“Okay. Let me know if anything turns up.”
“Will do.”
Frankie put the car in park and walked inside the Emergency Department, file folder in hand. Maggie was sitting on the examination table, dressed in the clothes the advocate gave her, when Frankie entered the room.
“Thank you for waiting. I just need to show you a few photos. Do you have a ride home?”
Maggie shook her head.
“I can take you wherever you need to go after we finish.”
Softly, Maggie said, “Thanks.”
Frankie pulled out the photograph of the necklace first, “Do you recognize this?”
Maggie looked at the photograph carefully before saying, “I can’t be sure, but I think it might belong to a guy I went out with a couple times.”
Frankie masked her disappointment when she asked, “What’s his name?”
“Jackson Miller. We only went out a few times before I broke it off.”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
Maggie sat thoughtfully.
“A couple of days ago, maybe? He came by my house and tried to talk me into giving him another chance. I was trying to let him down easy, but that night it got a little heated. He didn’t like me telling him there was no chance of us going on another date.”
“Describe heated.”
“He was yelling and cursing at me. I mean we had only gone out a few times and he was acting like we had been together for years. We hadn’t even had sex. He finally left when I threatened to call the cops.”
“Can you think of any reason why his necklace would be on the floor near your sofa?”
Maggie laughed, “No ma’am. I went on a cleaning frenzy after he left. I was so mad that I had to threaten him and I clean when I get mad. I moved the furniture away from the walls and everything. There wasn’t a thing out of place when I left for work yesterday.”
Frankie nodded and pulled out the photographic line-up. “Do you recognize any of the men in these photos?”
One by one she looked at the photographs. After looking at each one she said, “The guy in number four. I think he was the one that thought I was a whore.”
“Had you ever seen him before that incident?”
Maggie shook her head.
“Did you see him after he drove off?”
“No.”
“Okay. You’ve done great. Do you feel safe going back to your house or is there somewhere else you’d like to go?”
“I’ll be okay. My cousin said he’d stay with me tonight.”
Frankie nodded. Almost as an afterthought she asked, “Did you leave any dirty dishes in the kitchen?”
Maggie furrowed her brows, “I think I might have left a glass in the sink. Why?”
“So you didn’t leave one on the counter?”
“Uh…no I don’t think so.”
“Would your neighbor have used a glass while he was waiting on the police to arrive?”
“I don’t think so. Why are you asking?”
“A glass was left sitting on the counter and it seemed out of place.”
Maggie nodded in understanding.
After she dropped Maggie at her house Frankie drove back to her office. She was debating on having officers conduct a residence for Sawyer, but something told her to wait. She had a positive ID on Sawyer approaching her but Maggie couldn’t identify him as the man that raped her. And the type of attack Maggie experienced didn’t match Sawyer’s pattern of behavior. Frankie wanted it to be him, but her gut told her to hold off on the arrest. She still had some work to do.
Chapter 92
Frankie decided to do a little research on the guy who owned the necklace found at the scene. She started by running Jackson Miller in the local and federal law enforcement databases.
“Well, what do you know,” she said to an empty squad room. Miller had a long history of assault charges and had spent time in the Illinois State prison system for domestic battery. Miller had gotten out of prison almost a year before and was still on parole. Frankie jotted down the parole officer’s name and number. It was a local number so he must have gotten his parole transferred to Jackson County. She made a note to call the officer on Monday.
Next, she looked Miller up in their local dispatch system. She found three calls involving him, but only one where a report had been taken. Frankie pulled up the report and started reading. The initial report said they had been dispatched on a burglary in progress. When they arrived, they found Miller inside the house of a former girlfriend, Dejauna Larabie. Larabie told officers Miller had broken in and hit her repeatedly in the face. Miller was arrested and issued a general ordinance summons to appear in municipal court. The woman got an order of protection issued against Miller but no violations had been reported.
Frankie looked at her watch. 8:00 PM. She grabbed the report and her keys and headed to Dejauna Larabie’s house. Fifteen minutes later she was knocking on the door. She was met by a statuesque woman with the darkest eyes Frankie had ever seen.
“Can I help you?” was the brusque greeting.
Frankie identified herself and explained she was investigating a crime that was possibly related to her assault.
“You think Jackson has hurt someone else?” Dejauna asked.
“It’s possible. Can you tell me what happened the day you called police?”
Dejauna’s account matched what Frankie had read in the initial officer’s report. When she was finished Dejauna rubbed the side of her jaw, remembering.
“Do you know what precipitated the attack?”
“Sure, I do. I told him I didn’t want to see him anymore. Actually, I told him that a couple of days before he attacked me. He got really upset, like abnormally so. We had only gone out a few times. Hell, we hadn’t even had sex yet.”
Frankie nodded, recognizing the similarity between Maggie and Dejauna’s cases. “Was there anything you didn’t tell the officer that came to the house?”
Dejauna twisted her hands in her lap. After a few moments she said, “I didn’t lie to the officer. Jackson did break in. And he did hit me a bunch of times.”
“What didn’t you tell them?”
She took a deep breath and said, “He was trying to pull my pants off when the officers got to the house. If they wouldn’t have got there when they did he probably would have…”
Dejauna did not finish the sentence but Frankie knew what she was afraid would have happened. “What prevented you from saying anything to the officers?”
Looking up from her lap Dejauna said, “I was ashamed. And he didn’t really do anything. He just started to pull my pants down and was grabbing my boobs. I didn’t think the officers would care about that.”
“Thank you for telling me. Other than court, have you seen or heard from Jackson since that night?”
Dejauna shook her head.
“Have you ever known him to wear a gold chain?”
“Yeah. I never saw him without it. He told me his momma gave it to him.”
Frankie let out a sigh when she got back to her car. She was glad she had not sent anyone out to pick up Sawyer. It was obvious, to her at least, that Miller was responsible for Maggie’s attack. She had been so focused on proving it was Sawyer she almost missed the truth.
Chapter 93
Driving back to her office Frankie called Maggie. On the second ring she heard a husky, “Hello.”
“Maggie I’m sorry to disturb you. This is Detective Thomas. Would you mind if I swing by your house for a few minutes?”
“Um,” Maggie began to cough. “I’m sorry. I guess so. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I just wanted to talk to you about a possible development in your case.”
“Okay.”
Frankie exhaled with force as she disconnected the phone. She was going out on a limb with what she was about to do, but her gut told her it was the right thing to do. If it worked out the way she thought it would she would be able to make an arrest in this case tonight. If
it didn’t, she could be ruining any shot of being able to make an arrest at all.
Frankie glanced down at her watch. 10 PM. Not too late to make the call. If he didn’t answer, she’d ask Maggie to try again. She knocked lightly on Maggie’s door. Frankie was met by a weary-eyed, battered woman. Maggie had changed out of the sweatpants she wore home from the hospital into pajamas and a soft chenille robe.
“Thank you for allowing me to come over this late.”
Maggie nodded. “You think you have a break in the case?”
“Maybe. I know it might be difficult, but can you think about the voice of the man that attacked you. Had you ever heard the voice before that moment?”
Maggie adjusted herself on the sofa. “I’m not sure. Maybe. But I don’t want to accuse someone without being 100% sure.”
“I understand that. Did the voice remind you of anyone?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to believe it though.”
Frankie sat quietly, not wanting to push her and possibly damage fragile memories.
“I can’t be sure, but I think he sounded like…”
Frankie waited.
Softly Maggie said, “Jackson.”
Frankie let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. Gently she asked, “What about the voice reminded you of him?”
“The guy that attacked me kept calling me names and he had a…a way he said things. It sounded like the way Jackson talked. Especially the night he got so mad at me.”
“Good. How well do you know him?”
“Casually. Like I said, we’d only gone out a few times and I realized he just wasn’t the right guy for me. I had him over for dinner a few nights ago and decided to tell him it wasn’t going to work. He lost his mind and started yelling and screaming. I threatened to call the cops so he left. I haven’t seen or heard from him since.”
“Did you know he had a history of assault? He is actually on parole for a crime he committed in Illinois.”
“What? I had no idea. He seemed like a nice guy. Just not my guy. Know what I mean?”
“I do. Did he ever threaten to physically harm you?”
“Not really.” Maggie paused, then covered her face with her hands. When she looked up she said, “The night he was yelling at me he told me I needed to be taught a lesson. He said I was uppity and acted like I was too good for him. I tried explaining that wasn’t it, but he wasn’t hearing it.”
“Is it possible Jackson was the man that attacked you when you got home from work?”
Maggie nodded.
“I have an idea of a way to get him to admit it, but I need your help. Do you feel like you’d be up for making a phone call to him?”
Maggie’s eyes got very wide. “What? Why?”
“I’d be right here the entire time. I have a digital recorder and an earpiece. I’d have you call from your phone and record the conversation. You can tell him you found his necklace and ask him why he came back to your house. You can ask him why he beat you and why he had sex with you while you were knocked out.”
“You really think he’d admit to any of that?”
“Yeah. Especially since he thinks he got away with it.”
Maggie rubbed her hands together, ringing them in her lap. Frankie waited patiently, giving Maggie time to think about what she was being asked to do.
“Okay. When do you want to do it?”
“How about now?”
Chapter 94
Frankie set up the recorder and earpiece then said, “If at any point you decide you need to stop I want you to tell him your neighbor is at the door. That will be the signal to me that you are going to disconnect the call. Okay?”
“Okay. What do I say when he answers?”
“Say hello, then see where the conversation goes from there.”
Maggie cleared her throat, put the earpiece in her ear, and dialed the number. She was about to hang up when she heard a throaty, “Hello.”
Frankie saw the fear in Maggie’s eyes. She motioned for her to say something.
“Hi. Jackson?”
“Ye…” Jackson coughed and cleared his throat.”…Ah. I didn’t think I’d hear from you again.”
“Why is that?”
“You were pretty angry the other day. Saying you were going to call the cops and all.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, well you kind of freaked me out.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. I just wanted you to give me a chance.”
“I know. Hey, I found your necklace here when I was cleaning up today.”
“Um, uh, well…”
“I think it fell off when you were here last night.”
“I, uh, I…”
“I know you were upset with me. I would have talked to you if you wouldn’t have jumped out of the dark like that.”
Jackson was silent. Frankie was afraid he had hung up the phone. Just as she was about to direct Maggie to hang up and retry the number they heard, “I thought you’d make me leave.”
“I wouldn’t have.” Maggie rolled her eyes at Frankie. “I don’t understand why you had to hit me so many times. I mean I know you were upset but why did you hit me so many times?”
Jackson’s tone changed. “You needed to be taught…a lesson. You were so uppity to me. I wanted you to know you were no better than me.”
“I don’t think I’m better. I understand you punishing me but…” Maggie started to choke up. She swallowed and cleared her throat. “But why did you have sex with me when I was passed out?”
Jackson didn’t immediately answer. After a few moments of silence, he said, “Because it was mine to take.”
Maggie gasped. His response was so cold. Frankie wrote a note and slid it over to her. “Did you at least wear a condom? I mean, what if I’m pregnant? I’m not on any birth control.”
Jackson’s tone was icy, “Bitch you might want to get something then. I don’t wear condoms.”
“Oh my gosh, so I could be pregnant?” Maggie’s voice lifted on the last word.
“May-be, but that shit ain’t my problem. You said you didn’t want to be with me. So, if you are, don’t come asking me for anything.”
“Jackson my neighbor is at the door. I’ve got to go.” Maggie disconnected the call, put her face in her hands, and began to sob.
Frankie put her hand on Maggie’s shoulder and softly said, “You did good Maggie. Real good.”
When she calmed down Maggie looked up and said, “He was so cold. So…”
“He admitted to hitting you and to rape. He also admitted he didn’t wear a condom so his DNA will show up in your forensic kit. Between the physical evidence and the phone call I’d say he’s going to prison for a very long time.”
Looking up, Maggie asked, “What happens now?”
“I’m going to send a car to arrest his sorry ass. Hopefully we will get him held on a hefty bond.”
“Will you let me know what happens?”
“I will call you when we get him into custody. Okay?” Frankie gathered her things to go to the door. As she was stepping outside she heard Maggie behind her.
“Thank you, Detective.” Frankie heard the deadbolt engaging behind her as the door closed.
Chapter 95
Frankie called dispatch and asked for a two-person car meet her in the church parking lot at Gregory and Agnes. She got to the parking lot before the officers and listened to the chatter on the radio while she waited. Frankie couldn’t help but smile when she saw the officers that pulled up next to her.
“Hey there! How’d I get so lucky to get you two?” Frankie asked, smiling warmly at Mac and his partner, Maria Payne.
“We may have snatched the call from a dogwatch car. We figured you would appreciate having the A-team on this.”
Frankie laughed as Payne rolled her eyes.
“Actually, I am glad to have you guys here. We are heading out to 7113 Walrond to do a residence check for Jackson Miller. He beat a woman unconscious to ‘teach he
r a lesson’ then raped her while she was unconscious because it was ‘his to take.’ He is on parole out of Illinois but I haven’t been able to reach his parole officer yet. I didn’t find any record of him using guns but he has a long history of physical assault.” Frankie handed the pair a photograph and said, “This is him.”
Mac and Payne took a good look then returned the photo to Frankie.
“Let’s get him,” Mac said.
The drive to the house was short. A block away they turned out their headlights and parked their cars. They approached the house slowly, careful to stay out of sight of any of the windows. As they entered the yard, Frankie thought she saw a soft blue light flickering behind the blinds. She stood to the side of the door and rapped firmly.
“Who is it?”
“Kansas City Missouri Police Department,” Mac’s deep voice boomed in the quiet night. “We had a 9-1-1 call from this house.”
The door opened to a man of average height and build. “I didn’t call 9-1-1. The only call I had tonight was with my girl.”
“What’s your name,” Frankie asked, already knowing the answer.
“Jackson.”
Mac asked, “Would you step out here for a moment?”
As soon as Miller stepped onto the porch Mac grabbed him by the arm and put it behind his back. Frankie grabbed hold of his other arm, twisting it behind to meet Mac’s hand. Mac put the handcuffs on and said, “You’re coming with us.”
Payne keyed up her radio and said, “242, start a wagon to 7113 Walrond.”
Jackson became angry and shouted, “What do you mean I’m coming with you. I ain’t done nothing. I’ve been home all night.”
Frankie answered, “Sir, you are under arrest for assault. You and I will talk more when we get downtown.”
Jackson suddenly stopped talking. As he was being escorted to the patrol wagon she thought she heard him mumble, “That bitch.”
Chapter 96
Mac and Payne booked Jackson into detention while Frankie worked on the paperwork they needed to hold him. She printed off the photographs she had taken of Maggie and asked Crime Scene to send her photographs of the house. Once she had everything in order she told the overnight floor detective she was going to be doing an interrogation, started the recording, and went to escort Jackson from the jail.
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