SACRIFICES (38 page)

              Tammy starts to explain. “Because she’s pretty.”

              “So are you.” Brad smiles.

              Tammy continues. “Because she’s with you.”

              “So are...” Brad stops. He isn’t sure he heard her correctly. He thinks he did. But he’s not sure.

              “What did you say?” Brad turns his swivel chair so it faces her.

              Tammy remains in front of the window with her back to him. “I said because
she’s
with you,” Tammy turns toward him building her confidence. “And I’m not.”

              Brad swallows hard and looks away. He did hear her correctly. Brad stands up and walks over to the window.

“What
exactly
do you mean?”

              Tammy starts to walk over to the chair and she sits down while he remains at the window. “I’m embarrassed.”

              “Don’t be.” Brad stresses.

              “When your wife died I felt so bad because I knew how much you loved her. I hated to see you sad. But I started to have feelings for you, the kind of feelings that I probably shouldn’t have had
...
But
I still had them.”

              Brad listens to this. He had absolutely no idea whatsoever about these feelings. “How long have you had these feelings?” Brad asks as he sits down next to her.

              “For about six months or so, I feel so embarrassed.”

              “Don’t feel embarrassed honey.” Brad takes a hold of her hand. “I think that’s about the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. To find out that a beautiful young girl has a crush on me. I think it’s adorable.” Brad smiles as he looks at her face.

              “It’s not a crush Brad. I think I’m in love with you.”

Tammy looks away.

              Brad clears his throat. “Maybe you just think you are?” You know.” He tries to rationalize it to her.

              Tammy looks away once again. “I’ve had crushes before and this is definitely not a crush.”

              Brad starts to feel a little strange. Tammy’s a sweet girl that he’s always thought of as a
daughter
. To find out she thinks she’s in love with him is tough to think about. “Are you sure?”

              Tammy clears her throat. “I’m sure.”

              Brad continues to pace back and forth. “Well, I wish I could say something that would make you feel better right now but I really don’t know what to say.”

              Tammy starts to stand up and she walks toward the door. “Are you upset with me?” Tammy appears that she has a tear forming in her eye.

              “Of course not. How could I ever be upset with you?”

Brad smiles.

              “Well I better get back to work.” She starts to unlock the door. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel uncomfortable. But, but I just had to tell you just in case you might feel the same way,” She starts to wipe away a few more tears with her back to him. “I’m sorry.” Tammy opens the door and starts to walk to her office.

              Brad takes a deep breath and exhales. This is a strange feeling he has at this moment. Brad’s at a loss for words. He walks back to his desk and takes a seat and starts to stare into space thinking.

TODD WALKS IN FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER

             
“How you doing?” Todd smiles.

              Brad looks up and says. “Pretty good, how about you?”

              Todd walks over and sits down. He kicks his feet up and says. “I’m good. So today’s the day isn’t it?”

              Brad sits down his ink pen and looks up. “Yes it is.”

              “Are you going to be all right? I mean with Jenny leaving.” Todd looks away knowing that this has been tough on his friend.

              “Do I have a choice?” Brad shrugs his shoulders.

              “I guess not, but if Jessica’s right? And she usually is. I’d say that Jenny’s going to be moving down here pretty soon. Don’t worry about it.”

              Brad smiles back. “I think I’m falling in love with her.”

              Todd sighs. “Oh yeah,” Trying to figure out what to say. “…Does she know?”

              Brad stands up and shakes his head. “I think she does.”

              “You told her?”

              “Not really…sort of.” Brad paces in front of the window.

              “Not really, sort of, then that means you
didn’t
tell her. I think that’s a
big
mistake. Maybe she doesn’t know.” Todd stands up to join Brad by the window.

              “She has to know. I mean she should know…right.” Brad walks back and forth not being able to stop pacing.

              “Brad, I don’t know how women think. If I did I wouldn’t do some of the stupid shit I do, but if I was you. I would definitely tell her before she goes.” Todd sits back down.

              Brad stands up again and smiles. “You’re right. I’ll tell her tonight.”

              The chief walks in. “Good morning guys.” He takes a seat in front of Brad’s desk and next to Todd. He reaches over and softly taps the top of Todd’s hand. “How you doing Lieutenant?”

              Todd smiles proudly. “I’m good chief.”

              Brad sits down. “How are you feeling? Tomorrow’s the big day.”

              Todd jokingly remarks. “Hey the next time you shoot somebody you could get into trouble.”

              The chief smirks. “Yeah, it’s going to be tough, I’ll just have to try and control myself.” He looks away smiling at the comment.

              “So what’s going on boss?”

              The chief rocks back and forth. “The powers that be, well the District Attorney and the governor have decided with everything that has gone on with the renewed city pride that we need to move quickly on closing the case on the couple. They want a conviction to show the people of the state that we have done our job. They feel that the recent rapes and homicides might take some time to solve but with everything else on the missing couple they want to move fast to take the heat off of the other case. They want to make this seem like we solved this and we will not stand for anything less than a conviction.” The chief grins.

              Brad rocks back and forth. “Does this mean that they are going to try and convict Howard for the murderers?”

              The chief nods his head. “You got it.”

              Todd quickly says. “He probably didn’t kill the kids; in fact he might have been the only one there that tried to help.”

              The chief agrees. “You could be right. But unfortunately the governor wants to make an example. And he’s the only one left.”

              Brad sighs. “I don’t think he killed the kids.”

              The chief explains. “Come on Brad. You two know as well as I do that being there makes him just as guilty in the eyes of the court. They’ll get the conviction and he’ll get murder one. You can bet on that. The whole city wants to close the door on this case.”

              Todd says. “But chief if he didn’t help us then we would have never found those kids. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

              The chief explains. “In the opinion of the DA and the governor if he had done the right thing to begin with they wouldn’t have been missing for the past sixteen years. They figure if he had done the right thing the real killers would have been punished in the courts. It’s out of my hands guys. I tried to tell them what you guys thought. And they said the same thing I told you guys. Maybe he’s lying. Maybe he is.”

              Brad puts his head down. “So when are they going to be doing it?”

              Todd looks away. “Is it going to be today?”

              The chief looks away feeling for the guys. “Yes, they are going to be making the announcement in an hour on the news. I’m sorry guys it’s political.” The chief gets up and walks to the door. He shakes his head. “I did try guys. I truly did.”

              The chief walks out and Todd and Brad stare at each other. Todd says. “It still doesn’t find our boy.”

              Brad shakes his head in frustration. “We might never find our boy, if the courts convict him, our guys gone like the wind. There won’t me no need to kill him. If he’s found guilty the state will put him to death by lethal injection. Our guy wins. End of story.”

BRAD AND TODD GO TO THE WATERLOO FOR LUNCH

             
Brad sits at the bar with Todd and they order some hamburgers and fries. The announcement by the district attorneys office and the governor will be on TV in a few minutes and the guys didn’t have the heart to go there in person.

              Veronica walks over to Brad and Todd. She smiles. “Hi guys. Why so glum?”

              Todd grins and says. “Nothing.” He looks away.

              Brad smiles and says. “Were ok, honey, would you put it on channel nine for me.”

              Veronica smiles and touches the top of his hand. “You got it cutie.”

              Todd shakes his head as she walks away. “Women have to stand in line for you these days.”

              Brad nods his head. “What are you talking about?” He sips his ice tea.

              Todd leans closer and whispers.
“I heard about Tammy today.”
Todd looks away trying to keep his voice down.

              Brad quickly turns toward him. “How’d you hear about that? I never said anything to anybody.”

              Todd leans back and then moves closer looking around the bar and whispers.
“I know you didn’t. I got the word from her friend Stacey. Word is she’s putting in for a transfer. Said she couldn’t work around you anymore,”
Todd continues to whisper and moves to Brad’s ear.
“…said she didn’t want to make you uncomfortable; but you didn’t hear anything from me.”
Todd looks away trying to look inconspicuous sitting in the busy pub.

              Brad looks down and then toward the TV. “Are you
sure
about all of this?”

              Todd doesn’t talk he just nods his head back and forth.

              “That’s crazy. She doesn’t need to transfer.” Brad shakes his head feeling terribly guilty.

              Todd takes a drink of his tea and ads.
“Stacey said she’s known about Tammy for a long time now. Tammy didn’t say anything because she didn’t want to rush you after what happened to your wife. She told Stacey that she wanted to go out with you and more, whenever you decided to go out with someone. I hear she’s pretty devastated. She feels like maybe she’s not good enough for you.”
Todd winks and leans back nodding his head back and forth.

              “Who are you Barbara Walters? How long have you known about this shit?” Brad turns to Todd feeling like maybe he’s known about this for a while and didn’t bother to tell him.

              Todd looks at his watch. “About an hour, word travels fast at the station.” He raises his eyebrows and winks.

              Brad places his elbows on the bar as the special bulletin flashes on the screen. “Sweetheart, could you turn it up for me?” Brad smiles at Veronica.

              Veronica smiles and walks over and turns it up. “Is that good?”

              Brad nods his head. “Perfect.” Brad and Todd both watch as the screen now has Dennis Martin on it and he starts to talk:

              “Good afternoon. We have this breaking story from the county courthouse. Let’s listen.”

              The screen now shows a podium with the governor and the district attorney, Kevin Dulles. Kevin walks to the podium and adjusts the microphone while hundreds of people gather around. Brad and Todd watch and listen.

              “Good afternoon. I’m Kevin Dulles District Attorney from the fourth district. Were here today to announce that just hours ago Mr. Steve Howard of Bloomington, Illinois was arrested and charged with the murders of Beth Townsend and Troy Denton. No bail will be set. After checking on leads and doing research we have concluded that Mr. Howard was responsible for the deaths and concealing the whereabouts of Miss Townsend and Mr. Denton...” Some one from the audience yells.
‘WILL THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE BE TRYING FOR THE DEATH PENALTY?’

              Mr. Dulles nods his head. “Yes we will. We have in our possession thanks to Todd Avery and Brad Jostler a taped confession of his involvement in
his
own words.”

              The governor stands up. “The taped confession was given by Mr. Howard’s own admission and he signed an affidavit to the confession.”

              A reporter yells. “Did Mr. Howard admit to killing the couple?”

              The governor smiles and explains. “We won’t be getting into the particulars; at this time.” He smiles as he holds up both hands.