Chapter Four
Kate Fitzgerald grinned to herself as she and her mother waited in line at Elmer’s Cafe in Boise, Idaho. Kate was in town from Denver to visit her mother, and last night they had gone to watch Boise State University play the last game of their regular football season. The Broncos’ win was in front of a sellout crowd at Bronco Stadium. Everyone in Boise was still talking about the many dazzling plays their team made and speculating about the various college bowl possibilities.
The comfortable restaurant buzzed with conversation, bursts of laughter, and the clatter of dishes. As Kate regarded the sea of Boise State orange and blue sweatshirts, jackets, and sweaters, she reminisced about her college days in Boise. Those were good times.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Mom. I’m so glad you made the move from Chicago to Boise.”
Isabella Fitzgerald smiled. “Yes, me too, dear. Chicago is a great city and I love going back, but it’s nice to be out west near you in Denver, and your brother in Salt Lake City.”
Kate twirled a few strands of her long, shiny, black hair around a finger. Watching the Bronco fans discussing the game with all of their grins and shouts was such a kick. On a whim she threw her arms into the air in the touchdown signal and yelled, “Go Broncos!” A roar went up from the crowd as everyone cheered and high-fived each other. Kate looked at her mother and grinned.
Before long Kate and Isabella were seated at a wooden table with eggs and coffee in front of them. “Oh, this visit went by way too fast, Mom. I enjoy your friends. They treat me like I’m one of them.”
“Yes, between my nursing job at the hospital and the ladies at St. Paul’s, it’s been easy to make friends here. Boise really is such a warm city.” Isabella folded her hands in front of her and regarded Kate, not saying a word for a few moments. “And when all of my wonderful friends ask me if my daughter has any boyfriends, what should I say?”
Kate crossed her eyes at her mother. “Tell them the same thing that I’ve been telling you for the past year. After that break up with Thatcher, I am not interested in men.” Kate pronounced the last six words as though each one was an individual bullet hitting its mark. She pulled a chain out from under her sweater. It held an engagement ring which she shook in front of her mother’s face. “Let me remind you that I caught Thatcher cheating on me two months before we were going to get married. When I had this necklace made, I promised myself that would never happen to me again.” Her voice rose to a high pitch as her speech progressed.
Isabella’s face fell.
Kate sighed. “Oh Mom, don’t be sad. Not everyone has to get married and have children to be happy. I’m perfectly happy. I live in a great city, I have a great job, and I have great friends.” Kate leaned forward and her voice rose again. “Just understand that I’m not some stupid Cinderella who needs Prince Charming to come along and rescue her. I can take care of myself.”
“What’s wrong with Cinderella?”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Do not get me started, Mother. You’ll be sorry.”
“All right, all right. Sometimes I just think that at thirty-one maybe you aren’t taking everything that life has to offer into consideration, but I guess I’ll just have to accept this, won’t I?” Isabella pursed her lips.
“Case closed, Mother.”
A moment later, Kate felt eyes on her. She turned to find a young girl of about five standing near her sporting a big pout. Kate raised an eyebrow. “Hi. Can I help you?”
“Why don’t you like Cinderella? I think she’s pretty.”
Kate blinked. “I think Cinderella let the step-mother and the step-sisters abuse her. I think a better ending shows Cinderella running away, getting an education, and taking charge of her life.”
The pout turned into thoughtfulness. “What about Prince Charming?”
Kate shrugged. “If Cinderella meets an interesting man who respects her as an equal, then great.” Kate wagged a finger at the little girl. “But the point is that Cinderella doesn’t need to rely on him, because she can rely on herself.”
“Oh.” The blonde-haired head tilted. “I never thought about it that way. Thanks.” She whirled around and trotted back over to her seat at a nearby table.
Just then, Kate’s phone rang. As she listened to the caller, the color drained from her face. “Thank you,” she whispered, her hand shaking as she put the phone down. Her lips trembled and her chocolate brown eyes filled with tears as she stared at her mother.
Isabella leaned forward. “Kate! What’s wrong?”
Kate swallowed hard. It took a powerful effort to make her mouth work. “Someone murdered one of my friends from church. She was killed in her back yard this morning.” Kate looked down at the tablecloth, struggling to breathe.
Isabella gasped, “Who would do such a thing?” She jumped up and knelt by Kate, hugging her daughter. She saw a server and signaled for the check.
A short time later as they buckled their seatbelts for the ride to get Kate to the airport, Isabella contemplated her daughter. “Are you going to be able to fly home today? You’re welcome to stay longer.”
Kate shook her head. “No, I have a pile of work and I want to get back to be with my friends. I need to be with them right now.”
Isabella looked at the steering wheel. She drew a breath and turned back to Kate. “Why don’t you consider moving back? You could have fun…some of your old roommates still live here.”
The corners of Kate’s mouth turned up for a split second. “Sorry, Mom. I know Boise is safe, but it just doesn’t have hotels big enough to pay me as much as I’m making now.” Kate was a controller for a 750-room hotel in downtown Denver and was itching to move up the corporate ladder. “If I want to advance I have to be ready to transfer to any city.” Kate studied her mom’s concerned face. “Don’t worry, I’ll be extra careful,” she reassured her mother.
At the airport, Kate bent down and hugged Isabella goodbye. A willowy five foot seven, Kate always felt as though she towered over her five foot one mother.
Before long, Denver’s magnificent skyline came into view as the jet circled before landing at Denver International Airport. The sun reflected off the city’s buildings, and the view of the skyscrapers against the majestic backdrop of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains provided a balm for the anguish she’d been struggling to hide throughout the flight.
She got to her car and then headed for Alicia’s home before doing anything else. Standing at the door, she braced herself. What does a person say at a time like this?
Adam answered and Kate gave him a heartfelt hug. “Oh Adam, I am so sorry!”
Adam returned Kate’s embrace, then looked down at his son, James. James stood right next to his father, almost as though he was sewn to his father’s pants. Kate bent down and hugged him. “Hi, James, I love you,” she whispered. Kate pulled back from him and reached into a Boise Airport shopping bag. “I know you are too old for Teddy Bears, but this one looked like he needed a friend. What do you think? Do you like him?” A tear rolled down his small cheek and James nodded and hugged it. It was really soft. Kate knew there would be many nights that James might need something to hug. James buried his blonde head in his father’s pant leg, cradling the furry brown bear in his arms.
Kate stood up and put her hand on Adam’s shoulder. “How is Jessica doing?” Kate and Jessica always had a close relationship. Kate often brought Jessica knick-knacks from Boise State and was always delighted that Jessica put up the posters and other things in her otherwise very feminine room.
“She’s upstairs,” Adam responded. “She hasn’t budged since she found out.” His voice broke at the end of his comment and tears glistened in his eyes.
“That’s understandable. Is it all right if I go up to see her?” Kate asked.
“Of course.”
Kate ran up the staircase and knocked on Jessica’s door. “Jessica it’s me, Kate.” Kate opened the door and found Jessica lying on the bed, staring at a picture of the Kendrick family taken at Thanksgiving and clutching a pair of wine-colored shoes. Kate walked in and put her hand on Jessica’s back. “Jessica, I am so sorry for your loss.”
Jessica didn’t move. “That’s what everyone says,” she muttered. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
Kate sat on the side of the bed so she could rub Jessica’s back. “No, of course not. There isn’t anything anyone can say that will make you feel better. We just want you to know that we’re grieving with you. We want you to know that we love you and that we care about how you feel.”
A sob caught in Jessica’s throat and she sat up and threw herself into Kate’s arms. “Oh, Kate, I was so mean to Mom. I told her she was old and that she didn’t understand me. I made fun of her clothes. I argued with her about helping around the house…” Jessica trailed off as she cried harder.
Kate kept rubbing Jessica’s back while she sobbed on Kate’s shoulder. “Jessica, your mom knew you loved her. All teenagers act like that. I did, your mom did, and now you do.” Kate thought for a second. “Your mom used to come to Bible study class and laugh as she told us how embarrassed you were by what she wore. And guess what? We all laughed with her because we have all said the same thing to our own moms.” Kate pulled back and regarded Jessica. “I want you to know that she also shared what a good student you are, how cool your science projects turn out, and what a soccer star you’ve become. Your mom was very, very proud of you. She thought you were the greatest daughter any mother could have and said so all the time. I promise.” Kate crossed her heart then pointed up to the sky. “Your mom is up in heaven right now looking down on you because she wants you to be all right. Your mom will be with you all of the time. You know how? Because you carry her with you in your heart. No one can ever, ever take that away from you.”
Jessica stopped crying. Kate gave the grieving child a handkerchief so she could take care of her remaining tears. Pulling a stuffed bronco from her Boise State bag, Kate added, “I bought this for you. I thought he could keep you company.”
Jessica hugged it. “Thanks,” she whispered. Then she leaned into Kate’s arms again. Kate continued to rub Jessica’s back for as long as she stayed there.
A little while later, Kate and Jessica walked down the staircase into the kitchen. Adam walked over to his daughter and gave her a hug. Noticing the bronco, Adam smiled and thanked Kate for coming.
“I’m going to go over to St. James for a while,” Kate said. If you need anything, be sure to call.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
On a nearby street in his car up on a foothill, the killer watched Kate through his binoculars as she left the house and got into her SUV. His location today was a different hill from the one he used the previous night when he watched the party. Today’s spot was up on a quiet street, hidden behind some evergreens with the Kendrick home still in view. Perfect.
Putting down the binoculars, he took a puff of his cigarette and then placed it into a pile of butts in the ashtray. Regarding his rearview mirror, his arctic blue eyes gleamed back at him. He brushed some strands of fiery red hair from his forehead and shifted his short, portly frame to keep his left leg from falling asleep. A sigh of contentment escaped his lips. This was much more exciting than being at home. There, he could only pace with exhilaration while reliving his glorious achievement. But here he could observe all the comings and goings of the police, neighbors, and friends. It was better than binge-watching Scandal. Hours passed by as he watched all the commotion he caused. You see? I have the power to change lives!
He returned the binoculars to his eyes and smiled.
Chapter Five
Kate drove to St. James, a contemporary Catholic Church that felt like her home away from home. It was silent when she walked in. Sunlight radiated through the beautiful stained- glass windows, causing the brilliant reds, blues, and yellows to glow and scatter their incandescent colors throughout the church. She fixed her eyes on the huge cross behind the altar. Her breathing slowed as she soaked up the familiar surroundings. She gazed in turn at the altar with the white cloth over it, the beautiful pictures of Jesus’ life throughout the church, and the candles in the back corners that flickered in the darkness where the light from the windows couldn’t reach. A feeling of peace washed over her. Kate sat with her hands folded in her lap and absorbed the spirituality of the church for some time. Then she walked over to the candles, put two quarters in the slot for the “candle fund” and lit one. She knelt down on a cushioned bench and covered her face with her hands as she prayed. Time stood still.
Father Tim, the pastor of the church, walked out near the altar and saw Kate. He didn’t want to disturb her, so the squat, gray-haired priest waited in the shadows without speaking until she stood up. Then he went over to greet her, and they walked out into the gathering space at the back of the church together. Concerned, he reached out and touched her arm. “How are you doing?”
Kate sighed. “Oh, Father.” She stopped and chose her words with care. “There’s nothing in the entire English language to describe how awful this is. A husband loses his wife, two children lose their mother, and we lose a wonderful friend.” She paused. “For what? Just for hate? It’s so senseless! I’m simply devastated! I feel as though a part of me has been destroyed.”
“I feel the same way. We’re all hurting right now.” Father Tim studied the carpet for a moment. “Adam came over earlier and we talked. I don’t know how to explain it other than God gave mankind free will. For some of us, we listen to his word and we do our best to abide by it. Others don’t. And now we are invited to somehow learn to forgive those that don’t listen.”
“Forgive her murderer? Sorry, but I’m a long way from being able to do that,” Kate challenged. “I just don’t see myself feeling any forgiveness for a really long time.”
“That’s only natural.” The priest surveyed her for a moment. “I have a question for you. What are some of the darkest times in history that you can call to mind?”
Kate gazed at the ceiling as she thought. “One of the first things I can think of is the crucifixion of Jesus.” She counted on her fingers as she spoke. “Then there are the repulsive acts of the Ku Klux Klan, then the whole Jewish concentration camps horror, then of course 9/11…” Kate looked at the priest. “Wow. When you think about it, mankind can be really gruesome.”
“Yes.” Father Tim folded his arms. “And what driving emotion do all of those things you mentioned have in common?”
Kate tilted her head as a thought illuminated her mind. “I see, Father. It was hate. All of those things happened because of hate.”
“Yes, it was hate. Hate carries a horrific price tag. Don’t ever forget that. Rise above it.”
Kate sighed. “I know you’re right, but how can I change what I feel in my heart?”
“Start by praying for Alicia’s killer.” Kate scowled and Father Tim continued, “Even if you begin by praying that he can find it in his heart to turn himself in, that’s a good start. Do you think you can do that?”
Kate twirled her hair around a finger for a minute. “Yes, I guess I can at least do that.”
As she turned to go, Kate’s eyes fell upon some posters that Alicia drew for the annual parish Christmas toy drive. Every year the parishioners participated in a program that donated toys to families who otherwise would not be able to give gifts to their children. Several churches in the Denver area participated. The toys all wound up at Regis University, a Jesuit school in Northwest Denver, where the families picked them up. St. James was often the parish that donated the most. Kate knew how much pride the local members took in that. Alicia was in charge of the toy drive this year. She had been moving ahead with it, full force, with posters all over
the gathering space and reminders in the church bulletin every week. Father Tim followed Kate’s eyes and looked at the poster. “Yes, now I have to find someone else to head the drive.”
“I’ll do it,” Kate volunteered.
“Are you sure? You’re already chairing the parish fundraiser in February. That’s a huge job.” The priest searched Kate’s face. “Don’t feel like you have to do it. I’m sure I can find someone else.”
“Actually, I really want to do it,” Kate insisted. “To be honest, I think that will make me feel a little bit better. I will do it in honor of Alicia. She talked about it all the time, so I already know the whole scheme.”
“All right, if you’re sure. I really appreciate that.”
Kate left feeling better than she had when she’d arrived. She looked up at the sky and asked Alicia to help her with this new task. Then Kate smiled to herself. She was overthinking this thing already. It would be a piece of cake. As long as she did a little planning, what could possibly go wrong?
Chapter Six
After a couple of hours of work with Rebecca at Adam’s office, Don leaned back in his chair. He and Luke now had what Rebecca referred to as the “hottest” files. True to Rebecca’s word, her Excel worksheet was a great tool. It was organized with the names of the defendants in the first column, followed by columns that contained a large number of details. She could sort the defendants by crime, by verdict, by length of sentence, by address, by neighborhood, by gang if that applied, and so on. Rebecca put the hard files in the order that they had agreed would yield the best results; by neighborhood and by most recent release dates.
Don was impressed.
Luke was overwhelmed.
The detectives now had “only” a thousand cases to review.
Deadly Gratitude Page 3