SACRIFICES (19 page)

CHAPTER 11

THE TWO OFFICERS DRIVE FROM THEIR HOTEL TO MEET MR. HOWARD

             
Brad and Todd check out and pay the bill with a Chicago PD American Express credit card. Senior investigators and top brass have one to make travel arrangements. They spent the night at a Holiday Inn in Bloomington, Illinois and shared a room with two single beds.

The men stayed up late tossing ideas and theories off of each other. Both men fully believe that the football team was involved in some way. Not sure if they killed the couple but convinced they had something to do with at least the disappearance and or cover up.

              That’s the only theory that makes sense. Why else would someone be attacking their wives and killing members of the team that were
allegedly
last scene with the couple.

              Brad and Todd stop at a doughnut shop on the way and pick up some coffee and donuts. There anxious to meet with Steve Howard and curious as to what to expect from this guy. Both men hope to get some kind of information.

After the meeting with Alex Stein the veteran officers firmly believed that they were on to something. Not positive as to what, but something.

              Bloomington’s an especially nice town that has seen a great deal growth over the past five years. It’s grown leaps and bounds and has several new subdivisions. Some of them are exceptionally elite. The Howard’s subdivision was one of the most elite. The mansions were stately and new starting in the neighborhood of half a million dollars and only moving only up.

Although new homes, these were designed to bring back the look of mansions of the nineteenth century. This neighborhood was high class with a capital H. and a capital C.; only the rich and powerful apply to this neck of the woods. Steve Howard was both.

              Todd drives into the Whispering Oaks subdivision and smiles. “I’m going to get me one of those.” Todd points to an extremely gorgeous mansion with a lake in front of this exquisite spectacle of a home. It has a rod iron fence that encircles the land.

              Brad nods his head and says. “Not in this line of work you won’t. Dream on big daddy, dream on.” Brad smiles and continues to look for addresses on the mailboxes as Todd slowly drives through the tree-lined roads.

              “Maybe I’ll become a lawyer.” Todd adds as he turns into the driveway of Mr. and Mrs. Howard as Brad points.

              “Not a chance. You’re too honest to be a lawyer.” Brad smirks as Todd drives up the cobblestone driveway to this marvelous example of the American dream.

              “Would you take a look at this?” Todd shakes his head.

“It must be rough?”

              Brad looks through his folder as two officers greet them at the back of the home.

              A Bloomington uniformed officer approaches the car of Brad and Todd and says. “Can I help you gentleman?”

              Todd steps out and shows him his badge and Brad steps out and the officers say. “Mr. Jostler and Mr. Avery, nice to meet you; what brings you guys to Bloomington?” The officer walks past Todd and extends his hand to shake Brads.

              “How are you?” Brad nods and smiles as he looks at the name tag. “It looks like it’s cooling down a little bit Tom.” Tom Jackson is the name on the tag of this middle-aged officer. He smiles at the remark.

              “I sure hope so. Has the heat been killing you guys up in Chicago as bad as it has been here?” Ask the dark haired officer with a muscular build and a very seasoned face. The officer also has the marks of a street cop, graying hair and lots of wrinkles. Police work can add many years of age to your face.

              “Yes it has Officer Jackson.” Todd adds as the officer extends his hand to shake Todd’s as Brad walks around the car.

              Brad and Todd have not been announcing their visits. That’s why their appearances have caught the locals by surprise. They felt that if no one knew they were coming it would make for a more honest and unrehearsed visit.

              The men start to follow Mr. Jackson to the back entrance to the home. The Chicago cops are impressed as they notice the in-ground pool and tennis court in the back yard. They are even more impressed when they notice the very beautiful Mrs. Howard stepping out of the pool in a yellow bikini. Trying not to gawk at this exquisite specimen of the woman both men look away.

              Tom Jackson slows down and whispers. “It’s ok to look. You’re only human.” Then he chuckles as the men all step up on the concrete patio smiling about his remark.

              Todd asks. “So who’s in the house?”

              “Just Officer Barron’s, he’s always wherever Mr. Howard is.” Jackson explains as he turns the brass doorknob to enter the home.

              Brad smiles and says. “I’d like it if you’d go inside and relieve Mr. Barron’s. Tell him we’d like to talk to Mr. Howard in private. It’d sound better if you did it. We don‘t want to offend the guy.” Brad grins as he glances back to the pool.

              “Sure thing Mr. Jostler, or is it ok if I call you Brad?”

              Brad nods his head. “Any fellow officer can call me Brad, we all a part of the same family if you ask me.

And this is Todd Avery. Feel free to call him Todd.”

              The polite officer walk inside the mansion with a smile at the big city cops casualness and explains everything to Ron Barron’s. He’s only gone a few minutes. Just enough time to for the guys to get a few more innocent glances at the gorgeous Mrs. Howard as she lies out in the early morning sun.

              Officer Jackson gives introductions and Brad and Todd walk into the home. Mr. Howard is dressed in a silk suit and sitting in a breakfast room off of the kitchen. He has blond hair and he’s tall, a good-looking young man. Just like the other husbands. He smiles and stands up and walks over and extends his hand showing off his large gold wedding band and his Rolex. “It’s nice to meet you gentleman. I feel like I already know you guys as much as I’ve seen you on TV.” He points to the table and says. “Please, make yourself at home.”

              Todd and Brad are taken aback at the very easygoing attitude and demeanor of the extremely relaxed Mr. Howard.

It’s a complete 180-degree turn from the nervous and scared Mr. Stein. Not sure if this is an act the men just smile and start.

              “I’d like to express how sorry we are about what happened to your wife. And also about the terrible things that have happened to your college friends.” Brad expresses.

              Todd nods his head and says. “It’s terrible how things have been transpiring lately...” Todd takes a deep breath.

“...I’m terribly sorry.”
              Brad takes a seat and settles in at the table he pointed to and asks. “Should we call you Mr. Howard or Steve?”

              Mr. Howard smiles as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Please call me Steve.” He says with a confident powerful grin.

              Brad follows up with. “Do you know why we are here Steve?” Brad leans his elbows onto the table.

              Steve Howard nods his head and takes a sip of his coffee. “I think so. I’m guessing it has something to do with all of those stories that have been drug back up about those kids that turned up missing.” Steve sips his coffee and then says. “Would you guys like some coffee or maybe some breakfast?” He maintains eye contact and continues to show off that million-dollar smile.

              Brad grins and explains. “No thank you. And please call us Brad and Todd.” Brad winks trying to make him feel relaxed about the reason that they are there.

              “All right Brad. So anyway ask away. I’ll tell you everything I know.” Explains Steve as he leans back and folds his arms.

              Brad starts by telling him as he leans back as well.

“Steve we have heard from many witnesses from the original investigation as well as other people in the law enforcement community that there was a lot of speculation as to the involvement of the team. I’ll go one further. We’ve heard accusations to the effect that
maybe
some of the players on the team actually killed this couple...” Brad watches for a response and doesn’t get one at all. “...And this is not just a few random stories. If it was it could possibly be dismissed as unsubstantiated wild rumors. It just so happens to be a general consensus of many of the people involved. Could you tell me why you think that is?” Brad folds his arms and awaits a response as he maintains eye contact. A good investigator uses many tools when questioning a potential witness or suspect. These veteran officers know that even though people lie to cover things up all the time. The eye itself has a difficult time doing that.

              “I’m not surprised really. Those kinds of stories were out there years ago, obviously just hogwash. Because if there were any truths to those stories do you think I’d be here today talking to you guys, I think not. I’d be rotting in some jail cell, where I’d belong if I did something so hideous and absurd.” Steve Howard smiles acting like he hasn‘t a care in the world.

              Todd takes a deep breath and asks. “How is it possible for so many people to speculate on something so ‘absurd’? Why do you think?” Todd grits his teeth behind his smile.

              “I don’t really know Todd. I can’t answer something like that.” Steve explains as he pours himself some coffee.

              Brad nods his head and tells Mr. Howard. “Are you aware that we talked to Alex Stein last night?” At this point Brad’s trying anything to get any kind of reaction from this guy.

              “No I wasn’t. Should I be?” Steve nods his head taking a sort of arrogant tone with the last question.

              “When we left his house he was petrified. He came across like a man that was so scared when we decided to call off the surveillance at his house he almost begged us to let the police stay longer.” Brad tells the not to shaken Steve Howard. Brad’s thinking that this guy is totally innocent or the best liar he’s ever met in twenty-two years.

              “That is strange. Maybe he feels that he’s still in danger after what happened to the other guys and his wife. I can’t speak for him obviously.” Steve sips his coffee and smiles.

              Todd stands up and asks. “And you don’t feel like you’re in danger Mr. Howard.” Todd says with a touch of slight overtone of anger in his voice.

              “What happened to Steve?” Steve looks away and says. “No I don’t feel like I’m in danger. Innocent people don’t feel much fear TODD.” Steve begins to feel a little upset by Todd’s tone.

              “With everything that has transpired you mean you don’t feel
anything
at all?” Brad comments as he folds his arms again leaning back in the cloth covered floral designer chair.

              Steve nods his head from side to side and responds casually. “No.”

              Todd tilts his head with a grin. “Your beautiful wife was raped Mr. Howard and you don’t feel anything?” Todd leans up in his chair a little and places his arms on the ceramic tiled table.

              Steve stands up quickly and talks in an elevated voice and points to Todd. “Don’t you confuse what I meant? Of course I feel horrible about what happened to my wife. But I’m not going to stand here and feel nervous about something I didn’t do. Are you accusing me of being responsible for what happened to my wife?” Steve’s outward appearance has changed a little bit like now we’ve offended him. Brad thinks to himself.
‘Good’

              Todd smiles and moves toward Steve and starts to raise his hand in manor that makes Steve Howard feel that maybe he was going to be swung at. Brad quickly jumps up. “Todd let’s be professional about this. Steve we‘re not accusing you of anything at all let me make that perfectly clear.” Todd glares at Steve and then sits back down.

              Todd watches Mr. Howard sit back down and the tension is getting thick. Todd asks as he places his elbows on the table feeling like it’s time to roll the dice. “Do you know what Mr. Stein told us?”

              “It’s hard to say. I have no idea.” Steve sighs and starts to relax after his heated exchange with Todd moments ago.

              “I think you know what he told us. I think you’re trying to act all calm and cool to throw us off. But I‘m sure you know already.” Todd smirks as he nods his head staring at Steve.

              Steve smugly says. “Please Todd why don’t you tell me what Mr. Stein told you guys. I’m dying to hear.”

              “That’s a good choice of words, ‘dying’ I mean. Because if he was telling us the truth, and I think he is, then that day is closer than you might think.” Todd smiles and then says. “Do you mind if I smoke?”

              Steve maintains a serious look. “Yes I do mind.” Trying to be firm showing Todd he‘s not scared.

              Todd grins and then takes out a cigarette and lights it. “Thank you. I don’t mind if I do.” Todd’s now is playing his game.

              Steve looks at him and says. “I don’t want you to smoke. Do you have a problem with your hearing?” He stares down Todd Avery.