Relentless (Elisabeth Reinhardt Book 1)

by Nancy Alexander

  Then he added “The one exception to all of this is Rushi Kowndamani. Although she’s an ‘R’ girl, we’re dealing with a completely different profile. We have to consider the Kowndamani girl separately for the moment. Solving this mystery may unravel the whole thing because she is the exception to the rule and sometimes the exception proves to be very revealing. Chester lets you and me work on that problem together over lunch.”

  Three of the Putnam County Police detectives who were working with the Task Force started culling through delinquency reports and school yearbooks looking for connections. They searched Police records and 911 calls, Social Services and Domestic Violence Center records looking for “R”; someone who matched this description, who would have had contact with the killers when they were in their late teens and the girl would have been in her mid-teens. Team 3 worked on the gang profile. They bounced around other ideas. Likely they started with other problem behaviors like stalking or peeping Tom behaviors. If so, there might be police reports that would help. The team decided that The Parkland Killers were acting out a well-established pattern. And they didn’t have much in the way of home, job or social roots. They seemed to move around to avoid the police and to feed this “R” fixation. It was likely the leader’s fixation because the gang members appeared to follow his orders. According to police data about how the crimes were committed and the reports of the released victims, this gang leader was dominating; his followers were doing his bidding. He seemed to have complete control over them. The team hypothesized that the leader was determined to act out his hatred/love and need to control/dominate by subjugating women who were phenotypically similar and whose names contained the letter R.

  Since it seemed that The Parkland Killers had their earliest roots in the community surrounding Hurricane, W VA, they decided to concentrate their search looking for a woman, now in her thirties, who had been around 14 when the killers were teenagers. The pattern began somewhere within this geographic area even though it had now spread out over a 5 state radius. The original girl had lived here on one of these farms or in a small town. She had attended one of these schools and churches. There was a record of her somewhere and they were determined to find it. As Lou said, “We need to find out who ‘R’ is, when and why she left. We need to track her down fast. ‘The Parkland Killers’ are after her and we need to get to her before they do!”

  CHAPTER 31

  PUZZLE PIECES

  Gina was curled up in the easy chair running her fingers through her hair. She still had not gotten used to this new style. This short spikey brown hairdo wasn’t her. She missed her long blonde curls but she knew she had to change her appearance. She had been updating Dr. Reinhardt about all her changes and how much she appreciated the advice Gil was giving her about self-defense when she drifted into silence. “What are you thinking about?” Dr. Reinhardt was looking at her quizzically.

  Gina looked up, confused.

  “Your thoughts were elsewhere,” the therapist prompted, “what were you thinking about?”

  Gina laughed self-consciously, “My hair, I really don’t like it like this. I guess that’s a stupid thing to be thinking about all things being considered. Sorry, I drifted away from the topic.”

  “Don’t be,” Dr. Reinhardt said, “I’m sure it’s all related; your hair, your fear, your advice from Gil, your guilt. It’s all part of the same problem, isn’t it?”

  “I guess so, yes,” Gina looked down at her hands fidgeting on her lap, “It’s the guilt I’m upset about. I feel so guilty for those girls’ deaths! How could I have been so stupid? How could I not have known? Why didn’t I figure this out a long time ago? As soon as I had heard women were being killed, I should have known it was Jake and his gang. I knew he was obsessed with me. I knew he was going to come after me. Isn’t that why I ran away? How could I have been so blind, so self-absorbed?”

  “Let’s play this out, shall we?” her therapist invited. “Okay, so you call the police or the FBI and tell them what? That you were abused by your cousin twenty years ago and now you think he’s after you? They’d ask how long it’s been since you’ve seen him. What proof you have that it’s him. What you know about the killings that make you think it’s him? That might even have gotten you in the spotlight, made you a national news item. ‘Chicago doctor claims to know the identity of the Parkland Killers…’ The police would ask you questions you couldn’t answer and it would boil down to you having a gut feeling about the killers in the news. That is if they paid any attention to you at all. They probably get hundreds of such calls a day. Until recently the connections weren’t there, the connection to that area of West Virginia, the gang of three, the victim pattern. All of that is pretty recent information. You simply could not have known 6 years ago what was going on and could not have prevented it from happening.”

  “Okay, I see what you are saying, that it wouldn’t have gotten anywhere. It might have put me more in the spotlight and made it easier for the killers to find me. But I still feel like it’s my fault. I was selfish and self-absorbed while other women were being killed,” Gina persisted.

  “You seem intent on making the brutal actions of these killers’ your fault. Why do you think that is?” the therapist asked.

  “Are you implying that I feel responsible for him abusing me? Raping me?” Gina snapped.

  “That’s not what I said, is that what you feel?” her therapist asked gently.

  Silence…

  “Of course not! No! … Maybe….” Gina murmured, “I never did understand why he came after me and not my sisters. I wondered why. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? I always thought this must somehow be my fault. Did I do something to attract his attention? Did I want his attention?”

  Dr. Reinhardt interrupted her mid-thought with, “Wow! You really are determined to claim responsibility for his actions! You were not responsible for HIS behavior, he was. He was older and more powerful than you were. He was cruel and abusive even before it became sexual. His actions are on him, they are not on you. No matter what you did or did not do, you are not responsible for what he did to you. That is on him. And if he’s one of these Parkland Killers, that’s on him too. You are not responsible for what he did to you nor are you responsible for whatever he may have done to other women.”

  More silence as Gina nodded slowly. Then she said, “Sometimes I think I should have let him kill me way back then.” Gina looked tormented.

  “You have been habituated to taking on the responsibility of others,” Dr. Reinhardt said, “You took on your mother’s responsibility when she failed to protect you. You didn’t hold her to account for that. Your father ignored what went on with his family; he was concerned with other matters and let you fend for yourself. But you excuse him and say he was really busy and tired. Do you think he never saw you running away from Jake? Do you think he never heard you crying or saw you hiding? Really? He was around all the time, in the barn or the field… He was around. He was in the house for three meals a day. He saw things. He had to know something was going on. He ignored it.”

  Gina stared at her therapist. She had never heard her take such a definite stand on things; she was usually calm and understanding. Now she was advocating, taking a strong position. Expressing her point of view! That was interesting. It felt good. It made Gina feel safe.

  “Didn’t you ever think of these things before Gina?” Dr. Reinhardt asked. “Didn’t you wonder what your father knew and when he knew it? Or wonder why he didn’t do something about Jake and his abuse?”

  “No, I guess not. It’s the way things were. I didn’t know any other way,” Gina seemed thoughtful.

  “When a child grows up in a situation where adults don’t take responsibility for providing safety and security, often that child assumes those responsibilities. And sometimes it isn’t clear who’s responsible for what. Blame, guilt and responsibility get bounced around like ping pong balls,” she continued.

  “So that happens with other
girls like me?” Gina asked.

  “Yes,” Dr. Reinhardt nodded, “When safety is compromised children are confused. Without safety there can be no trust. Does that make sense to you?” Gina nodded. “When you have no one to stand up for you, to validate you, to say something is right or wrong or to help you, the world is very dark and confusing. The child doesn’t know when something is their fault or not. Children rarely hold the parents responsible for what happens. They have to have someone to love even if that love is unsafe. They usually blame themselves. People need to be more emotionally mature before they can put family abuse into perspective.”

  Gina thought about this for a few minutes then said, “You know I’ve seen that with some of the children I treat. Sometimes they feel responsible for their illnesses or for their parents’ tears or for the treatments not working. I talk to them about it all the time and try to make them see things more clearly. It’s funny I say to them what you are saying to me,” Gina said, “It’s like my patients are little mirrors for me.”

  Dr. Reinhardt nodded.

  Gina was silent for a moment before saying, “I can’t imagine not being a doctor, not having children to help. Saving others is what I need to do. Do you understand that?”

  “I think so,” Dr. Reinhardt replied, “Moving actively into the role of helper can give a person some sense of power over circumstances.”

  “Do you think that’s why I became a doctor, to give myself a sense of power?’” Gina asked frowning.

  “Does that seem so strange to you?”

  Silence…

  “It feels creepy, like I’m trying to manipulate things for my own needs.”

  “I don’t think it’s as conscious or direct as all that. And power is not a bad thing you know. When you feel powerless the sense of having power over something is a natural response. You are working to help sick children but if it didn’t work well for you, as well, you would have chosen to do something else. Dedication, passion and drive come from within. There’s a reason why some people are driven to help others. They are good at it and they bring a wealth of understanding beyond anything they learn in a book,” the therapist answered.

  As Gina thought about this the therapist added, “There would be other factors as well guiding you to the medical profession. But given your personality and life experiences, you would probably have chosen some kind of a helping profession, something that benefited others.” They were silent for a moment looking at one another.

  “Are you saying if I hadn’t been abused I wouldn’t have become a doctor?” Gina asked.

  “No, I’m not saying that. People become what they become for many different reasons. We can’t make those kinds of conclusions, there are too many unknowns. We can talk about likely eventualities from what did occur, but not speculate about what might have happened if certain things had not occurred. You may have found your way to your profession anyway. You were bright and scientifically oriented. What is real and fair to say is that you are doing what you do because you care about others, you empathize strongly and that’s a result of many factors - not the least of which are your childhood experiences. It’s a combination of factors.”

  “So my past led to my present, my abuse led to my caregiving role, is that right?” Gina asked.

  “That seems a little too geometric. I’d say your family’s neglect and your cousin’s abuse led to the development of certain personality factors and those factors inclined you toward the helping professions. There were other positive influences as well. Many people cared about you and guided you in constructive ways, right?” Dr. Reinhardt said reasonably.

  “Does it always work like that? Do most caregivers have bad childhoods?” Gina asked.

  “No, but often people with difficult of traumatic childhoods are drawn to the helping fields as a way of balancing things out for themselves, perhaps, as a way of focusing their good intentions.” Dr. Reinhardt replied, “There are many factors that determine outcomes. Sometimes people with traumatic childhoods turn in the opposite direction. They might become criminals or killers. Lots of factors influence human behavior: biology, culture, psychology to name a few. It’s complicated and multi-dimensional.”

  They were silent for a few moments as Gina watched her therapist intently.

  Then Dr. Reinhardt asked “Gina? What are you getting at?”

  Gina looked at her thoughtfully and then said “I’m not sure I’m allowed to ask but, “What about you? Why did you become a psychologist?”

  “Ah,” Dr. Reinhardt nodded, “I thought that was where you were going with this.” She leaned back in her chair a bit and ran her fingers over its arms, “My family and I lived through Nazi Germany. It had a great influence on me.”

  “I’m so sorry, Dr. Reinhardt that must have been horrible, I can’t even imagine,” Gina said softly.

  “In a roundabout way that’s how I met Gil McCray, Gina, and why I referred you to him.”

  “Gil’s been wonderful to me, I’m so grateful,” Gina sighed, “I feel so much better since I met him. It feels so different to think there’s someone out there who can help me. I think he really cares about what happens to me. I can’t count on anyone else to care about me that way.” She glanced up quickly, “Oh, except you, I mean. I know you care about what happens to me.” Dr. Reinhardt nodded slightly and Gina continued, “When I’m with Gil, I feel safer than I ever felt. He’s amazing. He knows so much about so many different things,” Gina giggled, “It’s like he’s the Bionic Man!”

  Dr. Reinhardt was silent for a long moment and then she said, “Gina, if the day comes when there is a real threat of danger against you, a real active threat. I know other people who will help you as well as Gil.” Gina frowned and looked at her quizzically. “I don’t want to go into detail about this now; I just want to alert you to the possibility that if the time ever comes and your life is in danger, there are others who will help you. I want your verbal permission to bring them into the loop were that ever to occur.”

  “These are people who work with you and Gil?” Gina asked slowly.

  “Yes,” said Dr. Reinhardt.

  “I trust you to do what is right, Dr. Reinhardt,” Gina said. “You have my permission to do or say whatever you think is best at the time.”

  Dr. Reinhardt sighed, nodded solemnly and said, “Thank you for your trust, Gina, I will handle it with care.”

  Elizabeth A. Reinhardt, PhD

  Great Lakes Bank Building

  Suite 315

  Chicago, Ill 60601

  CLINICAL PROGRESS REPORT

  Patient’s name: Gina R Date of Contact: ___11/19/2012___________

  Nature of Contact: Office Visit _X___ Phone Call ______Email ______Other __________

  Reason For Contact: Scheduled __X___ Practical _____Update _____Emergency __ ___ Other _______

  Presentation: Normal __X___ Depressed/Low Energy _____ Upset/Agitated __ ___ Frustrated/Angry ______ Dissociated/Detached ____ Anxious/Panicky __ ____ Obsessive/Worried ____X___ Overwhelmed __ ____ Desperate/Dependent ______ Confused ______ Guarded/Defended ______ Aloof/Distant _____

  Urgency: Suicidal _______ Self-Destructive ______ Homicidal ______Other _X______

  Requires hospitalization: a) Yes_____ specify plan_______________________________________

  b) No ___X_____________________

  Appearance: Neat __X_____ Disheveled _______ Inappropriate ______________________________

  Substance Use/Abuse: Yes ______ No ___X____ Specify ____________________________________

  Orientation: Oriented: ____X__ Disoriented: Time ________ Place ________Person _________

  Areas of Concern: Self/Symptoms ___X__ Personal Relationships __X______ Work ______

  Finances ______ Health _______ Safety _______ Functioning __________ Moral/Spiritual ____________

  Session Narrative: Reflecting on past and relationship to the present. Trying to understand herself and how factors in life have affected her. Working well with GM.
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  Diagnosis: Axis I: PTSD, GAD_______________

  Axis II: none

  a. Consider degree of fear/anxiety b. consider degree of dissociation and real world fears

  Recommendations: practice self-care and management techniques, will continue to assess.

  Referrals if necessary: ______No______________________

  Clinical Impression: Making progress, guilty about news items needs to work with issues of personal responsibility, guilt and anger.

  Treatment Plan: Meet 2x per week. Begin full assessment of symptoms, R/O: DID, DD NOS

  Appointment Scheduled: Yes __X____ No ________

  Elisabeth Reinhardt, PhD: Elisabeth Reinhardt, PhD

  Date: 11/19/2012__________________________________________

  CHAPTER 32

  SYNTHESIZING

  Witness and victim profiles were spread out across two tables pushed together at Gus’s Diner. The clatter of dishes faded into the background and the smells of fried foods wafted by as Chester and Lou scrutinized the reports. Their coffee cups had been refilled so many times they’d lost count. Plates littered with scraps of food had been pushed aside. Lou leaning forward, eyes searching the profiles scribbled on a notepad. Chester, chin propped up in hands, read and re-read the information from the witnesses. “We’re missing something,” he said.

  “Yep,” Lou muttered.