In The Shadows (16 page)

 Chapter Thirty-Two

It was Monday morning, and Brandon was in the middle of getting dressed for work when Naomi called. He was surprised to see the Ohio number appear on the caller ID. At first, he thought maybe it was his mom calling, but once he studied the number, he knew the caller was calling from a different area of Ohio. Once it hit him, he realized it was Naomi calling, and his heart immediately skipped a beat.

“Hi, Mr. Masterson! This is Naomi. How are you?”

“Naomi! What a surprise it is to hear your voice. I am doing good,” he said as he smiled into the phone, wondering what prompted the call.

“Well, I’ve been thinking about what you said to call if I remembered anything, no matter how big or small.”

Brandon remained quiet through the brief silence but continued nodding his head as if she could see him.

“I’m not 100 percent certain, but I think Andrea borrowed a pair of earrings from me before she left for Alabama.”

“Okay, you want to tell me about them, and tell me why you think this?”

“Andrea and I both got diamond earrings for Christmas. Sometimes we would borrow each other’s jewelry and would wear them mostly for special occasions. I have a school dance coming up next week, and I was checking my wardrobe and accessories, and I cannot find my diamond hoop earrings.” Brandon’s heart stopped as he allowed many thoughts to run through his head. He soon found himself sitting on the bed as he gathered his thoughts. “Mr. Masterson, are you still there?”

“Yes, Naomi, I’m still here. Go on.”

“Well, when I went to check my jewelry case for the earrings, they weren’t there. I know my mom or grandmother wouldn’t borrow them, but now that I sit here and try to figure out where they might be, I think Andrea probably took them with her before she left.”

Brandon’s thoughts rushed through his head; he needed to think quickly before his window of opportunity closed. “Naomi, can you describe the earrings, or maybe you could find out where they were purchased and send me a photo of them?” Brandon waited patiently for her response as he realized this could be another break in the case.

Finally she spoke. “Sure, Mr. Masterson. I’ll check with my mom when she gets home from work.” As Brandon listened to Naomi’s description of the earrings, he grabbed his pad and began to sketch the diamond earrings, which would now be the focal point of his investigation. He needed to get a copy of Jane Doe’s report from the coroner to see if the earrings were logged in when she was found.

After Brandon’s conversation with Naomi, he called into the station to let his boss know that he was stopping by the county coroner’s office on his way into the station.

As Brandon pulled out of the yard, he looked at Katy’s bike and smiled. He was so relieved to have her home safely yesterday. He had not gone into panic mode, but had it been ten minutes later, he probably would have.

Brandon knew after speaking with Tonya last night that she was relieved too. It would soon be Thanksgiving, and Brandon would have to decide how he wanted to spend that time. He would love to visit his mom and Katy in Ohio, but he needed to find out what plans Tonya had. Brandon had one more week with Katy before she had to return home to continue her sophomore year. Brandon was sure he would miss her terribly.

When Brandon arrived at the hospital, he gathered his thoughts and began to replay the details of his phone call earlier. The county morgue was housed in the basement of the Northport Medical Center. He knew the missing jewelry was a big break in the case. He then hoped to find what he went looking for there.

When Brandon walked inside the sliding doors, he walked up to the growing line at the front desk and waited patiently. After about five minutes of standing there, he heard a group of doctors and nurses coming from behind the closed door leading to the conference room. When he looked at the smiling faces streaming down the hallway, he saw one familiar face staring back at him. It was Janelle and Claire’s mom.

“Brandon, how are you this morning? What a surprise to see you!”

“Good morning, Mrs. Johnson.”

“Please call me Pam. Look, I wanted to thank you so much for letting Claire hang out with you and your sister this weekend. She had a great time and has talked nonstop about it.”

“Well, Mrs. Johnson, uh, Pam, I should be thanking you! Katy had such a great time too. I’m really glad she now has Claire to hang out with.”

Mrs. Johnson was still smiling as Brandon moved up in the line a few steps closer to the front desk. Then looking at his civilian attire and taking notice of the badge on his waist, she said, “Brandon, are you here on official business?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am.”

“Well, I hope it’s nothing too serious,” she said as she turned to the lady that had been standing in the background, waiting for her. After the lady left, Mrs. Johnson asked, “Is there anything I can help you with?” as she pulled him out of the line.

“I’m not sure. You may be able to help.” Brandon followed Mrs. Johnson to a quieter area of the hospital while he explained he was there to speak with the coroner or his assistant.

Keeping a professional tone, Mrs. Johnson told Brandon to follow her. He glanced back at the line where he’d been waiting for almost ten minutes and then followed her to the stairs, which led them directly to the basement and coroner’s office.

 Chapter Thirty-Three

When Tonya awoke, she thought of her conversation with Myron. She knew he felt bad about Danielle’s condition, but since he’d been cleared as a suspect, Tonya saw no harm in him seeing Danielle. Although she couldn’t speak on the family’s behalf, she agreed to meet him at the hospital when he arrived in town.

It would soon be Thanksgiving, and Tonya wasn’t sure what her plans were, but she definitely had to start preparing. Tara had been asking her to come to Florida, but that wouldn’t be possible until the next break. If Tonya and Brandon didn’t make any plans, she would more than likely go home for a few days if her team didn’t receive a tournament invitation.

* * *

As Brandon waited to be buzzed in behind the glass door, he took in his surroundings. He’d been to a morgue before during his training, but nothing could prepare one to be in the presence of dead bodies or be surrounded by them.

He was thinking,
How
someone
can
work
in
this
environment
is—
until a loud voice interrupted Brandon’s thoughts.

“Good morning, deputy. What can I help you with this morning? I’m Dr. Conroy, and I am the county coroner here,” he said with his burly hand extended as he watched Brandon closely.

“Dr. Conroy, good to meet you. I’m here to inquire about the body of the teenage girl that was found here several months ago.”

Placing his reading glasses on the top of his head while rubbing his chin hairs, Dr. Conroy said, “Yes, the teenager who was listed as a Jane Doe?”

Nodding, Brandon said, “Yes, I need to request the report containing the inventory.”

“Okay, no problem, but the sheriff’s office received the same information shortly after she was brought here. I will need you to fill out these forms,” he said, handing the forms to Brandon. “It will take a few days to retrieve. You can expect a copy in your hand within forty-eight hours.” The two shook hands before Brandon thanked him and left. Brandon folded the papers and placed them under his arm.

Disappointed he wasn’t able to get the report that day, Brandon decided he’d stop in to visit Danielle before heading to the station. He’d only met her once but knew enough about her to know she was a good kid. He picked up the Bible and turned to the page marked in the book of Psalms. After reading a couple of chapters, Brandon found himself in deep thought. He prayed Danielle would have a full recovery and wake up soon.

As he turned the radio on, he was pleasantly surprised it was on the local gospel station. Listening to gospel always put Brandon in the mood for church. The next song that came on was one of his favorites, “Grateful.” When Brandon’s favorite part came on, he felt compelled to sing at Danielle’s bedside.

Although Brandon was a big man, he had the smoothest, finest voice, which surprised many first-time listeners. Brandon had grown up singing in the choir, but once he stopped attending church on a regular basis, he stopped singing as well.

Since he’d broken away from under his father’s control, he’d begun attending church again regularly and had sung on occasion. Brandon didn’t mind singing in church, but he appreciated the advance notice. Maybe he would sing next Sunday while Katy was still there. He remembered Katy sang in the sunshine choir too as a child and wondered if she still sang.

As Brandon lost himself in the song, he was moved by the Spirit and soon became fixated on his praise. Brandon completely forgot where he was as he belted out the most melodic tunes. When the song finally went off, Brandon opened his eyes and discovered an audience at the door, applauding.

Brandon squeezed Danielle’s hand as he stood up and made his way toward to the group of people standing just inside the door. They were raving about his beautiful voice. Brandon smiled appreciatively as he thanked the group and exited the room.

When Brandon made it to the station, he changed into his uniform and saw that he’d missed a phone call from his dad. He left a message saying he would be in town on Thursday. Brandon was surprised he was arriving earlier than he’d planned originally. Katy was due to leave Sunday and wanted to spend time with her father before she left. Brandon was surprised by the change in his father’s plans but was okay with it.

* * *

Sheriff Masterson was still trying to track down information on Johnny Rush. He was still shocked by the official findings from the coroner’s office. Now that he had that report, he could put someone on this case since it was already classified as intentional homicide. The previous preliminary report listed the cause of death was accidental due to blunt force trauma to the head. The sheriff’s office knew some of the homeless would often find refuge in abandoned buildings or cars but wanted a detailed autopsy done due to the body being found in the trunk of a car.

Sheriff Masterson had been wrong before and wanted to cover every possible motive and lead. When the official report had been released, he forbade any law enforcement officer on the investigating team to discuss the case outside the office. What he’d learned was enough to make any parent instantly sick to their stomach and if the investigators working on the case weren’t behind closed doors, Sheriff Masterson didn’t want the autopsy finding discussed.

Deputy Troy was the lead on the case, and the sheriff had asked him to find out everything he could and to cross-check his fingerprints to see if Johnny Rush had any priors. These findings and this story could really shake the calm of Selma and create a total frenzy in all the neighboring communities, just as the disappearance and ultimately the death of Stella had done.

* * *

It was late Monday morning when Katy awoke. When she looked at the clock, she knew immediately why she’d slept past her normal wake-up time. It was almost noon, and she winced in pain as she turned her stiff body over to stretch. She was glad Brandon was busy that night with class, or she might have to admit that she’d overdone it. She’d run the trail two days in a row and trekked home on her bike with Claire and biked home after her long run yesterday. That day her body said clearly that her muscles needed a break.

Katy sat up thinking she must’ve fallen asleep as soon as she got in the bed because she didn’t get her usual Sunday night phone call from her mom. As soon as she got out of the shower and grabbed her favorite bowl of cereal, she picked up the phone to call her mom. After her phone rang several times and the answering machine picked up, Katy hung up and decided she’d try again later. Maybe her mom had a doctor’s appointment Katy had forgotten about. Katy was tempted to call again, but she soon decided against that and returned to the living room.

Although Katy was physically tired from yesterday, she wanted something to keep her mind busy. Katy wandered around the house and eventually ended up in Brandon’s weight room. What she discovered in the closet brought a smile to her face.

Smiling like a kid at Christmas, Katy reached into the closet and pulled out the keyboard. It was heavier than she thought, but she was able to place it on the table. Once she was settled, Katy let her fingers flow over the keys on the keyboard until they found themselves at home. Her long thin fingers finally fell into a rhythm as she played a song she had in her head. Katy had not played the piano since she was a little girl, but she was instantly elated internally upon hearing the beautiful music.

An hour later, Katy was still playing when she realized she needed to try her mom again. As she walked back upstairs, she remembered she’d not seen a stereo anywhere in the house. What could Brandon possibly be doing with a keyboard? She couldn’t remember if he played the keyboard or any musical instrument. She was still smiling as she listened to the dial tone and finally Ms. Tyler’s message on the answering machine. This time Katy left a message as she now began to feel uneasy about her calls going unanswered.

* * *

Brandon found himself busier than usual as he rushed out of the station trying to make it to class on time. He was glad he’d brought a change of clothes with him, so he wouldn’t have to go home before class. He would arrive with minutes to spare without making the trip home. He called Katy on his way to class and told her he’d be home after class. Katy didn’t seem like herself, but Brandon felt he may have been reading too much into her odd demeanor.

Katy had five days before she would leave for Ohio. Life in Alabama was fun and slow, and Katy could see herself spending more time there, but she wouldn’t feel complete without her mom.

* * *

When Myron showed up, Tonya met him with a big smile. He had changed so much since she last saw him. She wasn’t sure if she’d noticed just how handsome he was before. Tonya immediately knew why Danielle had fallen for him. He was the typical southern gentleman.

As they rode the elevator up, Tonya and Myron made small talk. Tonya knew eventually she would have to tell him that there was no change in Danielle’s condition. She didn’t want to give him false hope, so she kept her experiences with Danielle to herself. Tonya stopped walking outside of Danielle’s room but not within earshot.

“Myron, look. I’m glad you’re here, and I’m sure Danielle would be just as excited. But the truth is, the doctors still don’t know any more than they did weeks ago when she was first admitted.” Tonya watched as she saw the tears form in Myron’s eyes. “I know you love Danielle and want her to get better. My advice to you is to go in and treat her as if she is simply asleep, like taking a nap. Talk to her and tell her how much you miss her.”

Then stopping herself, Tonya felt she’d said enough. “I won’t stay while you visit her, but I’ll be just down the hallway at the nurses’ station should you need me.”

Myron got himself together and thanked Tonya before she left. Tonya gently squeezed Myron’s arm as she led him into the room. Myron was relieved to see Danielle sleeping in the hospital bed with no swelling and no bruising. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but she looked beautiful, like always.

* * *

Sheriff Masterson was all set to visit Brandon and Katy on Thursday. This would be his first time going to Brandon’s new home. He knew he had acted foolishly in the past when it came to his treatment of Brandon. He hoped that his son could one day forgive him.

His trip to Tuscaloosa was supposed to take place Friday morning, but he felt with this new discovery, he would have to arrive sooner than later. Besides, arriving early would give him the opportunity to spend more time with his baby girl and take part in the Thanksgiving festivities. He’d literally not seen Katy since she was two years old, and he was excited to hear that she wanted to see him after all these years.

Sheriff Masterson didn’t have any plans for Thanksgiving but figured spending that time with family was the best plan he could come up with. He hadn’t been this excited about the holidays since they were a family, and he knew this would be a holiday to remember. He knew Katy would soon be returning to Ohio, and this would be his last opportunity to spend time with her.

* * *

Sheriff Masterson hadn’t heard back from Brandon, and it was already Tuesday evening, but he knew he didn’t need to as he packed up his belongings. As he drove to the station to grab his briefcase, he dialed Brandon’s number again. Brandon didn’t answer, and this caused him to worry. He left a message again and tossed the phone across the seat to the other side of the car out of frustration.

The drive would take him at least six hours, and he hadn’t slept a wink since Sunday night. He knew he would have to rest before he made it to Tuscaloosa, but he felt his trip was warranted, and his children needed him.