The clerk held the photograph in her petite hands and stared. She handed the photo back to Frankie and looked past her, out the window.
“Yeah, I’ve seen her.”
“When?” Frankie tried to mask her excitement.
“She was in here Saturday night.” The clerk paused before asking, “Is she okay?”
Frankie avoided the question, “What’s your name?”
With hesitation the clerk answered, “Cheyenne.”
“What happened when she was here?”
“She asked to use the bathroom. I was talking to Tre but then he got real weird and started kicking the bathroom door. I screamed at him to stop. I didn’t want the manager to get pissed if he broke the door.”
“Did he stop?”
“Not ‘til she opened the door.”
“Did you notice anything about her clothes?”
Cheyenne paused for a moment then said, “She was holding her shirt closed. I didn’t really think anything about it at the time.”
“What do you know about the guy she was with?”
Before Cheyenne could answer the question two loud teenage boys came in and walked towards the cooler. They dropped a bag of chips, a soda, and a can of Colt 45 onto the counter.
One of the boys demanded, “Get me a Black and Mild cigar.”
Frankie and Mia stepped back from the counter and waited while Cheyenne rang up the chips and soda.
Cheyenne nodded in the direction of Frankie and Mia, “Boy you know you ain’t old enough to buy a cigar much less a beer. Now git before I call your momma and tell her you were in here.”
The boys laughed, took their bag, and walked out the door. Frankie couldn’t be sure but thought she saw one of the boys raise his middle finger when he got past the back of their car.
Laughing out loud Frankie asked Mia, “Did you see that?”
Mia nodded, “I keep waiting for kids to get more creative.”
“They ain’t bad boys. Just like to push things,” Cheyenne explained. “They’re in here almost every day.”
Frankie turned back to Cheyenne, “You were about to tell us about Tre.”
She took a deep breath, “Is he going to know you talked to me? That guy’s not right.”
“We’ll do what we can to protect your identity.”
With a sigh Cheyenne said, “His name is Trayvon. I think his last name is Stockton, but I’m not 100% sure. Everyone calls him Tre. He used to live ‘round the corner but I think his momma moved. Miss Stockton’s pretty nice. She used to bring me food sometimes when I worked the late shift or on a holiday.”
“Do you know Miss Stockton’s first name?”
“I’m not sure. Georgia maybe?”
“Do you know where they moved?”
Cheyenne paused before answering. “No. You might check with the pastor at the church on Paseo. He’d probably know where she is. She was pretty involved there. I think she may even still go there.”
Before Frankie could ask any additional questions, the unit cell phone rang, “Sex Crimes, Detective Thomas.”
Mia began collecting Cheyenne’s contact information.
“Okay. We’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.” Frankie disconnected the call and turned back to Cheyenne. “Is there anything else you can remember that might be helpful?”
Cheyenne started to fidget. It was apparent there was something more she wanted to tell them. As Frankie was about to say something Cheyenne turned to the register and opened the drawer. She lifted the cash drawer and pulled out a five-dollar bill. Sliding it across the counter she said, “That girl paid for her water with this.”
It took Frankie a moment before she realized it was the bill Sarah told her about at the hospital. She read the words aloud, “Please help me.”
Frankie could feel the heat of anger rising up her neck. Sarah asked this woman for help and she did nothing. Frankie’s blood boiled and her chest constricted in anger but all she said was, “I’m taking this as evidence.”
“What do I tell the manager when my drawer is short?”
“Give them the case number and tell them to call me if they have any questions. Do you have access to the surveillance system?”
“No, but my manager will be here in the morning. He can get it.”
Frankie handed Cheyenne her business card. Through gritted teeth she asked, “Can you please ask your manager to pull all of the surveillance of that girl and Tre?”
Cheyenne nodded and asked, “Is she okay? She’s not dead or anything is she?”
“Why would you ask if she was dead?”
Fidgeting with the pen on the counter Cheyenne said, “She seemed so scared. I told Tre he should just leave her here. Tre can be a real creep and she didn’t act like she wanted to be with him. But he wasn’t holding onto her. And then she left with him so I figured I got it wrong.”
“She’s not dead.” With that Frankie turned and walked out the door.
Chapter 20
“Who was that on the phone?” Mia asked as she fastened her seatbelt.
“Mac. They caught a case at 24th and Bellefontaine.” Frankie grabbed her cellphone and called the Crime Scene Unit while she drove. “Sounds like it might be the same guy that attacked Allie.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. And she got a partial plate.”
“Damn, maybe we finally caught a break.”
Frankie thought about the case while she drove.
“What are the chances it’s the same guy?” Mia’s spoke the words Frankie was thinking.
Frankie turned towards Mia with her answer, “I’d say pretty good.”
The drive was short. The blue and red lights on scene were visible before the people that stood in front of them.
“Damn,” exclaimed Mia.
Before Frankie could say anything, she saw the petite woman sitting on the back of the ambulance. She had blood trickling from a cut below her swollen eye. The medic was examining the wound while the officers strung crime scene tape.
“Hey Mac!” Frankie slapped the back of her old patrol partner.
“Hey Frankie. I wondered if you were working tonight.”
“Always.” Frankie smiled. “I talked to the recruit. He said the victim got a plate number?”
“A partial. 7BH. Missouri. Guys are out looking for it now but it sounds like this guy took off pretty quickly. He threw her out of the car after he raped her.”
“Sound familiar?”
“Yeah – how many women has this guy attacked?”
“I think this makes three – if it’s the same guy.”
Frankie walked towards the medic and the woman he was treating.
After she introduced herself she asked, “Does she need to be transported?”
“She should definitely be seen by a doc but you can take her if she’d prefer,” replied the paramedic.
“Ma’am, would it be okay if my partner and I take you to the hospital after we talk?”
Josie nodded.
“Okay, let’s go to headquarters and get a statement, then we will take you to the hospital.”
Chapter 21
Frankie escorted Josie to an interview room to get her statement while Mia started the recording equipment.
“Can you tell me what happened tonight?”
“I was hanging out up on the Avenue.”
Josie looked down at the table and became quiet.
“Josie, you can tell me what you were doing. I’m not going to arrest you if you tell me you were trying to make a date or score drugs.”
Looking up she softly asked, “For real?”
Frankie nodded.
Josie looked around the bland room then back down at the table. After a moment, she looked up and sighed, “I was trying to make a date and maybe score some crack. And if I had enough money left over I was going to get a room for the night. It’s starting to get cold and I didn’t want to sleep outside.”
She paused and waited to see i
f Frankie or Mia would say anything.
“This guy pulled up by where I was standing and sort of motioned for me to come over. I asked if he was looking to party and he offered me a ride. Everything was cool at first. He bought me a rock and while I was loading my pipe he drove to this alley.”
Josie stopped and took a deep breath.
“He told me to get into the back seat. I told him I wasn’t finished smoking but, it was like…he changed. He seemed angry all of a sudden. He grabbed me by the hair and forced me into the back seat. He was too big to climb over the seat so he opened the back door. I tried to open the door by my head but it wouldn’t open. He got into the backseat and on top of me, trying to stick me. I kept moving around, trying not to let him get it in but that just made him madder. He was already having some trouble getting it up and that really pissed him off. The more he tried the more difficult it became. Then he punched me and started calling out my name saying I wasn’t doing what he paid for. But he never gave me any money. And we didn’t agree to what he took.
“When he finished, he put his thing up and got out of the car. He reached in and pulled me out of the backseat by my hair. Then he just left me on the side of the road like I was a piece of garbage. When he pulled away I got a glimpse of the license and said it to myself over and over again.”
Josie grabbed a tissue and wiped her nose. Her eyes were filled with tears but not a single one fell.
“Tell me about the car.”
“I’m not sure what you want to know.”
“What was the inside like?”
Josie rested her chin on her hand in thought. Softly she said, “It was nice. The seats were leather and felt nice against my legs.”
“Did anything about the car stand out to you?”
“I kind of looked around the car. I was hoping he had some loose change or something I could boost. Like I said, I really wanted to stay in a room tonight. Maybe take a hot shower or bath. He caught me looking at this thing with a name on it hanging from the mirror and snatched it.”
“Did you see the name?”
“Allen, maybe?”
“Was there anything else you remember or want to add about the car?”
Closing her eyes, she answered, “The radio. It had lights that moved on the front. It was fancy and kind of stood out.”
Frankie let Josie catch her breath while she reviewed her notes. When she was finished, she looked up and asked, “Tell me more about the doors.”
“What do you mean?”
“You mentioned you couldn’t get it to open…”
“Yeah, it was like a cop car. The back door wouldn’t open from the inside.”
“Was the door damaged in any way?”
“No. The handle just wouldn’t open the door.”
Frankie made notes on her tablet. “What did he look like?”
Josie tapped her fingers on the table, “He was pretty tall. His head almost hit the roof of the car. He was big. Not fat, just big. He was light skinned.”
“Did he have any facial hair?”
Putting her fingers to her lips she said, “Maybe a little. He had marks on his face too.”
“What do you mean ‘marks’?”
“Like craters in his skin.”
“Can you tell me where you bought the crack? I’d like to see if they have any surveillance of him or his car.”
Josie hesitated. “I don’t want to get my dealer in trouble.”
“We aren’t interested in him Josie. We just want to find the guy that raped you.”
Jose didn’t immediately answer. She looked to her hands as if they could give her guidance. Finally, she said, “The Green Duck. He usually hangs out around there. I don’t know if they have cameras though.”
“Thanks Josie. Is there anything else you think we need to know?”
Josie shook her head.
“Are you willing to get a forensic exam done at the hospital?”
“I can’t pay,” Josie mumbled.
“You can get the exam for free. We’ll give you a ride down to County and then they can give you a cab voucher to a shelter.”
Josie nervously asked, “Do you think it will matter? I mean, who’s going to believe me over him?”
“I think it’s important. They will check you out medically and make sure you’re okay. Plus, they will collect any evidence they find. And Josie?”
Looking up from the table she said, “Hmm?”
“We believe you.”
Josie let the words sink in before saying, “Okay, I’ll go.”
Frankie and Mia escorted her to the car, making small talk during the ten-minute drive to County Hospital. Mia watched Frankie’s steps slow the closer she got to the ER entrance.
Speaking softly, she asked, “Frankie, you okay? I can take her in if you want to wait out here.”
“I’ll be fine. I was here a few nights ago – it’s not like I can avoid this place forever.”
Frankie informed the receptionist why they were there and within minutes Josie was escorted to a private room.
Mia touched Frankie’s shoulder as the two walked back to the car. “It’ll get easier.”
“I know,” was Frankie’s soft reply.
“How do you want to attack this case?” Mia asked.
“Let’s review the other cases we have and see if we can put them together. Maybe do a search and see if we can find any cars matching the license and description.”
Parking the car Frankie said, “I’ll be up in a minute.”
She retrieved her cell phone and dialed. A single ring was met with Derek’s throaty, “Hey, you okay?”
“Yea. Just wanted to check on you.”
“You working late?”
“Yeah it’s lookin’ that way.”
“Okay. Stay safe babe.”
“Always.”
Mia was surrounded by case files and making notes on a whiteboard when Frankie walked into the room. Hearing her, Mia stopped writing and turned, “How’s Derek?”
“He’s okay. I think I woke him up.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Okay. A lot has happened over the last couple months. Your dad. James. Dani. Derek.”
Walking over to the window, Frankie looked towards the courthouse and the buildings beyond. Mia was right. A lot had happened. Her dad had a heart attack and almost died. Frankie’s neighbor James was shot saving her daughter from a would-be-kidnapper seeking revenge against her. Derek was shot by a gang member. And, somehow, she was supposed to go on like nothing had happened. She had to be strong for everyone. Frankie took a deep breath, blinked the tears from her eyes, and then turned around to face Mia.
“I’m fine.”
Chapter 22
Officer Anthony “Mac” McClendon was pissed off. He and his partner, Maria Payne, had been looking for the car used in the rape for over an hour with no luck.
“He couldn’t have just disappeared Payne.”
“He’ll show up – he can’t lie low forever.”
Mac made a sudden right turn, “Look, there he is!”
“Hang back Mac. You don’t want to spook him.”
Picking up the mic, Mac said, “242 we are following a car possibly used in the rape at 24 and Bellefontaine.”
“242, what’s your location?” the dispatcher asked.
“62nd and Prospect, south bound. Gold Honda, Missouri license 7 Boy Henry Young 8 8. Occupied one time.”
“242 is following a car possibly used in a rape at 24th and Bellefontaine. Anyone else in the area?” the dispatcher asked.
“He’s heading west on 63rd St. We just passed Park. We’re coming up on Woodland. He’s heading south on Woodland,” said Mac.
“215, I’m about three blocks away.”
The dispatcher said, “Copy 215. 242, location?”
“Meyer and Woodland. He’s signaling east. Copy a car check. Meyer and Woodland east bound. Gold Honda Missouri license 7BH Y88. Hol
d the air.”
“Copy. Holding the air at Meyer and Woodland,” the dispatcher said.
“He’s not stopping. He’s heading southbound on Paseo.”
“240 to dispatch, is 690 flying tonight,” asked Sergeant Seever.
“Looks like he’s going to keep heading south on Paseo. He’s coming up on Gregory,” Mac said.
“The helicopter’s not flying tonight 240,” said the dispatcher.
“We’re about two blocks behind,” Mac advised.
“He just blew the light at Gregory. He’s heading eastbound and just about t-boned a car,” said Sergeant Seever.
The radio was silent for a few moments.
“He’s heading south on Prospect. We are coming up on… wait, he dumped the car. 77th and Prospect, south bound. Black male on foot, running west behind the houses.”
“242 and 215 set up a perimeter,” directed Seever. “Dispatch, start the K-9 unit.”
Mac, Payne, and Seever parked their cars and started their search. Sirens signaled other cars were en route to their area. They crept through the yards slowly and quietly, hoping to find the man hiding in the shadows.
“He couldn’t have gotten far,” Mac said.
“242, we just got a 9-1-1 call about a possible burglary in progress at 2615 E 75th Street. Caller said an unknown party was trying to get into the house through a basement window,” advised dispatch.
“242 we’ll respond to the location.”
“240, show me out with 242.”
The officers approached the house at an angle. They were preparing to clear the corner to the backyard when Mac noticed a shadow coming out from behind the house.
“Show me your hands!” Mac shouted the directions to the man whose hands were shoved in his pockets. “Show me your freaking hands!”
Slowly Mac saw hands raise in the air. Seever and Payne kept their weapons trained on the man as Mac approached to handcuff him.
“You can clear the air. One in custody,” said Seever.
“The air is clear at 2342.”
Chapter 23
The sound of the phone ringing caused Frankie to jump, “Shit, I thought I forwarded the phone when we got back.”
No Stone Unturned Page 5
