Murder in eagle cove, p.2
Murder in Eagle Cove, page 2
"I have an eight o'clock meeting with the chief and mayor in the morning, followed by a press conference."
The couple went upstairs, briefly stopping by Katherine's room to check on her. She was sleeping peacefully. When they reached their bedroom, Sandra set her alarm, undressed, and climbed straight into bed. She expected to have difficulty sleeping, given the events of the day. When Larry came from brushing his teeth, she was already asleep. He wasn't so lucky, lying awake for more than an hour, stressing about his day, and tormenting himself over his news conference in the morning. I hate getting in front of a crowd to speak.
FRIDAY
Larry awoke to the sound of Sandra in the shower. He quietly crawled out of bed and joined her. The two showered quickly, embracing one another in the hot, steamy spray for comfort. Even though Larry didn't know what had happened at the lab, he knew it had to be bad for her to get ready for work before six in the morning. The two dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. Larry started the coffee while Sandra cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.
"So, ya want to tell me what happened at the lab yesterday?" Larry asked.
"It was bad. But you don't need to trouble yourself with it. You have enough to worry about."
"But if you don't tell me, I'll wonder about it all day."
Sandra thought momentarily before giving her husband a brief synopsis of the lab incident. "One of the monkeys got loose and bit my lab tech, Marilyn. It was a perfect storm of mistakes, and an investigation is ongoing. I want to spare you the details until I know more."
"Sorry you're going through this. If you need to talk, you can call me anytime. I'm never too busy for you."
"I know. It'll be okay."
They sat down to eat as Katherine came into the kitchen.
"Morning, Sunshine," Sandra said, standing to hug her daughter. "You're up early."
"Well, neither of you were home when I went to bed last night, and I was concerned. The news said there was a murder over on El Dorado."
"There was," Larry replied, "That's why I was late. Sorry I didn't tell you more yesterday afternoon. Your mom made breakfast; help yourself."
He avoided making eye contact, hoping his daughter would let the subject of murder go. He didn't want to talk about the case.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You know I can't talk about this with you. I'm investigating, and we'll figure out what happened soon."
"Your dad and I may both have difficult days," Sandra said, "Will you make yourself a sandwich for dinner if we aren't here to eat together?"
"Did you both forget? Tonight's Homecoming. We always go to the game together, and you know I'm on the homecoming court."
"Sweetie, neither of us will miss the game," Sandra said softly.
"Remember, I'm being crowned at halftime."
"We wouldn't miss seeing you crowned for anything. You're going to be the most stunning homecoming queen ever," Sandra said.
"Stacy is bringing me home after the dance. I'll ask her to pick me up for the game in case neither of you get home in time." She sighed, giving her parents a weak, shorter-than-usual hug. "I'll be fine having a sandwich here before the game. I love you both."
She went back upstairs to get ready for school.
Larry kissed his wife. "Love you," he said, rushing out the door. He wanted to review his notes before meeting with Chief Armstrong and the Mayor.
Sandra cleaned up the breakfast dishes and left shortly after her husband. I have to get ahead of the investigation at the lab. Anything there is my responsibility, and this crisis could cause me to lose my job. I can't let Larry worry about this while engaged in a murder investigation.
Larry reviewed his notes. His voicemail was full of calls from reporters. He sifted through, checking to see if any calls were essential to his investigation. While he listened to the messages, his cell phone rang, and he answered, knowing it was the medical examiner, Dr. Stark. He was hoping for information about the cause of death.
"Dr. Stark, can you tell me anything new this morning? I'm getting ready to meet with the Chief and Mayor to prepare for a media briefing."
Dr. Stark cut right to business. "The preliminary cause of death is the slash to his neck, causing him to bleed out. I'm listing it as a murder. Can you come to the morgue later this morning to talk face-to-face about the other things I found?"
"Sure. I'll call you after we finish with the media."
"That'll be fine, Detective. I'll plan to see you later this morning."
Larry had no messages in voice mail that needed immediate attention, and for that, he was grateful. Five minutes before the meeting, he gathered his notes and went to the Chief's office.
Sandra drove south on I-93 toward her Elk River Pharmaceutical facility lab. While she navigated the road, her mind was inundated with the horrible incident yesterday. I can hardly believe a monkey escaped his cage and went wild on Marilyn. It was only a few minutes earlier that I examined him. He was sick, but the medicine we tested on him worked well.
The lab animal was an early recipient of the latest flu strain. He developed flu symptoms, and they were now using a new medication to treat him. The drug is promising, but the side effects are irritability and mood swings.
The handler came in to feed him, and a commotion ensued when the monkey threw food at him. Sandra surmised the handler had not latched the cage door in all the fuss. When the monkey escaped his cage, her lab tech, Marilyn, was nearby. He went crazy, attacking, scratching, and clawing her face before biting her. A security guard ran into the lab, got a tranquilizer gun from a secure cabinet, and used it to subdue the monkey. Members of the safety team from the on-site clinic answered the alarm to help stabilize Marilyn while first responders came from the nearby fire and rescue. They rushed her by ambulance to Leigh Memorial Hospital in Eagle Cove.
The last time she checked, her lab tech was stable but guarded. Since leaving work late last evening, Sandra has not been updated on Marilyn's condition.
When she reached the facility's guard station, the guard raised the security gate, and she drove ahead to her dedicated parking space. She parked, slipped her I.D. around her neck, and gathered her bag and computer before walking to the main entrance. Sandra entered the main corridor and took the elevator to the basement lab where she had worked her entire adult life. She scanned her badge to enter the lab and walked to her office. Before reaching her door, she sensed something was off, finding it slightly ajar. Inside, her boss, Bill Resnick, and the human resources manager, Chris Johnson, sat at her conference table. Sandra thought this couldn't be a good news meeting.
"Take a seat," Bill said while motioning her to a chair at the conference table across from Chris. She had a stack of personnel files in front of her.
"We're waiting for the animal handler, Todd," Chris stated.
"Has anyone had an update on Marilyn's condition this morning?" Sandra asked.
"She passed away overnight. The situation is bad, and we're working to get in front of it," Bill responded without emotion.
Sandra lost her breath and had trouble regaining oxygen in her lungs. Tears ran down her face. Marilyn was as much a friend as a colleague, she thought.
The news shook Sandra so that she could hardly speak. Moments later, two members of security escorted Todd into the office. This situation's getting worse, Sandra thought.
"Todd, have a seat," Chris said while bringing Todd's personnel file to the top of the stack.
Todd took the other chair at the table, dropping his chin toward his chest, unable to speak or meet the gaze of anyone in the room. He sat with hunched shoulders, crossing his arms.
"We have a serious situation here. I need to ask you a few more questions about what happened yesterday," Chris began.
Todd trembled, remaining silent but giving Chris an affirmative nod. It was as if he knew what was about to happen.
"Can you explain why you didn't latch the door to the monkey cage?"
"That monkey's always a problem. When I walked up to the cage, he threw shit at me, and when I gave him the food, he threw that at me," Todd screamed, red in the face, slamming his fist against the table.
Chris listened to Todd, taking detailed notes. When he finished speaking, she attempted to make eye contact.
"You still haven't told me why you didn't latch the cage. That should've been the most important thing in your mind when you were feeding him."
She thumbed through his personnel file. When she looked back at Todd, he remained silent, still red in the face with rage.
"This was your third major mistake, Todd. This one resulted in the deaths of another employee and a valuable lab animal."
Todd remained silent.
"I need to collect your badge," she said, laying a termination letter before him.
His hands shook as he moved the letter in front of himself, where he could read it.
"Please read and sign this letter. Security will take you to your locker and provide you with a box for your belongings."
Todd read the termination letter and scribbled an illegible signature before the security guard appeared as if on cue, to take him out of the office. Sandra had seen this happen on another occasion. She knew they would escort him to the main gate once he emptied his locker. What're they going to do with me? she wondered.
Bill quietly sat while Chris finished with Todd and turned toward Sandra.
"We have a tough situation here. Do you have anything to add to what Todd said or the statement you made yesterday?"
"No," Sandra answered, covering her face and running her fingers through her hair.
"You manage these people and everything that happens in the lab. We euthanized the monkey, which is at the medical examiner's office for a necropsy. We believe he was extremely sick. He possibly infected Marilyn, causing her death when he bit her. Our legal team is advising us to suspend you. I must collect your I.D., files, and passwords."
Sandra slowly took her I.D. badge from around her neck and slid it across the table to Chris, who passed back a suspension letter. Chris had carefully crafted the letter, requiring Sandra to provide the company with her current passwords and surrender her laptop until they could conclude the matter. She would have no access to her desk or the lab. The guard who had taken Todd to his locker returned. At least he doesn't have a box with him, Sandra thought.
Sandra left her office with the guard, who respectfully walked her to her car. I need to talk to someone, but calling Larry is a bad idea, she thought. I need to deal with the situation on my own for now.
She pulled off the highway at the first exit with a coffee shop and ordered a large cappuccino. What I need right now is caffeine and sugar to bring me to life. She hadn't slept well, often waking to the previous day's nightmares. When Chris put the suspension document in front of her, she couldn't muster the concentration to do more than scan and sign it. Now, she would settle into a table, drink her cappuccino, and carefully read it. After sipping the big coffee drink, life began returning to her tired body. She read the detailed document, covering every scenario. She was suspended with pay and reminded of her contractual non-compete obligation. She couldn't search for another job until they resolved the matter. The document also warned her not to speak with any member of the press or post anything about it on social media. It said not to contact the victim's family or attend any services. She couldn't contact Todd Masters, the animal handler assigned to her lab, for any reason or on any medium. Any violation of this agreement would result in her immediate termination. Sandra swallowed hard and wiped away a tear. Marilyn had been a special friend, and it would be difficult not to attend her funeral or send condolences to her family.
Larry rapped lightly on the doorframe and walked in. He firmly shook hands with Chief Armstrong and Mayor Taylor, sitting across the table from them. The three cut straight to the business of the press briefing with no small talk.
Larry began stating the facts of the case. "We've confirmed the identification of the victim. He was an executive banker for Viva Bank. His killer or killers slit his throat. I've never seen such a gruesome crime scene, even in a movie or true crime show. The strangest thing is that it appears entirely contained to the attic with no other sign of a crime anywhere else in his home. His car's missing. I put an APB out on it."
"We should only inform the public there's been a dead body discovered on El Dorado Avenue," Chief Armstrong replied while looking at the Mayor. "You should speak first, Mayor. The public wants assurance that this isn't a rampant crime spree. Give minimal information while assuring the public this appears to be an isolated event."
"I agree," the Mayor replied. "I'll make sure the public feels no imminent danger. We don't want to elevate fear at this point."
"The purpose of meeting with the media is to assure the public Eagle Cove is a safe community, and nobody should be concerned for the safety of themselves or their families," Larry responded. "After the Mayor speaks, I'll reiterate his response, giving minimal information. I'll let the press know we're considering the death suspicious and ask for the public's help if anyone has information to help solve the case."
"Agreed," the Chief said.
Larry thought for a moment. "Should I take questions?" he asked with a queasy feeling in his stomach.
"I think you'll have to take a couple," the Chief responded. "Just be vague and don't give details of the crime."
The Mayor stood, concluding the meeting. Larry left the office, returning to his desk for one last check of his voicemail. The medical examiner left a message asking Larry to come to the morgue for their face-to-face meeting around eleven o’clock. Larry looked at his watch with nothing else demanding attention, determining it was still too early to call Viva Bank. It would have to wait until after the press briefing. His nerves were on edge, with just enough time to get a coffee before he walked into the conference room.
Larry took a sip from his huge cup of strong, bitter, police-department coffee while walking into the crowded room. The conference room needed to be more significant for the reporters gathered. All the chairs were full, and reporters were standing against the off-white perimeter walls of the room. Mayor Taylor and Chief Armstrong stood at the front near the podium. It was clear they were ready to begin, so Larry made his way through the chatter in the crowded room to the front. He continued to sip from his cup to camouflage his shaking hands and roiling stomach.
Chief Armstrong approached the podium, silently standing while waiting for the reporters to quiet. "Good morning, everyone. I'm Eagle Cove Police Chief Bernard Armstrong. I'm sorry for the tight space. I don't think we quite expected a turnout like this today. Mayor Howard Taylor would like to make a brief statement. Mayor?"
Taylor was calm and collected as he walked up to the podium. He began addressing the reporters with the same impressive composure that got him elected. "Yesterday, police officers were called to a home on El Dorado Avenue. The responding officers found the body of an individual in the home." He looked around the room and made eye contact with everyone as he spoke. "I want to assure the public that we believe this to be an isolated incident. The police are investigating, and we expect to resolve the situation quickly. I need to remind you that this is an active investigation. We cannot supply the victim's name pending notification of next of kin. I also want to make it clear the public should have no concern for safety." He looked around the room again with all eyes on him and proceeded. "Lieutenant Larry Saunders is the Detective overseeing the investigation. I'd like him to take over here to share what he can and answer some questions."
Larry nodded in acknowledgment and walked up to address the reporters. The television camera at the back of the room ramped up his nerves more than he expected. "Thank you all for coming. My name's Larry Saunders. It's my job to investigate this death and determine if it's, in fact, a crime. As the Mayor said, we found a deceased individual in a home on El Dorado Avenue. The Plymouth County Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Based on his preliminary report, we consider the death to be suspicious. I want to ask the public to contact this department with any information that may help our investigation. We have no reason to believe this is more than an isolated incident, so, as the Mayor said, there's no reason for the public to be concerned about their safety. I have time for a couple of questions."
A reporter near the front shouted out. "The neighbors told me the homeowner hasn't been around for a week. Can you tell us how long the victim's been dead?"
Larry bowed his head in thought for a moment before answering. The death of anyone is emotional, but he couldn't help but feel remorse that the victim had been dead in his home for quite some time before being discovered. He answered the question with a quiver in his voice. "The victim's been dead for quite some time; however, I don't yet have the medical examiner's report. I expect to get more information later today."
Larry looked around the room at the mob of reporters peppering him with questions before acknowledging one standing near the camera operator.
"Can you tell us if the victim was the homeowner?" he asked, almost as if he had no respect for the victim's family.
"I must reiterate that this is an active investigation, and we can't give the identity until we have notified the family. We believe the victim may have been an occupant of the home."
More questions were being shouted from every corner of the room as Larry raised his hand, signaling them to quiet down.
"I really must get back to the investigation, so that's all the time I have for questions. Thank you all for coming."
Larry walked away from the podium with relief rushing through his body. He left the room with the Chief and Mayor. They refused to respond to any of the reporters who continued to shout questions.
He returned to his desk, thinking he needed to call Viva Bank. As he pondered the approach he would make during the call, he decided to reveal nothing about the possibility that one of their employees was found dead. He would discreetly garner as much information as possible about Mr. Blunt's position and whereabouts. Perhaps he's on vacation and has not been missed. A phone attendant answered on the first ring, and he asked for Harold Blunt's office. She put his call through to a pleasant-sounding secretary.
