Across State Lines

by C. J. Johnson

  Mia laughed and said, “I think the tide is going to turn for victims in Kansas City.”

  Frankie smiled and said, “I sure hope so.”

  The sky was beginning to lighten when the pair finally walked out of police headquarters. Frankie yawned and stretched as they walked.

  “Have you heard from him?”

  Frankie didn’t immediately answer. She stopped at her Jeep and after

  throwing her bag inside, said, “No and I doubt I will.”

  “Do you know where he was going?”

  “No. He said he didn’t even know,” Frankie’s eyes welled with tears. She looked across the street at the Federal Building and blinked.

  Mia touched Frankie on the shoulder and started walking towards her car.

  “Mia?”

  Mia turned around and said, “Yeah?”

  “Thanks.”

  Mia nodded, got into her car, and pulled away.

  Frankie rested her head on the steering wheel of the Jeep and sighed. Her head knew leaving was something Derek had to do, but her heart had not caught up yet. Frankie pulled out of the parking lot but instead of turning right to go home, she made a left. She had one more thing to do before she called it a night.

  Chapter 92

  “She had to undergo emergency surgery. She’s out now, but we’ve got her on some pretty strong pain meds. I don’t know how lucid she’ll be.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’d still like to try and talk to her. I think she’ll be happy to hear the news,” Frankie smiled at the ICU nurse, hoping she would bend the rules and let her into the room.

  The nurse nodded towards the door and said, “Don’t stay long. She needs her rest. Looks like you could use some yourself, detective.”

  Frankie gave the nurse a half-smile and nodded.

  The hospital bed was slightly elevated. Heather was covered in bandages, had IV tubes coming out of one arm and a cast on the other. Frankie was surprised to see the oxygen cannulas in her nose and made a mental note to ask why they were there.

  Frankie gently touched the hand not encased in a cast, and whispered Heather’s name.

  Heather blinked lightly and moaned.

  “Shh, you don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to tell you we got Corey. He’s locked up, and they are going to set his bond at $500,000. He isn’t going anywhere. The only one left is William and I have officers looking for him now.”

  A tear escaped Heather’s non-bandaged eye.

  “Get some rest now. I’ll be in touch,” Frankie lifted her hand from Heather’s and started to walk away.

  Heather reached out, touched Frankie, and said, “Detective…Thomas…”

  Frankie turned back around.

  “Thank…you…for…believing…me”

  “You are welcome, Heather.”

  Chapter 93

  Keeley emptied the contents of her pockets into her purse before placing it into the trunk of her car. Keeley collected her car keys, driver’s license and the envelope she found on her front door when she got home the day before.

  Keeley played back the conversation she had with Sam and Frankie before leaving police headquarters.

  “We need to have the lab collect a few samples of your hair,” Frankie said.

  “I have a contact at the FBI who will do some tests to try and determine what, if anything, was used to incapacitate you,” Sam explained.

  “How long before you get the results back?”

  Sam explained it could be as little as a few weeks or as long as a few months.

  Keeley agreed to go the next day after work. Tonight she needed to figure out what this letter meant. She took a deep breath and walked inside the entrance of the jail.

  “Put everything from your pockets into this bowl, then walk through the scanner.”

  Keeley laid the keys, driver’s license, and envelope into the bowl. As a second thought, she patted her pockets then walked through the scanner. Once she was cleared, the deputy escorted Keeley to the visiting room. A partition made of Plexiglas was all that separated her from Alexandre.

  Keeley picked up the phone and said, “Alexandre.”

  “Hello, Keeley. How are you?”

  Keeley did not answer. She was surprised by his cavalier greeting.

  “It’s very nice to see you Keeley, but I must admit I’m a bit surprised.”

  Keeley pressed the envelope against the Plexiglas, “Really? You are surprised to see me after this?”

  “What is that?” Alexandre asked.

  “Look, don’t play stupid with me. I know you had a part in this. Who did you send to my house?” Keeley’s voice began to shake, “And why?”

  “Keeley, I didn’t send anyone. I wouldn’t do that to you. You have to believe me.”

  And for some reason she did not quite understand, she wanted to believe him.

  “What does the letter say?”

  Keeley glared at Alexandre, who had suddenly lost the allure and sophistication she had once thought him to have. She hung up the phone and signaled to the guard she was ready to go. Keeley walked away without looking back.

  When she got to her car, Keeley began to shake. If Alexandre was telling the truth and didn’t have someone put the letter on her door, who did? It was not lost on Keeley that Alexandre could be lying. At that moment, she did not know who to believe but she did know who to trust. Keeley’s hands were trembling as she dialed Frankie’s number.

  “Sex Crimes Thomas.”

  “Detective Thomas, this is Keeley. Are you in your office?”

  “I will be in about fifteen minutes. What’s up?”

  “I found something in my door when I got home yesterday. I think you need to see it.”

  “I’ll see you in fifteen. Meet me at the garage entrance of police headquarters. Where you came in last time.”

  Keeley hung up the phone, but instead of relief, she felt a growing sense of dread. Alexandre wasn’t able to hurt her, but he had friends in low places. Suddenly fifteen minutes felt like an eternity to wait.

  Chapter 94

  “Alright Angel-girl, I need to get off here. I have a victim waiting by the door for me.”

  Frankie smiled as Danielle continued to talk. It was a pleasant change after the past few weeks. She parked the car on the corner of 12th Street and Locust, grabbed her bag and was about to cross the street when the sound of screeching tires caused her to stop. The culprit rounded the corner, and Frankie saw the barrel of a gun extend through a lowered window. The sounds of gunshots and screams filled the dead air.

  “Mom! Mom!” Danielle yelled frantically.

  “It’s okay Dani. I’m fine, but I’ve gotta go. I love you,” Frankie disconnected the call and unholstered her weapon as she ran. Frankie stopped in the middle of the street and fired shots at the SUV as it sped eastward towards the highway.

  Frankie yelled to the patrol officer standing at the door to put the shooting out over the air, “Broadcast the partial license. Missouri license, Boy Adam 7 8. It just turned south on Holmes. Looks like the car is heading towards 71 Highway.”

  Keeley was conscious but struggling to breathe. Frankie holstered her weapon and applied pressure to the wound, listening to the sounds of sirens as they got closer. Frankie silently prayed they would make it in time. Keeley thrust the envelope at Frankie and tried to speak.

  “Shh, it’s okay, Keeley. You’re going to be fine. Medics are on the way. Hang on. Just hang on.”

  “Take. This. It’s…”. Keeley’s eyes closed.

  “Come on, Keeley. Hang on. Keeley. Keeley,” urgency punctuated each word.

  “What do we have detective? Frankie?”

  “James. Thank God,” Frankie released the pressure and moved out of the way of James and his partner. She explained what she had seen and what type of weapon she thought had fired the shots. “Is she going to make it?”

  “We’ll do everything we can, Frankie,” to his partner James said, “Let’s get her to County.�
��

  Frankie stepped out of their way and watched as they loaded Keeley into the back of the ambulance. She stood there in shock as they drove away with lights and sirens activated. Frankie didn’t even realize she still had the envelope in her hands until, out of nowhere, she heard a familiar voice asking what was in her hands.

  Chapter 95

  Frankie turned to find Craven and Fitzmeyer standing behind her. She tried to remain stoic, not wanting them to see the overwhelming sense of responsibility she felt. Craven didn’t say a word, just placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “Let’s go inside, Frankie,” Fitzmeyer said.

  “I need to…”

  “The patrol officers have this,” Fitzmeyer said.

  The tunnel vision Frankie had been experiencing widened, and she realized there were officers blocking off the crime scene and taking charge of the area. She nodded and followed Fitzmeyer through the door that led into the basement of police headquarters. Craven kept his hand on Frankie’s shoulder while they walked to the elevator.

  She used her badge to open the elevator. Once inside, Frankie felt her knees buckle and quickly righted herself, hoping they didn’t see her stumble. She quickly hit the button for the 4th floor out of reflex.

  “We’re going to 2, Frankie,” Fitzmeyer said.

  Frankie nodded. The assault squad and homicide unit were on the 2nd floor. It made sense they would need to go there.

  The elevator doors opened to an empty foyer. Fitzmeyer led Frankie to an interview room where the three sat and waited. Fitz texted the floor supervisor that they were there. Frankie looked down and, for the first time, realized she was covered in blood. Keeley’s blood. And she was still holding the envelope Keeley had thrust at her before the paramedics took her away.

  Sergeant Scott Millsap entered the room just as Frankie was about to ask for something to lay the envelope on while they waited. She wanted to open it but had the forethought to realize it was likely evidence, and she needed to follow protocol.

  Frankie was glad Millsap was going to interview her. She had worked for him when she was on patrol and felt a sense of ease with him. It was at that moment that she realized she was a witness and would be questioned like the witnesses she questioned on a daily basis. It was surreal to be filling that role.

  “Damn Frankie, you can’t even go to Quick Trip without stirring up trouble,” Millsap said, trying to lighten the mood.

  Frankie smiled and wondered how he knew that’s where she had been. Even though it had been less than twenty minutes, it seemed like a lifetime since she had left the store. She wasn’t even sure what had happened to her diet Coke.

  “I just got off the phone with the hospital, and it looks like the woman you helped is going to pull through.”

  “Keeley. Her name is Keeley LaCorte.”

  “Did you know her?”

  “Yeah. She was coming to headquarters to meet me. Remember that guy, Alexandre Kristof? She was the one that blew the whistle on him. She gave me that,” Frankie pointed towards the envelope she had laid on a piece of plain white paper.

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know. I think that’s why she wanted to meet with me. To bring it to me. She called me about fifteen minutes before this all happened and said she found something on her door when she got home last night.”

  Millsap left the room and returned with gloves and a camera. Careful to photograph the envelope from all angles, he then opened it. Millsap unfolded the white piece of paper to reveal a carefully printed note.

  Frankie leaned in to read what was printed in black ink. She read the document twice before leaning back in her seat and saying, “Son of a bitch.”

  Chapter 96

  The note was handwritten in neat, block letters. The message was simple and to the point.

  DROP THE CHARGES OR PLAN YOUR FUNERAL.

  “Any idea who might have left this for her?” Scott asked.

  “Alexandre Kristoff? He’s over at County Jail, but he’s not in solitary. I don’t get it though, how did they know she wasn’t meeting me to drop the charges?”

  “Maybe they are listening to her calls somehow?”

  “Maybe. It could also be one of Marzullo and Midori’s cronies. Kristoff is her former boyfriend and is in county because of a report she made. He’s tied to the Marzullo family. We are pretty sure they are trafficking women and using the Shady Lady as a cover.”

  “Any chance Kristoff’ll talk to you again?” Scott asked.

  “He lawyered up when we were talking to him about the open case,” Frankie looked at Craven and Fitzmeyer and said, “But I think I know someone who might be willing to talk.”

  With the help of Craven and Fitzmeyer, Frankie explained the latest case to Sergeant Millsap and the connection between Kristoff and Tessa Kemp.

  “You mean that girl from Thanksgiving is connected to all this?”

  “Indirectly, yes.”

  “You think she’ll talk to you?”

  “I don’t know. But it’s worth a shot, don’t you think?”

  Millsap rubbed the stubble forming on his chin. He looked at his watch then back to the letter.

  “Who’s the prosecutor on Tessa’s case?”

  “It was Jessica Moon. A new prosecutor, Samantha Ryan, is taking it. Want me to call her? She and I actually met with Keeley earlier this week to discuss the case.”

  “Yeah, I think you need to give her a call and get her take on things before you try to talk to Tessa again. I want to make sure we can use anything she gives you.” Millsap hesitated and then said, “We are going to need your clothes and gun for evidence Frankie.”

  Reluctantly, Frankie said, “I know. I have a pair of jeans and a t-shirt in my locker. Can I change there?”

  Scott started to say something then thought better of it.

  “I know the drill, Sarge. I’ll stand on paper and package everything separately. Is it safe to say you only need my blouse and pants?”

  “That will work.”

  Frankie grabbed her cellphone and said, “I’ll call Sam while I change.”

  Chapter 97

  Frankie stood in the empty locker room and stared at her phone. She pulled up Derek’s contact in her phone and gazed at his photo. Frankie wanted to call him, wanted to hear his voice and let him distract her from the million thoughts racing through her mind. She wanted to tell him about Keeley getting shot and how she felt that it was somehow her fault. Instead, not trusting her voice to be calm, Frankie sent Danielle a text message to reassure her she was fine before dialing Sam’s number. She put it on speakerphone and laid it on the bench.

  Frankie took a piece of white butcher paper and laid it on the floor in the empty locker room. She was grateful Sergeant Millsap allowed her to do this unobserved. Frankie opened the three paper bags and sat them on the floor next to the white paper. As the phone rang, she removed her blouse and placed it inside the sack on the floor. She closed the sack and wrote, “blouse” on the outside.

  “Don’t you ever go home, Frankie?”

  “Keeley’s been shot.”

  “What?! When? What happened? Where?”

  Frankie described what happened to Sam as she finished packaging and labeling her clothing.

  “Are you okay,” Sam asked.

  “Yeah, but I need to talk to Tessa. I want to do it tonight, but she has counsel and I don’t want anything she gives us getting thrown out. We have officers posted with Keeley but….”

  “I have her attorney’s info. Give me five, and I’ll call you back.”

  Frankie finished changing her clothes, grabbed the bags, then walked back to the interrogation room where she had been interviewed by Millsap. The room was empty but before Frankie could walk to the space they called the “Murder Room,” her phone rang.

  “Thomas.”

  “Frankie, it’s Sam. I’m on my way to the jail. Can you meet me there?”

  “Of course. Did her attorney give us permission to t
alk to her?”

  “Something like that. It took a little convincing, but she agreed it was in her client’s best interest to cooperate.”

  Frankie smiled. Derek was right, Sam is a real heavy hitter.

  “Frankie?”

  “Yeah, I’m here. We’ll meet you down there.”

  Chapter 98

  Frankie, Fitzmeyer, and Craven decided to walk to the jail. It was only a couple of blocks and Frankie needed to burn off some nervous energy. She had a file folder that contained a photo of the letter and one the officer at the hospital took of Keeley.

  “You think she’ll talk to you, Frankie?” Craven asked.

  “If she knows what’s good for her, she will. And she’ll tell me what I need to know.”

  Frankie started to say something when Sam yelled, “Wait up!”

  The trio stopped about a block from the jail entrance. Frankie felt frumpy next to Sam, who wore a tailored suit and heeled boots.

  “Sam, this is special agent Jim Craven and Detective Scott Fitzmeyer. They worked with me on the original case with Tessa and are working on the homicides we think may be connected by the tattoos.”

  After the pleasantries were exchanged, Sam asked, “Frankie, what’s your play?”

  “I want to see if they will let us listen to Tessa and Alexandre’s jail calls. There may be something there we can use. Then, if she doesn’t volunteer the information, I want to go hard. This bitch has been lying to me for months, and I’ve had enough.”

  “Okay. Her attorney may or may not be there. I will not be able to ask questions, but I will sit in with you so she knows how serious this is. Gentlemen, as much as I’m sure she would like the scenery, I think you’ll need to watch from the camera room.”

  Craven started to say something when his phone began buzzing. He looked down at the message on his phone in alarm.