by Andrew Hess
My eyes devoured him. Seeing Matthew sitting back, sipping a beer, looking relaxed from a long day at work turned me on.
“You know, that’s a good look for you.”
“What is?”
“The way you are right now. You look so relaxed.” I placed the plates on top of the pizza box and straddled Matthew; pulling his tie away from the loose collar. “Maybe next time we can get you into a pair of jeans.”
I pulled him in for a hot passionate kiss. His hands reached around rubbing my back gently. My breathing quickened. I wanted him and I wanted him to take me right there; the bedroom; anywhere as long as it was just us. My hands worked the buttons on his shirt; touching my fingertips along his smooth chest.
He placed his hands on my shoulder; pushing me back. “What about the movies?”
“I think those can wait for now.” My hands cupped his face; bringing him in closer. “I want you,” I whispered.
He brushed me off his lap and took my hand in his. “I don’t think the couch is a good place for us.”
“I know just the place.” I led him down the hall to my bedroom. The door closed the moment we entered. His hands were at my waist. His lips smothered my neck.
At first it tickled, but quickly became sensual. My knees got weak. I wanted to lose myself in his arms. I could feel him guide me as he spun me around. His lips moved from my neck down to my collar bone. His large warm hands touched my cool smooth skin as he lifted my shirt.
We moved closer to the bed and I collapsed under his weight as his fingers pulled at my jeans until I was completely naked. My legs wrapped around his back; feeling him pressing hard against me. I moaned in ecstasy as we rocked back and forth. It was everything I wanted; everything I needed. It was the perfect night.
Chapter 48
“Good morning Ulster and Dutchess County,” a voice shouted from the alarm clock. “We are coming up on 9am on this beautiful October morning. It is currently forty-six degrees out.” I refused to open my eyes; not wanting to admit the night was over.
“Today will be partly cloudy; high of fifty and a chance of showers later in the afternoon. Tonight will cool off with the overnight temperature going down to a low of forty.”
My hand smacked the hard plastic; silencing the annoying DJ as he rambled on about celebrity news and gossip. I reached back to the other side of the bed. The warmth I felt last night was gone; replaced by cold pillows and sheets. The smile I once had was gone along with Matthew.
I glanced at the nightstand; my vision still blurry from the euphoric sleep I woke from; finding a small piece of paper hanging from the lamp shade.
Morning beautiful,
Hope you slept well. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke. Maybe next time we’ll get a chance to watch those movies together. I put the pizza in the fridge. I’ll call you when I get done with work.
I smiled at the note. Matthew was an incredible man and made me feel like I was the only woman in the world that mattered.
I checked the time; saw it was pressing closer to nine thirty and jumped out of bed. “No time to rest. I’ve got the whole day ahead of me and a whole day to work this case.”
I took a pair of black biker’s shorts from my dresser; paired it with a matching black and silver shirt and headed for the door with my pink running sneakers in hand. If I was going to crack this case, I needed to clear everything from my mind first, and there was only one way to do that.
Chapter 49
Sweat dripped down my face while the cool autumn air whipped its gentle breeze against my body. It would have sent a shiver through most people, but I was used to it. I’ve spent every morning of the last two years running across an old bridge that ran parallel to the Mid-Hudson Bridge. It’s given me peace, helped me clear my mind and was the most beautiful scenic route I’ve ever taken.
The run was perfect. It was what I needed to clear my mind from the back to back chaotic work weeks. I was ready to settle in; to really take a look at the cases. I returned home immediately, made a protein shake and sat down with the copied files I “borrowed” from the station.
I sat every file devoted to Rachel Walker on one side of the ottoman and ones for Nicole Sherman on the other side. The pictures of both crime scenes were spread out between the two stacks; hoping something would jump out at me; connecting the two deaths in some way.
“Come on girls; give me something to work with.”
The first sets of pictures were of Rachel. She was helpless; lying in her perfectly made bed. Her lifeless eyes stared at the ceiling. I couldn’t help but notice there wasn’t a single crease in her bed. It was almost as if someone picked her up and placed her directly in the middle of the bed. Then I looked at pictures from the other half of the room after we discovered Nicole’s body. The bed was the same but with minor wrinkles in the pink comforter where she threw her books and purse down.
“I know it’s only circumstantial, but no one would bother making their bed if they were suicidal. And there’s no way a drunk girl could climb into bed without messing up her comforter and sheets.”
Then I placed pictures of their bodies side by side. Every stilled shot of Nicole showed her bruised neck; some were taken after she was found while the others were done hours later. It was so easy to jump to a suicide conclusion just by looking at the pictures. If it wasn’t for Fred pointing out the inconsistencies in bruising, I wouldn’t have known the difference either. But if there was an inconsistency with Nicole’s death, maybe there was one with Rachel’s.
I grabbed the pictures of Rachel’s body; still fully clothed from the night before; grass stains on the knees; mud still caked to the bottom of her black ballet flats.
Did she fall on her own or while someone helped her back to the dorm? It was the question that had me reeling since the moment I learned about Rachel’s BAC level. I grabbed the phone and called the only person that could possibly give me an answer.
“Hey Ali,” Fred answered. His voice sounded like someone ripped out the overly friendly happy person I knew him to be and replaced him with a depressed sleep deprived man.
“Hey, I need your expert opinion on something but we need to keep it between us for now.”
“Sure,” he muttered.
“You said Rachel Walker’s BAC was over a two. How far could she have moved in that condition?”
“There’s no way she’d be able to take more than a couple of steps; much less stand without falling over.”
“So she wouldn’t be able to get up and grab another drink.”
“She’d be lucky if she could hold a bottle.”
“That’s what I thought. Thanks, you’re helping me prove my theory. I just need a little bit more to convince the Lieutenant.”
“What’s your theory?”
“I think someone did this to her; to both girls. Someone went out of their way to make sure these girls were dead and stage it to look like it was their fault.”
“That’s a pretty strong accusation, but I think you’re on to something. Let me know if you need any more help.”
“Thanks, I will. How are things on the home front?”
“Hannah took all of her stuff and moved out; said she wanted to be with a real man.”
“Fred, I’m so sorry. Did you meet with my friend?”
“Yeah, she’s putting all the paperwork together and should be ready by next week.”
“You deserve better than this. If you need anything; I’m here for you. I’m just a phone call away.”
“Thanks Ali. I’ll talk to you later.”
I hung up with Fred. It was unfortunate for him that his wife was a being a bitch and putting him through hell. He seemed like a great guy; someone you could be really good friends with; someone that would have your back.
That’s when it hit me. It was the one file I hadn’t looked over yet; the one Rodney handed me before I announced I was taking a few days off.
I ran to my car; finding a small stack of papers lo
dged in the glove compartment. I glanced at the pages; skimming through pages of Nicole Sherman’s web history; nothing jumping out at me until the week after Rachel’s death.
The only hint of her being depressed before her body was found came from earlier in the week. Nicole was on the school website looking up the number for the counseling center. It coordinated with her phone records which showed she called the student health and counseling center the same day. But that was it; no other signs of depression or suicidal thoughts; not until the day she died
I grabbed the phone and called Rodney. “It’s me,” I shouted enthusiastically into the receiver. “I think I found it. I think I found a way to prove Nicole Sherman was murdered.”
“That’s great; how?”
“It’s a combination of everything I’ve been saying and showing you mixed with the web history you gave me and a conversation with Dr. Wu.”
My joy was met with an uncomfortable silence from Rodney’s end. He took a long pause as if deciding how to proceed. “I’m happy for you; I am. But do me one favor. When you talk to Esposito about this, leave my name out of it.”
I sat with my mouth open. I knew Rodney didn’t want to be part of my off the record investigation. He didn’t want to put his neck on the line only for the Lieutenant to punish him for following my hunch. But I thought it might’ve changed when he handed me Nicole’s web history.
I couldn’t think of anything else to say but, “Sure; I’ll make sure he knew I did this on my own.”
Chapter 50
I rushed into the station; convinced more than ever both girls were murdered. I flew through the double doors; knowing I was about to go one on one with the lion himself; Mr. King of our jungle.
I marched into his office; ripping the door open. “Lieutenant, we need to talk.” He glanced up from a pile of papers. His eyes met mine. “I have proof proving Nicole Sherman wasn’t suicidal.”
“Ah shit; not this again. Ali, we’ve been over this a dozen times and you were given explicit orders not to poke your nose around this case.”
“Just keep an open mind and hear me out for once.”
“You have five minutes. You better convince me.”
I threw a thick envelope on the desk and pulled up a chair next to the Lieutenant. I went through each bit of evidence; showing him the missing student ID cards, the markings around Nicole’s neck, the mud and grass stains on Rachel’s clothes, and even Dr. Wu’s belief the girls were killed.
“And he’s willing to come forward and go on record confirming your little theory?”
“Yes sir,” I replied.
“Do you have anything else?”
I flipped to the last few pages in the folder; showing him Nicole’s web history. I pointed out she did call the student health center, but that was the only thing that hinted to possible depression.
I could see his eyes focus on that Friday; the day the search pulled up searches for suicide hotlines and how to make a noose.
Esposito pointed to the day Nicole died. “This disproves your theory. Everything about this day screams…”
“I know I know, but you’re missing the big picture. It’s too neat and clean. Everything was just handed to us on a silver platter. But did you look at the times those searches were done?”
Esposito brought the papers closer to his face. “They were done between one and three in the afternoon; so what?”
“So, Nicole was in class all day Friday. She couldn’t have been in her room doing those searches.”
“How do we know for sure she was in class?”
“We can get a warrant to look through her professors’ attendance records for that day; question them if Nicole stayed in class for the whole time. Plus we have her notebooks in evidence. We can see if she took any notes that day.”
“And if this is true; then what?”
“Then it proves both girls were murdered.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Someone had to be in that room on her computer. Nicole obviously had her ID card that night or else she couldn’t get back to her room or even inside the dorm. So whoever did those searches got another keycard from someone.”
“And you think they got it from Rachel Walker?”
“Her card is still missing and would explain a lot.”
Esposito got up from his desk and paced the room. “Let’s say I believe you and someone set up both girls to look like accidental deaths. We can’t let this leak to the press or the victims’ families. If it does, this precinct will be under a hail storm of shit.”
“So let me continue my investigation; off the record; at least until we turn up a solid lead.”
His head snapped back with a satisfied smile. “Fine, you and your partner have the green light.” I couldn’t hold back my smile. “Wipe that smirk off your face Detective. You have work to do and you better get it done fast.”
I exited the room; collapsing against the door; breathing a sigh of relief; thankful that the Lieutenant finally decided to listen to me.
Rodney hurried over to me. “You okay?”
“Never better,” I replied. The wide smile on my face told him I got what I wanted. “We got some work to do partner.”
Chapter 51
The police presence quieted down as campus security went back to their normal routines; randomly spot checking parking lots for anyone they could write a ticket for. They hoped to catch a student doing something wrong or a glimpse of something out of the ordinary, but couldn’t find anything; not even Mark sitting outside Lennox Hall. With the dismissal of the heightened alert, he was free to stalk his next victim.
As he sat on the stone wall, Mark watched the back door of Lennox Hall intently; waiting for the moment when the curly haired girl he knew as Christina Tyler would come bouncing out. The door cracked open; letting a sliver of orange light emerge from the darkness. Mark’s eyes lit up brightly; burning with delight as a girl in a grey New Paltz sweatshirt exited into the cool October night.
The shirt covered most of Christina Tyler’s body; leaving enough room for her head to protrude from the top; the curls bouncing on the hood with every step she took. She walked at a brisk pace down Loop Path towards the Lecture Hall carrying a pink notebook in one hand, a purse slung over her shoulder and pen gripped in her right hand.
“You think that’s gonna protect you,” Mark whispered; keeping his voice so low that he could barely hear himself.
He dared himself to get a little closer; wondering if she would notice him. He doubted she would. She never did in the past.
He watched her get closer to the entrance; finding the pale faced bald man with the facial piercings waiting for her.
Mark’s devilish grin broke through momentarily. “Christina Tyler and Kevin Graham; maybe this’ll be easier than I thought.”
Mark closed in on them as they entered the Lecture Hall; ripping open the door next to them; speeding past his targets. He knew where they were going. It was getting too late for anything else. His eyes locked on to a single room down the hall. Its door was open; the light shining brightly; letting the soft glow stretch its way into the dark hallway.
He slipped inside the room; taking a seat in the back as Christina and Kevin entered the room. Her eyes flashed on Mark; deciding if she was staring at someone she knew or if it was just a case of mistaken identity.
Mark’s heartbeat quickened; thinking he’d been made. She recognized him. He was sure of it. Christina glanced back at him one more time before taking a seat in the next row; sitting three seats away. She didn’t question him, but turned and whispered to Kevin.
Christina’s head nodded toward the back of the room. “I’m pretty sure it’s him.” Kevin shook his head no. Christina leaned in closer. “When was the last time you saw Nick?”
Mark drummed his fingers on the desk while his eyes were locked on to the back of Kevin’s bald head thinking they need to go now. His thoughts were conflicting; some urging him to run while o
thers told him to wait it out. No, not now; not here. Mark repeatedly cracked the knuckles on his right hand; wishing he could strike them down, but knew there were too many witnesses.
Mark rested his feet on his toes; forcing his legs to bounce nervously as the room filled with a dozen more students. Then the club’s leaders entered the room and closed the door.
“Okay guys, I think we’ll begin tonight’s meeting,” the tall red headed man said as he paced the front of the room. “Marie will pass around the sign-in sheet while we discuss our upcoming trip to Mohonk Mountain.” He took out a notepad from his large green satchel as Marie took a slip of paper and handed it to the man sitting in the first row.
“The trip is this weekend. We’ll be meeting in front of the administration building at nine in the morning. If you’re not there by nine fifteen, we will leave without you. We’re expecting it to be in the low fifties Saturday, but since we are camping overnight, I suggest you pack something warm.”
A hand shot into the air. “What if we don’t want to spend the night up there,” a girl said with a shaky voice.
“Anyone who does not want to camp out is free to leave whenever they want.” Marie looked back at the man standing at the desk. “But Marty and I will lead a group down at two. Anyone wishing to leave at that time should do so then.”
“Basically, don’t go off on your own; wait for one of us to bring you down. It’s very easy to get lost up there.”
Mark watched Christina turn to Kevin as she wrote their names on the sign-in sheet.
“You gonna go,” Christina whispered.
“You know I don’t like that shit.”
“Come on; it’ll be fun. Besides, who am I gonna talk to for two whole days?”
Kevin sighed as he skimmed his hand over the fuzz that was once his hair. “Do we really have to camp there?”
“Why not,” Christina replied with a smile. She placed her hand on top of Kevin’s arm. “It’ll be interesting.” She winked at him as he passed the paper back.
