He checked the clock on the nightstand.
“6:30 AM. Jesus H. Christ! Whoever you are, you better be blond, and you better be naked.” He pulled on a pair of shorts and trudged to the door. He pulled the door open ready to rip whomever it was a new asshole. His countenance fell at the sight of the three police officers standing on his step.
“Mark Andrew Taylor, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Kallita Jean Prewitt. You have the right to retain and instruct counsel without delay. We will provide you with a toll-free telephone lawyer referral service if you do not have your own lawyer. Anything you say can be used in court as evidence. Do you understand? Would you like to speak to a lawyer?”
Mark stood in the doorway, unable to speak.
“Mr. Taylor, do you understand? I need an answer.”
“Yes, er no! What the hell is this about? Kallita? She’s not dead, you know that.”
“Constables, take Mr. Taylor into custody.” Colm was all business. Gone was the cordial demeanor of his previous visits. In some way, Colm felt sorry for Mark, but the evidence was overwhelming, and now he had to do his job.
“Mr. Taylor, where is your wife?”
“She had nothing to do with this, leave her alone.”
“Jen, check inside.”
Jen pushed past Mark to search for Mary. The other constable placed Mark in handcuffs and led him to the cruiser.
“Can I at least get dressed, Jesus.”
“You’re fine.” The constable looked him up and down. “We’ve got just your colour back at the station. It matches your eyes.”
Jen emerged with Mary in tow. “I’ve read her the caution; she knows the drill; I’ll take her in my car.”
The remaining two policemen emerged from the back of the house. Handing one of them a search warrant, Colm quickly assigned them to search the premises.
“Here’s what you’re looking for. I doubt if you’ll find anything, but have a look. Try not to trash the place.”
Chapter 31
Mark shivered as he waited for Colm to enter. The orange jumpsuit did little to insulate from the frigid air, and he needed to pee. An eternity passed, and the door to the room finally opened, allowing a blast of warm air from the corridor to burst through, offering faint relief from the refrigerated interrogation room. Mark’s lawyer entered and sat at the table, pulling a file folder from his leather briefcase.
“Have a seat, Mark. Are you sure about this? It’s been a long time; We can beat this. After all, that crazy cow is going to plead diminished capacity. Anything she says or has said is subject to dispute.”
“No, I’ve heard the tape. If they hold to the deal, then let’s do it.” Mark sat at the table next to his lawyer. The lawyer motioned to the camera, indicating they were ready. Colm entered a moment later.
Colm took up position across from Mark and his attorney and said, “I have to tell you that everything in this room is recorded on video and audio. So once again, do you wish to make a statement?”
“Do we still have a deal? You drop all charges against Mary and leave her the hell alone.”
Colm slid a document across the table to the lawyer. The attorney looked it over and nodded at Mark.
“It’s all there. Legal and binding. All you have to do is sign it.” He handed Mark a pen. Mark spun the paper around to read it, signed it and pushed it back across the table to Colm.
“OK, Mark, tell us in your own words. What happened?”
Mark squirmed in his seat. “Does that mean Mary is off the hook?” He pointed at the paper.
“Yes, Mark, they have the Crown’s signature on the document. She’s off the hook,” said Mark’s lawyer.
Mark started, “I was tired of Kallita wrecking my life. She was a goddamned head case, and when she screwed Mary over at work, I lost it. You know by now what she was — is — she’s insane. But that day was the final straw for me. I was going to take Mary home, but she insisted on going to work. So I dropped her at the front entrance to the hospital and drove home. An hour later, she called me from Frieda’s office. She was in tears again, only this time, it was for far more than a cup of coffee. She’d been fired.
Mary told me everything when I picked her up. She didn’t want to go back to the hospital, but she had to get some personal belongings from her locker and turn in her keys. It was at that moment that I decided to end Kallita once and for all. If she had enough influence to get Mary fired, then I knew she wouldn’t stop until she ruined us completely.
I remembered Alan Prewitt had asked me to help him find a way to get Kallita out of Roy’s life. He was looking for something that would do the trick but was untraceable. Mary told me about this medication they use to intubate patients; how it paralyzes them so that the doctors can get the breathing tubes in them. I knew Mary had access to the drug cabinet. So I decided to see if she might be able to get near it again. After all, she still had all her keys. No one had taken them away from her despite the theft accusation. Go figure.
I went in with her to collect her stuff. We had to pass the dispensary to get to the locker room. While she was gathering her things, a couple of other nurses came in and began talking to Mary, and before I knew it, there was a full-blown crying session going on. I took her keys out of her purse and slipped down the hall to the dispensary. I let myself in and found the drug I needed, grabbed a couple of needles and slipped back out. They were still at it when I got back, so I slipped everything into Mary’s purse and pressed her to leave. That’s how I got the Sux — succinylcholine. Look, I really need to pee. It’s frigging cold in here. Can you turn the AC off or something, and can I have a minute to go to the head?”
Colm nodded, “We could all use a break, and I need to talk to someone. Back here in ten minutes.” He turned to the constable standing watch in the corner. “Take him back to holding and let him use the toilet.”
Colm walked out and down the hall into the observation room. Emily sat with Gerry Lockheart, the Crown liaison.
“What do you think? Are you buying this story?”
“Oh, he did it. He hasn’t come out and said so yet, but he will. As for the drug and the needle, he’s protecting his wife.” Lockheart shrugged his shoulders. “It doesn’t matter; the deal we signed is ironclad. Mary Taylor is going to walk. No, he’s going to spill the beans here shortly. One thing, though, you need to get the name of his accomplice, the second man or woman, whoever. Seavers said there were two of them that night, and I doubt it was the wife. What do you think, Emily?”
“I had a chance to talk to Mary at the hospital. I don’t think she has it in her to kill someone. I watched her work on Gord Seavers. This is a woman dedicated to preserving life, not taking it. My guess is it's someone else.” She yawned, “Sorry, it’s been a long night. I haven’t been to bed yet. By the way, did they find Alan’s body yet?”
“There’s another mystery,” Colm shook his head. “I almost tripped over it. I’m sure he was dead. I have no idea, but we have twenty officers searching the property right now. We’ll find him. — Ah, here they come back in. I’d better go.”
“OK, Mark, so now you have the drugs. There were two of you there that night. We know that from what Gord told us, so who was with you?”
Mark was reluctant to answer.
“Come on, Mark, this is part of the deal. You have to come clean here. By the way, we know it wasn’t Mary. So, before you even go there, forget it.”
Mark looked at his lawyer for direction.
“You have to tell him.”
“Fine, OK! I have a question for you first. How did Dan Clifford react when that purse turned up? Did he jump all over it, or did he try to sweep it aside? You don’t need to answer. I’ll tell you how he reacted. He probably told you to leave it alone, that he would take care of it, right?”
Colm nodded, turning his face to the camera. He knew exactly where this was going, and Emily was no doubt filling Lockheart in at this very moment.
“
It was Dan. When that purse turned up, he almost had a baby. He thought it was long gone and buried. Which it was, but then that girl showed up with it. Emily, right? Yeah, she just had to find the owner. Dan saw that purse and damn near shit. When he told me about it, I couldn’t believe it. I’m getting ahead of myself a bit. I need to back up.
After I got the drugs, I dropped Mary at home and made up an excuse that I had to go out. I came over here; actually, the old offices on the main street—” Mark sat back, getting comfortable with the tale he was about to relate. His mind travelled back to the day when it all came together.
* * *
January 1992
It was almost noon, and Dan was about to book off when his cousin barged through the door into the compact waiting area of the detachment. Mark was agitated about something. Rising from his chair, Dan indicated to the desk clerk to buzz him in.
“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” He ushered his cousin into a small room at the rear of the detachment. The tiny room housed a small table with a phone and a desk-pad on it, a couple of trays full of various forms and an old neglected coffee mug with some fungus growing in it. Two dilapidated office chairs sat on either end of the table. Closing the door, Dan pointed to one of the chairs.
“Have a seat. What’s up?”
“I need your help. That bitch is at it again.”
“Bitch? Who? Not Kallita. She’s out of your life for good, right?”
“She should be, but she just got Mary fired from her job, and I’m ready to kill the bitch.”
“Whoa, up there, Mark! You can’t say that in front of me. Not even if you’re joking.”
“I mean it, Dan, I have to do something about her, and I want your help.”
“My help. How? What can I do?”
“I’ve been thinking it over. I have a plan that might work. But I need your help… ”
Mark related his plan to his cousin and sat back, waiting for his response. Dan was skeptical. Any involvement in a scheme to frighten Kallita was risky. It could be a career-ending move, not to mention criminal.
“If I do this, it has to remain secret. You can’t say anything to anyone, not even to Mary. Understand?”
Mark let out a deep sigh. He had an ally in his quest to rid himself of this life-sucking bitch forever. Dan picked up the phone and dialled a number.
“Hello, who am I speaking with? — I see, well, Tracy, I need to leave a message for Kallita Prewitt. Can you leave a note beside her phone? — Good, thank you. I need it to read as follows: Kallita, Important! Clarksville River Bridge on the boardwalk- 8:00p.m. Don’t be late. She will understand completely. Got that? — Good. Thank you, Tracy, you’ve been a big help.” Dan hung up. “Well, we’re in it now. I hope this works.”
Mark loved it. “You were great. She’ll get that note and throw caution out the window. She’s always been that way. Damn! This is going to work.”
“I hope so ‘cause if it doesn’t, we’re both screwed. You know that, right?”
“Dan, don’t worry. I’m just gonna scare the shit out of her. All you have to do is step in and tell her if she ever gets in my way again, she won’t live to regret it. It will work.”
“To be honest, I didn’t think she’d show up. I damn near pissed myself when I saw her car pull in the lot. Dan was hiding in the washroom.”
* * *
January 1992
Mark stood back, deep in the shadows of the Clarksville River Bridge. The January air bit at his face as he huddled up against the concrete abutment. It was almost 8:00 PM, and he wondered if she would show up. Kallita had an inquisitive nature, but this was different, and he thought she might shun the idea. Even so, he relied on her narcissistic nature to draw her in. If she thought for even a moment that this meeting was about her own benefit there would be no way she would miss it. He was right. His heart quickened when he saw the headlights from her car pull in beside Dan’s truck. Anticipation gripped him as she approached the bridge. For a moment, it appeared as though she would turn back. He shifted his position to see her better, revealing his presence enough to lure her in a little closer. It worked. In seconds she was there, in the dark shadows of the bridge.
“Barry, is that you?” She stepped up to him. Seeing Mark, she froze.
“What are you doing here?” Tossing her cigarette butt into the snow, she refused to back away.
“I’m not in the mood for any of your bullshit tonight. What’s this all about?” She fumbled through her purse.
Mark had his right hand in his pocket. This time she wouldn’t walk away. She no longer held any power over him. Gripping the needle in his pocket, he stepped closer to her.
“Well, are you gonna ans—Wait, what are you d— you’re no—”
The surprise in her eyes was exquisite; she never suspected. Mark plunged the syringe into her neck and pumped the needle’s contents deep into her flesh. Kallita fell where she stood. Unable to move. Frozen in place by some unseen power that prevented every muscle in her body from functioning. He saw the panic in her eyes. He wanted to say something, but words failed him. Fascinated by the speed of the drug, he watched in amazement as Kallita’s life ebbed away. It hit him. She wasn’t coming out of it. She should be coming around by now, but she wasn’t. He panicked. Kallita laid on the snow-covered walkway her purse and its contents strewn on the ground. Without thinking, he pushed her to the edge of the walkway with his boot and dumped her in the water. He gathered up her belongings and hurried back to the truck. Dan met his terror-stricken cousin at the pickup truck.
“What the—where is she?”
“I— I think she’s dead. I think I might have killed her.” Mark’s eyes bulged, flicking back and forth, unable to rest or focus on one spot. “It’s not supposed to work that way.”
“What’s not supposed to work what way? What the hell are you talking about? And why have you got her pur— Oh, Jesus! You — where is she?”
“In the river. I pushed her in the river.”
“Oh, you stupid fu—why did you—you idiot!” Dan snatched the purse away from Mark and ran to the washroom. He returned a moment later. “Get in! You airhead, I knew I shouldn’t have let you do this.” Dan threw the truck into reverse and sped away.”
Mark continued, “Getting assigned to the case of Kallita’s disappearance wasn’t easy, but he managed it, and now Dan was in a position to control every aspect of the investigation. He went through the motions. Kallita’s office told him about the note. Then he visited the park. He had it all planned. When he arrived at the park to retrieve Kallita’s purse, he almost died from heart failure. Her car was gone, and her purse was missing. When her car was found south of town, well, let me tell you he was frantic. It scared the shit out of him, and he threatened to run away. Screw off to parts unknown. Funny though, because no one, not even Kallita, knew he was involved. I could never understand why he was so paranoid, that is until he told me that he’d found her in a hospital in Kingston a few weeks later. She was in a coma. I couldn’t believe she’d survived. I had to know how. So, I did some research with Mary’s help — and by the way, this is the only way she’s involved— Sux acts fast and dissipates just as fast. I gave her way too much. I did not intend to kill her. All I wanted was to scare the shit out of her, and I thought this was a good way to do it. I screwed up. From what I learnt, I actually saved her life by pushing her in the drink. The cold water gave her hypothermia, and that slowed everything down, giving the drug time to dissipate. I don’t know how she got out of the water, but you have all that on the 911 tape. So I guess that’s it. You know the rest.”
He leaned forward. “By the way just for the record—” Mark shot his lawyer a grin. He knew he was about to make him crazy— “I’d do it all again only this time I wouldn’t kick her in the drink.”
Mark leaned back in his chair. Folded his arms and grinned.
“There is still one piece of this puzzle missing, Mark. That is, as far as you are concerned.�
��
“Can’t imagine what that would be.” Mark was feeling quite comfortable. The burden of twenty-five years of secrecy lifted from his shoulders. The prospect of jail didn’t worry him. With the confession and his cooperation, and with good behaviour, he’d be out in four. He was still young enough. He’d be out in time to claim his pension, and he and Mary could finally retire.
Colm sensed that Mark was enjoying the spotlight a little, and now that he was in a talkative mood, he needed one last question answered.
“How did that purse find its way into Emily’s garden?”
“Oh, that. Well, I confess. That was me. When Mary told me she’d seen the purse and that she recognized it, I panicked. I called Dan to give him a heads-up. Sure enough, Gord handed it in the next day. Dan took it but never entered it into evidence. Instead, he gave Gord a made-up receipt. By the way, Gord isn’t too swift; anyone with half a brain would have figured that receipt was bullshit. Anyway, once Dan had the purse that completed the cover-up. He gave it to me to get rid of. By then, I was feeling a little less worried, and in fact, was happy that we finally had that pain-in-the-ass cow out of our lives. I actually thought it would be funny to bury it right in the middle of all the turmoil she had caused. Right beside Jim, and down the street from Gord and Audri, a few doors away from Fast Freddy, her boyfriend, and stuck on the street she hated from the get-go. I just thought it was the best place for her, and since it was all we had left of her, I stuck it in the only vacant yard in the complex. I didn’t want to be seen, so I went in the middle of the night and buried it right near the gate. I thought I had it deep enough, and after twenty-some years well, who would have guessed it would wind up creating such a fuss. I have to hand it to Emily, anyone else would have tossed it away. Who knew?”
Kill Her Twice Page 21
