Blood stream, p.13
Blood Stream, page 13
“Yes, go ahead, but please don’t remove anything without discussing it with me first, and the key is under the third flowerpot on her porch.”
“Okay, thank you.”
The line went dead, and Rita had hung up. I glanced at Renz, and he shook his head.
“Let’s give her a little breathing space. We have to question her anyway, but right now, she needs time to herself.”
“I know, and it’ll be just as sad if we’re able to identify the other women.”
We arrived at the police station and met with the chief in his office.
After being seated, Renz took the lead. “Have you spoken with the hazmat team?” he asked.
“I have,” the chief said. “They’ve disposed of the remains but first allowed Forensics to take the samples they needed as long as they were in approved containers.”
“What exactly—”
Chief Taylor looked my way. “Do they do with the remains? If they’re biological, they either neutralize the material with steam or they incinerate it.”
I grimaced, and I was thankful that Ruth didn’t have a family who loved and cherished her. I doubted that Forensics could get viable DNA from the remains, but I had an idea to run by them.
“Have you had any luck with Lorraine Tilley or the woman found in the Lynchburg dumpster?” the chief asked.
With a nod, I responded. “We’ll be working on that more this afternoon. You are aware that Deena Norman was identified, correct?”
“Yes, Forensics informed me. So, we have two more unidentified women in the morgue and one more that Hazmat had to dispose of.”
“That’s correct,” Renz said, “but there’s no evidence that the bathtub case is related to the others.”
“I’ll have my guys work that case, then, exclusively so you can focus on the Jane Does.”
“I assume your detectives will go through Ruth’s house?”
“Of course, Agent Monroe, and they’ll follow up on the tip-line leads too.”
“Good. Have them pass that on to us later if something looks promising.”
“Will do.”
I continued. “We did interview Dani Simpson, Ruth’s best friend, but your team may want to conduct an interview of their own.”
“And I’ll make sure they do, along with talking to the neighbors once the air quality is deemed normal again.”
I gave Renz a nod then stood. “So, we should continue our investigation into Janes one and three. We’ll touch base with you in the morning, Chief Taylor.”
As soon as Renz got behind the wheel, I told him the plan. “We aren’t going back to the hotel’s business center right now.”
“Then where are we going?”
“To Clarksville. I want to know why that friend of Lorraine’s has the wherewithal to report her missing but isn’t concerned enough to return my calls.”
“Do we know she’ll be home?”
“No, but surprising someone is the best way to catch them at home. If I left a message that we were on our way, she’d probably make sure to be gone when we got there.”
“Isn’t Clarksville two and a half hours away?”
“Yeah. So? I’ll camp on her doorstep if I have to.”
Renz chuckled. “Okay, but you’re driving.”
We switched places, and I headed out after reminding Renz he had to act as copilot. “Plug her address into your GPS and take your phone off of Bluetooth so the directions go through the car’s navigation.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I grinned. “I want to know why the heck that woman hasn’t returned my calls. It doesn’t seem normal unless she has something to hide.”
“Why get involved at all, then, if she had something to hide?”
“That’s what I intend to find out.” I glanced at the gas gauge. “We need to fill up first and then be on our way.”
“And what about Deena’s house?”
“We’ll go through Danville when we head back to Roanoke, so we can search it then.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
I pulled into the nearest gas station and turned toward Renz. “Fill her up, partner, and I’ll grab the snacks.”
Chapter 27
It was late afternoon by the time we arrived at the home of Pam Hanson.
I looked across the street and up at the second-floor unit of the duplex. From what I had read, Pam lived at 202B Franklin Street. It had to be the upper apartment.
“I see a light on in the room facing us,” I said.
“That’s a good sign. Shall we?”
“Yep.”
We left the car, stepped off the curb, and crossed the street.
“This might be tricky.”
“Why?” Renz asked.
“Well, all she has to do is wait us out. She doesn’t have to answer the door.” I turned the knob for the upper unit—locked. Then I cupped my face with my hands and peeked through the door’s window. “Shit. The stairs go immediately up to a closed door at the top. We can’t go any farther than right here, the porch.”
“May as well get her attention.” Renz jammed his index finger into the buzzer and held it there. “We didn’t drive this far just to be ignored. There was plenty of work we could have gotten accomplished if she had answered the phone.”
“True, but as long as we’re here, we should search Lorraine’s house too.”
“No can do. We don’t have proof that she’s dead or a verbal consent from a next of kin to enter her home.”
“Yeah, yeah. Wishful thinking.”
Renz pressed the buzzer again but to no avail. “Now what?”
“Damn it, I know she’s home. What’s the deal with that woman anyway?”
With a huff, Renz pressed the buzzer of the lower unit.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting somebody’s attention. That’s what.”
Seconds later, a woman who looked to be in her mid-fifties opened the door. “May I help you?”
Renz pulled out his badge. “Ma’am, we’re FBI agents who have been trying to get in touch with Pam Hanson. It appears that she doesn’t want to talk to us. Do you have any idea why that might be?”
“No. She’s my tenant, but we aren’t close. Did she commit a crime? If she did, she’ll have to move out. I don’t want any trouble.”
“Ma’am, we need to speak with Pam about a friend of hers, not about Pam herself.”
“Oh… um. I guess I can unlock the lower door, then you can go upstairs and knock on the upper one.” She smiled. “Maybe the buzzer isn’t working.”
Renz raised his brow and gave me a glance. “That would be very helpful.”
We both knew the buzzer worked fine since we’d heard it clearly when Renz pressed it. I assumed a little close-up conversation through the door might help convince Pam to allow us in. We did have our means of persuasion.
With the lower door unlocked, we thanked the landlady and walked to the top of the stairs. Renz gave the door three hard raps.
“Pam Hanson, it’s the FBI. We need to speak with you about Lorraine Tilley. May we come in?”
“Leave me alone. It was a mistake on my part to report her missing. I was hurt and angry.”
“So, you’re saying she isn’t missing anymore?” I asked. “Do you have proof of that, and if you do, why didn’t you cancel the missing persons report?”
We waited through a minute of silence, then Renz spoke up again. “We can talk inside your apartment privately or publicly at the Clarksville PD. Your choice.”
As I heard the doorknob turn, I looked at it. She finally opened the door.
“Come in. Is it legal for the nosy bitch downstairs to let you into my apartment?”
“Actually, she didn’t. She allowed us into an entryway, and she owns the property, so I guess it’s legal.”
Renz and I walked in, and Pam pointed at the kitchen table. “Go ahead and sit down.”
We did.
“I’m Agent Monroe, and I’ve left you three messages. We wouldn’t have had to drive two and a half hours if you had returned my calls.”
“Sorry, but I’ve decided to back off.”
I frowned. “Back off of what?”
“Lorraine. She can do her own thing if that’s what she really wants. I’ll quit calling and banging on her door. I don’t want to look pathetic and desperate.”
“Are you and Lorraine—”
“A couple? I thought so, but I guess we aren’t. I saw her on several occasions with a man, and they looked very cozy. After I couldn’t reach her for days, I finally reported her missing. Maybe she just wants me to leave her alone. Maybe she moved in with the guy. I don’t know. The only thing I do know is that she isn’t home, she doesn’t answer her door, and she doesn’t return my calls.”
I cocked my head.
“Sorry. I guess I’m no different,” Pam said.
“Doesn’t Lorraine have a job?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“And have you tried her there?”
“No. Like I said, I don’t want to appear desperate.”
“Where does she work?”
“At Lewis Dermatology here in Clarksville.”
“You do realize it’s been nearly two weeks since you filed that report.”
Pam nodded. “I know.”
I pulled out my phone, looked up the number, and called. “Hello, I’m looking for Lorraine Tilley. Can you connect me with her, please?” I listened silently as the woman on the other end of the line explained that Lorraine had quit her job via an email two weeks prior. I thanked her and hung up. “Sounds like Lorraine quit her job several weeks ago. How would she make ends meet without working?”
“Maybe she got a new job in Danville.”
Renz’s frown nearly caused his eyebrows to touch. “Danville? Why there?”
“Because that’s where I followed her to the first time I suspected she was seeing someone. She met a man downtown, and they drove away together.”
“Have any idea what his name is?” I asked.
“No, but he drives a white Mercedes, and I can’t compete with that.”
I sighed. “Do you have a key to Lorraine’s house?”
“I did, but she asked for it back six months ago when we got into an argument. Maybe that’s when she started seeing that man. She might have decided that our kind of relationship wasn’t working for her.”
“What about family? Who is Lorraine’s next of kin?”
Pam shrugged. “She never talked about family with me. It was just the two of us, even though that sounds cliché.”
I stood and pulled two cards from my pocket. “Will you write Lorraine’s address on the back of this one? You can keep the other. Call me anytime if something else comes to light.”
Pam stared at the card. “Thank you, Agent Monroe, and I’m sorry you drove so far.”
We left and headed to Lorraine’s house. After parking, the first thing I did was check the mailbox. Letters, flyers, and junk mail filled a space the size of a bread loaf. That in itself sent a chill up my spine.
“May I help you, young lady?”
I looked left and right while trying to track the location of the voice.
“Over here on the rocking chair next door.”
A woman waved her hand, then I called out to Renz. “Let’s see what the neighbor knows.”
We walked to the house on our left and up the steps.
The old woman wagged a bony finger at me. “It’s a federal crime to snoop in somebody’s mailbox, you know.”
I smiled. “Then it’s a good thing we’re federal agents.” I held out my lanyard-mounted badge.
“Open mouth, insert foot.”
Renz chuckled. “Any sightings of Lorraine lately?”
“Nope, she vanished as fast as a cool summer breeze. One day she’s here, and the next day she’s gone. Haven’t seen her in two weeks. I’ve taken some of her mail inside my house for when she comes home, but no luck yet.”
“So, you’ve snooped in her mailbox?”
“Touché.” She stuck out her hand and shook mine then Renz’s. “I like you. The name’s Edna.”
“And I’m Jade, and he is Lorenzo. May we ask you some questions about Lorraine?”
“Sure. Grab a chair.”
Edna seemed outgoing and welcoming. I imagined she didn’t have regular visitors. I also imagined she enjoyed talking, and that was good for us. When Renz began, her eyes lit up.
“So, Edna, were you and Lorraine close?”
“Yeah, she was a nice girl. I miss having peach iced tea with her here on the porch. I just don’t understand why she would pick up and leave without so much as a goodbye. I thought we were friends.”
“That does sound odd,” I said. “Do you know Pam?”
“Her lady friend?”
“Yes, that Pam. She said she came by several times looking for Lorraine, but she never found her.”
Edna shook her head. “I don’t agree with that lifestyle, but it’s none of my business. There were times, though, that I could hear them arguing through Lorraine’s open window.” Edna looked both ways then whispered. “I did see a man here a few times. His car sat right down there.” She pointed a thin shaky finger at a spot down the street.
“He didn’t park in front of the house?”
“No, ma’am. I think they had a secret thing going on, if you know what I mean.”
I nodded. “Do you remember anything about that man’s car, Edna?”
“Yes, it was fancy and white.”
“Did Lorraine ever talk about the man?” Renz asked.
“Not a word. She knew I wouldn’t approve while she was in a relationship—even if it was with another woman. In my time, that was called stepping out.”
“Or cheating, right?”
“Yes, Miss Jade, or cheating.”
“Other than the occasional argument between Lorraine and Pam, have you ever heard screaming and cries for help or seen unusual commotion going on next door?”
When Renz addressed her, Edna’s eyes danced. “No, sir, Lorenzo. Not a peep. I will say your name reminds me of a Casanova—a Spanish lover, a dancer. One who charms the ladies.” She sighed. “If only I was thirty again.”
I grinned as Renz’s face went red. Edna was easily distracted by him and his handsome Spanish features. She was clearly smitten.
We stood, and I gave Renz a raised brow. “Go ahead and give Edna your card, just in case Lorraine comes home.” I took Edna by her frail hand. Her skin was thin but soft. “We sure appreciate your help, Edna. By the way, Pam said it was okay if we just looked around outside a little.”
“Okay, dear, and it was nice speaking with you.” She smiled at Renz. “And you, too, Lorenzo.”
As we crossed the yard to Lorraine’s house, I elbowed Renz in the ribs. “Since when would an old lady have the hots for you?”
“Charm has no boundaries, and lust has no age limits.”
I laughed as we tried to peer into Lorraine’s blind-covered windows. We did the same at each window around the house but couldn’t see inside. “Do we know what kind of car Lorraine drove?”
“I don’t think it was in the police report, and I haven’t checked the DMV records yet,” Renz said.
“Well, either you can give me a boost so I can look through those windows at the top of the garage door, or you can go back and ask Edna.”
Renz looked me up and down. “What do you weigh?”
My mouth curled up in a smile. “A buck twenty-five. Now make up your mind.”
He entwined his fingers and stood against the garage door. “Step into my hand, and you better get a good look. I don’t want to do this a dozen times.”
“Yes, Casanova.” I wedged my fingers between the spaces in the door and stepped up. It was dark in the single-car garage, but I could definitely see the shape of a vehicle. I jumped down. “Renz, there’s a car inside.”
“You sure? It isn’t a golf cart or something like that?”
I contorted my face. “No, and why the hell would she have a golf cart? There isn’t a golf course nearby, and this doesn’t look like one of those golf cart communities. I’m telling you it’s a car.”
“Okay, okay. I’ve got to call Taft. She might want us to go inside. I think that would fit into the ‘probable cause to search’ rationale more than the ‘running away with a boyfriend’ scenario.”
We returned to the car, where Renz made the call and set the phone to Speaker.
“Hey, Boss, it’s Lorenzo.”
“What’s the latest?” Maureen asked.
“Well, we’re in a predicament that you’ll have to make the decision on.”
“Okay, shoot.”
Renz told Taft that we were sitting outside Lorraine Tilley’s house and that there was a car in the garage yet nobody had seen her in weeks. Renz shared what the woman who reported Lorraine missing had recounted, noting that after some thought, she believed Lorraine was seeing a man in Danville and hadn’t actually disappeared.
“How far is Danville from Clarksville?”
“An hour,” I said.
“That isn’t far enough away to abandon your home or vehicle. Something happened to her.”
“And her workplace said she quit two weeks ago via an email,” I said.
“Yep, smells fishy to me. Who’s the Danville man?”
“We didn’t get a name, only that he has a white Mercedes.”
“Okay, get with the Clarksville PD and tell them you need them to meet you at the home for a wellness check. That could bypass the warrant to get inside the house. Try to get in without breaking down the door and call me back if you find anything. Remember, we don’t have a warrant, so no digging through everything. Have a look and leave.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Renz said before hanging up. He turned to me. “Go ask Edna if she knows where Lorraine kept a key.”
“Why don’t you? She’s putty in your hands.”
“Because I don’t want to linger there, now go.”
I huffed at his lack of humor. “Fine, then you call the PD.”
I returned to Edna’s porch. She glanced past me, and I saw her look of hope fading quickly.
