Текст книги "Detective Jason Strong: The Early Cases"

Where’s My Son?

by

John C. Dalglish

Prologue

It was Friday night. Benny Carter had just cracked a beer and stretched his lanky frame out on an old lawn chair when he noticed a trail of dust coming down the drive.

It was a newer model Lincoln, not the usual kind of vehicle to come down his lane, and he didn't recognize it. It was black, with chrome wheels and dark tinted windows; Benny followed it with his eyes, down through the gate, over the gulch that became a torrent on rainy days, until it slowed to a stop in front of where Benny was sitting.

The door opened and a man nearly as tall as Benny stepped out. He had red hair, a red beard, and easily weighed double Benny's 170 pounds. Everything about him was large. He had a large nose, large eyes, and fat cheeks. Benny figured this guy played Santa a lot, but with the red hair, he looked more to Benny like the Great Pumpkin. He had on a gray suit with a white button down shirt. Coming around to Benny's side of the car, he offered a meaty hand.

Benny just stared at it.

“You Benny?”

"Who wants to know?"

"Zebulin Johnson. Most people call me Zeb."

He withdrew his hand. Benny shaded his eyes as he looked up at him.

"So, what brings you all the way out here, Zeb?"

Zeb took a slow look around. The travel trailer Benny called home was surrounded by 20 or so acres of West Texas dust and scrub. The yard was overrun with old barrels, tires, and trash.

"Mind if I sit?" Zeb asked.

"Don't mind if you do, don't mind if you don't."

Benny watched as the man dragged an old stool over. When he had settled his considerable girth, Zeb smiled at him.

"We have a mutual friend."

"Oh, Yeah? Who’s that?"

"David Hinson."

David Hinson was a cellmate of Benny's when he did time for car theft, and someone he trusted. Benny trusted Hinson, but he couldn't figure what connection he had to this guy. He needed to be careful. Someone could easily find out that he was friends with Hinson, but that didn't mean David had sent them.

“How did you come by that name?”

“I've known David for Years. He did some work for me.”

“Funny, I don't remember him mentioning you.”

Zeb pulled out an envelope and handed it to Benny. Inside was a note from Hinson. It told Benny that he could trust Zeb, and it was signed Richard Hinson III. Benny knew that signature; David always signed his given name. He had become ‘David’ because he didn't like being a third Richard.

Zeb spoke as if the note had settled the matter.

"I need someone with your skills and position. David said you might be interested and could be trusted."

Benny gave Zeb a curious look.

"What skills, exactly, are we talking about?"

Zeb smiled and wiped a thick arm across his sweaty forehead, staining the sleeve.

"Well, I hear you can get in and out of a home and not be heard."

Benny smiled. He liked that reputation.

"And the position?"

"You work at Hondo Regional, isn't that right?" Zeb was still smiling and still sweating.

"Maybe. Why don't you get to the point?”

"Okay, I want you to identify someone and break into their home."

“That so? Why?"

Zeb stopped smiling.

"First, you must promise not to mention this conversation to anyone."

"I can promise but what's to stop me from telling whomever I want?"

Benny watched as the man pulled back the lapel of his jacket, exposing a .38 pistol.

"Well, let's just say I don't take kindly to people who break their promises."

Benny tried not to look nervous, but guns were not something he messed with and they made him uneasy.

"That would appear to be a threat."

Zeb had started smiling again.

"Just some insight into my personality. Do I have your word?"

"Yeah, okay."

Zeb removed his coat altogether; he looked to Benny like a marshmallow over a fire, slowly dissolving.

"I want you to steal something for me, or more specifically, kidnap someone..."

"Whoa, whoa...there must be some confusion here. I steal things, not people!”

Benny started to get up. Zeb continued smiling.

"You haven't heard what I have to say. It's something you can handle, I'm sure"

Benny slowly sat back down.

"I want you to take a baby."

"A baby?!...Seriously?”

"Absolutely. I need you to use your position at the hospital to identify a newborn and, when I call, you will remove the child and deliver him or her to my contact.”

Benny stood up and started pacing back and forth.

"I don't know... I've never done something like that. It would have to pay damn well for me to take such a risk."

"Ten thousand dollars."

Benny stopped and turned slowly to look at Zebulin Johnson.

"Did you say ten thousand?"

Zeb's smile had disappeared again.

"Yes. Ten grand on delivery. You will have the baby in your possession for no more than four hours."

Benny resumed his pacing. He had never got near that much from his thefts and it would set him up for a while. But if he was caught, with his record, he would be in for a long sentence. Benny knew that what Zeb was asking was not that difficult, but it was dangerous. A thought struck him.

"You’re going to sell the kid?!"

"No, not sell—adopt out. There is nothing more you need to know. When I have parents for a child, I will contact you. You will identify a suitable newborn at the hospital, find the address, and remove the child after it goes home. After removal, you will meet your contact within four hours and be paid on delivery. Are you interested?"

Benny hesitated, trying to get a read on the big man.

"How do I know I'll get paid?"

Benny watched Zeb stand up and walk over to the trunk of his car. He popped it open and motioned for Benny to come over. When Benny was beside him, Zeb reached in and pulled out a paper bag, handing it to him.

"There is a thousand dollars and a cell phone in that bag. You will need to buy a few things, a list of which I will give you when I call. The cell phone is a throwaway; dispose of it immediately after the transaction. The other nine thousand will be given to you upon delivery.” Zeb paused. “Do we have a deal?"

Benny stared at the bag for a long moment and then tucked it under his arm.

"We do."

****

Stan Turnbull turned the a/c up full blast in the Lincoln. As he headed out of the long driveway, he wondered to himself how anybody could stand this West Texas heat.  He looked at himself in the rear-view mirror and smiled. Zebulin Johnson. He thought it was the best phony name yet. This was the fourth "adoption" that he and his sister had done together. He punched her number on the speed dial.

The phone rang twice before he heard his sister’s voice.

"Hello?”

"Susan, this is Stan. We are a go with my contact in Texas.”

"Good," her voice dropped to a whisper, "I'm at work so I have to go, but I'll let you know when we have someone."

 The line went dead and Stan closed his cell phone. Susan was a labor and delivery nurse in Springfield, Missouri, and she had chosen the "adoptive parents" the last three times. She was also the contact for the exchange, so she could care for the baby. As he headed home, he thought about what a good team they made.

Chapter  1

Shirley Murphy knocked for the second time. Still no answer, so she let herself in with the key her daughter had given her.

"Kate?” she called.

"In the kitchen, Mom."

Shirley walked down the hall to the kitchen, smiling as always. Her 5'5" frame was covered in a bright red pantsuit, complete with white scarf and white shoes. At fifty-six, she was slim and stunning with her jet-black hair and bright blue eyes.

“I knocked—guess you couldn't hear me?”

“No, the dishwasher was running.”

"How you feeling, sweetie?"

"Oh, fine."

They had this conversation about forty times a week, and this was number three for today. Shirley sat down at the kitchen table as she watched Katie finish making a sandwich.

"You want a sandwich?"

Shirley shook her head.

"No thanks, dear. I bought something for the nursery.”

"Really? What?"

"It's in the van, but you'll have to wait until Wade gets home. I need his help getting it into the house.”

Katie joined her at the table. Normally, she was a tiny thing, but with the baby, she had put on 25 pounds. Her warm green eyes and curly blonde hair gave her a bubbly look that matched her personality.

"Aren't you going to tell me what it is?"

"Nope, don't want to spoil the surprise!"

Shirley laughed as Katie took a bite and rolled her eyes. She knew that Katie enjoyed the surprises as much as she did.

When Katie was done, Shirley helped her clean up. Afterwards, the two of them went up to the nursery. A little while later Katie heard her husband come home.

"Upstairs, honey!"

He came up to the nursery. Wade Duncan was tall, he towered over Katie, and he had to bend down to give her a peck on the check.

"What kind of trouble are you two stirring up?” he asked, winking at Shirley.

Even though he had been out showing properties all day, his light brown hair was still neatly combed. Fit but not athletic, he had dark brown eyes and a wide smile.

Shirley smiled back. Wade was more than a son-in-law. She had leaned on him when her husband had passed away and he was both her and Katie's rock.

"Actually, we've been waiting for you. There's something in the van for the nursery and I need you to carry it in."

"Certainly, madam!" He mock saluted, drawing a giggle from Katie, then wheeled around and headed downstairs on his assigned mission.

When he returned, he was carrying a beautiful oak rocking chair. Katie squealed when she saw it.

"Oh, Mom. It's just like the one you had at our home on Glenwillow."

"I know. When I saw it, I had to get it. I remember rocking you to sleep many nights in that old chair. Just don't forget, Grandmas get first dibs."

Shirley smiled as her daughter walked around the room, trying to decide on the perfect spot. Finally, she stopped and pointed.

"Wade, put it down over there by the closet. I want to give it a test drive!"

Wade flashed a big smile and did as he was told.

They watched as Katie adjusted the placement just a little and settled into the chair. She gently rocked back and forth and Shirley thought Katie might burst into tears.

"It's fantastic, Mom. Thank you so much!"

Katie started to get up, but froze and grabbed her belly, falling back into the chair. She let out a small grunt. Both Shirley and Wade were beside her in a flash.

“What is it? You okay?" Shirley asked, as she stroked her daughter’s forehead. Katie had broken out into a sweat.

"I think so. It was just...” This time, she screamed.

She clutched her stomach again. Wade scooped her up and turned to Shirley.

"Get your van, I'll bring her down.”

Katie started to protest, but was gripped with pain a third time. In less than five minutes, Wade had carried her to the van, and they were on their way to the hospital.

****

Wade burst through the doors of the St. Luke Hospital emergency room.

“Nurse, I need help, please!”

A nurse came around the desk to meet him.

“What is it, sir?”

“My wife, I think she's in labor.”

Wade tried not to sound as panicked as he felt. The nurse grabbed a wheelchair and followed him out the door to the van.

“How far along is she?”

“About 6 months, I think.”

When the nurse reached the van, Wade slid the side door open, revealing his wife, who was clearly in trouble. She was very pale and obviously in pain.

The nurse stepped around Wade.

“What's your name?”

“Katie.”

“Okay, Katie, we're going to get you inside.”

Katie let out a howl when they went to move her into the chair.

“Are you having a contraction now?”

“No...yes... well, I mean, it hasn't stopped.”

“Like a cramp?”

“It feels like a lot more than a cramp.”

“Who's your doctor?” the nurse asked Wade, as the two of them finally maneuvered Katie into the chair.

“Phelps...Dr. Larry Phelps.”

Wade followed Katie while Shirley parked the van. The nurse wheeled Katie inside the hospital, around the desk and into a partitioned room. When Wade and the nurse had moved Katie to the bed, the nurse drew the curtains and picked up the phone.

Wade listened as the nurse first called Dr. Phelps and then the obstetrics ward. He could hear a nurse pick up the phone.

“Labor, Susan”

“Hi Susan, Jan in ER. We have a pregnant woman in distress on her way up. Dr. Phelps is on his way. We’re putting an IV in and he wants a monitor on her ASAP.”

“What's the patient’s name?”

“Katie Duncan.”

“Okay, we'll be ready.”

The nurse hung up and Wade watched as she gave instructions to an orderly. None of this was new to Wade. This was the third time he had rushed Katie to a hospital during a pregnancy. The last two times had been earlier in her pregnancies, and resulted in both babies not surviving. He tried not to think about it.

A short elevator ride later, they were met by another nurse. Her nametag identified her as Susan Turnbull.

“In here.”

The orderly swung the gurney through the door that Susan had appeared out of and rolled it up next to a labor bed. Katie was quiet except for the occasional moan. They transferred her to the bed. Wade was clutching her hand.

“Is Dr. Phelps here yet?”

“He's on his way. Should be here any minute.”

Right on cue, Dr. Larry Phelps came through the door. He and Wade exchanged smiles before the doctor looked down at Katie.

“What's going on here? You’re not supposed to show up for another three months.”

Wade saw Katie try to smile, but she couldn't manage it. He knew she was just as frightened as he was.

“I don't know; one minute I was fine, and the next, I was in pain.”

Dr. Phelps positioned himself in front of Katie on a stool.

“Well, let’s have a look, shall we?”

He put on gloves and lifted the sheet. He said nothing while examining her, and when he looked up, he spoke to the nurse.

“What's her blood pressure?”

The nurse showed him the chart.

“And the fetal heart rate?”

“Slow.”

Dr. Phelps studied the chart a moment longer. Wade could tell he was weighing the options, but he just wished the doctor would tell them what the options were.

When he finally looked up, Wade and Katie were both staring at him with the same intensity. Wade recognized the look of fear on Katie's face and he knew his face was reflecting the same fear.

“We're going to have to do a C-section. I won't mislead you; we're in a hazardous place right now. It appears Katie has suffered a placental abruption.”

Wade's look of fear deepened.

“What is that?”

“It's when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and the baby becomes deprived of oxygen. We're going to move Katie to surgery. We need to get the baby delivered as soon as possible.”

“Will they be all right? The baby is still so small.”

“I hope so, but we must move quickly.”

Dr. Phelps turned to the nurse. Wade didn't hear what he said. He was in shock.

When the doctor rotated on his stool back to the Duncan’s, he was looking at Wade.

“I will see you shortly in surgery.”

He gave them another smile and left the room.

Wade looked at Katie. Tears were streaming down her face. They were both thinking the same thing. Katie said it for both of them.

“We can't face it again...we can't...”

Wade squeezed her hand. He understood, but he just didn't know what to say. He wanted to tell her it would be okay and not to worry, and that things were going to work out. But he knew better. They both did. Sometimes things didn’t work out. Ultimately, he did the one thing that made them both feel better. He bent over the bed and laid his head on her chest.

****

Nurse Susan Turnbull helped Wade get into the gown and mask. When he was ready, she led him into the operating room where Katie was already on the bed. The surgical team was busy putting antiseptic on Katie's stomach. A small incubator with dials and monitors turned on and ready had been brought in by the neonatal staff and set up in a corner. Wade was led over by the head of Katie’s bed and given a stool to sit on. He looked down, tried to give her a reassuring smile, and caressed his wife's cheek. There was a sheet strung across Katie's chest and neither of them could see her belly.

Dr. Phelps entered the room shortly after Wade. He stopped and had the gloves slipped on by a nurse, then went over and looked at a monitor before coming over to where Katie could see him. He gave her a smile.

“We're gonna get started. You okay?”

Katie nodded, but didn't smile.

The doctor turned and talked with his staff before beginning the delivery. Wade wanted to watch, but, at the same time, he was afraid to. He was excited at the thought of his son's birth, but terrified of what he might see when their baby was delivered. Finally he decided that the sheet hiding the surgery was more of a blessing than a curse.

He looked down at Katie, whose eyes were closed, and tried to imagine what she was thinking. Probably the same thing he was.

Let him be all right. Let him be all right. Let him be all right.

He knew that Katie could no more handle losing a third pregnancy than he could. And he couldn't imagine the despair they would feel.

In just a few minutes, their baby boy was delivered through an incision in Katie's stomach. Dr. Phelps held him up so both Wade and Katie could see him. Before they could smile or ask to hold him, he was handed to the neonatal team.

  Wade noticed immediately that his son was blue.

  Dr. Phelps began stitching Katie back up as the neonatal doctors worked on their baby boy in the corner of the room. Wade realized he hadn’t heard his son cry. When he was done, Dr. Phelps came over and shook Wade's hand. No words were spoken.

  The neo-natal team had stabilized their baby enough to move him to the neo-natal intensive care unit and they had wheeled his tiny incubator out of the room.

  Wade opted to stay with Katie and for a long time, he just stood there. Dr. Phelps was gone, and the only noise in the room was the hushed conversations and shuffling around of the medical team as they cleaned up.

A few minutes later, an orderly came in to wheel Katie to recovery. He kissed her and watched as she left but his own feet wouldn't move. It was as if staying there would protect him from what he had to face outside the room.

Eventually, the nurses had finished their work and one came over to Wade, gently touching his arm.

“Mr. Duncan?”

Wade looked at her with a glazed stare.

“Mr. Duncan, you can take the gown off. I'll take you to the see the baby.”

Wade started removing the gown without acknowledging her. The nurse took the gown and, with a hand on his back, led him towards the door.

****

Wade rode the small elevator that led up to the NICU. He was let out into a hallway that had several long sinks and a shelf with gowns and masks in various sizes laid on it. He was met by a nurse who instructed him to wash his hands well and then put a mask and gown on.

When Wade was ready, he was led through two sets of doors, into the NICU ward. There were two long rows of incubators against opposite walls. A group of 4 or 5 nurses surrounded a bed at the far end of the room. The nurse leading Wade took him down towards the group huddling over his son.

As he reached the bed side, the group parted to let him come up next to the bed. Wade began to cry. His tiny boy had tubes and wires coming from every spot on his body. Lights blinked and needles moved, but his son was very still.

“Can I touch him?”

The nurse nodded and lifted the canopy. Wade reached out with one finger and brushed his forehead. There was no response.

An alarm started beeping and Wade was pushed back. The nurse that brought him in, took his arm and led him back out through the double doors.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Duncan, but you’ll have to go to the waiting room. Your son needs immediate treatment.”

“For what? What was the beeping?”

“I’m sorry. The doctor will come see you soon.”

Then she was gone. For the second time in less than an hour, Wade was left standing in a gown and mask. This time he took them off without help and went to the waiting room.

****

Shirley was there when Wade finally got to the waiting room and seeing his face told her something was terribly wrong.

“Wade, what is it? Are Katie and the baby all right?”

Wade just stood and looked at her with a vacant stare.

“Wade...Wade?”

Finally he focused on her, and tears started streaming down his face. She took him by the elbow and led him to a chair. When he sat down, he let out a long moan.

“Kate is in recovery...” He paused.

“…and the baby?” she asked, searching his face.

“They rushed him out of the room to the neonatal ICU.” He looked at her. “I never heard him cry. When I went in to see him, he didn’t move. He is so tiny. I had to leave because some kind of an alarm started going off.”

  She gasped. She, too, had mourned the loss of her first two grandchildren, and the thought of losing a third was something she had not let herself think about. She got up and went to the desk.

“I need information on my daughter and her baby. Katie Duncan.”

“I'm sorry, ma’am, but you have to wait for your doctor. I don't have any news.”

She turned and went back to Wade. He was staring blankly at the TV. He had stopped crying but his eyes were still bright red. Shirley was doing her best to keep it together.

“The nurse said we have to wait for the doctor.”

Wade just nodded. Shirley sat down next to her son-in-law, put an arm around him, and tried not to give up hope. She had no idea what she would do if the baby didn't make it. And she couldn't fathom the pain Katie and Wade would suffer. She closed her eyes and tried to steel herself.

****

Wade and Shirley were alone in the waiting room when Dr. Phelps came in. Shirley remained seated as Wade stood up to meet him.

“How's Katie?” he asked.

“She's fine. She'll be in recovery room six. You can see her in about an hour.”

“And my son?”

The half-smile that Larry Phelps had been wearing disappeared

“I'm sorry. The baby didn't make it.”

  Wade slumped back into the chair and buried his face in his hands. Sobbing seemed to flow out from every pore of his body.

“What happened?” Shirley asked, looking down at her son-in-law.

“The baby had been too long without sufficient oxygen...I'm sorry.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

Shirley sat down next to Wade. The unthinkable had happened. She could find no words; there were no words. She wrapped her arms around him and their sobbing filled the empty room.

****

As soon as Wade felt strong enough to face Katie, he was let in to the recovery room. He walked up to the bed and took her hand.

“I love you.”

She smiled weakly.

“I love you, too.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired, drugged, sore.” She paused. “How's our baby?”

He realized that no one had told her. Tears welled up in his eyes, as he slowly shook his head. The doors opened at the far end of the room and a nurse wheeled in an incubator. She stopped several feet from the bed and looked at Katie.

“Would you like to say goodbye?”

Katie nodded her head and the nurse brought the small blue body, wrapped in a small blanket, over to her. Wade and Katie each took a turn holding their son. They kissed his forehead and told him they loved him.

After a little while, Katie nodded to the nurse and she came and took the tiny bundle back, put him in the incubator, and wheeled him out.

Katie closed her eyes and Wade watched as her body was wracked with sobs. He knew what she was feeling. A physical pain in the stomach that made you want to throw up, an emotional agony that made you long to curl up and die. He crawled up next to her on the bed and held her. They clung to each other and tried to let the pain flow out through their tears