THE
DETECTIVES OF THE 9TH PRECINCT
SERIES
“SAVING
GRACE”
PART
1
“Wow Neal look at this.” Steve exclaims
as he reads the paper.
“What is it?”
“Women for Victim’s Rights are staging a
rally this weekend in San Fran and Gracie Evans is going to speak! You know I
think I’m going to go to that and see Gracie.”
“She has certainly done a lot of work
for victim’s rights I mean she introduced all those Bills to congress and such.
She is a powerhouse.” Neal replies.
“She certainly is and it will be great
to see her.”
“For somebody who is happy you sound sad
Steve.” Neal points out.
“Do I?”
“Yeah you do.”
“Well I guess because I know what she
went thru to get to this point, what we all went thru.” Steve replies.
Neal shakes Steve by his shoulder. “That
is why she is so good at what she does, she speaks from experience. Just like
you and I do.”
“True but some things I wished I wasn’t an
expert on. You know you can go to school and take classes on how to be a better cop and learn all the
lingo and practice all the scenarios but until it hits you in the real world,
you just don’t know Neal. You don’t really have a clue.”
“Looking back on her case Steve would
you have done anything….different?” Neal asks.
“No, not a thing.” Steve says but then
he thinks a minute. “Well maybe one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I would have change places with her….in
a heartbeat.” Steve replies.
“So let’s talk about saving….Grace.”
Neal replies.
“Good idea.”
“It all started like this….” Neal
replies.
V7V7V7V7V7V7V7V7V7V7
For
Steve it was a typical day after work. Cops are not immune from the daily,
mundane chores of everyday life. Laundry, housekeeping, putting the garbage out
and grocery shopping. To Steve it was the little mundane things that made life
interesting and for him he enjoyed grocery shopping. He could easily get lost
in all the aisles of food and cleaning products, for him, in a strange way it
was relaxing. He could peruse the aisle at his leisure, comparing prices and
bargain shopping; he would talk to Fred the butcher and Maria the lady who made
all the pastries. Steve even talked to Maria’s son when he was going thru a
rough time putting him back on the straight and narrow.
Neal
absolutely positively refused to go shopping with him. Steve took forever just
buying a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk. But this was Steve’s neighborhood
and his neighborhood grocery store and the people who’ve worked there had
worked there for years but today something was different. There was a new
addition to the roster.
Steve
finally made all of his purchases and he pushed his cart over to one of the
three check-outs that were open out of six and as he usually did he picked up a
tabloid magazine from the rack to read as he stood in line eating an apple that
he had picked up along the way.
The
lady in front of him was slowing counting out her money to the cashier and that
was when Steve noticed her. The cashier not the lady. The cashier was probably
about his age and also like Steve she could easily pass for much younger. She
was dressed in the traditional grocery store smock, with faded bell bottom
jeans and tennis shoes, a tied-dye t-shirt peeking out from underneath her
smock. Her longish light brown hair was braided in one plait down her back and
when Steve finally got up to where he could read her name tag. That was when
the realization hit him.
“Grace?”
She
looks at him smiling as she picks up a loaf of bread and she keys the price of
it into the cash register. “Yes?”
“I
know this is going to sound like an awful cliché but haven’t I seen you
somewhere before?”
She
shakes her head and she smiles. “I don’t think so I mean I haven’t been here
for very long.”
Steve
suddenly snaps his fingers. “Grace! Gracie Evans!!”
Grace
looks at him. “That is my name but I haven’t been called Gracie since….oh my
god!! Steve!!! Steve Perry from high school?”
“Yeah
that’s right! I knew that was you!! Little Gracie Evans from high school! Who
would have thought!! You know you haven’t changed a bit.” Steve replies as he
leans on the counter.
Grace
blushes. “Oh I don’t know about that, a few pounds here and there. But you!
You’re still so skinny; your hair is a lot longer though, that is probably why
I didn’t recognize you right away. Steve Perry, this is certainly a
coincidence.”
“Isn’t
it though? So what brings you to Oceanview?” Steve asks.
“Well
you see….”
“Hey
you two reminisce on your own time! My ice cream is melting!!” A man next in
line says loudly.
Steve
ignores him. “So what time do you get off of work? I would love to take you out
to dinner and….”
“Hey
Romeo!”
Steve
and Grace look over at him.
“Pick
Juliet up there on your own time why don’t you! If I stand here any longer my
milk will sour!!”
Steve
takes a deep breath as he reaches into his back pants pocket and he pulls out
his badge and he flashes it at him. “If you don’t mind I’m conducting a police
investigation here and looks like aisle 3 is open with no waiting!! So if you
don’t mind?”
“Oh
gotcha Officer.” The man says as he takes his cart and he moves over to aisle
3.
Steve
looks back at her and he smiles. “Okay so where were we? Oh what time do you
get off of work? I would love to show you around Oceanview and we can catch
up.”
“Oh
my gosh you’re a cop?” Grace replies.
Steve
leans in closer to her. “Yeah and I hate doing that but you know this badge
speaks volumes and I don’t have to say a word!! So what about dinner? No
pressure of course.” Steve says as he laughs.
Grace
laughs and her eyes light up like summer sunshine then she looks back down at
the counter blushing slightly. Steve suddenly finds himself smitten.
“I
get off of work at seven most days.” Grace replies.
“Great!
Here’s my card and if you ever need anything you can reach me there.” Steve
says as he hands it to her.
“Okay.
I guess I better finish ringing up your groceries.” Grace replies as she
reaches into the shopping cart.
“I
can’t get over it! I mean it’s been years and all of a sudden you’re here and
still looking so beautiful.”
Grace
smiles and again she blushes. “And you always said the sweetest things. Do you
live nearby?”
Steve
nods. “It’s not far, what about you?”
“A
couple of blocks away on
“Oh
okay. You live at the
“Uh
huh. What’s wrong?”
“Oh
nothing it’s just that at one time it was a rough neighborhood but it’s beginning
to turn itself around, you live there all by yourself?”
“Oh
no.” Grace replies as she continues to ring up his groceries. “That will be
65.71. What’s wrong?”
“I
guess I should have asked first, I mean, it was really, really stupid for me to
assume anything! I mean a great looking girl like you and it’s been a long time
and all! And….and you aren’t wearing a ring so I just assumed, and you know
that makes an ass out of me and you, but nowadays you don’t have to be married
to live together….”
“Steve.”
“Hmmm?”
“I’m
not married.” Grace replies.
“Oh
you aren’t well that’s great! I mean it isn’t great for you I mean you might
want to be….”
“Steve.”
“Hmmm?”
“I
see you still ramble.” Grace replies.
Steve
smiles at her. “Yeah some things never change.”
“I
live with my step-father and I am single.”
“Yeah
me too. I mean I’m single not that I live with your step-father.”
Grace
laughs at this as she puts her hand out.
“What?”
Steve asks.
“65.71.
You know for your groceries.”
“Oh,
oh yeah I have enjoyed talking to you so much I forgot what I was doing.” Steve
replies as he counts out the money.
“Do
you need any help out with your groceries?” Grace asks as she puts the brown
paper bags in the grocery cart.
“No
I think I got it. So can I come back at seven?” Steve asks her as she stands in
front of him her hand close to his on the handle of the cart.
“Can
I have a rain check I mean it’s been a busy day and I’m tired…?”
Steve
takes a step back. “Sure. I’m sorry Grace I don’t mean to be pushy it was just
a shock to see you, a good shock that is.”
“I
know me too how about next week sometime.” Grace asks.
“Friday?”
Grace
looks at the floor as she blushes then she looks back up at him. “Friday would
be great.”
“Oh
cool.” Steve says as he smiles at her. “Friday it is then. Grace it’s been
great seeing you again.”
She
crosses her arms over her chest as she hugs herself. “You too Steve see you on
Friday.”
“Bye.”
Steve replies back over his shoulder as he pushes the cart to the door.
4201 ROCKY POINTE—THE ROCKY POINTE DUPLEXES # 112 A FEW DAYS
LATER:
“Steve
where do you keep the crackers?” Neal asks.
“In
the pantry.” Steve yells. “Why?”
“Because
I want some crackers to put in my chili if you don’t mind.” Neal looks around
the pantry until he finds the crackers and then he sees something else that he
brings back with him.
“Okay
who is she?”
“Who’s
who?” Steve asks as he puts onions in the chili.
“The
girl.”
“What
girl?” Steve asks.
“The
girl that works at the grocery store.”
“Neal.”
Steve replies as he slings the dish towel over his shoulder. “What makes you
think there is a girl and furthermore that she works at a grocery store?”
“Easy
my long-haired friend. First of all you have more food in this house than
Carter has pills…”
“Who?”
Steve asks.
“Carter.”
“Who’s
Carter?” Steve asks.
“It
doesn’t matter it’s just a saying! You have more food than Carter has pills!”
“So
is that a crime? I mean I do weekly grocery shopping like everyone else.” Steve
replies.
“Weekly
grocery shopping huh?”
“Yeah.”
Steve replies.
Neal
brings the bag of cat food out from behind his back. “Steve you bought cat food
and you don’t even have a cat!!”
Steve
takes it away from him. “I’ve been thinking about getting a cat for quite a
long time actually!”
“And
look in your fridge!” Neal replies as he goes over and he opens the
refrigerator.
“All
I see is food.”
Neal
reaches in and picks up something. “What is this?”
“That
would be an artichoke.”
“An
artichoke? What in the hell do you do with an artichoke?”
“A
lot of things actually.” Steve replies.
“Name
one.”
Steve
thinks a minute. “Well you take this part….” Steve says as he points to the
artichoke.
“Yeah.”
“You
could also take this part right here and….” Steve replies as he points
someplace else.
“Yeah.”
Steve
then snatches the artichoke out of Neal’s hand. “Who told you to go thru my
fridge anyway?”
“And
in the bathroom I noticed you have two or three different shampoos and
conditioners! Steve what are you doing?”
“What
am I doing? What are you doing going thru my bathroom?” Steve asks.
“I
was replacing the toilet paper roll.”
“Oh.”
“So
Steve give man.”
Steve
goes over and he stirs the chili.
“You’ve
been going just about every day to that grocery store haven’t you?”
“No!
I don’t go everyday that would just be silly!!! It’s probably every other day
or so….” Steve replies.
“So
who is she?”
Steve
reaches up into the cabinet and he takes down two bowls and plates and he hands
them to Neal. “Sit the table and I’ll tell you all about it. You know where the
place mats are.”
45 MINUTES LATER:
“See
that is Grace Evans right there.” Steve replies as he points to the picture in
his high school album.
“Wow
she is pretty just like you said.”
“That
picture does not do her justice; I mean she looks better than ever!” Steve
replies.
“So
what’s the story?” Neal asks.
“We
went thru three years of High School together and the minute I saw her I had a
major, major crush on her. We had classes together and what-not and she was
pretty quiet, a lot of people back then thought she was stuck-up, she kept to
herself. I didn’t see her all summer then we were juniors and the first day of
class I turned around to borrow a pencil and there she was. She smiled that
devastating smile at me and I was gone! Totally and absolutely gone! Oh she was
smart! By the time we were juniors she seem have to made more friends and
joined more social clubs at school but I didn’t really get to know her until we
were seniors and that year I found out I was in trouble.”
“What
kind of trouble?” Neal asks.
“I
was in danger of not graduating!” Steve says.
“Go
figure! Why was that?”
“Girls
Neal Girls!! I mean they were a total distraction to me then!”
“Then?”
Neal says surprised.
“Okay
then and now but anyway I was going to flunk out if I didn’t pass Biology and Civics
so I needed a tutor. My counselor recommended Grace to tutor me! I had no idea
she was a tutor and she helped me to graduate high school!!! I have her to
thank for that old sheep skin!”
“Did
you two ever go out on a real date?” Neal asks.
“Yeah
we did actually. We did the usual things, drive-ins, and the local hamburger
place. She told me I was her first car date.”
“Really?”
Neal replies.
“Yep.”
Steve says as he nods. “That senior year we became real close, I even gave her
a promise ring.”
“Steve
a promise ring? Wow that was a big thing back then, it was that serious?”
“Oh
yeah it was so serious the day we graduate I asked her to marry me.” Steve says
slowly.
Neal
is shocked. “Steve I don’t know what to say. I had no idea you ever got close
to the altar. What happened? She said no right?”
“No
Neal she said yes.”
Once
again Neal is shocked. “She said….yes?! Well what happened then?”
“Our
parents happened. They intervened, they thought we were way too young to get
married and looking back now, we were. My parents just loved her to death, but
her step-father, oh man he didn’t like me, not one little bit. He even stuck
his finger in my face and he told me if I knocked her up he would kill me, no
ifs, ands or buts about it.”
“Wow
he said that to you? And you were how old?”
“Oh
probably by then 17 close to 18.” Steve replies.
“Sounds
like he was a very protective, maybe slightly over-protective of his daughter.”
Neal replies.
“Maybe
but all I know a few months after graduation they moved away and I never saw
her again until now.” Steve replies.
“It’s
funny about coincidences isn’t?” Neal asks.
“Neal….”
Steve says quietly.
“Yeah
Steve.”
“Have
you ever wondered how some things may not be coincidences?” Steve asks.
“You
mean Grace showing up here?”
“That
is exactly what I mean.” Steve shrugs. “I don’t know maybe its god’s way of
giving me another chance with her. What do you think?”
“I
think you haven’t even been on one date with her yet.”
“That
happens Friday.” Steve pauses. “So you’re telling me to go slow right?” Steve
replies as he smiles.
“Right.
I mean there’s been a lot of years between now and high school and you both
have grown up considerably and changed but if her step-father is still
around….”
“She
lives with him.” Steve says.
“Well
then he might not think any better of you now that you have grown-up. The way
you talk about her just sitting here and your reactions to her tells me that
she is really, really special. And when the time is right Ruby and I would love
to meet her.”
“Yeah
she is special. Thanks for the advice Neal.”
“Let
me give you so more advice.”
“About?”
Steve asks.
“Don’t
do anymore grocery shopping this week!! And give me that damn artichoke thing
Ruby will know what to do with it.”
Steve
laughs. “Alright.”
THE CORNER OF WINSLOW AND
BAKER EARLY MORNING:
“Neal
what’s a three letter word for type of tree?” Steve asks.
“Oak.”
“What’s
a four letter word for coffee?”
“Java.”
Neal says.
“What’s
a six letter word for dumb?”
“Steve!”
Neal replies.
“Nope
that’s five letters.” Steve then looks over at Neal. “That was just rude.”
“Steve
why do you do crossword puzzles?”
“Because
I like them that’s why. Their interesting and challenging and they teach me new
words.”
“Steve
I give you the answers.” Neal points out.
“Not
all the time you don’t, I did a lot of these puzzles in this book without your
help.”
Neal
glances over at the book. “Well okay.”
A
few minutes pass in silence.
“Neal
what’s a eight letter word that goes in this blank, blank license?”
“Creative.”
“Oh
yeah. What’s a six letter word meaning ass?” Steve asks.
“Steve!!
Give me that book!!!” Neal says as he reaches across the car and he tosses it
out of the window.
“Hey
what did you do that for? What am I supposed to do now?” Steve asks.
Neal
leans over the front seat and he grabs a book and he gives it to Steve. “Here
read that.”
“How
to Win Friends and Influence People? Does this work?”
“Yeah,
you do what I want you to do, don’t you?” Neal asks.
“Well
yeah.”
“There
you go! So it does work.” Neal replies.
“Ah
Neal!!”
“Victor
7! Come in Victor 7.” The dispatcher says.
Neal
picks up the microphone. “Go ahead Ocean.”
“See
the man at Warehouse 112, the Harbor District possible dead body.”
Steve
reaches into the glove box and he takes out the log book and he logs the time
in.
“
After
Steve logs it in he puts the bubble light on the roof.
“And
away we go!” Steve replies.
“Everyday
is an adventure.” Neal replies as they drive off.
WAREHOUSE 112 THE HARBOR DISTRICT:
When
they rolled up a crowd was already starting to form and the two uniforms that
were there were holding them back.
“Hey
you guys go back to work there’s nothing here for you to see!! Go on now
leave!!” Neal yells at the crowd.
Another
uniform officer was trying his best to console a middle-aged man wearing
suspenders, work shirt and work pants that was surrounded by two bags of trash
while another officer stood by guarding the dumpster.
“Hey
Mark wanna you got?” Steve asks.
Mark
hesitates. “Detectives this is a bad one. That guy over there owns this warehouse
and every morning he collects the trash and he throws it in this dumpster and
this morning he did the same thing but….”
“But?”
Neal replies.
“He
opened the dumpster and he found her….” Mark replies as he gestures with his
thumb behind him.
Neal
and Steve move closer to the dumpster and they both have to stand on their
tippy-toes to look down into it and then they both look at each other. “Mark
did anybody check to make sure that she is really dead?”
“No
not that I’m aware of.” Mark says.
“Okay
thanks Mark, help your buddies to keep those people back okay.” Neal replies.
Mark
nods as he walks off as Steve takes a pair of driving gloves out of his back
pocket and he puts them on. “I’ll go and check I just need a leg up.”
Neal
nods as he interlaces his fingers together to make a step then Steve places his
foot in them and Neal lifts him up so Steve can get one foot on the ledge of
the dumpster and from there he slowly makes his way down to her. He kneels down
being very careful not to disturb anything as he reached out to check her pulse
at her wrist.
She
was lying partially on her side, her long dark hair covering her face, her
pantyhose ripped in spots, one shoe on the other off in the dumpster, her skirt
hiked up around her waist, her blouse torn open to reveal her bra. Steve moves
just a strand of her hair from her face to reveal bruises.
“Is
she….?” Neal asks from the outside of the dumpster.
Steve
just nods his head. “We need the coroner and the crime scene guys. Neal I think
she’s been raped. Help me out of here okay.” Steve replies.
A HALF AN HOUR LATER:
“Mr.
Cole I realize that this is difficult for you but I need to get some more info
from you.” Steve asks as Mr. Cole holds his head in his hands as he sits at his
desk in his office.
“Oh
god, oh god I can’t believe it!”
“Mr.
Cole did you know the young lady that you found in the dumpster?”
Mr.
Cole wipes his eyes as he rocks back and forth then he nods his head. “Yes, yes
it….it was
“We’re
do that Mr. Cole. You said that she was your secretary? How long did she work
here?”
“Five….five
years next month, oh my god Detective who would want to hurt
“Did
she work late last night?” Steve asks.
Mr.
Cole takes a deep breath as he nods. “Yes, yes we all did. It’s inventory
time.”
“What
do you do here exactly?”
“We
distribute plumbing parts, you know, pipes, fixtures that sort of thing.”
“What
time did she leave Mr. Cole?” Steve asks.
“Hmmm
let me think….”
“Mr.
Cole are you alright you don’t look very well.” Steve replies.
Mr.
Cole reaches in his desk and he pulls out a small viral of pills and he takes
one. “Nitro, I have a heart condition. I’m sorry what was the question?”
“What
time did she leave Mr. Cole?”
“Hmmm
nine,
“Does
she have a car here?” Steve asks.
Mr.
Cole shakes his head. “No she takes the bus. When she got off last night I
wanted to take her to the bus stop! She said no that it was only two blocks
away and she walked it everyday when she left, I….I should have insisted!!!”
Mr. Cole replies as he hits the desk with his fist. “She and the other girls
take a short-cut thru the alley, I….I should have insisted to take her to the
bus stop then she might….”
“Mr.
Cole it isn’t your fault. Mr. Cole are you….?”
Before
Steve can finish the question Mr. Cole falls out of his chair and after Steve
checked him he ran to the office door and he yelled for the officer there to
call an ambulance.
Once
the coroner was called it didn’t take him long to get there and Neal supervised
as they took her from the dumpster with Neal telling them to be careful with
her every step of the way. In order to maintain some privacy for the victim and
to stop the prying eyes of a larger crowd which had formed as word spread that
it was a dead body the coroner and his assistants erected a tent to do a
preliminary exam.
“Well
Sam?” Neal asks.
“She
was strangled, manually.”
“You
mean whoever killed her strangled her with their bare hands?” Neal asks.
“Yes
he wore gloves and he was very, very strong but she put up one hell of a fight.
Defensive wounds on her hands, cuts, a few nails broken and the ones that are
left have something under them. So I would say that your murderer would have
scratches on his face.”
“Steve
thought that she might have been raped.”
“Well
by the state of her clothes I would say yes but I don’t want to say for certain
until I get her back to the lab. She is a tiny thing it wouldn’t take much
Detective.”
“Do
you know how long she’s been dead?”
“Taking
into consideration the temperature last night and she is almost in full rigor I
would say somewhere between nine-thirty and
Neal
nods his head as he takes notes.
“Do
we know who she is yet?” Sam asks.
“No
not yet Steve is finding that out, is there anything else?”
“No
I’ll let you know what I find.” Sam says as he covers the body with a sheet.
“Come on guys let’s be gentle with her it’s all we can do for her now.”
Neal
turns away making his way out of the tent to find Robert. “Robert I want you
and your boys to go over that dumpster with a fine tooth comb! Got it! I want
this guy okay?”
“You
got it Neal.” Robert replies.
“Hey
Steve was that an ambulance I saw leaving?” Neal asks as Steve walks over to
him.
“Yeah
man Mr. Cole has a heart condition and he became so upset he collapsed. Their
taking him to Harbor General but I did find out that the victim’s name is Sandy
Allison and she was Mr. Cole’s secretary, he told me that she has a fiancé. The
other girls that worked with her said his name is Peter Waters. What did Sam
say?”
“That
she has been dead since about nine-thirty or ten of last night.”
“Well
that fits, Mr. Cole told me that she got off of work at about nine and she
would catch the bus every night, the girls would cut thru the alley as a
shortcut.” Steve replies.
“The
alley huh well let’s go and check it out.”
They
walk a few feet to the alley that runs the north length of the warehouse and on
the other side of the fence is a vacant lot, the alley is long and dirty and it
ends at one of the streets that leads out to the docks. Less than halfway down
the alley was a door that read “EMPLOYEES ONLY” in red lettering and next to
the door was a street light.
“Now
Mr. Cole told me that the employees use this door to come in and leave, they
all have a key.” Steve replies.
“Did
this light work last night?” Neal asks.
“Actually no, Mr. Cole called the city to come out and
look at it. Mr. Cole said the girls that take the bus walk up this alley and cut
across the vacant lot right there where a couple of fence slats are broken.”
Steve says as they walk over to the opening in the fence and without going into
the vacant lot they look across the lot. “They walk across the vacant lot and
at the opposite end is another opening and from there they cross a couple of
streets and there is the bus stop.”
“Who
owns this vacant lot?” Neal asks.
“Mr.
Cole, it’s a recent purchase. When he gets all the paperwork in order he’s
going to put a covered parking lot here so the employees will have a good place
to park.”
“Steve
I think I see something.” Neal replies.
“What?”
“Look
right over here, it looks like somebody was standing here waiting on someone.
See the cigarette butts and right there are some footprints.” Neal replies.
“Neal
I think I see a purse in the weeds over there. I bet it’s the victims.”
“I’ll
have Robert bring a couple of his guys over here. Steve if those footprints
belong to our suspect you know what that means don’t you?” Neal asks.
“Yeah
it means that he was waiting here for the girls to come out, smoking, biding
his time and when the victim came this way he grabbed her.”
“And
by the size of that shoe print he’s a big guy and it wouldn’t take much to
subdue her.” Neal replies.
Steve
is silent as he looks at the footprint and the cigarette butts.
“What
cha thinking?”
“I’m
thinking he was comfortable to stand here smoking, he might have been watching
the women here for weeks, seeing their routines, the women might have even seen
him. He’s from this neighborhood or he works here. I think we have a big job
ahead of us.” Steve replies.
“Alright
stay here and guard the alley while I’ll go and get a couple of the crime scene
guys and some crime scene tape.”
“When
that is finished I’ll go back and talk to the office manager. We’re need the
names of the male employees and then later we have to talk to the fiancé.”
Steve replies
“This
is going to be a long day.” Neal replies as he walks off.
P.D.Q. DELIVERY SERVICE SHIFT SUPERVISOR
OFFICE:
“I’m
Peter Waters.” The young man says as he comes into the room.
“Mr.
Waters I’m Detective Schon and this is my partner Detective Perry we’re from
the Oceanview Police department.”
“My
supervisor told me that the police were here to see me. Why are you guys here
did something happen?”
“Mr.
Waters if you would sit down….” Steve replies.
“No
I’ll stand thank you, can you just tell me what’s going on? Did something
happened?”
“Mr.
Waters we hate to tell you this but
Peter
stands there looking at them. “What? What did you just say?”
“Mr.
Waters please….” Neal replies as he tries to take him by his arm.
“No!
No!
“Mr.
Waters we’re sorry for your lost.” Steve replies.
“
“No
Mr. Waters I’m afraid that isn’t the case, her employer Mr. Cole positively
identify her this morning.” Neal replies.
Steve
brings a chair around and Peter sits down in it. “Oh my god! I can’t believe
this! I….I just talked to her last night.”
“What
time was that Mr. Waters?” Steve asks.
“It
was….it was
“Where
were you last night?” Neal asks.
“Here.”
Peter says as he runs his shaky hands thru his hair. “I’ve been working
overtime too. We are….I mean we were going to get married next month. I….I was
going to surprise her with a trip to
Steve
pulls a chair up next to him. “Peter I’m so sorry I can tell that you really
love her can you tell me when you saw her last?”
Peter
nods his head. “Yesterday at lunch. Since we have been working so much lately
that is really the only time we got to see each other.”
“You
didn’t live together?” Neal asks.
Peter
shakes his head. “No we were a bit old-fashioned. She had a little apartment
and I have a house that I inherited from my grandparents, we were going to live
there, oh my god!! Her parents!” Peter looks over at Steve. “Oh my god! They
have to be told!”
“It’s
all right Mr. Waters we’re tell them.” Steve replies as he puts his hand on his
shoulder.
Peter
looks up at them. “What….what happened to her? Was it an accident?”
Steve
looks at Neal. “No she was mu….”
“….Mugged
Mr. Waters she was mugged….” Neal replies as Steve looks at Neal. “Near where
she worked.”
“Mugged?
She….she loved working near the docks.” Peter smiles slightly. “She….she told
me that her and the other girls from the office would go to the docks to eat
their lunch. They like to watch the ships come in….”
“She
went to the docks to eat her lunch? Did she do that everyday?” Steve asks.
“Yes
when she could.”
“Mr.
Waters your supervisor is going to stay with you until you can call someone to
take you home, you shouldn’t be alone. Is there anyone you can call?” Neal
asks.
“I….yes.
I have a close friend I can call.” Peter replies.
“Mr.
Waters we are very sorry that we had to come here to tell you this….” Steve
replies.
He
holds Steve’s hand tight. “You didn’t know her but if you had you two would
have loved her. Everybody she met just loved her, she wouldn’t harm a fly.
She’s was so funny….please catch this guy….okay?”
“We
will Mr. Waters.” Neal replies.
“If
we need to talk to you again may we?” Steve asks.
“Yes….”
Peter replies as he nods.
“Thank
you for your time Mr. Waters.” Neal replies as he opens the office door.
“We’ll
be in touch Mr. Waters.”
As
they leave the supervisor goes into the office and he shuts the door behind him.
They are silent until they get to the car and once in the car Steve looks at
Neal.
“You
lied to him Neal.”
“Yes
Steve I lied to him. Did you want me to tell that grieving man in there that
the woman that he loved and was going to marry was raped and strangled? Did you
want me to tell him that?” Neal replied.
“It
wasn’t right Neal you should have told him the truth!” Steve replied.
“Alright
Steve if that was your fiancée that was raped and strangled would you want to
know that? Would you?”
“Yes
Neal I would! I would want to hear it from you before I heard it from somebody
else! I just hope that it doesn’t come back and bite you in the ass!!”
Neal
says nothing as they drive off.
9TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM:
“Uh
oh Steve looks whose here! Let’s turn around and….” Neal replies to Steve as
they go into the squad room but Neal stops once he sees a red-headed woman
hanging around their desks but it is too late to runaway because she had
spotted them and in the attempt to back-up Neal steps on Steve’s foot.
Steve
let’s out a cry as he grabs his foot. “Neal what in the hell….”
“Wendy
what are you doing here?” Neal asks.
“Now
Detective is that a nice way to speak to a tax-paying citizen that pays your
salary?” Wendy asks.
“When
the tax-paying citizen also happens to be a reporter I would say yes!” Steve
replies loudly.
“And
my name is spelled Schon not Sean!!” Neal points out. “Besides all of that,
reporters are not allowed in the squad room and you know that.”
“Well
Detective S.C.H.O.N. if I didn’t wait for you two here then you two would be
avoiding me and the public, whom also pay your salaries, deserves to know about
the body that was found in the dumpster this morning.” Wendy pulls a notepad
out of her bag. “Care to make a comment Detectives?”
“No
comment.” Neal replies.
“Ditto.”
Steve replies. “And you know your way out.”
“Wait!
What do I tell my editor?” Wendy yells after them.
“You’re
the reporter make it up!” Steve replies as he shuts the door on her.
9TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM TWO DAYS LATER:
“Alright
Neal we got the background checks back on all the guys that work at the
warehouse.”
“Any
possible suspects?” Neal asks.
“Well
there are two. Jack Perkins and Tony Castro. They were both in prison but now
they are out on parole.”
“Really?
Parole for what?” Neal asks.
“Jack
Perkins was in prison for auto theft and Tony Castro for writing bad checks.”
“That’s
it?” Neal asks.
“Yeah
and according to their respective parole officers they both are doing well, it seems
that Mr. Cole believes in giving people second chances and they were both at
meetings with their parole officers when our vic was killed and all the other
men are all accounted for.”
“Shit!
I was kinda hoping for a quick resolution to this one.” Neal replies as he
throws his pencil down.
Steve
closes his folder. “Do you have Sam’s report?”
“Yeah.”
Neal replies as he reaches for it. “It says that she was manually strangled so
hard that the hiatal bone in her throat was broken and she was raped, after she
was dead….”
“Jesus
god almighty….” Steve replies.
“And
it wasn’t skin that Sam found under her nails it was fibers.”
“Fibers?”
Steve asks.
“Yeah,
like from a ski mask or something similar.”
“This
guy was planning ahead.” Steve replied.
“And
Sam did find semen….”
“Too
bad that can’t help us. Well the crime lab boys say that the boot print we
found was fresh and it was a size 13 work boots, pretty generic actually, and
they also said that her purse wasn’t touched. All the money she had in her purse
was still there. So all in all what we have here….”
“….Adds
up to a big fat nothing! At least we know who it isn’t….”
“Yeah
the guys that work at the warehouse.” Steve replies. “Time to canvass the
neighborhood.”
“With
what Steve? We don’t have a picture, hell we don’t even have a decent
description. All we have is a big guy with a size 13 shoe that smokes and wears
a ski mask!”
“I
know Neal buts it’s a start….”
Before
Neal can answer the doors to the squad room are opened violently and Peter
Waters walks-runs into the room and when he gets to Neal’s desk he throws the
Oceanview newspaper down onto his desk.
“You
lied to me!!!” Peter yells at Neal.
Steve
and Neal both get to their feet as Neal reaches for the paper and he opens it.
“You
lied to me about
Neal
opens the paper and he sees the story on the front page about the body being
found in the warehouse dumpster and that it was raped.
“Mr.
Waters….” Neal says.
“What
Detective!! What other lies are you going to tell me?!! Why didn’t you tell me
yourself…?” Peter yells.
“What
is all the yelling out here?!” The Captain asks as he opens his door and he
looks out.
Neal
looks at the floor.
“Hmmm
Captain its Mr. Waters we told you about him.” Steve replies.
“Captain
you’re their boss right?” Peter asks as he walks over to him.
“Yes
Mr. Waters I am and I am very sorry for your lost.” The Captain replies.
“You’re
sorry? What about you’re Detective there? I thought he was sorry too but he lied
to me and I had to find out the truth in the paper!!”
“Mr.
Waters why don’t we go into the office.” The Captain replies as he gestures for
Steve and Neal to join him.
“Now
Mr. Waters what was this about one of my Detectives lying to you?” The Captain
asks as he shuts the door.
“Detective
Schon lied to me about
“Detective
Schon did you lie to Mr. Waters?” The Captain asks.
“Yes
sir I did and I did it to spare him the truth.” Neal replies.
“Spare
me the truth?!!! You think lying to me made me feel better when I saw this!!!”
“Mr.
Waters we’re sorry and Detective Schon….” Steve tries to interject.
“Everybody
is sorry!!! The only way I will accept your apologies Detectives is the day you
find the bastard who killed
The
Captain puts his arm around Peter. “Mr. Waters I can assure you that our
Detectives will do everything in their power to find the man who did this and
just as soon as they find him we will be in touch. Come on Mr. Waters I will
walk you out, you two stay put.” The Captain says to them.
The
Captain leaves and a few minutes later he returns. “Neal what were you
thinking?”
“I’m
sorry okay but I was thinking about Ruby!! I could not look that man in the eye
and tell him what had happened to his fiancé!! As for that story in the
newspaper we didn’t tell her anything!!!” Neal replies.
“No
Captain we didn’t, honestly!! She talked to somebody else; or there might even
be a leak somewhere.” Steve replies.
“I
know you two would never talk to the press and give them confidential
information and especially not to this rag.” The Captain replies. “Steve would
you leave Neal and I alone for a minute?”
“Oh
sure.” Steve replies as he leaves the office and he goes back to his desk where
he tries to make himself busy. A few minutes later Neal returns.
“Is
everything okay? Are you in trouble?”
“No
the Captain just told me to be careful of my objectivity.” Neal rubs his eyes.
“I don’t know what happened Steve I mean I have seen hundreds of dead bodies, men
and women but….”
“….But
the way Mr. Waters spoke about her, you could just hear the love in his voice
that he has for her, and it reminded me of how you talk about Ruby, I could see
that in your face Neal.”
“If
we have to work day and night Steve we have to find this guy. The Captain even
authorized overtime for us so I guess we go with your idea of canvassing the
area, so let’s go.”
“Let’s
stop by the grocery store on the way over there.” Steve says.
“Why?”
“I
need to break my date with Gracie.” Steve replies.
THE 9TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM TWO WEEKS LATER:
“Hey
Steve wake up man there’s someone here to see you.” Neal replies as he gently
shakes Steve awake.
Steve
rolls over as he rubs his eyes. “Who is it?”
“Why
don’t you see for yourself and you better hurry before Mac gets her.”
“Her?”
Steve replies as he looks at Neal.
Steve
gets up and he followed Neal out to the squad room where Mac was trying to put
his best moves on Grace.
“Hey
hello Gracie….” Steve replies.
“You
really are here to see him?” Mac replies.
“Why
are you surprised by that?” Steve asks.
“Well
look at her and then look at you!” Mac replies.
“Yeah,
yeah go away Mac!” Steve yells as he puts his arms around her. “Hey honey what
are you doing here?”
“Well
I’ve noticed that you haven’t been in the store much lately so I thought I
would bring you something to eat.” Gracie replies as she smiles at him. “I hope
you don’t mind that I came by.”
“Oh
no I’m glad that you did. Here have a seat at my desk. What did you bring?”
“I
brought you and your partner submarine sandwiches.” Grace replies as she takes
them out of the sack.
“Oh
wow! Where are my manners? Grace Evans this is my partner Neal Schon.”
Neal
nods at her. “Hi Grace, Steve has told me a lot about you.”
“Hi
Neal, I hope he only told you good things about me?” Grace replies as she winks
at Steve.
“Oh
absolutely!” Neal replies as he smiles.
“Gracie
you didn’t have to bring us food.” Steve replies.
“Oh
sure she did! Thanks Grace.” Neal replies as he takes the sandwich that Grace
hands to him.
“Gracie
I hated breaking our first date and all….” Steve replies.
“Oh
no Steve I understand I mean it would be stupid of me to be mad at you. It’s a tough
case you’re working on. I just wanted to see you.” Grace says as she blushes.
Steve
smiles at her. “I’m glad I wanted to see you too.” Steve holds her hands
forgetting about the sandwich.
The
phone rings at Steve’s desk but he ignores it as he brushes a strand of hair
from her eyes.
“You
know Gracie every time I see you I can’t get over how beautiful you are.”
The
phone rings again. “Steve….” Neal says.
“I
mean you haven’t changed at all! You have the same high cheek bones.” Steve
replies as he rubs his thumbs over her cheekbones.
The
phone rings again. “Steve!”
“Yeah?”
Steve replies as he looks in her eyes.
“Never
mind.” Neal replies as he reaches across the desk and he answers his phone.
“Detective Perry’s desk….what? Okay, okay we’re be there.” Neal hangs up the
phone. “Steve we have to go.”
“Hmmm
what did you say something Neal?” Steve replies.
Neal
grabs Steve’s jacket and he throws it at him. “Yes I did I said we have to go!
Excuse us Grace.” Neal replies as he grabs Steve by his arm and he pulls him
up.
“Hey
man don’t crease the threads!!” Steve replies.
Neal
rolls his eyes. “Say goodbye Steve we have to go.”
“Oh
yeah Grace we have to go I’ll call you okay?” Steve replies as Neal walks him
to the door.
“Bye
Steve.” Grace replies as she waves.
THE LEMON TREE SILK IMPORTERS ABANDONED WAREHOUSE THE HARBOR
DISTRICT:
“Hey
Sam what you got….oh man!” Neal replies as he covers his nose from the smell.
“Oh
gosh.” Steve says as he reaches in his pocket for a handkerchief.
“Boys.
This one has been dead awhile.” Sam replies.
“I’ve
noticed. Who found her?” Steve asks.
Sam
points to a disheveled man with dirty, torn clothes standing with the uniform
officer. “I think he said his name was George.”
“George
huh?” Neal replies as he looks over at him.
“So
Sam what’s the word?” Steve asks thru the handkerchief.
“The
word detective is lab.” Sam replies as he sees the look on Steve’s face. “The
only thing I can tell you about the body it’s female and that’s a guess,
anything else will have to wait until I get the body back to the lab.”
“Come
on Steve let’s go over and talk to George.” Neal replies as he puts his hand on
Steve’s shoulder.
They
walk over to George who seems agitated. “So….you’re name is George?” Neal asks.
“Yah!
Who are you?”
“I’m
Detective Schon and this is my partner Detective Perry. How about we go outside
to talk?”
The
three of them walk outside. “Alright now George so you found the body?” Steve
asks as he pulls out his notepad.
“Yah!
That I did!!! That I did!!! I own this warehouse!!!” George exclaims loudly.
Steve
and Neal look at one another then they look back at George. “You….own this
warehouse?” Steve asks as he gestures.
“I
do!!” George yells.
Neal
scratches his head. “Well George I have been around these parts for awhile and
I didn’t know that this warehouse that had been abandoned had a new owner. How
much did you pay for it?”
“I
paid nothing!!!”
“Oh
well George I thought you just said that you owned it? You did say that didn’t
you?” Steve asks.
“Yes
I did say that I own it by squatter’s rights!!!” George says proudly as he
crosses his arms over his chest.
Once
and again Steve and Neal look at one another. “Squatter’s rights?” Steve asks.
“Yes
squatter’s rights!!! Boy for cops you two are sure dumb! What me to explain
what squatter’s rights are?!!”
“No
George we know what they are. So do you know who she was?” Steve asks.
“Yah!
Her name was Millie, Sweet Millie they called her! I came by to pick up the
rent from her….”
“Wait
did you just say you came by to pick up the rent from her?” Steve asks.
“Yah!
Are you deaf!!! Do I have to explain rent to you?!!”
“No
George you don’t but what was she paying you rent for?” Neal asks.
“That
space she had! The place where she slept! The place where you found her!! I
hadn’t heard from her in days so I came by to collect the rent from her and
that is how I found her.”
“How
does she make her money?” Steve asks.
“Walking
the streets man! Hooking!! Are you going to ask me what that is sonny?!” He
asks Steve.
“No
George but what I do want to know is you said that you hadn’t heard from her in
days, do you remember the last time you heard from her?” Steve asks.
“Saturday
or Sunday! Yah! It was Sunday! Sunday night I saw her heading down to the
docks! She turned most of her tricks there!! The men on the ships you know!”
“Did
she ever bring any of the tricks here?” Neal asks.
“Oh
no siree Bob! No no! I don’t allow any hanky panky or funny business!! No I
don’t!!”
“Alright
George in the last few days have you noticed any strange people hanging
around?” Steve asks.
George
gives Steve a look. “Sonny everybody that hangs around here is strange!!”
Steve
and Neal both smile. “Touché.” Steve replies.
“George
if you remember anything else you can call us here.” Neal replies as he hands
George a card.
“Hey
fellows if you know anybody that need a space I got one available now!!” George
says as they start to walk off.
Steve
looks back over his shoulder. “Yah George we’ll keep that in mind.”
“Detectives!”
The guys hear a familiar voice following after them.
“Just
keep walking man.” Neal replies.
“DETECTIVES!!!”
Wendy yells again as she runs to catch up to them.
“What
were you some frigging track star in high school or something!!!” Steve replies
as Wendy runs and then stops in front of them.
“Tennis
shoes Steve they come in handy when you have to keep up with people who won’t
give you the truth.” Wendy says as she points to her feet. “Care to make a
statement about the dead body in the warehouse?”
“First
of all
“
“How
did you get here so fast Wendy I don’t see any other vultures circling?” Neal
asks.
“You
know Neal I bet if we look in that rust bucket she drives I bet we’ll find a
police scanner.”
“So
what if you do!! There is nothing illegal about the public or the press having
a police scanner!!! The public deserves to know what’s going on in their
city!!” Wendy replies.
“Even
if what you print hurts somebody, like that last story you wrote? Do you have
any idea what that information did to the victim’s family? Do you even care?”
Steve asks.
“Who
fed you that info?” Neal asks.
Wendy
laughs. “I have my sources just like you do! I pay them for information just
like you do and just like you Detective I don’t have to divulge my sources!! So
in many ways we are working towards the same goal….”
Steve
laughs. “Oh no you don’t!! Don’t even say that! Because there is no way we are
on the same side!! We’re on the side of justice! Come on Neal let’s go.” Steve
replies as he brushes passed her.
“So
am I!!! I want justice as well!! It’s the people’s right to know how their
police force operates! It’s their right to know how their tax dollars are
spent! The police should be held accountable for what they do!!! I want justice
in there for that woman and Detective Perry are you going to give her the same
level of justice, devoted as much time to her case as Sandy Allison or just
because she is a prostitute you’re going to let her killer go free!!!!!”
Steve
and Neal both stop then Steve looks back over his shoulder at her then he turns
around.
“Steve….”
“You
listen to me you little….” Steve replies but before he can finish Neal grabs
him.
“Come
on man she’s yanking your chain.” Neal says.
“Oh
no let him go Detective this will make a great story, Homicide Detective Hits
Female Reporter, I can just see the headline now!” Wendy replies.
“Stay
away from here Wendy if I see you talking to anybody or….” Neal replies.
“….Or
you’re do what Detective Schon?” Wendy replies as she comes closer. “I am sure
you’ve heard of the ‘Freedom of the Press’ and if you arrest me that will make
an even bigger headline, don’t you think?”
“Come
on Neal we’ve got work to do.” Steve replies as he grabs Neal by his arm.
THE COPS AND ROBBER BAR MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT:
“Hey
Steve.” Neal replies.
“Hey
yourself.” Steve replies as he takes another drink of his beer.
“Something
told me that you would be here.” Neal replies as he sits down next to him.
“Jack
called you didn’t he?” Steve asks.
Neal
snags a few peanuts out of the bowl. “Well yeah actually he did. He said that
you have had three beers so far….”
Steve
sits the empty mug back down on the bar. “Two domestic and one imported and I
think I’m going to try another imported….” Steve raises his hand but Neal grabs
it and he puts it back down on the bar.
“No
way partner I think three is your limit.” Neal leans closer. “Steve don’t let
what Wendy said upset you.”
“I
can’t….I can’t help it! It does upset me!! Why in the world Neal would she say something
that….that bad? That….that we wouldn’t care or do….do a good investigation just
because the vic was a prostitute? Why did she have to say that!!! I
mean….Oceanview is a good police department….”
“I
know Steve.”
“….And….and
we’re good cops! No damn it! We’re great cops!!!”
“I
know we are.” Neal replies as he puts his arm around Steve.
“And….and
what she said hurt! She just took my ethics and my integrity and the ethics and
integrity of the department and just….just ripped them to shreds!!!! How….how
come you aren’t mad? I mean she insulted you too!!!”
“Steve
I have been doing this cop thing just a little longer than you and for some
things I have developed a much thicker skin than you. Dealing with the press is
just one of those things. You and I both know what she said isn’t true, now it
might be true in some other police precinct but it isn’t true in ours.” Neal
leans in even closer. “And you know that it isn’t true either. Come on buddy
I’ll give you a ride home.” Neal says as he helps Steve to his feet.
“We
have a lot of work to do we have to go back to the station.” Steve says.
“No
the Captain thought it best that we get some rest at home, I mean his leather
sofa is nice but it isn’t nice to sleep on it every night.”
Steve
put his arm around Neal. “You know Neal what I….I think?”
“No
Steve what do you think?”
“I
think….I think I really like Gracie a lot and maybe….just maybe when these
cases are solved I….I just might ask her to marry me again.” Steve says as he
hiccups.
Neal
smiles. “Alright man you’re fading fast let’s get you home.”
“Yeah
man good….idea.” Steve says as he hiccups again.
THE CORONER’S OFFICE THE NEXT MORNING:
“Steve
are you alright?” Sam asks as Steve comes unsteadily into the office wearing
sunglasses.
“Not
especially no.” Steve replies unhappily.
Neal
hands Steve a cup of coffee and two aspirins.
“I
am waiting on a colleague of mine but we can start. Neal did you find out the
name of our victim?” Sam asks.
“Yeah
her name is Millie Cooper and she has a long arrest record mostly for
prostitution. According to this it said she wanted to get off of the street and
for the last six months she was helping young prostitutes to get off of the
streets themselves.” Neal replies.
Steve
takes off his sunglasses and he rubs his eyes. “So doc what can you tell us
about her?”
“Well
very simply she was manually strangled pretty much in the same manner as the
first girl, her hiatal bone in her throat was broken and she was raped after
she was dead.”
“Well
doc how can you tell that she was raped and it wasn’t consensual since she was
a….” Neal looks down at the floor. “….Sorry.”
“No
Detective that is a good question actually. As you both know rape is not about sex
it is about control, a lot of people don’t know that. In her case there was a
lot of vaginal tearing and bruising not something you would find with
consensual sex. There was also the presence of semen just like in the first
case.”
“So
doc in your opinion you think the same man killed these two women?” Neal asks.
“Yes
Neal I would have to say so. The mode of strangling is the same, not too many
people use their bare hands, and then again there is the semen.” Sam says.
“You
keep saying that but it doesn’t help us!” Steve says as he grabs his head. “Oh
shit that hurt!”
The
doctor smiles. “Remember I mentioned my colleague just as soon as he gets here
he will explain to you two how that semen might just help us.”
Neal
and Steve look at each other just as there is a knock on the door.
“That
will be him!” Sam says as he gets up and he answers it. When he opens the door
there is a young man standing there and after Sam shows him into the office he
gives him a hug. “Gentleman I would like you to met Dr. Jeremy Rice.”
Neal
gets to his feet and with Neal’s help Steve also gets to his feet as they shake
the Doctor’s hand.
“Nice
to meet you Doctor I’m Neal Schon and my pastry faced friend over there is
Steve Perry.”
“Ha-ha
and ha! That isn’t funny. Nice to meet you Doc.” Steve says.
“It’s
nice to see Sam has some living friends.” Neal replies.
Sam
pats Jeremy on the back. “Dr. Rice has been a friend and student of mine for
awhile now.”
“Student?”
Neal replies.
“Yes
when Dr. Rice was still a resident he was under my supervision at the Doctor’s
Hospital in
“Yes
Sam was quite a task master back in those days.” Jeremy replies.
“I
was going to say you look awfully young to be a doctor.” Neal replies. “Just how
long have you been a doctor, Doc?” Neal asks as they all laugh that is except
for Steve.
“Almost
three years now. Are you alright?” Jeremy asks Steve who had made his way back
to the chair.
“No
not really.” Steve replies.
“A
touch of the flu perhaps?” Jeremy asks.
“More
like a touch of the hair of the dog.” Neal replies.
“Oh
I see well that is easy enough to fix. Sam can I have a glass of water please?”
“Certainly.”
Sam goes into the bathroom and he comes back with a glass of water.
Jeremy
takes it and he sits it on the desk then he takes a roll, of what looks like
LifeSavers to Neal out of his pocket and he takes one out of the roll and he
drops it into the glass of water and immediately it begins to fizz and after it
dissolves he takes it over to Steve.
“Alka-Seltzer?
Bah! That never helps me!” Steve replies.
“No
it isn’t Alka-Seltzer its Berocca.” Jeremy replies.
Steve
sniffs it then he looks at Jeremy.
“It’s
okay I promise.”
Steve
looks over at Neal and all he does is shrugs. “Can’t hurt.”
“Well
it smells okay.” Steve says then he takes a tentative sip and when he sees it
tastes okay he drinks more.
“Just
drink it slow.” Jeremy replies. “Now Detectives, Sam has told me a lot about you
and I am glad that I finally get a chance to meet you two, although I do wish
it was under better circumstances.”
“What
does that mean exactly?” Neal asks.
“It
means Neal that Dr. Rice has being doing extensive research in blood and blood
typing.” Sam replies. “I’ll let Dr. Rice explain.”
“Yes
you see blood is very interesting and there is more than one way to find the
blood type of a person and blood type is just not in blood.” Jeremy says.
“Well
I….” Neal starts to say.
“Hey
you know this stuff really works! I feel good! What is this stuff Doc?” Steve
asks.
“It’s
a Vitamin B supplement and it’s from
“As
I was saying….” Neal says as he looks over at Steve. “….I don’t get it.”
“They
are secretors and non-secretors.” Jeremy says.
“What?”
Steve says.
“I
took the semen from the two victims and determined that your suspect is blood
type O.”
“Universal
donor.” Neal replies.
“Very
good Detective and I also took the saliva from the cigarette butts and I
determined from that your suspect is a diabetic, although he might not realize
it.” Jeremy replies.
“Wait!
So Doc what you’re telling us is that you found a way to get someone’s blood
type from….semen?” Steve replies.
“And
when you said that they are secretors and non-secretors that means that they
either secrete thru their saliva or semen or they don’t, right?” Neal replies.
“Yes
Detectives that is it in a nut-shell.”
“And
the semen from the two victims….match.” Steve replies.
“Yes
exactly. The same man killed those two women.” Jeremy replies.
“Wow
that is just amazing Doc I mean I don’t think I have ever heard of this
before.” Steve replies.
“No
Detective you haven’t because I discovered it.” Jeremy replies. “Actually I
have been working on this for quite awhile, years of research and trial and
error. I was planning on doing a paper on it for the medical journals and with
your permission I would like to make your case a test case.”
Steve
and Neal look at one another as they let all the info sink in. “Okay Doc let’s
have all of this again….” Neal replies.
“Except
go really slow.” Steve says.
The
good doctor is happy to oblige and even using the board in Sam’s office he
explains it carefully from the very beginning even adding a few little points
that he may have forgotten previously.
“So
guys what do you think?” Jeremy asks.
“I
think I like it! I say go for it!” Steve replies.
Neal
stands up. “You know Steve we’re forgetting something here and it’s a very
important something.”
“What’s
that?”
“Court?
Doc will this hold up in court? I mean this whole thing is new, brand
new.” Neal replies.
“Yeah
and now that Neal mentions it what about juries?” Steve asks.
“Oh
yeah doc juries can very hard to convince about some things, I mean if it is
too complicated or too technical they lose interest. Neal replies.
“Did
you two understand it the way I explained it?” Jeremy asks.
Steve
and Neal look at one another and Steve shrugs. “Yeah I mean the second time I
did.”
“Yeah.”
“As
for the question of holding up in court I can’t answer that detectives, any new
medical testing or procedures will have to stand on its own two feet. Let this
case be the litmus test.” Jeremy replies.
“I
don’t know….” Neal replies.
“Just
think Detectives this technique has so many applications and it could be a big
boost to law enforcement all across the country. Oceanview Police Department
could be in the history books as where it all began, think of all the cold
cases that it could solve.” Jeremy replies.
“Neal
he’s right and anybody that can cure my hangover deserves a shot. I say yes.
Neal this could be the future of crime fighting and we’re on the ground floor.”
Neal
nods. “Alright let’s do it.” Neal and Jeremy shake hands.
“So
doc you can really get my blood type from my saliva?” Steve asks.
“Yes
or your semen. Do you want a demonstration?” Jeremy asks.
“Whoa
doc I need all of my semen!” Steve replies.
They
all laugh. “Tell you what we’ll get it off of the glass you drank out of.”
“Hey
I’m going to call the Captain I want him to be in on this too.” Neal replies as
he picks up the phone.
THE CORNER OF HOLLIS AND DOCKSIDE:
“Who
found her Mark?” Neal asks.
“That
kid over there.” Mark points over to where a young boy stood being comforted by
another police officer. “He was collecting cans; he thought it was a
mannequin.”
“Did
anybody call his parents?” Neal asks.
“Yes
his father will be here soon.” Mark replies.
Neal
takes a deep breath. “Alright Mark.”
Neal
turns around to find Steve down on one knee close to the body silently looking
at her. “Jesus god almighty Neal she is just a….kid. She can’t be more than
16.”
“Detective.”
Mark replies as he hands Neal a note.
“Her
name is Karen Mallory and she matches the description that her father gave to
Missing Persons. She went to school yesterday morning but she never….came
home.”
“Because
she met the devil. I wish we could cover her up.”
“I
know Steve but you know we can’t, we have to preserve the crime scene. Tell you
what we can do thou I’ll get Mark to grab a few blankets and we’ll get a few of
the officers to hold them up around her until Sam gets here, okay?”
Steve
nods his head and by the time they had collected the blankets and were holding
them up Sam arrived.
“Detectives.”
Sam replies as he approaches the body and it only took Sam a few minutes. “I
guess I don’t have to tell you this but she is similar to the first two,
manually strangled and there are signs of rape.”
“How
long Doc?” Steve asks.
“I’ll
say since about nine or nine thirty last night. It looks like rain let’s get
her back to the lab.”
“Robert.”
Neal says. “Look for boot prints, collect any and all cigarette butts and I want
you to work with Dr. Jeremy Rice on this, Sam knows who he is, alright?”
“Anything
you want Neal you got it.”
Neal
walks over to Steve who was helping to load the body into the Coroner’s wagon.
“Do
you want to go with me to talk to the parent’s?” Neal asks.
“Of
course I do we’re a team.”
“I
know we’re a team but you’re also human Steve.”
“No
Neal I’ll be human later right now I’m a cop, let’s go.”
1304
“Please
detectives come in.” Wallace Mallory replies as he opens the door for them.
“You’re here about Karen aren’t you?”
“Yes
Mr. Mallory I’m afraid that we are.” Neal replies.
“We
found her this morning Mr. Mallory in the Harbor District.” Steve replies.
“The
Harbor District? Why in the world would she go there?”
“We
were hoping that you could tell us that sir.” Steve replies.
Mr.
Mallory shakes his head. “I don’t know why she would be that far from home. Do
either of you have children?”
Steve
shakes his head no.
“I
have a six year old boy.” Neal replies.
“You
see my wife passed away when Karen was ten years old and soon after we moved
here from
“When
did you last see her Mr. Mallory?” Neal asks.
“Yesterday
morning at breakfast, I usually drop her off at school in the morning and she
rides the bus home in the afternoon.”
“Mr.
Mallory did she have a boyfriend or was she dating anyone?” Steve asks.
“No
I don’t believe so. I have worked some very long hours at work lately and by
the time I get home she is in bed asleep.”
“What
do you do Mr. Mallory?” Neal asks.
“I’m
the Chief Financial Officer at the First Bank of Oceanview.”
“I
see that is a very demanding job.” Steve replies.
“Yes
detective it is and last night I made a point to come home early because I
wanted to spend time with her and when she didn’t come home, I thought maybe
she had been kidnapped. I mean in my profession it isn’t of unheard of you
know.”
“No
sir it isn’t.” Steve replies.
There
is silence then Mr. Mallory finally says, “How did she….die?”
Neal
and Steve look at one another. “Mr. Mallory I don’t think you should know….”
Neal says.
“No
I want to know.” Mr. Mallory insists.
Neal
takes a deep breath. “Sir I afraid that she was strangled and she was also
raped.”
“I’m….I’m
glad that her mother isn’t alive to see this day. When can I see her? I want to
bury her next to her mother.”
“Yes
sir I understand. It’s an on-going police investigation and we’ll let you know
when the body can be released to you.” Steve says as he puts his hand on his
arm.
Mr.
Mallory nods. “Karen is a good girl detectives please find the person that did
this to her.”
“Yes
sir we will.” Neal replies.
“Will
you be alright here alone?” Steve asks.
“I’m
not alone detective, my son is asleep upstairs.”
“Mr.
Mallory did Karen have a purse or a book bag of some sort we didn’t find any
with her.” Steve asks.
“Hmmmm
yes she carried a brownish suede looking purse I think and it had
those….those….”
“Tassels?”
Neal asks.
“No
they were more like….”
“Fringes?”
Steve asks.
“Yes,
yes I do believe that is what she called them, fringes. And for Christmas last
year I got her a leather book bag it is very unique, it has the Bank’s logo on
it.” Mr. Mallory replies.
“Mr.
Mallory if you could we would like the names of her friends and if she has a
best friend that would be helpful.” Steve asks.
“I
can give you the names of the families I called last night when I was looking
for her.”
“Thank
you Mr. Mallory that would be great.” Neal replies as they follow him into the
kitchen.
THE 9TH PRECINCT THE NEXT DAY:
“According
to her school records she was a good student and she was in a number of clubs.”
Neal replies. “No problems with anybody….” When Steve doesn’t respond Neal
looks over to see Steve staring at a picture of Karen. “Steve did you hear
anything I just said?”
“What?”
Steve asks as he looks up.
“I
said did you hear anything I just said?”
“Yeah
sure, she was a good student and she didn’t have any problems….”
“What’s
wrong?” Neal asks.
Steve
runs his hand thru his hair. “It’s this picture.”
“What’s
wrong with it?” Neal asks.
Steve
takes a deep breath. “She seems so familiar to me, like I’ve seen her somewhere
before.”
“Well
the other two victims also had long, dark hair.”
“No
that isn’t it I just can’t put my finger on it. It’ll come to me eventually.
What did her best friend say about Karen having a boyfriend?” Steve asks.
“Well
according to her Karen didn’t have a boyfriend but I get the impression that
there is something that she isn’t telling us.”
“Well
I get the impression that there is a pattern establishing itself here, all the
women had long, dark hair and they were all killed the same way.”
“A
serial rapist?” Neal asks cautiously.
“Yeah.”
The
phone rings at Steve’s desk and he picks up the receiver. “Detective Perry. Oh
you did?” Steve looks at Neal. “Okay we’ll be right over, thanks.”
“Who
was that?”
“A
gas station a few blocks away from where Karen’s body was found, the attendant
found a girl’s purse and some school books.”
“Let’s
roll.”
ROSEHILL 1 GAS STATION:
“Hi
Mike I’m Steve and that’s my partner Neal and that’s Robert with the crime lab.
You said that you found some school books and a purse?”
“Yeah
they are right over here.” Mike replies as they follow him over to the trash
cans that’s located behind the building and there they find three text books, a
notebook and a spiral binder. On the ground next to the trash can was a brown
suede purse and also there was a pair of jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes.
Steve,
Neal and Robert all kneel down around the objects and Steve points to the
spiral notebook. “Karen Mallory.”
“Robert
bag all of this stuff up.” Neal replies.
“The
clothes too?” Robert asks.
“Yeah
those were the clothes her father reported her missing in but she was wearing
different clothes when she was found.” Neal replies.
“Her
father said that she had a fancy leather book bag, hey Mike did you happen to
see a fancy, leather book bag with a logo on it?” Steve asks.
“Nope.”
Mile replies.
“Did
you see the person that threw this stuff away?” Neal asks.
“Well
it was sorta busy last night but I did see a beat up green Chevy two-door pull
up and drive off real quick, you know long enough to toss some stuff out.” Mike
replies.
“Did
you see who was driving the car?” Steve asks.
“Well
yeah I think so I mean it was sorta fast but he was wearing a cap and his hair
was down to his collar, it was mostly a profile view you know.”
“Okay
well thanks Mike we’re be in touch.” Neal replies.
“Hey
guys Sam wants you guys to come back to the lab.” Robert says.
“Thanks
Robert.” Steve replies.
THE CORONER’S OFFICE:
“Detectives.”
“What
do you have for us Sam?” Neal asks.
“The
latest victim was strangled and she was raped….”
“Just
like the others.” Steve replies.
“No
not just like the others….” Sam replies.
“No?”
Neal asks surprised.
“What’s
the difference?” Steve asks.
“First
of all she was sodomized and there wasn’t any semen left on the body.”
Neal
and Steve look at one another. “That could mean that he wore a rubber….” Steve
replies.
“And
also that he’s learning, adapting to his environment, this guy is no amateur at
this. I’ll bet he’s done this other places.” Neal replies.
“Also
there were fibers found on her clothes and I turned them over to the crime lab
and there’s another reason I don’t believe the same man did this.” Sam replies.
“She was strangled by a piece of jewelry, a chain; it was a heavy type of chain.
A herringbone pattern.”
“We
didn’t see one at the crime scene.” Steve replies.
“Maybe
the rapist took it. Anything else Sam?”
“No
that’s it for now I’ll call her father later and tell him I’m going to release
his daughter to him.”
“Thanks
Sam. This is a tough one isn’t it?” Steve asks.
“Kids
are always tough Detective, always.”
THE 9TH PRECINCT HOURS LATER:
“God
I am so tired.” Steve exclaims.
“I
know me too. Something is not jiving with this last one I mean I feel like
we’re missing something.”
“Karen
Mallory is a 16 year old very pretty girl but when we found her she certainly
wasn’t dressed like a 16 year old girl. She had a book bag which is missing but
we did find her books, purse and clothes.”
“The
clothes she wore to school, the clothes she wore to school….” Neal repeats.
“She
was dressed as a school girl during the day but after she dressed like she was
going on a….”
“Date.”
They both say together.
“She
was trying to look older because she was meeting a….”
“Guy!”
Once again they say together.
“Yeah
but Neal everybody we asked said that she didn’t have a boyfriend….”
Neal
grabs her notebook and he tosses it to Steve. “Robert released these to us I
want you to look thru it.”
“Okay
what am I looking for exactly?” Steve asks as he opens the notebook.
“Steve
I know that’s it’s been awhile since you were in high school but when you and
Grace were hot and heavy didn’t you write her initials in your notebook
somewhere?” Neal asks.
“Sure
I wrote them in a heart….” Steve says as he looks at Neal.
“Now
you know what we’re looking for let’s see if we can find it.”
Ten
minutes later.
“Steve….”
“Did
you find something?” Steve asks as he goes over and he stands by Neal.
“I
think so; see where a page has been torn out of this spiral notebook?”
“Yeah.”
Steve replies.
“See
how crinkly this page is?” Neal points out as Steve touches it.
“Yeah,
what does that mean?” Steve asks.
“It
means our victim wrote very hard and whatever was on the page she threw away is
also on this page, hand me that pencil.”
Steve
reaches over and he grabs the pencil off of his desk then he hands it to Neal.
Neal takes it then he rubs the lead across the paper revealing a faint heart
and the more he rubs the pencil lead back and forth across the paper it reveals
even more of the heart.
“Bingo!!”
Neal replies.
“Neal
you know at times like these I am glad that you aren’t the good looking one!”
“Thanks
Steve. Okay look there are the initials K.M. + E.C.”
“What
does it say down there?” Steve asks as he points.
“It
says Karen loves Erik….”
“What
about down here?” Steve asks.
“It
says Karen Cox….I think we found the boyfriend Erik Cox.”
“Correction
we found his name but we haven’t found him.” Steve replies.
“True
but think a minute where she was found. She was found in the Harbor District
and in that part of town there are no kids and no families live there so she
was going to meet an adult man….not a kid.”
Steve
nods. “Okay I’ll buy that theory and I think we should ask her brother, I mean
what a father doesn’t know a brother might.”
“Okay
we’re get him in here tomorrow….” Neal replies.
THE 9TH PRECINCT THE NEXT MORNING:
“Hello
Bruce I’m Detective Schon and this is my partner Detective Perry.”
“We’re
very sorry about your sister and we hate to call you down here….”
“No
that is okay I want to find out who killed my sister. My father said that you
wanted to ask me a question?” Bruce replies.
“Yes
we want to know if you have ever heard the name Erik Cox before.” Steve asks.
By
the look on Bruce’s face they knew they had hit a raw spot. “Well yeah I know
Erik he’s a friend of mine….why?”
“Bruce
did he know Karen?” Neal asks.
“Know?
Well he came by the house all the time and we hung out and Karen was there. I
mean they talked to each other but that was it.” Bruce replies.
“Did
they go out together?” Steve asks.
“No!
I mean Erik is 26 years old and Karen was just a kid! Wait! You can’t think
that Erik….?” Bruce says surprised.
“Bruce
your sister was found in different clothes that she had worn to school….” Neal
replies.
“She
was dressed to meet someone and we found Erik’s name in her notebook.” Steve
replies.
“So
what does that mean? She changed her clothes and his name was in her notebook?”
Bruce asks. “Erik wouldn’t do that! I mean I think Karen had a crush on him….”
Bruce looks at Steve and Neal.
“Did
Erik know that?” Steve asks.
“I….I
don’t know….I think so I mean it was a joke how she would follow him around and
whenever she knew that he was coming over she would spend hours in the bathroom
getting ready.”
“Did
they ever go off together or disappear for awhile?” Neal asks.
Bruce
shakes his head then suddenly he stops. “One weekend he came over to a cook-out
we were having and we ran out of cokes or something and he offered to go to the
store and Karen went with him.”
“Were
they gone a long time?” Neal asks.
“No,
no thirty minutes or less!” Bruce replies.
“Bruce
does Erik have a car?” Steve asks.
“Yeah,
yeah he has a crappy green Chevy with red blanket like seat covers.”
“Did
Karen have a necklace, a herringbone sort of necklace?” Neal asks.
“Yeah
it was our mothers but she only wore for special occasions. God I can’t believe
that Erik would hurt anybody, I mean he was always nice to Karen why would he
do something like that….to her?”
“Bruce
we don’t know for certain that Erik was the one that killed your sister we’re
still very early in our investigation….” Neal replies.
“Bruce
do you know where Erik lives and works?” Steve asks.
“Yeah.”
Bruce replies.
“Write
it down for us okay?” Steve replies as he pushes a notepad at him.
“When
my father said you wanted me to come down here I had no idea….I’m just shocked….I
mean if a friend of mine, a guy I had over to dinner and cook-outs did this to
my sister….I mean he was in my house!!!” Bruce shakes his head.
“Bruce
it’ll be alright.” Neal replies as he puts his hand on his Bruce’s hand.
“It’s
not your fault Bruce and if he did this we’re get him.” Steve replies.
Bruce
nods his head as he writes the information on the notepad.
THE 9TH PRECINCT LATER THAT DAY:
“This
just makes everything so much better.” Steve replies as he tosses the newspaper
down onto Neal’s desk.
“God
almighty!” Neal exclaims as he reads the headline.
“HARBOR
DISTRICT RAPIST STRIKES AGAIN! Latest victim is number three!”
“She….she
gave this sick bastard a name!!! I can’t believe it!” Neal exclaims.
“I’m
not surprised.”
“Guys
you have an Erik Cox waiting in the conference room for you.” Vivian replies.
“Thanks
Vivian.” Neal replies.
A FEW MINUTES LATER:
“First
of all Erik thanks for coming down to talk to us, I’m Detective Schon and my
partner Detective Perry.”
“Well
when a cop is knocking on your door and tells you to come down town because a
couple of Detectives want to talk to you, you feel sorta compelled if you know
what I mean.” Erik replies.
“Erik
do you know her?” Steve asks as he shows Erik a picture of Karen.
“Sure
that’s Karen Mallory.”
“Do
you know that she’s dead?” Neal asks.
“Yeah
Bruce told me, it’s terrible, she was a sweet kid.” Erik replies.
“How
well do you know Bruce?” Steve asks.
“We’re
friends; we went thru high school together.” Erik replies.
“Erik
how well did you know Karen?” Neal asks.
“Karen
was a sweet kid, I mean she was pretty and funny. I would go over to visit
Bruce and she would be there hanging around us, you know being the typical kid
sister I guess.”
Neal
leans over the desk in Erik’s direction. “So Erik….how well did you
know….Karen? That is if you know what I mean?”
Erik
looks shocked. “I don’t like your tone!”
“Hey
Neal I don’t either! What are you doing?” Steve replies as he looks at Neal. “Erik
we found your initials in her notebook, you know Karen Loves Erik kinda stuff.
We know that she had a crush on you….”
“Karen
had a crush on me?” Erik asks surprised.
“Oh
come on man! Don’t tell us that you didn’t know! Karen may have only been 16 but
she was attracted to you and she looked a lot older than 16….” Neal
replies.
Erik
hits the table with his hand. “I’m telling you that I didn’t know!!”
“Neal!!
Stop it! Why don’t you go and get some coffee, I know I could use some and I
bet Erik could to right?” Steve replies.
“Yeah
sure.” Erik replies.
“Alright.”
Neal reluctantly gets up from the table and he leaves the room then a few
minutes later he is standing next to the Captain as they watch them thru the
one way mirror.
“I’m
sorry Erik for Neal’s behavior but he’s just a little high strung.”
“Look
detective….”
“Call
me Steve.”
“Steve
I swear to you I didn’t know that Karen had a crush on me!” Erik replies. “I
mean I paid attention to her and I talked to her but that was it!”
“I
believe you but Erik we know she was in the Harbor District to see somebody and
the way she was dressed it looked like to us that she was going to meet
someone. You work out there don’t you?” Steve asks.
“Yeah
I work at warehouse 217 unloading the ships when they come in.”
“She
was out there to see you wasn’t she?” Steve asks.
Erik
slowly nods his head. “I couldn’t believe it was Karen. I mean my shift was
almost over and Randy told me that someone was there to see me….”
“Randy?”
Steve asks.
“He’s
the supervisor. When I saw it was Karen I was shocked! I mean it didn’t look
like 16 year old Karen. She was wearing a dress I had never seen before and her
hair was all fixed up! I did a double take.”
“Did
she tell you why she was there?” Steve asks.
Erik
covers his eyes with his hands. “God I can’t believe she took me seriously.”
“What
Erik?”
“I
would joke with her, you know, tell her that if I ever saw her in a dress that
I would take her out to dinner. I mean she was such a tom-boy and all she ever wore
was jeans. Oh my god how was I to know that she would actually do that!”
“So
Karen got all dressed up and showed up where you worked so that you could take
her out to dinner?”
Erik
slowly nods his head.
“What
did you tell her?” Steve asks.
“I
told her that she was beautiful but I was just kidding with her. I told her
that I was 26 and she was 16 and she had to go home. There was thirty minutes
left on my shift and if she waited I would take her home but then after she
left, the supervisor told me I had to work over about two hours. When I went to go look for her to tell her that I
couldn’t find her anywhere.”
“What
did you think happened to her?” Steve asks.
“I
just thought she took the bus home.”
“What
was her reaction when you told her that she had to go home?” Steve asks.
“She
was upset and she cried. I felt like a shit but I didn’t know that she felt
that way about me.”
“Erik
do you own a car?” Steve asks.
“Yeah,
yeah it’s a green Chevy its pretty beat up….”
“Erik
you do realize that you are the last person to see Karen alive.” Steve replies.
“Well
no I….”
Just
then Neal comes back into the room and he is carrying two cups of coffee.
“Sorry I had to make it.” Neal replies as he sets the cups on the table. “So
Erik you were arrested before.”
“Traffic
tickets and that was when I was 18. I took care of all of that a long time
ago.” Erik replies.
“You
didn’t answer my partner when he told you that you were the last person to see
her alive.” Neal replies.
“Well
I didn’t have time to answer! No I didn’t realize I was the last person to see
her alive….I thought the killer would have been….” Erik stops and he looks at
Steve and Neal. “Oh wait!!! You two don’t think that I….!!! But I couldn’t….I
wouldn’t!!!”
“Erik
calm down we’re just trying to piece together Karen’s last hours okay? Did
Karen ever go to your apartment?” Steve asks.
“No
not once!”
“So
you wouldn’t mind if we took a look around your apartment?” Neal asks.
“You,
you guys are serious!!!”
“Erik
you know it would help us out a lot, we could go over there right now.” Steve
replies.
“Well
alright I mean I don’t have anything to hide.” Erik replies.
TWO HOURS LATER:
“No
book bag and no necklace.” Steve replies.
“Yeah
but there was size 13 boots and the same kind of cigarettes we found at the
crime scenes and gloves and the kid at the gas station described his car.”
Steve replies.
“So
let’s go over there and show him Erik’s arrest photo….”
ROSEHILL 1 GAS STATION:
“Alright
Mike just take your time.” Steve replies.
“Was
this the guy you saw driving that green Chevy?”
Mike
looks at the photo. “Oh man I can’t say for certain. This guy looks too young I
think. Sorry guys I can’t say for sure that’s it’s him.”
“Alright
thanks Mike.” Steve replies.
“Victor
7 come in Victor 7.” They hear the dispatcher say over the radio.
Neal
reaches into the car and he picks up the mike. “Go ahead Ocean.”
“Robert
would like to see you at the crime lab.” Dispatch replies.
“
OCEANVIEW CRIME LAB ROBERT BURNS OFFICE:
“Sam
gave us the victim’s dress and we analyzed the fibers on it.” Robert replies.
“So
what was it?” Neal asks.
“It’s
fibers from seat covers, red colored blanket type seat covers.” Robert replies
as he looks at the report.
“Are
you sure?” Steve asks.
“Positive.”
Robert replies. “Also we found semen stains on her dress as well.”
“Wait
I thought Sam said there was no signs of semen.” Steve replies.
“Not
on the victim but there were some on her dress, it will take awhile to process
it though. The dress material is hard to work with.”
“How
long?” Neal asks.
“A
day maybe longer.” Robert replies.
“Thanks
Robert.” Steve replies.
“We
take all of this to the Captain and see what he says.”
THE 9TH PRECINCT LATER THAT DAY:
“Alright
Erik do you understand your rights?” Steve asks.
“Yeah
man but you’re making a terrible mistake!!! I didn’t kill Karen!”
“This
is how it went down Erik; Karen came out there to your job to see you. You
turned her down and you sent her home and you got in your car to go home and on
the way you passed her on the street. You may have felt sorry for her so you
stopped….” Neal replies.
“….You
told her that you would give her a ride home, she trusted you, and hell the
girl had a crush on you….” Steve replies.
“No!
You’re wrong!!!!” Erik protests.
“….Maybe
Karen came onto you, made a proposition to you and just for a moment you forgot
she was 16 so you decided to take her up on it.” Neal replies.
“….But
something happened; Karen became scared and she changed her mind but you hadn’t
changed your mind….” Steve replies.
“No!
That never happened!” Erik protests again.
“….You
was excited and you couldn’t stop, maybe you didn’t want to stop. You thought
you would teach her a lesson about what happen to girls who tease guys so you
took what you wanted….by force.”
Erik
stands up knocking his chair over. “I DIDN’T KILL KAREN!!! I NEVER TOUCHED
HER!!!”
“So
Karen was never in your car Erik?” Steve asks.
“No
not that night!!!” Erik replies.
“Oh
so at one time she was in your car? When was that?” Neal asks.
“Oh
god months ago I guess we went to the grocery store!” Erik replies.
“So
you have no idea how the fibers from your red blanket seat covers got on her
dress that she wore that night when she came to your job?” Steve asks.
“What?
I….I….no no I don’t know! She wasn’t in my car that night!!! I already told you
that I had to work over!!!” Erik replies.
“According
to some of the other people there it is very easy to slip out and no one would
know that you were gone.” Steve replies.
“We
checked Erik and there is no record of you working over two hours or so.” Neal
replies.
“What???
No that isn’t right I was there!!!” Erik yells.
“Your
car was spotted that night at the Rosehill 1 gas station.” Steve replies.
“I
wasn’t there I tell you!!!!” Erik yells.
“Erik
where were you on Tuesday night the 15th of May between the times of
“Why?”
Erik asks.
“Answer
the question!!!” Neal says to him.
“Do
you know this woman?” Steve asks as he shows Erik a picture of Sandy Allison.
“No.
Why are you asking me about her?” Erik asks.
“Answer
the question!” Neal says.
Erik
looks at Neal. “I did!” Erik says as he hits the desk. “I don’t know her!”
“What
about this one?” Steve asks as he shows him a picture of Millie Cooper.
“No
I don’t know her either!!!” Erik’s eyes widen. “You two are sorry
sons-of-bitches! I know what you’re trying to do!! I read the papers!! You
think I’m that Harbor District rapist!!!”
“We
found a lot of evidence in your apartment Erik!!! A pair of 13 sized boots….”
Neal replies.
“Everybody
at work has those same kinds of boots!!!” Erik replies.
“We
also found the same kind of cigarettes that were left at the crime scenes.”
Neal replies.
“So!
Those cigarettes aren’t unique! A lot of people smoke those!!! You aren’t
pinning those murders on me!!! I didn’t do anything!!!”
Just
then the door opens and the Captain stands there. “Mr. Cox’s lawyer is here.”
Jake
Parker brushes passed the Captain then he slams his briefcase down onto the
table.
“Gentlemen.”
Jake says to Steve and Neal. “And I use that term loosely.”
“I
don’t know about Steve but my feelings are hurt.” Neal replies.
“I
didn’t know that you were still practicing law I thought the State of
“Mr.
Parker thank god you’re here!!! Do you know what they are accusing me of!!!??
They think I killed Karen and they also think that I am the Harbor District
rapist….!!!”
“Erik
you keep your mouth shut!!!” Jake says as he points at him. “You two keystone
cops are just pathetic! The so-called evidence you have will never hold water!
It’s all circumstancel evidence at best.”
“I’m
being framed!!!!” Erik yells.
“I
told you to be quiet; as of now my client will no longer talk to you two
without me being present!”
“Let’s
put him back in his cell.” The Captain replies.
The
detention officer comes into the room and he takes him away.
“You
two ought to be ashamed of yourselves picking on my client like that. Tsk, tsk,
tsk.”
“Don’t
give us your lawyer bullshit! That search was good!” Neal replies.
“Yeah
man none of your tricks! We’ve done everything by the book!” Steve replies.
“My
tricks? I’m not the one that has some new, fangled test that can tell blood
types from bodily fluids.” Jake replies.
“Hey
how do you know about that?” Steve asks.
“I
see you two don’t follow yourselves in the paper.” Jake replies as he opens his
briefcase and he tosses out the latest edition of the paper and immediately
Neal snatches it up.
“Holy
shit she did it to us again!!” Neal exclaims.
“POLICE
ARREST SUSPECT IN HARBOR DISTRICT RAPIST CASE! New Controversial Blood Typing Test Will Be The Silent
Witness.” Steve says as he reads it out loud.
“I
must say that she can certainly turn a phrase.” The Captain replies.
“You
three must be crazy if you think that the D.A. will go for this high school
chemistry experiment! If I was him I certainly wouldn’t.” Jake replies.
“Let
me tell you something Jake the D.A. didn’t get his diploma off the back of a
Cracker Jack box!!” Steve yells.
“Look
here you little, long haired piss ant!!!” Jake yells back at him.
“Alright
Jake that’s enough, you don’t talk to my Detectives like that. I think I hear
an ambulance that needs chasing, why don’t you go and catch it?” The Captain
replies as he holds the door open wider for him. “Get out.”
“You
haven’t heard the last from me!!” Jake replies.
“Lucky
us!” Neal exclaims as Jake grabs his briefcase and he leaves the room.
“Good
work boys. Until the blood typing comes back while don’t you guys take the
evening off.” The Captain replies.
“Good
idea Cap I still have a rain check I can cash in.” Steve replies.
THE
Steve
knocks on the apartment door and after a few seconds it is opened by Grace and
Steve just caught a glimpse of her thru the crack in the door before it was
slammed in his face.
Steve
holds his nose. “Grace?”
“Steve
was that you?” Grace asks from the other side of the door.
“Yeah
is everything all right?”
“I….yes
I just look horrible!! What are you doing here?” Grace asks.
“Well
I’m here to cash in on my rain check. If this is a bad time I can come back….”
“No!!!”
Grace yells from the other side of the door. “No I just need to take a shower.
I’ve been cleaning the apartment and I look a mess.”
“I
don’t care what you look like I still want to see you.” Steve replies.
“I
care!!! Can you wait until I get cleaned up?” Grace asks.
“Sure
I’ll just sit out here….”
“Great!
Don’t leave okay?” Grace says.
“No
I won’t I promise!” Steve replies then he goes and sits down on the top step.
Ten
minutes later the door is opened.
“Grace?
Wow that was fast!” Steve says as he stands up.
“Who
in the hell are you?” The male voice asks.
Steve
turns around to find a big guy standing in the doorway.
“I’m
Steve Perry and you must be Grace’s step-father.”
“Yeah
I am. What are you doing here?” He asks as he lights a cigarette.
“Oh
well I guess I should have called first….” Steve replies.
“I
guess so. What do you want?”
“I
came by to see if Grace wanted to go out with me tonight.” Steve replies as he
puts his hands in his pants pockets.
“She’s
in the shower….” He points at Steve. “Have I seen you somewhere before you look
awfully familiar to me.”
“Actually
you have but it was a long time ago. Grace and I were in high school together
back in Lemoore….”
“….And
you put that crazy notion in her head about getting married.”
“Well
yeah I suppose that I did.” Steve replies as he looks at the ground.
“So
after all these years you just appear on my doorstep?” He asks.
“Well
no sir….I mean….”
“Come
on spit it out.” He says.
“I
ran into her at the grocery store and I asked her out.”
“Uh
huh.” He says as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Well then I guess you’re
the reason that she almost ran me over on her way to the bathroom.”
“Yes
sir I suppose that I am.” Steve replies.
“Well
then you might as well come in and wait. No telling how long it will take her.”
He says as he opens the door wider.
Steve
comes into the living room. “This is a nice place.”
“Grace
does a good job of keeping house. Have a seat I suppose.”
Steve
sits in a chair as her step-father sits down on the sofa. Steve sits there
twiddling his thumbs as he stares at Steve with a harsh look on his face
smoking then he reaches over and he puts it out in the ashtray.
A
million things were running through Steve’s head but all of them sounded
stupid, trite or just down right….
“Well?”
He says to Steve.
“Well
what sir?”
He
takes a deep breath. “I said isn’t your hair just a little long?”
Steve
glances at his hair. “Ah well no I don’t think so I mean it’s trimmed on a
regular basis….” Steve clears his throat. “I like it.”
“Oh.”
He then stands up and Steve follows suit. “I hate to be rude but I work the
nightshift and I should get some more sleep.”
“Oh
no sir I understand.” Steve replies. “What do you do?”
“I’m
a supervisor at the docks. What is it that you do?” He asks Steve.
“Me?
Oh I work for the City of Oceanview I’m a….”
“Steve!!!”
Grace exclaims loudly as she comes into the room and she immediately goes right
into Steve’s arms.
“Gracie!
That didn’t take long and you’re as beautiful as ever!!” Steve replies as he
gives her a kiss.
Her
step-father clears his throat. “Grace did you pack my lunch box for work?”
“Yes
I did and it’s in its usual spot along with your boots.” Grace replies as she
goes over and stands on her tip-toes to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“So….what
are your plans for the night?” He asks as he looks hard at Steve.
“Hmmm
well I thought a dinner and a movie and then a walk on a moonlit beach. How
does that sound to you Gracie?” Steve asks as he pulls her closer to him.
“Oh
that sounds wonderful!!! Let’s go!!” Grace says as she pulls Steve towards the
front door.
“Grace
be home at a decent hour.” He says.
“Don’t
worry. See you later.” Grace says as she waves at him.
LATER THAT NIGHT:
“Gracie
are you okay I mean you’re shaking like a leaf.”
“I
guess I’m a little cold.” Grace replies as she hugs herself.
“Why
didn’t you say so here….” Steve takes off his jacket and he helps her into it.
“Better?”
Gracie
nods. “Much better.”
“I
guess some things never change.” Steve replies as he takes her by her hand.
“What
things?”
“Your
step-father. I mean he made me feel like that 17 year old boy again when I was
waiting for you to get ready and he looked at me the same way as he did all
those years ago. He doesn’t like me.”
Grace
shrugs. “It’s just not you. I mean he never liked anybody I ever went out with.
Eventually they just stopped coming around.”
“Grace
why don’t you get your own place?” Steve asks.
“I’m
going to I mean I was going to but he told me why should I spend my money on
rent when I can live there and here lately he hasn’t been well. And in some
ways it makes sense, I’m saving money.”
“I
guess I better get you home it’s probably late.” Steve says.
“Steve….”
“Yeah
Gracie.”
“I
don’t want to go home.” Grace replies as she puts her arms around him.
“No?
Where do you want to go then?” Steve asks.
“I
want to go home with you.” Grace says then she leans closer into him and she
kisses him.
The
kiss last just a few minutes and when their lips separate Steve says, “Are you
sure?”
“If
you want me to.” Grace replies as she kisses him again.
“Oh
Gracie there is nothing I want more but I have to warn you.”
“About
what?” Grace asks.
“I’m
not that 17 year old kid anymore.” Steve replies.
“Oh….I
certainly hope not.”
4201 ROCKY POINTE—THE ROCKY POINTE DUPLEXES # 112:
Steve
pulls her closer to him her bare back warm against his chest then he puts her
hair behind her ear as he kisses it which causes her to smile.
“Hey
sleepy head.” Steve whispers to her.
“I’m
not sleepy.” She replies as she rolls over onto her back.
“You’re
not?” Steve replies.
“Nope
I’m too happy to be sleepy.”
“And
why are you so happy?” Steve asks.
“Oh
I don’t know maybe because I’m here with you.” Grace says as she kisses Steve
on his neck.
“Oh
don’t do that.” Steve says as he closes his eyes.
“Why?”
Steve
grabs her rolling her on top of him as he lies flat on his back his hands
resting on her rear.
“Because
I want to ask you something and when you do that I can’t concentrate that’s why.”
Steve replies.
“There’s
nothing wrong with your….hmmm….concentration.” Grace replies as she kisses him.
Steve
laughs. “That’s nice to know but seriously Gracie I do want to ask you a
question.”
“You
really do sound serious. What do you want to ask me?”
“Gracie
will you live here with me?” Steve asks.
“What?”
Gracie asks surprised.
“I
said I want you to move in here with me, Gracie what’s wrong….?”
Grace
sits up and she moves off of him turning her back to him her hand covering her
mouth.
“It’s
too soon isn’t it? Oh hell Steve you stupid idiot!!” Steve says as he hits
himself on the head. “Oh honey don’t cry….I’m sorry.”
She
looks back over her shoulder at him. “You big dope haven’t you heard of tears
of joy?”
“Tears
of….” Steve says as he looks at her.
Grace
wipes her tears away. “I would love to move in here with you.”
“You
would?! I mean really??” Steve says happily.
“Yes
really. I mean our parents can’t stop us now can they?” Grace says.
“No.”
Steve puts his hand behind her head underneath her hair drawing her closer to
him their foreheads touching. “God Gracie you’re beautiful….Grace….I love you.”
“I
love you too Steve.” Grace replies as they kiss. “How soon do you want me to
move in?”
“Right
now. Don’t even go back to your old place I’ll buy you everything you need and
right now you look damn good naked!” Steve replies as he laughs.
“Steve!”
“Oh
I don’t know how long will it take you to pack your stuff up? I mean you will
just need your clothes right?” Steve asks.
Grace
nods. “My clothes and my books and oh my plants!! You like plants don’t you?”
“Just
so long as they are the legal kind!” Steve replies.
“Yes
of course they are! After work tomorrow I can get some boxes from the grocery
store.”
“Oh
I forgot about the grocery store! What time do you have to be there?” Steve
replies as he looks at the clock.
“I
work
“Oh
shit Grace look its
Grace
nods. “Steve do you really love me?”
Steve
smiles at the old memory. “Yes I really love you.”
“How
much do you love me?” Grace ask as she smiles.
“The
love I have for you would fill up all the oceans in the world.”
“And
just how long will you love me?” Grace asks.
Steve
looks at her. “Until the stars die and they fall from the sky….”
“After
all these years you still remember that.” Grace replies.
“I
even remember when we first said it.” Steve says.
“Okay
when?” Grace asks skeptically.
“The
first night we spent together, remember?” Steve asks.
Grace
nods. “I don’t know how we got away with it. I’m surprised our parents didn’t
find out.”
“Well
Marv found out.” Steve says.
“Oh
no! How did he found out?” Grace asks.
Steve
shrugs. “He told me that I had suddenly grown up and that I was acting like a
man and a special woman had a way of doing that to you. Marv was a crafty guy.”
“You
still remind me so much of that guy in high school.” Grace replies.
“I
do?”
“Yeah
you do.” Grace replies.
“I
guess I should have brought this up before I asked you to move in with me.”
“What?
You’re not changing your mind are you?” Grace asks.
“No
never it’s just that I’m a cop….”
“Well
Steve I know what!” Grace replies.
“What
you don’t know is its hard Grace. It’s emotional and it’s scary and it can
affect everybody’s life. I work some crazy hours and depending on what’s going
on I may not be home at all and even though you may ask me what’s going on I
may not want to tell you. We could be in the middle of something, cooking
dinner, going out on a date or even in the middle of making love and I’ll have
to go and….”
Grace
puts two of her fingers over his lips. “….And I will always be here.”
Steve
holds her hand. “I’m not that guy from High School! I mean being a cop can make
you crazy and cynical and….”
“And?”
Grace asks.
“Lonely.
It’s hard to come home to an empty house when I need someone to tell me it’s
going to be alright….”
Grace
puts her arms around him and she hugs him. “It’s going to be alright.”
“I
believe you Grace and I love you.”
Grace
yawns. “I love you too.”
Steve
laughs. “Oh that was nice.”
“I’m
sorry I guess it finally caught up to me.”
Steve
fluffs up the pillows. “There you go.” Steve replies as Grace lies down and
Steve curls up behind her. “Grace do you have pajamas?”
Grace
looks back over her shoulder at him. “Of course I do silly!”
“Forget
to pack them okay?” Steve says. “I like this better.”
Grace
laughs.
THE NEXT MORNING:
“Morning
honey.” Grace replies as she comes into the bathroom her hair wrapped in a
towel and just a towel covering her as she carries a cup of coffee to Steve who
was standing at the sink shaving.
“Thanks.
Wow do I have this to look forward to each morning? You look great.”
“Maybe!
You never know! I’m really a morning person!”
Steve
laughs as he kisses her taking the coffee mug from her leaving shaving cream on
her face which he wipes off with a towel. Steve takes a sip of coffee then he
sits the mug down on the sink basin so he can finish shaving.
“Steve.”
“Yeah.”
“Is
my necklace in there?” Grace asks from the bedroom.
Steve
looks around the bathroom. “What necklace?”
“Oh
never mind I found it.”
In
the next minute Grace is back in the bathroom but this time she is wearing her
bra and panties and the towel is removed from her head. “Can I use your blow
dyer?”
“Yeah
sure it’s in that drawer over there.”
Grace
takes it from the drawer and she goes back into the bedroom with it Steve hears
it start up and it runs for a few minutes then it stops.
“Steve
have you seen my bag?”
“You’re
bag?”
“Yeah
its leather and it has a funny looking logo on it.”
At
the description of the bag Steve jumps and he cuts himself. “Owww!”
“What
happened? Oh you cut yourself!”
“It’s
not the first time I’ll be alright.” Steve washes the rest of the shaving cream
off.
“I’m
bugging you too much aren’t I?” Grace asks.
“No
honey you aren’t. Now what about your bag?” Steve asks as he follows her out
into the bedroom.
“Nothing
I remembered I left it in your car.” Grace replies as she starts to get
dressed.
Steve
walks over to his closet and he pulls out a pair of jeans dropping the towel to
the floor.
“What
are you looking at? Haven’t you ever seen a naked man before?” Steve asks.
“Not
one as sexy as you.” Grace replies.
Steve
hugs her from behind as they look in the dresser mirror. “Oh if only I didn’t
have to go to work!”
“I
know but we both have to. Can you put this necklace on for me?” Grace asks.
“Sure.”
Steve takes the necklace that Grace hands him but instead of putting it on her
all he does is look at it.
“Steve.”
“What?”
“Is
something wrong?” Grace asks.
“What?
No there’s nothing wrong.” Steve puts the necklace on over her head then she
lifts her hair as Steve places it around her neck then he secures it. “Where
did you get the necklace?”
“My
step-father gave it to me, isn’t it pretty?”
“Yeah
it’s interesting what’s it called?” Steve asks.
“Herringbone.”
Grace sees the look on Steve’s face in the mirror as he suddenly turns pale.
She turns around putting her hands on his face. “Are you sick?”
“No
I’m fine I just noticed the time that’s all I better get dressed.”
THE 9TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM THAT SAME MORNING:
“There
you are kiddo I was just about to send a posse out to look for you.” Neal
exclaims as Steve walks into the room. “What’s wrong did your rain check go
bust?”
“What?
No actually it was great. Neal she loves me and she’s going to move in with
me.”
“Wow!
Well Steve that is great news! Then why do you look like your hamster just
died?” Neal asks.
“Because
Neal I found something out about Grace….”
“What?
Does she snore or does she have funny toes or what?” Neal asks.
“No
nothing like that….”
“Guys.”
The Captain yells from his office.
“Yes
sir?” Neal replies.
“Could
you come into the office please?”
They
look at one another then they get up and go into the Captain’s office and when
they get there they see Robert from the crime lab there.
“Shut
the door.” The Captain says.
“Hey
Robert what are you doing here?” Steve asks.
“I
wanted to come here in person to give you the news.” Robert says.
“News?
What news?” Neal asks.
“Yeah
what news?”
“I….I
don’t know how to say this so I’m just going to say it….”
“Robert….”
Neal replies.
“Erik
Cox didn’t kill Karen Mallory.”
They
look at the Captain. Then they look at one another.
“What!!!”
Neal says loudly. “What do you mean Erik Cox didn’t kill Karen Mallory?”
“He
didn’t kill the first two either.” Robert says.
“What!!!!!”
Neal says loudly again as Steve goes over and he sits in a chair.
“How
can that be?” The Captain asks.
“Easy
his blood type isn’t a match to the semen stains we collected from the victims.
The blood type we extracted from the semen was O….”
“Yeah
I mean Dr. Rice told us that….” Neal replies.
“Erik
Cox’s blood type is A.” Robert replies.
“Shit!”
Neal exclaims as he throws a notepad across the room. “If Erik Cox didn’t kill
Karen Mallory or the others for that matter that means the killer is still out
there!!!”
“I’m
sorry guys.” Robert replies.
“It’s
not your fault.” Neal replies.
“Thanks
Robert.” The Captain replies.
“There
is something else.” Robert replies.
“What?”
The Captain asks as they look at him.
“Remember
I told you that those work boots were pretty generic and they would be hard to
trace?”
“Yeah.”
Neal replies.
“Well
the sole of one of the boots has a notch out of it, like a v shape, and the
boots you found in Erik’s closet wasn’t a match either.”
“We
are back to square one.” Neal replies as he looks over at Steve who has been
very quiet and lost in thought. “Steve….”
Steve
doesn’t answer until Neal reaches over and he pushes Steve’s foot with his own.
“Steve!”
“What?”
“Son
did you hear anything that just went on in this office?” The Captain asks.
“Yeah
Erik Cox isn’t our guy I heard all of that.”
“So
Steve we have to start over….where are you going?” Neal asks.
“I’m
working on a hunch.” Steve replies as he heads towards the door and Neal
follows him.
“A
hunch, what sort of hunch?”
“I’ll
let you know if it pans out.” Steve replies over his shoulder as he walks towards
the doors that lead out to the hall.
“Steve!!”
Back
in the office the Captain picks up the phone and he calls the D.A. office to
tell him of the news and then he calls down to the jail. “Alright detective
Erik Cox will be released soon.”
“I
want to talk to him before he leaves.” Neal replies as he leaves the office.
THE OCEANVIEW DAILY EDITION:
Wendy
came out to the lobby after the receptionist informed her that she had a
visitor but it was the last person she ever expected to see here.
“Well
Detective Perry this is certainly a surprise I must say. What in the hell are
you doing here?” Wendy asks.
“I
want to talk to you.” Steve replies.
“Oh
really, well I still won’t reveal my source if that is why you’re here.”
“No
that isn’t why I’m here; your source is the least of my worries at this moment.
I need your help.”
Wendy
laughs. “You need my help, oh that’s funny. What do I get out of it?”
Steve
looks at the floor then he looks back up at her. “Forget your source I’ve give
you an exclusive….”
“An
exclusive to what exactly, your case has been busted!” Wendy exclaims.
“If
you help me with what I need to do you’re find out and you are the only person
that can help at this moment.”
“You
really need my help?” Wendy asks.
Steve
nods. “Look I’m sorry for what happened between us before but now if we can put
that aside and work together it will not only benefit you but also the people
that live here in Oceanview. Wendy I really need your help….please.”
Wendy
thinks on this for a minute then she takes a deep breath. “Alright Detective
let’s go back to my desk and you tell me what you need me to do.”
“Thanks
Wendy I appreciate it.” Steve replies.
OCEANVIEW JAIL OUTTAKE:
“Erik
can I talk to you a minute?” Neal asks after Erik picks up his property.
“How
the mighty has fallen.” Jake replies as he walks towards them smiling.
Neal
takes a deep breath. “Erik I’m sorry about what happened to you but I need to
ask you a question.”
“Really
Detective what sort of question?” Jake asks.
“Are
you still acting as his lawyer or what?” Neal asks.
“Of
course Mr. Cox is still my client we are considering a lawsuit for false arrest
and false imprisonment….” Jake replies as Neal looks on shocked.
“Wait
I never agreed to anything and this is the first time I have ever heard this! I
want to talk to the detective….alone!” Erik replies much to the shock of Jake.
“Wait outside okay?”
Jake
stands there a minute then clutching his briefcase tightly he turns and walks
toward the doors.
“Byyeeeee!!!”
Neal replies as he waves at him.
“What
did you want to ask me?” Erik asks.
“There
was something that bothered me in the last conversation we had when you said
that you had been framed? Did you just say that or do you think that you had
really been….framed?”
“Oh
no I know that I was framed and furthermore I know who was doing it!!!” Erik
replies.
“Why
didn’t you bring this up before?” Neal asks.
“Would
you have believed me? How many people do you arrest that say that they’ve been
framed?”
“I’ve
lost count.” Neal replies.
“Bingo!”
“Erik
can you come upstairs and fill me in afterwards I’ll take you wherever you want
to go.”
Erik
thanks about this for a moment then he nods his head. “Okay let’s go.”
THE HARBOR DISTRICT LATER THAT DAY:
“Has
anybody seen him yet?” Neal asks the officers as the ambulance drives off.
“No
not yet but dispatch reports that he is on his way.” One of the uniformed
officers replied.
“Hey
I think that’s him.” Neal looks in the direction that the officer points and in
a few minutes Steve is running towards them.
“Steve
where in the hell have you been? What have you been doing all day?” Neal asks.
“I
was doing research and Neal I found some interesting things out….” Steve then
looks around at the crime scene. “It was the Harbor District rapist again
wasn’t it?”
“It
looks like it....Steve.” Neal tries to say.
“That
was an ambulance not the coroner’s wagon so they must still be alive! Neal’s
she a witness….” Steve says loudly.
“Steve
listen to me for just a minute!”
“Come
on Neal we have to go to the hospital! Neal? What’s wrong?”
Neal
looks at the ground with his hands on his hips then he looks back at Steve.
“Steve
it was Grace….”
TO BE CONTINUED:
-30-
©LAB and SRP & JRNY FANFICTION 2007 to 2008. All rights reserved. Steve Perry and Neal Schon’s likenesses appear only as characters. Any resemblance to any one living or dead is purely a coincidence. This fictional story is for entertainment purposes only and for the complete enjoyment of the author and the readers. I have no permission from Steve Perry or/and the members of Journey to use their likenesses or names and this story is purely fiction and written solely for the love of things and people back in the day. No real rock stars were injured in the writing of these stories and I put them back when I am finish with them.