Faye Kellerman: Blood Games

“Elmo Turret.”

“What’s his story?”

“He claims he saw a guy that looked like the picture of Hammerling shown on Fugitive. Elmo said he saw him a few days ago, camping out ten miles south from his motel. I’m just clearing out a drug bust. I spent the afternoon pulling out around an acre of mature MJ plants and I don’t mean Michael Jordan. As soon as I’m done with the processing of the local yokels who owned the land, I’ll swing by the area on my bike and see if I can’t find any veracity to the story.”

“Call me one way or the other. You know, this is the fourth spotting I’ve received from New Mexico.”

“Doesn’t surprise me. Ever been here?”

“Just Santa Fe.”

“That’s another country—civilized for the most part. Down here … well, what can I say? The Wild West is alive and kicking.”

PAPERWORK TOOK UP another hour, and by seven-thirty in the evening, Decker was about to call it quits when his favorite detective, Sergeant Marge Dunn, knocked on the sash to his open door. The woman was five ten with square shoulders and wiry muscle. She was dressed for winter L.A. style, wearing brown cotton slacks and a tan cashmere sweater. Her blond hair—and getting blonder by the years—was pulled back into a ponytail.

“Have a seat,” Decker told her.

“I’ve got a woman outside wanting to talk to you,” Marge said. “Actually, she wanted to talk to Captain Strapp but since he left, she settled for the next in line.”

“Who is she?”

“Her name is Wendy Hesse and she told me that her business is personal. Rather than push my weight around, I figured it would be easier to send her to you.”

Decker peeked at his watch. “Sure, bring her in while I go grab a cup of coffee.”

By the time he got back, Marge had seated the mystery woman. Her complexion was an unhealthy shade of putty and her blue eyes, though dry at the moment, had cried many tears. Her hair was cut helmet style—dark brown with white roots. She was a big-boned woman and appeared to be in her late forties. She was dressed in a black sweater and black sweatpants with sneakers on her feet.

Marge said, “Lieutenant Decker, this is Mrs. Hesse.”

He put the coffee cup on his desk. “Can I get you something to drink?”

The woman looked at her lap, shook her head, and mumbled something.

“Pardon me?” Decker said.

She snapped her head up. “No … thank you.”

“So how can I help you?”

Wendy Hesse looked at Marge, who said, “Maybe I’ll get some coffee. Are you sure you wouldn’t like some water, Mrs. Hesse?”

The woman refused a second offer. After Marge left, Decker said, “How can I help you, Mrs. Hesse?”

“I need to talk to the police.” She folded her hands and looked at her lap. “I don’t know how to start.”

Decker said, “Just tell me what’s on your mind.”

“My son …” Her eyes watered. “They say he … that he committed suicide. But I don’t … I don’t believe it.”

Decker regarded her in a different context. “You’re Gregory Hesse’s mother.”

She nodded as tears flowed down her cheeks.

“I am so sorry, Mrs. Hesse.” He handed her a tissue. “I can’t even imagine what you’re feeling right now.” When she started sobbing openly, Decker stood up and put his hand on her shoulder. “Let me get you some water.”

She nodded. “Maybe that’s a good … idea.”

Decker caught Marge at the coffeepot. “The woman is Gregory Hesse’s mom—the teen in the paper who committed suicide.” Marge went wide-eyed. “Anyone from Homicide at the scene yesterday?”

“I was in court.” She paused. “Oliver was there.”

“Did he talk to you about it?”

“Not really. It got him down. You could read it in his face. But he didn’t say anything about the death being suspicious.”

Decker filled up a wax paper cup with water. “Mrs. Hesse has her doubts about suicide. Would you mind sticking around? I’d like another ear.”

“Of course.”

Both of them went back to his office. To Mrs. Hesse, Decker said, “I’ve asked Sergeant Dunn here. She partners with Scott Oliver who was at your house yesterday afternoon.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Hesse,” Marge said.

Tears ran down her cheeks. Mrs. Hesse said, “There were … lots of police at the house.”

“Detective Oliver was in civilian dress. I don’t remember what he was wearing yesterday. He’s in his fifties—”

“That one,” she said, drying her eyes. “I remember him. Amazing … it’s still a blur … a nightmare.”

Decker nodded.

“I keep expecting to … wake up.” She bit her lip. “It’s killing me.” The tears were falling again faster than she could dry them. “What you can do for me is find out what really happened.”

“Okay.” Decker paused. “Tell me, what don’t you believe about your son’s death?”

Wet droplets fell onto her folded hands. “Gregory did not shoot himself. He’s never used a gun in his life! He hated guns. Our entire family abhors violence of any kind!”

Decker took out a notepad. “Tell me about your boy.”

“He wasn’t suicidal. He wasn’t even depressed. Gregory had friends, he was a good student. He had lots of interests. He never even remotely hinted at suicide.”

“Anything about him change over the last few months?”

“Nothing.”

“Maybe a little more moody?” Marge suggested.

“No!” She was resolute.

Decker asked, “Did he sleep more? Did he eat more? Did he eat less?”

Wendy’s sigh signaled exasperation. “He was the same boy—thoughtful … he could be quiet. But quiet doesn’t mean depressed, you know.”

“Of course not,” Decker told her. “I hate to ask you this, Mrs. Hesse, but how about past drug use?”

“Nothing!”

“Tell me a little about Gregory’s interests. What about extracurricular activities?”

She was taken aback. “Uh … I know he tried out for the debate team.” Silence. “He did very well. They told him to come back next year when there’s more room.”

Meaning he didn’t make it. “What else?” Decker said.

“He was in math club. He excelled in math.”

“What did he do on the weekends?”

“He was with his friends; he went to the movies. He studied. He was taking a full load including an AP course.”

“Tell me about his friends.”

She crossed her arms in front of her ample bosoms. “Gregory may have not been one of the popular kids.” She made air quotes over the word popular. “But he certainly wasn’t an outcast.”

“I’m sure he wasn’t. What about his friends?”

“His friends were … he got along with everyone … Gregory did.”

“Can you be more specific? Did he have a best friend?”

“Joey Reinhart. He’s been friends with him since grade school.”

“Any others?” Marge asked.

“He had friends,” Mrs. Hesse kept repeating.

Decker tried a different approach. “If Gregory had to fit into a high school category, what would it be?”

“What do you mean?”

“You mentioned the popular kids. There are other cliques: jocks, skaters, stoners, nerds, rebels, brainiacs, philosophers, hipsters, Goths, vampires, outcasts, artistes …” Decker shrugged.

The woman’s mouth was set in a thin line. Finally, she said, “Gregory had all sorts of friends. Some of them had some problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

“You know.”

“Problems to us usually mean, sex, drugs, or alcohol,” Marge said.

“No, not that.” Wendy kneaded her hands. “Some of his friends were a little slower to mature. One boy, Kevin Stanger … they picked on him so bad that he transferred to a private school over the hill.”