Not A Good Reason

by McCarthy, G. L.

  Chapter 44

  Alex had felt very uneasy all morning since awakening from her dream and wondered if she needed to call Sheriff Taylor before her lunchtime. Her morning had been rushed since she’d spent a little too much time lying in bed rethinking the dream. Maybe a quick text was needed in this case, but then again there was too much to tell him. She would give a quick call after the first period class was over and give him the condensed version of what she thought was happening. This could all be a wild goose chase, but she at least needed to relay what she had dreamt.

  The minute the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Alex wished the girls a restful weekend and followed them out to get better cellphone reception.

  Alex called the Sheriff’s office and really hoped he was there to take the call. She could get this ball rolling a lot faster if she could tell the Sheriff and he could get Jim on contacting NEIMH. Or if the Sheriff wasn’t there, maybe Jim could make the call anyway.

  Jim answered the phone and luck was with Alex as the Sheriff was there working on more paperwork generated by this case. Alex recounted her dream as she remembered it and the Sheriff may have been thinking Alex’s imagination was in overdrive, but he would still check it out. He promised to call her back if there was anything to share.

  Jim called NEIMH and asked to talk to the Doctor who was in charge of Sally Jennings’ case. He was transferred to the floor were Sally Jennings was a patient. After waiting on hold for a very long time, the station nurse came back on the line and told him she was transferring the call to Doctor LeDuc’s office. After several more minutes on hold Jim was finally able to talk to someone in charge. At which point Dr. LeDuc asked to talk to the Sheriff.

  The Sheriff was expecting he’d be the one who was doing all the talking with Dr. LeDuc. Such as asking for information regarding any patients who fitted Alex’s description of the serial killer, but instead was told that Sally Jennings could not be located in the facility. The Doctor also asked how the Sheriff knew of Sally’s disappearance when they had only just discovered she was missing minutes before. The Sheriff was caught off guard at the question for a split-second, but came back with his own questions.

  “Doctor LeDuc, I’m in the middle of investigating a serial killer who’s murdered five women over a period of what we believe to be twenty years in this area. I was calling to see if you have anyone who might fit his description. I didn’t call about Sally Jennings specifically, but now that you are telling me she’s missing I need to ask if she is the only one. Are you missing a male patient as well?” The Sheriff was beginning to get a headache.

  “Please hold, I’ll check.” Dr. LeDuc put the Sheriff on hold and was wishing her right-hand man Kirby hadn’t taken the day off.

  While the Sheriff was on hold he asked Jim to put out an APB on Sally Jennings as well as a description of her male companion. He knew the Doctor was going to come back on the line and confirm the disappearance of what he now knew was his prime suspect.

  “Jim will you get me Sally Jennings address, if she’s out she’ll probably head for home.” The Sheriff’s head was now pounding and he started searching his desk drawer for some ibuprofen.

  When Dr. LeDuc returned to the call she indeed informed the Sheriff that they were missing another patient. She gave the Sheriff his name and last known address, but she expressed to the Sheriff that she felt he was infatuated with Sally and not a real threat to anyone. The Sheriff listened while the Doctor gave her assessment, but he knew she didn’t have a clue who the real John Thomas “JT” DeFranco was. He then asked if she had a recent picture of JT she could email to his office. He needed to find these two as soon as possible. The Doctor would send what she could share as soon as possible. Now the Sheriff needed to get to the Jennings place and try to get Sally Jennings back in custody and hopefully her dangerous new friend as well.

  The Sheriff called Trooper Valdez and asked him to be his backup. He wanted someone with a little more experience to assist in this arrest. Just because there wasn’t a lot of crime in Hastings and his Deputies didn’t have any experience in dealing with two individuals he thought were criminally insane. Trooper Valdez agreed and radioed back to his office where he would be if needed.

  When the Sheriff and Trooper Valdez pulled up in front of the Jennings residence all was quiet. First they checked the front door which was now locked. Sheriff Taylor knew enough about this family that the husband should be home working so he knocked several times. When he didn’t get a response he looked at the door and asked Trooper Valdez if he’d like to kick it in. The Sheriff was getting a little old for this kind of work. Trooper Valdez smiled, pulled out his side arm and with one powerful kick to the door sent it flying open. As both men entered the residence with their guns drawn they checked each room. The library was in the back of the house so the last room they entered. There they found Mr. Jennings sitting upright in his desk chair with Sally lying at his feet holding the iron skillet; just where JT had placed them. Her eyes were still open and she had a surprised look of terror on her face. As if she was surprised her partner in crime would strangle her thus ending her quest to finally finish what she started three months prior.

  The Sheriff took a deep breath and hoped his headache didn’t come back as a migraine. How was he going to tell their daughter Megan that both of her parents were dead? First he needed to call the coroner and asked Trooper Valdez to call his forensic team. Then he needed to call Jim and hopefully he had the picture of JT by now to update the APB and cancel the part about Sally Jennings.

  The Sheriff knew he needed to tell Alex all of this in person as well as figure out how to break it to Megan. The Sheriff felt both deaths could be blamed on JT, even if some one could prove otherwise Megan didn’t need to know this new fact about her mother. But for the moment JT was his prime suspect.

  By the time the Sheriff could get away from the scene and the media it was a little before 11AM. He wasn’t sure how the media found out so quickly, but could only assume someone in the coroner’s office was on high alert to let them know if anymore bodies were discovered in Hastings.

  When the Sheriff arrived at Taylorwood he was grateful that no media had beaten him there. He first went to the office to talk to Mrs. Greenway, the Headmistress, about breaking the news to Megan. Then he would locate Alex and bring her up to speed on what was happening. Mrs. Greenway was close to tears as the Sheriff gave her the tragic news about Megan’s parents. Mrs. Greenway had her secretary check the records to find out who Megan’s parents had stated was the closest living relative. Megan’s paternal grandparents were listed and lived nearby. Mrs. Greenway asked the Sheriff if he would drive over and let them know.

  This was the part about his job that the Sheriff never wanted to do, but knew it needed to be done. When he returned from talking to Megan’s grandparents he let Mrs. Greenway know that Mr. & Mrs. Jennings would be coming to pick up Megan within the hour. They would tell her then and make arrangements for her to take some time off from school, if she needed it.

  Megan was at lunch and when she went to her fourth period class she could be called to the office. The Sheriff knew where he could find Alex; she’d be eating lunch with Frederick in the back of the cafeteria.

  The Sheriff was happy to see his old friend Frederick; they had known each other for as long as Sheriff Taylor could remember. Alex hoped the Sheriff had great news, but could tell by the expression on his face that something was up.

  “I hope you have some fabulous news to share.” Alex watched the Sheriff’s body language as he took a seat across from her.

  “Well not really, but in away a little good news. Sally Jennings and a John Thomas “JT” DeFranco left unnoticed this morning from NEMIH. But she’s not coming after you. She’s dead. It looks like your dream was right, he did strangle her. But what we can’t figure out is why the husband was killed with a blow to the back of the head.” The Sheriff could see Alex was processing that her latest dream was right.


  “Sally Jennings is dead and the serial killer is loose. So the little bit of good news is about Sally, but overall this news isn’t great. And Megan’s father is dead too. Why?” Alex was getting sick to her stomach at this latest news.

  “We don’t know. The coroner will have to tell us if he can nail down a time frame for both deaths. But the more I think about it the more I’m thinking that so far JT has only killed women, right? What if Sally kills her husband and that flips a switch that makes JT kill Sally?” The Sheriff remembered how furious Sally was with her husband for going along with not letting her see Megan unsupervised when she had appeared before the Judge.

  “Wow that would explain why two people where killed in so very different ways.” Alex wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Sally had killed her husband, if she hadn’t been arrested after trying to kill Alex he may have been next on her list. Then she had no one to stop her in her quest to get Dr. Dez as her significant other.

  “This JT has been at NEIMH for the past three years, so the time frame fits the last death. This according to the coroner’s report appears to have happened about three and a half years ago.” The Sheriff just wished the report had been more helpful in providing evidence to prove who did it.

  “So do you have any evidence to get JT for killing Sally?” Alex wondered since he’d been so careful the past five times.

  ‘I hope so. They dusted for prints and I just pray that one of them is his. Otherwise we have nothing.” Sheriff Taylor hoped that Alex may be able to find this guy by means of another dream.

  The Sheriff’s phone began to buzz with a text message. It was from Trooper Valdez informing him that both bodies where on their way to the Morgue and he would make sure and lock the place up after the Forensic Team was finished.

  “I need to get back to the office and see if Megan’s grandparents have arrived yet. Mrs. Greenway felt they should be present when she gets the news.” The Sheriff felt his headache was starting to come back.

  “That poor girl. She’s been through so much and now this. I could just cry, but I’m going to admit it won’t be over her mother’s passing. I feel a huge relief knowing that she will never be able to come after me again.” Alex was speaking the truth and felt no regrets.

  Both the Sheriff and Frederick nodded as they would have felt the same way if they had been in Alex’s position. Alex felt the rest of the day would be easy compared to the poor Sheriff’s task of breaking the news to Megan. The only problem with that thinking was that Alex’s day had only just begun to get exciting and would be a Friday she would never forget.

  Chapter 45

  JT felt quite proud of himself for borrowing a motorcycle and helmet from the Jennings. The police would check for a missing car, but would they know about any other motor vehicles that belonged to the family?

  Although when Sally didn’t return to NEIMH tonight they would be sure to come looking for her sooner than the Monday arrival time she had predicted.

  JT headed for the address on the map Sally had printed and would wait for Ms. Whitney to return home. There he could pretend to be a reporter and find out if Sally had told him the truth and in fact Ms. Whitney did indeed know where the bodies had been buried.

  JT thought the chances were slim that Ms. Whitney knew anything since he felt Sally was only telling him this story because she wanted him to take care of her problems and thus blame him for killing her husband and Ms. Whitney. But Sally wouldn’t be around to blame anyone for anything anymore. She was just like the others, so self-absorbed with her own petty problems and didn’t know a good thing when she had it. But there was always a chance Ms. Whitney had a source who could find out for him what he wanted to know. After all she was the town’s biggest celebrity and had to know the Sheriff personally after all that had happened to her after Sally Jennings came into her life.

  He needed to get this plan moving forward so he could get his revenge and get back to NEIMH.

  Alex was trying not to obsess about what the Sheriff had just enlightened her about. But she couldn’t help but think about how poor Megan’s life had just been turned upside down again. Alex just hoped they could catch this JT character and help put some closure to all of those past and present killings.

  When the last bell rang Alex was glad it was Friday and she had two days to help the Sheriff. At least this current development had kept her mind off of Sam’s bombshell and how she was going to deal.

  When Alex opened the door to her truck she suddenly felt that creepy feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time. The feeling of being watched by something evil and so she slowly turned around to see who was there. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw someone watching her from a distance. But there wasn’t anyone or anything there when she turned to face them. Alex did however know that this feeling had always proven to be a warning and she wondered if possibly this JT person was nearby. This was a school for young women and even though he’d never killed anyone under the age of twenty-one there was always a first time. Maybe she needed to stop by the Sheriff’s office on her way home and let him know her concerns.

  Alex pulled into the first spot in front of the Sheriff’s office and something told her to wait and not get out of the car just yet. She had a feeling something was going to happen and it did. A news van pulled up next to her and both driver and passenger jumped out and started to get set up for a live broadcast. Alex started her engine and put her truck in reverse. She didn’t need to be in the Sheriff’s office when they walked in. So she slowly backed out and headed for the Hardware Store to talk to Carol.

  Carol was standing in front watching Alex pull into the space closest to the entrance.

  “Hey what’s going on at John’s?” Carol had been watching the news about the serial killer but this seemed to be new activity.

  Alex motioned to Carol she would tell her inside.

  “Sally Jennings and her husband were killed this morning.” Alex would fill in the details behind closed doors.

  Carol was brought up to speed on everything that had happened since their last conversation.

  “Oh Alex. What is happening to our quiet little town?” Carol remembered when the big news in town was the opening of a new retail store.

  “It’s not the town’s fault. It just seems that all this is coming to a head at the same time. As soon as they pick up this JT character everything will go back to normal. I hope.” Alex thought after Richard Greenway was killed it was the end, but that was now being proven wrong.

  “Are you in any danger from this JT person?” Carol was glad Alex had Sam to watch out for her.

  “No. He doesn’t even know who I am.” Alex was grateful for that little fact.

  “You both are always welcome to stay with Bob and me. Have you told Sam what’s going on?” Carol would help out anyway she could.

  “Here’s the thing. Sam doesn’t know about any of this.” Alex was ready for Carol’s wrath.

  “Why not?” Carol couldn’t believe what Alex had just told her.

  “It’s complicated to say the least. Please trust me that I know what I’m doing.” Alex took Carol’s hands and squeezed them tightly.

  “I hate this. But you seem to always land on your feet, a little bloody, but intact. I won’t tell anyone, except Bob, about this.” Carol pulled Alex into a tight hug while her eyes welled up with tears.

  “No worries. I still have Anna, Ramon and Oliver to watch my back. I’m good to go.” Alex didn’t mean to mention Oliver’s name and hoped Carol didn’t ask who he was since she didn’t have time to tell her the whole story.

  “Dear Friend, may I use your phone to call and see if the coast is clear at the Sheriff’s office?” Alex brushed away a tear that was rolling down Carol’s cheek as she pointed to the phone.

  When Jim answered Alex could hear voices in the background and knew the Sheriff still had company. Alex was quick to tell Jim not to acknowledge who she was and to please take a message for the Sheriff abo
ut her creepy feeling at Taylorwood. She was going to head for home and change her clothes then come back to town to see if the Sheriff had any new information. Jim only answered with several Uhhuh’s and Okay’s during their short conversation. She asked that the Sheriff call her as soon as he was free.

  JT had parked along side the road just past the driveway and was waiting patiently for Ms. Whitney to return.

  Alex’s mind skipped over an assortment of subjects all the way home and when she finally turned onto her driveway she didn’t see the motorcycle or the person sitting on it parked a hundred feet away.

  When Alex walked in, the house felt different, but it was just as she had left it. She wanted to get out of her work clothes and get into some Levi’s and her comfy but nice casual clothes.

  As she came out of the bathroom she heard a knock on the front door. Her heart jumped, who could this be? Maybe a local reporter that wanted her reaction to Sally Jennings’ death considering their past history? She wouldn’t be able to keep this from Sam now when it hit the news.

  When Alex opened the door she froze at the sight of him standing on her porch. He was older, but it was still the man from her dreams and she needed to act casual and see what he wanted.

  “Good afternoon Ms. Whitney. My name is Kirby James; I’m a freelance reporter doing a story on the recent discovery of several bodies in the area.” JT smiled slightly as he gave Kirby’s name and held out a small tape recorder he helped himself too from Mr. Jennings’ desk.

  “I can tell you it’s been quite a shock to say the least.” Alex thought her best bet was to act like nothing was wrong and so she opened the door wide and waved him in.