SACRIFICES (24 page)

              The three men get into the car and Brad heads toward the freeway to go to Champaign. There’s very little said by Todd, Brad or Steve on the drive. Brad makes a few calls to the chief and gives him a brief summary and request that he meets them at the Champaign International Airport to explain in detail everything. Brad also thinks it’s wise to not spread the word yet. Not until they get to Stein again and they actually locate the bodies. The chief agrees and makes the arrangements to fly to Champaign.

              As they drive Todd doesn’t talk at all after Brad’s off the phone. Brad at one time catches a glimpse of Todd out of the corner of his eye. He sees a tear every now and then roll down his cheek. Brad knows the feeling because that horrifying story they listened to will never leave the mind of either officer as long as they live.

CHAPTER 12

BRAD AND TODD MEET CHIEF JASON CARLIN IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS

             
The officers walk up to the chief and he smiles and asks. “How are you guys doing?” As he notices the looks on their faces that they are worn out and distressed by the story they heard.

              Brad extends his hand and forces a smile as he looks back to his car and sees that Mr. Howard is relaxing in the back seat. “As well as can be expected.”

              Todd reaches over and shakes the chief’s hand.

“How you doing chief, are the FBI officers on their way?”

              The chief nods his head and explains. “They’re going to meet us at the farm real soon. How’s Mr. Howard holding up?” The chief looks toward the car and looks away.

              Brad looks away and says to the chief as he stretches his arms above his head. “Fine, I think he told us the truth about what happened chief. I really do believe that,” Todd nods his head in agreement. “But he’s not too good right now. I think after the drive down here that he slowly began to realize that his life is never going to be the same. And if his story was true this guy actually tried to help the couple.”

              The chief looks away and then tells him trying to be realistic. “With everyone besides Stein dead you guys do realize that he could be lying about his involvement.”

              Todd nods his head and explains. “Sure he could. But to be honest I don’t think he’s lying. We check his story with Mrs. Hill and Stein and I’d say if it checks out he’s telling the truth.” Todd shuffles his feet still feeling nauseated by the graphic details of what he listened to.

              The chief glances over at the car and sees the young man in the back seat and asks the question he almost hates to ask. “So how did the couple die?”

              Todd sighs and walks away toward the car. He doesn’t want to go through it again. Brad gives the chief a short version of the horrific events and looks at his watch.

              The chief can’t believe the story and starts to look away. As tough as these veteran officers are on the outside they are still human beings and hearing about torture, rape and execution still tears at their heartstrings no matter how much you hear it or deal with cases like this.

              The chief rides up front with Todd as they leave the airport parking lot. Brad sits in the back with Steve. There is just a brief introduction and they proceed to the outskirts of town to meet with the FBI at the Vance farm.

              The mood is quiet and everyone feels some nervousness about actually going to the seen of the rape and double homicide. The bodies by now would most likely be just skeletal remains.

              It takes about twenty minutes to get there from the airport. Mr. Howard becomes noticeably shaken as they pull up at the entrance to the bond fires location. At the gate they see a couple of unmarked vehicles parked beside the FBI special unit van. Todd parks and the men get out.

              Chief Carlin walks over and extends his hand to an old friend with the Illinois branch of the FBI. “How you doing old man?” The chief says as gives the agent a quick hug and a few firm taps on the back. The chief makes his introductions. After he’s done the long time friend of the chief greets the guys and then makes his introductions. The men nod heads, smile and shake hands.

              The FBI is better suited for what they are about the do then a police precinct. This is what this unit does, and it’s all they do. They find remains and investigate
how
something happened. Brad and Todd mostly deal with the
who’s
and
why’s
.

              Brad approaches Steve Howard and asks. “So where do we go now?” Steve begins to look around and acts as if they might be close by pointing toward a tree line approximately two hundred yards away. Brad and Todd anxiously yet nervously follow behind the nervous and shaken Steve. Steve leads the men slowly and cautiously through the woods appearing to be more scared than nervous. The trek seems like it takes forever but its only taken a short time as Steve comes to a stop as he looks at a tall oak tree.

Brad places his hand on his back and whispers nervously. ”Are you sure this is the spot?”

Steve sniffles slightly and touches the tree with a few tears slowly rolling down his cheek. “Yes.”

Todd clears his throat slightly. “How can you be sure?”

Steve moves closer and points. “This is the tree that bastard was shooting his gun into. If you look closely you can see the bullet holes.”

Todd and Brad move closer and sure enough they see the bullets. Both men feel a rush of adrenaline and sadness. They look at each other and nod slowly.

Brad walks over to the chief and whispers.
“This seems to be the spot. What should we do now?”

Chief Carlin exhales loudly and walks over to his FBI buddy Special Agent Bowers and whispers. “Should we get back and let your guys do their thing?”

              Tony Bowers whispers back. “That’s not a bad idea. There’s no need for you guys to be here.”

              The chief walks over and pulls Todd and Brad away from the sight a few yards and whispers to them. “Tony thinks it’s best if we just let them do their work and take Mr. Howard back to the car. There’s nothing we can do here boys. We found the spot. Let’s go.” The chief places his hands onto the back of both officers and leads them back to the spot.

              Brad and Todd agree. Brad approaches Steve, he has the hanky over his nose and eyes and he’s crying. Brad explains. “Let’s go Steve. There’s nothing we can do now but just wait. So let’s go back to the car.”

              Chief Carlin has moved back away and has a talk with Agent Bowers. After a few minutes he walks over to Todd, Brad and Steve. “Let’s go guys.” Brad places his hand on Steve’s back and leads him away.

              When he returns to the car he sees that Steve Howard is still a little teary eyed and Brad and the chief are standing behind the car talking. He approaches them and asks the question. “So what do we do now?”

              The chief takes a sip of his coffee from his plastic cup that screws onto the top of his thermos and tells him.

“I was just telling Brad that our end of this is done. We can head back to Chicago and move on with the investigation there’s nothing left for us to do as far as the bodies. Not to sound unsympathetic, we only deal with living, breathing suspects and victims.”

              “Are the Feds going to let us know what’s going on?”

Todd inquires as they continue to lean against the back of the car.

              “Oh yeah, we’ll be provided with everything just like we always are,” The chief sits his cup down and walks toward Todd. He places his arm around him and says. “Walk with me for a minute son.” Brad stays back.

              Todd and the chief walk until there far enough away from the car so that Mr. Howard can’t see or hear them. The chief stops and says. “Brad told me about the way that you handled yourself with Mr. Howard.”

              Todd looks away not wanting to hear a lecture. The chief says as he moves Todd’s face with his hand so that he’s looking directly at him. “
Look at me when I talk to you
! Do you realize that you could have thrown away your entire career with that little stunt? What if he hadn’t told you anything? What if he stuck to his guns and continued to deny everything? Then what would you have done? You have a lot of guts and sometimes you don’t use that brain of yours. You’re one of the best damn Detective’s I have ever known or will ever know, but sometimes you don’t think of the big picture. I know you had a hunch. I know this, I‘m a cop, I know how that feels. But if that son of a bitch would have just locked up on you then he could have had you arrested for aggravated assault, our investigation could have been jeopardized because of your strong arm tactics. I should kick your fucking ass!”

              Todd hears what the chief is saying and he knows he’s right. So he listens and doesn’t talk. “Do you understand me?” Todd nods his head.

              “Chief you’re right; I told Brad if anything happened I’d take the heat. No one would have gone down besides me.”

              Chief Carlin places his hand on his back and tells him. “You might believe that. But,” He looks away and starts to pace. “...Damn it Todd why did you do it?”

              Todd grits his teeth walks over to the chief and explains in an elevated voice. “
I knew he was the key, I looked into his eyes, he was hiding something I KNEW IT. If I were wrong I would have lost my job. But for this case when some young couple turns up missing and some fucking political powers to be hide this shit like that cock sucker Charles Speck, well I’m not going to let this go unpunished. It was worth it to me risking it all if we could have found that couple. There were too many things that weren’t right. To many things chief and I knew I was right.”
Todd starts back to the car then he stops and faces the chief. “I might
bend
the rules but look where we are right now. We might just find those kids bodies today. We didn’t know a fucking thing yesterday...and now we might just find those kids.” Todd looks toward the ground and says. “I know what I did was wrong. But take a look around you. If he had folded I could have lost my job that is true. But sometimes you have to go with your gut and my gut was right this time chief.” Todd smiles as he places his hands in his pocket.

              Chief Carlin runs over to him and grabs his shoulders.

“You are one stubborn son of a bitch, and you live like there’s no tomorrow,” The chief scratches his head. “…but you’re like one of my damn kids and I love you. I just don’t want you to throw it all away some day because you’re to fucking stupid to do the right thing.”

              Todd finally smiles and says. “Thanks
dad
, don’t worry. I’ll never do anything like that again,” Todd places his arm around the chief and says. “…Unless I know I’m right.” The chief looks away and continues the short walk back shaking his head with his arm around Todd.

              The Chicago officers escort Mr. Howard back to Chicago. Stein is going to be interrogated again by Todd and Brad. They hope that they can get the same story as they got from Howard. The chief will be dealing with the Districts Attorneys office when it comes time to. Not sure what will be done to the men after the bodies are found they’ll have to wait for the results from the removal of the bodies.

              The chief has sent for Stein to be picked up by the state police and to be taken back to second precinct. That will throw off the media considering there is reporters camped out in front of the fifth on a daily basis. Howard is going to be placed in protective custody until they figure out the next step to find their suspect. There have been no new letters or developments for the past few days. So now after they interrogate Stein again they’ll go back to looking for clues. Stein will
not
be informed about Howard’s confession and or story.       

THE GUYS RETURN TO THE FIFTH PRECINCT

              Mr. Steve Howard has been taken to a different precinct to divert the press. At this time no one outside of the fifth precinct has been told anything. In fact, the Chicago Tribune on Brad’s desk with today’s date on it says.
‘STILL NO CLUES’
as it‘s headline. That’s the way they want to keep it for now. The way Brad looks at it. The less the media knows about what the police know at this time, the less the rapist/killer will know.

              Tammy walks into Brad’s office and gives him a big hug. So big it almost takes his breath away. He smiles and hugs her back. “I missed you too sweetheart.” He rubs her back.

              She sits down at his desk, in his seat and says. “I just found out. So, what do you think they’ll find in Champaign?”

              Brad nods his head and looks at his watch and informs his valued friend and co-worker. “We should know what they found pretty soon. I’m sure they’re being very careful to not destroy or damage anything. It can take a lot of time to find out things. They have to check dental records and things like that. It might be some time before we know for sure.”

              “Is this what you hoped would happen?” Tammy asks as she rocks in his chair acting like a little girl whose daddy just returned home from work.