A TWISTED MIND (Clean Suspense) (Detective Jason Strong Book 21)
Page 12
“Good.”
Jason dialed as Vanessa went back in the room to retrieve Colt.
It rang just twice before a man picked up. “Moreno.”
“Tony, it’s Jason Strong.”
“Hi, Jason! Long time, no hear.”
“Most people I talk to are glad of that.”
Moreno laughed. Hispanic by heritage and hard-working by nature, he had been the SAPD polygraph examiner for over three decades. “I bet.”
“Are you tied up?”
“Just finished doing one.”
“Where at?”
“Interview six.”
Jason walked three doors down the hall to an open door. Tony Moreno balanced his phone on his shoulder as he packed up his equipment.
Jason hung up. “Don’t put it away yet.”
Tony, as wide as he was tall, smiled. “Where were you?”
“Interview three.”
“Oh. You got someone for me now?”
“Yes. Vanessa is getting prints, then he should be ready.”
“I’ll wait here then.”
“Perfect. Thanks, Tony.”
“No problemo.”
Jason turned and headed for the booking desk.
*******
True to his word, Colt had not balked when he was told the polygraph examiner was ready for him. He willingly took the seat, raised his arms for the chest belt, held out his hand for the pulse connector, and appeared eager for the first question.
After briefing Moreno on what they wanted the focus of the questions to be, Jason joined Vanessa in the observation room behind the two-way mirror. “Did Doc Josie get anything off the pill bottle?”
Vanessa nodded. “Two prints. They’re being compared to Colt’s now.”
“Great.”
Tony Moreno finished explaining the process to Colt, then met his gaze. “Are you ready to begin?”
Colt nodded emphatically. “Yes.”
“Good.” Tony marked the graph paper with his pen. “Is your name Colton Ellard?”
“Yes.”
“Do you live in San Antonio?”
“Yes.”
“Are you male?”
“Yes.”
“Have you and I ever met before this day?”
“No.”
“Did you set up the email address bigcolt24@Gmail.com?”
“No.”
“Do you know who set up that email?”
“No.”
“Did you order the drug Uloric?”
“No.”
“Do you know who ordered the drug Uloric found in your car?”
“No.”
“Is Janet Ellard your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Did you poison your mother?”
“No! I did not!”
Tony made a large mark on the graph paper. “Remember Mr. Ellard, just yes or no.”
“Sorry.”
“Did you poison your mother?”
“No.”
“Do you know who poisoned your mother?”
“No.”
“Have you been truthful with all your responses?”
“Yes.”
Moreno laid down his pen. “The test is over. Give me a minute and I’ll get you unhooked.”
“Okay.”
Tony stepped out into the hallway. Jason and Vanessa were waiting for him.
He shrugged. “No deception.”
Jason’s brow furrowed. “Seriously?”
“I don’t often say this, in fact, I never say this, but—if he’s lying, I’m dying.”
“No kidding?”
“I’ve given hundreds, probably thousands of tests. That might be the most truthful one I’ve ever seen.”
Vanessa let out a long sigh. “That’s good for Ellard, but it sucks for our case.”
“Maybe, but the only hint of a hesitation came on the second-to-last question.”
“Which was?”
“Does he know who poisoned his mother? I don’t think he was lying when he said no, but I’d guess he had someone in the back of his mind.”
Jason nodded. “Okay, Tony. As always, we appreciate it.”
“Anytime. I’ll set him loose and he’s all yours.”
Chapter 13
“Do you believe me now?”
Evidently, Colt felt he’d aced the test, which he had. Jason took a seat across from Ellard. “Let’s just say I’m beginning to.”
“What about your partner?”
Vanessa was checking with Doc Josie and hadn’t come into the room.
“She’s in the same boat as I am. The drug was in your possession and you had opportunity, but you appear to be telling the truth.”
“I told you—I wouldn’t kill my mom.”
The interview room door opened. “Jason.”
He looked back. Vanessa nodded toward the hallway.
He stood. “Hang tight for a second, Colt.”
He joined her in the hall. “What’s up?”
“Doc Josie said she found two prints on the vial. One on the side and one on the label.”
“And?”
“Neither one belongs to Colt.”
Jason sighed. “At this point, I can’t say I’m surprised. Is she running it through the AFIS database?”
“As we speak.”
“Okay. Time to get Colt Ellard on our side.”
“I’m going back down to the forensic lab.”
He nodded. “Let me know.”
He returned to the room. “You want something to drink, Colt? Coke or something?”
“You have any bottled water?”
“Sure. Be right back.”
Jason retrieved two bottles and re-entered the room. He set one in front of Colt, then opened his own and leaned back against the door.
Colt spun the lid off his bottle and took a long drink. As he swallowed, he held the bottle out to examine it. “Got this habit from my mom. She constantly had a bottle of water either in her hand or nearby.”
Jason took a drink, then met the young man’s gaze. “Your finger prints don’t match the ones on the prescription vial.”
Colt bobbed his head up and down. “Knew they wouldn’t. I never saw that container before in my life.”
“Which means someone planted it.”
Colt paused as if to consider the implications. A growing fear worked its way across his face. “You know something?”
“What?”
“About a month ago, I got deathly ill.”
Jason’s ears perked up. “How so?”
“Stomach cramps, vomiting, sweating, the runs—the whole gambit. I was in bed for several days.”
“You see a doctor?”
“Nah. Destiny took care of me. But it was miserable.”
Now Jason found himself considering implications. Could someone be targeting the Ellard family? Are Dale or Natasha Ellard in danger?
“Colt, the polygraph examiner said he detected a hesitancy in your answer to one question.”
“Which?”
“If you knew who poisoned your mother.”
“Oh.”
“Did you have someone in mind when you answered? Someone you don’t trust?”
Colt averted his gaze, drinking down the last of the water, then screwing the cap back on.
“Colt?”
He sighed. “Look, it’s just going to sound like rotten grapes.”
Jason ventured an educated guess. “Natasha?”
He nodded. “You know all about the financial grief between Mom and I, but you probably don’t know all the details around Tasha and Mom’s relationship.”
Jason sat back in his chair. “I know your mother didn’t want Robert Davis around the office, and I’m assuming she didn’t want him around Natasha either.”
“Correct. But the issue stems from an incident at the office. Mom believed Robert had stolen some drugs. She planned to go to the police but Tasha intervened.”
“How so?”
“She begged Mom not to call the cops. She said that she and Robert were moving to Houston, and it would ruin their plans.”
“Your mom agreed not to press charges?”
“Yes, but she also said that as long as Tasha stayed with Robert, she was on her own. Mom would not help her in any way.”
“But it seems extreme to think your sister would kill your mother for that.”
“Not Tasha—Robert.”
Robert Davis has a record. If his prints are on the vial, they have their killer.
Jason stood. “Will you excuse me for a moment, Colt?”
“Sure.”
Jason stepped out into the hall and looked both ways. No sign of his partner. He took out his cell phone and texted her.
Prints have a match?
No.
Make sure Robert Davis is compared to the prints.
Okay. Why?
Explain later.
Copy.
He put away his phone and went back in the room. Colt sat quietly, spinning the empty water bottle on the table. He looked up. “Are we done?”
“Yes. But I’m concerned about how you became sick. Did you have any contact with Natasha or Robert around that time?”
“We had a family barbeque just before, but Robert wasn’t there, only Tasha.”
“So you assumed you got food poisoning, I guess.”
“Yeah.”
“Did anyone else get sick?”
Colt cocked his head to one side. “I don’t think so.”
“Seems odd, don’t you think?”
“I hadn’t considered it.”
“Okay, we’re done. But before you go, I need your help.”
“My help?”
Jason locked eyes with Colt. “You’re the only one—other than the people inside this building and the killer—that knows your mother was poisoned.”
“What about my dad? Hasn’t he been told?”
“Nobody but you, and only because of the pill bottle.”
“So what do you need my help with?”
“The person who poisoned your mom is the only other person who knows about the pills. If someone mentions them to you, or that your mom was poisoned, try not to tip them off that you know and call us immediately. Can you do that?”
Colt stared at him for a long moment. “I would be talking to my mom’s killer.”
Jason shook his head. “You could be, not would be. There’s a big difference and we don’t want you getting into a confrontation with the individual.”
Colt nodded slowly. “I understand.”
“Good.” Jason opened the door and led Colt back to the lobby.
“Here’s my card. My cell phone is on the back. Call me anytime, day or night.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you again for your cooperation today.”
Colt gave him a troubled half smile and headed back out into the heat.
“Here you are!” Jason turned to see Vanessa coming toward him. “Davis does not match the prints.”
Jason nodded. “Then we need to get Natasha Ellard’s finger prints.”
“The daughter’s? Why?”
“Come on, I’ll explain on the way downstairs.”
“Downstairs?”
He nodded. “We need Alicia Irvine’s help.”
*******
The forensic science lab shared the basement, with the medical examiner’s office. Getting off the elevator, Jason and Vanessa turned right instead of left, and pushed through the large glass door bearing the seal of the Forensic Science Department. This was the domain of Doc Josie and her team, one of whom was an African-American computer whiz in her mid-twenties named Alicia Irvine.
Her formal title was computer forensic technician, but what mattered to Jason was the skill she had in finding vital information—like the data they needed now.
Jason spotted Doc Josie near the back of the lab. “Hey, Doc.”
The petite scientist smiled widely. “Hey, yourself.”
“Alicia here?”
“She’s at lunch. Should be back any time. Why?”
Jason handed her the printed Uloric receipt. “We need to know about the email address this was sent to.”
Josie glanced at it, then gave it back. “She’s your girl.”
“Whoever ordered the drug is probably our killer.”
Vanessa glanced back at the door. “Here she is now.”
Alicia smiled, though appeared wary. “Did I do something wrong? You’re all staring at me.”
“Not yet.” Jason laughed. “We need you to look at this.”
Alicia accepted the paper. “What have we here?”
“It’s a receipt printed from an email account. We are hoping you can track the address.”
“bigcolt24@Gmail.com? What’s it tied to?”
“The person who murdered our victim used that email to order the drug he—or she—poisoned her with.”
Alicia eyes flared. “I’ll get started on it right away.”
“Thanks.”
Doc Josie reached out and touched Vanessa’s shoulder. “We didn’t get to talk earlier. How are you doing?”
Jason headed for the door, but Vanessa lagged behind. “Fine. Get tired sometimes, but pretty good overall.”
“Glad to be back?”
“You have no idea.”
Jason paused. “Going upstairs. You want to catch up?”
Vanessa shook her head. “No. I’m coming. Bye, Doc.”
“Bye.”
Jason held the door for her. “You could’ve stayed.”
“Thanks, but there’s work to be done.”
He considered telling her he could handle it, but he knew his partner too well. That would bring a glare and an admonition for pampering her. “I want to see if we can get a copy of the order from Express Scripts.”
“Sounds good, but won’t that take a warrant?”
“That’s where you come in.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Me?”
“You’re the best warrant writer I know.”
She groaned. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“But will it get me a warrant?”
She laughed. “Probably.”
*******
Two hours later, the phone on Jason’s desk rang. “Homicide. Detective Strong.”
“Jason, it’s Alicia Irvine. I’ve got something for you.”
“Something good I hope.”
“I was able to secure from Gmail the internet protocol address used to set up the bigcolt24 email account. Tracking backwards, I came up with a street address here in San Antonio.”
“That’s fantastic.”
“You ready?”
“Shoot.”
“Three-three-zero Lexington Avenue.”
As he wrote it down, bells began ringing in his head. He’d seen the address recently. The Ellards’ medical practice!
He covered the phone and stared at Vanessa. “We need a warrant.”
“I just finished one.”
“We need another. All the electronic devices at the Ellards’ office.” He uncovered the phone. “Anything else, Alicia?”
“That’s it so far.”
“Perhaps you could break away for a short excursion?”
“To Lexington Avenue?”
“Correct.”
“What’s there?”
“The medical offices of Doctor Dale and Janet Ellard.”
*******
The late afternoon sun seared the concrete of downtown San Antonio as the two vehicle convoy arrived at the Lexington Avenue address. In one car were Jason, Vanessa, and Alicia. In a second, a pair of uniformed officers who parked their black and white unit directly behind the detective’s vehicle.
Everyone gathered on the sidewalk, and Jason gestured toward the back of the building. “One of you officers secure the alley.”
The younger of the two uniforms jogged off.
Jason led the remaining members of the group up
to the door and tried the handle. “Locked.”
Vanessa pushed a doorbell. More than a minute passed.
Vanessa rang again. This time, through the distorted period glass, a figure could be seen coming through the entryway towards the door. “We’re closed.”
Jason recognized the voice. “Doctor Ellard, this is Detective Strong. I need you to open up.”
After a brief hesitation, Ellard turned the latch.
Jason yanked the door open abruptly and stepped into the entry.
Dale Ellard retreated. “What’s going on?”
Jason glanced behind the doctor at the desk. “Is there anyone else here?”
“No. I was doing some paperwork alone."
Jason handed the warrant to a stunned Ellard. “We have a warrant to search the premises.”
“A warrant? For what?”
“To confiscate all electronic devices within this office.” Jason held out his hand toward the phone in the doctor’s possession. “And that includes cell phones.”
“But this is my personal phone.”
“I understand. Please turn it over.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You’ll be detained and taken downtown for failing to comply with a legal search warrant.”
Ellard glared at Jason, but held the out phone. Vanessa stepped forward with an open evidence bag. “Drop it in here, sir.”
Ellard released it.
Jason turned toward the remaining officer. “Keep Doctor Ellard in the lobby. He’s not to leave the building or touch anything.”
The officer stepped forward. “Yes, sir.”
Ellard allowed himself to be guided to a nearby chair.
Jason turned to Alicia. “You have the lead. Anything you see that appears useful, say the word and we’ll secure it.”
She nodded and went toward the receptionist desk. “I don’t need the monitor, but we want the Desktop tower.”
Vanessa stepped forward and began disconnecting the unit.
Jason followed Alicia as she moved into the first office. She pointed at a laptop sitting on the desk. “That goes.”
Jason opened an oversized evidence bag and slipped the laptop inside.
The next office had another desktop tower, which Alicia collected. After all items were ferried out to their car, Jason remembered the security system upstairs. He walked over to where Ellard sat. “I need the keys to the security room.”