Now Say You're Sorry

by Barbara Fournier

  Lake’s cell phone rang. He never said a word to the person on the other end. He just put his phone in his coat pocket and removed the cuffs from his back pants pocket. Reese put her hand on her weapon.

  “Sara Hunter, we have a warrant for your arrest. Anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law. You are entitled to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”

  Sara never said one word as two officers appeared and stood on either side of her. Lake had had them waiting in the hall, ready for his signal.

  Lake and Clayton apologized to Bill for scaring him half to death.

  “We had one thing right. You are, for now anyway, the M.E. of Cromwell.”

  “What did she do?” Bill asked.

  “We’ll go over all of that soon. But we will need your full cooperation.”

  Bill nodded his head.

  The detectives and officers led Sara out of the autopsy room by way of the back elevator to an old interrogation room, keeping her clear of the jail cells that held Cole and Cummings. Once out of earshot of her coworker, Sara asked, “Why am I being arrested?”

  “For the murder of Adam Chandler. What the hell were you thinking and why didn’t you come to us before doing something like this?”

  Sara said nothing.

  She was placed in an interrogation room. About a half hour later, as soon as Allen had placed the warrant in Lake’s hand, Reese said that she thought they were ready.

  “Sara Hunter, has your attorney been contacted?” Reese asked.

  “Yes, he should be here any minute.”

  “May we ask his name?”

  “Denton Hollingsworth.”

  Emerson and Reese looked at her, shocked.

  “Are you kidding? You’re really going to use the same counsel as Kei Lien?” Reese asked.

  “It’s better this way. You’ll see.”

  Emerson went around the back of Sara’s chair and released the cuffs from her wrists.

  “I don’t think you are going to try anything, are you?”

  Sara just smiled.

  Even though Denton Hollingsworth was delayed for two hours, the detectives and Allen thought it best to keep Sara in interrogation, rather than placing her in a cell right away. They wanted to show her a little respect. Conversation was sparse. Nothing could be said concerning her arrest without her lawyer present.

  “We know you can’t tell us anything right now, Sara. But is this really who you are?” Reese questioned.

  Lake put his hand on Reese’s shoulder.

  Sara just stared at Reese with eyes that were lost in her own soul.

  When Denton Hollingsworth arrived, he asked Sara if she was all right. She confirmed that she was and he then wanted to know what she had said to the detectives before he arrived.

  “I just asked why I was being arrested.”

  “Detective Lake?” Denton directed his attention to the detective.

  “Suspicion of murder,” Lake replied. “The murder of Adam Chandler.”

  “Sara, you don’t have to answer anything you don’t want to,” Denton advised. “I’ll be with you through this whole conversation, advising you. You may begin, detectives.”

  “Sara, what is your connection to the victim Adam Chandler?” Lake asked. “Other than being the one to do his autopsy.”

  “Mr. Hollingsworth, I need to tell these people my story. They have been my friends since I became the Medical Examiner for this city. Just tell me when I should stop.”

  Denton nodded.

  Sara was nervous and emotional as she began to tell her friends what happened between her and Adam Chandler.

  “I met Adam about five months ago. He invited me out to dinner and I accepted. Eventually we had a few more dinners…movies…it was nice. About a month after I met him, he asked if he could come up to my apartment. I said yes. It had been a very long time since I had let anyone into my life. I felt like it was time to be with the living. I liked Adam. He made me feel like a woman again. He was kind and gentle. Well, at first anyway. The sex became a little bit more aggressive each time.”

  Reese and Emerson were glued to her voice like this was some romance story.

  “I asked him to stop on this one particular encounter. He told me he was sorry. He told me that his wife liked it that way before she died during childbirth. I told him I wasn’t his wife and I didn’t like sex that aggressive. I asked him if the baby survived, but he said no. He never mentioned having an adopted daughter. After that, I cooled things off, but he asked me out again. Everything was much better this time. We always went out or spent time at my place.

  “One late afternoon, things were slow at work so I decided to pick up some take-out and surprise Adam at his house. When I got closer, I saw the Sergeant leaving. I rode around the block a few times, just to think. I couldn’t imagine why the Sergeant was at his house. I was trying to decide if I should go in or not. I finally decided to go in. I stopped the car and walked up the steps. I noticed that the door was slightly open. I touched it and it opened a little, I quietly called to Adam, but got no response. So, I went in anyway.

  “As I walked into the house, I could hear someone. It sounded like crying. As I moved further into the house, I could tell it was more than that. It was a woman and she was sobbing in fear. When I walked through the house, I saw the door to the bedroom. There was Adam having sex, rough sex, with this young woman. The young lady opened her eyes and looked straight at me. As if to say ‘help me.’ He yelled at her to close her eyes tight and remember that this is what she asked for in her letter to Santa. Then he shouted, “Now, say you’re sorry!” She did what she was told.

  “I was mortified. I screamed at him to get the fuck off her. That’s when I saw the bruising all over her. He was naked, of course. He jumped out of bed and lunged toward me. There was fury in his eyes. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the living room, screaming at me, asking how I got in the house. I told him the door was open and when I saw the Sergeant leaving. I started to ask who the woman was, but he grabbed me by the hair and shoved me to the floor near the fireplace. He was like an animal. He pulled my skirt up, tore my panties off and raped me. I fought like hell, but he was just too strong. Next thing I saw was this woman… Kei Lien…walking toward us. A huge guy next to her handed her a butcher knife. I thought I was going to be killed.”

  Sara paused. “I need a drink of water. I feel like I’m going to vomit.”

  “Sara, take your time,” Denton said quietly.

  She took a few deep breaths and then began again.

  “I managed to push him off me and the back of his head hit the fireplace hearth. I heard it crack, his head I mean. Then this girl came flying toward us with the knife, pushing it into his chest. She stood there, stoned faced. I didn’t know if she would hurt me, too. I talked very calmly to her. The fear in her was so visible. Then she ran back to her room.

  “I started to check on Adam but… you have to understand. He had just raped me.”

  “What happened next?” asked Reese.

  Tears rolled down Sara’s cheeks as she relived the nightmare.

  “I went into the bedroom and the young girl was standing in the middle of the room. She was crying. The big guy wasn’t in there. When I asked her who she was, she told me she was Kei Lien Chandler. I was shocked. I asked if she was Adam’s wife. I mean, she was very young, but you never know these days. But she told me that he was her father. I thanked her for saving me but she ran toward another bedroom. I followed her.”

  “And all of this was happening while Adam lay on the floor bleeding out?” asked Reese.

  “I just wanted to make sure this young lady was okay. She really did save me. He probably would have killed me and his daughter after what I saw. So, I followed her to the back bedroom and I heard a voice, a ma
n’s voice, in the room with her. He was telling her to run. No one would ever hurt her again and that he was her friend. He told her to climb out the window and run. He pushed past me. I told her to run as well, I feared for both our lives. It was the same guy that gave Kei Lien the knife. I didn’t try to stop her from going out the window. I know I should have, but I didn’t. I went back toward the living room and saw the big guy leaning over Adam. He said he saw what happened. He saw her stab him. And then he told me I was pretty and it was no wonder Adam wanted to do me! He was so creepy. But I felt like he really wanted to help the girl.

  “Then, and I know that sounds strange, I told him to keep his mouth shut. I really don’t know what I was thinking or if I was thinking at all. He could have killed me in an instant. In all my years of seeing rape victims on my table, I never once thought that someday I would be in this situation. The fear is so real. The embarrassment. The shame. The total loss of control. My common sense went out the window. I can’t imagine the fear that girl must have felt, being raped by her own father. I told the big guy that I would pay him a lot of money to clean up the mess and if he didn’t do as I said, I would send him to the crematory, light the fire myself and shove him in it. I handed him several hundred-dollar bills. Then he then got down on his knees and pushed the knife deeper into Adam’s chest. Then he told me his name. Tim Cole. I wondered why the hell he would tell me that. I was frightened of him, but he also seemed scared of me.

  “I started to leave but then, for some bizarre reason, thought about evidence. If Adam was raping her all along, there could be evidence on her clothes. So, I went back to her bedroom and found her soiled, bloody clothing under her bed. I took the whole bag. I still have it at my place. I waited in my car until I saw him leave. Then, the next time I saw Adam Chandler was in the morgue on my table. I know I should have dialed 911. sooner than I did but I didn’t. I guess I...”

  “Stop right there,” Denton said quietly, turning to the shell-shocked detectives. “I believe that’s all my client has to say, detectives.”

  “Just one more thing,” promised Lake. “I want you to think very carefully. Did you see anyone else in the house?”

  “Not that I can think of. Why?”

  “Are you sure? Nobody lurking outside or elsewhere in the house?” Reese asked.

  “I don’t think so, but it was all a blur. I suppose someone else could have been there.”

  “Detectives, enough.” Denton stood, shaking Emerson’s hand and nodding to Reese. “Sara, I will get you out on bail. But for now, you will have to be held here.”

  Lake laughed. “What a nice guy, Hollingsworth. You must get that from your mother.”

  “I suppose you are correct, detective.”

  “Is there anything down in the morgue that Bill can’t handle for now?” Reese asked.

  Sara shook her head.

  “I’m sure he has it covered, but could you send someone to my apartment for those clothes? They need to go to the lab immediately. They are in my bathroom linen closet on the floor behind the rack of toiletries. Here’s my keys. Oh, and you will find my underwear there as well. I kept them in case I ever needed proof.”

  As the officers were taking Sara to her cell, she passed the familiar face of Tim Cole. She glanced in his direction. He jumped back from the cell bars. The smug expression on his face disappearing into fear. Was she going to burn him alive?

  Sara didn’t say one word to him.

  Chapter 97

  Reese kept her promise to Andrew Kelsey by getting him a copy of the Sergeant’s death certificate. The two of them went to the bank together as planned. There were no issues letting Andrew into the room that held the safe deposit boxes. Once in there, Andrew was a bit tense.

  “Are you good with this?” Reese asked.

  “I’m fine. It’s just a little odd going through a man’s belongings. Someone you never met. Feels weird.”

  “Do you want to wait for another day?”

  “No, I’d like this to be over with.”

  He found another copy of the last will and testament. It matched the one he found in Jade. There was a photo of his father and his mother, along with a gold watch. A letter was also inside addressed to Andrew Kelsey. It read,

  My son,

  I’m sorry for not being man enough to stay and be your father. I hope what I have left you in this, my final wishes, will help ease the anger you must have felt all these years. I want you to know, I loved your mother, but I was just too young to be tied to a family.

  Martin Kelsey

  Detective Clayton helped Andrew read the will, but an attorney would certainly have to execute the final wishes of his father. He had left Andrew all his worldly possessions, including the Strasburg Hotel. The deed was there. Detective Clayton almost let out a rip-roaring laugh, but held herself to a more professional standard.

  The house would be left to his friend, Teresa Kelsey. That deed was also in the box. It appears they were never really married. No marriage certificates. The only other papers in the box were Martin’s birth certificate and a photo of his son as a newborn baby.

  “Wow, from poor too rich in a split second,” was the only thing Andrew could say at that moment.

  Reese told him not to get too excited.

  “We still have to find out if Teresa and your father had a marriage license. That would change things. As his spouse, she would be entitled to his estate, including the hotel. You would only be entitled to it after she passed.”

  Andrew was just pleased he got to go through his father’s wishes and memories.

  “Reese, I still feel like he killed my mother. She had a broken heart.”

  “I know. I would probably have those same feelings. But look at it this way, you might not have had that wonderful relationship with your mom had he still been in the picture. Now, you need to move on with your life.”

  “If all of this is true, I might be able to afford a new face.”

  She smiled and gave him a hug and told him whether he did or didn’t, it would be an honor to be his friend and would help him in any way she could. Reese also told him she would do the legwork to find out if Teresa and Martin were really never married.

  Chapter 98

  “Well,” Hollingsworth asked Sara Hunter, “are you ready for your day in court? Judge Canton is waiting.”

  Sara Hunter stood in her best pants suit, mid high heels, very little jewelry. She crossed her fingers and nodded yes.

  “Sara Hunter,” the Judge stated, “I see here you have been accused of trying to hide evidence concerning the Adam Chandler murder case. I must at this time relieve you of all duties as the medical examiner for the city of Cromwell, South Dakota. All the evidence obtained during the autopsies pertaining to this trial will be dismissed and new autopsies will be performed by a court appointed Medical Examiner. Your involvement has deemed this necessary. Do you have anything to say in your defense, Miss Hunter?”

  Hollingsworth stood to address the Judge.

  “Your Honor, my client was trying to protect a young woman, a child really. I’m sure you are aware of the many aspects of this case. We are asking that you forgo the bail and release Sara Hunter on her own recognizance until trial. I will take full responsibility, Your Honor.”

  “Ms. Hunter…Sara. I have known you for a very long time. You’re a very valuable asset to Cromwell. We all know this. I am going to release you on bail in the amount of one dollar. Now, Mr. Hollingsworth, I want you to be prepared when trial starts. Do you understand what I am saying to you? We don’t want to lose this asset to our community on some ridiculous technicality.”

  The judge lifted his gavel and let it come down hitting its mark.

  Chapter 99

  Detectives Lake and Clayton paid a visit to Kei Lien’s bedside one more time. This time they arrived with the photos of Sara, Tim Cole and Randa
ll Cummings.

  “Kei Lien sweetheart, how are you feeling today?” Reese was trying to be very cautious not to frighten her. “Do you think you can you look at some pictures for me?”

  Kei Lien was awake, but not interested in seeing any more photos. She just wanted to sleep. Mary Elizabeth raised the back of her bed to a more upright position.

  “Kei Lien, please open your eyes. The officers just want to see if you know the people in the pictures. I promise you can go back to sleep when they leave.”

  Kei Lien opened her eyes, “Where is Daniel?”

  “I’m right here. Nothing to worry about,” Daniel answered, moving closer to her bed.

  Daniel was there most every day now. Kei Lien was lucid one moment and the next she was anxious, but mostly she just slept. Minh was there as well to see what the officers were going to ask her.

  “Hollingsworth will be joining us right after Sara’s bail hearing.” Lake said.

  But he had barely finished his sentence when Denton walked in the door.

  “Kei Lien,” Reese began, “do you remember seeing this woman in your house the night your father died?”

  “Yes, she told me to go out the window and run.”

  “Why did she say that? Do you remember, Kei Lien?”

  “My father was hurting her like he hurt me. She was yelling at him, hitting him, but he just kept doing those bad things to her and pulling her hair. I didn’t want him to hurt her like he hurts me.”

  Kei Lien instantly began gasping for air.

  “Am I in trouble?”

  “No, you are not,” said Mary Elizabeth, patting Kei Lien’s hand. “Now take a nice deep breath for me.”

  Kei Lien inhaled deeply.

  “Ok, now blow it out gently.”

  Mary Elizabeth nodded to Reese to continue.

  “What happened next?” Reese asked.

  “My friend Tim was there. He handed me a knife from the sink. I took it and walked over to my father. I yelled – NO! NO! NO! – and then I ran at him and shoved the knife in him. That nice lady got up and thanked me and then she told me to go out the window and run. My friend Tim told me that, too. So, I did.”