by C. M. Sutter
The key turning in the front door got my attention. I needed to put on my confident-sergeant face and ensure my family we’d all be fine.
“Hello, sweetheart.” My mom entered first and hugged me. Bruce followed with the pizzas and set them on the breakfast bar. Amber came in last, carrying the mail that had been sitting in my mailbox for who knew how long.
“Here’s your mail, Sis. I guess my change of address hasn’t kicked in yet. Looks like you got a few birthday cards mixed in with the bills.”
“I’ll look at them later. Let’s eat. I don’t remember if I’ve eaten anything since breakfast.”
“Let me get the table set up. You just relax, honey. Amber, will you pour the soda and get out some plates?”
“Sure, Mom.”
Spaz wrapped his tail around Amber’s legs and meowed while she set the table. Amber chuckled. “You’ll get plenty of attention after dinner, crazy cat.”
After we ate, I explained the situation to my family. It was in our best interest to remain in the same residence for now. We didn’t have enough extra deputies to put on both houses, and although I didn’t feel that I was in immediate danger, I did agree that for whatever reason, Dime might be targeting me.
Our evening consisted of me showing my family a few tactical maneuvers if they were ever caught alone and off guard. I explained to Amber that I was signing her up for self-defense courses soon. She would need to know some moves anyway if she was serious about eventually becoming a cop.
“I’ll even take the classes with you, Sis. It never hurts to brush up on self-defense training.”
“Thanks, Jade. That’s something I was always interested in learning. Now I have no excuse to put it off.”
“As long as we’re on the subject, I want you to think of the type of personal handgun you’d like. Maybe tomorrow night we’ll look at a few online. I’ll explain which are my favorites for women and why. A pistol is going to be my gift to you for wanting to go into law enforcement. You may as well get an early start on learning how to handle your weapon. Actually, going to the gun range and practicing is a lot of fun.”
Amber’s eyes lit up. I could tell she would be a good cop in time, and I was proud of her.
“I’m really looking forward to it, Jade. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
We all turned in after the ten o’clock news. There was a brief segment about a woman being discovered in a barn at a residence that was for sale, but since we hadn’t disclosed any details to the press, they didn’t have much to report. We said good night, and I closed my bedroom door, brushed my teeth, and climbed into bed. I hoped my family would sleep well. I was exhausted.
Talking to someone other than Spaz, Polly, and Porky during my morning routine was nice. Bruce had already left, so Mom, Amber, and I ate breakfast together. Since Amber didn’t have classes until eleven o’clock, she took over the cooking detail and made each of us an omelet and toast.
“I have to go. Both of you, check in with Deputy Richards if, and when, you leave. He replaced Collins at six this morning.”
“Jade, you didn’t look at your birthday cards that came in the mail,” Amber said as she loaded the dishwasher.
“Oh yeah, guess I forgot.” I dropped the accumulated mail in my lunch bag with intentions of chucking most of it. I’d look at the birthday cards and pitch the junk mail if I had a chance during lunch.
Just as we’d thought, there wasn’t anyone in the nationwide criminal database named David Ingles. That name alerted twice, once in Kentucky and once in Oregon, but only for traffic violations and unpaid parking tickets.
We gathered in an interview room at ten o’clock with Susan Adams to go over the key points for the press conference being held later in the afternoon. Our brief description gave Susan an estimate of age, weight, and height. We added the few quirks the perpetrator had, and the fact that he might wear a dark-colored hoodie. We ended with a plea to the public to call the North Bend sheriff’s department or police department immediately if they saw anyone or anything that seemed suspicious.
“Okay, Susan, use that information to put something together. Let me take a look at it before we go live. Let the media know the press conference will take place at three o’clock at the front entrance to the sheriff’s department.”
Susan perused the notes she’d taken. “Sure thing, Lieutenant. I’ll have this ready for you to look over in an hour.”
“Want to go out for lunch, Jade?” Jack asked.
“Thanks, but Amber made me a sliced deli turkey sandwich”—I looked in my canvas lunch bag—“oh, and a banana. I think I’m going to like having my little sis around.”
“I bet you will. No problem. I’ll grab a sandwich from the vending machine.”
I sat at my desk, pulled out my sandwich, banana, and my mail. I wanted to eat before anything went haywire. So far in the last two weeks, I had lost seven pounds.
“What’s that?” Clayton asked as he gnawed on a caramel chocolate bar.
“Just my mail from the last few days. I haven’t even thought about it lately. Amber saw it wedged in the mailbox and brought it in for me.”
“How does Amber like living with you?”
I chuckled. “I’ll let you know once life is normal again. Right now, living in the same house with my mom and Bruce is far from normal.” I bit into my sandwich and flipped through some of the mail. Three pieces of junk mail were pitched before I got to the first birthday card. I tore it open and grinned at the card. My aunt Abigail, Mom’s sister, in Tallahassee, Florida, had sent birthday wishes my way. The front of the card showed two birds sitting on a branch. I could tell this was one of those musical birthday cards, and when I opened it, the birds whistled out the Happy Birthday song. I laughed at its unique tackiness. “Gotta love Aunt Abigail,” I said as we all chuckled.
“Got another one?” Jack asked.
“I guess so. It doesn’t have a return address, though.” I had an eerie feeling as I slipped my finger under the envelope seal and slid it across. Inside was a birthday card showing a cat lying on a couch. The resemblance to Spaz was remarkable. I breathed a silent sigh of relief and opened it. I stared at the handwritten words in large block letters: SPAZ IS QUITE A LOVABLE CAT. I’D HATE TO SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN TO HIM. DO I HAVE YOUR FULL ATTENTION NOW, SERGEANT?
A dime was taped beneath the words.
“The card…” My voice caught in my throat.
Jack and Clayton jumped from their chairs. I motioned for them not to touch the card.
“It’s from him. The son of a bitch sent me a birthday card.”
Chapter 41
He waited at the far end of the apartment parking lot for Lance. He could have had a lot of fun with the sergeant’s ex-husband in a more secluded area along his jogging route, but Dime wanted Lance found soon. Gotta strike while the iron is hot, he thought.
Sergeant Monroe wasn’t going to get any rest. Dime looked forward to breaking her, putting her in her place and taking her down. She already reminded him too much of his overbearing mother.
He chuckled, remembering the press conference that had been broadcast earlier. “The media really tore into her and the lieutenant. She got plenty of heat from them. The entire sheriff’s department did. And they don’t have the slightest idea of who I am or how to catch me—idiots!”
Dime watched through the windshield—nothing yet.
The voices came to life as he thought about Lance. Killing this idiot will be a piece of cake. He’ll be exhausted after his run and have no energy to fight back. He’ll be putty in your hands. Dime laughed loudly as he sat low in the driver’s seat of his Jeep. “I know, right?”
Street lamps lined the sidewalk every thirty feet, leading to the apartment complex. He knew exactly where he would strike. Lance ran the path at River’s Edge County Park, then crossed the street, ran two more blocks, and ended his run at the apartment. He’d cut through the area where the Dumpsters were lined up, then tak
e the sidewalk to the main entrance of Cassie’s apartment building.
Do it by the Dumpsters. It won’t take long for somebody to find him there.
“Yeah, that’s my plan. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing,” Dime said in response.
He hit the button on the side of his watch to check the time. “He should be showing up soon. Another idiot, out for a nighttime jog when there’s a madman roaming the streets—he deserves death. Taking her ex down will be a great blind side for Sergeant Monroe—she definitely isn’t expecting that.” Dime laughed and rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
A movement across the street caught his attention. Lance was walking the last few minutes of his jog. He had to cool down.
You’ll be stone cold soon enough.
Dime chuckled at the voice talking in his head. He responded, “I’ll admit, your quips are pretty damn clever.”
The Jeep door opened quietly. Dime had sprayed the hinges earlier to make sure they didn’t squeak. He pressed his body tight against the building, staying in the shadows. The hoodie concealed his face, and black gloves covered his hands. The sound of footsteps got closer. Dime peeked around the Dumpster, Lance was ten feet away and looking down at his Fitbit.
Dime thumbed the button on his knife as he stepped out of the shadows, plunged the switchblade into Lance’s midsection, and gave it an extra twist for good measure. Lance grunted and fell to the ground. About to hit Lance with another blow, Dime was alerted by the sound of a side door opening. He retreated into the darkness and climbed back into his Jeep. He pounded on his steering wheel as he looked in his rearview mirror. He pulled out of the parking lot but not before the couple found Lance on the ground and saw Dime driving away.
“Son of a bitch!”
The plan was interrupted and didn’t turn out as he wanted. Dime pounded on the dashboard and steering wheel again as he drove to the safety of his house and basement.
Chapter 42
I found it difficult to focus while Amber and I looked at handguns online. I promised her we’d check out a few, but I couldn’t get that birthday card and taunt out of my mind. I wouldn’t tell my family about that, especially Amber, since the message involved Spaz. Somehow the killer knew about the cat. Jack had taken the card downstairs and given it to Kyle, but we all knew there wouldn’t be any fingerprints on it. The postmark showed it was mailed from North Bend on Thursday.
We sat at the desk in my bedroom, Polly and Porky happily chirping in the corner of the room. The door was closed so Spaz couldn’t sneak in. Dinner was over, and the kitchen was cleaned up. With my mom and sister in the house, I barely had to do anything. Mom and Bruce relaxed comfortably on the couch, each with a glass of wine, watching a made-for-TV movie.
My cell phone rang at nine o’clock—Lieutenant Clark was calling. My heart thumped triple time just from seeing his name on the screen. I knew it couldn’t be good. I looked at Amber.
“Jade, I’m not leaving, just answer the phone.”
I picked up on the third ring. “Lieutenant?”
“Jade, get to St. Joseph’s Hospital right now. Apparently, Lance was stabbed tonight. Jack is on his way. I’ll meet you there.”
I jumped from the desk and instinctively put on my shoulder holster. I loaded the magazine and holstered my weapon. I put my chained badge around my neck.
“Jade, what’s going on?” Amber’s eyes were filled with fear.
“I have to go. Lance is in the hospital. He’s been stabbed.”
“I’m going with you. Don’t waste your breath arguing with me either.”
“Fine, let’s go.”
I told my mom that Lance had been injured and Amber was going along for moral support. I had to ask him a few questions at the hospital. In reality, I had no idea if he was conscious or near death.
“Oh no, honey. Are you sure you don’t want Bruce and me to go with you?”
“No, Mom, please just stay put. We have to leave now.”
Amber and I reached the hospital in fifteen minutes. Jack and the lieutenant were waiting at the nurses’ station in intensive care. We rushed toward them.
“What do we know?” I asked.
“He’ll make it, Jade. Luckily the knife didn’t hit any organs. He’s already out of surgery and in room three.” Jack nodded to his right. “According to Cassie, Lance went on his evening jog like usual. The next thing she knew, the neighbors were pounding on her door, saying he was lying outside and covered in blood. That was a couple of hours ago.”
“It didn’t occur to her to call me, or any of us, earlier?” I said, spewing the words.
The lieutenant put his hand on my shoulder. “All we know is she called the North Bend PD. Of course they dispatched an ambulance, even though it wasn’t their jurisdiction. By the time I got word, Lance was already in surgery.”
“When will he be coherent enough to talk?” I asked.
“The doctor said he was already coming out of anesthesia. He’ll let us know when we can ask Lance a few questions. Let’s wait in the visitors’ lounge. Amber, how about helping me get coffee for all of us?” Jack suggested.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Is Cassie in the room with him?” I wiped my eyes with the back of my sleeve. “Lieutenant, do you think it was Dime?”
“Yes, Cassie is in the room waiting for him to wake up. I’m not sure about Dime. I dispatched the closest deputies to the area to secure the scene and to interview everyone at the apartment building. Kyle and Dan are on their way.”
After we’d had three cups of coffee each, the doctor finally entered the lounge. He sat and spoke to us.
“Lieutenant Clark. Always a pleasure, detectives.” He shook our hands and gave Amber a smile. “Mr. Keller was lucky tonight.”
I let out an audible sigh of relief.
The doctor looked my way. “Detective Monroe, you’re Lance’s ex-wife, correct?”
“She’s a sergeant now,” Amber said.
I ruffled my brows at her to hush. She looked down.
“Yes, I’m his ex-wife, but his attack may be part of an ongoing investigation. We’ll need to question Lance if he’s awake. I’m sure you’re aware of the killer in the community. Lance might be able to tell us something.”
“I understand. Luckily his injuries weren’t life threatening. The knife just missed his intestines and hit his left oblique muscle instead. He’s stitched up, but he’s going to be sore for a few months. He needs rest. I’ll give you fifteen minutes.”
I thanked the doctor, and he left. “Amber, you’re going to have to wait out here.”
“I know. That’s fine.”
“I’ll sit with her. You and Jack go ahead,” Lieutenant Clark said.
We passed the nurses’ station and turned left at the first hallway. Room three was on the right. The sliders were closed, and the curtain was drawn most of the way. I opened the door and pushed the curtain aside to see Cassie sitting on a chair next to Lance’s bed. I nodded at her while grimacing through my teeth.
Jack spoke first. “Ma’am, we’re going to have to question Lance privately. This is a police matter.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Excuse me?” I cocked my head to the right. “Detective Steele just said this is a police matter, meaning we’re investigating something. Either you leave voluntarily or you leave on a gurney—take your pick.” I stared at her and smiled.
“Whatever.” She kissed Lance’s cheek, huffed, and pushed past me.
“Bit—”
Jack coughed, interrupting what I was about to call her.
I approached the hospital bed. “Lance? Can you hear me?”
His eyes fluttered and finally focused on me.
I forced a smile—he looked weak.
“Jade, what are you doing here? Where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital, man. Lance, do you remember anything?” Jack asked.
“Jack?”
“Yep, I’m here.”
&
nbsp; “Lance, tell us what you remember. You went out for a jog, right?” I sat in the chair that Cassie had been on earlier. Jack stood with his notepad out.
Lance pointed to the cup with ice water. I handed it to him, and he drank from the straw.
“I went for my normal jog after dinner. It was almost dark when I got back.”
“Do you remember what time that was?” I asked.
“Um.” He coughed and took another sip of water. “I remember looking at my Fitbit. I think it was almost seven thirty, maybe a little later.”
“Then what happened?” Jack asked.
“I don’t know. A shadowy figure came out of nowhere. I tried to turn, and then I felt a sharp pain in my side. That’s it. I must have passed out.”
Jack continued, “That slight turn probably saved your life. So between then and now, you can’t remember anything? Not the people around you, the ambulance ride, arriving here, nothing?”
“Sorry, but no.”
I looked up at Jack and shrugged. “Okay, I guess that’s all we need, then. I hope you recover quickly, Lance.”
“Jade?”
“Yeah?”
“Why do you think someone did this to me?”
“I have no idea, but we’re going to find out. Take care of yourself.”
We met up with Amber and the lieutenant again in the visitors’ lounge.
“What do you think, boss? Should we head over to the apartment building?” I asked.
“No, let’s just go on home. Kyle called and said there wasn’t any evidence at the scene.”
The lieutenant gave each of us a direct look. We knew he meant no dime was found, but he didn’t want to give that detail away in front of Amber. He continued, “The deputies interviewed everyone at the building. The couple that found Lance said an SUV of some sort pulled out of the driveway right when they walked out the front door. They couldn’t tell the make, color, or plate number because the exit was obscured by the large apartment sign and shrubbery. They said the red plastic on the right taillight was broken. The brake light flashed clear when the vehicle turned out of the parking lot. That’s really all they had.”
