by Neal Griffin
Another group of children were ready to cross the street. Gosforth looked at them, then at Tia. His voice rung with defeat. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. I’ll come alone.”
FORTY-ONE
Ten minutes after Tia and Rich seated themselves in the same corner booth they’d used before, Robert Gosforth walked into the restaurant. Alone. He looked even more nervous than usual and his bird-like eyes surveyed the entire dining area, but he walked to the booth without hesitation.
As he got closer, with his hands jammed into the pockets of his jacket, Tia felt the restaurant begin to spin. Her heart skipped and her mind flashed back to another time and place, but one that was eerily similar. A booth in a café, sitting across from another cop. A desperate man, walking toward her with his hands out of sight. The smell of fried walleye filled her nostrils, making her nauseous. Her system was flooding with adrenaline. She resisted the overpowering urge to scream a warning to her partner.
Tia instinctively pulled her nine-millimeter from her holster and held it at the low, ready in her left hand under the table. She was careful to position it so she wouldn’t endanger Rich, who was sitting on the opposite bench, his back to Gosforth.
Her heart pounded; her eyes fixed on his hands. She played it out in her head: at the first twitch, the first gleam of metal, she’d start firing.
When Gosforth stopped beside the table, she reached across his waistline and grabbed his right hand with her own, trapping it in his pocket.
“Hey,” Gosforth protested. “What are you doing?”
“Don’t move your hands. Stand very still.”
“Why? What’s the matter? You told me to come here.”
“Rich,” her voice was calm but Tia knew she was on the verge of a panic attack. “Would you pat Mr. Gosforth down, please?”
Rich quickly slid from the booth and stood behind Gosforth, pulling both his hands out of his pockets and behind his back. Tia saw both hands were empty but she kept her weapon out and concealed under the table.
“My God,” Robert whispered as if everyone in the restaurant weren’t already staring. “Is this really necessary? You asked me to come here and here I am. Are you going to arrest me?”
Tia ignored him and looked to Rich, who was finishing up the pat-down.
“He’s clean.”
She breathed deeply and tried to refocus her mind. She saw understanding on Rich’s face and nodded to let him know she was okay. She slid her gun back into its holster. “Just needed to check you for weapons, Robert.”
“Well, that was completely unnecessary.” He looked around the restaurant and saw all eyes were watching him. “And absolutely humiliating.”
Tia was back on her game. “Scoot over, Rich. Let Mr. Gosforth sit next to you.”
Gosforth took a seat next to Rich.
“Not trying to embarrass you, sir,” Tia said, her heart rate returning to normal. The churning in her stomach subsided. “Thank you for coming.”
“Well, once again, Detective, you’ve left me with little choice.”
Tia couldn’t help but think he wasn’t the only one who was feeling like he had little choice. She didn’t exactly relish the idea of trying to get a confession from a killer in the middle of a restaurant. But she knew she couldn’t risk a custodial interview. If she took Gosforth to the station, that would be the equivalent of an arrest and she would have to Mirandize him. He’d lawyer-up and that would be the end of their conversation. To be able to wall off Livy’s involvement, Tia needed a confession. Her only choice was to go slow. Get him talking. Pull the truth out of a man who had everything to lose. And do it right in the damn Cracker Barrel.
Tia removed a digital recorder from her pocket and placed it in plain view. She turned it on, leaned across the table, and spoke directly to him. “I want to be very clear about this. You’re free to leave. You’re not in custody. You’re not under arrest. You don’t have to talk to us. You can get up and walk out. Do you understand that?”
“And if I do that, what happens?”
Tia shook her head and spoke deliberately. “No promises. We’ll continue our investigation. My gut tells me that at some point, we’ll come back to arrest you.”
His voice cracked and she could hear the strain in his next words: “You just think you know so much, don’t you?”
“Like I told you, I know a lot, but I don’t know everything. You want to help clear things up? Tell us what led you to being in the woods at two o’clock in the morning with a dead body.”
“See? You’re wrong.” He emphasized each word by tapping a finger against the table. “I was never around a dead body.”
Tia sighed, mostly for dramatic effect. “Look, if you’re going to sit there and—”
“Henry Hayes was extorting me.” Robert looked at the table, not meeting Tia’s eyes.
Good start, Tia thought. Motive. “How’s that? What did he have on you?”
“Six weeks ago, I was at a conference in Madison. Henry approached me and started a conversation.”
Tia decided not to ask where this spontaneous conversation might have occurred but she didn’t doubt it was somewhere that Henry made Robert as a mark, as a guy looking for some action.
“Anyway, we talked. He said he had a room.” He looked around, keeping his voice low. “He also told me he was nineteen.”
“So,” Tia urged him along, “you went back to his room?”
“Yes, we did. And we had sex, okay? Consensual, adult sex.”
“Sorry, but it doesn’t matter if he said he was nineteen or a hundred nineteen. Turns out he’s seventeen. That’s on you, pal. It’s a bitch, I know, but the law is clear on that point.”
“Oh, don’t I know.” His voice shook with anger. “Henry made that quite clear.”
From the corner of her eye, Tia saw that Rich was listening intently.
“As soon as we … well … afterwards … his friend came into the room. He had a gun. A shotgun. They both made me sit on the bed while they played back the…”
“They’d recorded you?” Tia asked.
“Yes. All of it.” He put his head in his hands. “They have everything on camera. They threatened to put it on the internet. I mean, right then, right there. They were just going to put it out there for the whole world to see it.”
Tia couldn’t believe that the man was willing to lay out a solid motive for murder. A schoolteacher, married, active in his church—public disclosure would ruin his life. Tia thought she might be just a few minutes away from a full confession.
He began to cry. “They took all the money I had. They made me drive to an ATM. The machine would only let me withdraw four hundred dollars, so that’s what I gave them. Henry told me he’d be back, that he wanted more.”
“Did you hear from him again?” Tia asked. “I mean, after that first night?”
“About two weeks ago, he called and said he wanted more money. I told him I didn’t have it. He said he’d call again and I’d better be able to come up with it.”
“When did he call again?”
“A few days before the retreat. He said he wanted his money. His money, he said. Like I owed it to him.”
Tia knew the answer to her next question but she wanted to hear it from him. “How much did he want?”
His voice was quiet. Defeated. “A thousand dollars. I had to get a cash advance from my line of credit.”
“So then you made arrangements to meet.”
“Yes. He called me the first night of the retreat. He asked if I had the money and I told him I did. He said he would call back and tell me when to meet him.”
“And?” Tia tried encouraging him.
“And nothing. He called me. I met him in the woods like he told me. He was with the same man from the hotel room. I gave him the money. Then I walked away. I swear, that’s what happened.”
“Wait a sec.” Tia hesitated, a thought forming in her head. “Why the retreat?”
“Excuse me?”
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“Why did you meet Henry there? You both live in Rock County, about twenty miles from each other. You could split the difference and it’s ten miles. Why did Henry meet you in the woods outside of Newberg?”
“I don’t know, Detective,” he said, sounding annoyed. “I was in no position to make demands.”
“That’s not my point, Robert.” Tia looked directly into his eyes, letting him know the question was important. “Did you ever mention to him that you would be in Newberg? That you’d be attending the retreat at Copper Lake?”
Robert paused as if suddenly realizing there might be some significance to her point. “No. I don’t believe I did. In fact, I’m sure I didn’t.”
Tia needed to think it through. She looked at Rich and nodded, signaling for him to take over.
Rich started off slow. “Mr. Gosforth, can you describe Henry’s friend?”
“Tall, thin. Red hair. Probably around the same age as Henry. Maybe a few years older.”
“That’s the person who was in the hotel room with the gun?”
“Yes,” Gosforth answered.
“Did he bring the gun to the woods?” Rich asked.
“Yes. He was holding it the whole time. When I walked away, I could hear them both laughing and saying that they would call me again sometime.”
“What did you do then?” Rich asked. “After you gave Henry the money?”
“I went back to the camp and went to my cabin. The next day I heard about the body.” He looked back and forth between Tia and Rich. “That’s the truth. I know I was wrong not to tell you all of this when you first came to me, but how could I? I don’t know anything about how that boy died.”
“I believe you,” Tia said and she saw his immediate look of relief. “Don’t get too excited. I’m not going to arrest you but you’re a very important witness. You’re not going to be able to keep this a secret.”
“But my job, my family…” The teacher leaned forward and grabbed Tia’s hand. “Please, Detective. I know I was wrong, but I thought he was … I didn’t know I was breaking the law.”
“I get it.” She pulled her hand away. “But I think you need to go home and talk with your wife.”
Robert sat for nearly a minute. “I should never have gone. If I had just not been there, I wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“Gone where?” Rich asked.
“The retreat.”
“Why did you go?”
Robert looked up. “Everyone wants to be involved in the Church of the Rock retreat. To be that close to greatness? When Reverend Mills came to our church we ended up talking about the retreat. He invited me to attend as a youth counselor.”
He sat in silence for nearly a minute, before he pulled himself to his feet. “When will I hear from you again?”
“Can’t say for sure,” Tia said indifferently. “But you will. Soon.”
“Fine.” He looked to Rich, ignoring Tia. “Thank you. You’ve been very kind and decent.”
When he’d left, Rich leaned over the table and said, “So do you really believe him?”
“What?” Tia asked with a smirk. “That you’re kind and decent? Sure. You’re swell.”
“I’m serious,” Rich said. “Do you believe he didn’t kill Henry?”
Tia watched through the window as Robert made his way to his car. She saw him open the door and sit in the driver’s seat. He rested his head against the steering wheel, and his shoulders began to rise and fall. She regretted the fact he had been pulled so deeply into the investigation, knowing his personal life would be highly scrutinized. As far as the man’s marriage went, that was between him and his wife, but Tia decided she would do what she could to help keep the rest of his life intact. She felt certain Robert Gosforth was not a killer.
“Yeah, Rich. I think I do.”
FORTY-TWO
Tia sat back on the couch and looked up from her notebook to face Ben, behind his desk, and Travis, next to her on the couch. Both had been taking extensive notes over the past forty-five minutes. In her peripheral vision she could see Dr. Kowalski seated in a chair, arms across his chest, scowling in her direction. The only movement coming from the doctor had been the steady rise and fall of his chest. Rich was in a chair across from Tia and had managed to follow her explicit instructions not to say a word.
After leaving the restaurant, Tia had called Travis and told him she needed to meet with both him and the Chief, and that she wanted Dr. Kowalski there as well. During the detailed debrief, Tia had been careful to make no reference to Livy’s unauthorized lab work, but everything she did report was absolutely true. The list of the adult staff members at the retreat had led to the identity of Robert Horatio Gosforth. A routine records search indicated that Gosforth had a prior arrest for public indecency. The cell phone tower dump identified Gosforth’s phone as being associated with the phone that called 911. In a noncustodial interview, Gosforth admitted to being extorted by Henry and paying him a thousand dollars’ cash on the night he was killed. And Gosforth described a second person who had acted as an accomplice during Henry’s crime. This person was with Henry the night he was killed and the description provided by Gosforth matched a known associate by the name of Kevin “Kimo” Moore. According to Gosforth, Kimo had been armed with a shotgun.
“So do you believe Gosforth?” Ben asked. “That when he left, Henry was alive?”
“Yes, sir,” Tia said. “I do. It just doesn’t make any sense that Gosforth would leave behind a thousand dollars of his own money. The guy lives on a teacher’s salary. But even bigger than that, I don’t see a guy like Gosforth fighting Kimo for a gun. And I sure don’t see him taking a close-range shot at Henry. It’s just not in him.”
Ben nodded in agreement. “All right, then. What now?”
“We go at Kimo,” Tia said, sure of herself. “I’ve already put out the word to Sun Prairie PD to pick him up. For now, it’s just a probation violation. Since we can put Kimo at the scene with the shotgun, I say we get him in the box and go right at him. He might not be our shooter or maybe he is, I don’t know. But either way? The boy knows the whole story.”
“Puller,” Ben said. “What do you think?”
“Uh…” Rich looked back to Tia, as if surprised to be included and unsure how to respond.
“Well, answer the man,” Tia said.
“Yes, sir. Seems like the next logical step.”
Ben nodded at the trainee, then turned to his Sergeant. “TJ? Your thoughts?”
“Absolutely. Let’s get the little shit in the box,” Travis said, but his voice lacked conviction.
“Chief.” Tia looked directly at her boss. It was time to throw down the gauntlet. “We need lab work.”
Ben turned his attention to the doctor, who had still not said a word since the beginning of the briefing. “Well, Mort. I take it you won’t object to reopening your investigation into the death of Henry Hayes?”
Kowalski looked toward Tia then back to Ben. It seemed to Tia he was working hard to maintain his composure. He made sure to direct his comments to the Chief. “In light of these most recent developments, yes, Ben. I will authorize the reopening of the investigation of the Hayes case.”
“Hang on a second, Doc. As far as the PD is concerned, the case was never closed.” Tia did her best to keep the attitude out of her voice. “I just want to know: Do we get lab work or not?”
Kowalski finally looked her way. “Yes, Detective. You’ll get your lab work. Fingerprint work will be completed by Investigator Sorensen. Any DNA analysis will be completed by the state lab.”
“Thank you, sir,” Tia said, knowing she had pushed it far enough and she needed to tread lightly. “I appreciate your cooperation.”
“And just so you know, Ben,” Kowalski said as he stood to leave. “The press conference was all the mayor’s idea. I knew it was a rush to judgment.”
“I’m sure you did, Mort,” Ben said.
Kowalski gave a last look around the room, stopping
at Tia. “I’ll let Ms. Sorensen know you will be getting in touch with her.”
Tia’s phone buzzed with a text. She pulled it out and began to read, glad that Kowalski took the opportunity to leave. She turned back to Travis. “My contact at Sun Prairie PD. Kimo’s in custody. He’s at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison.”
“I’m sure there’s a story behind that,” Ben said, looking toward Tia and Rich. “You two get over there.”
“Actually, Chief,” Travis said, “may I speak to you and Tia for a moment?”
Rich said to Tia, “I’ll wait for you in the bullpen.”
Travis shut the door behind him. “I just got a call from Detective O’Donnell. SDSO is ready to make me a job offer.”
“That’s great, Travis,” Ben said, sounding like he meant it. “Congratulations. I never doubted for a moment they’d hire you.”
“Thank you, sir. The only problem is the academy start date has been moved up to next week. They want me to come out this Monday for swearing-in and department orientation. I know that’s not fair to you, and if you want, I’ll tell them I can’t make it, see if they can put me off until the next class.”
“No, Travis,” Ben said reassuringly. “We’ll make it work somehow.”
After everything Travis had been through to make this job happen, Tia was surprised not to see any joy on his face or pick up any sense of elation from him.
“Thanks, Chief.” Travis turned to Tia. “I hate leaving right in the middle of this.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tia said, moving for the door. “Rich and I have it under control. You do what you have to do.”
“Tia, I want to—”
“We’ll talk later.” Even she heard the tension in her voice. She turned to Ben. “Chief, I’ll check in with you when we get back from the hospital.”
“Thanks, Tia. And good work on this,” Ben said, still looking at Travis.
With a last look at her sergeant, Tia walked out the door. She headed down the hallway with her eyes stinging, wondering to herself if she could have possibly handled that any worse.
FORTY-THREE
