decided to jump right to it.
“Mr. Cole, did you kill Adam Chandler and Sergeant Martin Kelsey?”
“No, at least I don’t think so. I didn’t kill Kelsey. I wanted to for what he was doing to that girl for so long, but Chandler…”
He paused for a moment.
“Mr. Cole, are you alright?”
“I don’t think I killed him. I just pushed the knife in a little bit more.”
Tim gave the good doctor a slanted grin, bearing all his rotting teeth, knowing he did what he set out to do.
Doctor Brickman went to the door and motioned for the officers to take Tim back to jail. He was thankful for the cuffs and leg restraints. For the first time in his life as a psychiatrist he was afraid of a patient.
Chapter 71
Detectives Lake and Clayton asked Dr. Brickman to join them for lunch at a diner nearby while waiting for the judge to arrive in court. Reese was theorizing how she thought this would play out in the courtroom.
“Timothy Cole will be put away for the rest of his life,” she proclaimed swallowing a half-chewed bite of her sandwich. “Schmidt will certainly recommend he be placed in an institution. I’m sure he will try to make a plea deal on the grounds that Mr. Cole doesn’t have the mental capacity to understand the difference between right and wrong.”
“A life gone horribly wrong,” Dr. Brickman remarked, a hint of compassion in his voice. “Whatever the reason, this guy will certainly be a hot topic at medical seminars and among law enforcement for years to come.”
“One thing is for sure, we won’t get any answers about how he got to be this way now,” Reese interjected. “His entire family was murdered.”
“After speaking with us, the D.A just might want to go for life in prison or the death penalty.” Lake stated.
“Well, regardless, Emerson, Cole will be put away for the rest of his life. That much is certain. The only question is where?”
Dr. Brickman’s phone beeped with a message to head to the courthouse. The judge wanted a preliminary meeting to discuss the request to have Cole questioned again. Reese went to the counter to pay as Lake pulled cash out of his wallet to leave for a tip.
Jade County Court House was equipped with the usual security check-in area with very high ceilings so that sound echoed through the vast area of stone columns and marble tile floors. Inside the court room, wood visitor benches lined the room in rows much like pews in a church. In the front of the room, the judge’s bench. To the left, the jury box. And facing the bench were the tables for attorneys and their clients. The use of very high windows and perfectly placed lighting allowed for the appearance of natural light to fill the room without allowing sunlight to interfere with anyone’s view. The room was neat and clean, much nicer looking than one would expect for a small-town court room.
Once all parties arrived at the courthouse, Judge John Orrick turned to the detectives.
“Detective Clayton, it’s my understanding that you and your partner would like to question Mr. Cole again. Mr. Cole is already facing Class A felony charges for his actions. Why the unusual request?”
Standing up from his seat at the table, his hand still on top of his shiny new brief case, Raymond Schmidt spoke.
“Your Honor, that is exactly why I can see no reason for my client to be questioned again.”
“Noted Mr. Schmidt, but the question was directed to the detectives. I am the judge, remember?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Detective Clayton?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Clayton replied as she stood. “Mr. Cole is a suspect in the murders of two Cromwell residents. Adam Chandler and our very own sergeant, Martin Kelsey. We have reason to believe Mr. Cole has pertinent information on who else may be involved in those cases. When we questioned Mr. Cole the first time, he told us the Boss was the one that told the cab driver to bring him here to Jade. We’re hoping to find out who the Boss is, your Honor.”
“Your Honor,” Lake interjected, “we would also like to request that Mr. Cole be brought back to Cromwell for his sentencing procedure and allow us the time to file charges on his involvement in those two murders. We are hoping that in this process we can find all the guilty parties in this bizarre case. A case that has taken many lives and all but destroyed the life of a child.”
Eve Dawson, now on her feet.
“Your Honor, I agree with the detectives. Mr. Cole should be transferred to Cromwell for his sentencing trial. On the grounds he has already admitted to killing his family and they were in Cromwell at the time of their deaths. His admission to murdering the cab driver is somehow connected to this person he calls the Boss.”
“We would also like to request that Mr. Cole be placed on 24-hour surveillance, Your Honor,” Lake added. “Until his questioning. That is, if you agree to it. He is quite the escape artist, Your Honor.”
Judge Orrick shuffled through the paperwork in front of him.
“I will agree to the questioning of Mr. Cole with strict guidelines. The interview will be video recorded, both attorneys will be present, along with myself and Dr. Brickman. As far as surveillance, detectives, are you implying that our system cannot safely secure the accused in this matter?”
“No, I’m not Your Honor,” replied Clayton. “I am just concerned for everyone’s safety.”
“Detectives, your request for surveillance and transfer is duly noted.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
The judge rose to his feet. “Date is set for Wednesday 11am.”
He banged the gavel and swiftly exited through a door behind him.
Chapter 72
“Officer Sorenson, how may I help you?” Sorenson said into the phone.
“Sorenson, it’s Lake. Is the Captain available?”
“No, she’s not here right now.”
“Ok, listen. Detective Clayton and I will be in Jade for a few more days. We have Timothy Cole in custody. The judge is going to decide on Wednesday whether or not to allow him to return to Cromwell in connection to the murders of Kelsey and Chandler. We’re hoping for a miracle. And hoping to be back in Cromwell by Thursday afternoon.”
“You got him? Wow, that’s great news. Is there anything I can do here until you get back?”
“Contact the Captain. Give her the update and tell her we will call her when the judge makes his decision.”
“Will do.”
Ken Sorenson slowly hung up the phone. He feared for his life, his career. He could go to jail for his part in all of this. Most of all, he feared Tim Cole. What would that lunatic tell the judge?
Chapter 73
Once in the car, Minh and his son ate their peanut butter sandwiches in peace. Soft, comforting music played on the radio. Minh knew the right time for quiet. He feared his son would soon come to a breaking point in all of this. The soft tones filling the car on the ride to the hospital were a temporary solution to a maddening chain of events. Minh found a parking spot and the two of them walked slowly into the hospital. Not one word between them.
“Can I get you coffee or tea? Anything?”
“No, but thank you, Dr. Hart.” Minh replied. “We really just want to talk to you about Kei Lien.”
“We’ve been administering heavy doses of antibiotics since she arrived, but we’re just not seeing any signs of improvement. Whether or not she is capable of surviving is now left up to her and her will to live. We can continue treating her infections for a time, but we cannot heal the damage done to her mind here. She doesn’t trust anyone except for the two of you and her nurse. She needs additional help to work through the trauma she has endured. We are suggesting she be placed in a behavioral health facility. We have some of the finest institutions around. I can give you a list of the ones we recommend. Other than that, there is nothing more we can do for her. We need the space for those we can help. I’m so very sorry. She can stay with us for a few more days while you make other arrangements.”
“Dad, no! Please not a mental facility. Don’t do it!”
“Daniel, collect yourself, NOW!”
Minh politely inquired “Doctor, will she still get the treatments for the infection if she is transferred?”
“Once she leaves our hospital, we can prescribe antibiotics on an outpatient basis. However, it will no longer be at the expense of the hospital.”
Dr. Hart began to tear up and came around the front of the table sitting on the edge.
“I’m so sorry, but I have to answer to corporate. And the way they see it is we need the space. Her medications will have to be paid for by outside means. It sounds cold, I know, but hospitals have a bottom line to adhere to. Or there would be no hospitals. She has no insurance. Well, none that we are aware of anyway. And inpatient care costs a lot of money. Not to mention the cost of the drugs. So far, her care has been pro bono because of the bizarre circumstances. Our nurse will also need to return to her regular duties around the hospital. I don’t know how else to make this any easier for all of you.”
“How long could Kei Lien survive without these antibiotics?”
“I can’t say, Mr. Nyung. She has lived with all of this for a very long time. I don’t think it is up to us to determine her life expectancy. Based on my own personal religious beliefs, which I know I’m not supposed to share, this young lady’s fate is to be determined by a higher power and I’m not referring to my Board of Directors.”
“Thank you, Doctor Hart. My son and I will be in touch.”
Daniel wanted to see Kei Lien immediately, so he headed in the direction of her room only to be stopped by Mary Elizabeth Hollingsworth.
“Please wait, Daniel. I’d like to speak to you and your father. I’m guessing you have met with Dr. Hart. Now I have an idea.”
She led them into an old empty waiting room.
“This decision,” she whispered, “will be yours, of course. But if you say yes to my proposal, it will mean so very much to me. I am coming to the end of my career here at this hospital. I’ve been told that if I don’t return to my normal duties the hospital will terminate me, but I truly believe Kei Lien needs me. I would be willing to retire and take on the task of caring for her at no charge to you. Only thing I require is a place to sleep and food. My home is paid off and between social security and my pension I can manage my bills. Unless, of course, you would agree to allow Kei Lien to stay with me instead. It might be more comfortable for both of you and for her. I know how to obtain a hospital bed and needed supplies for her care. Almost like a hospice homecare situation. Now that I think about it, that might be the better idea. As a hospice nurse, I could obtain the right medications to keep her comfortable without risking her rights or yours. Or my pension for that matter. What do you think?”
Minh was baffled at how far this woman would go to help someone she barely knew. An angel, to say the least.
“You don’t have to make a decision right this minute. My lunch break is coming up at 1:30. Let’s talk more about my proposal then. I’ll meet you in the cafeteria and you can buy me lunch,” she smiled, “Okay?”
Minh and Daniel both nodded.
“Great! Now let’s get you to Kei Lien.”
Mary Elizabeth guided Daniel by the arm down the hall to her room entrance.
“She’ll be glad you came to see her. Even if she is unaware of her visitors.”
Chapter 74
Sara Hunter and Bill Oosterhout finished with all the evidence, taking particular care with each body that came to them, keeping everything documented.
“Now I need some down time. I’ll bring the report up to Officer Manning after I get something to eat.”
Sara left the morgue and headed to the cafeteria for some much-needed breakfast, even though it was two in the afternoon. A ham and egg sandwich with a sweet cinnamon bun on the side and a large cup of coffee sounded terrific. Comfort food. It was time for Sara to relax and feel more in control now that her autopsy reports were finished. She sat quietly eating until Ken Sorenson appeared at her table.
“May I?” he asked, pointing to the chair across the table from her.
“Sure.” Although she really wanted to tell him to get lost, but she didn’t have the heart to tell him to leave again. Ken was really be
ing sweet, but she needed her down time.
“How’s the autopsy going?”
“It’s finished, finally. I just have to drop it off to Officer Manning. Detective Lake and Detective Clayton are still in Jade.” Her cell phone rang. “Oh, excuse me. I need to take this call.”
She stood up and walked away from the table. It was her doctor telling her that all her tests were normal. She had nothing seriously wrong with her other than needing a good night’s sleep and a vacation wouldn’t hurt. She returned to the table to find Ken had already left.
She finished her meal thinking to herself that maybe now that her medical worries were put at ease maybe it wouldn’t hurt to allow friends back into her life. Ken seemed like an okay guy. I should give him a little more wiggle room. I can’t believe he gave it another try to sit with me. Sara had to laugh at that one. She picked up her tray, wiped down the table and picked up her sweater and bag, but there was no envelope under her purse. The envelope that contained the results of the autopsies she and Bill had worked so hard to complete was gone. She panicked and started frantically looking under the table and chairs. She even checked the trash. Phew! There it was covered in coffee. How did it get in the trash? I know I put it right under my purse when I sat down. She fished the large yellow envelope out of the trash can, hoping to salvage it. The envelope seemed wet, but not soaked. She wiped off what she could and decided to go back to her office to repair any damage to it.
The damage was far worse than she thought. Some of the pages were missing. “Ken, that son-of-a-bitch, he took it! How could I be so stupid to leave it when I took the phone call?”
She immediately phoned her colleague Bill explaining what happened and asked him to grab the videotape and his copy of the report and meet her in her office ASAP.
“I have it!” he said bursting in and helping himself to a chair and a bottle of water. “What the hell is going on?”
“I have no idea. It had to be that new cop, Ken Sorenson. I left him at my table. He asked if he could sit down with me. My cell rang and I had to take the call. So, not even thinking, I just got up and went out to the lobby area for privacy. He was gone when I got back to the table. I asked everyone left in the cafeteria if they saw Ken leave and if he was carrying anything when he left. Someone told me they saw him leave with a cup of coffee. He could have just folded the papers and slipped them into his pocket. You know what? I’m going to call him.”
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