LET'S PLAY (Det. Jason Strong(CLEAN SUSPENSE Book 10)

by John C. Dalglish

  Without another word, the sergeant picked up a phone and pushed several buttons. While he waited for an answer, he pointed at a bench across the hall. “If you’ll sit over there, I’ll get someone to take your report.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  Less than five minutes went by before someone came looking for her.

  *******

  Detective Eli Warren hung up the phone, quickly fixed his blue tie, checked to make sure his white shirt was tucked in, and headed for the lobby. Taking the stairs two at a time down from the second floor, he came out into the main foyer huffing from the exertion, and marched over to Dave Connor.

  “Where is she, Dave?”

  The old sergeant handed the report he’d started to the detective and pointed at the bench across the hall. Eli strode over to the petite dark-haired girl, forcing himself to smile despite being winded.

  “My name is Detective Warren. You said your friend is missing?”

  “Yes. Her name is Tammy-Jo Cousins.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Jennifer Landers.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jennifer. Where did you say you last saw Miss Cousins?”

  “At the RainTree Bar on the River Walk.”

  “Okay Jennifer, would you come with me?”

  She stood. “Of course.”

  Eli pushed the button for the elevator and the two rode up to the second floor in silence. He ran his hand repeatedly through a mop of red hair, the nervous habit he developed in the academy. When the doors opened, he guided her to his desk, and offered her a seat. “Would you like anything to drink?”

  “No, thanks.”

  The detective moved his bulky frame around to the other side and sat down. When he looked up, the girl was staring at some pictures pinned on the bulletin board next to his desk. They were the information posters on the three missing River Walk girls. She looked back at him, fear evident in her eyes.

  “I saw one of those photos at the bar. Do you think the same person took my friend?”

  “No, at least I hope not. Let’s get the facts first before we jump to conclusions, okay?”

  He smiled and she nodded, but the fear he’d seen in her eyes didn’t subside.

  “I have your friend’s name and age. Where is she from?”

  “We’re on vacation from Lincoln. We’re sophomores at the University of Nebraska.”

  “And the last time you saw Tammy-Jo, what was she doing?”

  “She was dancing with a guy.”

  “Do you know what his name was?”

  “Denny…Kenny. I’m not sure. I talked to him before I left, but he said he didn’t know where Tammy-Jo went after they danced.”

  “Do you think you could describe this guy?”

  “Sure. He was maybe six-two, sandy brown hair, wore an Ocean Pacific t-shirt and surfer shorts.”

  Eli had not come across a similar description in the witness reports of the other three girls. “Would you mind giving a more in-depth description to one of our sketch artists?”

  “Sure, if it’ll help.”

  The detective placed the call requesting a sketch artist before continuing. When he turned back to Jennifer, she was staring at the posters again. “Now Jennifer, I need you to give me a description of Tammy-Jo.”

  “Oh, I have something better; a picture.” She fished the photo out of her purse and handed it to the detective. Eli examined it, silently hoping the face looking back at him wasn’t going to be the next poster pinned to his wall. “What about her clothes? What was she wearing last night?”

  “She was wearing a pink blouse with black jeans and pink flip-flops.”

  “Okay. What about jewelry or a purse?”

  “She always wears a red rubber bracelet that says ‘Huskers Rule.’ It’s from our school’s football games. Her purse was a black leather clutch.”

  “What about family?”

  “She’s an only child. Her parents are on vacation somewhere. Tammy-Jo didn’t mention where, but I have their number.”

  “Good.”

  Eli finished his report just as Captain Patton stepped out of the elevator.

  *******

  After visiting Doc Davis, Jason and Vanessa headed upstairs to the second floor. When the elevator doors opened, they found a dark-haired girl sitting with a sketch artist at Eli Warren’s desk. Jason recognized the artist from a previous case.

  “Hey, George. How ya doin’?”

  George Stewart, the epitome of the word ‘geek,’ looked up from thick tortoise-shell glasses. He’d been the sketch artist at SAPD for more than two decades.

  “Hey, Jason.”

  “Do you know where Eli is?”

  The artist pointed his pencil behind him. “In the conference room with Patton.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  Jason, with Vanessa right behind him, went over and knocked on the conference room door. After a minute, the captain opened it. He looked them up and down once, then swung the door wide. “Good timing. You two, come in here.”

  They nodded at Eli and took seats around a square table while the captain looked at a file folder. The conference room was smaller than the one in Homicide but just as poorly lit. When Patton looked up, he was clearly troubled.

  “I just filled in Eli on what Doc Josie found this morning. Right now, you three, Docs Davis and Josie, the Chief, and I are the only ones who know the identity of our victim. Chief Murray is going to see the mayor. We want this to stay out of the papers as long as possible.”

  Vanessa shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “What about the family?”

  “They’ll be told soon, and asked to keep it private for the time being.”

  “Won’t they want to have a funeral?”

  “I’m sure, but the body won’t be released while the investigation is still going on anyway.”

  Jason looked over at Eli. “What’s George Stewart doing up here?”

  Eli looked weary, his dark eyes bloodshot and his curly black hair showing tinges of gray that Jason didn’t remember. His dark skin was pale and drawn.

  “You saw the girl sitting at my desk?”

  Jason nodded.

  “She came in this morning to report her friend missing.”

  Jason could see in the detective’s face what he’d left unsaid. “River Walk?”

  Eli nodded and Vanessa groaned.

  Patton let his gaze move from one detective to the next in the silent room.

  “If our first victim is reported deceased, then it’s likely the press and the public will jump to the conclusion that all three of the others are also dead. While we know that’s a possibility, we are still looking at the other two cases, as well as the new one, as missing persons.”

  Jason leaned forward in his chair. “We have to treat them as connected though.”

  “Yes, and the first thing you two are going to do is review all of Eli’s files. There has to be something besides the abduction site to connect the cases, and fresh eyes won’t hurt. Eli is going to pursue the new case on its own merits.”

  Jason tipped his head toward the closed door. “Who is Stewart sketching? The missing girl?”

  “No, we have a photo of her.” Patton slid it across the desk for Jason and Vanessa to look at. “The sketch is of the last man seen talking to the missing girl.”

  “Okay, we’ll need a copy of that.”

  “Done. The forensic and autopsy reports will land on my desk first, then be passed on to the three of you.”

  Jason turned to Eli. “Can you order the phone records for the new case?”

  “Sure. I’ll do it as soon as we’re done here.”

  “Where are the files on your investigations?”

  “The bulk of them are in Records. All three of my cases had gone cold, that is until this morning.”

  Jason and Vanessa exchanged glances and then looked at the captain. Patton gave them the signal. “Off you go, and report only to me.”

  Vanessa’s
eyebrows shot up. “What about Lieutenant Banks?”

  “I’ll speak to her and let you know when she’s been brought into the loop.”

  The two detectives stood and left the room. On the elevator to the basement, Vanessa couldn’t hide her annoyance. “Why do you think the whole thing is so hush-hush?”

  “Trying to keep people calm, maybe?”

  He doubted that was the real reason and Vanessa wasn’t buying it either.

  “We both know what the River Walk means to this city. I think I smell the odor of a Chamber of Commerce panic.”

  Jason smiled. “Maybe.”

  The elevator doors opened and they took the long hallway directly in front of them. The Records Department was overseen by one Marie Turley. She’d been with the department nearly forty years and her memory was legendary.

  She was one of Jason’s favorite people and he always looked forward to seeing her. When they came through the entrance, Marie had her back to the detectives. “Be with you in a moment.”

  Jason winked at Vanessa. “We don’t have all day, you know!”

  Jason could see the clerk’s back stiffen slightly, before she turned around slowly. “Well, that’s a problem, because with that attitude, it may take all day.”

  Jason stood grinning at her and Marie’s face cracked wide with a smile. “Jason! I didn’t know it was you. Come here and give me a hug, you dog.”

  Marie came around the counter and Jason hugged her like she was his mother. “Good to see you, Marie.”

  Vanessa was treated to a hug of her own. “Hi, Marie.”

  The records clerk went back to her side of the counter. “What brings you two down here?”

  Jason laughed. “Just needed a hug, that’s all.”

  Marie grinned. “Anytime!”

  “Actually, we need the three files on the River Walk Missing.”

  “Really? Something new come up?”

  “This is a military case, I’m afraid, Marie.”

  “Oh, I see. Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

  Jason nodded. Marie turned to go into the expanse of shelves that disappeared into the far reaches of the basement. “It’ll take some time to gather it all; you want me to send them up to the third floor?”

  “Perfect.”

  “Okay, talk to you later.”

  Chapter 4

  Footsteps echoed through the box as they came closer to where she lay. She wasn’t cold, but a shiver ran down Tammy-Jo’s spine anyway, and fear battled with hope that someone other than her captor was coming. The lid opened, blinding her temporarily, but when her eyes adjusted, she was again looking at her nightmare.

  “Time to come out and play.”

  She started to cry, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve, until she suddenly remembered she was naked from the waist down. Sitting up, she pulled at her shirt, trying to stretch it over her thighs.

  “Please…let me go. I won’t tell anybody. I don’t even know where we are.”

  His voice was friendly, almost warm, and it sent chills through her. “You wouldn’t want to leave yet. We’re going to get to know each other a little better while we watch our favorite show.”

  “Our show...what show?” Tammy-Jo’s brain spun, unable to make sense of his words. “I don’t even know you.”

  He appeared not to hear her. “Go into the bathroom and change. There’s a pink bathrobe laying folded on the counter; put it on. Leave the rest of your clothes in the bathroom.”

  Tammy-Jo looked in the direction he was pointing. At the end of the hall was a door, sitting slightly ajar, with a light on. Adrenaline surged through her.

  That could be my way out.

  Moving slowly toward the bathroom, she kept her eyes to the floor, feeling his stare as she walked.

  “Hurry up; our dinner is almost ready.”

  When she reached the bathroom, Tammy-Jo darted inside and closed the door behind her. The lock on the doorknob had been removed. She spun around, searching for a window, and her heart sank. The window had iron bars across it and was boarded up on the other side.

  Next, she searched her surroundings for a weapon. Pulling back the shower curtain revealed an empty tub, without so much as a bar of soap. There was no hairbrush, toothbrush, or other implement on the countertop. Pulling the vanity cabinet doors open, she found an empty space. Then it dawned on her that there wasn’t even a mirror to break for a glass shard.

  She dropped down on the toilet, whose lid and tank cover had been removed, and stared at the pink robe folded next to her. She couldn’t fathom what sick reason he had for wanting her in that, and the thought of his hands on her again caused her to vomit.

  THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

  Tammy-Jo rocketed straight to her feet at the pounding on the door, her heart in her throat.

  “Hurry up in there!”

  She forced herself to take a deep breath. “Uh…okay; be out in a minute.”

  Unable to see any escape and not wanting to get him any angrier, she removed her blouse and bra, and put on the robe. Wrapping it as tight as she could, she tied the sash in a double knot. When she opened the door, he was at the far end of the hall waiting for her.

  He appeared to be in the same clothes as last night, but now wore a brown belt with a leather sheath hanging from it. Protruding from the sheath was the carved-bone handle of the knife he’d used to kidnap her the previous night.

  “You look nice. Now come eat before dinner gets cold.”

  As she moved toward him, she checked her surroundings. One door came up on her left and another on her right. Both were closed, as was a third door straight ahead. That was the room she’d come from. She figured the windows in the other rooms would be barred and boarded as well.

  Following him around the corner, she came into the living room, which she’d seen on the way in. Tammy-Jo wasn’t old enough to know what a house in the nineteen-seventies looked like, but she guessed this would be it. In the kitchen beyond, she saw a gold fridge, a stove the same color, and a green sink inside a yellow countertop. The sink overflowed with dishes and the stove had a skillet on it.

  The television was off, but sitting directly in front of it were two orange velour chairs, and matching portable dinner trays with gold folding legs. A plate had been set on each.

  “Sit.”

  She started to take the nearest chair, but he stopped her. “Not that one!” The anger in his voice made her jump. “The one on the left.”

  Tammy-Jo scooted around the food tray and dropped into the well-worn chair. The robe fell open at her thighs and she quickly closed it. He pretended not to notice as he sat down next to her, then pointed a remote at TV.

  It came to life with an episode from the long-running series Two and a half men on. “Oh good, this is one of my favorites.”

  She sat stiffly, staring at the food on the plate in front of her, but afraid to touch it. He began to eat, then smiled at her. “Go ahead, I’m sure you’re hungry.”

  She was, and despite her fear, she attacked what turned out to be some type of Goulash. She stuffed huge forkfuls into her mouth, and then washed them down with the glass of water next to the plate. When she paused from her eating, Tammy-Jo realized he wasn’t paying any attention to her. Instead, he was eating and occasionally laughing at the show.

  She studied him while trying not to be obvious. She remembered now where she’d met him and cursed herself for not being smarter. He’d looked harmless at the time, and still did as he sat there watching TV, but she’d seen the angry side of him last night. She didn’t want to provoke him.

  With just a little left on her plate, it dawned on her she didn’t know what was going to happen after the food, and chastised herself for not eating slower. She began taking small bites while scanning the room. When she finished the last one, her need for a cigarette forced her to speak.

  “Can I have a smoke?”

  He turned quickly, his fierce look taking her by surprise. “No, it makes you stink. Don’t ask
again.”

  Just as quickly, the look vanished and he returned to his TV watching. She returned to checking her surroundings.

  The living room continued the seventies theme. A black velvet painting of Elvis Presley hung behind the TV, long gold tassels dangled from the drapes, and a pair of table lamps had green shades with even more tassels.

  An old photo, hanging over the doorway to the kitchen, froze her in place and caught the breath in her throat. A slightly younger version of her captor was sitting at a tray table and watching TV. Next to him, a smiling girl about the same age as him ate at a matching tray table. The girl was wearing a pink bathrobe.

  Tammy-Jo retched, nearly throwing her dinner up all over the robe. She began to shake and her captor stopped chewing in mid-bite. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, but kept a hand over her mouth, as she tried to quell the panic rising inside.

  *******

  Jason was on his way home when his phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Jason, this is Darrel Chase.”

  Jason looked at his watch. “You’re working late.”

  “Yeah, a little. I wanted to let you know I attended the opening of the coffin over at Blessed Grace.”

  “Good. What did you find?”

  “He was who he was supposed to be. Jacob Samuel Moore.”

  “Okay Darrel, thanks. At least that’s one possibility we can cross off.”

  “Anytime, Jason. Good night.”

  Jason hung up as he pulled into his driveway. As he always did, Jason made a conscious effort to close off the work of the day and focus on his family. When a young girl is missing and three others may already be dead, it’s tough to do. Still, he owed it to Sandy and Nina.

  He sucked in a deep breath and let out a sigh. Opening the car door, he spied a tiny face looking at him through the front window. The sight of his precious daughter did more to wash away the day than any effort on his part.

  *******

  Tammy-Jo laid in the closed box, apparently relocked for the night, with dried tears staining her face. They had watched a second episode of the sitcom before he took their plates to the kitchen. When he returned, he told her to fold the bathrobe up in the bathroom, and come to bed.