Scene of the Crime

by M. J. Williamz

Before Sara could answer, there was a knock on the door.

  “Who are you expecting?” Cullen asked.

  “No one. What about you?”

  “Not a soul. Sit tight. I’ll get rid of them.”

  Cullen glanced through the peephole then backed away. It couldn’t be. She looked again. It sure looked like Julia Stansworth, the girl Cullen had crushed on hard all through high school. Sure, she was older now. Who wasn’t? But the blond hair and piercing blue eyes brought back tortured memories. Cullen opened the door.

  “Julia?”

  “Cullen? Cullen Matthews? What are you doing here?”

  “I belong here. I think the question is, what are you doing here?”

  “You belong here?” Julia’s expression hardened. “As in you live here?”

  “Sort of. Not exactly. How can I help you?”

  Julia reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out what looked like a leather wallet, opened it, and showed Cullen her badge.

  “Actually, it’s Detective Stansworth and I’m here to speak with a Sara Donovan. Is she in?”

  “What do you want with her?”

  “Is she in?” Julia repeated.

  “Sure, come on in.”

  Cullen stood back and let Julia enter.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Cullen said.

  “This isn’t a social visit.”

  “Fair enough. Have a seat and tell us why you’re here.”

  Cullen glanced over at Sara who’d gone ashen. She quickly recovered, though.

  “Yes, Detective,” Sara said. “How can we help you?”

  “Tell me how you knew Donald Montague.”

  “Who?” Sara asked.

  Cullen looked between them. Julia’s eyes were hard now. She looked pissed.

  “I’ve never heard of him,” Sara said.

  “We both know you’re lying, so save us all a lot of time and tell me how you knew him.”

  “Who’s Donald Montague?” Cullen asked.

  “Ask your girlfriend.”

  Cullen turned to Sara.

  “Sara? Who is he?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Julia opened her briefcase.

  “I thought you looked familiar when I saw you at the station this afternoon but couldn’t put my finger on why.”

  “Wait,” Cullen said. “Station? What station?”

  “We’ll talk about it later,” Sara said.

  “No, I want to know now. And who is this Montague man and why is Julia asking you about him?”

  “She didn’t tell you?” Julia’s eyes glimmered. “She was brought in for possession with intent to distribute and a DUI.”

  “What?” Cullen felt like she’d been punched in the gut. What the hell was going on?

  Sara sank back against the couch. Cullen stared at her in disbelief, but Sara wouldn’t meet her gaze.

  “And Montague?” Cullen said.

  “He was a two-bit coke dealer for some of the fraternities and sororities downtown,” Julia said.

  “Did you supply him?” Cullen asked Sara.

  “I’m telling you I’ve never heard of him.”

  Julia handed Sara a folder she’d removed from her briefcase.

  “Take a look at these.”

  Sara opened the folder and went pale. Cullen walked over to see photos of Sara with some young guy.

  “Is that Montague?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Julia said. “And quite obviously Sara with him.”

  “Quite obviously.” Cullen glared at Sara.

  “I didn’t know his last name. I only knew him as Donnie.”

  “Well, whatever you knew him as, he was being investigated for selling the cocaine that killed another college student. I’m sure you read about that, where the kid overdosed at the fraternity house?”

  Cullen nodded. She remembered reading the story online.

  “We were so close to getting him to finger his supplier and then he ends up dead. Coincidence?” Sarcasm dripped from Julia’s words.

  “I didn’t kill him.” Sara sounded panicked.

  “I’m not sure I believe you,” Julia said.

  Cullen slowly backed away from Sara and lowered herself into the chair.

  “Sara…” But she didn’t have the ability to put her thoughts into words. Sara was a drug dealer? And a murder suspect? It was all too much for her to absorb.

  Julia stood over Sara.

  “These pictures were taken right before he was shot,” she said.

  “I didn’t shoot him.”

  “No, you couldn’t have. The bullet came from the other direction. But someone snuck into his hospital room and finished him off. You had a lot to lose, Ms. Donovan.”

  Sara shook her head violently.

  “I didn’t. I had nothing to do with that.”

  “Say I believe you,” Julia said. “Let’s just suppose for one crazy minute I think you’re telling the truth. If you didn’t do it, you know who did. I can help get your sentences lightened for the two charges you’re facing now if you help me.”

  “I swear, I’d help you if I could, but I don’t know anything.”

  Julia took the folder back from Sara and slid it back in her briefcase.

  “You’re not making this any easier on yourself,” she said.

  “Please. You have to believe me.”

  “See? That’s just it. I don’t have to do any such thing.”

  Chapter Two

  Julia headed back to downtown Portland to her bungalow just off Hawthorne. She had a lot on her mind. Donovan was guilty of something, that was certain. But just how innocent was Cullen? Julia had been shocked when she’d opened the door. Julia didn’t like the idea that someone she’d known since high school was involved with dealing drugs. But after talking to them together, Julia was fairly certain Cullen had been oblivious to Sara’s activities.

  But had Sara actually killed Montague? Julia believed in her heart of hearts that she had. As she’d told them, either she’d done it or she knew who had. How was Julia going to prove one way or the other?

  She drove past her exit and kept going until she came to the station. She locked herself in her office and began poring over the tapes from the night Montague died again. The hospital had handed over all the security footage, but none of it had been helpful. Still, she went over it again in hopes of seeing Sara.

  Julia watched as their main suspect came into view. Whoever it was wore baggy sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. There was no way to discern the gender of the person on the film.

  She froze the film and stared hard at it. How tall was the person on the film? How tall was Sara? She’d been sitting down the whole time Julia had been there, so she didn’t get an accurate height assessment. But she was leggy, very leggy, and sat up high on the couch. Julia guesstimated she was about five ten.

  So how tall was the person she was looking at? About the same, she imagined. Now, more than ever, she was convinced Sara had been the mystery woman who was guilty of killing Montague. It was time to prove it.

  The next morning, Julia drove back to Sara and Cullen’s house. She felt like a dog with a bone and she wasn’t about to let go. This time when she knocked on the door, it was Sara who answered. Sara, who in her bare feet looked to be exactly the height she’d calculated. She was wearing baggy sweats and looked like she hadn’t slept much. Her nose was red and her pupils dilated. She’d probably been snorting coke all night.

  “Can I come in?” Julia said.

  “Why?”

  “I have more questions for you.”

  “This really isn’t a good time.”

  “Sorry for the inconvenience.” She couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice as she pushed her way inside.

  Cullen came out then. She looked rough, but not like Sara. Cullen had apparently gotten some sleep the night before anyway.

  “Good morning, Julia.” Cullen sounded like she was greeting an old friend. “Welcome back. To what do we ow
e the pleasure?”

  Sara spun toward Cullen.

  “How dare you? This woman is trying to ruin our lives and you greet her like some long-lost friend?”

  “I’m just being civil. Now, come on, let’s all go to the living room.”

  “You two enjoy your chat,” Sara said. She turned to her left and took the stairs two at a time.

  “I take it she won’t be cooperating today?” Julia smiled at Cullen.

  “Apparently not.”

  “I’ll wait her out.”

  “You want to wait in the kitchen? There’s fresh coffee there.”

  Julia was torn. Again, it wasn’t a social visit. But coffee with Cullen didn’t sound like a bad way to pass the time.

  “Sure, coffee sounds good as I may be here a while.”

  “You may indeed.”

  Julia sat down and doctored the coffee Cullen set in front of her. She thought long and hard about her next words, but finally figured she’d better ask.

  “So, Cullen, you seemed a little surprised to find out that Sara had been arrested yesterday.”

  “Arrested, a drug dealer, and a suspect in a murder investigation. To say I was surprised is an understatement.”

  “So you’re not into cocaine at all?” She held her breath. Why? She didn’t know, but knowing that Cullen was clean was somehow vitally important to her.

  “Never done it myself. Never have and never will.”

  “Good answer. How’d you get mixed up with Ms. Donovan anyway?”

  “We used to eat dinner at the same Chinese restaurant. Like every Friday night. We’d each be there eating alone, and one night she asked if she could join me. The rest, as they say, is history.”

  Julia absorbed the information as she sipped her coffee. She nodded slowly.

  “And now?” she said.

  “Now what?”

  “I mean, now that you know about her? Will you stay with her?”

  “Look, Julia…is it okay if I call you Julia?”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks. I’m not happy to hear I’m involved with a drug dealer, but I truly believe she can get help for that.”

  “And her involvement with the Montague murder?”

  “Sara may have made some poor decisions, but I don’t believe she’s involved with murder.”

  “Can’t believe? Or won’t?”

  “Can’t. She’s a gentle soul. Trust me.”

  “I wish I could.”

  “And outside of a few pics of her with the victim, what other evidence do you have?”

  “I’m working on that,” Julia said.

  “Where did you get those pictures anyway? Have the cops been following Sara for a while?”

  “No such thing. A sorority girl who had a crush on Montague was taking pictures of them that morning. She gave them to us as part of the investigation.” Cullen nodded but didn’t say anything. “Right after she took them, shots rang out and Montague crumpled to the ground. You want to know what your girlfriend did?”

  “What?”

  “She jumped in her car and sped off. Didn’t check to see if he was okay or not, she just gunned it. Probably figured nobody would ever link the two of them.”

  “Hm.”

  “Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.”

  “Yeah, as great as it is to see you after all this time, I’m not really enjoying seeing you.”

  “I hear you,” Julia said. “I sure wish the circumstances were different.”

  “As do I. You want me to see if I can get Sara to come downstairs now?”

  “I’d appreciate that.”

  Julia helped herself to another cup of coffee while she waited. And she pondered. If Cullen wasn’t involved in Sara’s coke dealing, what did she do? Did she have a decent job? Did she make good money? Or did Sara support her and Cullen just not care about where the money came from?

  Cullen was back without Sara.

  “No luck, huh?” Julia said.

  Cullen shook her head.

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “I’d hate to have to get a warrant and search the house.”

  “I think we’d hate that, too.”

  “Yes. You definitely would.” She didn’t make a move to leave. She still had a cup of coffee and was really enjoying her time with Cullen. “Have a seat, Cullen. Let’s give her a little more time.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Julia smiled.

  “I’m sure.”

  Cullen poured another cup of coffee and sat across from her at the table.

  “So, what have you been doing with yourself, Cullen? I mean, outside of eating Chinese food and getting involved with criminals? What’s kept you busy all these years?”

  “I work for an ad agency,” she said. “I’ve been with the Logan and Bremer agency for almost twenty years now.”

  Julia breathed a sigh of relief. So Cullen was an upstanding citizen after all. Still, Julia would run a background check on her. She had to know for sure.

  “Do you enjoy it?” Julia said.

  “I love it. It’s a dream job. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

  “That’s great.” She grew serious. “You know, Cullen, if you know anything at all about the murder, you need to tell me or you’ll be an accessory.”

  “I don’t know anything other than what I’ve read. I swear.”

  Before Julia could respond, Sara came into the kitchen. Julia’s stomach turned at the sight of her. She had no use for criminals. No use whatsoever. Especially not murderers.

  “I’m here,” Sara said. “What do you want?”

  “Where were you on the afternoon of October twenty-seventh?”

  “How should I know?”

  Julia watched as Sara poured herself a glass of wine. She arched an eyebrow at Cullen.

  “It’s a little early for wine, isn’t it?” Cullen said.

  “It’s never too early if the cops are in my house.”

  “Think hard,” Julia said. “Where were you?”

  Sara sat at the table and stared into space. Julia assumed she was thinking, trying to remember, but after a few minutes, she interrupted her daydreaming.

  “Sara?”

  “Hm? Oh yeah. I don’t know.”

  “That’s not much of an alibi.”

  “What day of the week was it?”

  “A Friday.”

  “I was probably with Cullen,” Sara said.

  “Cullen?” Julia said. “I would imagine she’d have been at work.”

  “I’m telling you. I don’t remember.”

  “And I’m telling you to think harder. You better come up with an alibi and fast, for your own good.”

  Julia stood and Cullen did the same.

  “I’ll be back, Ms. Donovan. That’s a promise.”

  Cullen walked Julia to the door.

  “It was good to see you again,” Cullen said. “I mean…well, you know what I mean.”

  “Right. If you can think of anything that might help either one of us, please call me.” Julia extended her hand and their fingers met when Cullen took the proffered business card. Maybe they stayed like that too long. Julia wasn’t sure. She extracted her hand, turned away, and got in her car.

  Cullen went back into the house and found Sara filling her wineglass again.

  “Are you going to drink the day away?” she said.

  “What else should I do?”

  “Talk to me.”

  “About?”

  “Don’t be that way, Sara. You locked yourself in the office as soon as Julia left last night—”

  “Julia? Julia? What is she? Your best friend or something?”

  “Sorry. Detective Stansworth, whatever. You locked yourself away as soon as she left. I think you owe me an explanation.”

  “For what?”

  “Gee, let’s see… Maybe the fact that you were arrested yesterday and weren’t going to tell me?”

  “I didn’t want you involved.”

/>   “But I am,” Cullen said.

  “Not in that part of my life you’re not, and I figured it was better that way.”

  “Well, at least it explains why you didn’t call me when your car mysteriously broke down. How’d you get home from the police station?”

  “My attorney, Robert, gave me a ride.”

  “Fair enough. So you’re a coke dealer, huh? Do you do anything with entrepreneurs? Or is that all a big lie?”

  “It’s my cover. I needed to have some way to explain my money to you.”

  Cullen ran her hand through her hair and paced the kitchen.

  “Wow. So this house, your car, anything you’ve bought me? All paid for by drug money, huh?”

  “I make good money,” Sara said quietly.

  “I guess you do. And what about that college kid?”

  Sara’s eyes teared up.

  “I had nothing to do with his death,” Sara said. “You’ve got to believe me.”

  “I want to, Sara, I really do. But our whole relationship has been built on a lie. Where do those lies end? How can I trust you?”

  “You can trust me. I’ve never lied to you.”

  “Uh, coke dealer?”

  “That was an omission.”

  “Same difference. And your story of having a job?”

  “A little white lie. I didn’t know how you’d feel about drugs. I still don’t know.”

  Cullen stopped pacing and turned to stare at Sara.

  “So, all those nights you wouldn’t come to bed? Last night? You were snorting coke all night?”

  “I do have a bit of a habit. But I can quit if I need to, I promise.”

  Cullen let out a long breath.

  “God, this is just so much to try to take in.”

  Sara got out of her seat and wrapped her arms around Cullen. Cullen didn’t return the gesture. She couldn’t.

  “Sara, please.”

  “What?”

  “Just don’t.” She unwrapped Sara’s arms and took a step back.

  “Don’t reject me, Cullen. Please don’t reject me. I need you now more than ever.”

  Cullen collapsed into a chair at the table. Sara sat across from her.

  “You saw that kid get shot,” Cullen said. “And you just left. He could have died.”

  “I was scared. What if I got shot? How would you like that? I didn’t know who they were shooting at.”

  The dangerous side of Sara’s job hit Cullen like a ton of bricks. There were wars between drug dealers. People tried to take out rival dealers on a regular basis. Was Sara in danger all the time?