“I want to help you. I just don’t know what to do or what’s going on in that head of yours.”
The officer on watch was back from his break right on time, which gave Reese the opportunity to leave Tim thinking a bit. She hoped, anyway.
“Detective, when you come back, I’d like a nice hot cup of coffee. You know how I like it. Hot and delivered by a woman. Remember?”
Reese had all she could do to keep from shooting this bastard. She just waved her hand in the air as if to say ‘sure thing.’ She had enough to worry about with the sudden death of Ken Sorenson.
It was going to be a nightmare for everyone that watched Ken commit suicide. There would be countless interviews, statements from every witness, evidence to be logged, samples sent to the lab and Ken’s body transported to Sara Hunter for an autopsy. Not to mention the cleanup of the bloody mess left behind. They would all need counseling. Ken was a friend, a colleague, someone they all cared for. They would all feel some sense of responsibility for not giving their friend the benefit of the doubt. And no one would feel that heavy blanket of guilt more than Detective Lake.
Chapter 78
Adam Chandler was buried in the town cemetery in a wooden box, nothing expensive. The only people that were there were the gravesite custodians to lower him into the ground. There wasn’t even a headstone. Only a small, flat slab placed on the ground marking where he was buried. There didn’t appear to be any relatives to give him a sendoff. His only child, the one he abused for so many years, lay in a hospital bed fighting for her life. She was still wishing for someone to love her, like she begged for in her letters to Santa. If she could find that person, her life may change in an instant. A will was never found, nor an insurance policy, so the estate would go directly to his only known surviving relative, Kei Lien.
Chapter 79
Sara Hunter, now frantic at the thought of someone stealing part of her files, managed to find Allen Manning in the grocery store that morning.
“Allen, did Bill reach you about the autopsy files on Chandler and the Sergeant?”
“No. You find something new?”
“It’s not what’s in the report. It’s the report itself. Pages of it are missing.”
“Who do you think would take it?”
“That’s the thing. I feel terrible. I had been with Ken Sorenson when I noticed they were gone. I called Ken and practically accused him of taking the pages. He claimed he didn’t even notice the report and left the table to get back to work when I took a business call. Strange thing though, he mentioned he ran into Teresa Kelsey on his way out. Said she was looking for you, Allen. Seemed like an odd thing to share with me. Anyway, I just feel awful how I treated Ken. He was really offended. I need to apologize to him, but we also need to find out who took those pages.”
“Sara, I gather you haven’t been to the morgue yet today. Did Detectives Lake or Clayton get in touch with you last night or this morning?”
“No, not yet. Why?”
“Ken Sorenson committed suicide.”
Sara gasped clasping her hand over her mouth and started to cry. “Oh my God,” was all she could get out.
“He was being questioned by Lake and Clayton when it happened. Luckily the swarm of reporters had dispersed before it happened.”
“Oh my God!” she repeated blowing her nose on the handkerchief Allen had handed to her to wipe the tears running down her cheeks. “You know, I might be ready for a whole new career. I certainly didn’t help matters by blaming Ken for my missing papers. Then to have Detective Lake assume the worst of his latest recruit. He must have felt like a cornered rat. I feel awful.”
“Sara, knock it off. Don’t do this. You need to focus on the missing pages of your report. They are important to the case against Tim Cole. And we need to know if he had help.”
Allen knew now was not the time for him to bandage her wounds.
Sara snapped out of it quickly and agreed.
“Time,” she said, “time to get this guy off the streets.”
Chapter 80
Minh Nyung signed the necessary papers, officially releasing Kei Lien from the hospital into his custody. The arrangements to send her to Mary Elizabeth Hollingsworth’s home for in home hospice care were set as well. Mary Elizabeth planned to do everything in her power to help Kei Lien with whatever her destiny may be.
“This will not be easy,” Minh said. “Just trying to get her into an ambulance to be transported to your home is sure to be a task.”
Mary Elizabeth took a deep breath and took Minh and Daniel by the hands. “I have been working with life and death situations my entire career. Kei Lien will be safe and in good hands. I promise.”
Daniel begged, “Please, Kei Lien, do not fight the paramedics on the ambulance ride home. We are here to help you. We are your friends.”
“Friends…friends…friends.” she repeated. “My friend…I think he is in trouble.”
“Who, Kei Lien?”
“Tim. He’s my friend, right? Did I get that right? I got that right, I know it.”
Daniel looked at his father and shrugged his shoulders.
Minh leaned closer and whispered, “What do you say we worry about you for now? Daniel and I will help Tim after you are settled in at Mary Elizabeth’s lovely home. She has a very nice room for you, Kei Lien. It has a beautiful closet with all new clothes for you and a bathroom of your own. It has a real pretty bed with pink flowers on the spread and all kinds of stuffed toys on top. Just like your mom would have for you. Will that be okay with you?”
Kei Lien’s eyes opened a little wider and a faint hint of a smile appeared on her face. A single tear ran slowly down her cheek. It was like a glimmer of hope. And for the first time, Kei Lien wasn’t afraid.
The ambulance ride went off without a hitch. Mary Elizabeth rode with her, just in case she tried to escape again. The whole ordeal of the past few days had exhausted Kei Lien. She spiked a fever on the way to Mary Elizabeth’s house, but she was very excited to see the familiar stuffed toys on her new bed. Mary Elizabeth gave her some meds to reduce the fever and she also gave her a little something to relax her so they could more easily get her into bed. Kei Lien was a child once again, surrounded with stuffed toys. Sleep would be her medicine now.
Chapter 81
Nothing would or could change the morale at the Cromwell police station. One of their own had just committed suicide at the barracks in front of most of the department. A mess to clean up on all levels. Lake felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. He knew the blame would be placed squarely on him unless he could find out the truth about Ken Sorenson.
“Reese, can we go somewhere to talk?” he asked his partner. “Somewhere I’m not going to be judged before the facts come out.”
“Sure. I’ll meet you tonight at your place. Say around 8pm?”
Even Reese, his longtime partner, his longtime lover, was cool toward him. He needed to find answers. Answers that would not likely be found at Sorenson’s desk.
Emerson entered the morgue, seeking answers from Sara. She couldn’t give him any, not yet anyway.
“Detective, I need to speak with you about some of my files. They were stolen while I was at lunch with Ken.”
“I know,” Lake said. “Allen filled me in on what happened. Who do you suspect now, if not Ken?”
“I remembered something that Ken said after I jumped on him about taking my files. Maybe just an idea, but I want to run it by you. It seems Ken was very quick to mention he had run into Teresa as he was leaving the cafeteria. Do you suppose she took them? Maybe he knew Teresa took them, but that was his way of sharing the info with me without directly saying it was her.”
“It’s possible. She really is a pain in the ass when it comes to her Martin. From what Allen told us, she was livid when barely anyone showed up for his huge send-off into heaven.
I think the bastard went to hell. But that’s just my opinion.”
“What do you think she thought she would find in those files, Emerson? Maybe something that would clear his good name? Something that would say her husband didn’t rape that young girl? I’m guessing he was responsible for a whole lot more than what he did to that helpless child. You know, Ken seemed like a nice guy, just a little pushy. He went out of his way to try and sit with me in the cafeteria on several occasions. And to be truthful, I was thinking of giving the guy a second look someday, if you know what I mean?”
“I’m sorry,” a statement Lake rarely made, “Sorry for what happened. I’ll do a little digging into Teresa Kelsey and why she might be interested in your report. I’ll keep you informed. I have to run, but will catch up with you soon. Are you all right? Are we all right?”
“Yes, we are.”
Chapter 82
Judge Orrick announced the court date for sentencing Timothy Cole in Cromwell. It was far enough out so the detectives could establish who else was involved in the murders of Sergeant Kelsey and Adam Chandler and if Timothy Cole did, in fact, take part in those murders. Eve Dawson and Raymond Schmidt would go to Cromwell as well for Cole’s sentencing. Judge Canton, the sitting judge for Cromwell, would handle all other trials for anyone else who participated in these crimes.
This was the very first time Detective Clayton had a case with an admitted killer involved. This guy made her skin crawl. His eyes were vivid pools of darkness. His hair, recently washed, still had a greasy sheen as if someone poured baby oil over his head. His fingernails were long and filthy. He had a habit of biting and picking at his rough yellow cuticles. Just the tone of his voice made the little hairs on the back of her neck stand up. “Hopefully, when this animal is sent to prison, he will be scrubbed down and not gently,” she thought to herself. “Then again, I wouldn’t want that job.”
She headed into the station, passing Cole’s cell.
“How is the jury selection going, Detective?” Tim taunted her. “Do you think they can actually find a jury of my peers?”
He knew there would be no jury. He also knew he wouldn’t be left alone for a second and certainly not out of sight. They had him locked up in the visible holding cell so he could say anything he wanted to anybody that walked in the station.
Reese groaned, “This is going to be a long, few weeks.”
Cole was furious with that news. “Weeks? What am I supposed to do for the next few weeks? No one told me I’d be stuck here that long! Hey, I’m talking to you bitch,” he growled.
A huge grin formed across Reese’s face.
“Well, it would seem, Mr. Cole, that your attorney should have mentioned that to you. Furthermore, that’s Detective Bitch to you, asshole! Now shut up!”
Chapter 83
Detectives Clayton and Lake were thrilled to have warrant in hand as they entered the Strasburg Hotel.
“Randall Cummings, you are under arrest for impersonating a paramedic and for obstructing justice in the death of Martin Kelsey. Please place your hands behind your back. You have the right to remain silent,” Reese recited while Lake cuffed him.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“We have it on good authority that you were one of the paramedics in the ambulance at the scene of Sergeant Kelsey’s murder. Now is Princess Teresa in the building?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, that is interesting. I guess we will find out for ourselves,” Clayton said. “Tell me where the key is to her suite. Now!”
Randall didn’t have much choice and had no way of warning Teresa since he was cuffed and couldn’t push the silent alarm. An officer was waiting outside to take Randall in.
Lake and Clayton approached Teresa’s suite with caution. This was going to be a knock and shock arrest. Lake knocked on the door, covering the peephole with his hand. Teresa opened the door.
“What the hell is—,” Teresa stopped mid-sentence.
Taken a back, she cleared her throat and continued.
“Detectives, I didn’t know you were here. Randall didn’t announce I had company.”
“Teresa Kelsey, you are under arrest in connection with the murder of your husband Sergeant Martin Kelsey. You have the right to remain silent.”
Clayton continued to read her rights, while Lake handcuffed her.
“We have a warrant to search your apartment for files that were stolen from the Medical Examiner. Files relating to your husband’s autopsy.”
It didn’t take long to find them. They were sitting on her ottoman nice and tidy.
“Guess you really weren’t expecting company, were you?” Lake was enjoying this part.
“I didn’t take those,” Teresa insisted. “They were given to me by Officer Sorenson. He’ll tell you I’m sure. Call him.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” Lake continued. “He killed himself.”
Teresa fell backward, Lake catching her.
“No!” she wailed, “I loved him! He treated me like a princess. He took care of all my needs when Martin wouldn’t.”
The tears, real this time, streamed down her cheeks.
“It can’t be true,” she sobbed. “I loved him. I loved him. Why would he do such a thing?”
“We are looking into that,” Clayton replied.
“Where is Randall? I need to speak to him.”
“We had a warrant for his arrest as well,” Lake coldly replied. “Now, where are your shoes? We’re taking you in.”
They escorted Teresa out of the suite and into the elevator riding down in silence. When they reached the lobby, the doors opened revealing a small crowd forming. Clayton grabbed hold of Teresa’s arm. Lake held the other as they moved her forward past the onlookers.
“Wow, an audience all for you, Teresa,” Lake taunted. “This must really make your day.”
Teresa spit venom. “Screw you!”
“Aw...now is that any way for a lady to talk? Especially in front of her hotel guests?”
Once back at the precinct, Teresa was placed in an interrogation room. Randall in another.
“Which one should we start with?” Clayton asked Lake, giving him the choice.
“I think Randall. Let her sit and stew for a while.”
Clayton started the questioning.
“What role did you play in the murders of Martin Kelsey and Adam Chandler?”
Before he could give an answer, Lake threw another one at him.
“Where did you get the ambulance that’s hidden in the hotel parking garage with no plates? What did you use it for? Do you understand it is a violation to impersonate an EMT?”
“I wasn’t impersonating anybody,” Randall replied, starting to sweat.
He couldn’t believe they found the ambulance.
“Mrs. Kelsey asked if I could find one and drive it to pick her up whenever she might need it. So, I found an old one not in use anymore and had a guy paint AMBULANCE on the side. Mrs. Kelsey gets what she wants.”
“You’re right about one thing,” Clayton said. “That ambulance won’t be used for anything anymore except as evidence in this case. We’ll need that so-called artist’s name.”
She was dumbfounded at the measures Randall would take to keep his job.
“Now,” Lake continued, “why do you suppose your boss would want an ambulance? If she just wanted a vehicle for you to pick her up in, she could have requested a limousine. Did she need an ambulance because she planned on taking her husband’s body somewhere after you killed him?”
“What? Wait a minute,” Randall’s heart was pounding. “I did not kill the Sergeant. That’s the truth! I want a lawyer.”
Lake and Clayton left the interrogation room and closed the door behind them.
“What do yo
u think?” Lake asked. “Did he have a part in this or not?”
“I think he played some kind of role, but I’m not sure it was murder. We still have enough to hold him, though. Too bad he lawyered up. I wanted to ask him how well he knew Ken.”
Teresa was still unnerved about Ken Sorenson’s death. When the two detectives walked in to question her, she was still crying.
Lake broke the sentimental moment. “Mrs. Kelsey, did you kill your husband?”
Clayton shot him a disapproving glance.
Teresa held the tissue to her nose, collected her thoughts.
“I would like my lawyer. Now.”
Clayton was not happy her partner went for the jugular right away. She was hoping they could lead Teresa down a path that would reveal more information, but she lawyered up after Lake’s accusation. Freaking Lake! Sometimes he just didn’t know when to take it slow and steady.
Chapter 84
Reese needed a break from all the chaos at the station.
“Lake, I’m going to pay a visit to Kei Lien.”
“Good idea, I’ll go with you.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to go alone. She doesn’t really trust men.”
“Makes sense.”
Reese stopped at a florist on the way to Mary Elizabeth’s house. She picked out a nice vase of pink and white roses. She was hoping Kei Lien would be awake enough to see them and maybe a little more aware of what happened to her and her father.
“I wish that jerk I’m in love with would bring me roses once in a while,” she thought.
When she arrived at Mary Elizabeth’s home, Reese wasn’t surprised at how beautiful Kei Lien’s new room was decorated. It was adorned with love. Like something a grandmother would do for their granddaughter. Stuffed animals in pretty colors surrounded Kei Lien’s beautiful face. She seemed much less stressed than before. Her straight, chin-length black hair and thick, full bangs gracefully framed the face of this tortured woman.
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