The Bridge (Para-Earth Series) (37 page)

             
Roy entered the room and headed straight for the podium. “All right, I just got off the phone with the labs in New York.  It seems they sent two people to the Graham place just hours ago to gather more samples from the stream.  Now as you all know, we suspect that there’s something in that water…”

             
“Any idea what is, Chief?” interrupted one of the newest officers, a rookie from Lakeville.

             
Ronnie saw the look on her boss’ face and turned away, trying to stifle a smirk.  Her old partner hated being interrupted and had a special way of dealing with people who did it to him.

             
Peterson stared at the young man for a moment and said, “Yes, we do, which is why Albany is paying two people to come down here in Hazmat suits.  They’re going to gather a few hundred gallons of the stuff, bottle it, and then sell it overseas to raise money.  This way the state can deal with its budget problem and we can afford some new officers who have more than two functioning brain cells!”

             
The rookie winced and tried to ignore the snickers of his fellow officers.  Luckily his partner spoke up, “Chief, I think what he means is, we’d all like to know what’s up with that stream.  If there’s something in the water, how is it dangerous?”

             
Roy sighed, “We don’t know what the substance is exactly, but we suspect it produces some kind of hallucinogenic vapors.  And apparently some people are more susceptible to it than others.  That’s why I want you all to have backup with you if you’re called out there.”

             
There was a brief chorus of murmurs from his audience. 

             
‘So far so good
,
’ thought
Ronnie.  She really wanted to be out of here and alone with Alex in her office.  If she locked the door and drew the blinds, she’d be able to apologize by clearing off her desk and taking him.  She might be able to pump him for more information at the same time.  But before she could pursue that fantasy, reality hit.

             
“Chief?  Is Mr. Hill still a person of interest?” asked her partner Ryan. 

             
“Why do you ask?” replied Roy evenly.

             
“Well, he was found at the bridge the night Wells died and no one’s provided an alibi for him for that night, or for the other deaths.  Plus, we all just learned he was around when Rachel Carter disappeared sixteen years ago.”

             
Before Roy could answer Jack Thompson stood up saying, “I don’t think he’s had anything to do with any of these deaths. I know we’ve all heard about his being a psychic.  And most of us saw how he helped find Katie Anderson and her Dad.  He also found that floor we missed at the Graham place when Rachel disappeared.  Now, why would he go through all that trouble, if he had anything to do with what’s going on?”

             
This set off another round of murmurings, when a blonde officer in his thirties stood up.  “If he’s really psychic why hasn’t he told us who killed Paul and the others?  I’ll tell you why? Because he’s in on it and…”

             
Ronnie leapt to her feet, “Watch it Patel, or I’ll have you on parking meter duty for a yea…”

             
Roy stepped in front of her and held up a hand.  Instantly the room fell silent.  Then clearing his throat meaningfully, he spoke.  “Yes, Mr. Hill is still a person of interest.  But, he’s also been cooperating with us fully and freely.  Every time I’ve asked him to come here and answer questions, he’s done so without a lawyer.  I’d also like to remind you all that he’s never broken the law or even been issued a parking ticket.”

             
“So what are we supposed to do?  Wait until we find him at the scene of the crime standing over the victim?” demanded Ryan.

             
This time Ronnie didn’t hold back.  Marching away from the podium she went straight up to her partner and said hotly, “All right, Ryan, what’s your problem?  Jealous because I’m sleeping with Alex instead of you?”

             
“That’s low, Sarge!” said one of Ryan’s buddies in his defense.

             
Veronica whirled on the man, “Who the hell asked you, Danson?  And for that matter, what’s it to you?  Are you still pissed about all the times I turned you down for a date?”

             
The man’s face turned red with embarrassment.  She had gotten him with that one, but apparently he wasn’t about to let her win without a parting shot. “You’re just blind because you can’t see past his cock!  Face it, he’s our number one suspect and…”

             
“ENOUGH!” roared their boss from the podium.  Instantly, the room fell silent.  “Sergeant Ross, take your seat up here or leave the room.”

             
Veronica stared at him in shock.  She felt as if she had just been slapped in the face by her own father.  But he matched her gaze and glanced meaningfully at the chair.  Reluctantly, she headed back to it.  She could hear Danson smirking, behind her and was tempted to go ahead and deck him when Roy spoke again.  “And, Danson, any more cracks like that last one and I’ll be putting you on administrative leave.”

             
The man’s partner stood up, “Now hold on, Chief.  Pat’s right about Hill being our top suspect, so why try and hide it?”

             
Several heads nodded.

             
Ronnie watched her boss draw himself up to his full height and say, “First of all Mr. Hill is innocent and until proven guilty.  Secondly, his relationship with Sergeant Ross is no one’s concern unless it interferes with her work, which it hasn’t.  And finally, he HAS identified a witness who saw him at the bridge at the time Dr. Wells was murdered.”

             
“Is it the White Lady?” cracked Frank King, a long time veteran.

             
Several people chuckled at that, including Roy. 

             
Ronnie knew Frank long enough to understand he was trying to lighten the mood, and it was appreciated. 

             
“No,” answered Roy, “but it is someone we’ve been interested in talking to for some time, Rachel Carter.”

             
Suddenly half the room went very quiet. 

             
Nodding he continued, “I see a number of you remember her.  As Patrolman O’Connor mentioned earlier, Miss Carter disappeared from Graham manor the same night the old man had his heart attack.  To this day we never found out what happened to either of them.  Now that we know she’s back, I’d like to find her.  Hopefully with her help we learn exactly what went on that night, and possibly clear Mr. Hill all in one shot.”

             
“We might also find out what happened to those two teenagers,” said Veronica remembering the sketch back on her desk.  She had been struck at the time it was drawn by how much it looked like Rachel.

             
Roy turned to her, “Come again Sergeant?”

             
Quickly she told him about the girl Julie had spotted in the backseat of the vehicle driven by the dead teenagers.   

             
“Let’s have the Youngster take a look at it and see if he recognizes her,” agreed her boss, “He’s still here isn’t he?”

             
“I left him in the break room.  I’ll go and…” Ronnie began, but Roy shook his head. 

             
“Not you,” he told her. “I want someone impartial, so no one can say you told him how to react,” he finished, glancing at Ryan and Danson. 

              In the canteen Alice was apologizing to Alex.  “If I hadn’t brought those photos none of this would’ve happened,” she was saying.  “I can’t believe Roy actually thought you might have had something to do with Rachel’s disappearance.”

             
“Well, he knows better now,” Alex assured her.  But, inside the injustice was eating at him.  How could so many people, who’d known him for the last four years, start looking at him as if he were Jack the Ripper? 

             
Sensing Alice was still troubled, he added, “Please don’t worry, everything’s fine.”

             
“How can you be so calm about it?” she cried.

             
“Simple, I don’t get mad.”

             
“You just get even?”

             
Alex thought about it.  “Can I get back to you on that?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows wickedly, making her laugh.

              Outside the canteen, Patrolman Harold Drake paused having overheard that last part.  He had been sent to get the sketch from Ronnie’s office and then bring Hill into the Squad Room.  Now he was wondering who was right about Sarge’s boyfriend. 

              Over at the bridge, Jason Cloudfoot stared at the two figures lying in the water.  Both wore strange white suits with matching helmets.  “Not enough,” he murmured sadly. 

             
He hadn’t left the area since he’d seen young Hill, even though he had promised the boy that he’d talk to Chief Peterson.  But things had gotten much worse around here and he couldn’t risk leaving again.  It had taken all his talents and abilities to keep the entity in check, but it wasn’t enough.  The thing had managed to kill these two without his knowing.   Which meant it was going to break out soon, and there was nothing he could do to stop it, at least not on his own.  What should he do?

             
Suddenly, a voice carried on the breeze spoke to him.

             
Nodding grimly, he turned to the manor.   All of this had been Cyrus’ doing.  The man had set all of this in motion, but now he was gone.  And his legacy would continue unless someone put a stop to it.  “I have to see Chief Peterson and then young Hill,” he said with determination. 

             
Somewhere behind him he heard a sigh and a splash.  Without looking he knew it was her.  She had heard him, and it had given her hope.  He couldn’t blame her.  She had been waiting for so long.  They all had. 

             
“Just a little longer my friends, and your wait will soon be over,” he said quietly and started towards the mansion when a strange noise came from the bridge.  He waited.  It was repeated.  It took him a moment to recognize the ominous grating sound of stone on stone.  He’d heard it once before and had managed to escape the cottage just before it was crushed.    

             
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a young girl with long dark hair standing near the edge of the water.  She was staring at him with eyes full of uncertainty. 

             
As he stood there, the first raindrops began to hit his face, followed by a loud groaning sound.  It seemed to come from somewhere above his head.

             
Sighing, he knew what was about to come.  He might be able escape, but deep down he knew this way was better. 

             
Looking up he saw a wall of stone coming down, and laughed.

              Some miles away, Alex suddenly stood up from the table he had been sharing with Alice. 
Jason!
  The presence was unmistakable. But now it was gone, and he was feeling an all too familiar chill. 

             
“It was only thunder,” Alice remarked.

             
“I’m not so sure,” he replied absently, as the image of Graham Manor loomed large in his mind.  “I have to go,” he murmured and ran out of the room just as Drake emerged from Ronnie’s office with the sketch. 

             
The patrolman watched as their primary suspect raced past the dispatcher’s desk and out the doors.  “Better tell the Chief,” he murmured and headed back to the Squad Room.

the storm breAKS

             
A moment later, Alice came out of the Canteen and rushed over to Pam’s desk.  “Did you see where Alex went?”

             
“Yeah, he just flew past here without saying anything.  Any idea what’s going on?”

             
“No, and it’s got me worried,” her boss’s wife replied.  “Look, I’m going to follow him and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.”