Karen Rose - I’m Watching You

Murphy grimaced. „You could say that.“

„Thanks, Todd,“ Spinnelli said. „I appreciate you sticking with it.“

„Couldn’t stomach being called incompetent,“ Murphy frowned. „Anyway, June’s parents didn’t want to talk to us, but when they found out Jenkins was dead, and woke up a little more, they changed their minds. I’ve got numbers for June’s dorm and her parents’ house. They’re all expecting us to call at seven-thirty Mountain time so that June won’t miss her first class. I thought a three-way call would be most efficient. It’s almost time.“

Spinnelli placed the speakerphone in the middle of the table. „Let’s go.“

Kristen reached under the table for Abe’s hand and squeezed as Murphy dialed one number, then the other, then made the introductions.

„Thank you for taking the time to talk with us,“ Abe said. „I’m Detective Reagan. Detective Mitchell and I have been working a serial homicide case for the last week.“

There was silence on the other end. Then, a bewildered, „What does that have to do with us?“ from Mr. Erickson.

„Aaron Jenkins was killed as a consequence of the other murders. After his death, we were able to look in his old record and your name came up. We’re hoping you can give us some information that will let us figure out what connection Jenkins had to the killer.“

„Is this the vigilante case we saw on CNN?“ Mrs. Erickson asked.

„Yes, ma’am, it is,“ Abe said. „The record we opened showed your daughter filed a complaint against Jenkins for sexual misconduct.“

Again silence, then a younger voice. „He cornered me under the stairs when I was in middle school.“ Her voice faltered. „I’m sorry. I don’t like to remember it.“

Kristen leaned toward the speaker. „I understand, June,“ she said. „I’m the prosecuting attorney working with the police. My name is Kristen. I meet lots of young women like you and it is hard to remember, but we really need your help. Can you tell us what happened?“

„He pushed me under the stairwell,“ June said and there was clear hesitation in her voice. „He tried to get… fresh.“

„I understand. What did you do then, June? How did you get away?“

This time the silence was prolonged. Kristen frowned at the speaker. „June, it’s Kristen. Are you still there?“

„Yes, I’m here.“ She sighed. „There was another girl who came along just then. I was screaming, but everybody was afraid of Aaron. This other girl was the only one who tried to help. She first tried to pull him off me, but she was small and he was big.“

„They usually are, June,“ Kristen said. Abe nearly winced when her grip on his hand tightened. But her voice was steady and he was proud as hell. „What happened then?“

„She ran to get a teacher. They were… just in time. Nothing happened.“

Abe knew from the report that something had indeed happened. Jenkins had ripped the girl’s clothes off and was about ten seconds from rape when help arrived. But he said nothing to dispute the girl’s words. Kristen was doing beautifully on her own.

„Well, I don’t really agree with that,“ Kristen said pragmatically. „You were frightened and assaulted. That was something.“

„Yeah, well, the teacher reported it. She said she had to. There were cops everywhere. It was terrible. Aaron was so popular. Anyone that crossed him… well, let’s just say my life wasn’t the same after that“

Mia passed her a note. Ask her the name of the girl and why she wasn’t in the report ?

Kristen nodded. „Believe me, June, I understand. One of the detectives here has a question. Who was the other girl, and why wasn’t her name in the report?“

„Her name was Leah,“ June answered and Kristen closed her eyes briefly, clearly recognizing the name. „After the teacher came and Aaron ran, she begged us not to tell she’d been involved. She got made fun of so much anyway, she didn’t want to be singled out.“

„You never told us this, honey,“ Mrs. Erickson said.

„She asked me not to, Mom. She begged me not to. It was the least I could do. She put herself at risk to help me.“

Kristen made a big circle on one of her lists and shoved the paper into the middle of the table. Leah Broderick. One of the victims. They looked at one another with excitement. Finally .

„I’ve met Leah,“ Kristen said. „She grew up to be a remarkable young woman.“

„I figured she would.“ June’s voice faltered. „If you see her, tell her I said thank you.“

A shadow passed over Kristen’s face. „I will. Tell me one more thing, June, and then we’ll let you go. What happened to you and to Leah after this incident?“

June sighed. „I never said a word to the police and neither did the teacher, but it didn’t matter. Aaron made Leah’s life a living hell. Her mother pulled her out of our school and put her somewhere else. My parents pulled me out and we came here.“

„That’s kind of what I thought. You’ve been an amazing help, June. Thank you.“

„That’s what you needed?“ Mr. Erickson asked.

Abe looked around the table. There was an energy level higher than they’d had since this whole nightmare began. „Yes, it’s exactly what we needed. Thank you.“

„Kristen?“ June’s voice quavered a little.

„Yes, June?“

„I was really scared to talk about this again. But you made it easier.“

Kristen bit her lips hard, but her eyes filled anyway. „I’m glad, June. Sometimes it helps to talk to somebody who’s been there, too. Take care of yourself.“

In stunned silence Murphy blindly disconnected the line. For several long beats, all eyes were on Kristen, then she stood up. „Excuse me. I need a few minutes.“

Shaken, Mia started to follow, but Abe gently stopped her. „Let her go. She’ll be all right.“

Friday, February 27,

8:55 A.M.

They were waiting quietly when she came back. There was nothing makeup could do to fix her puffy face and red eyes, but she tried anyway. Abe met her eyes, his filled with pride. She took the seat next to him and looked around the table. Mia’s face was quietly supportive, Jack’s and Murphy’s still shocked. Spinnelli looked torn between grief and rage. Miles Westphalen had joined them. She wasn’t sure if this was because of the new information about Leah or because they were worried she was going to crack. She didn’t plan to ask.

„I had Lois send over Leah’s case file by courier.“ She placed the folder on the table and took a moment to collect her thoughts. „Leah Broderick was raped almost five years ago. She was one of my first sexual assault cases, but that’s not why I remember her so clearly. Leah was cognitively challenged. She functioned at the level of about a twelve- or thirteen-year-old. She knew she was slow and hated it. She was a very proud young woman.“

„You say ‘was,’ Kristen,“ Miles observed.

Kristen placed her palms flat on the table to control their trembling. „You were the one who suspected a trauma triggered this whole thing, Miles. I tried to call Leah yesterday, but her phone was disconnected. I called the supermarket where she worked and they hadn’t seen her in over a year.“ She glanced up at Abe. „I don’t like coincidences, either.“

„It doesn’t sound good,“ he murmured.

„So, about Leah. She had a job, she took the bus. She was active in her church. She helped teach Sunday school. Everybody who knew her loved her. Anyway, she’d been walking home from the bus stop when she was accosted by Clarence Terrill.“

„One of the two men the plainclothes tails couldn’t find,“ Abe said.

„Your package,“ Miles said. „Judge, defense, and accused, just like you thought.“