The Campus Killer (Detective Ali Ryan Series Book 1)

by Andrew Hess

  “When was she supposed to leave?”

  “She never said; just told me she had a ride home and would be there this weekend.”

  “Thank you,” I said; patting Mrs. Sherman’s arm gently. “I’ll be in touch if I have any more questions for you.”

  Mr. Sherman walked around the table and blocked me from exiting the room. “If my daughter was murdered…” A small tear trickled down his face. “You better find the asshole that did this to her.”

  I nodded my head; acknowledging what Mr. Sherman said before exiting. I closed the door and leaned against the wall. I was more confused than I was when I woke up that morning. There was no sure way of telling if this was a homicide or suicide.

  Chapter 32

  My phone started buzzing as soon as I opened the car door. I stabbed the send button to answer. “Ryan here.”

  “Ah Detective, I was hoping to catch you,” the man’s voice said with a low mumble. “I need you to come down to my office I have something to show you.”

  I pulled the receiver from my ear and stared questioningly at the number. “I’m sorry; who is this?”

  “It’s Fred; you know; Dr. Wu.”

  “Hi, what’d you find?”

  “I found something interesting when examining Miss Sherman’s body. When can you get over here?”

  I checked my watch. “I’ll be there in an hour.” I hung up with Dr. Wu and called my partner as I revved the engine.

  “Hey partner,” he answered cheerfully.

  “Hey, you busy?”

  “Why? What’d you get yourself into this time?”

  “Nothing,” I said innocently. “I just got a call from Dr. Wu. He wants us down at his office immediately.”

  “Why does he wanna see us?”

  I told him about Dr. Wu’s call and how he wouldn’t tell me what he found over the phone.

  “I’ll pick you up at the station in ten minutes.”

  “Go without me. I’ll meet you there.”

  Chapter 33

  I badged my way through the office until I reached the wooden desk where the thin young secretary sat.

  “Detective Ryan, it’s good to see you again.” She smiled dialed a number into a keypad and told Dr. Wu I was there. “You can go right in.” I stepped towards the door, but heard the girl’s voice again. “Wait, um Detective.” She paused uncertainly; deciding if she wanted to continue her sentence. “What’s it like being a cop?”

  I stopped and glanced back at the girl. “It’s the most interesting, exhilarating, risky heart breaking job I’ve ever worked. Your personal life takes a backseat to your career and you worry about everyone you love while they wonder if today’s the day they get the dreadful call.”

  The girl sat upright in her chair. Her face was a mix of surprise and intrigue. It was the same look most people have when they go for a ride along.

  “Do you think one day I could…?” Her voice trailed off as if her fear of asking or fear of joining a patrol was too much for her.

  “Leave me your information and I’ll see what I can do.”

  The girl wrote her name and phone number on a lime green post-it. I looked at the name; Meghan Grimes. I placed the paper in my back pocket and smiled at Meghan before walking through the solid metal door and into the cold darkness of the exam room.

  Dr. Wu’s face was expressionless as his blue mask concealed his attempt at a smile. “Hello Detective, I’ll be right with you.” He ripped off the latex gloves; tossing them in the waste receptacle and flicked on the overhead lights.

  “You said you uncovered something while examining Miss Sherman. What did you find?”

  “I overheard you talking to your partner. I know you think there was something off about both Miss Walker and Miss Sherman’s deaths. I might have found something to help you.”

  Dr. Wu took a folder from a nearby counter and handed it to me. “What’s this,” I asked.

  “These were the photos I took of Miss Sherman on campus when we found her body. Towards the back are pictures I took hours after her death.”

  I flipped through the first set of pictures; finding the too familiar horror of finding a young pretty girl in her early twenties laying on the cold tiled floor of a bathroom. Her lifeless eyes stared up at the ceiling while her picture was taken. Other photos were pointed at the marks around her neck. There was a large red ring around her throat that ripped her skin raw; consistent with Nicole hanging from the noose.

  “Now here’s where it gets interested,” Dr. Wu said as he watched me work my way to the back of the file.

  There was a bigger purplish bruise around and underneath the red ring from earlier. “Where’d this come from?”

  “Precisely what I said when I took the pictures. The markings show our victim had something wrapped around her neck a prior to the noose; maybe a belt, a strap or a collar.” Fred Wu laughed to himself. He turned to look at me as he felt the fury of my heated stare and frowned. “Sorry, morgue humor. I’ve seen too much come through here.”

  “What else can you tell me about our victim?”

  “There’s a chance the marks came from a previous attempt at suicide or her testing the water on how it would feel.”

  “Could someone else have done it to her?”

  Dr. Wu paused and placed a finger up to his lips; tapping it repeatedly as he recalled his findings. “It’s possible; maybe more than possible.” He grabbed another file and handed it to me. “I checked under the victim’s finger nails for any sign of struggle, but I didn’t find anything.”

  I nodded my head; hoping Dr. Wu was about to deliver the compelling evidence, but the look in his eyes told me that was it. I thought about his words one more time.

  “Wait, you didn’t find anything?”

  “No, not a single fiber. Curious; isn’t it?”

  That was it; the proof I needed to show Nicole Sherman was murdered. “Any way I can get copies of everything to show my Lieutenant?”

  “What do I look like; CVS?”

  I laughed; placed my hand on his shoulder and batted my eyes playfully. “I’m sure we can come to some understanding.”

  Dr. Wu scratched an invisible goatee. “I’m sure we can work something out. How do feel about sushi?”

  Chapter 34

  I exited the large white building and shielded my eyes from the blinding sun only to find Rodney leaning against my car.

  “Where the hell have you been,” I asked.

  “I’ve been busy covering your ass.” He opened the passenger side door of his squad car, picked up a beige folder and handed it to me with a raised eyebrow. “You can thank me later.”

  “Thank you for what?”

  “For getting my hands on this before the Lieutenant saw it.”

  I opened the folder; finding a list of items recovered from Nicole Sherman’s room. I skimmed through the three pages detailing the clothes she wore, the ones on the floor and in her hamper; the list of books found on her desk, backpack and her bed; and other items that could be considered potential evidence.

  “What were you looking for exactly,” Rodney asked.

  I used my finger as a guide; tracing every line; every item listed, but couldn’t see the one thing I was looking for.

  “Her ID card isn’t on the list.” My voice cracked with excitement as I bounced on my feet. “Do you know what this means?”

  “It means someone didn’t check her pockets before submitting them into evidence.”

  “No, it’s the link between Rachel Walker and Nicole Sherman’s deaths. Both were missing the ID cards. They died less than a week apart and…”

  “And what? There hasn’t been any evidence that supports your homicide theory.”

  “Actually I might have something.” I took the copies of the pictures and reports Dr. Wu gave me and showed Rodney the difference in marks around Nicole Sherman’s throat along with his findings or lack of findings when he checked under her finger nails.

  “This isn
’t much to go on,” Rodney said.

  “It’s enough to keep this case open a little longer.”

  Rodney cupped a hand to his eyes. “Just remember; I tried to warn you.” He patted me on the shoulder and entered his squad car; leaving me with burning determination.

  Chapter 35

  I followed Rodney back to the station. The sun was shining brighter; burning us as we walked from the parking lot to the station doors. I jogged to keep up with Rodney’s long strides.

  “So what are you up to tonight,” Rodney asked.

  “Matthew and I are taking Amanda and her boyfriend out on a double date.”

  “He’s meeting the family? This is getting serious Ryan. Maybe I should come with you guys to chaperone.”

  I jogged in front of Rodney and shoved him back. “Don’t you dare. He’s a good guy. I don’t need you scaring him off.”

  Rodney laughed and opened the double doors for me. As we entered the station, I saw the familiar angry stare from across the room. The Lieutenant’s vein pulsated over his right eyebrow while he stood in the doorway to his office; his arms folded tightly.

  “Detective Ryan, my office; now!”

  I clutched the folders in my arms; half expecting the Lieutenant to snatch them from my hands the second I walked into his office. It was everything I had on the Nicole Sherman case. I knew this was my only shot at convincing him to let her case remain open.

  I entered the room without making a sound; taking a seat in the uncomfortable pleather chair across from Lieutenant Esposito.

  He ran his fingers through his unkempt gray hair; keeping his eyes locked on me. “Why is it when I give you a direct order about something, you feel the need to disregard everything I say?” I moved to speak, but his hand shot up; palm facing out towards me; silencing me before I could make my plea. “I told you to leave the Rachel Walker case alone and you fought me every step of the way. Now you get another open and shut case only for me to find the victim’s parents storming into my station demanding answers for their daughter’s death after you suggested she might’ve been killed.”

  “I have evidence supporting my theory,” I snapped back.

  “Oh really,” the Lieutenant seemed shocked but the anger remained in his voice. “Let’s have it then.”

  I opened the folders; showing him the markings on Nicole’s neck; the lack of fibers under her nails and told him about Rachel and Nicole’s missing ID cards, and finally Mrs. Sherman telling me Nicole was supposed to come home that weekend.

  “What do ya think,” I asked.

  “Look Detective, I can sit here and look over this report from now to next year and it still won’t convince me either death was a homicide. One died from drinking too much. The M.E.’s report confirmed it.” Esposito could see the determination in my eyes and held up his hand before I could interrupt. “Our second victim believed she was partially responsible for her roommate’s death. She tried living with the guilt; stayed in her room for most of the week and even called to make an appointment with the school therapist.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a little suspicious?”

  “Yes, but anything could have sent her over the edge. The marks on her neck could have been a failed attempt earlier in the day before she decided on the noose. And then there’s a little matter of the suicide note. Now have you found any evidence that contradicts anything I said?”

  “No sir, but…”

  “Then there you have it. It’s an open and shut case.”

  “But what about the missing student IDs?” There’s no way Rachel got into her room without it. We have proof Nicole was in class all day, came back to her room and supposedly hung herself; again we didn’t find her card. Our men searched that room from top to bottom and everything Nicole had on her and still came up with nothing.”

  The lieutenant’s brows narrowed at me. His cheeks flustered with a heated red glow. “I don’t give a rat’s ass about some stupid college IDs that haven’t turned up. Some punk kids probably found them and used whatever money was left on them. I’m not wasting any more time, money or personnel because you’re worried about a card. These cases are closed.”

  “Yes sir,” I replied.

  He pointed an accusatory finger at me. “That means no investigating on your own either. If you do, I’ll see to it the Chief busts you down to school crossing guard; permanently.”

  Chapter 36

  Every officer in the station stared awkwardly at me as I exited Esposito’s office. I wanted to slam the door in anger. My frustration grew to new heights over the Lieutenant’s stubborn demands to leave the cases alone. Then again, he was probably more pissed off at me for telling Nicole’s parents that I suspected their daughter was murdered without proper evidence to support my theory and rightfully so.

  Rodney rushed to my side. He put his massive arm around me and escorted me back to our desks. “What the hell happened?”

  “Let’s just say I poked the bear with a beehive.”

  “That bad huh?”

  “You heard him. He’s threatening to demote me to a crossing guard if I keep investigating either case.”

  “I tried to warn you Ali. I told you it wasn’t a good idea. At least now you’re finally gonna listen to reason.”

  I shook my head and opened the copy machine; taking each page from the folder, placing them inside and hitting the green copy button.

  “What are you doing,” Rodney asked; snatching a page from my hands.

  “What does it look like?”

  “It looks like you’re about to risk your career on a hunch.”

  I pulled Rodney closer. “Those girls were murdered which means there’s a killer on the loose. I’m not willing to wait around for him to strike again; especially with Amanda walking around campus.”

  “Ali, I love you and your sister. I’d do anything to protect both of you, but I can’t risk my career for this case. I gotta family to take care of.”

  “I don’t expect you to. Just keep this between us for now and I’ll handle the rest.” I watched Rodney nod his affirmation. “No one can know what I’m up to.”

  “You have my word; just be careful.”

  Chapter 37

  Mark Thompson sat at his black metal desk and felt a warm sensation on his cheeks. He reached inside his drawer, pulled out the folded piece of paper and looked at the list of names. His sadistic smile beamed at the paper as he took a red marker and crossed out the name Nicole Sherman.

  “Free at last,” Mark said with a sigh of joy and relief. He felt on top of the world. His plan was working perfectly. Two of the four people he held responsible for his misery were dead; dead because of him.

  He knew the police were all worked up over the cases, but they also had no evidence other than Nicole’s computer which had a brief history of how to make a noose, suicide hotlines, and a goodbye note to her family.

  Mark stood up and placed the paper neatly into the desk drawer and closed it; flinching at the high pitched screech it made. He walked over to the mirror; checking himself out; admiring the man he had become before flattening his spiked hair with a wet brush from the kitchen sink.

  “Can’t believe I’m doing this again,” Mark moaned as he pulled his contacts from his eyes; replacing them with his black rimmed glasses. “It’ll be worth it. She’ll be worth it.”

  Mark glanced back at the mirror with a look of disgust on his face. He never wanted to be that person again, but had to keep up appearances; at least for a little while.

  Mark pulled a brown long sleeve V neck shirt from his dresser and threw it on over his head as he walked towards his apartment door. He exited into the hallway and walked ten feet to Jess’s door.

  He lightly knocked twice before she answered. He was taken aback by how good she looked even dressed in a pair of workout pants and t-shirt. Jess took a seat back at her clutter filled desk that ran along the wall next to the door.

  “What’s up,” she asked.

  �
��I’m thinking of going out for some pizza. You wanna go?”

  Jess placed a finger to her lips as if it were an important life decision that she needed to think about. “I could go for a slice or two. Is anyone else going?”

  Mark knew Jess was about to say yes, but wondered if telling her it was just them would change her mind. “Nope, it’s just going to be the two of us.”

  She shrugged her shoulders and raised an eyebrow to Mark. Her lips curled into a smile. “Sure, let me just grab my bag.”

  Chapter 38

  Amanda Ryan had been on edge all week. It was hard enough getting situated back into her college lifestyle, but for a week and a half her dorm had been the center of two unexplained deaths. She could hear the whispers and the rumors about how and why Rachel Walker and Nicole Sherman died. Part of her wondered if any of the rumors were true, and if there really was a killer on the loose.

  There was a knock on her bedroom door that made her gasp loudly. The only person she’d been expecting was her boyfriend Shawn. Amanda looked back at the clock and knew she had ten minutes before she was supposed to meet him by the front doors.

  “Who is it,” she asked, but there was no response.

  Amanda crept towards the door slowly; tip toeing around the pile of clothes in the middle of the room; searching for something heavy to grab just in case it was an intruder.

  There was another low knock on the door followed by a man’s voice whispering loudly. “Amanda, it’s me; open up.”

  The tension in Amanda’s face released as she hurried towards the door; opening it and finding Shawn leaning against the door. He had a smooth young looking face with short dirty blond hair. His eyebrow had a black ring imbedded in it. He turned his head to the side; letting the light bounce off his nose; revealing his latest piercing.

  “You got it done,” Amanda asked.