by Allen Gates
“What am I doing here,” she asked herself as she searched the faces of the upper crust that would notice her and offer a polite smile as she walked by their group. She decided against mingling around the pool. A young man, carrying a tray of champagne, stopped in front of her and Stephanie, with her best composure, removed a glass and walked to a shadowy spot away from the main cloister of the crowd that best suited her feeling of not belonging.
In her corner Stephanie thought, What is wrong with you? This isn’t where you belong. Why not mingle and meet people?
Suddenly there was a hush and a change in the mood and the guests became somber. She recognized the reason had walked through the doorway. It was William. He was greeting people as he slowly made his way in and around the crowd. As he shook hands and exchanged embraces with the women, he looked over and saw her standing alone in the corner. She smiled and watched him excuse himself and make his way politely through the crowd to her.
“It is very nice of you to be here, Stephanie, but I believe I would be safe in saying that you would much rather be sitting at a certain spot outside of town playing with your dog. Am I right?”
“Yes and I would bet that the same scenario applies to you, Senator.”
“Stephanie, please, my name is William. We’re friends now, and friends don’t refer to me as senator.”
“I will try to remember that from this day forward.”
“Listen, Stephanie, I have to be polite and mingle with my guests. Will you be staying or do you have to leave?”
“I should be getting back to the hospital.”
“Hospital, what’s wrong with you?”
Laughing she replied, “I’m a doctor, William, a general practitioner and I should get back and complete my rounds that I delayed to attend the funeral.”
“I understand, of course. I’m sure we’ll see each other at the site outside of town.”
“I hope so. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“No more than I,” came his response.
She wove her way through the large gathering of people and entered the main house. As she went she paused to stare at a large painting of a very attractive woman hanging over the fireplace. It was not his wife, based on the photos displayed at the funeral services.
“That is Mrs. Radford the senator’s mother,” the servant informed her.
“She is deceased. She and the senator were very close and he took her death very hard.”
“How did she die?”
“Some say a broken heart caused her to drink excessively and eventually the drinking caused her to drive her car off the road. She was burned to death in the crash.”
“Oh, how tragic it must have been for the family.”
“I personally think it was the abusive lifestyle of the father and his disciplined control over the family. He stared at the painting and then said, “I have said much more than I should have, so if you are ready Madam, I’ll escort you to the front entrance.”
“Thank you for the information. They are certainly a very interesting family.”
39
THE AFTERNOON SHIFT was on the floor by the time Stephanie checked in at the hospital. It came as a relief knowing it would delay her next confrontation with the pain in the neck Lenny. Sooner or later she knew she would have to confront him and stop his unwanted advances.
Hey, she thought, get a grip and remember where you are; it’s time to get your mind back on important tasks at hand. People here rely on your services Doctor, and you’re out running around chasing after a man you just met like a woman in heat while setting traps for an orderly who probably has a crush on you. That might sound a little harsh on yourself, but you know it’s reality. She went immediately to check on her favorite patient. Stepping into the room she asked the nurse changing the bed, “Where is Mrs. Flanders?”
“I’m sorry to say she left us about two hours ago Doctor. She said to give you this.
She took the envelope and looked at her name handwritten on the front. Stephanie’s heart ached as she looked at the writing and recognized the sign of the obvious pain she had endured to write her name. The last two letters sort of trailed downward as she was obviously losing control of the pen as she struggled to complete her name. A tear fell on the envelope and then another. She removed a folded piece of paper. It was a poem.
“She wanted to write it in long hand, Doc.,” the nurse said, “but she had so much trouble writing she asked me to put it on my computer and print it for you.” She wiped her eyes.
“When I had finished she read it and then wrote the scribbled note at the bottom. At her direction I folded it and placed it in the envelope. Then she wrote your name on the front, smiled at me and asked me to give it to you.”
Stephanie looked in her face and heard her describe Mrs. Flanders saying she was seeing angels around her bed.
“I can’t explain it Doctor, but her face was glowing as she smiled and went to sleep.”
Stephanie stepped out of the room to hide her tears. As she read the poem she pictured her lying there smiling at angels around her bed. When she got to the end and read the short scribbled note at the bottom, her tears began in earnest.
Are angels around are they real
Some say no, but your heart will feel
Them enter I say they are real.
They come and ease the pain
They offer peace a love’s refrain
With good and bad I had to choose
A choice of bad my soul I lose.
I know these last few days I leased
An angel’s care and I die in peace.
I feel no fear as I always had in view
An angel near my bed
And that angel was you.
Stephanie, I thank you for making it possible for me to find peace.
Reentering the room she looked at the teary eyed nurse and said, “I should have been with her in those final moments. I could have been here, instead of running around in some fantasy dream world I do not belong in.”
Leaving word she was off the floor for a brief time she entered the nurse’s locker room that offered a necessary escape. After cool splash of water to her face she felt ready to resume her duties.
40
THE LAST GUEST pulled out of the drive and the senator watched the gates close behind them. It went well, he thought. The general theme of most conversations centered on the serial killer with no hint of the possibility of his involvement in her death. He felt disappointed that the two overly active detectives had chosen not to attend the after service gathering to see the respect and concern shown for him at the loss of his wife. He knew it was their job to be suspicious of him, but it was becoming annoying.
His goal over the next days would be to gain the confidence of Lieutenant Sanders who seems to have a serious problem with him. He was sure he had witnessed compassion on the part of the female partner who assumed the pain he should be feeling. Looking at his watch, he decided it was time to escape and drive to the coast for sunset and maybe Stephanie.
41
RESEARCH TURNED UP information that Lon requested on the ex-wife of the senator who now resides in Sutcliff, Nevada, a small town near Reno. She had not remarried according to the information that came up on the computer.
After telephone communication was completed with her, Anne had convinced her that they were simply seeking information on some background issues concerning the senator. So, she agreed to meet with them and a date was finalized for their meeting.
Anne wasn’t sold on the trip doubting how the ex-wife in Nevada could provide any information on their case here in California.
“I’m banking on her relating something that might prove my theory of the senator’s involvement in his wife’s murder. I realize you think I’m way off base, but as always partner I’m going with my gut.”
It was even harder to convince the chief even with detailed explanations of what they hoped to discover would certainly justify the expens
es. He reluctantly gave his approval. The dates were confirmed with Beth Radford the senator’s ex-wife and it was agreed that the meetings would be held at her home in Sutcliff.
“Well partner in two days we will be in the air heading to Sutcliff, Nevada. It’s a small western town with a population of three hundred cowboys and cowgirls. However if I may I would add, you do not have to worry, it’s very close to Reno and the night life it offers I am sure will fit your night life requirements?”
Anne ignored the remark and waved goodnight. On the drive home she made the decision to stop at her nightly watering hole and was disappointed when she saw Terry’s car parked in front.
“Damn, I guess I’ll have to drink at home.”
Pulling to the right side of the road she made a U-turn.
“I can’t change my lifestyle because of a man I hardly know. You slept with him and created a problem for yourself, but does it qualify as a reason to avoid him and give up something you really enjoy?”
“No,” she shouted while pounding the steering wheel.
She was greeted warmly by Johnny from behind the bar as she entered and then heard in a quiet humble sounding voice.
“It’s nice to see you, Anne.”
Johnny knew by her look that she was not pleased Terry was there.”
Signaling to Johnny for the usual, she sat on the stool next to Terry and stared at him knowing he would say something stupid.
“Have you decided to forgive me, Anne? I know our last time together was a little tense.”
“Let’s let the past stay in the past,” she said, surprising even herself with her concession, as she raised her glass and clicked his bottle.
“Here’s to the future detective, and wherever that may lead. Have you made any headway in your case?”
“No and believe me we’re feeling the heat from the press and the big boys uptown. The pressure is mounting from all levels. We know that comes with the job. So, what we are have to concentrate on is the possibility he could strike again, and soon if we don’t stop him.”
She turned and looked into his eyes for a reaction.
His expression was one of a sad, beaten dog as he asked, “Anne, can we start over? I really enjoy spending time with you.”
She waited to respond fearful of laughing and knowing that would be cruel, so she picked her words carefully.
“Do you remember our first conversation and my requirement of putting all the cards on the table? I don’t have the time nor do I want to worry how you will react every time I don’t pay enough attention to you or when I converse with another man. If you can back off this let’s be a couple routine, then my answer is yes.”
He stuck out his hand for her to shake.
“It’s a deal.”
42
LON STRESSED IN detail the necessity of the trip to Nevada to his wife Allie knowing there would be resistance on her part.
“I’m not sure why an out of state ex-wife of the senator is important to your case here in Santa Barbara, Lon, but if you’re instincts tell you there are good reasons then go and see what turns up.”
“Allie, look I know this is hard to understand, but this feeling is something I can’t shake. There is something about the senator that says keep after him he’s not what he seems. My partner feels like you, that I’m totally wrong about Radford and over reacting because I don’t like him. All I know is that his present wife was just murdered and his first wife left him for some reason and moved a long way to be rid of him. Her reasons could shed light on the dark side I'm convinced he’s hiding beneath that cool non-emotional outside shell that I believe is the typical demeanor portrayed by most politicians. That's as plain as I can make my reasoning and I hope they become evident to you, Allie, it’s simply based on my gut feeling.”
The tension was broken by the voice of his son.
“Hey Dad, let’s shoot some hoops.”
“I’ll be right there, Tad.”
“We’ll be leaving day after tomorrow on a Monday and returning on Tuesday or possibly Wednesday. The ticket is open ended to allow for unforeseen events.”
With a smile and a reluctant yes he felt assured she understood, so he headed to the front of the garage for a game of basketball with his son.
“You’re all mine kid. No mercy this time. I’m all over you. Oh, and I get first shot because I’m older and bigger than you, so watch closely.”
He lofted a one-handed shot from ten feet and swished it.
“I think that should be a warning of what’s to come, my son.”
Tad dribbled the basketball to the site of his dad’s shot. He turned, looked at the basket and shot. The ball hit the backboard and dropped neatly through the net.
“Was that first shot your best, Dad?”
43
NIGHT WAS UPON him before he reached his destination, but he loved the darkness of the night. It hid all the impurities of the world around him. He could use the night to see the hidden cruel and demonic creatures walking that the daylight hid. He was equal to them in the darkness and knew his weaknesses couldn’t be seen and taken advantage of. He did not have to be something he was not, when surrounded by the cloak of darkness.
Most important of all, he could be evil and cause fear in the strongest of them. In the daylight, he felt vulnerable, so he tried to show strength as a masquerade. But, inside he craved, since early childhood, the ability to become invisible. He parked and shouted out loudly in the interior of the car, “Tonight, I am once again in control and ready to show them the dark side of me that none would ever believe was there.”
44
LEANING ACROSS THE table Anne touched Terry’s hand.
“I think we’re at an impasse here. Forgive this inquisition, but keeping in-line with my profession, I need to get a little more information from you. I know I’m a little slow on the uptake, but before we continue this relationship, or whatever it turns out to be, I need to know more about you, like who you are. Where did you come from? What do you do for a living? What happened to your first marriage? What did you see in me that made you begin this so called fling to be?”
He smiled at her and raised his glass in salute to her concerns.
“Let’s begin with, I’m Terrance Riley Ryan. That name tells you my heritage. I’m from a little town in Virginia called Staunton located in the Shenandoah Valley that was the site of a lot of important history. You know, Stonewall Jackson, as an example, and the Citadel, the military academy of the south, are both located there.
“I left the Shenandoah Valley after graduating from the University of Virginia and was lucky to land a job with Monumental Investments and Northern Virginia and Washington, DC became my territory. How am I doing so far?”
“Nothing out of line so far, Anne responded.”
“My position in Northern Virginia proved to be a very lucrative opportunity because I was dealing with high end professionals. I was making a name in the profession and found people were seeking me out.
A woman investor contacted me searching for investment opportunities and I began a working relationship with her and that relationship led to something more and eventually it led to her becoming my wife. We were living, as they say in the south in high cotton. She was heavily involved in high dollar commercial real estate and was very successful.” He paused looking at her. “Any questions so far?”
“No, Anne said, but let me guess, her income exceeded yours.”
“Yes, her yearly income had more zeros than mine, so after we married she tended to call the shots and I became part of the high society life she thrived in.”
“Not a scenario for a strong marriage, Terry.”
“You’re very astute Anne. The firm she worked for was very demanding of her time, but this was acceptable because they paid her extremely well.” He paused again as if in a semi trance recalling a particular incident. He looked at Anne and smiled.
“Her job also required frequent out-of-state business trips.”
>
The look on Anne’s face, told him she was way ahead of him and knew where the story was headed and what he was about to reveal.
“I found out, through a mutual friend, that she was having an affair with the owner of the company and many of her out-of-state trips we’re not business related. I was totally caught off guard and remained in disbelief.
“When I confronted her about the affair she confessed that the accusation was true. I agreed to forgive and after attending counseling we decided to stay together under the condition that she would leave the firm. She refused, but agreed to be transferred to the office here in California.
“When the transfer was approved, I agreed to the arrangement and transferred my license to California and here I am in Santa Barbara.”
“It sounds to me like everything was fine between you, so I guess something went wrong when you moved west.”
“You’re right; everything was fine for a year until I found them together one night coming out of the hotel in which I was attending a company seminar. Her boss was back in her life again.”
Anne saw the hurt come through as he began the last segment of his story.
“I stood across the street and watched them kiss goodbye and then went into the hotel for my meeting. I asked them to call his room for me and was informed he had checked out. Later that night, at home, I confronted her with her actions and she once again admitted it with no sense of guilt or regret. That’s when she very nonchalantly informed me she was leaving me and going back to the home office.”
He picked up his drink and stirred the ice with his finger then continued. “Well, that little episode was two years ago and now, here we are. Now, I hate all women and I’m filled with rage and hell bent on getting revenge.”
