| Subject: Re: Little Details C8/8 |
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fananicfan
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Date Posted: 11:43:54 07/14/07 Sat
In reply to:
fananicfan
's message, "Little Details" on 11:25:09 07/08/07 Sun
CHAPTER 8 – Unsatisfying Victory
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Harm turned off the alarm when it first began to buzz so that Mac could sleep and then he slipped from bed.
His act was thoughtful, but it didn’t work because, as soon as his weight left the bed, she woke, thinking about how soon this reunion would be over. He'd shower, shave and drink a cup of coffee before he left for Norfolk. By the time he returned, she’d be back in California to a condo that held no memories of him. She wanted to be near him and got out of bed.
Harm was in the shower, eyes closed and head tiltled back to rinse the soap from his hair when he felt her arms slip around his waist and her body touch his. He dropped his arms and let them encircle her, taking one step forward so they'd be out of the direct stream of water coming out of the shower head.
"I wanted to be near you. Hold me," she requested.
He already had a firm grip on her, with no plans of letting her go even before she'd asked. "Just sink in that last night was our last night together for at least a couple of months?"
She nodded, and they stood holding onto each other for several minutes before Mac pulled back and looked up at him. "Keep this place until we have some other place where we have memories together like the ones we have here," she pleaded.
"I love you," he whispered before he caused her toes to curl with a kiss that seemed to come out of nowhere.
When the kiss broke, she said, "And I love you." Then she let go of him, leaving him as quickly as she'd come so that he could finish his morning routine and leave for Norfolk.
He finished shaving and dressing and, when he came down the steps, he had his briefcase in one hand and his bag thrown over his shoulder. He heard her voice coming from the kitchen.
"Do you want a cup of the instant stuff they label coffee before you go?"
"Do I have time?" He put his gear down by the door and walked towards the kitchen.
"You have time for one cup with no frills."
"If frills means no kiss goodbye, then I'd rather have the kiss than the coffee." He had that grin on his face that made her knees turn to putty and her heart beat a little faster.
'Damn him, using that smile on me now,' she thought as she poured the hot water into the cups containing the granules of instant coffee. "Maybe half a cup and then a kiss?"
'Thank God she's in a robe now, or I'd have no will to leave,' he thought as they sat at the breakfast bar, holding hands and looking longingly at each other.
After the coffee was gone, Mac walked him to the door. They kissed each other goodbye and held each other in an embrace just a moment longer, taking in the smell and feel of the other for one last time. They released each other, he picked up his gear, and she held the door open for him. She watched as he entered the elevator and mouthed the words "I'm gonna miss you" before the gate closed and the elevator began to descend.
'I'm gonna miss you, too,' she thought as she closed the door. Saying goodbye was getting to be more and more painful. She'd thought after the first couple of goodbyes that they'd get easier, that once she trusted that he'd return, she'd have an easier time of letting him go. It wasn't happening that way. The more time they spent together, the more time she wanted, and saying goodbye got harder each time. It was time now for her to complete her morning routine and get ready to leave for the airport. She'd call him later tonight to let him know that she'd made it home and see how his day in court had gone.
On his way to Norfolk, Harm rehearsed his argument for another day's continuence several times. He knew that it wouldn't take Bud more than a day to get background information on Charles Reed. It would be wonderful to go into court in the morning with the bombshell that he knew who the killer was. It wasn't an attorney's job to solve the crime, but Harm had always taken extra satisfaction in not just winning through good lawyering, but discovering the complete truth.
Harm met Bud inside the hearing room. Bud had already been busy this morning. He'd made arrangements for them to have quarters for the night and had some information on the case as well. To go along with the work schedule information that Bud had gotten yesterday, Bud said that a database check revealed that Mr. Reed had never served in the military. A check on Charles Reed's guard's license with the state and his driver's license listed his physical description as six one and 173 pounds. Mr. Reed's guard's license had been issued the week before the first killing. Bud said that the curious thing that popped up was that, when he'd checked the tax records, the social security number and tax information listed a Charles Owens, not Reed.
"Bud, Owens...we've got that name in here somewhere."
"Yes, sir, John Owens, the drunk who was escorted out of the Wild Waves around midnight."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Bud?"
"I believe so, sir."
Bud had that 'I have more' look. "It hasn't been that long since we worked together, Bud. I know that look. What else do you have?"
"John Owens is Charles Owens' father, sir. Charles has a sister, too. I haven't been able to get an address or phone number on his sister yet, but I'm working on it."
It was time for court, but there were leads to follow. They'd stick to the original plan and ask for more time, but if they didn't get it, Harm would handle the courtroom and Bud would keep digging.
It took thirty minutes to convince Judge Sebring that they had enough circumstantial evidence, which pointed to someone else as the killer, to warrant giving them one more day.
Harm and Bud scrambled to get out of the courtroom to get to work, but Detective Sanchez stood up in front of them to stop their exit. He'd been on the task force that had investigated Ensign Rodgers' and the other three murders, and was in the courtroom to testify. He wanted to help, saying that he had no interest in sending an innocent man to jail and, if they were right, not only might that happen, but the murderer would be free to start up again at a time of his choosing.
The detective took them to the precinct with him where they'd have access to anything they'd need. Bud had a list of things that had been checked and a list of things that still needed to be checked. They split Bud's 'need to check' list. Bud was a computer genius and took charge of searching a variety of datebases. Detective Sanchez was to share his case notes on all four murders and give them access to things such as court documents and police records. Harm was in charge of making phone calls and keeping track of who was working on what and what else needed to be done.
Bud gave Detective Sanchez the name of Charles' sister and left the search for a phone number to him while he searched for Charles' mother. The search for his mother resulted in discovering that she'd died, but her last known address had been here in Norfolk, so Bud was hopeful that Detective Sanchez would have no trouble obtaining information from the coroner's office on such things as the next of kin or the name of the funeral home. If he could get the name of the funeral home, Harm could go to work on getting the information from them.
As it turned out, getting the name of the next of kin from the funeral home wouldn't be necessary in order to get information on the family because Sanchez came through with a phone number for Charles Reed's sister. Harm called her, and she agreed to meet with him and Detective Sanchez. Bud stayed behind to keep working on other leads and he'd call Harm's cell if he ran across anything of interest while they were gone.
Harm and the detective returned with a sandwich for Bud and a lot of news. The daughter had been full of information.
*****Flashback********
"The last two years that I lived at home, my parents fought constantly. A few months after I moved out, Mom filed for divorce. Dad had changed over the course of their marriage and he'd started drinking regularly, but he'd never hit any of us, so Mom told me that she felt that staying with him was better than struggling to keep food on the table without Dad's income, since her only job experience had been as a housewife."
Harm and the detective could see that the telling of her mother's story was upsetting her, but they admired her for continuing with the recounting of the conversation that she'd had with her mother shortly after the mother had filed for divorce.
"Mom told me that she'd left him, hoping that he'd change and give up drinking and the strip clubs, and that they'd be happy together again like in the beginning. It didn't happen. Dad married a stripper almost the moment the ink was dry on the divorce papers. Mom was devasted that he hadn't come running home, but attention from a man in the weeks prior to the final divorce decree seemed to bring her out of it. Mom married him about a month after Dad remarried. He was the first man who'd shown her any affection or attention in years. The man didn't drink, but he hit her."
The daughter told the story of the day that she and Charles found out.
"Charles and I had gone to see her for Mother's Day and, when we saw her black eye, we just knew that he'd done it. The worst part was that she knew that we knew that he'd hit her. Charles and I were ready to get her out of there that minute, but she wouldn't leave with us. After that, she'd cancel plans at the last minute, and we saw less and less of her. She wouldn't leave him and, now that we knew, I guess she was too ashamed to face us so, after a few months, we didn't hear from her anymore and we didn't see her again. We didn't even know that she'd died until people started calling to offer their condolescenses, saying that they'd read her obituary in the paper."
Curious if the change of her brother's last name was significant, the detective asked her if her stepfather's last name was Reed.
"No, Mr. Reed was Charles' high school wrestling coach. Charles thought the world of the guy and spent a lot of time with him, mowing his lawn, going to church with his family, what they'd call a mentor these days. Charles even told me once that he was the guy who'd taught him to be a man, telling him what to say to get a girl to go out with him and making sure that he was dressed right for a school dance, that kind of thing."
*******End Flashback******
After talking with the sister, more of the findings started to make sense and a case against Charles Reed began to quickly come together, and, at just before 1600, Detective Sanchez felt that he had enough evidence to go to a judge to get a search warrant for the residence of Charles Owen Reed. The dectective was hoping to get the warrant and serve it today because, after Harm placed a call to Centurion Security, they knew that Mr. Reed was off tonight and, hopefully, he'd be home, and it would be a nice easy bust if the search revealed enough for them to make an arrest. At the wire on the close of court business, Sanchez had his search warrant. At 1722, the search warrant was served to Mr. Reed at his residence.
Harm and Bud weren't allowed to tag along with the police when they served the warrant, but they were still at the police station when Detective Sanchez returned. Detective Sanchez told Harm and Bud that they should go out for a celebratory dinner because the murderer was now in custody. He told them that, if Reed cracked during interrogation, he'd give them a call. If they didn't hear from him tonight, he'd meet them tomorrow with enough proof that the case against their client would be dismissed.
Harm and Bud went to check into their overnight accomodations before going to dinner. Both men changed clothes, and Bud called Harriet to tell her that he'd be home sometime tomorrow for sure because they'd cracked the case. Harm called Mac, but it went straight to voice mail, so he hung up. She was evidently still en route.
They sat at the bar of a local restaurant, having a beer until a table became available. They finally got their table, ordered and had just been served their salad when Harm's cell phone rang. It was Detective Sanchez. He'd gotten a confession. Harm invited him to the restaurant to share the story and enjoy a good meal. Harm sprang for dinner and drinks upon hearing Detective Sanchez's recounting of Reed's confession, hoping to feel the thrill of victory as he had in the past.
Once Harm was alone in his quarters for the night, he allowed himself to think about why he didn't feel the same feeling of satisfaction that he'd previously felt after a victory in court. He paced while he mulled it over. Was he was no longer interested in the courtroom? Or had the courtroom thrill been replaced during his almost year of administration with pride in running an efficient office and having his budget and relocation plan approved? He stripped down to his boxers and climbed into his rack and, as soon as his head hit the pillow, he knew the true reason for his unsatisfying victory: he was alone again. Nothing felt quite the same to him in the days that followed a goodbye. The ringing of his cell phone brought him out of his thoughts.
He reached for the phone, not looking to see who was calling because he welcomed the distraction from his own thoughts. He filpped open the phone. "Captain Rabb."
"Why so formal this evening, sailor?"
Her voice floated into his ear like soft, soothing music. "You're back in San Diego?"
"Yes, back safe and sound. I wanted to tell you that and find out how your day went."
He wasn't sure how much of it was because he wanted to share everything about his life with her or how much of it was because he wanted to talk to her as long as possible. He just knew that he didn't want her to hang up any time soon, so he began, "We got the extra day to follow leads, and it was very productive. A Virginia detective offered to pool resources and share information. It worked. The security guard is in custody and he confessed. Bud and I just got in from dinner a little while ago."
"Sounds like you had quite a day. I hope you paid for the celebratory dinner."
"I did."
"You want to practice your speech on me for court tomorrow?"
"That's not really what I want to practice on you."
Mac giggled like a teenaged girl. "Last night wasn't that long ago, so I happen to know that you don't need practice. So start talking, flyboy. Tell me how you solved the case and what you know about the guard and his confession."
Harm gave her a run down on what had happened during the investigation throughout the day, including the news that, a few months ago, Charles Owens had legally changed his name to Charles Owen Reed and concluded with Detective Sanchez being able to get a search warrant with the information that they'd uncovered.
"So Charles blamed his father's strippers for his parents divorce and for the abusive marriage that his mother was in when she died." Mac said, seeking confirmation that she understood the information that she'd just been given.
"Exactly, and Charles might not have snapped if, on his third work assignment in his new job as a security guard, he hadn't been assigned to work security for a mud wrestling event at a strip club. Three days later, the first body was found. In his confession, the first three murders happened pretty much the same way. He'd work the club a few days prior, during which he'd get an idea of what time the dancers came and went and, several days later, he'd return. He picked brunettes like his father's second wife. He'd wait outside the club in uniform and, because he'd worked there a few days prior, the girls assumed that he was on duty. He'd offer to walk her to her car and, when she turned her back to unlock or open the door, he'd slipped up close behind her and cut her throat. Then he'd move the body to another parking lot or into an alley after diluting any blood on the ground with water, alcohol and urine, causing a big wet spot on the ground, but no one would think that it was blood. At most, they'd think that it was some drunk who couldn't hold it."
"Okay, that works for the first three murders, but what about Ensign Rodgers?" Mac inquired.
"Ensign Rodgers had left my client and run over something in the road that caused her tire to go flat after a few blocks. Reed had clocked out of the Wild Waves and was leaving for the night. He saw her getting out of her car to check the tire. He offered to help her change the tire and, when she turned her back to get the keys from the ignition to open the trunk, he moved in to cut her throat. However, she turned at the last minute and started fighting him. Eventually, she tires or he simply overpowers her and he's able to cut her throat, but he hears something and goes out to the end of the alley to check to see if someone's coming. That's when Mrs. Weathers must have seen him. Being seen spooked him, and he left the body where he'd killed her. He figured that the police would come to the conclusion that it was the stripper killer, and he wasn't a suspect in any of them, so he didn't think that he had anything to worry about."
"Why did he go after Ensign Rodgers? Why didn't he follow his previous MO?"
"Because, just after midnight, his father had been kicked out of the Wild Waves Club for being drunk and getting too friendly with the girls. Reed said that he asked his father if he wanted him to call him a cab and, when he refused, he had to tell him to leave the premises. Reed said that he was just inches from his father's face and his father didn't recognize him. It set him off and, by the time he'd clocked out, he was having trouble holding in his anger any longer. That's when he saw a pretty brunette with a flat tire. When he asked where she'd come from, she'd said 'from down the street a few blocks.' Reed assumed, because of the way she was dressed, she meant one of the strip clubs down the road."
"There hasn't been another murder, so what made him stop?"
"We don't think he stopped, he was just sidelined. He was assigned to a permanent post at an auto salvage yard the Monday after Tina Rodgers was murdered. His shift was from 2200 to 0600, Wednesday through Sunday, which made it hard for him to scout out a victim. He also knew that he needed to lay low for awhile after reading the story that a witness had seen a man in uniform near the scene of Ensign Rodgers' murder and that the man was wanted for questioning."
"I'm surprised that he confessed."
"He may have decided that there was no reason not to. When they searched his house, they found the murder weapon. He hadn't gotten rid of the weapon and that was one indicator that he was going to kill again. I was told, as it is with most serial killers, that Reed had collected trophies. In his closet, he had put up a wall of hooks, the purse or wallet from each of the four victims were hanging there with their ID's and cash still inside. The fact that he'd hung more hooks than were being used is another sign that he'd planned to kill again."
"Sounds like you've done a public service by getting him off the streets and cleared your client in the process." She paused. "We've been on the phone awhile, so I'd better let you get some rest so you aren't yawning through your big moment in court tomorrow. There's some leftover take-out and the instant coffee in the refrigerator at the apartment. I heard that coffee keeps better in the refrigerator, but I left you a reminder to make sure that the food is thrown away before you leave town."
"I'll take care of the refrigerator. I know that I'll be here for part of the day tomorrow. After we fill in Cresswell, I'll find out when I'm leaving Washington."
"You let me know when you're back in London."
"I will. And, Mac, send any mail to my office. With my flight quals coming up and the move, I'll feel better if my mail comes to the office. I mean, if Children's Services sends me anything about Tyler's adoption, I don't want it floating around or getting lost. If things are sent to my office, it should be forwarded to me without too much delay."
"I love you," she said. He really sounded behind the idea of adopting Tyler now, and she was glad of that.
"And I love you," he replied, knowing that it was time to hang up, but not wanting to.
"Bye," she said, not really wanting to hang up, but knowing that he needed to get some sleep.
"Bye." With that, he flipped his phone closed and put it on the bedside table.
He grumbled as he tried several positions, trying to get comfortable, and he finally found one after several attempts and drifted to sleep. As he slept, his dreams wouldn't be about the victory in this case. No, they'd be about the life that he and Mac could have once they were given the chance to live their lives together in the same place.
In the dream, which he'd remember when he woke, he and Mac were walking along the water's edge at the beach, their glasped hands hanging between them while, from a few feet in front of them, came a young boy's voice. "Bet you two can't catch me," Tyler challenged his parents.
Harm kept his eyes on his son as he retorted, "I don't think Mac should even try, but I can catch you." After responding to the challenge, he looked at Mac for permission to leave her side.
She smiled at him. "You should go catch him while you can." He looked puzzled, so she continued, "In a few months, we'll have other things to do and won't be coming to the beach so often." She smoothed her sundress over her rounded belly to emphasize the reason. "Besides, one of these days, he'll be faster than you are," she teased. "So go." He kissed her cheek, released her hand and sprinted up the beach, catching Tyler and lifting him up off the sand. Tyler had been 'caught' by his dad. The child's laughter filled the air as his feet left the sand, bringing satisfied smiles to his parent's faces.
Any loose ends will be wrapped up in the epilogue.
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