Here I Am. Send Me.--Chapter Forty-One

In the aftermath of being attacked, Evelyn continues to pursue the case.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

         “Do you need medical attention?” This was the third time that Evelyn had been asked. Her face and eyes hurt, and she was blinking a lot, but she had spent enough time in hospitals lately. She wanted to get all this done.

         “No, thank you.” She could hear Chris giving the same answer off to her right.

         There were four squad cars and three suspects which left one open for Evelyn and Chris to be chauffeured to the nearest station house. In the back of the vehicle, which smelled of a strong antiseptic, she rested her head on Chris’ shoulder.

         “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” Chris whispered in her ear. His quiet laugh was exhausted.

         She groaned in response. “Do you get the feeling that we’re about to lose another night’s sleep?”

         “Count on it.”

         Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I thought they shot you.”

         “I thought so, too, for a few seconds. When everything hurts, it’s hard to figure out if one of the stabbing pains is new or old. They were all old. Then I found out, that if I’m scared enough, I can run. And I was scared enough.”

         The car came to a stop and the officer, who had not said a word, got out and opened the door on Evelyn’s side. She recognized the East Precinct Police Station. Her in-boarding tour with the program had been her only time inside, but she had also driven past it whenever she went to the city dump site to get rid of the detritus from a move. She waited as the officer opened the door for Chris and then she stepped around and helped him out of the car.

         His attempt to stand without making a sound failed. He was pleased that he at least kept it down to a quiet yelp. He wrapped his arm around Evelyn’s shoulder and, yet again, allowed her to support some of his weight.

         The first thing that happened in the station was that Chris and Evelyn were separated. Evelyn found herself waiting alone in an office for over an hour. A request made to a passing officer resulted in her being escorted to the restroom to relieve herself and then escorted back.

         The office door finally opened and a woman of about forty in plainclothes stood in the door. “Ms. Dunham, I’m Detective Rice. Follow me, please.” She looked at Evelyn’s face. “Are you in need of medical attention?”

         How bad did it look? “No, thank you. I’ll be fine/”

         They went down the hall to an interrogation room. There was no wall mirror like on television. But there were two ceiling-mounted semi-globes that each housed a camera covering a different side of the room. The table and chairs were bolted to the floor. The walls were painted pastel blue with no decoration.

         “Is Chris okay?”

         The detective smiled. “He’s fine. We’ll get you two back together as soon as we’re finished here.”

         “Where’s Leyla Marshall?”



         “We’ll get to that.” The detective said as they both sat. Detective Rice reviewed an electronic tablet which she placed on the table. “Your file is pretty full and nearly everything in here is dated within the last week. You’ve been busy.

         “It’s been an eventful few days.”

         “I see that you’re a social worker with the Partner-in-Care Program.”

         “A co-responder. Yes.”

         “Run me through your week.”

         The single question kept Evelyn talking for an hour. She stopped to ask for a bottle of water about ten minutes in and drained it, requiring a second break to get another. As the discussion neared an end, another plain-clothes detective came in and sat down without introducing himself or interrupting Evelyn’s lecture. He sat until she finished.

         “Ms. Dunham, I’m Detective Sergeant Matt Simon. I’m lead detective on this case. Is there anything that you wish to add?”

         “No. I think that’s all.”

         “Do you believe that these men were deliberately targeting you?”

         “Yes, I do.”

         “Why?”

         “Chris and I found out that Rachel Marshall is tied to the trucking company where Cal works.”

         “Why would that make someone wish to do you harm?”

         “I don’t know. But, if you’ll let me speak with Courtney Wilkins, I might be able to find out.”

         He looked over at Detective Simon and then back at Evelyn. “Are you certified to perform forensic interviews?”

         The question threw her. “That’s for talking to kids.”

         “Yeah, well, I’m kind of at wit’s end here and I’ll take what I can get. Are you certified?”

         “Yes. So, I can talk with Courtney?”

         He nodded. “The men who attacked you and Mr. Leighton aren’t talking. We haven’t been able to find Rachel, Cal Marshall, or the child. Overland Haulers’ office is empty and locked up tighter than a drum. We’re working on a warrant for that right now. Claire Wilkins has told us everything about the baby swap but doesn’t seem to know anything else. And Courtney Wilkins seems to know more than what she’s saying.

         “We’re one step behind on all of this and don’t seem to be catching up. The only person on our side that seems to be ahead of things is you. This is about to be declared an amber alert, so we get some leeway. So, yes, we’re asking you to speak with Courtney and see if you can do better that we have.”

         Evelyn repeated her earlier question. “Do you have any idea where Leyla is?”

         “No. She disappeared with Rachel and Cal Marshall.”

         “When can I speak with Courtney?”

         Detective Simon stood. “If you’re up to it, we’ll take you to her right now. She’s across town.”

         Another ride in the back of a police cruiser with Chris. There was no repeat of the we’ve got to stop meeting like this line, although it would have been funnier on the second ride of the night. They returned to the Hermitage Precinct. No lights. No sirens. But, even in the bachelorette party capital of the world, traffic was light on a Monday night. They made good time.

         Detective Simon still beat them there and was waiting to open Evelyn’s door as they were dropped off in front of the building.

         “Ms. Wilkins has been surly and uncooperative. When you speak with her, the focus is on Leyla. We need to find Rachel and Cal Marshall so that we can make sure the little girl is safe.”

         Evelyn nodded.

         “What about Claire?” Chris asked.

         “She’s given a complete statement and been sent over to the DDC. Arraignment should be in a couple of days, and they’ll set bail.” He turned his attention back to Evelyn as they entered the building. “I’ll go in with you…”

         “Is there any way that I can talk to her alone?”

         “If you’re comfortable with that. We don’t have her restrained.”

         “That’s fine.”

         Chris placed his hand gently on her forearm. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

         “I think it would be less intimidating if it was just me.”

         “I don’t know. You intimidate me.” His smile didn’t affect the look of concern in his eyes.

         She smiled back. “I’ll be fine.”

         Chris waited in another small office while Evelyn was taken back to the interrogation room. She asked that no police be in sight through the door as she entered. They stepped back and allowed her to enter on her own.

         At some point in the day, Courtney had cried. The evidence was in her make-up which she had made no effort to fix. She looked up when Evelyn entered. “Oh, it’s you.” She looked past Evelyn into the hallway beyond. “Where’s the hot preacher?”

         Evelyn shut the door. “He’s in another room. It’s just us.”

         Courtney gestured at one of the cameras in the ceiling. “And whoever’s on the other end of that.”

          “And whoever is on the other end of that.” Evelyn agreed.

         “Are you here to finish the job?”

         “I guess. When will the job be finished?"

         Courtney’s face revealed something important. But Evelyn didn’t know what it was.

         Courtney looked her square in the eyes for the first time. “I’m going to jail. Aren’t you satisfied with that?”

         “The police don’t think that you’ll serve any real time. Your mother might, since she orchestrated everything. But the rest of you will probably get off with probation.” Evelyn was making this up. No one had let her know anything, but it seemed logical. Toland had told her that the police were allowed to bend the truth during interrogations. Hopefully, that extended to her.

         “The rest of us?”

         “You, Cal, and Rachel.”

         “Cal and Rachel won’t go to prison.” Courtney said this as if it were inevitable.

         Evelyn had one card, and it was time to play it. “At your mother’s house, you told your mother that she didn’t know what Rachel was capable of. What did you mean?”

         “If you keep poking your nose into things, you’ll find out.” This came out more resigned than threatening.

         “Somebody has tried to kill Chris and me twice.”

         “They weren’t very good at it. Maybe third time’s the charm.”

         “Are you sure that’s what you want recorded?”

         Courtney glanced at the camera and winced. “It was a stupid joke. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

         “The police haven’t caught Cal or Rachel yet. They believe that they’re on the run and that they have your daughter with them.” This was less of a lie than an extrapolation on what she had been told.

         “My daughter.” The words came out soft, sad, and angry. Evelyn expected more, but Courtney relapsed into silence.

         “What’s her name?” A prod.

         Courtney glared and spit out her answer. “Her name is Leyla!”

         “But what was the name that you gave her when she was born?”

         “It’s on the birth certificate. Look it up yourself.”

         “If you don’t help us, they’ll probably get away. Like I said, they don’t see you and Cal and Rachel as major offenders. They aren’t putting a lot of effort into the search. Without your help, your daughter is going to be raised by Rachel.”

         This one hit home. Courtney looked up at the camera. “If the police allow that to happen, then they’re letting two murderers run free.”

         Within seconds, the door opened, and Detective Simon came in.

         Courtney looked at Evelyn. “It looks like I’ve got someone’s attention.”

         The detective sat down. “Ms. Wilkins, are you reporting a murder?”

         Courtney’s momentary confidence faded. “Can you protect me from Rachel?”