DEATH STILL (Det. Jason Strong (CLEAN SUSPENSE) Book 7)

by John C. Dalglish

  DEATH STILL

  By

  John C. Dalglish

  2014

  Other Clean Suspense Books

  by

  John C. Dalglish

  DETECTIVE JASON STRONG SERIES

  WHERE’S MY SON? – #1

  BLOODSTAIN – #2

  FOR MY BROTHER – #3

  SILENT JUSTICE – #4

  TIED TO MURDER – #5

  ONE OF THEIR OWN – #6

  DEATH STILL - #7

  LETHAL INJECTION – #8

  CRUEL DECEPTION – #9

  THE CHASER CHRONICLES

  CROSSOVER – #1

  JOURNEY – #2

  DESTINY- #3

  Prologue

  The bleeding had slowed to just an occasional drip, the life having drained out of her body in a red stream, both wrists seeping until her eyes turned gray. Her chest no longer going in and out, her pleading having stopped nearly five minutes ago.

  It was the time for his favorite photograph, the Death Still.

  He raised his camera and snapped three pictures before getting up from his seat opposite the dead woman. Moving past her to the stairs, he climbed them two at a time to the kitchen, and slipped out the side door into the sunshine of the San Antonio afternoon.

  *******

  Jeff Childs arrived home at his usual time, parked in the garage, and went into the house. He set his briefcase on the kitchen counter and called out to his wife.

  “Missy?”

  Nothing on the stove; maybe she wants to go out to dinner.

  “Missy!”

  Crap! Did I forget something? It’s not our anniversary. It’s not her birthday, I don’t think.

  “Missy, where are you?”

  He went upstairs. She wasn’t in the bedroom, bathroom, or her sewing room. He started to get an uneasy feeling. He went back down to the main floor.

  “Missy!”

  Going back into the kitchen, the slightly open basement door caught his eye.

  She never goes in the basement.

  He opened the door. “Missy, you down there?”

  The light at the bottom of the stairs was on, so he went down several steps, bending over to see under the edge of the ceiling. He saw her sitting in a chair with her back to him.

  “Missy, what is going on?”

  A pool of liquid on the floor, like a gallon of spilled red paint, suddenly registered.

  Oh, no!

  Chapter 1

  The phone started to ring next to Jason’s head. He reached over and smacked it, confusing it with the alarm clock. It continued to ring. Finally, the exhaustion of a new father receded.

  He picked up the phone, thought about pitching it across the room, but answered it. “Hello?”

  “Jason, that you?”

  “Yeah,” Jason recognized his partner’s voice, even if Vanessa didn’t recognize his. “Why?”

  “You sound dead. Were you asleep?”

  “Actually, yes.”

  “It’s five o’clock in the afternoon.”

  “Yeah I know, but when the baby decides to nap, you take whatever you can get.” He sat up and rubbed his eyes. “You remember, don’t you?”

  “Indeed I do. Sorry to call you on your day off, but Lieutenant Banks insisted.”

  “It’s okay. What’s up?”

  “We’ve got a body over on the north side of town. Banks asked us to take it.”

  With Nina Jefferson gone, and former detective Frank Menendez in prison, the Homicide Division of the San Antonio Police Department was very shorthanded.

  “Okay. Sandy should be home anytime, you want to come by and pick me up?”

  “Sure. I’ll see you in a half hour.”

  The phone went dead and Jason got up. Creeping as quietly as man over six feet can, he went down the hall to the baby’s room, and listened for signs Nina Michelle was awake. All was quiet, so he retreated to his room and got in the shower.

  Ten minutes later, he came out of the bathroom toweling his black hair to find Sandy holding his daughter, watching him. He walked over and kissed them both. “How was your day?”

  “Okay. It’s nice to be back teaching again.”

  “I bet.”

  She cocked her head at him. “What are you doing?”

  “Vanessa called. We’ve got a body on the north side, and Banks asked us to take it.” He braced for the response.

  “Again?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid so.”

  “Jason, you haven’t had a full day off in weeks. When are they going to get you some help?”

  “Soon.” He flashed a big smile and tried the puppy dog look with his hazel eyes, but she wasn’t swayed.

  “Don’t try that on me. I miss you, Nina misses you, heck even Penny misses you!”

  Right on cue, the big white fur ball padded into the bedroom. She walked past Jason and lay down at Sandy’s feet. Jason was sure Penny was giving him a scornful look.

  “I know, I know. I miss you guys, too.” He walked over and touched his daughter’s cheek. “I’m sure they’re just waiting for Lieutenant Patton to come back.”

  He sat on the bed facing his family. “I’ll make it up, I promise. We’ll go away as soon as I can secure the time.”

  He could tell Sandy didn’t want to be angry, and as her face slowly melted into a small grin, she poked him in the chest. “Promise?”

  “Promise.” He kissed her on the forehead, and finished getting ready. Ten minutes later, he heard the horn of Vanessa’s car.

  *******

  They took the I-410 loop to Castle Hills, on the north side of San Antonio. When Vanessa and Jason pulled up, the house on Oak Royal Road was already cordoned off with yellow crime tape, which flitted in the breeze, easily seen against the white building.

  Jason recognized the uniformed officer who met them at the end of the driveway. She’d been the first to respond to the Orchid Village murder scene, and Jason was pleased to note she’d remembered his instructions about securing a crime scene.

  “Hello, Detective Strong. The victim is in the basement, and no one has been in the home since we came on site. Forensics is on their way.”

  Jason smiled at her. “What have we got?”

  The officer glanced at her notes. “Melissa Childs. Forty-four-year-old female, dead on our arrival, apparently from blood loss. Married to Jeffery Childs. He’s in the backyard being interviewed by my partner.”

  “What were her injuries?”

  “Her wrists were cut.”

  Jason nodded. “Thank you, Officer.”

  Jason and Vanessa walked toward the front door of the two-story home. Along the path, a For Sale by Owner sign was stuck in the grass.

  Jason pointed it out to Vanessa. “I wonder if they were selling because they were afraid.”

  “That’s a good question. You should be a detective.”

  He laughed. “I’m working on it.”

  They walked through the immaculate home, and Jason saw no sign of a struggle. Coming into the kitchen, they found the door to the basement, and Vanessa led the way down the creaky wood steps.

  She was first to see the young woman’s body. “Oh, crap. This is ugly.”

  Jason followed her around in front of the victim. Melissa Childs was tied to a dining room chair, a rope around her chest and another around her waist. Her arms were pinned to her sides by the second rope.

  Mrs. Childs’ head hung to one side, eyes half-open and lifeless. Her hair held in a ponytail by a bright pink ribbon, she was fully dressed, except for her feet. Long, straight gashes at each wrist had produced dual streams
of blood, now pooled and congealed, on the cement floor around the chair.

  Jason turned around, looking at the chair behind him. It matched the one the victim was tied in. On a small side table next to the chair lay a straight razor blade, its edge red from blood.

  Jason turned back to Vanessa. “Any chance she killed herself?”

  Vanessa studied the scene, her mind working in the detailed way Jason had become accustomed to seeing.

  “Not likely. She would’ve had to throw the razor blade onto the table from over here, then tie herself up with bleeding wrists. Also, those knots are behind her.”

  “So, do you think it was suicide?”

  She looked over and caught his grin. “No.” A hard punch to his shoulder emphasized her point.

  “Oww.” He rubbed his arm. “Our killer probably used this other chair.”

  “Yeah. You think he sat there and watched her die?”

  “That’s one possibility.”

  Steps echoed on the stairway as the crime scene techs arrived. Within minutes, flashbulbs were going off, evidence was being collected and bagged, and the business of finding the animal responsible had begun.

  Jason gestured toward the stairs. “You want to go talk to the husband with me?”

  “Yeah, let’s get out of here.”

  *******

  They found Jeffery Childs sitting in the living room holding a glass of water, a blank stare on his face. He didn’t seem to notice when the two detectives came into the room.

  Vanessa nudged Jason. “I’ll go talk to the officer who interviewed him.”

  Jason nodded and moved over in front of Mr. Childs. He cleared his throat. “Uh… Mr. Childs?”

  Jeff Childs was about the same age as his wife, but right now he looked much older. His face, thin with few wrinkles for a man in his forties, was pale. He still had a full head of brown hair, and obviously took care of himself.

  Jason guessed him at five-ten, maybe a hundred sixty pounds. It seemed unlikely the husband had physically restrained his wife; she was at least equal to him in size and fitness, but that didn’t exonerate him. Jason tried again. “Mr. Childs?”

  Eventually, Jeff Childs focused on Jason. “Yes?”

  “Mr. Childs, my name is Detective Jason Strong. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

  “I don’t understand. Did she kill herself?”

  Jason slowly shook his head. “No, sir, we don’t believe so.”

  “Then who? Who would do this to my Missy?”

  Jason took out his notebook. “I was hoping you might help us with that. Do you think you could answer a few questions?”

  He dropped his head into his hands. “Sure, but I already told the other officer everything I knew.”

  “I know, but I’d like to hear it again, please.”

  “Okay, I guess.”

  As he had done with spouses so many times before, Jason had the man start at the time he woke up, and walk through the whole day. And just like most of the cases before, the day was unremarkable. Right up until the man found a horrific scene in his basement.

  When Jeff Childs finished, Jason thanked him, and went to find Vanessa. She was standing outside the house, speaking to the patrol sergeant. “Make sure I get a copy of the notes from neighborhood canvas.”

  The sergeant nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Thank you,” She turned to Jason as the officer walked off. “Learn anything?”

  “Not really. I want to compare what he told me with what he told the responding officer, but the guy looks about as devastated as any man could be.”

  Vanessa looked at her notes. “The husband told the officer he was at work all day, mostly in meetings. He works at Mid-Texas Bank on Commerce Street.”

  “That’s what he told me. We’ll need to verify it, and then check with Doc Davis about time of death. If she died in the late morning or early afternoon, and he was in the meetings, we can clear him right away.”

  Jason didn’t really want to go back into such a disturbing scene, but he knew he had to recheck all of his first impressions. The initial search is critical, before evidence is handled, things moved, and people forget. He needed one more look.

  Vanessa followed him back into the house.

  *******

  Marcus Roberts hooked the camera to the small Sony picture printer. A few buttons, a file transfer, and his pictures began to print. Three shots of the same view.

  As the first one came out of the machine, he held it up, waving it back and forth to dry. These new machines were more advanced than his old Polaroid, and he didn’t have to wait for the picture to dry, but it was force of habit.

  He laid the three pictures side by side on his desk. Reaching over, he flicked on his old fluorescent desk lamp, which sputtered to life and illuminated the photos.

  It was time to decide which one would complete the latest album. Slowly, almost as if caressing her face again, he ran his fingers over each picture. The last shot was the best, the angle of the camera getting more of her face, compared to the other two.

  He picked it up, held it at arm’s length, and then stood. Walking across the small one-room efficiency apartment to the shelf over his bed, he pulled down the photo album bearing the name Melissa Childs.

  Marcus sat on the bed, opened the album, and flipped through the pages. Smiling as he reached the last page, he opened the plastic sleeve, and slid the photo into its spot.

  With the album complete, he went back to the first page and started over. Page by page, he moved through the album. Reliving each photo, examining each angle, and preparing for his next photo shoot.

  My first album is complete. A nice work of art.

  After several more trips through the book, he returned the album to its place.

  Tomorrow I can start to look for a new subject, and start a new album.

  Chapter 2

  The next morning, Jason and Vanessa pulled into the station parking lot at the same time. They met on their way up to the door.

  Vanessa’s long black hair hung down her back, accentuating her thin build. Her large blue eyes were constantly moving and searching, especially when she was on a case. “Morning, Jason.”

  “Good morning. Are you thinking the same thing as me?”

  Vanessa grinned and they spoke in unison. “Doc Davis.”

  Jason laughed as he opened the station door. “After you, ma’am.”

  “Why thank you, sir.”

  Doctor Leonard Davis, Doc Davis to everyone at San Antonio Police Department, was the city’s medical examiner. Jason had only been with the SAPD for a year when he first met Doc Davis at the morgue.

  The intervening years hadn’t changed Doc at all.

  Jason remembered thinking Doc was near retirement when he first met him, with just a ring of gray hair, and extremely pale skin from too many days in the basement morgue. Doc weighed on the heavy side of two hundred fifty pounds and lumbered more than walked. He might’ve been the smartest man Jason had ever met.

  The two detectives arrived at the basement and the elevator doors opened. To their left, as the detectives stepped out, was the domain of the medical examiner. His office consisted of an autopsy room, two large freezers for bodies, and a small, glass-walled cubicle where he did his paperwork.

  Jason didn’t see Doc when they first entered the morgue, but within just a few seconds, the door to one of the giant freezers banged open. Doc Davis pushed a metal gurney carrying a lifeless form encased in the standard zip-up body bag. He didn’t notice them standing there and nearly ran Vanessa over with the rolling bed.

  Vanessa scooted out of the way. “Hey, Doc! Do you drive like that on the road?”

  Finally, having noticed the detectives, he broke into a smile. “You mean do I run people over if they get in my way?” He locked the table in place against one of the wall sinks. “Sure, doesn’t everybody?”

  Jason looked at his partner. “Yeah, Vanessa, doesn’t everybody?”

  Vanes
sa rolled her eyes at the two men. “Doc, are you done with the autopsy on Melissa Childs?”

  “Nope.” The coroner pointed at the body on the table. “Do you wanna guess who’s in bag number one?”

  “Melissa Childs?”

  “See, that’s why you’re a detective. Brilliant deduction!”

  Vanessa turned to Jason. “I guess we wait.”

  Doc Davis smiled at the two detectives. “You’re welcome to stay and watch.”

  Vanessa was already on her way to the door. Jason grinned at Doc, then started after her. “Thanks for the offer, but I just had breakfast. Vanessa, do you want to stay?”

  She answered by waving goodbye and darting out the door. Jason looked back at Doc. “I guess that’s a no.”

  Doc laughed. “Your loss!”

  “I know, I know. Let me know when you’re done?”

  “You’ll be the first.”

  *******

  Jason decided to take the stairs up to Homicide, which occupied the entire third floor of the station. When he arrived, he found Vanessa sitting at her desk, studying a file. Jason sat down at his desk opposite hers.

  “What are you reading?”

  She looked at him over the top of the file. “The husband’s alibi. You want to go check it?”

  “Sure, unless you want to take Doc up on his autopsy offer.”

  She didn’t answer him.

  *******

  Just before lunch, Jason and Vanessa arrived at the Mid-Texas Bank on Commerce Street. A beige, non-descript building with just one story. The large parking lot out front was broken up by the occasional concrete island, dotted with a few cacti.

  A drive-thru lane ran around the back of the building. After they parked, the detectives headed for the large rotating glass door in the front, which led into a lobby, followed by another set of doors. The American and Texas flags flew at half-staff.