Roman

by K. J. Dahlen

  “Did he come back again after that?” Elliot asked.

  “I don’t know.” T.K. said. “I never went back to the warehouse again.” She turned to India. “I heard about your mom and I wanted to come to you as a friend but I was afraid of my own shadow at the time. I could barely make it back and forth to school for the longest time.”

  “I know. My life changed so much in so little time. First, the murder, then my mother. I think I was numb for the next several years.” She turned to T.K. “I wish you could come back with us. I would love to catch up on the last fifteen years.”

  “That sounds like an excellent idea,” Cade told them.

  “What?” T.K. frowned.

  “I think you should come back to North Carolina with us, at least for a few days,” Cade said.

  “Why would I do that?” T.K. asked looking from them over to India then back to the men. Her dark eyes looked doubtful.

  “We’ll be going over the case and you might have more information than you realize,” he told her.

  “I’m not sure I want to relive that nightmare again.” T.K. shook her head. “There are still days when I can’t bear to leave this apartment.”

  “I think the only way to get over your fear is to face it,” India told her. “That guy put me through hell for so long. I had nightmares for years after the murder but I wouldn’t give him the power to stop me from achieving my goals and dreams. The fear is still there just under the surface but I don’t let it control me.”

  “You always were a strong minded person, even as a kid. You never feared anything. I’m not as strong as you are.”

  India shook her head. “I put on a good front. I was very scared as a kid. There was only me and my Mom then when she was taken from me. I was so lost.”

  “Please reconsider coming home with us for a while,” Elliot asked.

  T.K. took a moment and sighed as she nodded. “Ok, I’ll come. Maybe you’re right.” She turned to India. “Maybe it’s time I faced my fears after all.”

  ~* * * *~

  Two hours later, they were back in the plane one their way back to Edenton. T.K. had been nervous about taking off but as soon as they were in the air, she settled down.

  Once they were in the air, India grabbed the box holding the jar. She carefully lifted the jar out of the box and set it on the table in front of her.

  T.K. caught sight of the jar and leaned forward. “Oh, my…”

  India glanced at her. “What?”

  “Is this the jar from fifteen years ago?” she asked as she picked it up and looked at it closer.

  “Yes, it is. Do you see something in the jar that we don’t?” India asked.

  “Oh, yeah. The craftsmanship can only be one person, Gretchen Hawks made this jar.”

  India stared at her friend then glanced toward the front of the plane. Cade and Elliot were in the pilot and copilot seat. “Are you sure?”

  T.K. tipped the jar over and there on the bottom of the jar was the signature of Gretchen Hawks. She tipped it toward India.

  “What do you know about this woman?”

  T.K. sat back in her chair and thought for a moment. “You know when we were kids I loved to draw and that carried over when I grew up. I work nights at the post office, so I don’t have to sleep in the darkness. I can’t sleep more than two hours at a time and even when I do sleep, I still have the nightmares. Also, it gives me time in the early morning to do what I truly love to do. I’m an artist. The drawings I do give me peace of mind. I also illustrate children’s books for several author friends. That helps pay the bills.”

  “That’s cool.” India smiled. “I’m glad your life turned out so good.”

  “It’s okay, I mean I like to draw but I love to paint. One of the people I studied in college was Gretchen Hawks. I got the internship from the African American Endowment fund. Being a black woman, I would have never had a chance at that opportunity otherwise. Gretchen works mostly in ceramics but she’s still one hell of an artist. Her works with color and texture are wonderful.”

  “Do you know where she lives?”

  “She’s from the Boston area. I actually got to meet her once when she was doing a course at the Boston College. She’s an eccentric woman, it’s almost as if she lives in a world all her own.”

  Cade got up and joined them in the cabin. He sighed as he sat down next to India. When he saw the jar out on the table, he looked at India.

  India motioned her head at the jar. “T.K. tells me the jar is a Gretchen Hawks creation.”

  “A what?” Cade asked.

  “Gretchen Hawks made this jar,” India repeated.

  “How do you know that?” Cade looked confused.

  “I studied art under her in college,” T.K. explained. She handed him the jar and turned it over in his hand so he could see the signature on the bottom. “She lives in the Boston area and is quite well known for her color and texture combinations.”

  “I see,” Cade said. “I don’t know what it means but at least we know more than we did a little while ago.”

  “How much longer until we get back?” T.K. asked.

  Cade checked his watch. “About a half an hour or so.”

  “So what do we do now?” she asked.

  “We gather the evidence and go through it. We figure it out as we go along. One clue leads to another clue and that clue might lead to another. By talking through the information we have, we figure out where we have to go next.”

  “Is that how you do it?” T.K. asked.

  “My team is one of the best in the world.” Cade nodded. “If anyone can find this monster they can.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” T.K. said as she rubbed her hands together.

  Cade stared at her for a moment then asked, “What are you afraid of?”

  “What’s going to happen if this guy finds out there were two witnesses to his crime? He’s already got too much to lose to get caught now. Right now, he’s free and clear because no one knows what he looks like. If you start showing his portrait around, somebody who knows him is going to tell him. What’s going to happen to India and me then?” Her hands shook now as she spoke.

  “We live in a secure compound. You will be safe there.”

  “Are you going to protect us for the rest of our lives?” she asked. “I’ve had the same nightmares for years. I watched him butcher that woman over and over in my mind until that woman became me. Her screams have become my screams.” Tears began rolling down her cheeks as she looked away. Then she looked back at him. “I can’t help the fear I feel. It’s become a part of my life. I hate it but its right there every time I close my eyes.”

  “When we catch this guy, and don’t doubt for a moment that we will catch him, we’ll lock him and everyone he’s associated with up. He’ll never have the chance to get anywhere near you or India. You will get your life back,” Cade promised.

  India reached out and took her hand. “I, for one have to follow this through. I don’t want to live with this fear anymore. The monster in my dreams isn’t going to win. I’ve allowed this monster to have control over my life for too long already. I’m taking back the power I gave him.”

  T.K. stared at her. “Is it really that simple?”

  India nodded. “All you have to do is make up your mind. I understand your fear… believe me I do. I’ve lived with the same fear you have. I’ve looked over my shoulder for too long now and it’s time to stop. He isn’t going to win. I won’t let him.”

  “You have already given us more than we could have hoped for,” Cade reminded her. “You gave us a face to work from and a clue about the jar he used. You are on your way to getting your life back. But you have to be strong enough to finish what you’ve started. You need to see this through to the end.”

  T.K. nodded. “All I can say is…I’ll try.”

  “That’s all you can do,” India said. “I’m here for you if the nights get too black.”

  Cade noticed they began t
o descend and he excused himself to help land the plane.

  India held T.K.’s hand. T.K. squeezed her hand a little tighter and asked, “Do you trust these guys?”

  “Yes I do. When I read an article about the same kind of murder we witnessed fifteen years ago, everything came flooding back. When my mom died, I shoved the murder and the misery I was going through in the back of my mind. It was the only way I could survive back then. When I read the words in that news article, it all came back and I was living in desperate fear. Then I decided I wasn’t going to do that anymore. I got on the net and I searched for more murders with the same M.O. and I’ll be damned if I didn’t find them.”

  “What did you do then?”

  “I took what I found and I went to see a friend of mine. His name is Briar and he’s Cade and Elliot’s brother. I had no idea the Rivers Foundation existed until I met him.”

  “What would you have done if he just shrugged off your fears?” T.K. asked.

  “I don’t know. He very well could have. He didn’t have to hear me out but he did. Briar is a good man that way.”

  T.K. stared at her for a moment then asked, “Are you scared?”

  “I’m terrified, but I have to see this through. If I don’t, this sick bastard is going to keep killing. I don’t want someone else to go through what we saw fifteen years ago. This creep took our childhood and I don’t want anyone else to suffer the fears we have.”

  T.K. looked out the window and saw the airport coming closer. “Maybe together, we can both get our lives back.”

  Chapter Five

  As they drove up to the Foundation, Elliot noticed another car in the driveway and he looked over at Cade. “Well the parents are here.”

  “Did you expect anything else?” Cade asked. “He would have gone to see Mom and Dad at some point this weekend.”

  “What happened wasn’t his fault, you know that,” Eliot stated. “When are you going to forgive him?”

  Cade sighed. “I know, I just can’t say the words.”

  “You need to find a way before this tears our family apart forever. I don’t know how much more Mom can handle.”

  Cade didn’t say anything, instead he opened his car door and existed the vehicle. He marched to the front door and left it open as he made his way through it.

  India watched him disappear and couldn’t help but wonder about the tension between the brothers. What had to be forgiven? As they entered the house, India saw an older couple greet Elliot and Cade. Briar she noticed was back. There was a tension in the air that everyone was doing their best to ignore but it was there all the same.

  Briar turned his head and when he saw her, he jumped up and greeted her. “Oh good, you’re back.” He looked at T.K. and smiled. “I’m another brother. My name is Briar.”

  “You’re India’s friend.” She smiled as she shook his hand.

  Briar chuckled. “Well I’d like to think so anyway.” He turned to India and asked, “How was your trip?”

  “Well, our monster now has a face and we recovered the jar,” India told him.

  “Not bad then,” Briar looked surprised then he looked troubled. “I’m sorry I left, India.”

  She stared at his face for a long moment. “Yes, you did leave me. I kind of understood though, but don’t make a habit out of it.” She raised a brow at him.

  He smiled at her. “I’ll try.”

  T.K. looked between them both and grinned.

  Briar nodded his head. “The group here has been busy too.” He ushered them toward the kitchen. “But before we all catch up, Mom says lunch is ready.”

  When everyone assembled in the kitchen, there was barely room to move. The older couple had moved to the front of the line. India glanced at the island and saw it was set up buffet style. Plates and silverware were on one end and an array of breads, meat and cheeses with potato salad and chips. There was enough food to feed an army.

  When they got closer to the island, Briar turned to introduce her to his mother, “Mom, this is India. I’m afraid I don’t know her friend’s name. Ladies, I’d like you to meet my Mom, Claire.”

  “I’m glad to meet you,” India said. “This is my friend, T.K. Jonas.”

  Claire smiled. “I’m so glad to meet you. Briar has told me what brings you here and I’m happy to say if anyone can help you, my sons can.” She motioned at the buffet and said, “Please help yourself. I’m afraid I insist that everyone around here eat. They usually get so busy when they’re working a case, nutrition often falls short.”

  India chuckled. “I know how that can happen.”

  “Well, not on my watch,” Claire said. “There will be plenty of time to work after you eat.”

  India and T.K. filled their plates and went outside to eat. The backyard was filled with small tables. The other tables were filled with the other members of the team. When an older man joined them, he introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Levi Rivers.”

  India looked around and said, “Briar tells me you set this Foundation up.”

  Levi looked downcast for a moment then nodded. “After the accident that crippled my youngest son, he and the others were looking for something productive to do. There was a need for this type of place, all I did was set it up. Together, they made it work and I’m proud of the fact that my sons have brought some pretty nasty criminals to justice.”

  “I sure hope they can find this monster,” T.K. said.

  “They won’t stop until they do, you can be sure of that.” Levi nodded.

  India looked down at her empty plate and grinned. “I guess I was hungrier than I thought.”

  Levi chuckled. “My wife is usually right about things like that. Now you’ll be able to concentrate on the case instead of your stomach.” He got to his feet and before he left he said, “Good luck.”

  India watched him walk away then turned to T.K. “I think we came to the right place.”

  “I hope so,” T.K. commented.

  “Come on, let’s go find our stuff,” India said. “The sooner we solve this the better I’ll like it.”

  They went back into the house and when they got to the living room, India found her overnight bag and backpack. She took her laptop out of her and sat down on one of the couches. When she had it fired up, she searched the name Gretchen Hawks on the internet.

  Page after page came up on the artist. She scanned the pages and when she was finished, she thought she knew more than enough about the woman in question. When the others joined them, India looked up.

  Jerah and Fallon picked up some files but it was Faith that began by saying, “We were able to firmly establish a timeline for your murderer.”

  “Please don’t call him that.” India shuddered. “He’s not my anything, except maybe a nightmare.”

  Faith nodded. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by that.” She looked at a bulletin board. “As I was saying, we were able to establish a timeline of similar murders. We made contact in all the cases and the reports are being faxed to us by the different police departments.”

  “And we found our killer’s face,” Cade announced.

  “Really?” Jerah asked excitedly. “We know what this killer looks like? How did we do that?”

  “Thanks to Miss Jonas here, we have a drawing of his face,” Cade informed them. “We also have another clue. It seems the jars the killer used are from a local to Boston artist.”

  “You found the jar?” Kanan asked.

  “It was right where India left it fifteen years ago.” Cade nodded.

  “Did you make contact with the local police?” Jerah asked.

  “Yeah. The man’s name is Detective James Kingston,’ Cade replied. “He’s doing background checks and pulling the cold case files for us.” Cade got up and pinned the drawing of the killer’s face on the bulletin board.

  Everyone took a moment to get a good look at the face of the killer.

  India was able to print off a picture of Gretchen Hawks. She put it next to the portrait
of the killer and said, “This is Gretchen Hawks. She created the jars the killer used to place the organs in.”

  “We might want to have a conversation with Ms. Hawks,” Elliot suggested. “What else do we know about her?”

  “She’s well known for her use of color and texture in her art work,” T.K. told them. “She works mostly in ceramics but her earlier works included some canvas and oil works. She’s associated with Boston College but has her own place just south of Boston.”

  Jerah glanced at Fallon and Cade then looked at T.K. “And you know this how?”

  “I took some classes with her at college and I’ve been to her place in Quincy. She lives on a compound. The main house is huge while her studio is just as big. She displays her works throughout her home and yard and ships to a gallery in New York twice a month.”

  “You seem to know quite a bit about Ms. Hawks,” Fallon stated.

  “I interned with her under a scholarship for three months during college.”

  “What else does she have on her compound?” Jerah asked. “Did you see any outbuildings besides her studio?”

  T.K. sat there for a moment then said, “As a matter of fact there were several other buildings within sight of the main house and the studio. She told me they were storage buildings. I never had any reason to go into them, so I don’t really know what was in there.”

  “Ok, what do the murders tell us about the killer?” Elliot asked the group.

  “Our killer is ritualistic with an Egyptian complex, Fallon answered this. “He’s trying to recreate how the priests mummified the Pharaohs. He got better with each murder he committed, so the first few were trial and error. We’re just starting to get the police reports but the ones we’ve gotten are pretty much the same. We’ve had several calls from police departments wanting to share information with us.”