“No. I know Richard, and even though he’s a cheating son-of-a-bitch, he wouldn’t kill anyone.”
“Do you know his wife? What I mean to say, is, do you know if he and his wife had an open relationship too? Maybe Lambert and his wife had the same type of relationship that you and your wife had.”
“I’ve seen Elaine at parties. She’s not the type. Richard only married her, in my opinion, to help his own political career, and no, I’ve never had a relationship with her. That’s why her husband is a cheater. Sharon and I were open about our relationship and respected each other’s privacy. Richard hid his and Sharon’s affair.”
“I don’t understand. I thought Lambert was wealthy.”
“Okay, here’s the story. Richard was poor when he met Elaine. He went to college on some academic scholarship. When Richard met Elaine, he was in law school, and he was flat broke. Once when he was drunk, he told me that in college, Elaine came on to him all the time. She wasn’t his type until he learned who her father was and how wealthy he was. Elaine was a very homely girl; still is too, but she’s the daughter of Jonathon Willard Davis, a rich bastard from the south who moved here when his wife, Elaine’s mother, died giving birth. He’s a mean old crab who bought his way into Colorado politics. He raised Elaine on his own, within their church, and spoiled her rotten. Anyway, after they were married, her father bought his new son-in-law a place in our own local government,” David explained.
Axel listened and watched his body language and deduced that he was telling the truth. He was open, direct, and didn’t appear to be searching for answers.
“If he has it so good with his wealthy father-in-law, why would he cheat on his wife and risk the chance of losing it all?”
“Have you seen Elaine?”
“No.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Detective Frost. She’s homely, and I mean very homely. No make-up, long dresses, hair in a bun, and right with God. Sharon, on the other hand, was as you can see, gorgeous,” David explained as he pointed to the numerous pictures of his wife that were displayed around the room.
“Have you spoken to Lambert today?”
“No. Richard and I still have to work together, and right now, I’m angry with him over this whole mess. I don’t want to say or do anything that could be harmful to either of our careers. Don’t get me, wrong detective, I’m not angry that he was sleeping with my wife. I’m upset because Sharon and Richard were sloppy with their relationship.”
Axel couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This guy just lost his wife, and all that he was concerned about was his career. Axel ended the interview at about the same time he finished the soda. He thanked David Douglas for his time and was escorted out the same way he had come in.
After leaving the Douglas home, Axel looked at the map on his phone and found Simmons Road. The house where Tammy Johnson had once lived was also in the Woodlake Estates area.
Chapter 12
The home was easy to find. It was the one with all the cars on the street in front of it. Tammy’s home was blue with white trim and had four garages. Above the last garage, a sign read "Tammy’s parking, all others will be crushed." Once again, the lawn was well maintained, and the trees were in full bloom and trimmed. The other homes along the street were evenly spaced apart, and all the yards were like the Johnson’s.
After parking four houses down, Axel walked up to the front porch and rang the doorbell. After a few moments, he was greeted by a woman in her mid-forties. She was dressed in black, her hair was pulled back, and she wore no make-up. The area around her eyes was red from wiping many tears away.
“May I help you?” She asked softly.
“Yes. I’m sorry to intrude like this, but I’m Detective Axel Frost, and I hoped to speak with the parents of Tammy Johnson.”
He knew before he said it, that the woman was Tammy’s mother.
The sound of Tammy’s name brought the woman to tears once more. She covered her face just as a man walked up behind her.
“Clare, are you okay?” He asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders while he looked Axel up and down.
“I’m Detective Frost, and I think I’ve upset her. I’m truly sorry.”
“That’s all right detective. Please come in.”
The man opened the door wider and escorted the woman back into the living room where an older woman took her by the arm and led her into the other room. The house was just as nice inside as it was outside. The home décor reflected a country setting with handmade quilts on the furniture. The paintings were religious in nature with brilliant colors that changed with the amount of light shining on the canvas.
“Detective, we can talk in here.”
Axel followed the man into a study where he shut the door and offered Axel a seat.
“Are you Tammy’s father?”
“Yes. I thought someone from your office would be coming by. My name is Boyd Johnson. My wife Clare is the one who greeted you at the door. She still can't believe Tammy is gone. Every time the doorbell rings, I think she goes to it hoping to see Tammy standing there. I don’t know what to do. Family from all over have come in for the funeral that isn’t even scheduled yet. I just hope that we’ve called everyone. We still have so many things to do. Have I ordered the flowers yet?” Boyd asked himself, temporarily forgetting about the detective sitting across from him.
Axel listened as the grieving father rambled over the funeral preparations for his daughter. He had visited similar families just like the Johnsons in the past few months, and unfortunately, he was getting used to the behavior of grieving parents.
“Mr. Johnson, where was Tammy last seen?” Axel asked.
Mr. Johnson was looking down at the carpet, focusing on something other than his daughter.
“Landing’s Department store. She worked there. I wanted her to have a summer job where she could learn some responsibility before going to college. Clare was against it. She wanted Tammy to just play around this summer, but I insisted that Tammy find a part-time job. I guess this is my fault. You know, college can be tough. You must get your priorities straight and prepare your kids for the real world. You got kids?” Johnson asked.
“No, I don’t,” Axel replied as he watched Boyd wipe his eyes to stop the tears from streaming down his cheeks.
“Even though everyone was against her working at first, Tammy got the job and seemed to enjoy it. She was so happy when she received her first paycheck. Tammy ran in the door, waving it in the air. Her mother and I sat down with her in here, and she asked us what FICA was and why they got some of her money. Clare and I laughed at her, but Tammy still took us out for pizza. I think she made about a hundred dollars in that check,” Boyd said as he recalled the happier moment.
“You know I could have given her a hundred dollars every Friday. She didn’t need the job,” Boyd whispered as he once again looked down when his eyes started to fill with water once more.
“Mr. Johnson it’s okay to want your kids to understand responsibility, and this isn’t your fault in any way,” Axel interjected.
“Thank you for that. But it’s hard to imagine what could have been if I…”
“Now, did you talk to Tammy that day?” Axel said, stopping him mid-sentence.
“Yes. She was closing that night and called to tell us that she’d be home in about an hour. When she was two hours late, I drove over the route she takes to get home, looking for her car. When I got to the mall, I found her car in the parking lot and called the police. They were sure she went out with some friends after work and would probably come home later.” Boyd shook his head and breathed deeply and then began again.
“Clare and I were home Sunday afternoon when the police Chaplin and Lieutenant Wilson came by and gave us the news. They then went to the coroner’s office with us, where I identified my daughter’s body. ‘The body,’ our Tammy, ‘the body.’ It sounds so horrible and cold and final.”
“Did she ever mention anyone new in her life th
at she may have hung out with?” Axel asked.
“No. Well, she did like this other girl who worked there in the security office. I think her name is Jennifer. She’s a bit older than Tammy. Maybe twenty-nine. Tammy thought it was exciting how Jennifer chased down shoplifters and tackled them in the parking lot.”
“Tammy worked in the security office at the store?” Axel asked.
“No, she worked in apparel. One day Tammy saw this boy stealing some pants, and she called security, Jennifer showed up and arrested him. From that day, they started a friendship. They started going to the movies, and walking around the mall during their lunch breaks, talking about their futures.”
Boyd, for the first time, started to smile at the image of his daughter spending her last days without a care in the world.
“Thank you, Mr. Johnson here’s my card. If you need anything, call me.”
Axel reached out a hand toward Boyd, who grabbed it tightly and pulled the detective closer.
“If you find this man and can’t kill him, you call me.” Boyd was angry, and Axel believed that he meant what he said.
Axel did not acknowledge Mr. Johnson’s comment. Instead, he just nodded, gave his condolences, and walked out the front door past the family and friends who were still arriving. They all stopped their idle conversations and watched as the detective stepped out of the house.
Do they blame me for what happened to Tammy? Maybe if I caught this guy sooner, she’d still be alive. What am I overlooking? Perhaps I should turn this over to the FBI, Axel thought to himself as he drove out of the neighborhood.
***
Gary parked in front of Lambert’s office next to a red Porsche, hoping to surprise him by arriving unannounced. Upon walking in, he saw the receptionist, a short and very portly woman sitting behind an oak desk, looking down at some papers. Gary stood there, waiting for her to address him. After a moment, the detective cleared his throat and then announced himself.
“I’m Detective Portland, and I need to see Mr. Lambert regarding a matter,” Gary said.
The woman looked up from her papers and peered at the badge in front of her. She then looked up between her glasses and eyebrows and relaxed her shoulders and let out a breath of air. Her body language indicated that she wasn’t impressed with the badge and that the interruption was unwanted.
“May I tell him what this is about?”
“Nope,” Gary replied smugly as he smiled and placed his badge back in his pocket.
“Well then he’s busy,” she replied just as smug.
“Well, why don’t you wipe away that peanut butter on your finger and pick up your phone to ask him if he can see me?” Gary ordered as his patience with the overweight receptionist was growing thin.
He watched with a smile as she picked up the phone and announced that Detective Portland was there. The receptionist nodded and said, "yes" and "no" a few times and then hung up the phone.
“You can go in,” she mumbled almost inaudibly as she pointed to a door to her right.
Gary smiled once more and walked toward the door. Grabbing the knob, he let himself in, but not before turning around to see the rude woman looking at her finger with the peanut butter on it, which she quickly stuck into her mouth.
“I told you not to come here, and that I’d deal with you people outside of my home and office,” Lambert protested from behind his expensive desk.
Gary was unaffected by Lambert’s attempt to intimidate him. The detective walked forward without saying a word. When he reached the edge of the desk, he placed his hand over his mouth and began to rub at his five o’clock shadow, still not saying a word. Lambert appeared uneasy as he watched the detective.
“Get out, or I’ll…”
Before Lambert could finish what he was about to say, Gary reached across the table and grabbed him by the tie. He wrapped it around his hand in one motion and pulled him across the desk, pushing the papers and pens to the floor.
“All right, Dick, let’s get something understood,” Gary said as he looked into Lambert’s eyes while holding him in place and off balance.
“I’ll ask a question, and you’ll answer it. Is that clear, Dick? I think we’ve done this before Dick. And another thing, Dick. You might believe that you’re untouchable behind this desk, but you should think about how easily you can be taken out from behind it. Have we reached an understanding, Dick?” Gary asked as he released his hold on Lambert, who fell back into his leather chair.
“I hope we don’t have to do something like that again,” Gary said with a smile as he unfastened his coat and sat down. He then gave Lambert a few minutes to collect himself.
“Now where were you today around lunchtime?”
“I was here,” Lambert said quickly.
“Are you sure you weren’t at the park earlier?”
“Yes.”
“Dick, what if I told you someone saw that red Porsche at the park?” Gary said, bluffing his suspect.
“Ok, I was there, I went to see Sharon. I wanted to know how her interview went with you guys. I wanted to know what she said to you,” Lambert explained as he straightened his tie.
“Why would that be important for you?”
“Because of who I am and who I work for. The Mayor can’t be blindsided by a police investigation. Do you know how that would look to the public if my affair got out?” Lambert asked pathetically.
“Pretty damn bad, for you, but I don’t think you care about the mayor. You only care about yourself. You’re worried that your own little world will come crashing down around you if your boss hears that you are having an affair and that you are under police suspicion for murder.”
“You don’t know shit about my life. I could call and tell your boss about the police brutality that just took place,” Lambert said, feeling confident once more.
Gary sat there for a moment. Suddenly, he got up and rushed around the desk. He grabbed Lambert by his ear and forced his head down onto the table. Lambert tried to push him away, but the detective was too strong. He soon squealed in pain as his arm was forced behind his back.
“You and I both know that a complaint will not be made. You’re afraid to call anyone and tell them what happened here. They may ask why I was here. Then you’d have to explain everything. Especially, the affair and the dead body you found. Now, don’t piss me off again,” Gary ordered and then released Lambert.
He walked back to his chair and sat down once more. Lambert sat back in his own chair and straightened his shirt and tie again. He was angry and shook his head in disbelief. He wasn’t accustomed to being treated this way. He simply wasn’t used to not getting his way.
“Get over it, Dick! I got a few more questions,” Gary ordered.
“What did you do at the park today?”
“If you’re asking me if I killed Sharon, then the answer is no. I went there, and I saw all you cops standing around her car and then I saw the blood on the window. When I saw the coroner’s van arrive, I knew she was dead. I drove past without stopping. Then I went to her house and told her husband.”
“You told her husband?”
“Yes.”
“Did you also tell him why you knew she was at the park?”
“He and Sharon had an understanding that benefited me if you know what I mean?”
“So, David Douglas knew you and his wife were doing the deed?”
“Probably, but when I saw him today, I told him everything.”
Gary listened and wrote everything in his notepad.
I can’t believe the lives these people live. They are supposed to be admired people in the community, Gary thought quietly to himself as he listened to Lambert.
“If that covers it, I’ll say good-bye. You know nothing about me, detective, but I suggest you back off. If you know what’s good for your career,” Lambert said threatening.
“Dick, you can expect me to be in your business daily if I need to be. By the way, do you own a gun?” Gary asked while holdi
ng the door open.
“No, I don’t.”
“All right. I’ve been doing this job since you were in diapers. Having me as an enemy could be very bad for you,” Gary explained confidently before walking out the door.
***
Jaxson’s flight arrived in Colorado Springs at four-thirty in the afternoon, and a short time later he was in a rental car driving west on Highway 24 toward North Cheyenne Cañon. Jaxson had made a call to his friend in the bureau. His friend was able to get the location of all the known crime scenes where PPK had killed his victims. He was also able to get a few more photos of those scenes as well. As Jaxson drove, he thought about how he had requested two weeks’ vacation and how surprised he was when it was approved on such short notice.
At first, the young agent questioned why Special Agent in Charge, Joe Wright, had approved his request for a vacation so quickly, but right before he left for his flight, he received a call telling him to enjoy his time off because he deserved it. Agent Wright felt Jaxson had been working hard, and that he had been very successful with his assigned cases. On the flight, Jaxson felt guilty for not sharing his plans and not telling Wright what his real intentions were.
How do you tell your boss that you plan on inserting yourself into the PPK case without permission from the bureau or an invitation from the Colorado Springs Police Department?
Chapter 13
Jaxson made his way up the winding dirt road, looking for the parking lot for Helen Hunt Falls. The information that Jaxson had received from his contact in the bureau indicated that PPK’s latest victim had been discovered just off the hiking trail toward the west. About a quarter of a mile up in the dark timber. After about ten minutes of driving up the dirt road, he soon found the sign for the falls and pulled into the parking lot. When he got out of the rental car, he couldn’t help but admire the tall pines that reached upward into the clear blue Colorado sky.
Jaxson was athletic, and a strong man, but the trail was a little steep in some places and after a short but steep climb up one section he got his first taste of how the high mountain altitude affected those who live at sea level. He was slightly dizzy and felt uneasy on his feet.
Heartbeats of a Killer Page 7