Here I am. Send me.--Chapter Eleven

Evelyn and Chris are questioned by the police after the school shooting.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Evelyn's mind was lost in thoughts about the events of the last days as she approached the Police Headquarters and missed the left turn from Fessler's Lane onto Murfreesboro Pike. After winding her way around, she found herself sitting at the red light on Foster Street, staring at the front of the large concrete and mirrored-glass edifice. Her eyes latched onto the monument attached to the front of the building:

THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THIS WALL GAVE THEIR LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION IN THE COURAGEOUS SERVICE OF THIS COMMUNITY. MAY WE NEVER FORGET THEIR HONORABLE SACRIFICE.

"I HEARD A VOICE OF THE LORD. SAYING, WHOM SHALL I SEND, AND WHO WILL GO FOR US? THEN I SAID, HERE I AM, SEND ME." ISAIAH 6.8

John Toland's name was going to be added to that wall. A car horn behind her snapped her reverie, and she looked up to see the green light. She turned left onto Murfreesboro Pike and immediately went right into the parking lot, finding a space with relative ease in the visitors' area next to the building. It was a nippy, overcast morning, and the wind that hit her as she opened her car door was brisk, making her shiver. She should have checked the forecast before choosing today's outfit.

She had been to the building before for paperwork and interviews and went straight to the main entrance, checking in at the front desk. After a few moments, a sergeant whom she vaguely recognized came out and called her name, "Dunham."

"That's me." She stepped forward.

"Follow me, please." He turned without looking at her and walked back down the corridor. She followed as directed.

An elevator took them to the third floor, which contained a sea of cubicles filling the middle of the large area, with the enclosed offices monopolizing the windows around the exterior. She saw several of her co-workers already sitting in cubicles answering questions. Chris was in one of them, leaning forward and speaking intently. She saw his lips moving but couldn't hear him above the general thrum of voices in the large room. The hubbub was punctuated with the occasional ring of a desktop phone or the tone of a cell.

Her guide pointed. "Please go to the third cubicle on the right."

She made her way over to it and found a woman of about forty in police uniform sitting with her back to the opening. She was typing something into a spreadsheet that filled the computer screen on her desk. The officer turned and smiled, "Please, take a seat." There was only one visitor chair, which saved a decision. The officer continued, "Yesterday was a tough one."

"It ranks right up there." Evelyn reevaluated her words as they came out of her mouth, wondering if she sounded flippant.

"You were John Toland's ride-along, right?"

Would it kill one of them to say 'partner'? "Yeah. We worked together for about a year."

"He was a good guy."

"Except for that sense of humor." Evelyn tried a smile. Being remembered for his groaner puns and bad impressions would make John happy. If this woman knew him, she would understand.

She did and smiled back. "He was the king of the dad joke." The older woman turned back toward her keyboard, "It's time to get to business. About what time did you arrive on the scene yesterday?"

Evelyn had already filled out her report for PHI, and the answers were fresh on her mind. "John and I arrived at Calvary Christian Academy between 8:15 and 8:30."

"What happened next?"

"He got out, suited up, spoke with the school principal, gathered up some other officers, and went inside. I heard a loud sound during that period that I assumed to be a gunshot."

"After Officer Toland went inside, what did you do?"

"He had directed me to stay with the vehicle, so that's what I did. I called my supervisor, Amanda Burrows, and updated her on the situation."

"About what time was that?"

"Probably 8:30. Then I spoke briefly with the school principal."

"What did you speak about?"

"I asked her how she was doing."

"Did she seem okay?"

"She seemed amazing considering the stress she was under."

"Then what?"

"Then we heard gunshots and, a few minutes later, an officer came out and told us that the all-clear had been given and that the children were being brought out. When the children started coming out, I began working with them."

"Okay, that's what I need. Is there anything else that you wish to add to your statement?"

"Yeah. The shooting might be related to a case that I'm working. When I spoke with the child involved in the case, she said that she heard a shooter calling her name."

"Did you ask her whether she recognized the voice?"

"I didn't think to ask her that specific question, but she didn't talk as if she did."

"Hold on just a second." The officer stood and walked out of the cubicle and into an office at the corner of the building. She returned after a minute.

"That's all I need. If you could head over to Sergeant Wilson's office, he would like a brief word with you."

Evelyn went to the office from which the officer had just come and found Chris already seated in one of the two chairs across the desk from a large African-American man with three stripes on the long sleeves of his uniform. "Ms. Dunham, I'm Sergeant Langley Wilson. Please have a seat." He continued as she got settled into the seat, "Both you and the chaplain here have reported that at least one of the shooters called out the name of one of the students during yesterday's situation. Where did you get this information?"

Evelyn answered first. "I got it from the girl herself. She's a central figure in a case we're working."

"May I ask her name?"

"I'm limited in what information I can reveal about a minor, but the case started with the call that John and I took three days ago." That answer should keep her one toe inside the line.

"And she was sure that she heard her name?"

"She seemed very sure."

The sergeant turned to Chris, "And chaplain, you say that three different teachers corroborate this?"

"Yes, sir. Independently."

"Okay," he nodded "that should be all we need. Thank you for coming in."

Evelyn didn't stand. "Since this is an active case for us, do you mind my asking how you plan to investigate?"

Chris had started to rise but settled back into his chair.

The sergeant remained standing. "I don't see anything here that warrants a continued investigation."

"What?!" Now Evelyn did stand. "If one of the shooters called out a child's name, doesn't that require follow-up?"

"Ms. Dunham, one shooter was neutralized on the scene and we are hoping to have the other in custody shortly. There is no evidence that there was a third party involved. Sadly, the Metro Police Department does not have unlimited manpower. Our resources are going to be focused on tracking down the second shooter.

"Once we have him, then we will start gathering evidence regarding a motive. At this point, the psychological motivation of the shooters is more in your area than ours. I would, however, recommend against any investigation on your part."

She nodded. "That makes sense. I understand."

She and Chris left the office, took the elevator, and worked their way to the parking lot. His truck was parked closer to the door than hers, and they stopped next to it. He turned. "What are we going to do next?"

"Well, I've got to go to the office and see what paperwork they have for me. Most of us who were at the school will be getting desk duty for a few days and will probably be voluntold to take a trip to the therapist." Another breeze swept through, and she unconsciously stepped over to use Chris as a windbreak. It brought her closer to him than was strictly comfortable. He didn't step away.

"I mean about the case." His tone was serious.

"I don't think there's anything we can do. I'll probably schedule another wellness check with Leyla when Amanda releases me for field work."

He nodded. "I think I'm going to church tonight."

She wasn't following the thread of this conversation. "Staying with your normal routine is a good thing."

"Tonight, I'm going to Stoners Creek Independent Church."

"Leyla's grandmother's church? Why?"

"There's something here that we need to find out. I feel it."

She was about to make a sarcastic remark about his being on a 'mission from God' but thought better of it. He wasn't wrong.

"Do you mind if I go with you?"