Heart of Cole

by Micheal Maxwell

“Glad you like it.”

  “What is going on in your life?” Hanna asked.

  “This ice pick killer has been taking over everything. Almost all the departments in the city have been focusing on catching this guy. It’s the craziest case I’ve ever worked on. We got nothin’ to go on, not a clue, no DNA, none of the victims have a connection to each other, no witnesses of any kind, sane, or not. It is like this guy is invisible. There have been no defense wounds, the bodies are all just sitting, right where they’ve been stabbed.”

  “How many victims?”

  “Six or seven…I’ve lost track.”

  “Where do you even begin to look? I mean what do you go after?”

  “I hate to say it but we’re just waiting for him to screw up.”

  They ate in silence for a several minutes. The silence wasn’t awkward and Hanna loved just looking up and seeing him there.

  “What is a loco flower?” Hanna asked after taking a bite of a different pupusa.

  “Loroco flower.” Jake chuckled. “I saw it on the menu one day and figured I’d try it. I really like it. They told me it is the blossom of a vining flower that grows wild in Central America. Do you like it?”

  “Yeah, it’s really a different kind of flavor. I mean, for…I don’t know what I mean,” Hanna giggled. “I like it. Truly.”

  Hanna took another bite just as her phone rang. “Nobody ever calls me on this thing.”

  “Take it, I don’t mind.”

  “Sorry.” Hanna winced. “Hello?”

  “Ms. Day? This is Pamela at Wallenberg High.”

  “Is something wrong?” Hanna’s voice showed concern. She looked up at Jake and gave him a forced smile.

  “I was filing Lindsey’s note for her absences and I was wondering…”

  “Absences?” Hanna interrupted.

  “For the three days this week. You know, she has missed so many days, I just, well, was she really that bad off? I have pretty bad cramps myself, I don’t know about you, but I always can make it to work.” Pamela cleared her throat. “Then, I saw she hasn’t been to classes today.”

  “What? Three days and then today? I don’t understand. I have brought her to school every day. She hasn’t had cramps or anything else wrong with her!” Hanna was nearly shouting into the phone.

  “I’m so sorry. I’ll double check with her teachers, but they can’t all be wrong.”

  “No need. She’s skipped out again. I’ve about had it with that kid. Thank you, Pam, for letting me know, I’ll deal with it. Sorry for the hassle on your end. I’m sorry I got excited.”

  “That’s OK, I understand. It must be very frustrating. Her behavior is not uncommon.”

  “I’ll be in touch, bye.”

  “Good luck.” Pamela said softly.

  “Lindsey?” Jake asked.

  “Who else? She promised. I am so frustrated. This is what I was talking about. She promised me, she promised Cole. She’s ditched every day this week.”

  Hanna punched numbers into her phone. After a few moments she said, “This is Hanna, Lindsey call me. You have broken your promise.”

  “This is just a thought, but do you think she’s ever contacted her mother or grandmother?” Jake asked. “I mean family is family, no matter how rotten they are. It wouldn’t be the first time a kid’s been taken out of a home by CPS, then tried to go back.”

  “I never…” Hanna scrolled through her contact numbers, “I’ll call grandma.” A moment later Hanna said, “Hello? Hello?” She quickly hit the speaker button on her phone.

  “Who is it?” The shaky voice of Lindsey’s grandmother was nearly buried by the screaming in the background.”

  “This is Hanna, have you seen Lindsey?”

  “I can’t hear you. What?” the old woman said.

  “Are you OK?”

  “Hang that up, you old bitch! Who is it? I told you not to answer.” The voice was clearly Lindsey’s mother, Natalie.

  “I can’t talk now,” the old woman said. The line went dead.

  “What do you make of that?” Hanna asked.

  “At best? Elder abuse. Maybe we should go have a look.” Jake took a sip of his Coke. “Let’s finish our lunch, then, we’ll go see what we can find out. Now, take a deep breath, give me one of your pretty smiles and let’s talk about something nice.”

  “You are taking this awfully, I don’t know, calmly, or…what?” Hanna was at a loss for words. She was surprised by Jake’s matter-of-fact, seemingly unconcerned attitude.

  “Look, this is admittedly not a good situation. But nothing will change in the few minutes it takes to finish our meal. It may sound cold, but it won’t make any difference if we get there fifteen minutes later.”

  “Is this a cop thing or a Jake thing?” Hanna asked seeing a side of her perfect man she didn’t like.

  “It is a reality thing. What people don’t realize is that crime, meanness, cruelty—it’s all around us.” Jake pointed out the door. “That building across the street could be full of abused, misused, abandoned, people. Until someone makes a complaint we will never know.”

  “But we know,” Hanna answered.

  “And we will check it out. It is a nasty world out there. You need to realize our time together is precious. I could get called away, at any moment, but when I’m with you, you are all that is important. The hell of this city no longer matters, for these few minutes, it is just you and me. Can you understand that?” Jake reached out and took Hanna’s hand. “If this is going to go anywhere with us, you have got to be able to meet me half way.”

  Hanna sat looking into the face of this stranger who was becoming dear to her. These glimpses into his character were a strange new process for Hanna. She had been alone for so long that a new relationship brings up feelings of possibility and apprehension—all in the same breath. This man sitting in front of her was so kind, so familiar, and yet he has a hard professional side that, though borne of experience and self-preservation, seems so out of sync with the sweetness in his eyes when he looks at her.

  She did not want him to release her hand. She put her other hand on top of his. “I can learn.”

  “Just know, I will never bring my job home, or to lunch or anywhere you are. There will be times I am called away. It will not be by choice. But that is the job. It is hard, I know, I’ve been here before, but if we can do it, I think we could have something very special.”

  “Let’s eat.” Hanna squeezed Jake’s hand.

  As they drove to the grandmother’s apartment, Jake called in for a stand-by back up. As they pulled up in front of the building he called in the address.

  “We have a possible elder abuse situation. I’ll let you know what I find out. Over.”

  “We have back up on stand-by.”

  The hall was darker than Hanna remembered. From several doors away the sound of a woman yelling could be heard from 213, the grandmother’s apartment.

  “I’ll let you do the talking. Be calm, and let’s just see what’s going on,” Jake said reassuringly.

  Hanna stood in front of the door looking straight ahead. She took a deep breath and knocked. A minute passed with no answer. Jake reached out and gave the door a brutal pounding.

  “They’ll know that wasn’t me,” Hanna teased.

  “Oh, I don’t know.”

  The noise from inside the apartment stopped. The sound of a TV replaced the yelling.

  “Who is it?” The voice was unmistakably Natalie.

  “It’s Hanna.”

  “Go away.”

  “I’m worried about Lindsey. Have you seen her? Please open the door, we need to talk. I have some great news.”

  There was no response. Hanna looked at Jake. He put his finger to his lips.

  “Natalie?” Hanna said calmly.

  The metallic clicking of the security chain and deadbolt preceded the slight opening of the door. Jake moved to where he wasn’t in view.

  “Can I come in?” Hanna asked.

 
; The door opened and Natalie stood, one hand on the door and one on the frame, blocking entrance to the apartment. Over her shoulder Hanna could see the grandmother in her wheelchair. Her face was bruised and her eye was swollen shut.

  “So, what do you want?” Natalie demanded.

  “Lindsey has ditched school all week. I wondered if you heard from her. I’m worried.” Hanna looked at Jake, then continued, “What happened to grandma? Did she fall?”

  Jake stepped around to face Natalie. “She looks beat up to me.”

  “Who the hell are you?” Natalie growled.

  Jake pulled back his jacket revealing his badge, Detective Salem, SFPD.”

  “Shit,” Natalie sneered.

  Jake stepped into the apartment.

  “You know the drill.”

  “Oh, man,” Natalie groaned.

  Jake handcuffed her and gave her a quick pat down.

  Jake pushed Natalie down in a chair and went to where the old woman sat crying. “Who did this to you, ma’am?”

  The old woman looked up, and then to Natalie. No words were needed. Jake removed his radio from his belt. “Salem here, I need an ambulance and back up.”

  Before he could give the address there was a loud hard thumping on the wall of the adjoining room.

  “Stay here,” Jake ordered Hanna. The radio crackled as he finished his request.

  Jake drew his sidearm as he entered the narrow hallway. The door on his right was locked and at the top was a sliding bolt. He released the bolt, stepped back and planted his foot just beside the doorknob. With the powerful kick the door frame splinted and door burst open.

  “Hanna!” Jake called.

  Without hesitation Hanna ran to join the detective as he stood in the doorway of the small room. There, laying on her back and tied to the headboard, was Lindsey. A crusty trail of blood ran from her nose down her chin and neck. Stuffed in her mouth was a piece of wash cloth. Her right cheek was scraped. Above her head the sheetrock bore the damage of her kicking from her waist, and into the wall above.

  Hanna ran to Lindsey and pulled the cloth from her mouth. She frantically tried to untie her bruised wrist from the metal rail of the headboard. She gave a Jake a plaintive look for help. The detective approached the bed and opened a black handled buck knife and, in rapid expert movement, cut her bonds.

  “Are you alright?” Hanna asked, as she helped Lindsey sit up.

  “I’m OK, I guess.”

  “Your mom do this?” Jake asked.

  Lindsey nodded and stood. “Can I go to the bathroom?”

  “Sure,” Jake said.

  The young girl didn’t give Hanna any notice. It was as if she wasn’t in the room.

  “She is in a bit of shock, I imagine.” Jake offered reaching out and gently patting Hanna’s upper arm.

  “I doubt it. She hates me.”

  “Come on, Hanna, that’s a bit strong, don’t you think? Maybe she’s embarrassed.”

  “We’ll see,” Hanna replied.

  The sound of approaching sirens came up from the street below. Running water and a toilet flushing could be heard through the thin wall. A moment later Lindsey came back in the room, and walked directly to Hanna. She threw her arms around her and buried her face in her shoulder.

  “Can we go home now?” Lindsey sobbed.

  Hanna looked at Jake in amazement. He gave her a big I-told-you-so smile and nodded.

  “We sure can, sweetheart,” Hanna said softly.

  “Ambulance is here,” Jake interrupted.

  Two young men in blue jump suits wheeled a large aluminum gurney into the apartment. They approached grandma who had dozed off in her wheelchair. Natalie kicked at the gurney and swore at one of the young men who dared step in front of her.

  “Ma’am.” The taller of the two paramedics gently patted the old woman’s hand. “Ma’am, I’m Jamal. We’re here to get you some help. Can you stand?”

  The old woman raised her head and almost undetectably shook her head.

  “Does she look like she can stand up, idiot?” Natalie scoffed.

  “That’s OK. We’ll help.” Jamal ignored Natalie. “We need to get you on the gurney for transport. We’re going to take you to the hospital.”

  Jamal’s partner took the old woman’s blood pressure and heart rate. Natalie continued to badger the paramedics until Jake approached.

  “It’s time for you to zip it and let these fellas do their work.”

  “I’m the one who needs medical attention. My heart is racing.”

  “Meth does that,” Jake said, not trying to hide his disgust. “Shut up until my back-up gets here.”

  “I don’t have to shut up. Ever hear of freedom of speech?”

  “Ever hear of the law of gravity?” Jake put the toe of his boot under the front brace of Natalie’s chair. A quick upward jerk sent her flying onto her back.

  “Police brutality! You saw that! You saw him, what he did!” Natalie screamed toward the paramedics.

  “Saw what? I’ve been busy,” Jamal said, calmly.

  His partner spoke without looking her way, “You’ve got to learn to sit still, lady.”

  “I’ll sue you idiots, too!”

  With swift, careful movements the paramedics got the old woman to a partially standing position, then gently lowered her onto the gurney. She groaned in pain.

  “We’ll give you something for pain in a minute. Take some deep breaths. We’re just waiting for Emergency’s go ahead.”

  “What about me?” Natalie screamed. “I think my back is broken.”

  The young man at the head of the gurney stroked the grandmother’s cheek and said, “Let’s get you out of here.”

  “Wait!” Lindsey cried out as she hurried to the living room.

  The girl approached the old woman on the gurney. Tears ran down her face as she stood next to her grandmother. “It’s going to be alright. They will get you to the hospital. You’ll feel better soon, I promise. She won’t be able hurt you anymore.”

  With a trembling hand, the grandmother reached up and patted Lindsey’s face. She tried to speak, but the dryness of her mouth made her tongue stick to her lips. Her voice was so soft, it was inaudible. Lindsey bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

  “We’ll take good care of her. Don’t you worry,” Jamal said, rolling the gurney to the door.

  As the paramedics entered the hallway, two uniformed police officers entered the apartment.

  “Lieutenant?” A tall African-American officer called out.

  “Right here, Combs,” Jake called from the hall.

  Jake approached Combs and his thick chested partner.

  “I need her transported. Mirandize her. We have assault, kidnapping, imprisonment, child abuse, neglect, and anything else connected to it. She abused the elderly woman who lived with her for prolonged periods. I found drug paraphernalia, about a gram of weed, three of these.” Jake held up small plastic bags of white powder, “Have it tested. There are several prescription bottles in the back bedroom, I’m guessing Oxy. Too much for personal use, so book her for intent to distribute too.” Jake winked at the two officers. “If she gives you any crap, Taser her.”

  “You can’t do that!” Natalie yelled, trying to roll over.

  “We got this. We’ll see what else we can find.”

  “Let’s see if we can’t send her away until this one has grandchildren,” Jake gestured toward Lindsey.

  The heavier officer moved to where Natalie was kicking and trying to sit up.

  “You hear what the Lieutenant said about the Taser?”

  “You wouldn’t dare!”

  “Don’t bet on it, lady. Now, I’m going to stand you up. You fight me, you’ll regret it. Got me?” The policeman picked her up like she was weightless.

  “Lindsey,” Jake said softly, “do you want to say good-bye to your mom?”

  She glared up at Jake. “Yeah.” She moved over to where her mother stood.

  “You know I wou
ldn’t hurt you on purpose, baby. But, you fought me. I had to…”

  “Don’t talk,” Lindsey said harshly.

  “They were trying to get my welfare. I can’t have that. That bitch over there has caused us nothing but trouble.”

  “I said shut up!” Lindsey yelled at her mother.

  Natalie stopped talking and stood with a shocked expression.

  “I hope this is the last time I ever see you.” Lindsey began.

  “Oh, baby don’t say that,” Natalie begged.

  “I’m not your baby. I am not your daughter anymore. You are dead to me. I hope you die in prison. I wish I could see to it myself. I’m free of you now.” Lindsey’s expression was so hateful and cruel that it gave Hanna a chill.

  Without warning, Lindsey spit in her mother face and punched her hard in the stomach. Jake grabbed her around the waist, lifted her off the ground, spun around, and pushed her onto the couch.

  “Get her out of here!” Jake ordered the uniforms.

  “Lindsey, don’t let us part like this! Lindsey I’m sorry, baby! Please!” Combs took Natalie by the arms and led her from the apartment.

  “Lindsey! Please, baby!” Natalie pleaded repeatedly as the officers took her down the hall and to their patrol car.

  “What the hell was that?” Jake demanded.

  “Not enough!” Lindsey screamed back.

  “OK, enough!” Hanna stepped up to where Lindsey sat, arms folded, on the couch. “What is wrong with you? I know you’re angry and upset, but that is assault. Do you want to go to jail, too?”

  “I don’t give a shit,” the girl growled.

  “Hanna, a word. And you! Don’t you move!” There was an ominously implied threat to Jakes command.

  Without a word Jake walked out the apartment door into the hall. Hanna followed, hesitant as to what came next.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Hanna said, once in the hall.

  “No you don’t. Are you nuts? I hope you’re not thinking of taking the monster home.”

  “She’s angry and upset. I can’t say I blame her for punching Natalie.”

  “Did you see the look in her eye? She’s psychotic.”

  “Believe me, I’ve seen it. Look, she needs to cool down and get some peace and quiet. It will be alright. Really.”

  “I hope you know what you’re doin’. I would strongly advise against it. I think I should call CPS and take you out of the equation entirely.” Jake’s tone was firm but showed genuine concern.