Not A Good Reason

by McCarthy, G. L.

  “Not a problem. I’d have a hard time passing this information along to our detective when the source is a ghost.” Trooper Valdez wondered how the Sheriff was going to proceed.

  “Well the Sheriff and I have a history so he’ll believe me and my sources. Let’s go Oliver.” Alex wanted to deliver this information in person and hopefully get moving on this a.s.a.p.

  “Just out of curiosity how did you come to know this Oliver?” He may as well have some idea who Alex was getting her info from.

  “If I told you, you’d think I was crazy. So after this is all over and you are a believer in my friend Oliver I’ll tell you. Deal?” Alex didn’t want Oliver to hear whatever Trooper Valdez response was good or bad – not just yet.

  “Deal. Do you mind if I follow you back to the Sheriff’s office. I’ll wait outside until you fill him in.” The Trooper had a few things to tell the Sheriff himself – one being that he was gay.

  Oliver was already sitting in the truck when Alex jumped in. She could tell he was a little calmer this time and not so spooked by their encounter with Mrs. Borden. Alex needed to take a quick detour to run Oliver by the house so he wouldn’t have to hang with her in town. Plus she didn’t want him to hear her tell Carol about Sam. In fact she didn’t want to lie to him about why Sam wasn’t coming home and just hoped he didn’t ask. Alex signaled the Trooper to roll down his window as she pulled along side him. Telling him she needed to drop off Oliver seemed normal to her, but the Trooper gave her a strange look and smile.

  Alex thought about this new information and it wasn’t as detailed as she’d hoped, but then it was huge in as much as this ‘John’ was a bartender. So this is how he met these women. Of course the Ridgeway was the only place in this area where a woman could go and be able to have drinks and dinner. Now she just hoped someone remembered this guy just in case his employment records were nonexistent.

  When Alex stopped in the street to let Oliver out she wasn’t aware he’d been staring at her the whole time.

  “I’ll be home later. I don’t know how long the Sheriff will need me.” Alex didn’t want him to worry about her.

  “It’s okay Alex; I was in the kitchen when Sam wrote the note. I know she won’t be home for a while. But I’m not leaving you, I promised you and Sam that I would look out for you. See you later.” Oliver could see the tears starting to run down Alex’s cheeks and he didn’t want her to see his.

  “Thank you. I love you Oliver. I hope you know that.” Alex hoped she could pull it together before she got to the Sheriff’s office.

  Alex wasn’t sure if it was remembering Sam’s note or Oliver’s sweet promise that sent her into a full blown crying jag, but she was glad she had a box of tissues in the glove box. She checked her face in the rearview mirror several times and still had a police car following her.

  When she pulled into the visitors parking spot in front of the Sheriff’s office it looked quiet enough. No news vans or a crowd of people standing out front. Her stomach was grumbling to remind her that she didn’t really eat lunch since she spent most of the time talking to Frederick. Maybe inviting the Sheriff to dinner could get him out of the office in case there were other people in his office she didn’t know.

  “Hello, Jim.” Alex vocalized loudly as she found no one at the front desk upon her arrival.

  “Hey, we’re back here.” Jim stuck his head out to let Alex know where ‘here’ was.

  As Alex came around the front desk the Sheriff bolted through the door and almost knocked her down as he was hoping for some good news.

  “Please tell me you have something I can use to find this psycho.” The Sheriff needed some good news.

  “I hope so. But first I need to tell you that Trooper Valdez was there with me at the cabin. So he’s right behind me. Do you want to share this news with him too?” Alex thought he was going to say ‘Hell No’.

  “I trust Fil to keep this between us. I’ll go get him. Go on back to where Jim is and we’ll be right in.” The Sheriff gave Alex’s arm a gentle squeeze and looked relieved as he passed her.

  Alex found Jim at a long table with old files and the new reports from the coroner spread out its length. Jim looked tired and Alex knew he was working more than his usual shift to help the Sheriff with all this paperwork.

  “Hey Jim. Have you had anything to eat today? I’m starving and I can call the Tea House or the Diner for take out.” Alex wondered if the Sheriff and Fil wanted something too.

  “All right. I’ll go for either place. What ever you want to pick up.” Jim really didn’t care he just wanted something.

  “I’ll go ask the Sheriff and be right back.” Alex wondered why it was taking so long to get Fil.

  Alex could see them talking and it looked like a serious conversation, one she didn’t want to interrupt. So she pulled out her cellphone and typed in one word – “Hungry?” She almost laughed out loud as she saw the Sheriff’s pocket light up. As the Sheriff gave it a quick glance he reached for Fil’s arm and steered him towards the office door.

  “Starving. Where are you going tonight?” The Sheriff was thinking like Jim, just get something.

  “Diner or Tea House?” Alex smiled and waited for a response.

  “Diner. I’ll have the Hamburger Plate and Raspberry Iced Tea. Fil?” The Sheriff assumed he would be joining them.

  Alex walked back to ask Jim if he wanted the same thing as the Sheriff. But he met her halfway having heard their orders and since he had the Diner on speed dial he had the order placed in no time. He even offered to go pick it up because he really needed a break. No one argued and they all just handed him their money.

  Alex walked back to where Jim had been sitting and waited for the Sheriff and Fil to finish their conversation. She thought it looked like Fil may have been trying not to cry and wondered what they were talking about. Then it dawned on her that maybe Fil had come out to the Sheriff. She hoped for his sake he did since it really helped having a good friend who knew everything about you.

  She decided while she was waiting for the Sheriff or the food, which ever came first, she would stack the files and reports so they wouldn’t be in the way. She really wanted to start reading them, but thought she should get the Sheriff’s permission first. As Alex started to tap her fingers on the table she heard footsteps coming her way. It was Jim with the food and Alex was amazed at the speed, but Jim told her that he was one of the Diner’s best customers so he gets priority treatment.

  “The Sheriff said to start without them. So let’s.” Jim handed Alex her white Styrofoam container and drink.

  “Thank you. I agree.” Alex flipped open the lid and had forgotten how much food you got.

  Both of them opened ketchup packages and started eating their french fries and onion rings while they were still hot. Jim left the other two dinners in the bag and rolled it tightly shut to help keep them warm.

  Their conversation was light about what either had done that day. Alex was beginning to wonder just how long it takes to come out to a friend. She’d always been out to her closest friends, which is as long as she knew she was a Lesbian, so no secrets there. But she could understand this must be a first for Fil and so there was more to tell. She just hoped they’d come in soon. When the two men finally came in Fil grabbed his dinner and drink and excused himself saying he needed to get back to his office and finish some reports. He said his goodbyes and then smiled at Alex and gave her a wink.

  “So you and Fil had an eventful encounter today. I hear you talked to Mrs. Borden. What did she have to say?” The Sheriff was hoping for some details to help him arrest this guy.

  “She said his name is John and that he used to work for her parents at the Ridgeway. She met him in 1999. Were you Sheriff here then?” Alex wondered when he came back after his divorce.

  “No, not until 2001. I started the new century and a new life – wife free.” The Sheriff felt like it was a century ago as well. “The only hope we have of finding a name is if he
has payroll records at the Ridgeway.”

  Jim shook his head when both the Sheriff and Alex looked at him as a possible source. But Jim didn’t drink so knowing a bartender was a slim chance at that.

  The Sheriff made some quick notes and would take a drive out there tomorrow to check further.

  Alex wanted to know what Fil and the Sheriff had talked about for so long, but knew she would need them to volunteer the subject of their talk.

  Alex was beginning to feel the emotional effects of the day and needed to head for home. She packed up her leftovers and said her goodbyes. Tomorrow was another day and if she had no further dreams then maybe this case would be wrapped up by the weekend – at least she could hope.

  Alex walked into the dark house and took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She had half expected Sam to be there, but was glad she wasn’t so she didn’t have to explain why she was so late. It was odd though, she at least thought Sam might have wondered about these new crimes that were discovered practically in their own back yard. But Alex guessed she wasn’t ready to talk and knowing how Sam had been acting since she started her training, she still may be lost in her own little world.

  It was Oliver’s question that brought Alex back from staring at the refrigerator light after she had put her leftover dinner on the top shelf.

  “Are you okay?” Oliver walked up behind Alex and wished he could give her a hug.

  “I wish I knew Little Brother.” Alex turned around and saw his concern. “But don’t worry I always bounce back better than ever.”

  “Did you find out anything?” Oliver could tell Alex was thinking about something, he just wasn’t sure what.

  “Nothing specific about this John guy, but the Sheriff will do more research tomorrow. I think I’m going to take a hot shower and then head for bed. How are you?” Alex wondered how he was feeling about all this.

  “I’m glad I could help. Alex are you going to try to get Mrs. Borden to….” Oliver had forgotten what Alex called it.

  “Crossover? Yes, Oliver I’m going to try.” Alex knew Oliver was curious about this process. “She needs to let go and join her parents. I’m sure they are wondering where she is.”

  “Do you have someone waiting for you?” Oliver didn’t feel he did.

  “My Father and his parents. But I’m in no hurry to see them. I have you and my friends here to keep me company.” Alex winked at Oliver and hoped he knew he was welcome to stay with her as long as he wanted to. “Let’s go to bed. We may have a big day tomorrow, no way for us to know.”

  “Good night Alex. Sleep well.” Oliver faded away and thought he should rest up; Alex was right, who knew what tomorrow would bring?

  Alex closed her eyes and was sound asleep in what seemed like a matter of minutes. Only to awaken standing by the cliff at Old Woman Hill just as she did that day Sally Jennings tried to kill her. Alex turned to run from this place and its memories only to find Sally standing in her way. Panic came over Alex like she had never felt before, but it suddenly disappeared when she saw him walking up behind her adversary. Sally had a sick smile on her face until she felt his hands around her throat, then her face transformed into shear terror as she felt her life slip away. Alex jolted herself awake only to realize the alarm was going off and she needed to get up. She hit the snooze button and fell back into her warm spot.

  What did that dream mean? Did her subconscious want this psycho to kill Sally too? But Sally was locked up and not running around loose for this guy to hurt. Or was he institutionalized with Sally at the mental hospital. If she called the Sheriff maybe he could get pictures sent to him of all the male patients. This could be the break they were looking for, because this could mean they already had their killer in custody.

  Chapter 43

  JT and Sally were taking full advantage of Kirby’s absence at NEIMH. Sally had found out only by accident that he was taking the day off so he could have a long weekend. The rest of the orderlies were idiots as far as she was concerned and would never know they were gone. Her knowledge as a nurse of how most facilities were run was also a plus and she had observed this one’s inner workings with great interest. She had forged the signatures of several workers which would show the two of them participating in different activities and as long as no one looked too closely they would be okay until Kirby returned Monday morning. By then they both, or at least one of them, would be back.

  Sally was somewhat surprised at how easy it was to convince JT to help her in her plan to escape and with his help find her daughter so the two of them could run away and start a new life in California.

  JT was also pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to manipulate Sally into helping him get out so he could track down the killer of those poor women.

  Neither was aware of the others plan nor would they have ever imagined them having the smarts to implement them. The only question left for the Universe to answer is who would win and who would lose and how many others would fall victim to this deadly pair of psychopaths.

  Sally had been making great use of her computer time and with the help of one of her husband’s credit cards had been able to buy Alex’s address and phone number from an internet source. Her plan was for them to take care of her husband first since they needed to wait for Alex to return home from school.

  Sally’s husband worked at home as a Marketing Consultant and he would be all alone and no one would be around to help him. If anything did go wrong Sally would plead her innocence that she had been JT’s hostage and had been forced to go along. Sally used the cellphone her daughter Megan smuggled in during her last visit, to call a cab to pick them up. Sally had begged Megan to bring it and then made her swear not to tell anyone she did. When Sally and JT finally made it out to the front of NEIMH their cab was waiting.

  Sally gave the driver the address to her place and told JT she needed to get some clothes and cash. She also expressed her fears that her abusive husband may be home and hoped JT would protect her from him. JT nodded but wondered why he was just now hearing about the abusive husband and then that old feeling came over him again, like he was being played once more. He knew Sally’s plan was to leave with her daughter and now there was an abusive husband in the way. JT knew this MO and what Sally was going to want from him next. He would have to wait for his chance as he usually had more time to prepare. But she was just like the rest of them never happy with what they had; always wanting more and not caring how they got it.

  Sally noticed the look on JT’s face when she mentioned her abusive husband and wasn’t sure what that slight grin meant. She didn’t much care as long as he helped take care of the problem. Once she was home she could put her second plan into operation, which was the elimination of Alexandria Whitney. That was going to take a lot more thought and some careful manipulating of her partner in crime. But Sally was sure she had it all under control.

  The two sat quietly and looked at the scenery pass by, as the cab drove them to Sally’s home. It had been a long time for JT since he had been on the outside of NEIMH. The area was unfamiliar but as they neared Sally’s home the area was beginning to look familiar and JT was feeling more at home with each passing mile.

  When the cab pulled up in front of Sally’s house she handed the cab driver cash which she had been saving from the money her husband had given her from past visits. She couldn’t have the police finding a credit card charge; because she wasn’t supposed to have one on her if she’d been brought here by JT against her will.

  Sally walked into the house as if she’d never left and hadn’t just escaped from a mental institution. JT walked behind her and followed her into the kitchen. There he watched Sally pull a large black iron skillet out of a lower cabinet and then walk into the library where her husband was working. He had not heard anything as he was wearing headphones. With both hands tightly gripping the handle Sally took one swing and struck her husband in the head with the skillet as hard as she could, which sent him flying out of his chair and onto
the floor. As he lay on the floor with his eyes wide open Sally turned to JT and smiled.

  “That son of a bitch will never lay a hand on me again.” Sally then took the skillet back to the kitchen, washed it with Clorox and put it back in the cabinet.

  JT stared at the husband and then leaned down to feel for a pulse. He was dead and Sally hadn’t asked him to do it. Was he abusive and this was payback or did she just want him out of the way?

  “Where did you learn that trick?” JT had never thought to use a skillet.

  “TV or the Internet. I’m not sure which.” Sally had put on her rubber gloves when using the Clorox, but she was wiping them off with a towel and continued to wear them.

  Sally opened a roll top desk that was sitting in the corner and pulled her keyboard out. Now to print a map of how to get to Ms. Whitney’s house so they could be on their way.

  Monday when the maid came to clean she would discover the late Mr. Jennings and Sally would be back in her room at NEIMH waiting for the tragic news. One thing Sally was grateful for was Megan was now living at Taylorwood full time since she had been institutionalized and wouldn’t be the one to find her father. It was the only good thing about Megan being at that school that she was happy about. But after she did away with Ms. Whitney there would be two things to smile about.

  “Let’s go, we have a bit of a hike ahead of us.” Sally looked over the map and then folded it up and stuck it in her back pocket.

  “Where are we going now?” JT wanted to stay and try to find out who the hiker was by watching the news.

  “Oh I didn’t tell you? I heard on the news that the unidentified hiker came forward. Her name is Alexandria Whitney. I thought you’d want to pay her a visit and maybe we can find out who they think the killer is.” Sally smiled and thought JT would follow her now wherever she went.

  “Alexandria Whitney you say, interesting.” JT turned before Sally could see his smile.

  JT excused himself to use the bathroom. He needed to think fast. Did she think him stupid, he knew exactly who Alex was – she was the reason Sally was in NEIMH. There was no way Alexandria Whitney would go near Sally Jennings, she was becoming a huge liability to his plan and JT knew it. But he could play along and wait for his chance to help Sally get what she had coming to her – which was a nice spot next to her husband.