Penfield looked away.
“You still haven’t told me who’s giving you information about this case,” Emma said.
“You’re not going to like it.”
“Damn it, Alex, just tell me.”
Penfield turned back to her.
“His name’s Henry Atwater. He’s a psychic.”
He studied Emma’s reaction. He expected her to burst out in laughter, but she didn’t.
“How do you know this person?”
“He helped my father with a case a long time ago.”
“I didn’t know your father was a police officer.”
“He had over forty years on the job.”
“So your father trusted this guy?”
“Not exactly,” Penfield admitted.
“Why would you believe him if your father didn’t?”
“It’s a long story, but he helped me with one of my cases several years ago. I hadn’t heard from him until he called me about yours.”
“Did you call him back after you read the news?” Emma asked.
“No. I wasn’t sure I was going to do anything about it. Then I heard about Ben, and I knew I had to see you.”
Emma looked down at her desk.
“I know how close partners can be,” Penfield continued.
Emma looked up at him.
“It was terrible. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“How did it happen?”
Emma filled Penfield in on that morning’s events, including the mysterious phone call from Ben’s phone, what his body had looked like on the sofa, the high temperature in the house, and her discovery that the killer might have approached the house through the woods.
“Ben called you this morning?”
“The call was from his phone, and I found it beside his body on the sofa.”
“Did you recognize his voice?”
“It was hard to tell. It sounded muffled. It could have been any man’s voice, really.”
“You said he’d been hit by a hammer. Maybe that was the reason he sounded like that,” he guessed.
“I don’t think it was him. There was no way he was saying anything after getting attacked like that.”
“And you think he was attacked in the kitchen and then his body was dragged to the den?”
“Definitely, but I don’t know why he would have done it. There was a large pool of blood on the kitchen floor and then drag marks across the carpet.”
“Did you get a time of death?”
“Not yet. I asked for the autopsy to be rushed, but I still probably won’t get the results until tomorrow at the earliest,” Emma said.
“When was the last time you spoke to Ben?”
“Yesterday, here are work. Ben charged Bobby Tatum with the murder of his father. Then we spoke briefly about who we were going to talk to today.”
“Who was on your list?”
“Just one name, really: Sally Tatum. Ben felt bad he hadn’t expressed his condolences to her, either. I sensed he had some kind of history with the family.”
“They were friends?”
“I didn’t get that. Ben mentioned that he’d arrested Bobby Tatum for armed robbery years ago, so he knew the family. It was more than that, though. He said that Bill Tatum didn’t have friends. I don’t know if that meant he and Bill had some kind of run-in, but they probably did if Ben had arrested his son at one point.”
“Did you know Bill Tatum?”
“No. I never met him. I’d never even heard of the Tatums.”
“When you interviewed the brother…what was his name again?”
“Charles Ray,” Emma answered.
“Did he express anger toward you or Ben?”
“He seemed more in denial than anything else. He said that Bobby never would have touched their father.”
“That denial could have changed to anger as the day went on. Maybe he needed some place to release that anger, and he took it out on Ben.”
“By killing him in the exact same way as Bobby had killed their father?”
“Why not?”
“It seems like a big risk to take. Ben could handle himself, and Charles Ray would have known Ben would be armed. Why attack him with a hammer when you could shoot him? I’m sure Charles Ray had a gun or could have easily gotten a hold of one.”
“It was personal.”
“But why attack him so suddenly? Why not spend your time trying to get your brother out of jail? I just don’t think it was him.”
“Do you think Ben might have gone to see Sally last night or anyone else without telling you?” Penfield asked.
Emma hesitated a moment and then admitted he might have.
“Did he normally do things without telling you first?”
“Not that I know of.”
“So why were you worried that he might have gone to see Sally without you?”
“I wasn’t worried. It’s hard to explain.”
Emma then told Penfield about the anniversary of Ben’s wife’s death, and how she’d known yesterday was an emotional day for him.
“What was Ben’s reaction at the marina when he found out it was the Tatums?” Penfield asked.
“He seemed calm. I don’t mean to imply that he didn’t care, but he didn’t lose his cool, either. It was a pretty horrific scene on that boat, too. His attitude was what kept me in check. He was the same way during the interrogation.”
“How did he react when Bobby tried to blame the murder on his brother?”
“He was incredulous. He told me he expected Bobby to deny it, but I don’t think he saw him making such an outlandish excuse.”
“Let’s go back to this potential meeting with Sally. Have you checked Ben’s phone records to see if he called her last night?”
“I went through them at his house. He made no calls after work, but he did receive one.”
“Did you recognize the number? Was it Sally’s?”
“I don’t know. I asked the guys to research who it belonged to.”
“Why not call it? It’s probably a burner phone, in which case the guy’s ditched it already. Of course, there’s another possibility.”
“He wants me to call him.”
Emma pulled out her phone and retrieved the photo she’d taken of Ben’s phone display. She placed her desk phone on speaker mode and called the number. The ringing stopped after the second ring. She heard labored breathing on the other end.
“Hello?” Emma asked.
“I’ve been waiting for your call,” the male voice said.
It sounded muffled and strained, just as it had that morning when Emma thought Ben had been calling.
“Who is this?” Emma asked.
She scribbled furiously on the notepad and slid it to Penfield to read. He turned the pad to face him and saw the words: “Same voice as this morning!”
“Are you the one I saw by the water?” the male voice asked.
“Tell me your name,” Emma said.
“You already know it.”
“I don’t. That’s why I asked.”
“You already know,” the male voice repeated.
“Did you kill Ben Hall?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you kill him?”
The man ignored her question.
“You impressed me this morning when I saw you come into the woods. You didn’t give me much time.”
“Tell me why you killed him. He didn’t do anything to you,” Emma said.
“How do you know that? You weren’t there. Is that what he told you? That he was innocent?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I still don’t know your name.”
There was a long pause on the phone.
Then he said, “Jimmy.”
“Jimmy Tatum is dead. He died over two decades ago.”
“Believe want you want.”
“Why did you kill Ben?” Emma asked again.
“Don’t pursue this. It will soon be over. If you
come for me, you’ll regret it. This is your only warning.”
“Who are you?”
There was no response.
“Hello?”
Emma and Penfield heard the dial tone kick on through the phone’s speakers.
“He’s gone,” Penfield said.
Emma hit the end button on the phone and looked over to Penfield.
“That’s the voice I heard this morning. I’m sure of it.”
“It sounded like he was trying to disguise his voice.”
“Now you see why I thought it was Ben’s at first. It sounded distressed, like he was having trouble breathing,” Emma said.
“You spoke at length with Charles Ray. Do you think it could be him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. You know what this means. Bobby was telling the truth when he said there was someone else on that boat.”
“So how did he survive that freezing water?” Penfield asked.
“Maybe he had on some kind of protective clothing. Maybe they weren’t as far out as Bobby thought they were. He had to have been traumatized after the attack on his father. He couldn’t have been thinking straight.”
“Wouldn’t those other two guys have seen some guy swimming to shore?”
“Maybe not. Gray water. Gray sky. Fog and rain. Unless he was wearing bright clothing, he would have been easy to miss.”
“Okay. Why does Bobby hang himself? If he’s innocent, you’d think he would do everything he could to prove it,” Penfield said.
“Ben painted him as an unstable guy. Maybe he thought there was no way he could beat the murder charges. There’s something else. The guy’s wife had left him. Maybe he didn’t have much to live for.”
“Let’s say Bobby didn’t do it, but he saw the attack. Why blame his brother when he knew he was dead? Why not just describe the real perp?”
Penfield saw a thought cross Emma’s mind.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“Why did the killer say he was Jimmy? How would he have known Bobby would have pinned the murder on his brother?”
“Maybe the killer said he was Jimmy during the attack on the boat?”
“And Bobby believed in ghosts? I don’t buy it. So why does the killer want us all to believe that a long-dead boy has come back to life?”
“They’re playing with you. There’s no other explanation.”
“He told me to quit the case. Does he really expect me to do that?”
“He’s just trying to scare you. You know that.”
“It won’t work,” Emma said.
“What will you do now?”
“I stick with Ben’s original plan and meet with Sally Tatum.”
“I’m not sure how to ask this.”
“You want to know if you can tag along.”
“Something like that.”
“I’m still not a hundred percent sure why you’re here. I understand this thing with the phone call, at least I understand it as much as I can, but I don’t get why you’re pursuing this,” Emma said.
“Atwater knew I wouldn’t stay away, and I’ve never been one to sit around. So, about me tagging along.”
“I should ask Sheriff Slater. I’ve never had someone who isn’t with the department get involved in an investigation.”
“I can guess what he’d say. Let’s do this, if you’re okay with it. I’ll help you do the interview with Sally Tatum. Then I’ll leave you alone.”
Emma thought about it a long moment. Then she nodded.
“Let’s go. We have a lot to ask her.”
Chapter 8
Sally Tatum
Sally Tatum lived in a ranch-style house just off Guinea Road. Penfield thought it looked a lot like his as Emma parked behind a large pickup in the driveway.
“That’s Charles Ray’s truck. I remember it from when we met with him yesterday,” Emma said.
They exited the car and made their way up the driveway. Emma had filled him in on the comments Charles Ray had made regarding their financial situation, so he knew the Tatums were hurting. He couldn’t imagine how they must be feeling now with the added deaths of Bill and Bobby Tatum.
They climbed the three steps to the porch, and Emma rang the doorbell. Charles Ray answered several seconds later.
“Charles Ray,” Emma said, and she nodded to him.
“What do you want?” he asked before Emma could introduce Penfield.
“We’d like to speak to your mother.”
“She’s resting right now.”
“Who is it?” a female voice said in the background.
Emma looked past Charles Ray and saw who she assumed was Sally Tatum approaching the front door.
“It’s that detective who came to my home,” Charles Ray said.
The old woman’s eyes filled with rage.
“Haven’t you people done enough? You killed my boy!” Sally yelled.
She walked up to the door and stood beside Charles Ray.
“I’m sorry for your losses,” Emma said.
“He didn’t kill my husband. Bobby would never have done that.”
“May we ask you a few questions, Mrs. Tatum?”
“Which one of you wrapped that sheet around his neck?” Sally asked.
“Excuse me?” Emma said.
“You really expect me to believe Bobby took his own life? You pinned that murder on him. Then you killed him so he couldn’t defend himself. The truth will come out. It always does.”
“Mrs. Tatum, I assure you…”
“Go to hell and get off my property!” Sally screamed.
Charles Ray did his best to calm her down, but she slammed the door in Emma’s and Penfield’s faces. Emma turned to Penfield.
The door opened again before he could respond, and Charles Ray walked out.
“It wasn’t our intention to upset your mother,” Emma said
“She doesn’t know anything that can help you,” Charles Ray said.
“She might. You never know what can break a case open,” Emma said.
“I thought you already had yourself convinced Bobby did it.”
“There are other things that have happened since then.”
“Yeah, I heard about your partner. I heard what was done to his face.”
Emma didn’t respond.
“Was it like what happened to my father?”
“Yes,” Emma said.
“Does that mean Bobby really didn’t do it?”
“We don’t know. I still don’t see how someone could have been hiding on that boat without them seeing him.”
“I never thought he did it. I told you that.”
“Who do you think would have killed Ben? Did you hear anyone who wanted revenge for Bobby’s arrest?” Emma asked.
“Is this when you ask me where I was?”
Emma said nothing.
“I’ve been here with my mom since you came to my home. I haven’t left, not once,” he continued.
“That doesn’t mean you didn’t talk to anyone. Did you hear somebody say anything about hurting Ben?”
“No one likes the law around here, but why aren’t you asking me any questions about my brother or father? They’re dead, too. You only care about your own?”
“It’s not that,” Penfield said. “Whoever murdered Ben Hall is possibly the same person who attacked your father and has gotten away with it so far. This is one giant puzzle. She’s just trying to gather all the pieces.”
“You don’t care about us. Try as hard as you want to convince me. I’m not ever gonna believe you.”
“You said you heard about Ben, yet you’ve been here all this time,” Penfield said.
“It’s all over the news. Everybody knows about it.”
“You mentioned something about his face. That hasn’t been reported. How did you know that?” Penfield asked.
“I know people. You aren’t the only ones allowed to ask questions.”
Charles Ray turned to Emma.
“What
are you gonna do about what happened to my brother? How come no one was watching him?”
“I’m sorry about Bobby. I know he was depressed about his marriage ending. Did he ever threaten to take his own life before?”
“No. He wasn’t like that. He would never do that.”
“I have video of the entrance to his cell. I assure you no one went in there to harm him,” Emma said.
“If you say so.”
“I’m guessing you know he blamed your brother, Jimmy, for the murder of your father,” Penfield said.
He studied Charles Ray for a reaction. He wasn’t disappointed.
“So you didn’t hear that, did you?” Penfield asked.
Charles Ray said nothing.
“He told us more than once that it was Jimmy. Why do you think he would have done that?” Emma asked.
“I don’t know. Jimmy’s gone.”
“Which brings us back to the question. If Bobby didn’t do it, why would he blame it on someone who couldn’t possibly have committed the crime?” Emma asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Had Bobby mentioned Jimmy recently for whatever reason?” Penfield asked.
“No. We never talked about him.”
Charles Ray turned and opened the front door. He turned back to Emma and Penfield.
“Stay away from my mother. She’s been through enough.”
He entered the house and shut the door behind him.
Emma and Penfield walked back to the car and climbed inside. Penfield took one more look at the house as Emma turned on the ignition. She put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway.
“We got nothing out of that,” Emma complained.
“You got at least one thing, and it’s disturbing.”
“What’s that?” she said as she put the car in drive.
“Someone in your department is friends with the Tatums.”
“You mean his knowledge about the injuries to Ben?”
“You heard what he said. He was rubbing it in your face. I heard the news reports, too, and there wasn’t any mention of specific injuries. They listed Ben’s name, and they hinted that they thought it was a robbery gone wrong. My guess is someone either called him from the scene of the crime or waited to call just after they left. Did Ben have any enemies in the department? Maybe someone who would side with the Tatums?”
“I don’t think so. Everyone loved him. I never heard anyone say one bad thing about him, and I’ve been there for several years.”
Dead Rise: An Alex Penfield Novel Page 6
