Bill Harvey Collection

by Peter O'Mahoney

  “Like a drunk parent or relative?”

  “Possibly. You just never know with these things. People are affected based on different factors, including age, ethnicity, cultural factors, and emotional development. One kid might be unaffected by a bad situation, and another might be torn apart by it. It depends on the kid and where they are at in life. But what the profilers think is that there is some sort of trauma in the person’s life.”

  Harvey drew a long sigh.

  The more he could piece together the evidence, the more he didn’t like the direction it was heading.

  “And I think there might be another death linked to this case,” Harvey added. “There was a murder twelve months ago, a strangulation of a drunk, and a man was charged, and convicted, for it. Currently serving seven years. I went to speak to him in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and he’s still maintaining his innocence. The situation seems very similar to what happened to Jonathon, and it might be the same killer.”

  “Hmm…” Pitt grumbled. “You know we don’t like it when you guys in suits prove us wrong. Especially when we land a conviction.”

  “I’m only interested in justice, Pitt. You can take your pride elsewhere.”

  “Alright, alright. Settle down. So, what are you thinking? Everything the department has still points to your brother. To us, he’s the serial killer. He’s our guy. They’re going to go big on this one. Mostly, this story has kept out of the papers, but once they link it all together, it’s going to be front-page news. The opportunity for the DA’s office will be massive. If they can land the conviction, they’ll look like a superhero. And your brother will be the most hated man in America.”

  “I need more time.”

  “You don’t have it. I can’t pull a string that big, Harvey. They’re going to pin this on your brother, and then they are going to wheel him out to the press—front and center. His picture is going to be one of the most viewed photos in the city. They already have him for one murder, and they think that it’s an unlosable case. Even if they don’t charge him with the other murders, they’ll tell the media that the serial killer is behind bars. This will be the DA’s greatest triumph.”

  “And if he’s not the killer?”

  “That doesn’t matter.” Pitt scoffed. “They’re pinning this on him whether you like it or not. It will be trial by media. He’ll be going to prison, and that’ll make the DA look amazing. He’s taken a serial killer off the streets. It’s all politics, Harvey. And unfortunately, your brother is at the center of it all.”

  They stopped talking as a family walked past them; the father’s eyes full of love for his wife and his young daughter. Harvey and Pitt were silent on the park bench, smiling as the young girl sang a beautiful tune about birds, bees and butterflies. It warmed their hearts.

  Once the family were out of earshot, the men came back to the reality they were facing.

  “And if the real killer commits another murder again?”

  “They’ll say it’s a copycat. This is as much about image for the DA as it is justice. That’s the game they play.” Pitt studied the pained look on his friend’s face. He hadn’t seen Bill Harvey this stressed in a long time, not since the death of his first wife. “I’m sorry, Harvey. If I could help you, I would. I would give you time, but I can’t. You don’t have time on this one. As soon as they wheel him out, the whole of California is going to think he’s guilty. One of the victims of the serial killer was a veteran, and you can bet that they’ll spin that line to the public. He’ll be public enemy number one for killing a down-on-his-luck war veteran. You’ll be very hard-pressed to find a jury that won’t convict him on that alone.”

  “I know.” Harvey ran his fingers through his hair. “I just need more proof before I can make a move.”

  “Proof? That must be a strange subject for you.” Pitt smiled. “You spend so much time trying to disprove evidence, that it must feel strange to try and find real evidence.”

  Harvey turned his head and glared at Pitt.

  “Sorry.” Pitt patted his friend on the shoulder. “I couldn’t resist the jab. Tell me, where have your investigations led so far? Who are you going to capture for this one?”

  “I’m not going to arrest them. But I do need to know that they’re the right person before I take a shot at them. I’ll get the cards to fall your way, and then you can do the rest. You can put the handcuffs on them.”

  “We already have the cards falling our way. If the case plays out as it is now, then your brother is going to prison. And if he goes to prison, then we’ve taken the killer off the streets. That’s justice—done and dusted. He might be your brother, but that doesn’t make him immune to justice.”

  “And if you’re wrong?”

  “We don’t think like that, Harvey. We let the courts decide if we are right and wrong. That’s why your job is important.” Pitt’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “You’re not telling me something though. You have another piece of information that you’re not sharing with me. I can tell it in your eyes.”

  “The information that I have wouldn’t help you anyway. It is mostly a hunch, but I’m going to follow it and see where it goes.”

  “Who is it?”

  “I’m going to play that card close to my chest at the moment, just in case I’m wrong. I would hate to throw this person under the bus if I’m mistaken.”

  “Harvey, let me in on this one. What we’re talking about is the calculated and cunning murders of nine people, maybe more. We’re not just talking about a schoolyard bully; this is dangerous. People have died at this person’s hands. They’re strong and full of hate. I wouldn’t want you to be the next body that they find.”

  “You know I love a thrill. It keeps me alive.” Harvey stood and shook his friend’s hand solidly. “I’ll update you once I have some concrete evidence. You can put the handcuffs on them.”

  “Tread lightly, Harvey. And know that I’ve got your back if you need it.”

  Chapter 25

  “One scoop of vanilla, and go heavy on the sprinkles.”

  Jack Grayson stared at Harvey, mouth agape. “Really?”

  “You’d better make that two.”

  The teenage girl at the ice cream store turned and quickly whipped up two ice creams, wrapped a paper towel around the cones, and handed them across to the two tall men.

  “When in Rome.” Harvey laughed as he licked the outside of the cone.

  Reluctantly, Jack Grayson took the second ice cream. “I feel like I’m twelve years old.”

  “Exactly.” Harvey took another lick. “How good is this ice cream?”

  With a confused squint, Jack licked the outside. “Actually, you’re right. This is good.”

  The two solid men—one dressed in a shirt, tie, and trousers, and the other in jeans and a black T-shirt, walked through the Santa Monica Pier area, lazily wandering past tourists, locals, and loud-shouting vendors.

  “I haven’t had an ice cream cone in… Man, it must be ten years.” Jack laughed. “But I’ve been missing out. This is so good.”

  As they wandered down the pier, they chatted like old friends, creating small-talk to avoid the realities of life. The Californian view magically stretched to the horizon, the sky skimming along the top of the water, the heat hazing the edges.

  As he crunched into his brittle cone, Jack stated, “You’re not going to like what I have to tell you.”

  “Wait.” Harvey held out his hand as a stop sign, also crunching into his cone. “I can’t talk about murder while eating an ice cream cone.”

  Jack stopped and watched Harvey eat the rest of his cone, licking each finger as he went, trying to taste every final bit of flavor.

  When he finished, he drew a deep breath, trying to recapture the fleeting feeling of youth.

  “Finished?”

  “I think so.” Harvey grinned.

  “So, you’re not going to like what I found today.”

  “I thought not.” Harvey’s
smile disappeared.

  Reality hurt.

  “Penny’s parents—”

  “I know about her parents. It’s horrible. We don’t need to discuss that. Not after an ice cream.”

  Jack nodded. “After the incident, her aunt, Nicole, your bookkeeper, raised her as her own. Nicole Cowan had no kids of her own, and Penny moved into her apartment. She tried to keep everything normal for Penny, but that was hard after what happened. At school, Penny got into a lot of trouble. Violence—abused teachers, beat the janitor for bumping into her, attacked other students. Her list of troubles is long, but most people seemed to have excused it because of what happened to her family. She received good grades, but her file is littered with incidents.”

  “And since school?”

  “Since she left school, she’s been in trouble with the law twice, again both times for violence; although she wasn’t charged for either incident. It was self-defense for the first case: beat a pervert into the ground—put him in hospital for two weeks. I don’t think that guy will grab a random girl’s bottom again.” He laughed. “And the second case never progressed past her arrest. Charges were dropped by the victim without an explanation. The report says that she attacked a builder for laughing at her after she tripped over.”

  “He was probably too embarrassed to press charges—beaten up by a pretty, blonde girl. He would never live that down on a building site.” Harvey rubbed his fingers along his forehead. “I ran a police check before I employed her, but without a charge, neither of those incidents showed up.”

  “Nicole also took her to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons, and there are a lot of photos of her online at different tournaments. From the photos, it appears she has a black belt, just like her aunt. I guess Nicole thought it was important for Penny to defend herself after what happened.”

  “Having a black belt doesn’t make her guilty. We could be barking up the wrong tree here.” Harvey sighed. “How about Harrison & Wilder?”

  “She was employed at Harrison & Wilder between March and June last year.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear.” Harvey clenched his fist. “That’s the same time that Lachlan Shaw was there.”

  “Who?”

  “A man that could be wrongly convicted of murdering a homeless drunk twelve months ago. Also a strangling.”

  “Does it fit the profile for the other murders?”

  “Perfectly. There was no direct evidence that Lachlan Shaw was guilty, but they went to court with a weak case, and the jury found him guilty. He’s currently doing seven years in Twin Towers, but still stating that he’s innocent.”

  “Do you think it’s related?”

  “I do.” Harvey nodded slowly.

  “Penny’s boyfriend is interesting as well. Caleb Wood is a former Marine with a history of violence. Tough guy, from what I can tell. Proudly posts on his Twitter account that he killed people at war, and would do it again for his country. He talks about defending the people he loves. Defending people’s freedoms. Very vocal about defending American rights.”

  Harvey looked off into the distance. “I really didn’t want this to be true, Jack. I really wanted you to come here and say, ‘Sorry. Dead end.’ But it’s not even close to that. Everything that you’ve said just builds the case against her.”

  “What doesn’t add up for me is the fact that she has taken a job with your firm. Why take a job there if she knew that you would be defending your brother?”

  “I wasn’t defending my brother when she started.”

  “That makes sense,” Jack replied. “Are you convinced that it’s her?”

  “Not even close.” He sighed. “What are your thoughts?”

  “What we do know is that she’s dangerous. From the photos I have seen of her, she looks strong enough, and she has the skills to make it happen. The pieces of the puzzle are all starting to fall into place. Someone out there is a serial killer, and Penny Pearson has all the right attributes to be that person.”

  “I was afraid that you’d say that.” Harvey paused and looked at another ice cream stand. His momentary moment of escapism had already been dulled into the past. “And Valerie Wood?”

  “Not a lot of information out there. Former high-flying executive, worked hard, long hours, and got promoted a lot. Seemed to have led quite a stable, normal life, except for the fact that her first husband was a drunk. She works at the Wells Community Center for Mental Health, and on her online profile she writes that she was inspired to help others after she suffered domestic violence at the hands of her drunken husband.”

  “Her husband passed away almost two years ago. Do you know how he died?”

  “I did a bit of digging on his name, and I found out that he was living on workers’ compensation after losing an arm at work. He was driving a forklift, had an accident, and lost the whole arm. Looks like he lived a tough life, and he hung himself in the family home. Died of strangulation due to the rope tightening around his neck.”

  “Interesting,” Harvey responded. “Very, very interesting.”

  Chapter 26

  “How’s the weather in Orlando?”

  “Amazing. Just perfect. We spent yesterday at the Universal Studio theme parks, and today at one of the many, many Disney theme parks out here. Connor loves it. He was absolutely buzzing after the Thunder Mountain roller coaster. The joy on his face brought tears to my eyes, Bill. It was truly magical. When I’m old, gray, and I can’t remember much, that is the moment I want to remember. The smile on his face was… I don’t even know how to describe it.”

  Harvey smiled broadly. Sitting in his office in the middle of busy Downtown L.A., he imagined Kate on the other side of the country with her eight-year-old son; full of laughter, full of life, full of smiles.

  “So you’re moving to Orlando then?” he joked.

  “Honestly, Bill, you could do a different theme park every weekend of the year and not get bored there. There are just so many! I don’t even know what to do next. We could do SeaWorld or a water park or a nature tour, or even go out to NASA on the Florida coast. This place is mind-blowing. It’s a city built around a playground.”

  It was the first time, as a mother, she had felt truly free in years. Without the child-support arguments from her deadbeat ex-husband, without the stress of trying to provide the best for her son, without the pressure of being a full-time working mother, she could be free.

  She could smile generously, laugh easily, and finally, be the mother she always wanted to be.

  “Why did Mickey Mouse go into outer space?” Harvey grinned.

  “Why?” Kate giggled at the joke.

  “Because he wanted to find Pluto.”

  “Oh, Bill. That is such a bad joke.” She laughed.

  “You’ve got a better Disney joke?”

  “Of course I do,” Kate replied. “What did Daisy Duck say when she bought a tube of lipstick?”

  “What?” Harvey started to laugh already.

  “Just put it on my bill.”

  “Ha! That’s as bad as my joke!” He chuckled. “It’s good to see that Florida sunshine hasn’t dampened your sense of humor.”

  “Never.” She paused for a few moments, sighed, and came back to reality, back to the truth on the other side of the country. “And how are you coping? I’ve been thinking about you.”

  “I’m good.”

  “Bill.”

  “I’m good, Kate. Really, I am. Everything is going well.”

  “And your brother?”

  “The case is—”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I know what you meant, but it turns out, Jonathon is a Harvey man after all. His eyes are on the prize. He wants to focus on the case as much as I do. He doesn’t want to touch all that emotional stuff yet.”

  “You two will have to talk about it one day, you know. There will be an opportunity, no matter how this case turns out, for you and him to really sort some things out. And you can’t fight it, or hide
from it, forever. You’ll have to face those demons,” Kate lectured him. “How did your sister take the news?”

  “She was surprised. Really shocked, but she said she wasn’t ready to talk to him yet. There is still a lot of water under that bridge.”

  “Do you have any idea what happened between them?”

  “None. All I know is that it must have been bad. Jonathon must have done something.” Harvey leaned back in his chair.

  “We all make mistakes,” Kate commented. “How’s Penny holding up?”

  “Obviously she’s not doing as good a job as you.”

  “Of course!” Kate laughed again. The joy was still running through her veins after the four roller coasters earlier that day. She just couldn’t help but laugh. “But is she doing fine?”

  “Well…” Harvey held back his words.

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know…” He struggled to ask the question around her guilt because he was unconvinced of the answer.

  “You don’t have to talk about it now, but I will tell you something,” Kate stated. “You have always been blinded by breasts, Bill. A pretty young girl walks in, and you’re under her spell. Whatever you think she did, whether it was not filing something right or stealing from petty cash, she probably has done it, but you’re just trying to convince yourself otherwise because she’s pretty. My advice—don’t be blinded by the breasts.”

  “You could be right.”

  “I’m always right, Bill,” Kate stated firmly.

  “In this case, I really hope you aren’t.”

  Chapter 27

  Walking through the Downtown streets near the Wells Community Center for Mental Health, Harvey was repeatedly approached by drunken men, asking for a dollar to keep them floating above the impending death that was approaching. None were threatening, and despite the darkness, he didn’t feel for a moment that he was in any real danger.

  Not one moment of fear.

  But he could sense it on the street.