Another Chance (A Penelope Chance Mystery Book 2)

by Daniel Patterson

  Before she could answer, her phone buzzed. This time, it was a text from Doug. Are you okay?

  There were at least two people in the world who cared about her. Her eyes welled up as a feeling of demented happiness flooded through her. She had family and friends on her side after all.

  GPD, waiting for Donny, she wrote back to Doug and waited for the delivered message to appear. When the message delivered, another surge of emotion flooded her body. She had never felt this . . . unhinged before.

  Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Gabriel. Everything ok?

  She knew that God would give her the strength to handle everything that was happening today. She was waiting on that strength to arrive and make itself known.

  All good. Waiting for Donny. She replied to Gabriel.

  Another message popped up from Doug. Trevor says hello.

  And there it was. A spark, something she could hold on to—something good in her life that required her to be strong. Thinking about Trevor would get her through the day. She let out a breath she hadn’t realize she was holding. Her rapidly changing mood was confusing, and she wasn’t going to question the sudden clarity she felt.

  Thank you, she mouthed heavenward.

  Tell him hi. Call you later. She wrote back to Doug. She was pleased with how normal it sounded.

  No Die Hard! Doug wrote, a moment later.

  Penelope laughed. Doug always compared her to the cop from Die Hard. She hadn’t seen the movie, but she knew he was asking her not to be a cowboy cop.

  A familiar voice at the far end of the squad room caught Penelope’s attention. She slipped her phone into her purse and looked up. Detective Ballard was escorting Jacob toward the exit. She tried to read their faces. Both were serious, but there were no cuffs on Jacob, so that was a good sign. She was walking toward them when Donny’s door opened.

  “You don’t give up, do you?” she heard Donny’s voice behind her.

  She glanced at Donny, held up a finger, and looked back toward Jacob . . . but he was already gone.

  CHAPTER 74

  “Does Jackson know you’re here?” Donny asked Penelope.

  She lowered her gaze. “No.”

  “You got me into a whole heap of trouble yesterday. I thought you got the okay from Jackson to shadow me on this case. I thought you were keeping him in the loop, which is why I called him.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Donny. I thought I was giving you plausible deniability.”

  “A plausible ulcer is what you’re giving me.” Donny shook his head. “This better be good. I’m putting my neck on the line letting you in the building.”

  “It is. I promise.”

  “Let’s have a look then.”

  Penelope followed Donny down the hall. “Just before you came out, I saw Detective Ballard walking Jacob out. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?”

  Donny gave a non-committal grunt as they reached the evidence room. He opened the door and ushered her in. Once they were seated next to each other at the table, he motioned for her to take the controls. Penelope inserted the DVD and double-clicked the lobby video file. “Here,” she said when the five people appeared on the screen.

  “I see . . .”

  “And then . . . there! She’s gone.” She minimized the first video and opened a second. “This one is from the parking lot.” She pressed play and waited. “Okay, here’s Kevin Scott and his accomplice driving by.”

  “I’ve seen this a dozen times before, Chance.”

  Penelope brought up the lobby video again and pressed play. “Okay, now wait for it . . . there. That person right there,” she said pausing the video and pointing to the screen. “She followed Kevin Scott and his partner out of the hospital.”

  “You keep saying she.”

  Penelope explained how she recognized Nurse Taylor. Donny listened, nodding as they viewed the footage several times.

  “All right . . . what else?” he asked.

  Penelope played the footage from the entrance that showed the parking lot and said, “Here, Taylor’s truck drives past. Twenty seconds later.”

  Donny rubbed his chin and looked skeptical. “I don’t know . . .”

  Penelope bit her cheek and watched Donny’s face as he went through the video another time.

  “Wait a minute,” he said, watching Kevin and his partner exit the hospital. He started the video from the beginning. “Penelope, I think you were right about something being off about the second perp.”

  “The second perp? What do you mean?”

  “That first night when you first viewed the footage. You said you felt like something was off about this perp. The way they moved, I think you said.”

  Penelope nodded. “Yeah, I remember.”

  “The way they moved. That’s it. I know who Kevin Scott’s accomplice is.”

  “Who?”

  Donny stared at the screen. He was in his own world for a moment, one where Penelope wasn’t sitting right next to him, bursting with curiosity. “Why didn’t I see this before?”

  “Who, Donny? Tell me!”

  Donny snapped back to the here and now. He replayed the parking lot footage and paused on a single frame—a frame where the perps could be seen exiting the hospital.

  “We were under the assumption the accomplice was male,” Donny said, flipping through his notes. “White or Hispanic male about five feet seven inches tall with light blue or gray eyes. That’s what was off.”

  Penelope moved to get a closer look at the screen.

  Right before the perps disappeared from view—for a split second—Scott’s accomplice glanced back toward the hospital. And she had removed her bandana.

  “It wasn’t a guy . . .” Penelope voiced what they were both seeing.

  “It was his girlfriend . . . Denise Wilson,”

  “Donny, that means—”

  “I know,” Donny said as he left the room. “I need to print a screen grab and get an arrest warrant for Denise Wilson.”

  Penelope sank back into her chair and let out a deep breath. If Kevin Scott’s girlfriend was his accomplice, did that mean she shot him? It was her gun that killed him. But if she shot him, why did she report him missing? And why dump his body in Franklin?

  At least with the focus on apprehending Ms. Wilson, less focus will be on Jacob.

  “Thank you, God.”

  “What’s that?” Donny asked, walking back into the room fifteen minutes later.

  “Just talking to myself. Do you think Wilson killed her boyfriend? What’s her motive?”

  “I don’t know. Money? Greed? When she came in the other day, she seemed genuinely shocked that he was dead.”

  “You think it could have been an act?”

  Donny rubbed his hands across his eyes. “I think we need to figure out what this is all about.”

  “Which part?”

  “Taylor. How does she fit into all of this?”

  “If I’m right . . . and that is her in the video, I think she may have witnessed the murder.”

  “But why not come forward, and why lie about not being there?”

  “Maybe she was scared?”

  “Maybe,” Donny replied, giving Penelope one of his patented, meaningful looks. “But she doesn’t strike me as the type that scares easily. No, I think there’s something else going on here.”

  Donny turned his attention back to the video monitor, and for the next forty-five minutes he reviewed the lobby and parking lot footage.

  “Hmm . . .” he finally said.

  “What is it, Don? You see something else?”

  He pointed at the monitor. “You tell me.”

  She squinted at the screen and shook her head.

  “The brake light,” Donny said.

  “Brake light?”

  “Yeah. I didn’t notice it before, but the truck’s left brake light is out. Watch when they brake going over the speed bump.”

  Penelope noticed it too. “You’re right.” Donny h
ad a keen eye for detail, and this proved it. He was a great detective. “If Taylor’s truck has a burnt out driver side brake light, we might be able to place her at the scene.”

  “Exactly,” Donny said, already picking up the phone. “Get me Genevieve Taylor from the Franklin Clinic for questioning.” He paused and listened. “I know I already interviewed her. I want to see her again. Make it happen.” He hung up only to have his cell phone ring. When he finished that call he turned to Penelope and said, “I have to run.”

  “Where you going?”

  “To arrest Denise Wilson. That was Ballard. The warrant just came through.”

  “What about me?” she asked.

  “You stay put. You’re not even supposed to be here, remember?” Donny said, already half way down the hall.

  CHAPTER 75

  Penelope went over this new puzzle in her mind. Things were becoming clearer now that they had at least one suspect, but the picture was still out of focus.

  While she waited for Donny to return, she typed a message to Gabriel. Donny is picking up Kevin Scott’s girlfriend. She was his partner in the robbery.

  Less than a minute later Gabriel replied, So that wasn’t Taylor after all? That’s great news!

  No. Bringing Taylor in for questioning as well, Penelope replied and set her phone on silent.

  Two hours and three cups of coffee later, Donny and Detective Ballard returned with Denise Wilson in custody. While Ballard questioned Wilson, Donny and Officer Caleb Meeks prepared Interrogation Room 2 in anticipation of Genevieve Taylor’s arrival. Penelope sat in the observation room, sipping her fourth cup of coffee, watching Officer Meeks set up a second camera. He fumbled with the camera and earned a warning glare from Donny.

  Ten minutes later, Donny joined Penelope in the observation room, bringing her up to speed on the Wilson arrest and reviewing his strategy for questioning Taylor.

  “So you’re going to let Meeks interview Taylor?” Penelope asked with a sarcastic smile, pointing at the officer through the two-way mirror.

  Donny let out a loud laugh, and Meeks jumped in the next room. The rookie officer turned toward the mirror, smiled, and then finished setting up the camera.

  “Yeah, right. Glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor, Chance,” Donny replied. “No. I think I’ll do this one by myself.” The phone in the observation room lit up but made no sound. Donny stood and picked up the receiver, mumbled something, and hung up. “Our guest has arrived. They’re bringing her in now. I’ll send Meeks in to keep you company.” His eyes twinkled. “You can watch the master at work together. Maybe you’ll both learn something.”

  Penelope gave Officer Meeks a broad smile as he entered the observation room.

  He closed the door, sat down, and turned on the recording equipment. “Ma’am,” he greeted her, making a strange face.

  Worried that her emotions were showing, Penelope pulled out her small notebook and remained silent.

  Two minutes later the door to the observation room burst open, and the awkward silence broke as Dr. Gabriel Pike hurried into the room looking more disheveled and less dignified than Penelope had ever seen him.

  Meeks said nothing but raised an eyebrow at the eccentric doctor’s unusual entrance.

  “You all right?” Penelope asked Gabriel.

  “Oh yes, I’m fine.” Gabriel crouched next to Penelope and stared into the interrogation room.

  “Do you want a chair?”

  “Oh . . . no, that’s okay,” he said, eyes already glued to the scene unfolding on the other side of the two-way mirror.

  “Officer Meeks, this is Dr. Gabriel Pike,” Penelope said. “Gabriel, this is Officer Caleb Meeks.”

  The two men gave each other a nod and turned their attention to Nurse Genevieve Taylor as she entered Interrogation Room 2 followed by Detective Donny Green. Seeing Taylor up close reaffirmed Penelope’s suspicion that she had been at Grace Memorial Hospital the day of the robbery. Her large shoulders and peculiar gait were as evident in the footage as they were in real life.

  “Have a seat,” Donny said to Taylor. “Would you like some water?”

  “No, thank you.” Taylor looked unflappable as usual. It was part of her job every day to stay calm in any situation. “She didn’t ask for a lawyer?” Gabriel asked Penelope.

  “She’s not under arrest. She’s just here for a follow-up interview. We want to find out why she lied about being at Grace Memorial that day.”

  “You mean, if that was her in the video?”

  “Right,” Penelope said. “We arrested Denise Wilson on robbery and murder charges an hour ago. It also looks like Wilson was counterfeiting prescriptions. And get this . . . she was also a patient at the Franklin Clinic.”

  “So Wilson could have planted the drugs in Belinda’s desk?”

  “Easily. She had an appointment at the clinic last Monday.”

  “A day before Belinda was arrested?”

  “Yep . . . and three days after the robbery. Detective Edward Ballard is questioning her now. If that is Taylor in the video, and she did witness something, it could really help the case against Wilson.”

  Gabriel nodded and turned his attention to the interrogation room.

  “Well, Ms. Taylor,” Donny began, “I want to thank you for coming in. I have a few questions about last Friday.”

  “I’ve already told you where I was,” Taylor said.

  Donny shuffled through the papers in front of him. “Right. You had that day off . . . Correct?”

  “That’s correct.”

  “Remind me again . . . what did you say you did that day?”

  The stoic nurse cast her level gaze across the table directly at Donny. “I drove to my brother’s house that Friday morning. I spent the night, and then I drove back Saturday morning. On my way back I got a call from Dr. Gordon asking for a ride. I picked him up at Doug Foster’s house, and we rode into work together.”

  “So you didn’t go to Gainesville at all that Friday? Before going to see your brother, perhaps?” Donny kept his voice friendly, but Taylor was starting to show signs of irritation. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She appeared to be affecting a look of boredom, but this was a defense posture.

  Penelope leaned in and absorbed the interview. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Gabriel fumbling with his cell phone. He seemed to be checking his e-mail or texting someone.

  “No,” Taylor said. “I didn’t go to Gainesville that day.”

  “Well, Ms. Taylor, are you sure you’re not mistaken about that?” Donny was giving her an out. Letting her own up to the truth before bringing up the surveillance footage.

  “No,” Taylor insisted. “I was in Jacksonville.”

  “Did you take I-301 or 17?” Donny asked.

  “I took I-17.”

  “And what type of car do you drive, Ms. Taylor?”

  “A Toyota 4Runner. Why?”

  “What do you think your brother would say if I asked him where you were last Friday?”

  “He’d say I was at his house!” Taylor snapped, her brow starting to glisten under the harsh florescent lights.

  Penelope glanced at Gabriel. “You know she’s lying, right?”

  “I don’t know . . .” he said, meeting her gaze. “She seems to be telling the truth.”

  Penelope shook her head and turned her attention back to the interrogation room.

  “Now, Ms. Taylor, do you understand that in the state of Florida it’s a crime to lie to a detective in a criminal investigation?”

  “Yes, but I’m not on trial here.”

  “No, you’re not on trial.” Donny stopped speaking and stared across the table at Taylor.

  “And I was not in Gainesville on Friday. If anyone said I was, they are mistaken,” Taylor said, filling the silence. She spoke with a confidence she clearly did not feel.

  “Well, Ms. Taylor, we have evidence that says otherwise.”

  “That’s impos
sible. What are you talking about?”

  “Evidence that proves you weren’t in Jacksonville that day. At least, not at the time of the robbery.”

  Penelope watched as Taylor sat silent. She appeared to be processing the information before speaking again.

  Gabriel learned over to Penelope. “What evidence is Detective Greene talking about?”

  “The surveillance video.”

  “Ah . . .” Gabriel nodded.

  “Did you drive your truck here today, Ms. Taylor?” Donny asked, breaking the momentary silence.

  “Of course.”

  “You don’t mind if I have an officer take a look at it, do you?”

  “Yes, I mind.” A bead of sweat trickled down the side of Taylor’s face. “Why would you do that?”

  “To check for damage.” Donny removed his cell phone from his suit jacket pocket and placed it on the table in front of him. “If I call my officer right now, what’s he going to tell me?”

  Taylor opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again. She appeared to be crumbling.

  Donny picked up the phone. “What’s he going to tell me, Ms. Taylor? This is your one chance to come clean.”

  Donny waited and when Taylor didn’t speak, he tapped a few numbers into his phone.

  “Wait,” Taylor said, uncrossing her arms and leaning forward. “Okay, okay . . . I admit it.”

  “You admit what?”

  Taylor shifted in her seat. “I think I caused an accident last Friday.”

  CHAPTER 76

  Penelope sat back in her chair and exchanged a glance with Gabriel.

  “What is she talking about?” Gabriel wondered out loud.

  Penelope’s heart dropped to her stomach. Flashes of the accident she’d passed last Friday night rippled through her mind.

  The red and blue lights pulsing . . .

  The little girl’s lifeless body prone on the wet asphalt . . .

  The two vehicles twisted in a heap of mangled metal . . .

  Could that be the accident Taylor was talking about?

  Gabriel’s question went unanswered as Donny, recovering from his own surprise, continued questioning Nurse Taylor.