Текст книги "Detective Jason Strong: The Early Cases"

Автор книги: John C. Dalglish

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

Chapter  17

Exhaustion had finally taken over and Vanessa had dropped into a fitful sleep. She twitched and moaned as a dream moved through her mind.

The nurse helped her onto the birthing bed. She was so relieved to be alive and to see Rob standing there with her. They had survived the ordeal and now it had come time for them to meet their baby.

“Let me take a look.”

The nurse raised the sheet and did a quick exam of Vanessa.

“Looks like we’re almost ready. I’m going to get the doctor.”

Vanessa waited for a contraction to end before smiling at Rob.

“Soon!”

The nurse returned to the room with the doctor following behind. Vanessa’s heart jumped into her throat. It was him. Her abductor with the birthmark on his face. She started to panic but Rob seemed unconcerned and the doctor acted as if he didn’t recognize her. She was hit with a major contraction and when she opened her eyes again, he was on a stool below her.

“Okay, Marcie. Push the next time.”

Marcie, he called her Marcie. She looked at Rob but he was still smiling. Didn’t Rob hear what the doctor had called her?

Another contraction came and she pushed. She felt the baby being born.

“It’s a boy!” the doctor said.

He held the child up and turned him towards Vanessa.

There was a large birthmark on the left side of his face!

Vanessa began to scream.

She awoke to the sound of her own screams and found her abductor staring down at her. Her heart was pounding in her chest and despite being naked, she was sweating.

“Sweet dreams?”

Vanessa ignored the comment and wrapped her arms across her chest.

“Get up.”

She didn’t move.

He pulled his gun and pointed it at her.

“Get up now.”

Keeping one arm across her chest, she pushed herself to her feet. She was weak from not having any food or water and the room spun as she stood. For a moment she thought she might fall, but when he reached out to steady her, she pulled back and forced herself to stand upright.

“Hold out your hands.”

She did as she was told and he produced zip ties. Looping them around her wrists, he pulled them tight. They cut into her wrists but she held her tongue. She was not giving this animal any more satisfaction.

Grabbing her by the zip ties, he pulled her along behind him towards the garage. He opened the door and she started down the steps, almost pitching forward face first onto the floor. He jerked her upright before she could fall and put her into the back of his truck.

He reached into his pocket and produced another set of zip ties, this time proceeding to pull them tight around her ankles. The metal truck bed was cold and hard. Every way she turned hurt her. Lastly, he put a strip of duct tape over her mouth. Pulling the truck topper door down, he twisted the lock shut and left her there.

Vanessa was glad to leave the room and it’s writing on the walls behind her but she knew that being put in the truck meant he was moving towards the last step in his ritual. He was taking her to be sat up against her own tree. The one she would die against.

****

Norman locked the topper door and went back in the house. He suspected that every cop in the state was looking for his pick-up, which was why he was going to take this ‘Marcie’ out in the middle of the night. His problem was that his preferred place to kill was a forest and, at two in the morning, he couldn’t be traipsing through a forest with a flashlight. It was too risky, especially since they knew where he normally went.

He sat in a chair in the living room and tried to come up with an alternative. He saw an old photo of he and Mark Jensen. Mark had been his only friend in high school. The picture was of the two of them in Arnold Park. It was their favorite place to hang out when the weather was hot. Mainly because of all the shade trees.

Of course! Arnold Park. It’s perfect. Trees and enough light from the surrounding area to see. I’ll Have to get away in a hurry, the gunshot will be heard, but it’s perfect.

He took the picture off the wall and looked at it. He remembered telling Mark about his plan to ask Marcie Walker out and how Mark had warned him not to. His friend was right, of course. She had rejected him. Norman had made her pay. In fact, he made them all pay. Arnold Park was a good choice for this Marcie, he decided.

Norman laid the picture on the table and went out to the truck.

****

Vanessa heard Norman get into the truck. He started it and activated the garage door opener. She listened as the chain pulled the door all the way up and braced herself as the truck started backing out onto the street. She was shaking from the combination of fear and the cold truck bed. Her face still hurt from the blow against the wall but otherwise she was unhurt from her ordeal. She knew that was about to change.

She continued trying to stretch the zip tie restraints but was only hurting herself. They weren’t going to come loose. She examined the inside of the truck, each passing streetlight giving her a brief glimpse. She needed something sharp. Anything that might help her get free. There was nothing.

Come on girl, think. You know you’re headed to the woods. He’s gonna undo your feet to make you walk. You may be weak but you can still fight back, you have to. For Rob, for the baby. You’ve played it soft, counting on Jason to find you. Now, it’s up to you. You can’t wait for anybody to come. You have to give it your best shot.

The pep talk she gave herself made her feel better, a little less helpless.

The truck began to slow and finally came to a stop.

****

Jason had blown stoplights and ignored speed limits to get back over to the neighborhood where both Marcie Walker’s parents lived and, according to a records search, Norman Lasiter lived.

Jason guessed the suspect lives in the same house he grew up in, just blocks from the people whose daughter he murdered. Somehow, I should have figured it out.

As he turned down Rio Grande street, he slowed to a crawl. He didn’t want to alert their killer by flying down the road but everything in him wanted to do just that. To go barrelling into the driveway, rush the house and if drawn on, put this animal down. He knew it was too risky. He controlled himself and moved down the street slowly until he got to 119,121,123. When he got to 125, his heart sank. The garage door was open and the black truck was nowhere to be seen.

Jason wheeled into the drive and called the lieutenant, informing him that he was there at the house and the truck was on the move. He got out and went into the garage, up the steps and slowly opened the door. Pausing, he drew his gun and listened for any sound. None came.

“Police!”

He waited. Nothing.

“Norman Lasiter, this is the police!”

Still nothing. He fought the nausea that came with smelling the house and checked the living room. From there he made his way into the kitchen. The filth and smell were overpowering. Having cleared the main house, he started down the hall towards the bedrooms.

The door to the first was open and the room was a mess, like everything else. The second door was closed, and when he opened it, he found what was apparently Norman’s mother’s room. The bed was made and it was the only room so far that wasn’t a disaster. In fact, it looked like it hadn’t been touched since the last time she was there.

Jason opened the third bedroom door, flipped on the light switch and stopped. There was writing all over the wall and it took him several tries before he could make sense of it.

I will never call you bloodstain again.

Each time he saw a different handwriting, he would read it out loud.

I will never call you bloodstain again.

He realized that he had said it three or four times before it dawned on him what he was doing. This is what Stephanie Morris was talking about.

At the far end, in green marker, was a handwriting he recognized. It was Vanessa’s and his knees nearly buckled just from thinking of her there, forced to write something over and over, that she probably didn’t understand. He saw the closet at the far end, just as Stephanie had described, but it had a lock on it.

The mattress caught his eye. His mind began to picture Vanessa on it. He turned and walked out. He still had a job to do and focusing on anything else wasn’t going to help.

Moving back into the living room, he began looking for any clue that might tell him where Norman Lasiter might have taken Vanessa. The lieutenant was already on his way to the state forest that had been Norman’s previous drop site. Jason doubted that he would go back there, but he didn’t have a clue where he would go.

He scanned the room. No computer. No open books or maps. He checked by the phone for notes and found none. He went into the kitchen, checking for notes stuck on the fridge. He came up empty.

Jason walked back into the living room and scanned again.

There has to be something. Wait, what’s that?

On the far wall was a white spot, unusual in the dirt that surrounded it. There must have been something there until recently. He looked on all the tables and furniture for a frame the size of the white spot and found one.

Jason picked up the photo of two boys. One was obviously Norman, the Port Wine stain told him that, but he didn’t know who the other boy was.

Why is this off the wall?

Did he go to this boys house?

Did it have anything to do with where Vanessa was?

He examined the picture closer and something in the background caught his eye. He flipped on his flashlight and wiped the dust off the photo with his sleeve.

Arnold Park.

The picture was taken at Arnold Park.

Is that where he took her?

I know where that is!

It was all he had, so he ran with it. As he went back to his car, he called the lieutenant.

Chapter  18

The hatch door to the truck topper swung open. Vanessa could see trees behind Norman but there weren’t any streetlights. The tailgate dropped and Norman grabbed her feet, pulling her towards him. Her skin complained as it was pulled across the bed of the truck.

She watched as Norman reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folding knife. He opened it and cut the ties on her feet. She felt instant relief to have her feet separated, but blood oozed from the lines that were left from the ties.

He pulled her, by both feet now, making her sit on the tailgate. Vanessa looked at her surroundings. She recognized where she was. Arnold Park on the south side of town. They were parked on the long road that does a winding loop from the entrance of the park to the back and then around to the entrance again. Vanessa had driven it many times on patrol, both at night and during the day. She was strengthened by the knowledge that this was familiar ground.

Norman pulled his gun out and bent over to pick up a bag that was laying on the ground. Vanessa saw her chance. As he straightened up with the bag, she kicked out with both feet at Norman’s groin. She could tell she was on target by the “umph” that was followed by a groan. Norman fell to the ground and she took off running.

Vanessa was a fit person but running with your hands tied, and when you haven’t had food or water for almost 24 hours, was more than her body could deliver. Even with the adrenaline coursing through her, it was only a short distance before she was winded and slowing.

The footsteps behind her got louder and louder until she knew he was right behind her. A blow to the back off her head sent her reeling into the grass. When she gathered her whit’s about her, Norman was standing over her in a rage.

“You will pay for that, Marcie.”

The duct tape on her mouth had come loose.

“I’m NOT Marcie!”

He didn’t appear to hear her. He slipped behind her and she felt herself being lifted by her arms. He placed the gun to her head and forced her to walk back towards the truck. When they got there, he opened the passenger door. Grabbing an oily rag sitting on the seat, he turned, ripped the tape off her mouth, and stuffed the rag in. She choked.

Taking her by the arms, he led her to the back of the truck where he picked up the bag he’d dropped. She then felt herself being steered towards the trees next to the road.

Vanessa struggled to get loose but it was no use. She didn’t have enough energy left and he wasn’t going to be caught off guard again.

They were only ten yards or so into the trees when he jerked her around to face him and pushed her to the ground, her back against a large tree.

****

Jason shut his lights off just before getting to the park entrance. As he went through the small gate, he turned off his engine. The car coasted to a stop on the grass and he climbed out the window. He didn’t want to alert Norman to his presence with motor noise or door closings.

When he was on the ground, he stood very still, listening. He didn’t hear anything that didn’t belong. That wasn’t to say it was quiet. Crickets and frogs played a non-stop symphony, something he usually enjoyed, but tonight they just interfered with what he wanted to hear.

After a few minutes, he began to move up through the park. The night was warm and a quarter moon offered a small amount of light. He stayed on the grass and moved as silently as he could. Jason figured that Norman probably took Vanessa to the back of the park, but he knew that was just a guess. In truth, he didn’t even know for sure that she was here.

After several minutes, Jason had made his way nearly half way back into the park with still no sign. He slowed to a walk as doubt began to set in. He looked at his watch.

It glowed 3:45 am.

Vanessa had been missing nearly 21 hours. He knew that if he’s guessed wrong about the park, her 24 hour window may be up before they find her. If he was wrong, and it was looking more and more like he was, and Norman didn’t take her to his previous dumping grounds, they will run out of time.

He was thinking of what he would tell Rob when the light in the cab of a truck came on. It was less than 300 yards away and it illuminated two figures. Jason dropped to the ground in a crouch, drawing his weapon.

Was that Vanessa? It had to be.

I’m not too late! Gotta move fast.

The light went back off.

Where was that light exactly?

He pin-pointed in his mind the spot where he had seen it and began moving in a crouch. He circled around to the tree line on the other side of the road and moved up towards the spot where he last saw the two figures.

In the woods, the moon wasn’t much help but it did reveal the truck. As he got closer, it reflected off the hood. He figured they would be in the woods opposite the truck.

Coming up on the back of the truck, he used it for cover and peered into the woods. Not ten yards away, he saw Vanessa sitting at the base of a tree and Norman pointing a gun at her chest.

****

Vanessa looked down at the gun resting on her chest. She didn’t look at the man that was going to end her life. She didn’t want his face to be the last thing she saw in this world.

She could smell the metal and gun powder coming off the gun and thought of what it would be like. Would she hear the gun go off or would things just suddenly go black. She hoped it wasn’t too painful. She had been shot before. A flesh wound really, but it had still hurt like hell.

Vanessa realized that it was taking him a long time to pull the trigger. She looked up to see him staring back at the truck. Her heart leapt.

Was someone there? I didn’t hear anything.

She scanned the darkness as well but didn’t see anything. All at once, the park was filled with noise.

“Police! Freeze!”

JASON!!

The gun left her chest and fired. The sound was deafening and made her ears ring. Norman fired again. She gathered herself enough to understand Norman was firing at Jason.

Oh, no you don’t!

She mustered all the strength she had left and thrust both feet out at the man standing in front of her. She heard a loud crack as his knee gave way. He tumbled on top of her with a scream, his gun dropping to her side.

Vanessa’s hands were still tied and his weight had her pinned. He groaned as he felt around for his gun. She watched in horror as his hand fell on it.

“You twitch, and I’ll blow your head clean off!”

Norman froze. Jason’s gun was on the back of his head. Vanessa watched as Norman slowly withdrew his hand from his gun.

Jason grabbed one arm and pulled it behind the man, putting cuffs on it and then the other. Jason then rolled him off of her. Norman groaned as his knee twisted.

“Vanessa? You okay?”

“I am now.”

He took his shirt off and wrapped it around her. Picking up his phone he called the lieutenant. Within minutes, sirens filled the air, seeming to come from everywhere.

She felt Jason wrap his arms around her. He looked down at her.

“It’s over.”

Epilogue

Jason turned his car into the station parking lot. He had just returned from the preliminary hearing for Norman Lasiter. In the four months since Norman was arrested, very little legal work had gone forward due to his health. Actually, his health was fine but his knee wasn’t. It had required surgery and traction in a bed.

Remember to never get Vanessa Layne that mad at you!

He smiled to himself as he thought of her. She was quite round now and the baby would be coming soon. She had been on desk duty since coming back from her ordeal. The lieutenant had seen to that.

He remembered the first time John Patton had seen her after she was rescued. He had given her a huge bear hug, tears in his eyes. Then he stepped back and pointed a finger at her.

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you myself for not telling me.”

She had smiled and done her best to look sheepish. It had worked.

The lieutenant gave her another hug before smiling back at her.

“Desk duty for you, young lady.”

Jason parked and walked up to the station. Dave was manning the front desk as usual.

“Hi, Dave. How’s Vicky?”

“Hey, it’s our hero! Oh, mean as ever,”

Jason gave him a dirty look. The hero crap was not something he was comfortable with and Dave knew it. Every now and then he would tease Jason.

“That’s cause she puts up with you.”

“Too true, too true. You going up to the party?”

“Yeah. Does she know yet?”

“Not from me.”

“Okay. You make time to come up.”

“I will.”

Jason got on the elevator and got back off at the third floor. He dropped the bag he was carrying on his desk and leaned into the lieutenants office.

“Where is she?”

“Sent her to the evidence room after some file or other. Their setting up in the conference room now.”

Jason left Patton’s office and walked around to the conference room. Streamers had been hung in a hurry and a blue cake was on the table. Vanessa had learned she was having a boy and the rumor was going around that his name was going to be Jason. That had not been confirmed by the parents.

Nina Jefferson was laying out paper plates and plastic forks. There were presents on a table at the far end of the room. As he stood there watching, he thought about the next three months. Nina Jefferson had accepted a position with San Antonio Police and moved down from Austin. She’d been given the dubious honor of being Jason’s partner while Vanessa was on maternity leave. He liked her and she came with a solid record.

While he was standing there, Rob came into the room.

“I gather I’m not late.”

Jason turned and shook Rob’s hand.

“Actually, perfect timing. She should be here any second.”

****

Vanessa leaned against the elevator wall as it rode from the basement to the third floor. Her feet hurt and the little boy inside liked to kick incessantly.

When the doors slid open, she stepped into an empty squad room. She took about ten steps before she realized she was alone.

Where is everyone? Did she miss a memo or something?

She took the file she had in her hand and laid it on the lieutenant’s desk before going around towards the conference room.

“SURPRISE!”

She nearly jumped out of her skin. When she caught her breath, she saw Rob, Jason, and John standing in front of the rest of the squad room personnel.

“What is this?”

Jason was grinning ear to ear.

“Just what it looks like, a surprise baby shower.”

Tears started running down her cheeks.

“What it looks like is a bunch of grinning idiots!” She laughed and wiped at her eyes. Then, softly, she said to everyone, “Thank You.”

****

After the cake and presents, with work having to be resumed by most, Jason found a moment alone with Vanessa.

“You gonna come back?”

“Why? Don’t like your new partner?”

“I like her fine. In fact, that’s why I’m asking. I was hoping to keep her. She’s awesome!”

Vanessa took a swing at him but she was slower than usual. Jason got out of the way.

“Don’t mess with the pregnant woman!”

“You know I’m kidding.” He turned serious.”I’m gonna miss you.”

“Thanks.”

“Anything you and Rob need, you call Sandy and I. Anything, you understand me?”

“I will.”

He gave her a hug.

“You can count on us.”

She smiled.

“I know.”

A note from the Author.

In my comments at the end of my first book, I mentioned how writing a novel is like “putting yourself out there.” It was a humbling experience but the response from you the reader was beyond what I hoped for.

It’s not that I sold a million copies, or that the movie will be coming out next week, but it’s the kind words that people took the time to send to me.

Whether you write, draw, or any other pursuit in which you look for the reaction of the audience, nothing can make you feel better than someone saying they ‘stayed up late to finish’ or ‘they couldn’t stop thinking about it.’

Probably the most consistent comment I received was ‘I had to see what happened next.’

Anyway, because of the response, I forged ahead with the second in the series. You know this because you just read it.

Jason Strong has taken center stage as he should but hopefully you enjoyed getting to know Vanessa, John Patton and Doc Davis.

Jason is the kind of detective I would want to be. Committed to what’s right, even if it bends the rules a little, and compassionate for both the victims and the people that are impacted by loss.

I am currently writing #3, and hope to have it out in August. Thank you again for setting time aside to visit the world of Jason Strong. As I said before, your comments make it worthwhile, (or a challenge) and I welcome them at my email: [email protected] or my webpage jcdalglish.webs.com.

Thanks Again and God Bless,

John

May 31, 2012