BLOODSTAIN (Det. Jason Strong(CLEAN SUSPENSE Book 2)

by John C. Dalglish

  BLOODSTAIN

  BY

  John C. Dalglish

  2012

  Other Clean Suspense Books by John C. Dalglish

  “Where’s My Son?” - Det. Jason Strong-Book - #1

  For My Brother - Det. Jason Strong-Book - #3

  Silent Justice - Det. Jason Strong-Book - #4

  Tied to Murder - Det. Jason Strong - #5

  One of their Own - Det. Jason Strong - #6

  Death Still - Det. Jason Strong - #7

  And a New Series.

  Crossover - Chaser Chronicles - #1

  Prologue

  Norman Lasiter laid his books on the bench and sat down.

  “I'm gonna’ do it, Mark.”

  Mark Jensen is Norman’s best friend. Actually, he’s the only true friend Norman has. Mark put his foot up on the bench and looked at him. “You’re crazy, Dude. You don't stand a chance with her.”

  Norman knew what he meant and why. It's not that Norman is stupid. In fact, he’s a straight “A” student. He’s also athletic, a starter on the varsity football team. He’d probably be one of the coolest kids in school, if not for one thing.

  Norman was born with a Port Wine Stain birthmark. A large one on the left side of his face and it impacted his life almost every day. “I'm telling you, she likes me. We sit near each other in Chemistry and she always says hi.”

  Mark rolled his eyes. “She's just being polite, Dude. That’s what girls like her do to guys like us.”

  “What do you mean ‘guys like us’?”

  “You know what I mean! We’re on a different social scale than they are.”

  Norman understood but remained steadfast. “I don't think so. I think she really likes me. I've always been too scared to ask a girl out, I'm not going to back down this time. Prom is in three weeks and I’m going with her.”

  The ‘her’ they’re talking about is Marcie Walker. Tall and thin, with jet-black hair that falls to her mid-back, and large green eyes that made Norman

  blush to just think about, she was one of the cool girls.

  Mark was clearly not convinced. “I don't want to see you crash and burn, man.”

  “Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.”

  Norman did his best to sound confident but inside he was terrified. He’s tall and well built, but it seemed the girls could never get past his birthmark. He’s convinced Marcie is different.

  Even though they’re sitting in the shade, both boys are sweating in the early summer of San Antonio.

  Mark took his foot off the bench and sat down next to his friend. “When you going to ask her?”

  “After football practice tomorrow. The cheerleaders practice in the gym, and I'll catch her there.”

  Mark put his arm over Norman's shoulders. “Well, if I can't talk you out of it, I'll wish you good luck. Call and let me know how it goes.”

  “I will.”

  *******

  Practice ran longer than usual the next day, and Norman was afraid he’d missed his chance. He ran over toward the gym, still in his uniform, and carrying his helmet. He spotted Marcie and two friends coming out of the locker room.

  “Marcie!”

  She looked but kept walking.

  “Marcie!”

  This time she stopped and turned toward him. The two girlfriends stopped too. He ran up to them. “Marcie, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Okay, what's up?”

  She didn't move and neither did the other two girls. Norman stared into those green eyes, unsure what to do, so he plunged ahead. “Well, uh, well, I was hoping you would go to prom with me.”

  The two girlfriends giggled and Marcie looked embarrassed. “No”

  “You sure?”

  “I'm sure, the answer is no.”

  Norman couldn't help himself. “Why not?”

  The two girls rolled their eyes and laughed out loud. Marcie looked angry. “Because, I'm not going to my senior prom with a guy who has a bloodstain on his face!”

  She turned and walked away, looping arms with her girlfriends, her black hair flowing behind her. He could hear them laughing.

  Norman stood there for a long time. Frozen in place, anger surging up in him. He felt naked, exposed, humiliated.

  How could she? Bloodstain! How dare she?

  His anger churned and mixed with embarrassment. He looked around for anyone who might have seen what just happened. A group of teammates was watching from the parking lot, and Norman could hear them laughing.

  He wanted to run after her, make her apologize, or make her pay for her cruelty. Instead, he threw his helmet against the gym wall and ran for home.

  Chapter 1

  Jason pulled into the driveway and got out. Sandy was waiting for him when he got to the door. She was tall, almost the same height as him, with blonde hair and brown eyes.

  Jason loved the way she greeted him. She would stop whatever she was doing, come over to him, and give him a peck on the lips. The kiss was always followed by a long hug. It was a wonderful ritual, and one he knew was partly born out of the fear he wasn’t going to come home one day. They’d talked about it when their dating became serious, but not since.

  They met at a Sonic drive-in. Jason had pulled in for a Cherry Limeaid and Sandy was a passenger in the car next to him. She was ordering the same thing and a conversation started up.

  Jason was enrolled in the police academy at University of Texas at Austin, and Sandy was in her final year of Teacher College. They met a couple times in the commons of the university for lunch, and finally went on an official date two weeks later. She had laughed, when after the movies, he had taken her back to Sonic for a Limeaid.

  From that day on, they remained inseparable. When Jason received a job offer from the San Antonio Police Department, Sandy had taken a teaching job with the San Antonio Schools.

  They were married the summer after they graduated, and had never talked about the danger in Jason’s job again. He sensed she had given it over to the Lord, and accepted the danger as part of loving him.

  There was no reason to discuss it. She would no more ask him to quit than he would ask her to give up teaching, but he knew her prayers went with him every day.

  Still, after every shift, she would greet him the same way. Sometimes the hugs lasted longer than others, but the greeting was always the same.

  Today was one of those extra long hugs. Jason had been tracking a suspected serial killer in Springfield, Missouri. There had been guns involved, which always made her anxiety worse. In truth, he might be the one holding on a little longer today. He missed her and the strength he drew from her.

  Still it was nice to be home with her rather than facing Lieutenant Patton. Jason has a violation of department policy to answer for, but at least he was able to be home for a while, before going to the station.

  *******

  Way too early the next morning, Jason’s phone began ringing. Seeing the station number on his phone, he figured it had to be Lieutenant John Patton. Instead, the voice that greeted him when he answered was his partner, Vanessa Layne. “Slacker, you awake yet?”

  “I am now.”

  “You coming in today? I’m tired of carrying the load while you’re off gallivanting across the country.”

  He gave a small laugh, and rubbed at his eyes. “Gallivanting? Really? Is that what I was doing?” He stretched. “Yes, I’ll be in. I’ve got an appointment with the lieutenant.”

  “Anything I should know about?”

  “No. I’ll see you when I get in.”

  He hung up and swung his legs off the side of the bed. Sandy rolled ov
er and touched his back. “Do you have to go?”

  She had no school today, some sort of teacher training thing, and Sandy had suggested last night she’d be willing to skip it, if Jason stayed home. “Yeah. Can’t put it off.”

  She groaned and rolled back over.

  He got up and got dressed.

  *******

  Jason arrived at the station about mid-morning. He walked to his desk opposite Vanessa, who was busy filling out a report. She looked up and smiled. “Welcome back, Stranger.”

  “Thanks. Have you seen the lieutenant?”

  “He ran down to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Said he’d be back shortly, and you should wait in his office.”

  Jason went over and took a chair in Lieutenant Patton’s office. Almost as quick as he got comfortable, the door shut behind him.

  “Morning, JD.”

  Jason's middle name is David, and he’d picked up JD in the academy. It had stuck.

  “Good morning, Lieutenant.”

  John Patton dropped into his chair. He was a big man who worked out almost every day, including his days off, and had muscles on his muscles. Receding brown hair, or as he put it, migrating brown hair, seemed to be going to his eyebrows and moustache.

  They were indeed unruly, and when the lieutenant got upset, his eyebrows knit together to form a bushy hedge. Jason noticed the hedge was visible this morning.

  “Jason, you’ve put me in a tough spot. Your work in Springfield was first class, but the records search you did for Michael Barton is strictly against department policy.”

  “Yes, sir.” Jason figured the fewer words, the better.

  “I’ve made the captain aware of the search, but not the fall-out.”

  Jason didn’t say anything. He bore responsibility for much of what took place in the days after the records search and those events could result in his removal from the force.

  The lieutenant got to the point. “You’re suspended with pay for fourteen days.”

  Jason let it sink in. It wasn’t the time off, that would be okay, but the mark on his record may well hold him back for years. Still, he knew John Patton had protected him. It would have been much worse if the captain knew all the details.

  Jason stood. “Yes, sir. I appreciate the consideration.”

  “Don’t mention it, and give your partner the news on the way out.”

  “I will.”

  Looks like Vanessa has two more weeks of carrying me.

  Chapter 2

  Jason Strong took Highway 368 out of his Terrell Hills neighborhood down to Houston Street, and then east to the police station. He and Sandy had moved to the subdivision when he’d made detective. It was a nice neighborhood of newer homes, and an easy commute for both of them.

  Headed back to work after serving only six days of his suspension, the lieutenant had called this morning, and put Jason back on active duty. A case had just landed on his desk, and the lieutenant was short-handed. Jason jumped at the chance to get back to work, and was on his way within twenty minutes.

  His cell phone started going off five minutes after the lieutenant hung up. It was Vanessa but he ignored the calls to get ready. She kept at it right up until he pulled into the station parking lot. He pressed the button to ignore another call and headed toward the station doors.

  He was almost there when he saw Vanessa coming toward him. Tall and thin, some might say skinny, with big eyes and long, black hair, she’s very attractive. She’d made detective before him, but it wasn’t because of her looks. They’d been beat cops together and she was good, very good. Jason was glad, when he’d made rank, that they’d been made partners.

  Usually, she’s smiling, but that wasn't the case this morning. She started talking as soon as she got within earshot. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

  “Good morning to you, too”

  “Lieutenant says there's a body over by Canyon State Park. He wants us to take it.”

  “Yeah, I know. That’s why I ignored your calls, he wanted me here as fast as possible.”

  She wasn’t buying it. “Whatever!”

  He laughed. It was good to be working with his partner again. “Why are we taking a case in a state park?”

  “Lieutenant says it’s just outside the park, in the Stanton subdivision, and they’ve asked us to take the lead.”

  By now, Jason had turned around, and was walking with Vanessa toward her car. “He give you any other details?”

  “Just that it's a female. Uniforms have taped the area off. Medical Examiner and Forensics are on the way.”

  They got to her car, a restored 1971 Dodge Challenger, and climbed in. She fired up the engine with a roar. Vanessa's husband had restored it for her at his auto body shop.

  Jason had been to the shop a handful of times and seen several of the cars Rob had done for customers. He was good at what he did. Jason had a Ford Thunderbird he wanted Rob to tackle, but the new house had used up all the fun money.

  They were on the Highway 1608 loop heading north toward the suburb of Stanton. Even though it was a hot July day, they drove with the windows open, and the air conditioning off. Vanessa loved to let her hair blow and his comfort came second. Truth was he didn't mind. It reminded him of his college days.

  Jason was just over six feet tall, with jet-black hair and hazel eyes. He wore his dark sunglasses most of the time but, when he wanted information, or wanted to get a read on someone, he took them off. He could be very intimidating with his stare.

  He was muscular in an athletic way, not like a body builder, but strong and very calm under fire. He attributed his calmness to his faith.

  Vanessa was his opposite. She was always going forward, most always talking, and ready for anything. She was also smart, and the two of them complimented each other well. They made a formidable team.

  She wheeled the Challenger around a sharp corner and came to stop at a stretch of yellow tape. The crime scene ran from the road back into the woods for nearly two hundred yards, across another hundred, and then back to the road. Jason could see the forensics team near the middle of the yellow box, bending over a form.

  They got out, and even though they were well known to the officers, flashed their badges before ducking under the tape. Vanessa pulled on latex gloves while they walked. She had gone quiet.

  For all the talking she did normally, at a crime scene, she was the quiet one. Jason would ask most of the questions while Vanessa looked at the scene for things that seemed out of place or somehow askew.

  When they got up to the body, the forensics team stepped back. Jason nodded at the Chief Medical Examiner, Doctor Leonard Davis.

  He’d first met Leonard Davis at the city morgue during his rookie year on patrol. Jason had gone over to meet a detective who had some questions, and was introduced to Doc.

  The years hadn’t changed Doc at all. Jason remembered thinking the doctor was near retirement when he first met him, and Doc Davis still looked sixty-five, with just a ring of gray hair around his head, and pale skin from too many days in the basement morgue. On the heavy side of two-hundred-fifty pounds, his walk was best described as ‘lumbering.’ He might be the smartest man Jason ever met.

  “Doc, what have we got?”

  “Female, approximately twenty-five, been dead about two days.”

  “Can you tell what killed her?”

  “Appears to be single gunshot to the heart.”

  She was naked, and leaning with her back against a tree. A wine glass stood propped in her right hand. Vanessa shook her head. “What kinda’ sickness is that?”

  Jason squinted at the wine glass. It had a bloodstain on it. He looked at the medical examiner. “Can you tell if she was killed here or dumped?”

  Leonard Davis leaned over and pulled the body away from the tree. “Look for yourself.”

  Jason bent over and looked at the tree behind her. Blood and tissue could be clearly seen imbedded in the tree bark.

  “You find a bu
llet?”

  The medical examiner let the body resume its position against the tree and pulled a baggie out of his pocket, waving it at them.

  “It's a nine-millimeter. Forensics lab will run ballistics when I get back to see if it matches anything on record. I wouldn’t hold my breath though, it’s pretty badly beat up.” He waved a second baggie. “Also found a shell casing. It might be more helpful.”

  Jason took out a note pad and started jotting down information. Vanessa reached over with a pen and moved the wine glass in the sun. “Is there any other blood, where this stain could come from?”

  Doc Davis shook his head. “No. The gunshot is the only wound.”

  “So it could be our perpetrator’s blood?”

  “Could be. Won’t know until forensics does their testing.

  “Any ID?”

  “No, and a search of the area hasn't turned up any clothes or personal effects.”

  Jason looked around. “Who found the body?”

  One of the uniformed officers nearby pointed at a man in green fatigues and a ball cap. “A hunter. That's him over there.”

  Jason left Vanessa studying the scene and walked over to the hunter. Even though he hunted animals, and probably killed some, the sight of a human body had clearly left him shaken. Jason extended his hand as he reached the man. “Detective Jason Strong.”

  They shook hands. “Mike Gilbert.”

  “You found the body?”

  “Unfortunately. A couple hours ago.”

  “Can I ask what you were doing back here off the road?”

  “Hunting. This is one of my favorite areas.”

  “It's July, what were you hunting?”

  “Squirrel.”

  “Did you see anything unusual before finding the body?”

  “Nothing,” he gestured toward the body. “It was a normal hunt up until I saw that.”

  There was no defensiveness in his answers, and Jason found it unlikely he was their killer. “Okay, make sure the officer has your name and number. You can go after that. Thanks.”