Cold Case Tracker, page 16
True, he’d known intellectually that Gemma had been frustrated with how police had handled the disappearance of her friend Louise. But being confronted head-on by the seniors had hit him with that reality in a new and deeper way.
Or maybe something inside himself had changed.
“Well, loop me in on what you’ve got and I’ll see what I can do,” Finnick said.
They followed a path down the side of the hospital. Slowly the noise of vehicles and people coming in and out of the parking lot faded, until they were completely alone. Finnick glanced around as if ensuring no one would be able to overhear them.
“So, as you know, Reese Cyan has been arrested,” Finnick said. “He’s being charged with kidnapping and attempted murder. He will be arraigned in the morning. We’re already hearing reports from jurisdictions across the country where he’s wanted on charges of both theft and trafficking in stolen property. Thankfully pawnshops are required to keep meticulous records and it now appears some pieces of jewelry he pawned in Toronto over a decade ago matched some of the items stolen from the Pine Crest Retirement Home. I’ll make sure we test his DNA against the DNA collected from the Pine Crest scene. I’ll also suggest opening an internal investigation into what went wrong with the initial investigation of these murders.”
“Do you think there was corruption or some kind of police criminality involved?” Gemma asked.
“No,” Finnick said. “Just really sloppy police work. More should’ve been done at the time to check to see if anything had been pawned and that DNA should’ve been tested years ago. No promises that we’ll be able to pin the murders on Reese too, but we’ll be investigating.”
“I can’t believe we’re so close to giving those people at Pine Crest closure,” Gemma said, “and yet we’re still not quite there.”
“Don’t worry,” Finnick said. “We’re not about to give up just because it’s hard.”
“You’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who cares about solving cold cases more than Finnick here,” Jackson said.
Finnick chuckled wryly. “Yeah, I’ve been fighting for us to get our own dedicated cold case unit for a long time.”
A narrow park lay to their right with trees and benches. Streetlamps flickered on overhead as they approached, sending gentle pools of light down at their feet.
Jackson let Gemma and Finnick walk on ahead while he fell into step behind them. They let their K-9 partners off their leashes. Hudson and Nippy ran around the park, charging at each other, rolling in the grass, but never straying too far from their humans.
“Your brother sent me pictures of your office wall,” Finnick said with what sounded like genuine admiration. “I have to say I’m impressed. Your investigative work on half a dozen of those cases is absolutely incredible. I think it’s a shame that you’re not pursuing a career in police work.”
“Thanks, but I don’t,” Gemma said, and Jackson could hear the smile in her voice. “Some people don’t like talking to cops, sometimes for good reasons and other times for stupid reasons. A private investigator can get leads that police can’t. Also, there are procedures in place that impact what cases you go after, and private investigators don’t have those limitations.”
“All true,” Finnick said, “but we have a lot more resources. Which is why we need a dedicated unit.”
“That works in cooperation with civilian investigators?” Gemma asked.
Finnick chuckled then glanced back at Jackson. “I can see why you told me your sister is relentless and tenacious.”
Jackson listened a moment longer as Gemma and Finnick talked back and forth about various cold cases Gemma had been investigating and their theories on each. Jackson was almost jealous. He’d never felt like he was completely on the same wavelength as either his sister or his boss—as much as he genuinely admired both—and yet they were clearly cut from the same cloth.
“You and Caleb created a bit of a stir when you visited Pine Crest,” Finnick told Jackson. “Several of the seniors posted on social media.” He glanced over to where Hudson was play-fighting with Nippy. “Apparently, although they had mixed feelings on what the police were doing about the case, they all thought Hudson was absolutely adorable and should star in his own series of crime movies.”
Jackson laughed. “Yeah, well, I’m glad I got to meet them,” he said. “When all this blows over, I’m happy to help push for this unit you want to set up to anyone who’ll listen.”
A sudden wave of pride filled his core.
“Also, I hope you and my sister stay in touch,” Jackson added. “Because if you want members of the public pushing for this, there is no better person in your corner than Gemma. She genuinely cares about the little guy and will be relentless in doing what it takes to help them.”
Gemma laughed. “Thank you, bro.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, “and while I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you earlier, sis, I’m completely behind you now.”
“I have to ask you something...” Finnick glanced at Gemma. “What was it about the Pine Crest case that got your attention? Why that case?”
Gemma ran both hands through her hair and laughed. “I had a theory,” she said, “which I now realize is ridiculous, now that we know about Reese Cyan.”
“And what was that?” Finnick asked.
“I thought Kenny Stanton might possibly be Amy’s ex-husband, Paul Keebles.”
She laughed, but Jackson didn’t. He felt his whole body stiffen.
“What do you mean you thought Amy’s ex-husband could be the Pine Crest killer?” Jackson asked, so sharply that Gemma stopped walking suddenly and turned back to face him. So did Finnick. He noticed his boss wasn’t smiling and hadn’t seemed to find the thought funny either.
“Okay,” Gemma said, “so it turned out Paul had a lot of pseudonyms, including Paul Kent and Stanley Paul. And I thought if you put Ken and Stan together...”
“You get Kenny Stanton,” Jackson said. “I get the link, but it’s weak.”
“I know,” Gemma said and shrugged. “And after Reese tried to murder me, I realized I wasn’t dealing with some two-bit conman after all but someone much more dangerous. The idea that Paul could be Kenny just got stuck in my mind and I couldn’t shake it, especially after Amy told me Paul loved showing off these medals that his grandfather supposedly won in the Second World War. Which got me thinking, what if Paul had once lived in Canada? What if while he’d been here, he worked at a seniors’ residence and messed around with some senior citizens’ pain IVs when he was younger and accidentally killed them?”
“It’s very tenuous,” Jackson said, slowly. “But not impossible. After all, Reese Cyan only has a record of theft and trafficking in stolen property, and we had no problem jumping to the conclusion that he was capable of murder.”
“Right,” Gemma said. “But I couldn’t find any evidence that Paul had ever even been up here.”
Just like they hadn’t thought it was possible that he was up here now.
Suddenly a thought washed over him, jolting his system like freezing-cold water.
He summoned Hudson, turned and started running back to the front door.
“Where are you going?” Gemma called.
“The nurse told us he thought Skye’s father was here in the hospital!” Jackson shouted. “We assumed it was a misunderstanding. What if it’s not? What if Paul was working with Reese Cyan and thinks Amy has unknowingly seen evidence that could put him away for three murders?”
* * *
Amy lay in her hospital bed and looked over at the tiny bundle lying in the cot beside her. Her eyes traced her daughter’s sleeping form. Skye’s tiny fingers were curled into fists. Her eyes were closed and her little button nose was scrunched in sleep.
A joy deeper than any happiness Amy had ever known welled up inside her.
“You’re perfect,” she whispered to her tiny child. “You’re safe, you’re here and you’re so very, very loved. I will do everything in my power to take care of you.”
“Knock-knock,” a female voice called from the doorway. Amy looked up to see an elderly nurse pop her head around the corner.
“I was wondering if you were up for visitors?” the nurse said. “I’ve got somebody special here who’s been dying to meet the little one.”
Jackson.
Amy smiled. “Yes, please send him in.”
A giant bouquet of red roses came through the door along with the largest teddy bear Amy had ever seen, completely blocking the face and body of the person carrying them.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t make it here sooner, darling, but I had a nightmare of a time getting here.” The voice was male but definitely not Jackson’s. “Why did you choose to have our child somewhere so many hours’ drive away from an airport?”
Her fingers grabbed ahold of the blanket and held it tightly.
No, no, it can’t be...
Through a haze of painkillers and exhaustion, she watched as Paul set the abundance of flowers and the teddy bear down on a table. He looked older than she remembered. Something about his expensive-looking suit and tie made her think of somebody wearing a “rich man” costume in a low-budget play. The lines on his face seemed deeper too, making the huge, broad grin that he flashed seem more like a grimace.
He thanked the nurse, closed the door and pulled the curtains shut.
“There,” Paul said. “That’s better. Now we’re alone.”
“How...how did you find me?” Her words felt slow and sluggish. “How did you know I was here?”
Paul chortled. He walked toward her, barely even glancing at the tiny baby in the cot on the other side of her bed.
“Don’t start thinking silly thoughts,” he said. “Of course I was going to know where you are. I have a whole team of lawyers for things like that. I’ve got people up here keeping an eye on you, and when you checked in to the hospital, they called and alerted me that my wife was having my child.”
He had people up in Northern Ontario? And were these the same “lawyers” that had told Gemma he was getting a restraining order against both of them? No, he had to be lying. What he was saying wasn’t making sense.
“I don’t believe you,” Amy said. “That’s not a thing that lawyers do, and hospitals don’t give out information like that.”
“You’re just confused because you’re tired.” He leaned over and patted her hand, pressing it firmly into the mattress. Then he picked up the emergency call button the nurse had left her with and moved it onto the dresser behind him. “Trust me, sweetie, you’re not thinking straight. Your horrible friend Gemma tried to poison your mind with all sorts of ridiculous lies about me. And now you’re just so tired and confused that you don’t know your up from your down.”
His voice was soothing, sweet and gentle. Paul had always been charming, and everybody had always loved him. But his million-watt grin didn’t work on her anymore. Paul had fooled her once and wouldn’t trick her again.
Charming guy...everybody loved him...
The words started kicking insistently at the back of her mind, like they were trying to get her attention. Where had she heard them recently?
She pulled her hand away from his, dug both palms into the hospital bed and pushed herself up to sitting.
“Everything you told me was a lie,” Amy said. Her voice sounded weak to her own ears, and yet she felt it growing stronger with every word. “You have other wives and other kids. You had multiple fake names and identities! You broke my heart and you shattered my trust, and I don’t want anything to do with you now. I want you to get out of my room. I don’t know who you really are and I don’t care. Our relationship was a lie, our marriage was a fake and I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you out of Skye’s life. So go ahead and call your team of imaginary lawyers on me. I’m never going to let you hurt me again.”
Paul stepped back as if she’d slapped him. His face paled. “Honey, you’re being silly and you’re getting emotional.”
“You’re right I’m emotional!” Amy said. “I have every right to be. In fact, my heart is absolutely full to the brim with deeper emotions than a shallow conman like you could ever dream of. Like determination and pride. I’m feeling gratitude for my friends, and I’m feeling love for my child. When you met me I didn’t know who I was or where I was going. You took advantage of that. Now I know who I am and what I’m capable of.”
Paul leaned over her. His face loomed just inches above hers.
“Keep your voice down, sweetie,” he hissed.
“Or you’ll do what?” Amy said. “I’m not impressed by you anymore, and you definitely don’t scare me. You have any idea how strong I am? Or how much courage it took for me to go through what I lived through in the past few months or the last couple of days? I’m stronger than you could ever possibly imagine. You might say you come from a long line of military veterans and your grandfather might’ve served in the Air Force—or whatever other lies you tell to make yourself seem big—but you’re so weak all you can do is try to make yourself feel big by waving around somebody else’s medals and memorabilia...”
Her words trailed off as she suddenly realized what she’d said.
Paul had shown her the Second World War Air Force medals and memorabilia...
Like the ones stolen from the Pine Crest victim...
By the charming man everyone had loved, but who’d disappeared...
In a case Gemma had been looking into without telling her but had been so invested in, she’d nearly died to chase a lead.
Amy felt her face pale and the truth began to dawn.
“What military did your grandfather serve in again?” she asked.
Paul snorted. “Good old U. S. of A., of course.”
Right, she knew Paul was American. But she remembered the medals he’d shown her had a crown in the insignia. She thought of Blake’s story about her AWOL husband. The American military’s insignia didn’t have a crown on it. But Canada’s did.
“And how did you know I was here and then get here so quickly?” she pressed. “It would take hours to get here from the States.”
He chuckled again, and it sounded even more forced. “I told you, I’ve got people up here.”
“But what people?” she asked. “Where are they? And who did you have keeping tabs on me? And why me? I can’t imagine you have people keeping tabs on all the women you’ve hurt and abandoned.”
He didn’t answer right away. She had no doubt his mind was swirling for an answer. But her mind was working faster. Too many things weren’t adding up. She’d thought she’d seen Reese Cyan somewhere before. What if Reese had been the business contact Paul kept flying up to Canada to see...? What if he was the fence who Paul had used to sell the stuff he stole from the various people he conned? That would explain how Paul knew where she was living and what hospital she’d gone to. Maybe he’d been using Reese to keep tabs on her for weeks.
Amy had told Jackson that Paul never cared about her enough to try to hurt her. But it would be a whole lot different if Paul thought her friend Gemma could prove that he’d committed murder.
“You’re Kenny Stanton.” Her voice barely rose above a whisper. “Aren’t you?”
She half expected him to laugh and deny it. Like he’d lied to her face so many times before. But instead, for the first time since she’d met him, fear filled Paul’s face. He recoiled.
“That’s... I’m... It’s not... How do you know that name?”
He stammered as his usually golden tongue struggled for words. Amy’s gaze darted from the tiny child in the cot beside her to the emergency button he’d placed behind him.
What would Paul do if she reached for the call button? What would happen if she shouted for help? Would anyone even hear her over the hustle and bustle of the maternity ward?
Lord, I need Your help now. Protect me and my child.
“Help!” Amy yelled as loudly as she could. “I need security in here now!”
Suddenly, Paul’s face went red. The mask of civility fell from his eyes. He lunged at her. With one hand, he grabbed her by the throat and pinned her down against the bed. She pushed him back as hard as she could.
But she was still weak from giving birth, and he had the upper hand.
Paul clamped his fingers around her throat and squeezed, blocking the air from her lungs. With the other he pushed the button on her IV to increase the amount of medication swamping her system.
“Now, I told you not to get any silly ideas in your head,” he whispered. “You’re not thinking straight. Once we get out of here and go somewhere quiet, I’ll explain everything. You will listen and then I’ll fix this mess and everything will be okay.”
No.
But she could feel herself getting weaker. Blackness was seeping into the corners of her eyes. Any moment now she was going to pass out. She was at the mercy of a killer. One who wouldn’t hesitate to snuff out her life.
Help me, Lord! Save my child!
Darkness swept in and the world went black.
FOURTEEN
“Where is Amy Scout’s room?” Jackson stood at the reception desk and showed his badge to the same male nurse he’d spoken to before. “I need someone to take us there, immediately. I have reason to believe she could be in danger.”
“This way, officer.” The nurse leapt to his feet immediately and gestured to a woman in scrubs to come take over his post.
The nurse led Jackson quickly down a maze of hallways. Jackson had Hudson by his side, and Finnick, Nippy and Gemma followed close behind. He’d rarely been so well reinforced, and yet he’d never felt more lost and terrified.
