Dashboard lights, p.21
Dashboard Lights, page 21
part #2 of Gunpowder Series
"Where did she go?" Ruby asked.
"No, I mean, she was gone. Dead." Kenny became silent, thinking. His hands cradled his coffee.
Ruby looked down, rubbing her forehead with her hands. When she looked up, her eyes were moist. "You found her?"
"Yes." Kenny's voice wavered. He took a drink and cleared his throat.
"Was she into drugs?"
"I think so. Pills. They said she overdosed. I think it was on purpose. She couldn't stand to be without my dad. And she couldn't stand to look at me 'cause I looked just like him." Kenny looked up at Ruby. She was nodding.
"So, my grandfather wanted nothing to do with me because I did look like my dad. And he blamed my dad for taking my mom away. So, Jonah stepped up and took me in. Amy was pregnant with Jackson at the time. I had his room. Well, what became his room. Abby was only six or seven, I can't remember."
Ruby covered her mouth with her hand. Pieces. Both of their lives had been pieces. No wonder she could never read him. He was practically like her.
"I am so sorry!" She understood now why Jonah dismissed Kenny's harassment. Made excuses for him. "Does your grandfather talk to you now? You said you live in one of his apartments?"
"Yeah, he finally came around after a few years. He got me the Charger when I graduated from the police academy. I get to live in the apartment rent-free, but I do odd jobs, take care of the property, that sort of stuff."
"Well, at least you have that. What about your grandmother?" she asked.
"Oh, they got divorced years ago. She lives on the west coast somewhere. Mack's married to a woman named Alice right now. It's his third. They're in Lexington." Kenny had a relationship, but it was clearly strained.
"So, you're Elise's great-nephew and Derek's second cousin." Ruby made the connections.
"Yep."
"Did your mom have any brothers or sisters?" Ruby asked.
"Sure, her brother, Bryan, runs the IGA. And her other brother, Thomas, and her sister, Glenda--they run the funeral home." Kenny watched Ruby nod her head in recognition.
"And none of them would take you in?"
"No one wanted to go against Mack. They were all worried he'd disown them like he did mom."
"So, I have to ask, this thing with you and Abby? What is going on there?" Ruby asked.
Kenny looked into his coffee. "Well...after you made that comment, you know, about how I talked, and then when Jonah called me off, I went to Abby to see if she'd tutor me. She's always been really good with that stuff. So, that's kinda how it started. But, Ruby, I realized what an amazing woman she is."
"Kenny, she is not a woman. She is fifteen." Ruby reminded him.
Kenny shook his head. "No, she may be fifteen. But she's all grown up. I love her, Ruby. And she loves me." He laughed, then continued. "Kinda like history repeating, you know. Like my mom and dad. But we're not going to run off. We can wait until the time is right. What's a few more years. We've waited this long."
Ruby put her hand to her mouth to hide her trembling lips. She grabbed a napkin with the other hand to wipe her eyes. She looked at Kenny with tears streaming down her cheeks. She had been so wrong about him.
With a shaky voice, she said, "Kenny, it is I who owe you an apology.
Chapter Fourteen - Interview with the State Police
During the two weeks leading up to the London State Police interview, Ruby did her best to present herself worry-free to Derek, the Hunts, Megan and all others she normally interacted with. But as each day brought her closer to having to re-tell the events of the night she had been nabbed, she began to fret small things. Like, the meeting was on a Thursday at eleven o'clock. How was she to slip away from the house with no explanation to Derek? She'd have to have a reason for leaving. Another thing, Lana had instructed her what to wear--a dress or skirt and top. These were not something she normally wore every day and would lead to questions. The more she thought about the details of getting to the meeting, never mind the meeting itself, brought a different type of stress. A perplexity she had not considered.
She began strategizing. A week before the meeting she took up walking, leaving the house around the time she would need to leave for the meeting. As she left the house, she headed towards the police station and turned at the corner, making it the routine direction she headed. She would be gone for roughly an hour, sometime a little more, sometimes less. Several times, Derek offered to walk with her, but she told him, she wanted some alone time, reminding him that would be something very scarce once the baby was born. He seemed to buy her explanation. It hurt Ruby to the core to deceive him, but she reminded herself, she really was walking. And the exercise felt good. It helped to relieve some of the back pain that she experienced. And the stress from anticipating what was to come. The real deception was only to occur on the date of the actual interview.
Her walks in themselves became strategy sessions. The whole dress or skirt matter didn’t settle well with Ruby. Therefore, one walk involved a phone conversation with Lana, attempting to negotiate leggings and a tunic-type top. Ruby rationalized that it would better disguise her baby bump, perhaps not drawing attention to her pregnancy. Plus, there was the comfort factor. Ruby would be more herself with the officers. Lana conceded with the condition that Ruby text her a photo of the outfit so she could 'yay' or 'nay' the selection.
Fortunately for Ruby, Derek continued to stay extra busy with school and work, so she did not have to feign as much normalcy as she thought. It was rather easy, really. She stayed busy. In the evenings, she continued to help Elise with meal preparations, and let Elise update her on the daily gossip. Ruby was thankful her own name did not come up in any of it! She also joined a crochet group at the library, where a group of eight or ten women got together in the afternoon and learned stitches and worked on projects. The idea was each woman crocheted a scarf or hat to be given to someone less fortunate or homeless. As Ruby worked on a scarf, she chuckled to herself on the irony. How she would have loved a hat or scarf! Most of the women were older, except for Ruby and Megan, but Ruby relished the idea of belonging to such a purposeful group.
By the evenings, Ruby was worn out. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Keeping her mood upbeat and in check was draining. To end her day, she allowed the warm water of the shower to sooth her body and soul, and then retreated to the bed with a book. When Derek joined her, she was fast asleep, book still in hand. Bookmarking her page and setting it on the nightstand, he kissed his sleeping beauty on the forehead and turned out the light. He was glad she was sleeping better, and there had not been any more bad dream incidents. At least, so far.
Thursday morning, Ruby woke and looked at the calendar on her phone. April 25. It was not marked in any way. As far as the phone or anyone else was concerned, it was a normal day like any other. Ruby took a deep breath, knowing the day was to be far from normal. Before dressing and heading down for coffee, Ruby knelt by the bed in the yellow room and said a silent prayer, requesting God's strength, wisdom, and guidance for the day.
With her coffee by her side, she watched the morning news and learned that the high temperature for the day was to be sixty-five, and sunny skies were in the forecast. A nice spring day. Too bad she would be captive in the conference room for part of it. She hoped the interview did not last more than an hour. She felt prepared, but who knew what sorts of odd-ball questions they might throw at her, trying to trip her up. But she reminded herself, you can't trip up the truth!
"Good morning, love!" Derek said, joining her in the library with his morning coffee. Ruby looked up at him and gave him a huge smile. He kissed her smiling lips and sat beside her on the green couch.
"Good morning to you!" she replied, motioning her hand towards the television. "They just said it is going to be sixty-five today and sunny! It will be a perfect day for my walk!"
"You're really getting into this walking business." Derek said, taking a slurp of his coffee.
"Well, you forget, that is what I basically did for a 'living' before I met you!" Ruby laughed, referring to her nomadic lifestyle. "I probably walked ten miles a day easily! I do not know why I stopped."
"The cold."
Ruby laughed. "You are right. That is exactly what did it! I have no excuses now!"
"If it's going to be such a pretty day, I ought to come with you!" Derek said.
Ruby about choked on her coffee.
"Whoa! You all right?" Derek asked, patting her on the back.
She nodded. "I got way more than my mouth could handle!" She laughed it off, trying to think quick. "You know what? They are saying this weekend is going to be so nice also! Why don't you work on getting most of your reading and class work done so we can go for a hike or picnic or something?"
"That's a brilliant idea! We've not been in the woods for months. I can get Mom to put a basket together for us! Surprise you!" Derek leaned over and kissed Ruby. He then got up, taking his cup with him. "Holler at me before you leave."
"I will!" Ruby replied with a warm smile. The smile left her face as soon as he exited the room. That was close. Oh! I just want to get through this day!
***
At a quarter to eleven, Ruby called up the stairs, telling Derek she would be back after a while, and then she closed the front door behind her. She headed down the stone walkway to the sidewalk and went directly to the left toward the corner. And the police station. Her nerves a notch higher and giving herself positive talk, she did not notice the yellow Jeep parked down the street.
As she entered the station, Jonah was standing behind the counter with Kenny. This was Kenny's patrol week, but Jonah made some schedule changes telling Officer Burroughs and Aimes, that Kenny twisted his ankle and had to stay off it for a few days. Thus, he had desk duty. Kenny even wore one of those boot contraptions. Jonah didn't want any more people knowledgeable about the visit than necessary.
"Lana's in the conference room. You can go on and get seated." Jonah instructed. "They aren't here yet." They. The state police detectives. There would be two coming. Jonah had told them to park in the Dairy Queen lot, as it served as 'overflow' parking for the police station. The station didn't have a parking lot.
"Good morning, Lana. Where would you like me to sit?" Ruby asked entering the room. Lana was already seated along the long edge of the table towards the middle. On the door side of the room.
"Just take this chair right next to me" Lana pulled on the chair to her right. Away from the door.
Ruby assumed the detectives would sit opposite them. Good. Inconvenience them by putting them on the far side of the table.
"How are you feeling?" Lana asked.
"Okay. But nervous. I have been practicing breathing all morning." Ruby gave a brief laugh. "Almost choked to death on my coffee this morning!" Lana shook her head, a slight smile emerging.
"We've got bottles of water." Lana pointed to the end of the table. “If you're mouth gets dry."
Ruby nodded, watching Lana pulled out her yellow pad and pen. Ruby's file was to her side unopened.
"Now remember, if they ask something I don't think you should answer, I will jump in. Otherwise, I will let you tell what happened. Like we discussed, details matter. Just be yourself. And, if you need to cry, that's okay. We've got tissues." Lana glanced over her shoulder. "And a trash can." As they both laughed, voices were heard in the lobby. Lana put her finger to her mouth, and then mouthed "show time!"
Ruby felt suddenly nauseous, but then realized it was Baby Claudius moving. Oh, great! He's decided he wants in on the action! She took a deep breath, and put her hand on her bump, hoping to calm him down. A moment later Jonah escorted two tall, burly men outfitted in suits into the conference room. Each had close-cropped hair, one blond and the other a medium brown speckled with gray. Badges were clipped prominently on the breast pocket of their jackets. Intimidation, Ruby thought. Jonah directed the detectives to the far side of the table, as he closed the door and took the empty seat next to Lana. As Jonah sat, the two detectives shot glances at each other.
"Good morning, detectives! I trust you had an enjoyable trip?" Lana began with pleasantries.
"Good morning," they replied in unison, and the blond-headed detective said, "we did. It is a gorgeous day." He laid a pad-folio on the table.
"Well, why don't we get started with introductions. I am Lana Sheffield, counsel, and this is Ruby Bates." She gently touched Ruby's arm. Ruby was sitting toward the front of the chair, so her feet touched the floor, and she had her arms folded on the table. "And I'm sure you've already met Chief Jonah Anders." Both detectives looked questioningly at Jonah. Jonah wore his usual khaki pants and department polo shirt, with his badge and pistol on his belt.
The blond detective rose slightly from his chair extending his massive hand to those opposite him, "I'm Detective Brent Jackson, and this is Detective Jonathan Nash." The other detective also rose and extended handshakes. Ruby made sure her small hand provided a firm grip. She wanted to convey confidence.
"Gentlemen, I gather you are questioning why Chief Anders is present for this interview. Please let me make you aware that he is Ruby's permanent guardian given she is a minor. Shall we get started?"
"Just out of curiosity, Chief Anders, how did you come to be Ms. Bates' guardian?" Detective Jackson asked. Detective Jackson had his pad-folio open and ready.
"Ruby came to Gunpowder alone and homeless, and we picked her up as a vagrant. She was found to be dependent by the court, and I was appointed her guardian. Her mother is deceased and her only other living relatives are elderly grandparents," Jonah replied.
Detective Nash, with the springs of gray hair was the first to begin the interview. "As you are aware, we are here to interview Ms. Ruby Bates as a person of interest related to a homicide that occurred on August 16, 2016, in London, Kentucky. Ms. Bates was identified as a person of interest in this case when her DNA was flagged as a match to evidence that was collected at the scene. As such, we are here to determine her knowledge of the matter and the extent of her involvement."
"We do have a couple of housekeeping questions," Detective Jackson chimed in. "Ms. Bates, what is your current age?"
"Seventeen," Ruby replied.
"And current address?" Jackson asked, while writing her age.
"483 Moore Avenue, Gunpowder, Kentucky."
"There was a previous address on Country Road?" Jackson looked at Ruby.
"Yes. The house burned back in....October?" Ruby looked at Jonah for confirmation. He nodded. "October, " she confirmed.
"And how long have you been a resident of Gunpowder?"
"Since September 2018."
"Thank you."
Nash resumed the questioning. "Ms. Bates, on August 16, 2016, were you at the abandoned coal yard located off Highway 192 East in London, Kentucky?"
Ruby saw Lana nod.
"I am not sure. It was nighttime and very dark. I do not intend to be vague, but I am not familiar with the London area or the roads." Ruby looked from Nash to Jackson.
"Were you in London, Kentucky on that date?" Nash re-phrased.
"Possibly. I was homeless at the time, so I did not really have a good command on actual dates, but yes I was in London briefly around that time."
"When you say briefly, could you expand on that?"
"I was in London for only a day. I was just passing through."
"Passing through," Nash repeated. "Where were you headed?"
"No place in particular. Anywhere but London. Being homeless I preferred to stay in smaller communities. More rural areas. Sometimes the woods. Larger cities were more dangerous." Ruby looked at Lana. She just nodded her head.
"Who was with you?" Nash asked.
"No one. I was alone. I always traveled alone."
"Where had you been prior to arriving in London?" Jackson asked.
"Barbourville." Ruby watched him write.
"When you first arrived in London, do you have an idea what part of town you were in?"
"Yes. I was on the main street in the area of the Judicial Center. It was after midnight, and I had just...um...gotten some food from the Hardee's dumpster. And I was looking for a place to stay for the night. I was very tired, having walked a great distance." Ruby noticed both men's reaction to her mention of the dumpster.
"What do you mean by a 'place to stay'?" Nash asked.
"Well, I usually tried to search for an abandoned shed, house or building. A place where I stayed warm and dry." Ruby provided them a frank expression. "That is when a car started following me. It stayed a way behind me, but it made me feel very nervous. I tried to appear calm. I kept walking along the main street because it felt safest. After a while, the car pulled up to me, and a man asked me if I needed a ride. I ignored him initially, but he kept on, saying it was too late for me to be out, and he would take me home. I told him, 'No thanks.' He lingered a bit, but then he drove off. I thought that was done."
Jackson reached into his pad-folio and drew out a photograph. He slid it across the table to Lana and Ruby. "Was it this man?" He asked.
Ruby studied the photograph. It was different than the one Lana had shown her. The one she threw up on. It was the same man but taken at a different time.
"I am not sure. It was dark. The car windows were tinted, so I really could not see him."
"Can you describe the car?" Nash asked.
"It was silver. Four doors. It had the tinted windows. I believe it was a Toyota, from the emblem on the back. Maybe a Camry." Ruby looked directly at Nash as she spoke, but Jackson wrote notes.
"Continue. The car drove off," Jackson said.
"Yes, I was relieved. So, after I passed the Judicial Center, I glanced down one of the side roads and thought I saw some abandoned warehouses. Buildings of some sort. So, I decided to go investigate them to see if I could stay in one. As I was walking from one building to the next, someone grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into some sort of alley or something. It was dark. There were not any streetlights or lights on the building. Whoever it was, grabbed me also by the head. They were behind me, and they pushed me towards a car. It was dark, but it looked like the same car that had been following me. I fought to try to get away, but they just grabbed me tighter. As you can see, I'm not very big. I screamed and screamed but no one heard me. The passenger door was open, and they pushed me in closing the door. I immediately tried to open the door, but the handle did not work. Then I reached over and locked the driver's side door before the man got to it. But he must have had a remote because he unlocked it. I heard the beep, and he got in."
