A Silent Fury (16 page)

C
atelyn threw herself into the seat and slammed her door. “She didn't shoot Zachary.”

“Nope. I think she's got some major marital problems, but I don't think she shot the kid to keep him quiet.”

“What do all of these boys have in common?”

“They're all in high school. And they all play baseball.”

“Right. That's what I've come up with. But there's something else tying them together, too. I just can't figure out what it is.” She gritted her teeth as he took another turn. “Sandy said she'd put a rush on the DNA, to see if the evidence they got out from under my fingernails matches anything in the system.”

“Okay, so what else? Somehow these guys with the baseball team are involved.”

Joseph rounded a corner then took a sharp left.

Catelyn's breath whistled between her teeth as the scenery zipped past her window. “And Billy knows more than he's telling.”

“You think someone's got his sister and is threatening to kill her if he tells what he knows?”

“It's possible, but what does Billy have that's of use to someone else? He's just a kid.”

“He saw who did it and they're using Kelly to keep him quiet.”

“But why not kill him, too? Kill both of them?”

“I don't know.”

Catelyn's phone rang. “Hello?”

“Hey. This is Sandy.”

“Sandy, do you ever sleep?”

“Not when I've got a case this big going on. The tests finally came back on that wood chip you found. It's the kind of wood that baseball bats are made of. It's ash wood and yes, ash is used for a lot of other things, but after studying that piece more, my guess is it came from a baseball bat.”

“Was any blood or anything on it?”

“I found a piece of hair, no blood. Tracy never bled on the outside of her skull, just the inside. The hair matches up with Tracy's. I believe if you find a baseball bat with a missing chip, you'll find your murder weapon.”

“You're worth your weight in gold, my friend. Thank you so much.”

“Okay, now I'm going home to sleep for a few hours.”

Catelyn saw they were getting close to the church. “You've more than earned it. If you hadn't stayed on top of things in the lab like you've done, we wouldn't be anywhere near solving this thing.”

“This one kind of hits close to home. I'm friends with Dylan's mom, too.”

“Thanks again, Sandy. Catch you later.”

Catelyn hung up and relayed the information to Joseph. She finished up just as they pulled into the church parking lot.

Both hopped out of the car and entered the church. The service was over, people spilling from the auditorium.

Keeping her eyes open, she looked for any familiar faces milling around. Seeing none, she nodded for Joseph to take the opposite end of the lobby to watch those exiting the sanctuary.

She signed to him, “Do you see anyone?”

“No,” he signed back.

She pulled back into the lobby and finally spotted a group of deaf kids signing near the exit.

Joseph caught her eye and followed her over to them. “Excuse me,” she signed. “Would you guys mind talking to us outside?”

The boys stilled, eyes on the two cops who'd just interrupted their conversation. “This way, please, all of you.”

Eyes darting back and forth to one another, they followed her outside where Joseph thanked them for their attention. Catelyn got down to business. “All right guys, have any of you seen Billy?”

“None of your business, Cop.”

Catelyn honed in on the smart mouth. “Excuse me?”

“Bobby, shut up.”

Joseph turned to the young black boy who'd just spoken. “And you are?”

“R.J., Ricky James, but I go by R.J. Yo, Coach and Billy left a while ago. Billy said he had to make a phone call and went to the lobby. Coach Dillard asked me what was up and I told him. He took after Billy like a streak of lightning.”

Catelyn met Joseph's eyes. That didn't sound good. “Do you know where they went?”

“Nope. When Coach Dillard asked me where Billy went I told him and he said for us to catch a ride with one of the youth workers who would help get us home.”

“Do you guys come to church every Sunday with Coach Dillard?”

The boy shrugged. “Most Sundays. Coach is real religious and likes us to come with him. He says we're his future and he's watching over his investment. Or something like that. We like Coach and think he's cool. Church is all right, too.”

“All right. Thanks, R.J.”

“I hope you can help Billy out. He's been real depressed lately what with his sister missing and all.”

“You wouldn't happen to have any idea what happened that night she went missing would you?”

“No, man. I wish I did. I like Kelly, she's a good kid.”

Joseph turned to the rest of the crew, signing and voicing at the same time. “Do any of you know where Coach Dillard and Billy might have gone?”

Bobby, Mr. Smartmouth, spoke up. “They had business and went to take care of it, obviously.”

Catelyn lasered him with her eyes. “What kind of business? Gang business?”

A flush crept up into his cheeks. “Wouldn't you like to know?”

Joseph wanted to pop the kid in the mouth—or at least arrest him for something. Catelyn looked like she felt the same way. He ignored the kid and turned to the one who seemed willing to help. “R.J.?”

“That, I don't know. Coach Dillard just said he had to take care of something and it wouldn't wait.”

“Where would they go to take care of this business? Someplace special?”

“Probably at his house. That's where he does everything. But I don't think Billy would go there. He's been mighty weird about Coach Dillard lately. Maybe at the high school? Coach's got an office there and spends a lot of time in it, studying teams, videos of different players and stuff.”

Catelyn looked at Joseph. “You think?”

He shrugged. “I think that would be way too easy. But let's give it a shot. We just came from his house so I doubt he'd take his business there with his wife and kid.”

“Right. Let's head for the school.”

They thanked the boys and headed over to the high school.

 

The place looked deserted. Knocking on the door brought no response. Joseph peered in another window. “So do you think Tracy's death is related to the gang situation with Zachary wanting out or something else?”

“That's been in the back of my head ever since Dylan told us about it. But I'm thinking it's connected to something different. Tracy's death doesn't seem like a gang killing. She was cracked in the head with a blunt object—probably a baseball bat—and that sounds more like an impulse killing, spur of the moment, she made someone mad kind of thing.”

“Yeah, that's what I think, too. The evidence isn't there for a gang killing.”

“I sure wish Zachary would wake up so we could talk to him.”

“I'm worried about the person who doesn't want him to wake up.”

“That's why we've got a guard on him.”

Fifteen minutes later, they pulled in the parking lot of Esterman High. Two cars sat in the parking lot. Joseph recognized the red Bronco from their visit to Coach Dillard's house. The blue Toyota looked familiar, too.

Joseph draped his wrists over the steering wheel, his brow creased in thought. “You know how we were brainstorming what all these guys had in common?”

“Yes.”

“What about a coach?”

He nodded. “But why kill Tracy?”

“I have no idea. Let's go ask.”

He blew out a breath and pulled his phone from the cup holder. “All right, let me call for backup, then let's see what we've got.”

“Go for it.”

He had the first six digits punched in when a shot rang out.

W
eapons in hand, Joseph and Catelyn headed to the gymnasium where the shot had come from. Nerves bouncing with every step, she visualized various scenarios. Had the bullet found its target?

Catelyn got on her radio and called for an ambulance. “Shots fired.”

“Backup's on the way,” the dispatcher reassured her.

“Tell them to keep their sirens off. I don't want to alert anyone we're here yet.”

“Ten-four.”

Joseph found a window and looked in. Catelyn approached the door, and standing off to the side, reached over to turn the knob. It twisted easily beneath her palm.

The door swung inward.

She nodded to Joseph and, leading with his gun, stepped through the opening. Catelyn followed then moved ahead of Joseph.

Moving slowly, feeling Joseph at her back, she kept her ears trained for any warning sound. Her eyes took in every detail of the building. They'd come in the side door that opened directly into a hallway lined with closed doors on either side.

Catelyn tried the first one she came to.

Locked.

Joseph tried the next three.

All locked and no sound coming from behind them.

The door she and Joseph had entered just moments before cracked open. Catelyn swung her weapon around to train it on the opening. Joseph did the same.

Heart pounding, she waited. A gun came around the edge.

And Joseph stepped in front of her.

She snapped her gun so the muzzle pointed to the ceiling and stepped to the side so she could watch the door.

What was he doing?

She had to push aside the anger thrumming through her. She'd have to deal with that—and Joseph—later.

A uniformed officer slid inside followed by three more.

Catelyn released a whispered breath of relief. Joseph motioned for the officers to hang back. They nodded.

She shot Joseph a we'll-talk-later look and turned back, trying door knobs as she went.

Then she heard voices.

Catching Joseph's eye, she motioned him over.

Silently, he joined her.

“Where is she?!” Another shot and a bullet pierced the door. They both jumped.

Billy. Catelyn raised a brow and Joseph moved in, twisted the knob and pushed the door open, yelling, “Freeze! Police! Put the weapon down.”

They stayed in a safe zone on opposite sides of the open door. Catelyn sneaked a look around the door frame.

Three pair of startled eyes focused in on the sudden intrusion. Billy held a gun in his right hand.

“Hands in the air, now!” Catelyn ordered.

“Billy,” Joseph said, “put the gun on the floor.”

The boy, tears streaking his face, shook his head. “No way. He knows where Kelly is but won't tell me. I'm out of time!”

“We're here now, Billy, just put the gun down so we can sit down and figure it all out.”

“You'll just let him go, but you don't know what they've done.”

“Then tell me. What has he done?”

Coach Dillard interrupted. “Nothing. Billy's distraught. He needs counseling.”

“And you're going to need a doctor if you don't tell me where my sister is!” Spittle flew from his mouth as he screamed at his coach.

Joseph intervened. “Billy, come on. We can't settle anything if you have that gun.”

“He'll kill me,” he practically sobbed. “He killed Tracy and he's got Kelly.”

“Who, Billy?”

“Him!” He waved the gun at Coach Dillard.

Catelyn watched a look of frustration pass over Alan's face. He held his hands up as though in surrender. “I don't know where he got this idea or why he's chosen me, but I can assure you, I had nothing to do with anything happening to the girls.”

“Liar!” The gun waved wildly and Catelyn's heart clamped at the thought of shooting this kid.

“Billy, Billy,” she soothed. “I promise, we'll work it out, just put the gun down.”

She wondered if she was going to have to call in the hostage-negotiation team.

Joseph met her eyes. He was thinking the same thing.

“Here, look.” Billy's hand reached for his pocket.

“Wait!” Joseph hollered. Billy froze.

“What are you going for?” Joseph asked a little more calmly.

“Pictures.”

Catelyn saw Alan Dillard's body tense. She asked, “What kind of pictures, Billy?”

“Pictures of Kelly.”

 

Joseph's mind raced. What if the kid was telling the truth? He'd noticed the subtle change in Dillard's posture. A sudden awareness that this situation might not go in his favor?

The tension, already thick, just tightened a bit more.

“Billy…” Coach Dillard started.

“Be quiet,” Joseph ordered the man. He turned back to Billy. “Show me the pictures.”

The kid reached into his pocket with his left hand and pulled out several snapshots. “He sent me these. I know he did.”

“How do you know? Did you see him?”

Billy's brow creased even further. “No, but it had to be him. No one else knows what I do.” He motioned with the gun for the coach to move back away from him. Then he walked forward and threw the pictures on the table just inside the door.

Unfortunately, he stepped right in front of Joseph, turning so the gun was pointed away from Alan for a brief second.

Alan took advantage of that and launched himself at Billy as the kid stepped back. The gun went flying, only to land inches from Billy's fingertips. He screamed and scrabbled for it.

Catelyn and Joseph reacted immediately. She went for the gun while Joseph went for Billy. Catelyn knocked the weapon from his grasping fingers.

Alan Dillard had him pinned on the floor. Several SWAT members swarmed the large office, guns pointed at everyone not wearing a badge.

Joseph pushed the man off Billy and hauled the youth to his feet. “Please, please, believe me. I promise you'll understand. Just look at the pictures.”

Catelyn's skeptical look didn't escape Joseph's notice; however, she seemed to make a conscious decision to deliberately soften her stance and walked over to pick up the photographs.

A gasp escaped her as she studied the first one. He handed Billy over to one of the uniformed officers and crossed the room to look over her shoulder.

“Whoa.”

“What's the date on that newspaper?”

“Yesterday.”

Hope leaped within him as he studied the face of the terrified young girl glaring at the camera holding a newspaper. “She's still alive.”

“Looks like it. But for how much longer?”

Joseph told Coach Dillard. “All right, fellas, let's head down to the station and see if we can hash all this out.”

Alan narrowed his eyes. “Is that necessary? You saw who had the gun.” He looked at Billy. “What happened, Billy? Why would you do this?”

Not giving Billy a chance to respond, Joseph said, “Yeah, it's necessary. I want to know why he thought he needed a gun to confront you and why he thinks you sent these pictures of his sister.”

“Can we do this here? I'd prefer it if we could keep the media from getting ahold of this.”

“Sorry, we'll expect you in our station within fifteen minutes.” He didn't have any reason to arrest Alan—yet. But he still wanted to talk with him.

“Are you arresting Billy?” Alan demanded.

“Absolutely. You can't just go around waving a gun at people. But I also want to hear his story.” He turned to one of the officers. His name tag read Bud Bridges. “Will you see Dillard gets to the station?”

“No problem.”

“All right. You ready, Catelyn?”

She nodded, her eyes still on Billy, a frown creasing her forehead. Joseph asked, “What's wrong?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head and rubbed her nose. “I…Nothing. Let's go.”

They headed for the station, Joseph praying that they could finally resolve this case in the next few hours. His churning gut told him it probably wasn't going to be that easy.

 

Catelyn stomped into the interrogation room. She was starting to feel like she should move her bed into one of the rooms and change her address.

Billy fidgeted, crossing his arms in front of him then fiddling with the sleeve of his plaid shirt. He plucked a button from one cuff and it rolled to the floor. He didn't even blink.

Catelyn sat across from him and his parents who flanked him on either side. “Mr. Franklin, are you sure you're feeling up to this?”

The man nodded, weariness and despair oozing from him in almost visible waves. Catelyn took a deep breath and laid the pictures of Kelly out so they were visible for all to see. Mrs. Franklin sucked in a deep breath and studied her daughter. Then she said, “But this is good, right? It means she's still alive.” Hope gleamed in her eyes.

She turned the tape recorder on, went through the list of introductory questions having him verify his name, birth date, etc. Once done, she said, “Start talking Billy. What happened? Where have you been?”

Tension had his body nearly vibrating. “I need to find Kelly. I've tried and tried, but I can't…I just…can't. I've run out of ideas and…time…”

“Who took her?”

“Coach Dillard did.”

“You say that with absolute certainty. How do you know?”

Billy swallowed hard. “Because she called and told me she saw him kill Tracy. She didn't know I was just a minute away from the school. She begged me to help her then her phone got cut off.”

“Why call you? Wouldn't she text message you? And don't say she did, we already checked her records.”

“Normally she would have text messaged me—if she'd had time, but she sounded desperate and scared. She might be deaf, but she can still talk.”

Catelyn murmured, “I did some checking on her. Her hearing loss is a lot like Marianna's.” Joseph's sister couldn't hear much, but she had excellent speech.

Joseph nodded. “Okay. So she called you.”

“Yeah. When Kelly didn't come home, I went looking for her. I figured she was probably meeting Dylan, so I went to the deaf school. They liked to meet there and hang out with the other kids before curfew.”

“Did you see her?”

He sighed and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Yeah. When I got there, it was already dark. I saw Tracy lying on the ground—” his Adam's apple bobbed once “—dead, I think. Behind Tracy, I saw a man. He was arguing with Kelly. Kelly was hysterical, screaming that he'd killed Tracy. He was trying to get her shut up. He had her by her left wrist and she was trying to kick and hit…” He swallowed again. “He lifted the bat to hit Kelly and that's when I stepped out of the bushes and told him to put it down.”

“Who was it, Billy?” Joseph pressed, leaning in to stare the kid in the eye.

“Coach Dillard. I told you, he killed Tracy and grabbed Kelly.”

Catelyn jumped in. “Why haven't you told us this before now?”

He swallowed hard. “Because Coach said if I told anyone he'd kill her! I couldn't let him hurt Kelly.” He swallowed again. “While Coach was dragging Kelly away, she signed, ‘Coach and Tracy lovers.' And something about a secret room.”

“Whoa.” Joseph sat back. “Alan and Tracy were having an affair? What about this secret room? Did she say anything more about that? Where it was, who it belonged to? What was in it?”

Billy blinked at all the questions then said, “I guess they were having some kind of affair, I really don't know. And I don't know about a secret room, but that's what she signed. I wanted to go after her, but—” he rubbed his head “—I didn't dare. He was serious about killing Kelly.”

“So, you just watched him put her in his car and drive away?”

“Yes.” Shame flashed, then impatience stamped his face along with worry. “I thought I could find her! I thought I could…get her away from him and then go straight to the police, but he was too good, too smart for me, too…Look, you've got to find Kelly. He knows that I'm going to tell you all this and he's going to kill her!”

“Relax, Billy,” Joseph said. “We've got him in a room down the hall. He can't get to her right now.”

The boy sat back in his chair with a huff. He rubbed his arms and his sleeves slid up.

Catelyn reached out and grabbed his wrist. “What's this?”

Billy jerked away from her. “Nothing, I scratched myself.”