by Darla Jones
Stu was surprised. “Holy Moses, who do you think it is?”
“I don’t know if the person is after me or after LynAnn.” More and more he was beginning to think the person or persons were after him. This evening, the person had to know he and his son were in the house with her because his car was parked outside.
Whoever he or now maybe they were, he really didn’t want a confrontation, at least not until tonight. He had merely toyed with them before. Like the near abduction of the boys, he didn’t intend to take the boys; he only wanted to frighten them. It was the same when the car forced LynAnn off the road. The driver could have easily pushed her into the guardrail, but he didn’t. His game was meant to frighten the wits out of LynAnn. Her assault at Dr. Wilson’s may have been what the police said…a drug addict looking for drugs. But this evening was different if the person attempted to get into her house. “Stu, is your revolver in your apartment?” he asked again.
“No, I have it here.”
“Where are you? Can you meet me at the house?”
“I’ve been living in a motel until I can get an apartment. I can be back at the house in ten minutes. I’ll see you there.”
“Fine. Thanks. But don’t bring the gun inside. Leave it in your car, and I’ll get it from there. I don’t want to frighten LynAnn more than she is already.”
“Got ya,” Stu agreed and Jeff sped in the direction of LynAnn’s house.
The Ford, parked beside a six foot wooden fence, was in an ideal place to hide. The person knew exactly what he was doing and also knew the layout of the area around LynAnn’s apartment.
When he reached LynAnn’s, Stu hadn’t arrived yet, and Jeff walked the perimeter of her yard. No one was in sight and when he caught a glimpse of her peeping around the curtain, he gave her a nod. At the front of the house he found gravel stones strewn in the grass. The man had pitched gravel stones at the house. Stones he could have picked up anywhere along the macadam road. More tactics to frighten LynAnn. But was it possible there were two men? Could LynAnn be so frightened she imagined someone tried to open her door?
Stu, his square jaw set firmly as if ready for battle, joined him a moment later. “What can I do to help?”
“I appreciate this, Stu.” Jeff gave his back a pat.
Stu handed him the revolver and a small box of shells. Jeff spun the chamber and found it was empty. He stuck it in his belt, pulled his shirt out over it, and put the shells in his jeans pocket.
“You wouldn’t ask for a gun unless the situation was out of hand.”
“Come inside with me. I want to make sure LynAnn and the kids are okay.”
To Jeff’s relief, they were all right. LynAnn opened the door at his knock, dropped the bat with a loud clunk, and ran into his arms. The children were still in the bedroom, unaware anything had happened. “Oh Jeff,” she clung to him, still breathless. “I was so worried about you and then someone tried to open the door.” When she noticed Stu behind him, her brown eyes widen in surprised. “Stu, what are you doing here?”
“I came to rescue a damsel in distress.” He tried to smile, but besides the problem at hand, being back in the double house and knowing Jean was upstairs must have made him uncomfortable.
LynAnn went to him and gave him a hug. “Thank you, Stu.” Then turning to Jeff, she asked, “Did you get a look at the man?”
He shook his head and turned to Stu. “We have to stay up tonight in case the man or men come back. I doubt if they’ll try anything more tonight though. We could all go to my house, but he doesn’t try anything there.”
“So we’re going to stay here and wait for him to come back?” LynAnn raised her brows and questioned his plan. “I felt sure you’d want us to pack up some clothes to stay with you. You mean we’re staying here like sitting ducks?” She clenched her fists together.
“Not quite.” He pulled her close to him. “You and the children are going upstairs to sleep with Jean. Stu and I will stay here and keep watch.”
LynAnn protested, “But you both have work tomorrow.”
“We’ll be fine,” Jeff assured her and then checked the time on his wristwatch. “At ten o’clock we turn out the lights as if you’re going to bed, and you take the kids upstairs. Use the inside stairs. Better call Jean and tell her what’s going on.”
“I think I’ll go outside and look around,” Stu chipped in, anxious to help.
“Wait, Stu.” Jeff held up his hand to stop him. “You go out and get in your car, drive back four blocks from the house, and start walking back toward the house, but keep out of sight. The man was parked three blocks back by a wooden fence. If he’s there, you could get him from behind.” He turned to LynAnn. “Better check on the kids, LynAnn. They may suspect something is up by now.”
After LynAnn went to her son’s room, he handed Stu the gun and shells, and he stuck them in his pocket. “I wish we each had one, but I didn’t want to leave LynAnn alone for as long as it would have taken me to go home and get mine and come back,” he whispered so the others wouldn’t hear.
Stu headed for the door, and Jeff stopped him. “If you have to shoot, aim for a leg to put him out of commission. Be careful, dude,” he whispered again.
Stu nodded and with long strides was out the door.
Jeff stood by the side of the window and peered around the drape as LynAnn had done previously. He turned off all the lights except one lamp, and eerie shadows danced off the walls and ceiling.
When LynAnn returned from checking on the children, she walked over to him, and he immediately snuggled her to his side, away from the window.
“The kids are fine. They have no idea what’s going on.”
“Why didn’t you want me to call Jim Anderson?” he asked.
“I knew him before. He knew Todd. He was his sergeant when Todd died. After Todd’s death, I kept going to see him, and I tried to tell him Todd wouldn’t commit suicide. He didn’t believe me and eventually when I went to the station, they said he wasn’t there, and by then everyone thought I was crazy. I could tell they did. They kind of giggled and whispered when I showed up.”
“Your husband worked with Jim Anderson?” This information stunned Jeff. He had many conversations with him regarding the incidences involving LynAnn, and not once did the man mention he knew her dead husband or LynAnn.
She nodded and continued, “Remember the day at the grocery store when you called him and told him to send an unmarked car and no sirens.”
A worried frown tugged at his face. “Yes, I did phone him.”
“And didn’t he give the orders to his men?”
He continued to frown. “I did ask him and he said some young rookie went gung ho and didn’t follow instructions.”
“Can you check it out?”
Keeping his eyes aimed out the window, he replied, “Not without raising a bunch of red flags. But I think I’ll pay a visit to Jim tomorrow.”
She wrapped both arms around his muscular torso. “If you mention my name, I’m sure he’ll tell you I’m ready for the loony bin.”
He had another question for her although he hated to ask. “When Todd died, did you see his body?”
“No.” She shook her head. “It was a closed casket.”
“Who identified his body?”
“I don’t know. Someone at the precinct, I guess. They never told me, and I never asked.”
They both grew silent, and fifteen minutes later, Stu returned. “There’s no one outside,” he announced.
Just before ten, Jeff got in his car and drove off. He rode around until he found an alley to park his car in a few blocks to the back of LynAnn’s house. He walked back to her house and entered by the back door.
****
At ten o’clock, as planned, LynAnn turned out the lights and took the children up the stairs to Jean’s apartment. The children didn’t mind, to them it was a fun sleepover game. Jean knew their plan and expected them. She helped bed the kids down.
“I want every
one to sleep in the bedrooms,” LynAnn insisted. She didn’t explain her reasoning, but in her mind she conjured up a terrible image of the man breaking down the front door and firing his gun at anyone who happened to be in the living room. The boys would sleep in their sleeping bags with Jean in her room and LynAnn and Cassie would sleep in the bed in the spare room. When at last the children were settled, Jean led her to the kitchen and then blurted out, “Did you see Stu? How is he?”
“He’s fine,” LynAnn assured her friend. “I’m really glad he’s helping Jeff. We have to get to the bottom of this.”
“I think it’s someone after Jeff. He makes a lot of enemies in his job. Someone has an axe to grind about something he did, probably someone he sent to jail.”
“Maybe.” LynAnn shrugged her shoulders, not really sold on the idea. She still wondered about seeing Todd, or someone who looked like Todd, at the lounge. Why did Jeff ask if she’d seen his body? Did he think it possible Todd was still alive? The thought made her stomach turn. Surely, if Todd were alive, he wouldn’t act this way. He would come to her. He would have somehow come to her after Cassie was born. He would have come to her long before four years passed. Todd loved his children, and he promised he would get out of the undercover work before Cassie was born. He was not able to get out. Someone stopped him before he could.
The women were both on edge, and Jean couldn’t help asking about Stu again. “Did Stu say anything about me? How did he look?”
“He looked fine. The men had their hands full with whoever was outside. He and Jeff are taking turns on watch in case they come back. It’s going to be a long night for them.”
“Oh, they could be in danger.” Distressed, Jean began to pace around the room. Finally, she flung her body into a chair, covered her face with her hands, and sobbed. “I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out what I did wrong. I tried to be a good wife, and I thought Stu was happy.”
LynAnn flew to her side in an instant and ran her fingers over her curly head.
“You were a very good wife. Don’t blame yourself.” She tried to soothe her.
After a while, Jean dried her eyes, and LynAnn was able to head to the spare bedroom to sleep. She found she was exhausted and felt safe with the two men downstairs. She fell asleep almost instantly.
****
“What do you know about Jim Anderson?” Jeff questioned Stu as he took his turn watching from the window.
“The police captain?” Stu was taken back. “He’s a straight shooter as far as I can see. Why do you ask?”
“LynAnn doesn’t trust him. He worked with her husband before he died. When her husband died, he was labeled a dirty cop. I guess they thought he was taking bribes or getting a kickback. She never believed it, but Anderson worked at the same precinct at the time.”
Stu gave a low whistle. “That’s quite a coincidence, don’t you think?”
Jeff nodded. “I’ve got a whole pile of checking to do tomorrow. I’m going to visit Anderson, and I also want to see Todd’s autopsy report. I keep asking myself, ‘What were they looking for in this apartment?’ They thought something was on her computer and then they searched mine.”
“Your computer, too.” Shocked, Stu scratched his temple. “This sounds like a real can of worms. You’d better be careful. I assumed this had to do with someone you put behind bars at the DA’s office. I didn’t think it could actually involve LynAnn. Now it sounds like both of you are involved. But how could that be?”
Jeff slowly shook his head. “I have no idea.”
“Do you think they found what they wanted on your computers?”
“No. LynAnn said the kids play her computer and she had to get the hard drive replaced some time ago. And there was nothing important on the one I use at home. I’m still not certain it’s LynAnn they’re after. It could be me.”
It was a long night, and there were no suspicious movements outside. Jeff slept until three, and then Stu woke him and he took over until morning. He called LynAnn at seven, and she and the children returned to her apartment to get ready for the day. Stu drove her to the daycare with the children and then to Dr. Wilson’s office. Jeff took Jon home and showered and dressed for the office.
Chapter 19
As soon as Jeff checked his schedule at the office, he found a gap in his appointments. Time enough to visit the police captain and the coroner’s office.
When he walked into the police station a few hours later, there was no need for introductions. They all knew the DA. He asked for Captain Anderson, and in a few seconds the man appeared and ushered him into his cluttered office.
“Mr. Kelley, to what do I owe the honor?” The tall, big framed man shook his hand and offered him a seat.
“I’ll stand,” he replied sternly. “I’m not here for a social call. I want to see the files on Todd Johnson. Everything you have.”
Anderson sat down at his desk which was stacked high with files and some were stained with brown circles from coffee cups sitting on them. His expression didn’t change at the mention of Todd’s name. “Todd Johnson? Refresh my memory. Who is he?”
The captain was playing a game. He had to remember Todd’s name. “He worked with you at the Deerfield precinct. He’s dead.” Jeff’s anger brewed below the surface, but he refused to let it show.
“Ah.” Anderson had an epiphany. “LynAnn Johnson, the woman who was assaulted in the medical office, I thought her name rang a bell. She was his wife and aren’t you dating her?”
“I’m not here to discuss my love life either.” His reply was terse. “I want the files on Todd Johnson.”
Anderson leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as if he were in deep thought. “Yes, I remember her. A real beauty, but she didn’t have all her oars in the water.” He switched to an upright position and looked straight at him. “Her husband committed suicide and she went off the deep end. Is she still saying he was murdered? I would have thought she’d be institutionalized by now.”
Anger welled up inside Jeff, and he wanted to barrage the smug man with curse words, but outwardly he remained completely calm. “I want to know what you can tell me about her husband’s death, not her.”
“Not much.” Anderson shook his head. “He was doing undercover work and rumor had it she had an affair and got pregnant, and when her husband found out, he ended his life. Gunshot to the temple.” He demonstrated by shaping his fist like a gun and pointing it at his own temple.
Jeff didn’t need his theatrics. “I want those files in my office today. What do you know about Ron Cooper?” stone faced, he inquired.
“Ron was at the Deerfield precinct. He retired a year or so ago.” The captain halted and studied a stack of papers on his desk. Then he raised his head and looked him straight in the eye. “Look, Jeff, I know I have no business butting into your personal life, but I have to warn you about LynAnn Johnson. She’s been through a terrible ordeal, and it sounds to me like she hasn’t recovered. Her mind is warped.”
Irate, Jeff wanted to grab the brazen bastard by his throat, but he refused to let his anger show. He’d learned to control his temper long ago in the courtroom, besides he had another subject to bring up. “What’s going on with the cash missing from the safe?”
Anderson’s body bristled. “I had to fill out a report for the police commissioner and explain our plan of action to prevent it from happening again. We’ve removed all the old file cabinets from the room and now there’s a touchpad lock on the door. I also had the combination to the safe changed.”
“File cabinets? Did my secretary Andrea ever go in there?”
“A lot of secretaries were in and out of there. I moved the files to another room.”
Jeff heard all he needed to know. “I want the file on Johnson in my office today.” He did an about-face and swiftly marched out of the captain’s office.
His anger calmed by the time he reached the coroner’s office. Jack Richey was a friendly guy who had been the county coroner for t
hirty years or more. “Go back four years in your files, Jack, and see what you can find on a trooper named Todd Johnson.”
“Will do, Jeff. It might take me awhile.”
He hadn’t seen the coroner for months, and he noticed his back now curved and his shoulders were hunched from bending over the exam table doing autopsies for years.
“Did you do the autopsy yourself?”
“Probably, I do most of them. Let me look it up.” The man’s step was slow as he walked to a back room.
Jeff didn’t much like the coroner’s office. The odor of alcohol, formaldehyde, and death mixed in the air.
The coroner returned in a few minutes. “The file is pretty small.” He handed it to him. “I guess I didn’t do his autopsy. I was off with my heart surgery then, and my assistant, Bart Nathan, did it. Not much to say, a gunshot wound to the right temple, ruled self-inflicted.”
He shuffled through the pages. “No photo. No fingerprints. Isn’t that customary?”
Richey frowned. “Yes, we usually do, but in this case Bart must have seen no reason to do it. It’s up to the discretion of the coroner.”
“May I have copies?”
It took the aging coroner several minutes to make the copies and hand them to him.
“Thanks, Jack.” He shook his hand. “I have to get back to my office.”
Driving back to the courthouse annex, more questions than answers swirled through Jeff’s mind. Why hadn’t Captain Anderson told him he knew LynAnn, and why was Todd’s autopsy so scant?
****
Stu picked LynAnn up from work and then drove her to the daycare to pick up her children. “Tell Jeff I’ll call him later. He plans on keeping guard again tonight.” Stu, his face drawn, refused to look her in the eye.
“I will,” she promised, not knowing how long the men could keep up their vigil. Stu looked tired, and Jeff must be, too. She hadn’t heard from Jeff all day, and she hoped he wasn’t getting behind on his county work. Stu walked her to her door and then went inside first to make sure it was safe. He was about to leave when LynAnn stopped him. “Stu, I don’t expect you to tell me why you left Jean, but I think you owe her an explanation. She’s beating herself up over this and needs some answers.”