by Andrew Hess
It felt like déjà-vu. Police cars filled the entrance and surrounded Estrada Hall blocking anyone from getting closer. I parked the car in the visitor’s lot and exited the driver’s seat; leaving Matthew behind.
I reached into my bag for my badge. “I’m really sorry about this.” He walked around the car and stopped in front of me. He moved to put his arms around me; to kiss me, but I didn’t have time. I pulled away. “Sorry, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I walked away at a brisk pace; turning back to see the look of disappointment etched across Matthew’s face as he pulled out of the parking lot. I wanted to stay with him; to be held by him; to continue our date. But I had to put him out of my mind. I needed to focus on the victim; the same girl I interviewed less than a week ago.
Rodney stood at the glass doors waiting for me to push through the barricade of officers. He stared at me; taking in my tight revealing clothes. “Well, don’t you look nice?”
I shoved him; harder than I usually do. “Cut the crap Rodney.”
“Sorry to have bothered you Detective, but I figured you would want in on this case.”
He was right. After Rachel’s death, I wanted nothing more than to find out what really happened to her. Now her roommate Nicole was found dead six days later. It was no coincidence.
“Where is she?”
Rodney’s smile faded quickly. “The victim or your sister?” He put a hand on the small of my back; ushering me into the building. We stopped at the elevator. “Your sister is fine. I had one of the officers take Amanda to her boyfriend’s dorm.” A loud ding echoed from above the elevator doors. “The victim, aka Nicole Sherman, was found on the third floor; in the bathroom just outside her dorm room.”
I held up my hand as we entered the elevator. “Don’t tell me; it’s being ruled a suicide already.”
“Ali, she was found hung from a noose in the bathroom.”
The doors closed and felt the jolt of the elevator lift us. “If she was suicidal, why do it from a public bathroom where anyone could’ve found her before she died?”
“I know; it’s a little weird but that’s why I called you. I knew you’d want first crack at the case.”
He was right; I wanted to be the one to survey the crime scene. I needed to be a hundred percent sure both deaths were accidents or suicides and that there wasn’t some homicidal killer on the loose.
Chapter 26
The cold metal elevator doors opened onto the third floor of Estrada Hall. Students crowded the hallway; hoping to catch a glimpse of the police and why they were patrolling their dorm.
Rodney held up his badge shouting, “Out of the way; police coming through. Go back to your rooms until further notice.”
I heard a couple of cat calls as I followed Rodney through the crowd. “Damn she’s a cop,” one boy called out.
“How about you arrest me,” another shouted.
I ignored them until one reached over; cupping a hand on my butt; copping a quick tight feel. I grabbed his hand, spun around, and pressed my forearm to his throat.
“You ever try that again and the only thing you’ll use that hand for is to defend yourself against Big Bubba in the county jail. Understand?”
The boy’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he nodded repeatedly until I removed my arm and straightened his shirt.
Rodney and I continued down the hall until we found the yellow crime tape; sectioning off two rows of rooms. We ducked under the tape and found Nicole’s body lying on the black and white tiled bathroom floor. A short thin Asian man hovered over the body.
“Dr. Wu,” I exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to find you here.”
“Ah Detective Ryan, good to see you again; wish it was under better circumstances though.”
“What do we have?”
“A dead girl; hate to see them go this young.”
“Any thoughts on her time of death?”
“I’d say she died within the last two hours.”
“So it wasn’t long before we got the call,” Rodney asked.
“I’d say that’s a good guess.”
I turned to Rodney. “We need to get everyone back to their rooms and question everyone again.”
“You sure we need to?”
“What the hell do you mean; do we need to?”
“It’s not like this was some big surprise. Her roommate did die in the bed next to her while she slept.”
I knew he was probably right. It made sense for someone to feel that guilty over a roommate’s death; especially one that could have been prevented. But could someone’s guilt really tear them up inside to that extreme.
My eyes wandered to Nicole’s room; wondering the same thing I did with Rachel. Was this just a random accident or did someone target these women?
Rodney towered over me; his hands resting on my shoulders. I could feel the warmth of his breath as he whispered in my ear. “Don’t tell me; you think someone was behind this too?”
I spun on my heel to face my partner. “Look, anything is possible. I just find it a little fishy that both women from that room died suspiciously a week apart from each other.”
“And what is so suspicious this time,” Rodney asked sarcastically. It was a challenge; one that could re-open the Rachel Walker case.
I paced outside the bathroom for a minute until it finally hit me. Why would someone wait until the end of the school week; after all the classes were over; after everyone was back in their rooms to commit suicide?
Chapter 27
I walked around the bathroom; stepping over Nicole’s lifeless body. Dr. Wu pulled the white sheet over Nicole’s body; prepping her for transport.
“Where was she hanging from,” I asked.
Dr. Wu looked up from the body and pointed to the shower stall behind him. “She hung from the shower head.”
I examined the stall. The noose was thick and poorly constructed. It clung tightly to the metal arm holding the shower spout. A small brown stool sat on its side; no doubt kicked over while Nicole sunk deep into the rope; ripping and tearing at it; fighting for one more breath.
“There’s something I still don’t get.”
“Here we go again,” Rodney sighed.
I shot him a dirty look that told him to listen because I might be on to something. “Why here? If she wanted to commit suicide, there were plenty of better options to hang from. She could have done it from a tree outside, the stairwell around the corner from her room or the bannister overlooking the first floor.”
“What’s your point?”
“This just seems like a poor choice for someone to commit suicide. The shower head would be the least likely place to hang yourself from. It’s not high off the ground and could break with enough pressure weighing it down.”
“What are you saying Detective,” Dr. Wu interrupted.
“At best this was a cry for help gone wrong.”
“So, does this mean you’re giving up your theory of homicide,” Rodney smirked.
“Not yet; there’s still something off about Nicole dying a week after Rachel. I just can’t seem to put my finger on it.” I stared at the white sheet. “Are we clear to check out the body?”
Dr. Wu nodded his approval and stepped aside. I picked up the white sheet; noting she was still dressed in her blue jeans, a baby blue top and peacock feathered earrings.
“Has anyone checked her pockets,” I asked.
“No, why,” Dr. Wu replied.
“If this was a suicide, she might have a note on her.” I pulled the sheet back further and plunged my hand down each of Nicole’s pockets.
Rodney stood with his hands on his hips; staring at me with curiosity. “Well, you find anything?”
I shook my head no. “Nothing; not even her student ID.”
Dr. Wu shrugged his shoulder and stared blankly at us. “Why should that matter?”
“If this was a cry for attention, she would keep her ID on her as a way to get back into her room. If she meant
to kill herself, then she’d probably have the card with her along with some sort of note.” I pointed out her clothes and makeup insisting she either planned on going out or was just coming back for the night. I was on a roll, but was quickly derailed.
“Detective,” a tall handsome officer shouted from the doorway. His eyes were piercing blue with wavy blond hair and the scruff of a five o’clock shadow. “I was told to let you know if we found anything of importance.” His eyes darted to each of us. “I think we found the suicide note.”
Chapter 28
It was as if I were walking through a bad dream. I crossed the hall into Nicole Sherman’s dorm room; finding her side organized and clean with everything in its place. Rachel’s side of the room, the side where she was found dead a week prior, was bare. Her bed was stripped down and every memory of her existence had been removed by our officers or her parents.
The officer led us from the doorway to her desk. The pink fluffy area rug had been pushed into a ball in the middle of the room while a heavy wooden chair sat in front of it.
“We were combing through her room like Officer Johnson said when her laptop screen came on with this file open.”
My white gloved fingers pulled the chair closer to the desk and sat down. I scrolled through the note; hoping we would get the answers we were looking for.
To Whoever finds this;
It’s been a week since Rachel’s death and I don’t think I can take it anymore. She was my best friend; my roommate and was like a sister to me. It’s my fault she’s dead. I should’ve been with her the night of the party. I should’ve made sure she got back to the room safely. I should’ve checked on her before I fell asleep. I can’t live in this room. I can’t live with this guilt. I just want my family to know I love them and I’m sorry.
There was a tear in my eye. I couldn’t believe the sweet young girl I met a week ago, the one mourning the loss of her friend, wrote this gut wrenching note. These were her last words; her last attempt to express her remorse for what happened; the last moments of her life before running to the girl’s bathroom to hang herself.
Rodney hovered over me; grasping a consoling hand to my shoulder. “Ali…I uh,” Rodney fumbled for the right thing to say, but we both knew anything would sound like an I told you so.
I placed my hand on top of his. “I already know what you’re thinking. And for once I think you’re right.”
Chapter 29
Mark stood in the darkened hallway outside a familiar white paint chipped door. He reached up; pulled a key off the top of the frame and entered the room. His had glided across the wall; searching for the light switch.
The lights clicked on in a flash. Mark’s eyes fell on the nearly empty room. White sheets covered in dust clung to an old dresser and desk.
“Home sweet home.”
He entered the room and began pulling blankets and pillows from a small hole in the wall; finding a large dark brown box with two lion head handles. Mark pushed the dusty sheet aside and placed the box on the desk. He opened it; feeling the red velvet lining with his hand before slipping it into his pocket; pulling two New Paltz Ids from his jeans.
He stared at the pictures on the cards. “Rachel Walker and Nicole Sherman; I never thought this day would come.” Mark removed the false bottom and placed the two cards inside. “Two down; two to go. Time to go hunting.”
Chapter 30
The next morning I hurried to the station; wanting to look over both Nicole Sherman’s and Rachel Walker’s case files before the Lieutenant closed the case on Nicole as well.
It was too coincidental. Two roommates found dead a week apart; each death looking like an accidental death or suicide. I wanted to believe they were as open and shut as the Lieutenant thought, but every instinct urged me to keep looking into it.
“What are you doing here so early,” Rodney asked as he sat at his desk with a steaming mug of what was supposed to be coffee.
“Nothing; just getting a jump start on the day.”
“Maybe, but I’m guessing you’re looking into something you’re not supposed to.”
I stared at Rodney half wanting his help and half wanting to throw my stapler at his head. “I’m just checking on the Nicole Sherman case. I requested a copy of her phone records.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I wanna know who she spoke to in the last couple days. Who’d she call? Did she reach out to anyone for help?”
“Ali, you’re really reaching on this one.”
“Am I? Think about it.” I urged Rodney to consider the two cases; how ironic that both girls died from apparent suicide; how their deaths were only a week apart and the moments leading up to their deaths were highly suspicious.
Rodney reached into his top desk drawer and pulled out a small stack of papers. “You didn’t get this from me.”
I took the papers and skimmed the first page. I met Rodney’s eyes with an irate glare. “When were you going to tell me about this?”
He put his hands in front of his chest as if he was trying to push me back from attacking him. “It just came in a few minutes ago. I was trying to keep it from the Lieutenant.”
“Why would you do a thing like that?”
“I know you think there’s more to these deaths, but they’re nothing more than open and shut cases. I also know you’re not gonna give up till you get full confirmation. If the Lieutenant sees that, he’s gonna have your ass for it.”
“Thanks partner.” I skimmed through the records and found a few numbers dialed from Nicole Sherman’s phone during that week. I looked up each one; finding unexpected results.
“I’m guessing you found something.”
“Nicole called the Student Health and Wellness Center twice in the last week along with several numbers from the Queens area; including one just a few hours before her death.”
Rodney smiled as he stood up from his desk. “I guess you have the proof you were looking for.”
Rodney was right. Nicole’s phone records showed she was feeling depressed upset maybe even suicidal. I checked the last known number; finding it belonged to one Marissa Sherman; Nicole’s mother.
Chapter 31
The hardest thing for any cop to do is to tell a parent that their child is dead; even worse to tell them they died from an apparent suicide.
I sat in the study lounge; the same room where I first spoke to Nicole. I took a seat in one of the plush maroon chairs against the wall. I could picture students finding the room to be peaceful, quiet; a perfect place to shut out the world and study. But the last couple of weeks it has been a place to deliver bad news.
The door buzzed and opened revealing a couple; a stocky graying man of about five seven stood next to a familiar looking short chubby woman. I was startled by the woman. She looked just like Nicole but older.
I stood up and held out my hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Sherman I presume. I’m Detective Ryan.”
Mrs. Sherman instantly wiped away the tears from her eyes while Mr. Sherman grasped my hand firmly.
“It’s nice to meet you Detective. I just wish it was under better circumstances.” Mr. Sherman steered his wife towards one of the plush chairs. “I’m confused as to why we’re meeting here.”
I gestured for Mr. Sherman to take a seat. I sat on the opposite side of the table with a notepad sitting in front of me. “I know this is a very trying time for you and your wife, but I have a few questions to ask.”
His eyes squinted at me as his chest rose and fell rapidly. He was working himself up before I could ask a single question. “What kind of questions,” he asked.
“Before this year, how often did Nicole call home?”
“I-I don’t know; maybe a few times a week.”
“Has she ever been depressed or seemed down?”
Mrs. Sherman looked up with tears streaming down her cheeks. “She was always a happy child. She was our baby; our happy little girl.”
“How many times did she call in the l
ast week?”
Mr. Sherman deferred the question to his wife. “Almost every day. She was heartbroken over her friend’s death.”
“Would you say she blamed herself for Rachel’s death?” I knew my line of questioning was wreaking havoc on the fragile state of both Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, but I needed answers and they were the only ones I could get them from.
Mr. Sherman drummed his fingers on the table. “My daughter had nothing to do with her roommate’s death.”
“Sorry Mr. Sherman; I didn’t mean to imply…”
“Then what are you implying Detective?”
I closed the notepad and sat up straight in the chair; looking Mr. Sherman square in the eyes. “I want to know what mindset your daughter was in before she died.”
Mr. Sherman slammed his hands on the table and stood up; getting nose to nose with me. “Why; so you can exploit her on TV or use her as the example of what can happen if you don’t seek help if you’re depressed?”
I didn’t flinch. I stood my ground and kept my eyes locked on him; even though my heart was beating a mile a minute. “No, because I’m not convinced this is a clean cut case of suicide,” I blurted out; catching myself at the end. “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have said that.” I pushed away from the table, collected my notepad and headed for the door.
Mr. Sherman stood there; struck with the possibility that someone was to blame for all of this; for his daughter’s death.
Mrs. Sherman lunged for my hand as I walked past. “Do you really think someone did this to her?”
“I don’t know, but that’s what I’m trying to find out.”
Mrs. Sherman kept her grip and pulled me back towards the room. “She was undoubtedly upset; even told me she planned on seeing the school therapist this coming week. She called me before she went to class; told me she was coming home for the weekend. I tried to convince her to stay; that she could tough it out until next week, but she insisted on coming home.”
