Out For Justice (21 page)

One blink.

“Good, Sam. Do you know what happened the day you went to Ray Thomas’s house to arrest him?”

One blink.

“Sam, did Ray Thomas attack you?”

One blink. Then another.

“Two blinks? That means no, right?” Thinking that she had made a mistake, Karen looked at Mrs. Anderson for confirmation.

Mrs. Anderson leaned over her husband to look into his eyes. “Sam, did you understand Detective Sykes’ question?”

One blink.

“He understood me. So he’s saying no to my question. What does that mean? Who attacked you, Sam?” Agitated, Karen began to pace along side Sam’s bed. “Maggie said that Ray attacked her. Who else could have been there? Did he have an accomplice?” Karen stopped pacing and stared down at Sam. “Was that it, Sam? Did Ray Thomas have an accomplice?”

One blink. Then another slow blink.

“No. He’s saying no again. What does that mean, Sam? Who else was there?”

Sam’s hands bounced up and down on the sheet covering his bed. Mrs. Anderson covered one of his hands with hers. “He’s getting upset, dear. Maybe we should stop.”

“I’m sorry, you’re right. This must be making him anxious.” Karen wrapped her arms around her waist and stood to one side of the room. A buzzing noise startled her, until she realized it was her cell phone vibrating against her waist. She checked the caller ID and recognized Mike’s telephone number. “I’m going to take this in the waiting room,” she said to Sam’s wife.

Mrs. Anderson waved her on while she tried to soothe her fretful husband.

Karen walked through the double doors and out of ICU and into the waiting room. She answered her cell phone, “Hello, Mike?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Wait, before you say anything, this is strictly a business call. I got some news for you. Let me start by saying I didn’t know the report had come in. It got mixed up with some other stuff when my mail fell and we just now got it all sorted out.”

“What report?” The cell phone reception wasn’t that great, so Karen moved closer to a window in the waiting room.

“The boots. We got a probable match on the boots you found and the footprint we cast in the campground.”

“That’s great. We got a match. That puts Thomas in the campground with the kid. We already got his fingerprint on the kid’s snap, this just confirms it. We can charge this guy with murder just as soon as we bring him in for questioning.”

“That gets me to the next report.”

“You got another report? For me?”

“Yes, on the John Doe we found on the Courtney Campbell Causeway?”

“Oh right. How does that relate to me or my case?” Karen stood at the window and watched the thunderclouds rolling in.

“Listen carefully, Karen. We ID’d the body. His name is Raymond Alan Thomas.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

“Who?” Karen held one hand up to her ear to block any noise coming through. “Who did you say the ID was?”

“It’s Raymond Alan Thomas, Karen. The guy you’ve been looking for.”

“But, it can’t be. He…he can’t be dead. That would make him dead for more than seventy-two hours. That would make him dead before—”

“Before Sam got attacked,” Mike finished for her.

Karen wiped a hand across her face. She needed time to process this information. Sam blinked no to her questions about Thomas. Thomas didn’t attack him. She had to talk to Sam again. Find out what he knew. Hurrying back through the double doors, Karen slipped past the nurse’s station and down to Sam’s room. She practically ran into Mrs. Anderson who was on her way out of the room.

“Sam. I need to talk to Sam,” Karen said.

“I’m sorry, dear. The nurse gave him a sedative to see if it would calm him down. He was way too upset after you left.”

“But he knows who attacked him. I have to find out who it was,” Karen begged.

“He’s sleeping. He won’t be talking to anyone for a while. I’m not sure he should talk to you again.”

“Oh, please, Mrs. Anderson. Sam wants to tell me who attacked him. If I gave him a pen he could write it down. He doesn’t have to try and talk.”

Sam’s wife cocked her head to one side as she considered Karen’s proposal. “I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll see after he wakes up.”

“Please call me as soon as he wakes up. I’ll be close by.”

“I will, dear.” Mrs. Anderson patted Karen’s hand.

“Thank you.” Karen turned to walk away. She stopped and turned back. “Sam was moving his hands. Does that mean…?”

“The pressure is slowly subsiding from his spinal cord. The doctor says that with time and rehabilitation, Sam should be able to regain full use of his arms and legs.”

Karen reached out and gave Mrs. Anderson a hug. “That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you and for Sam.” Karen stepped back. “He’s going to get better then?”

“Yes. It’ll be slow going, but Sam’s a fighter.”

“Please call me when Sam wakes up. I promise not to get him upset. This is important to our case.”

Sam’s wife nodded. “Okay, dear. I’ll call you.”

“Thank you. You have my cell phone number?”

“Yes, it’s on the card you gave me. I have it in my purse.”

“Good. I’m going to go back and visit Maggie Morris. I think Sam’s information will be helpful.” Pushing her way through the double doors, Karen left ICU. She followed the now familiar route to the elevators and up to the floor where Maggie’s room was.

Karen entered the dark room. The only light coming from the television. “Maggie?”

Maggie sat up in bed and muted the television. “Detective Sykes? I didn’t know you would be coming back today.” With hands that shook slightly, she smoothed the sheet that covered her body. “What can I do for you? I’ve already told you everything I can remember.”

“I know you did.” Karen watched Maggie carefully. “I’ve just been to see Detective Anderson. He’s awake.”

“Really? Well, that’s good news then, isn’t it?” Wide eyed, Maggie made eye contact with Karen then quickly shifted her glance to the quiet television. She watched it for a moment then glanced back at Karen. “Was there something else?”

On impulse, Karen said, “Sam’s told me who attacked him.”

Eyes narrowing for a split second before returning to their wide-eyed, innocent look, Maggie coughed. She reached for her glass of water and took a long, slow drink.

The silence spoke volumes to Karen. Something in Maggie’s mannerisms was too calculated, too perfectly orchestrated. Karen wanted to see what Maggie’s reaction would be to her next statement. “We know what happened, Maggie.” With Thomas dead before the attacks, that left only Maggie. Karen didn’t know if she had an accomplice, but wondered how she could have gotten the drop on Sam. Maybe that’s what Sam was trying to tell her. Maggie was the one who attacked him.

Maggie placed her glass of water on the bedside table and pushed it away from her. She kept her head down. Her hands shook as she folded and refolded the top of the sheet. Finally, she lifted her head and looked at Karen. “I…I’m not feeling very well at the moment, detective.”

“I’m sorry, would you like me to get the nurse?” Karen took a half step back and made a motion as if to go to the door.

“No,” Maggie cried. She lowered her voice and said, “I mean, thank you, but no. I think I need some rest. My therapy session was rather difficult today.”

“Difficult? It’s too bad you can’t remember what happened that day. But that’s okay actually. We don’t need your memory anymore now that Detective Anderson is awake.” Karen watched as Maggie stopped smoothing the sheet and clenched her trembling hands together.

“That’s good,” Maggie said through tight lips. “If you could just go now?” She let her head fall back against the pillow and turned away from the door.

“Absolutely. You get lots of rest, Maggie. You’re going to need it.” Karen turned and left Maggie’s hospital room. She knew that Maggie was involved in Sam’s attack. She just hadn’t worked through all the details yet. Maggie’s reaction to Sam’s condition meant that she wasn’t happy to hear the news. That much Karen had figured out. Did Maggie inflict all that damage on herself? Could she have possibly beaten Sam, as big as he was? Karen laughed at herself for thinking up such far-fetched ideas. But she was sworn to follow every lead and this one was worth checking out. She headed for the elevators, noticed there was a crowd waiting to board, and detoured to the stairwell. Taking the stairs would be quicker and she’d be able to use her cell phone in the process.

Karen dialed Hendricks’ number as she pushed open the heavy door to the stairs.

Listening to the phone ring for the third time, Karen bounded down the stairs. Suddenly, with a slam to her back, she fell forward and dropped her cell phone. “What the hell?” She pushed herself up to a crouching position and looked backward at what had nearly pushed her down the stairs.

She couldn’t believe her eyes. It was Maggie. But a Maggie like she’d never seen before. Eyes sparked with anger. Lips curled backward over her teeth, snarling in a low growl. Her fast, heavy breathing could be heard echoing in the stairwell. She wore only her hospital gown and had bare feet.

“Maggie! What are you doing?” Karen stood up and reached out a hand to the angry woman a few steps up from her.

“Don’t touch me, bitch.” Maggie made a swipe at Karen’s hand with her fingers clenched like talons.

“Settle down, Maggie.” Karen brought her hand back and looked out of the corner of her eye to see if she could find her cell phone. It was three steps below her on the edge of the stairs. Her far-fetched idea about Maggie being the assailant wasn’t sounding so crazy anymore as she kept an eye on the feral woman getting ready to attack.

In a flash, Maggie sprang forward and launched herself at Karen. Teeth and nails flailed. She punched and tore at Karen’s body.

Karen fended off Maggie’s assault as best she could. A fist found a way into her sternum and she lost her breath. Pain burned along her cheek as she felt nails rake her face. Her head slammed into the concrete wall of the stairwell as Maggie grabbed her arm and flung her to the side. Bright lights flashed before her eyes. She blinked twice to bring everything back into focus.

Maggie tore at her jacket and pulled it up and over Karen’s head. Karen flipped easily out of the sleeves of her jacket and flung it away from her. Another flying fist caught her in the chin; she bit hard on her tongue and tasted blood. Grabbing one of Maggie’s arms, Karen tried to subdue the wild woman by pulling Maggie’s arm behind her back. With bare feet, Maggie kicked at Karen’s legs and connected right below the knee. Karen’s leg buckled. She grabbed for the wall to help her maintain her balance. Stumbling, she grabbed for the handrail and held on as Maggie pushed at her to make her fall.

From below, Karen heard one of the heavy doors open. She opened her mouth to scream for help when Maggie’s fist connected with her left temple. She slumped over as bright flashes of light blurred her vision and blackness crept in along the edges.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Frustrated, Mike tossed his cell phone across the table. He couldn’t get through to Karen. She wasn’t answering her cell phone and that wasn’t like her. Their other conversation didn't go well, but not so well she'd screen his calls. Or would she?

A gnawing feeling deep in his gut wouldn’t go away. Something wasn’t right. Karen was in trouble and he needed to find her. Would this be what he had to look forward to in a relationship with a homicide detective? Would he be left on the sidelines, waiting, wondering? Could he endure this kind of nervous suspense on a regular basis? Doubts crept into the back of his mind. Memories of his last failed relationship with a fellow officer flooded forward. He didn’t need this. Not again.

Mike paced between the office and the lab. A knot of frustration in the back of his neck ached incessantly and a feeling of helplessness that he couldn’t get over nagged at him.

“Hey, Mike. Haven’t you left yet? You’re gonna wear a path in the hall. What’s got you all in a twist?”

“It’s Karen. I was on my way out and thought I’d give her a call. I can’t get her to answer her phone.”

“When was the last time you spoke to her?” Susan’s eyebrows lifted.

“A couple of hours ago. I found some reports that got mixed up with the filing and called her to give her the results. Since it related to the case she was working on, I figured she’d want to hear the results right away.”

“Yeah. Makes sense.” Susan shifted her purse strap higher on her shoulder. “Did she say where she was at the time?”

“Yeah. She was at the hospital. Checking on Sam and talking to Maggie Morris.” Mike stopped pacing and leaned against the wall. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Something just doesn’t feel right, Susan. I don’t know exactly. But, I got this feeling.”

“Feelings are good. What exactly is troubling you? Is it that you can’t get her on the phone?”

“No, not exactly.” Mike forced a laugh. “You’re gonna think I’m crazy or something. Maybe it’s just nothing.”

“Mike, you’re talking to me. Auntie Susan. I’m not gonna laugh. Tell me what’s bothering you. It’s obviously something, or you wouldn’t be acting this way.”

“All right. But don’t laugh.”

Susan crossed her heart. “On my honor,” she said.

Mike paused, took a deep breath, blew it out then forged ahead. “I have this feeling that Karen’s in trouble. Something inside tells me that whatever she’s doing, it went wrong.”

Susan smiled.

“See, I knew you were going to laugh.” Mike lifted a fist and hit the wall he’d been leaning on.

“I’m not laughing. Do you hear me laughing?”

“No.”

“All right then. Do you have a way of getting in touch with her new partner?”

“No. Wait. Yeah. Maybe, if I can remember his name. What was it?” Mike screwed up his face in concentration trying to remember Karen’s new partner. He couldn’t focus. The name didn’t come to him. “What was it? Hicks? Something like Hicks. But that’s not it.”

“Why don’t you call over to the warehouse and see if anyone can tell you who it is?”

“That’s a good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?” Mike smiled at Susan.

“Cuz you’re not smart like me.”

“Right.” Mike stood in front of Susan, shuffling from one foot to the other, anxious to get to his cell phone.

“Go on. Call already.” Susan moved out of his way to the lab doorway, where he’d thrown his phone earlier.

Mike hurried into the room to retrieve his cell phone.

Susan called after him, “I’m gonna need a full report tomorrow.”

Mike turned back and poked his head out of the doorway to look at Susan. “Hey, thanks for all your help. And thanks for listening.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” Susan blew him a kiss and walked down the hallway toward the exit.

Buoyed by his conversation with Susan, Mike picked up his cell phone and dialed the number to the Sheriff’s office warehouse location. While he waited for someone to answer, he looked over the report he’d given to Karen earlier. It suddenly dawned on him that if Raymond Alan Thomas had been dead for over seventy-two hours, then a killer was still on the loose. Someone attacked Sam. Someone who may have left him for dead in that house. Could that same person want to hurt Karen as well? Mike’s stomach turned over with a sickening thud.

His hand shook as he ran it through his hair and rubbed absently at the top of his head. A voice answered and he hurried to explain his situation.

“This is Mike Connelly, crime scene technician. I’m trying to get in touch with one of your detectives and I’m not sure of his name. He’s partnered with Detective Karen Sykes temporarily. Do you know who I’m talking about?”

“Just a moment, sir. I’ll check for you.”

Mike heard a click then a recording of summer safety information played into his ear. He didn’t listen as the recorded voice gave helpful tips to make this summer a safe one.

Another click and the voice came back on the line. “Sir, that would be Detective Hendricks. Would you like me to connect you?”

“Hendricks. That’s it.” Mike breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, please. I’d like to talk to him.”

“I’ll ring his desk. Have a good day.” The voice disconnected. Mike heard ringing and waited.

“Hendricks here.”

“Detective Hendricks. This is Mike Connelly. Crime Scene Technician and a…friend of Karen Sykes. I don’t know how to ask this, so I’ll just come right out with it. Have you heard from Karen today?”

“Connelly? Yeah, I heard that you and Sykes were an item. What about her?”

“She’s not answering her cell phone.” Mike paused. “That’s not like her, detective.”

“Yeah? She’s a big girl. She can take care of herself. She’s probably at the hospital checking on Sam.”

Mike didn’t like the way Hendricks was giving him the brush-off. “Maybe. That’s where she was when I called. But I gave her some information that affected her case and it has me worried.”

“Like what? What did you tell her? And why the hell wasn't I informed?”

“You know the Hunt case she’d been working on?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, the main suspect she’s been after, Raymond Alan Thomas? He’s been dead for more than seventy-two hours. We found his body on the causeway a few days ago. He was our John Doe.”

“Damn. That means—”

“Yeah, it means that whoever attacked Sam is still out there and could be going after Karen as well.”

“Okay, this is what I want you to do. You stay by your phone in case she calls. I’m going to take a drive over to the hospital and see if I can track her down.”

“All right. I’ll do that. It’s just…”

“I know. But like I said, Karen’s tough. She can take care of herself. Sam always had good things to say about her. I just hope she remembers to call for back up instead of trying to bring this guy in by herself.”