by C. M. Sutter
Her screams startled me awake. I leaped out of bed and ran down the hallway. The sliding door to the deck was open, and I saw Amber in her bathrobe, kneeling over something, her back facing me. I dreaded the worst and ran to her side. Spaz lay on the deck, unmoving. I stared at his rib cage and saw it rise and fall.
“He’s alive, honey. Bring me some large towels and call the animal hospital.”
Spaz was breathing on his own, and hopefully his injuries were superficial. His skin was torn, he was bloodied, and bits of fur were missing. Spaz likely got into a scuffle with a feral cat that had claws. From the looks of things, Spaz probably got the worst end of it.
Amber brought me towels, and I gently lifted her beloved cat and wrapped him in them.
“I have to get dressed.” Five minutes later, I ran down the hallway in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. “Let’s go,” I said as I grabbed my car keys and locked the door behind us.
Amber sat in the passenger seat, and I carefully placed Spaz on her lap. Tears ran like an open faucet down her cheeks.
“He’ll be okay, honey. It looks like deep claw scratches and maybe a few bites. He didn’t get any facial injuries, so that’s good.”
I backed out of the garage and closed the overhead. I wanted to sound the sirens and rip through town, but I couldn’t. I had to drive the speed limit, and the animal hospital was a half hour away.
I hit the steering wheel with my open hand. “Damn it.”
“What?”
“I was supposed to pick up Jack for work.” I glanced at the clock—six forty-five. I lifted my phone and hit Jack’s name on my contact list.
“Morning, Jade, what’s up? I was just getting into the shower.”
“Jack, call Clayton or Billings. I can’t pick you up.”
“What’s wrong? Are you and Amber okay?”
“We are, but Spaz got into it with some other animal. He’s pretty beat up. We’re on our way to the animal hospital on Silver Spring right now.”
“Sure, no problem. How’s Amber holding up?”
I looked to my right at my sister’s face. “Not good.”
“Put me on speakerphone.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
“Hey, Amber.”
“Hi, Jack.”
“You know how tough Spaz is, don’t you? He’s a fighter, and cats have nine lives, remember? I don’t think Spaz has even used half of them yet. He’ll be okay, so take a deep breath and think good thoughts.”
Amber wiped the tears with the back of her hand. “All right. Thanks, Jack.”
“You got it, hon. I’m thinking of you guys.”
I clicked off speakerphone and put the phone to my ear. “I’ll touch base with you after we have the vet check him out. Sorry about the ride, Jack.”
“Don’t even worry about it. Take care of Amber and Spaz. We’ll catch up later.”
I clicked off and gave Spaz a glance. His eyes were open, and he looked calm. Amber, on the other hand, was another story.
We arrived at the animal hospital, and I sat in the waiting room while Amber followed the nurse into an exam room. I searched the faces of the people around me. I saw worry, hope, and anguish. Children asked parents if their pets would be okay, and others wept openly at the loss. I got up and walked to the counter to tell the receptionist that I’d be outside. Watching and waiting indoors was too heartbreaking. My mind drifted back to Mrs. Smith and her children as I paced the parking lot. I wondered how they were coping, and whether John Doe would ever have a name.
I found a wooden bench cloaked in the shade of a willow tree. The decorative iron trim surrounding the back held images of playful dogs and cats. It made me smile, and I sat for a bit. I pulled out the to-do list I had neatly folded and put in my purse last night. I read over my entries, then took out my notepad to find Mr. Crane’s phone number. Since I had to wait for Amber anyway, I decided to scratch a few things off my list. He answered right as I was about to hang up.
“Lakeview Apartments, how can I help you?”
“Mr. Crane, Sergeant Monroe calling.”
“Good morning, Sergeant. Guess you weren’t kidding about getting back to me. It’s barely seven thirty. Good thing I forward the calls to my cell phone.”
His tone irritated me, but I didn’t have time to concern myself with his time-of-day issues.
“Did I wake you, Mr. Crane?”
“Nope.”
“Then the time shouldn’t matter. Did you get a call from the apartment’s parent company yet? It should be early afternoon in England.”
“I haven’t checked the voicemail yet. I was making a pot of cof—”
I didn’t care what he was doing when I called. “I understand, Mr. Crane. Why don’t you check the messages now? I’ll call you back in five minutes. Goodbye.”
I glanced up and looked toward the door—no Amber yet—then I checked my watch. Three minutes had gone by. At the four-minute mark, I called Mr. Crane back.
“Lakeview Apartments.”
“It’s Sergeant Monroe. Did you hear from them?”
“Yes, ma’am, they gave their permission, but I still don’t know how to access the video feed.”
“That isn’t a problem. We have our own technical team that works with video equipment every day. You’ll hear from me later when we’re on our way. Thank you. Goodbye.”
I got up, crossed the parking lot, and entered the vestibule. The cooler air that hit me felt refreshing. The waiting room gave off a happy vibe, likely to keep people in a calm mindset. I wasn’t sure how well that was working. The light green room had wallpaper borders of playful animals, all healthy and happy. The TV that hung in the corner near the ceiling was tuned to the animal channel, but the volume was off and only closed captioning let people know what was being said. I scanned the room but didn’t see Amber, so I sat and waited again.
Five minutes later, I heard a door at the end of the hall open and close. I sat in a chair facing that area so I could watch for Amber. I looked up and saw her walking toward me. I did a quick read of her face—she looked relieved. I smiled.
Amber plopped down on the vacant chair beside me and wrapped her arms around my neck. “He’s going to be okay.” Her voice cracked when she spoke.
“Thank God. What was the outcome?”
“Spaz was sedated because they needed to stitch up a few spots. They had to shave him in four different places. He was given antibiotics, and they want to keep him overnight because of the sedation. He should make a full recovery. The doctor said he was lucky that his face wasn’t scratched. He could have been blinded if his eyes had been hit.”
“Could they tell what got to him?”
“Probably a feral cat, just like we thought. We have to be more careful.”
“I know, honey. We’ll put up a gate if we have to, and I’ll make sure that kitchen door is closing properly. So now what?”
“The doctor is finishing up. He’ll be out soon to tell me when I can pick Spaz up tomorrow. I may have to do it between classes.”
The animal channel held our attention until the doctor came out and consulted with Amber. We were in the car and on our way back to North Bend by eight thirty. Amber said she was thankful she didn’t have any exams that morning. The only class she missed could be made up later.
“Can you grab my phone out of my purse?” I realized that I had forgotten to call Jack, and now my phone was ringing. Amber handed it to me. “Hello?”
“Jade, it’s Lieutenant Clark. What’s your ETA?”
His voice sounded tight and full of anxiety.
“Boss, what’s wrong? I’m heading back now, but I have to drop Amber off at home first.”
“Get to St. John’s Church on Highland and Silverbrook as soon as you can. All hell broke loose. Everyone is already there. Jade?”
“Yes, boss?”
“Use your siren and step on it.”
Chapter 33
Alice sat at the kitchen table with her right knee crossed over her le
ft leg. Her foot bounced with nervous energy. She had a perfect view of the TV in the living room, and the portable radio on the breakfast bar was within earshot. She waited anxiously for news of the men she and Mariah had left at St. John’s Church last night. A hot cup of coffee sat on the table to her left, and she pinched a half-eaten piece of toast between the fingers of her right hand. The breaking news that interrupted her daytime soap caught her attention, and she jumped up and grabbed the remote from the end table. She pressed the volume button to the loudest setting. A TV reporter stood just beyond the police tape on the sidewalk in front of the church. Alice saw the familiar steeple and trees in the background. It was confirmed—the men had been found. Alice yelled for Mariah to join her as she sat on the ottoman just three feet from the TV screen, leaning forward and hanging on every word the reporter said.
“Sit down and listen to this,” she called out when she heard the thunder of footsteps running down the stairs.
“Did they find them, Mama?”
“They sure did, honey.” Alice patted the ottoman and scooted over so her daughter could join her. Mariah sat and rubbed her hands together while they listened.
“This is Andrea Jones reporting live from a gruesome scene found only an hour ago at none other than a beloved church in this small and normally quiet community. What we know as of now is that two unidentified, nude men were found sitting at the front doors of the most well-known church in North Bend. Our understanding is that the scene is grisly, and a certain amount of torture is evident on both bodies. This macabre act has shut down a large quadrant of the neighborhood, and police are combing the area for evidence. So far, the motive for this horrendous act remains a mystery. As far as we’ve been told, no witnesses have come forward, and there are no cameras in the area. We will interrupt regularly scheduled television shows throughout the day as updates come in. Again, this is Andrea Jones, reporting live at St. John’s Church on the corner of Silverbrook and Highland Avenues in North Bend.”
“Woo-hoo, Mama, I bet everybody will sit up and take notice now. Apparently actions speak louder than words.”
“That’s right. I gave the law fair warning with my note when Daddy died. Now the ball is in their court. Churches need to help spread the word about fidelity.” Alice rose to fill her coffee cup and saw Mandy standing at their backs. “How long have you been sneaking around?”
“I’m not sneaking around, I live here. I can’t help it if you were too busy cheering your accomplishments to hear me come down the stairs.” Mandy turned and shuffled to the kitchen, where she poured herself a cup of coffee. Alice followed her.
“You aren’t going to do anything stupid, are you?” Alice asked as she sized up her daughter. Mariah came around the corner and stood alongside her mother.
“I don’t even know what that means.” Mandy dropped onto a kitchen chair with a heavy sigh. Her head rested in her hands.
“Good, keep it that way. What did you do with your daddy’s pistol?”
Mandy stared straight ahead then flicked a fly off the table. “I got rid of it.”
“Where?”
“I threw it in the swamp last night after you two left.”
“Don’t you lie to me, girl.”
“I’m not lying, Mama.”
Alice stared at her daughter suspiciously, yet she hoped Mandy was telling the truth. Then she turned back to the television, eagerly awaiting more updates on her latest handiwork.
Chapter 34
“I’m sorry I have to dump you off this way, but I need to go.”
“Jade, it’s okay. It sounds urgent. We’ll catch up later, and thank you for helping with Spaz.”
I nodded and shifted the car into reverse as Amber got out on the driveway. The tires caught and squawked as I dropped the car into first gear and took off down the street.
St. John’s Church held special memories for me, and the thought of something defiling that sanctuary was enough to set me off.
We weren’t a religious family per se, but St. John’s was where I attended Sunday school as a child. Weddings, baptisms, and marriages within my family and group of friends took place there. Our family found seats in that beautiful church at every religious holiday, and my marriage to Lance, a marriage I thought would be forever, was conducted at that altar. The minister and parishioners didn’t deserve to have anything tarnish the loving and welcoming image this church represented.
Four minutes was all it took for me to arrive at a scene right out of one of my favorite crime fiction TV shows. Police tape, squad cars from NBPD, and the sheriff’s department kept curious onlookers at bay. I pulled up to several uniformed policemen barricading the street and flashed my badge. With a recognized nod and quick instructions, they told me to park where I was and walk in. A block from the church, as I looked ahead, I saw a half dozen TV news vans set up with their masts towering above the tree line. The forensics van, the coroner’s van, more squad cars, and several of our cruisers were parked near the sidewalk that led to the church’s main entrance. I dialed Jack’s cell and hoped through the commotion he’d either hear it ring or feel it vibrate.
“Jade, where are you?”
“I just arrived, and I’m about a half block from the church entrance. What the hell happened and where are you guys?”
“Okay, the front of the church is closed off with cloth barricades. We don’t need these images on the six o’clock news. Come around to the side entrance on the south. I’ll meet you there. It’s pretty horrific.”
I turned and followed a different sidewalk around to the south. It looked as though that door entered through the administrative building. Bolted to the building was a sign with an arrow pointing to Administration and Deliveries. I pulled the steel door toward me and saw Jack leaning against the wall halfway down the hallway.
“Jack, what happened? This place looks like a war zone.”
“Come on. I’ll show you. There are two bodies sitting on benches at the front entrance. It’s pretty grisly.”
“Sitting on benches? What the hell?”
“No kidding. The call came in about an hour ago when the parishioners began arriving. They’re planning a fundraising auction for this weekend, and they were going to set up the auditorium today. That’s when the guys were discovered sitting right at the front door.”
Jack led me through several back hallways until we reached the chapel. We walked past the altar and down the aisle between the pews. A flash of memories would have made me want to smile if that had been appropriate—but it wasn’t. We reached the vestibule, walked through it, and then Jack pushed out the heavy wooden doors. The area was bright but filtered from the tree cover. The entrance to the church faced southeast, and the mid-morning sun was directly in front of us. Four wide granite steps led down to the sidewalk. A statue of an angel stood on either side of the doors, and the benches were at the bottom of the steps.
“Oh my God.” I could barely speak above a whisper. I was shocked by the devastation these two men had endured. I leaned in closer, barely able to believe what I was looking at.
Lena and Jason stood within that confined space along with Kyle and Dan. They nodded in my direction when I approached.
“Never saw anything like this before, Jade,” Kyle said. “We’ve got a real maniac on our hands.”
Lieutenant Clark and Captain Tom Sanders, as well as Lieutenant Colbert and Detective Miller from the police department, were there. We shook hands and greeted each other.
“I don’t even know what to think. This is way beyond anything North Bend has ever dealt with.” I called Lena over. “What can you tell me?”
“Jade, as I’ve explained to the rest of the group so far, there’s a gunshot wound going through the forehead of the man on the north bench. Looks like a .38 could have been the weapon by the size of the entry wound. They both have the word cheater carved on them, one on the forehead and one on the chest, in block letters. The man with the bullet wound had his tongue removed, a
nd the other man had his teeth broken off, and he has evidence of strangulation. Of course, there’s no ID given the fact that they’re both nude.”
Clark spoke up. “Whoever is doing this has a serious rage issue with men. There’s that underlying church element that goes along with the note we received last week. Cheater? I’m leaning toward the infidelity kind of cheating. The removal of the hearts, eyes, tongue, and teeth tells me there’s betrayal involved. That can only point to women doing these grisly acts.” He looked at Captain Sanders and patted his shoulder. “Tom, we’re going to need everyone’s help with this one. It’s too big for us alone.”
“You got it, Chuck. I’ll get the foot soldiers out there right now to start canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses.”
“I agree with the profile belonging to a woman or multiple women. A witness at the apartment complex where David Smith’s car was located”—I pulled out my notepad—“a Brenda Miller, said she saw a dark truck pull out of her parking spot, and a young-looking blond woman climbed into the passenger seat.”
“Okay, Jade, I’m going to need you and Jack to get Todd and Billy over to that apartment complex. You said the manager gave us the green light to go ahead with the video?”
“That’s right, boss.”
“All right, Clayton and Billings, interview the first people on the scene this morning again. Get everything they have to say down on paper.” Clark called Kyle and Dan over. “You two need help?”
“We’d sure appreciate it, Lieutenant,” Kyle said. “There’s a lot to go over.”
Clark looked at Captain Sanders. “Tom, can you spare your forensic team?”
“Absolutely. I’ll make the call right now.”
“Okay, I’ll tell the media that we’re going to hold a press conference at noon. I want everyone back here in the administrative conference room at eleven o’clock. We have to put together a profile. Let’s move.” Clark slapped his hands together and waved us off.
Chapter 35
My mind was going in a hundred directions as I jogged the two blocks back to my car. Jack said he’d meet me at the station, and we’d take a cruiser to the apartment complex from there. I called Mr. Crane and told him we were on our way, and Jack said he’d call Todd and Billy to give them a heads-up.
