Serial Separation (27 page)

Chapter 69

I had wasted my
time checking out the remaining properties. I felt none were conducive to
murdering young men.

The last time I had
talked with Lisa was Friday night. I tried to reach her Saturday evening, but
after waiting on the phone for about ten minutes, someone hung the phone up.

I hoped that she
understood the investigation was taking most of my time. I should have just
driven over to her dorm, but it was late.

I needed those
two missing listings. It was before 8:00 a.m. when I arrived at the task force
office. The office was jumping already. I wanted to see Mike to relate my
review of the properties and to check on the status of the other listings.

I found him busy
in the conference room. “Good morning, Mike.”

“Good morning,
Scott.”

“Those other
listings were a waste of time. The ones I need are the two missing listings. Any
word on how we stand?”

“I checked
yesterday, and they were being sent over by courier this morning. We should
have a complete list before nine.”

“Do you want me
to compare those against the ones I’ve already checked?”

“If you could
take the lead, I would appreciate it. You know what you are looking for. We
came up empty finding Jason and believe it’s too late now. Mercedes is also
among the missing. We sent a unit by her apartment several times, but her car
was not there. I want to warn you, if she shows up here this morning, we are
going to question her about what she was doing all weekend.”

I wondered if a
coffee would soothe my upset stomach. “I better get a cup of coffee. I think my
body is telling me I need something.”

“There’s a fresh
pot and some doughnuts waiting for you. Oh, we did talk with Jeremy. He gave us
some new input on his kidnapping. We added his comments to the board. The thing
you should be aware of as you look at those other listings—he told us there was
a hill, or a bridge, right near where he was held. He said it was a long climb
and descent. I would consider a bridge close to those new properties.”

* * *

I headed to the
pantry area but couldn’t get what Mike said about Mercedes out of my mind.
Could I have spent the night with a killer?

The rich
fragrance of coffee greeted me while I poured a cup. I drank the first cup,
just the way Mercedes liked it. I quickly ate a donut while standing there and
took another to the desk area.

My mind went to
Jason. Based on what Mike said, he was already dead and in the ocean like the
others. I hoped we would have found him and prevented another killing. I should
have found another way to get those other listings. If I had been faster
checking the properties, I would have discovered the missing listings earlier.

Maybe Mike was
right about Mercedes. She may have removed those listings. Why was she not at
home if she was feeling poorly?

If the listings
arrive in a few minutes, should I hide what I was doing from Mercedes? Most
likely she would be questioned the minute she arrives—if she actually comes in.

Could she act
nonchalantly if she indeed killed Jason? If Mercedes was a killer, it would be
such a waste of an education and a person.

If there was
something about this hockey league that made the players vulnerable—could I be
a target? I know I’m not a great judge of character, but I could not picture
Mercedes killing anyone, especially me.

“Scott! For the
second time—those listings have arrived.”

I guess I hadn’t
heard Mike the first time. “I’m on my way.” I headed to the reception desk
where Mike was standing, opening the courier envelope.

Mike removed the
package from the envelope. It was almost two inches thick. “You’ll have to make
some sense out of this. It looks like they sent a more complete listing than we
asked for.”

He handed me the
pile, and I noticed there was no cover sheet to explain the package. “I’ll
check it out and let you know what I find.”

Mike was about
to say something when the front door opened. It was Mercedes, looking as if
nothing was out of the ordinary. “Scott, that sounds fine. Let me know, thanks.
Mercedes, good morning. When you hang up your coat, would you come into the
conference room? We met with Jeremy yesterday and want to go over some things
with you.”

“Sure. It’s good
to see both of you. Good morning.”

I wanted to
move, but I just stood there staring at her.

“Are you okay,
Scotty? You look like you just saw a ghost. I wasn’t sick enough to die and
feel fine this morning. Thanks for asking.”

Mike had already
left for the conference room. “I’m sorry, Mercedes. Good morning.” I realized I
was standing there with the listing documents in my hands.

“What’s that
you’re holding?”

I thought for a
moment. “Oh, it’s something Mike asked me to look at. I’ll talk with you later.
You better not keep Mike waiting.” She smiled but continued to study my face as
she passed, heading toward the conference room. I could smell gardenia again.

I was concerned
about Mercedes’ session with Mike. I wish I could have warned her, but it would
not have been proper. I noticed Mercedes enter the conference room; Mike was standing
there and closed the door behind her.

I went over to
my work area, spread the package out, and decided to fill my coffee cup and try
to reach Lisa. I phoned her dorm and waited for her to come to the phone. I was
getting nervous using the office phone, but I needed to talk with her. She came
to the phone within five minutes—almost a new record
.

“Hello, Scotty.”
Her voice was more pleasant than I had anticipated.

“Hi, hon. I only
have a couple of minutes. I’m using the office phone. I tried you Saturday
night, but after waiting about ten minutes, someone just hung the phone up on
me. I need to see you. Can we meet for dinner tonight?”

“I’m sorry I
missed your call. I would love to see you. What time tonight?”

“How about 7:00
p.m.? I would like to take you to a nice restaurant.”

There was a
silent period, and I wondered if she’d heard me. “Are you sure you can make
seven?”

“I’m sure. I
have to go, but I will pick you up then.”

“Okay, Scotty.
I’ll dress for the occasion. See you then.”

After the call,
I considered whether I had been too optimistic with my time frame. Since I only
had two properties to check out, I thought seven should give me enough time to
report back to Mike, get home to change, and get to her dorm.

I decided not to
make any reservations, as it was a Monday night and any of the fine restaurants
would have tables available.

* * *

I studied the
listing package. It was a multiple page listing for each property, which is
what made the package so voluminous. I had a list of all of the properties I
had checked out and went through the package to identify the new ones.

It took me about
an hour to separate them. There were four new listings, which surprised me.
However, I read through the four listings and identified the two that were
referenced in the other listing.

I read the
details of those two and decided each could be what we were looking for. I
wrote the addresses down on a scratch pad and attached it to the front sheets
of the two listing cover sheets.

I wanted to know
where these were located and pinpointed them on the harbor map Mercedes had
given me. Both of them fit what we were looking for.

Should I
interrupt Mike?
I wondered. No. That would not have been appropriate. It
was almost 9:30 a.m. If I left right then I thought, I could review these
properties before early afternoon. That would give me enough time to review them
with Mike, clean up, and still be on time for my dinner date.

I grabbed the
listings and took my coat off the rack. Mercedes’ coat was still there, and the
scent of her lingered.

“Am I invisible
this morning?” Colleen asked.

I failed to
notice her sitting at her reception desk. “I’m so sorry, Colleen. My mind is
going in several different directions this morning. Good morning.”

“I’m leaving to
check out a couple of properties and should be back mid-afternoon at the
latest. Please tell Mike where I went.”

I noticed the
conference room door was still closed when I left.

Chapter 70

Mike noticed
Mercedes’ demeanor was changing.

Paddy announced,
“Mercedes, it comes down to this—did you see those other missing listings, and
where were you all weekend?”

She ignored
Paddy’s questions, momentarily looking at the additions to the blackboard
again. “I have no idea what you are referring to regarding the other missing
listings. As far as what I was doing all weekend—that’s my business and really
none of yours.”

Mike felt like
he needed to intervene. “Mercedes, we’re conducting a serial-murder
investigation. You know that. We need to ask you these questions. You should
understand. We wouldn’t be doing our job if we ignored these things, or
activities.”

He looked at her
seeming indifference. “Are you going to help us out here or not?”

Her head snapped
in his direction. “I thought I was being a help
.
However, if my
association with the task force is not appreciated and is causing problems . .
. I would just as soon leave it . . . now.” She studied the new additions to
the board, rising from her chair:

Combat Boots

4
^th
Woman—Sunday Late Arrival

One woman
referred to as ‘Red’

Hill, or Bridge,
Near Facility

Coal (?)

Mercedes looked
over to see Paddy was now standing as well. “Are you holding me here, or am I
free to go?”

Paddy looked
shocked. “Mercedes, please don’t do this. We’re not holding you, but would
prefer you stay with us.”

“I think, under
the circumstances, it’s not in my best interest to stay here. I can be more
help to this investigation on my own.”

Paddy held up
his hand. “I’m really sorry you feel that way.”

She leaned on
the table. “If the situation were reversed, how do you think you would feel?
You’re considering me a killer. That hurts—and it would hurt you too.”

Before she
turned to leave, Mike noticed her tears. She bounded for the door and left,
closing the door behind her.

Paddy had braced
himself for the door to slam behind her. However, she closed it softly.

They just sat
there, staring at each other.

Chapter 71

Colleen must
have thought she was invisible. Mercedes came out of the conference room and,
without a word, put on her coat and left. She stood and looked at herself in
her mirror and then looked down at her outfit. The phone rang, making her jump.

“Good morning, task
force office. How can I help you?”

“Colleen, I’m
glad you answered the phone. This is Lisa. Is Scott there?”

“No. Scott left
a few minutes ago. Can I help you or give him a message?”

There was a
pause on the phone. “Maybe this shouldn’t wait. I meant to tell him something .
. . and, well, I guess I just forgot. He was in such a hurry. Is Mike
available?”

“Sure. He’s in
the conference room with Paddy, but I think they’re done. Let me check. Please
hold.”

She knocked on
the door and opened it. She stuck her head in the door. “Mike, I’m sorry to
bother you, but Lisa Anderson is on the phone, and she wants to talk to you.
It’s about something she forgot to mention to Scott, and she thinks it’s
important.”

“Excuse me,
Paddy.”

He followed
Colleen to her desk. “Hi Lisa, this is Mike.”

“Mike, I’m sorry
I forgot to mention this to Scott. I think it might be important.”

“Lisa, let me
pick this up in the other room.” He put the phone on hold and went to his desk.
“Go ahead, Lisa.”

She spoke
quickly. “Jeremy’s roommate, Neil, told his girlfriend that someone in his
National Guard unit, a woman, was asking questions about JJ a couple of weeks
before he was kidnapped. He thinks there could be a connection.”

She continued. “He
didn’t think much of it, until he learned about Jeremy’s kidnapping. Now
Jeremy’s cousin JJ—Jason—has been kidnapped. He thinks differently about it
now.”

“Lisa, I’m very
glad you didn’t wait to tell us about this. I think there could be a definite
connection, and we’re going to follow up with Neil. Is there anything else?”

She was slow to
respond. “I would like to see more of Scott. He is spending all his time on the
task force. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Its okay, Lisa.
Scott is being a big help to us. He’s out right now checking on a couple of
additional properties. I’ll let him know you called. Thanks again.”

Chapter 72

Mike went back
in the conference room and found Paddy sitting right where he left him. “Paddy,
we might have a break in the case.” He watched Paddy seem to come alive.

“Lisa’s call was
about Jeremy’s roommate, Neil Collins. The shortened version is a woman in his
National Guard unit was asking some questions about Jeremy several weeks before
he was kidnapped.”

Paddy smiled.
“Sounds like a very interesting piece of information.” He looked back at the
board.

Mike continued.
“She was referring to him as ‘JJ.’ Neil didn’t think anything of it until he
learned about Jeremy’s ordeal with the women. With Jason being kidnapped he
thinks the woman might have something to do with it.”

Paddy nodded.
“The combat boots and Sunday afternoon arrival would make the pieces fit
together, especially releasing Jeremy, realizing he was not the right guy.”

“Paddy, I think
we need to talk to Neil on the phone to save some time. Hopefully, we will be
able to reach him without too much difficulty.”

“Let’s do it.”
Paddy stood to go with Mike. “Let’s use my office for this, Mike. We may need
to make some additional calls.”

“I need to get
my notebook for some information. I’ll be right with you.” Mike quickly went in
the desk room and grabbed what he needed. He took the stairs two at a time.

Colleen saw him
fly by. She thought to herself,
I think the red outfit would have been
better today.

Mike gave Paddy
Neil’s number at his dorm. Paddy dialed the number quickly. “Yes, I would like
to speak with Neil Collins. Would you please get him for me? This is
important.”

A few minutes
went by. “Hello, this is Neil.”

“Neil, this is
Patrick O’Brien with the Torso Task Force. I would like to talk to you about a
person at your guard unit who was asking questions about your roommate Jeremy—JJ—to
be more specific.”

“You know, Mr.
O’Brien, it could have been nothing.”

“It’s Paddy, by
the way. We think it could be a significant piece of information, actually. We
understand it was a woman asking questions, and she referred to him as ‘JJ’? Is
that correct?”

“That’s right. I
told her he was my roommate. She asked if he was black.”

Mike gave a
signal to Paddy that he wanted to ask something. “Neil, this is Detective Mike
Miller. What unit do you belong to? Do you remember if you had a weekend drill
the weekend of November seventh and eighth?”

“I belong to
Headquarters’ Company, 101st Engineers. Our unit meets at the Medford armory.
We do have drills the first full weekend of the month.”

Paddy asked him
the next question. “What’s this woman’s name?”

“Sergeant
Daniels, and I believe her first name is Carole.”

“Are you also an
NCO?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Do you happen
to have an emergency call list?”

“I do, but it’s
only for those in my squad, the lieutenant, and captain.”

“Would you
happen to have your captain’s number, or the armory number handy?”

“We wouldn’t be
‘ready’ soldiers if we were without it. Are you ready?”

“Go ahead.” Mike
wrote the number down and confirmed it with Neil. “Is there anything else you
can think of?”

“Yeah, be
careful with Daniels. She knows her stuff, and she’s really into the military
thing. She loves to dish it out to the males in our outfit. She’s maybe a
little too gung ho.”

“Neil, you’ve
been a big help. We’re going to talk with her in person. Thanks again. Just
don’t tell her you talked with me.”

They hung up.
Mike felt good about this possible lead. “Let’s make the next phone call. We
need to get her address. I would like to get it from their guard office, rather
than the phone book.”

Paddy dialed the
number Neil gave him. The phone was answered on the first ring.

“Headquarters
101st Engineers, Sergeant Major McCue speaking. How can I help you?”

“Sergeant Major,
this is Paddy O’Brien calling from the AG’s Torso Task Force. We need your
help.”

“Yes, sir. How
can I be of service?”

“Thank you. In
the process of our investigation a Sergeant Daniel’s name was given to us. She
might be an investigative lead, and we need to talk with her ASAP. Can you
provide her home address and phone number?”

“I appreciate
your situation, Mr. O’Brien, but I can’t provide that information without
authorization from my commander. He’s due back here shortly, and I can tell him
about your call and need.”

Mike could read
Paddy’s mind about calling the AG to put some pressure on them. Calling the AG
at this point wouldn’t do anyone much good.

“That’s fine, I
understand. Time is of the essence, however. Here’s my number.”

It was still
early afternoon, and they had some time to wait for the return call.

Mike offered,
“Based on what Neil says about Daniels, she might be a good fit.”

Paddy didn’t
have a chance to answer. The phone rang and quickly Colleen announced it was
Captain Longo returning his call.

Paddy asked,
“I’m sure the Sergeant Major explained what we were looking for?”

A deep voice
responded. “He certainly did. I’m calling you with Sergeant Daniels’s home
address and phone number.” He gave it to Paddy. “If we can assist in any
manner, please don’t hesitate to call us. This communication is strictly
confidential.”