Crime, Thrillers & Mystery / Once upon a crime... (Analysis)
A slimly fit woman made her way quickly up the long walkway to the pink house that sat on the quiet street in the residential area of West Baltimore. The sun blinked in the sky as clouds passed over it. A zephyr blew through the trees causing the multicolor foliage to sway and fall to the autumn ground. The woman’s heels click loudly on the hard cement as the wind blew her long auburn hair over her shoulders. A black fitted jacket created a silhouette over her fitted button down white crisp shirt and her crisp starched black slacks that help in her professional but sexy outfit. Her skin was lightly tan but not to the brown of fake tans. She barely wore makeup save the light base powder and light rose lipstick she wore. She stopped in front of the pastel house with its aluminum siding that was covered half way to the white windowsills with dirt. Flower boxes sprouted in the front of the house with its Suzy Homemaker sans the pristine white picket fence. She opened the storm door to a painted metal door that clanked as she knocked hard on it. She heard muffled footsteps as the door opened a crack as a gold security chain held the door from opening fully.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Turner?” The beautiful, professional woman said as she held a black briefcase in front of her legs. Her voice flowed rhythmically to the older woman. A bright smile appeared on the professional that reflected back to Mrs. Turner, causing her to reflect a less dim smile of politeness but no interest.
“Yes?” The older woman said from behind the door.
“I am looking for your son, Bernard Turner. We received an application of his for our company, Johnston Incorporation.” The older woman continued to look at the attractive woman through the small crack as she became more intrigued by what was told to her. Susan Turner noticed the woman’s top button was undid to reveal the top of her bosom and a black lace brassiere.
“May I come in and ask your son a few questions before we consider hiring him?” There was a pause. The door closed but soon opened wider to reveal the woman in a tropical smock and slippers. Her lackluster hair was done up in rollers as a cigarette sat betwixt her first and second finger. Susan Turner wore a bigger smile as she moved aside to let the woman in. The house was a one story two bedroom home in the residential area of West Baltimore. The two women stood in a brown colored living room with beige carpeting, wood furnishings, and a brown, dingy sofa that held lumps of living. The house smelled like a hundred ashtrays of a cigar bar with filter cigarettes extinguished everywhere including the two pewter like ashtrays that sat on a table with seven water rings from drinks. A short, dimly light hallway that lead to the back of the house stood behind Mrs. Turner. She waved her hand to the drab living area for a seat but was ignored by woman as she looked down the hallway.
“I am so happy that my son can finally get a good job. Bernard, come here!” Susan shouted. Her auburn hair was stolid with few visible gray hairs. Faded wrinkles etched her face, showing years of motherhood. Her lips were a faded ruby red from years of applying the rouge lipstick of early young years. Chipped nail polished remained on her nails in different shapes and lines. Her gown covered a smaller frame of the woman that could be seen by the interviewer as she moved from the spot near her to the edge of the hallway. She placed the lit cigarette back into her mouth, placing her lips on the prints left during each puff.
“Mom, I was sleep. Who was at the door?” From the back room came a lanky man in a white undershirt and blue shorts. His slick hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail Stains permeated the shirt from sweat to food. Bernard’s thin body looked as if to break as he slumped into the filthy living room of his mother’s home. He rubbed his eyes of sleep as he walked lethargically into the living room. His eyes soon focused on the businesswoman with the briefcase. A shocked look came upon his face as she waved a titillating wave.
“Hi Bernard.” She said singsong. Bernard panicked and turned to run but was stopped by a tall muscular man in a black shirt and slacks.
“Whoa, Bernard, where are you going?” The man spun Bernard around and placed handcuffs on him. The big man looked to break Bernard as he wretched his arm to his back and placed the metal shackles on his wrist. The muscleman wore a baseball cap with the letter of BPD. On his waist a black metal 9mm hung close to his gold police shield.
“Mrs. Turner, we are with the Baltimore Police Department. Your son is being arrested on charges of drug trafficking and an attempted murder of a police officer.” The slim woman said showing the frightened woman and the arrested man her similar gold badge.
“Bernard Turner, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have to right to an attorney…” The powerfully built man said escorting Bernard to the Ford Taurus.
“Mrs. Turner, we are taking your son down to the Baltimore Police Headquarters. You do know where that is?” The woman said walking out the door.
“Yes, and when I get there I will have you fired.” Mrs. Turner’s smile was gone and her face was etched more with anger and distraught as the cigarette remained dangling in her mouth. The woman stopped and turned.
“If you do, my name is Marlena Brooks.” She said with a smile
Detective Marlena Brooks walked down the long walk way of the East Fayette Street precinct as uniformed men and women walked by.
“Good job, Marlena.” Some said as she walked by. The Turner arrest was her biggest arrest of the month. She felt good that another person who could harm anyone was off the streets. It was the main reason she join the force. It had been nine years since her big move from Louisiana to the Charm City of Maryland. Marlena entered the small office of the Narcotics Squad. She sat in the busy precinct as officers and detectives moved around her. On her small desk, she held papers and a school picture of a girl whose blonde hair hung down her back as she stood in a parochial uniform. Marlena leaned back in her desk chair as she removed her long, auburn hair from its up do. She closed her eyes.
She envisioned her first day of training in the police academy. She remembered the baggy gray sweats that she wore in the warm Maryland sun. She stood among the ranks of tall men who were destined to be police officers. She was the only woman in training. She was small and seemed like a child trying to play with the big kids. She remembered the first day of self-defense when all the guys had been resting, she worked out everyday. They all stood in a circle as a tall, strong man entered. He entered the circle and stood broad looking at all.
“Welcome gentlemen. I am Officer Adam Keller. I will be your trainer today.” Scattered giggles came from the men as Adam set his eyes on the petite woman in the oversize gray uniform of the trainees and baseball cap.
“Excuse me, ma’am. Are you in the right place?” He said as the men busted in laughter.
“Officer Keller, This is our little southern belle, Marlena Brooks. She wants to be like the big boys.” A tall, slim man said introducing Marlena.
“Really? Well, Mrs. Brooks, ready to learn?” Adam said taking off his baseball cap to reveal a head full of short honey blonde hair.
“It’s Ms. and I’m ready for anything.” Jeers came from the crowd as Marlena walked to the middle of the floor. Adam went to attack Marlena but was stopped by a quick punch in the stomach and then flipped to the mat. The men in the circle moaned as Adam landed on the mat. Marlena stood over him.
“Want to try that again?” She said with a smile. Adam hopped up. He dusted off and combed his fingers through his blonde hair.
“Ok, I let you do that. Now, I’m ready.” He said. He took a few steps away from Marlena. He moved quickly over the blue mat to her, preparing to grab her. Marlena went for a left punch but was stopped by Adam’s strong hand. Adam smiled but groaned as Marlena made a quick jab at his gut once again, making him double over. The crowd groaned as if they felt the pain the Adam felt in his stomach. A whistle sounded as the major walked in.
“Okay, ladies, no offense Marlena, let’s go.” The recruits jogged out of the room as Marlena helped Adam off his back from the mat.
“You’re good.” He said taking a breath.
“When you lived with four brothers, you have to learn something.” She said with a bright smile.
“You’ll make a great officer. Where are you from?”
“Alexandria, Louisiana. I was a deputy there.”
“Hope to work with you soon.” Marlena smiled as she began to jog out the room.
A knock interrupted Marlena’s dream.
“Hey.” Adam said from the door with his arms cross in front of his broad chest in his black uniform. His cap flagged from his side pocket as his blonde hair were cut short. Marlena smiled.
“Hey.”
“The chief needs us.” Marlena stood and walked to the door. She stopped in front of Adam and looked into his blue eyes. She then burst into laughter as she walked out of the door.
“What?” He said closing the door. The partners walked down the carpeted hall way as they past people, uniformed and not, busy.
Marlena was one part of the tough Narcotics squad that kept the street of Baltimore clean. It had been nine years since Marlena set foot into Maryland since leaving her Louisiana home. Behind, she left her family, her friends, all she loved but she also left behind trouble and hatred that she didn’t want influencing her work or her daughter’s life. Her past helped her get to where she was now and she was happy.
“Hello Detective Keller.” A young girl said in a pink button down shirt and skirt. Adam waved toward her.
“These greenhorns are something. Slow down. She isn’t going to do anything.” Marlena said trying to keep up with Adam’s quick steps.
“I’ve always seen these young interns and thought that they are these girls who want to please their daddy by bagging a police officer.”
“I went a different track to get one.” Marlena said as she knocked on a door. Adam raised an eyebrow as a faint voice from behind the door ordered them in. They entered to a mahogany motif office with a balding detective sitting behind the mahogany desk. They sat in the two wood and fabric chairs across from the bald man. Chief Edgar Brown stood and walked to his filing cabinet. His portly dark mocha skin was covered by his brownish-gray suit. Adam sat slouched down as Marlena sat, crossed leg, a yellow notepad in her lap. Adam quickly sat up to be straight and more attentive like his partner. The balding man looked at the duo.
“Good job, you two. Turner was wanted in three other states and to have my two best officers to catch him is great for both the department and Baltimore. That is why I am giving you to a week off.”
“A week off? What do we get if we catch two wanted guys?”
“Adam! Thank you, Chief.” Marlena said.
“You are dismissed.” The two officers left the office back out to the busy precinct.
“A week off. What am I to do for a week without work?”
“Try a hobby.”
“Let me try a hobby with you.” Adam said walking behind Marlena. She turned and smiled toward him.
“Listen, I have to go pick up Mina. I’m cooking dinner tonight. Want to come by?”
“No, you probably want to be alone with Mina and…”
“You know we don’t mind you coming by.”
“No, I don’t want to…” Marlena covered his mouth.
“You are coming by.” He nodded. “Bye.” She said removing her hand and returning to her desk.
Nine years ago, Marlena would have never thought that she would be in the city of Baltimore as a detective for the Narcotics squad. Marlena was the third child of five of Frank and Serena Brooks. Her father was a good-old Cajun man who grew up to be the district attorney of Livingston Parish who married the Italian beauty of his dreams. Serena Ruffino immigrated to Louisiana with her family and met the handsome auburn haired man she was to marry and have five children, four boys and her one bambina, Marlena. Marlena found and fell in love with William Johnston her senior year of college and married five months after they met. Marlena had always dreamt of a princess wedding with a beautiful wedding night, but wound up with a civil ceremony and wedding night that would lead to five and a half years of hell.
Wilhelmina’s screams of attention were heard through out the small Alexandria home of the Johnston family. Marlena opened the front door and stepped into her warm home. Her auburn hair was pulled back to a short ponytail. She released her hair, letting it fall just above her shoulders. Her brown deputy uniform was pulled from her slacks as she held her duty belt and hat. She sighed as her daughter’s cries entered her ears. She moved into the living room, seeing Mina lying in her playpen, kicking and screaming. Tossing her equipment down, Marlena called for her husband.
“Billy! Billy!” Water rushed into a sink and shut off as William walked into the living room from the kitchen. His honey blonde hair as combed back and slicked by water. William chomped down on chewing gum as he wiped his hands on the gray work shirt.
“What’s wrong with Mina?”
“No greeting for your husband?” William walked to her with his arms open wide. Marlena could smell the odor of Marlboro and Bud Light on her husband as he grew close. The smell made her minor headache grow into a major migraine that grew worse with her daughter’s scream.
“Not now, Billy. I’m tired and you reek of cigarettes and…”Marlena gasped as her husband lunged at her. William grabbed Marlena’s wrist, squeezing them in his large hands.
“Not even a kiss?” Marlena began to hyperventilate as pain seared through her arms and tears began to sting her throat.
“You’re hurting me, Billy. Stop!” Marlena sobbed as tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
“What is wrong with you? All I want is a little affection from my wife!” William shook Marlena, squeezing her wrist tighter and tighter. Panic filled Marlena as she became dizzy with fear, for what William was going to do and for her life. Marlena’s hand went numb as William’s eyes blazed into her. Marlena sobbed softly as she tried, reluctantly, to escape from the man that was hurting him.
“You bitch!” Marlena flew to the living room as she was slung by William. The pictures on the wall shook as Marlena settled on the floor. Mina’s cries stopped as her mother’s began. William’s nostrils flared as he caught his breath. He stared down at Marlena as she curled into a ball behind the sofa.
“I’m going out,” William grabbed his coat and pack of cigarette before rushing out the house, slamming the door behind him. Mina began to scream and cry once again, making her mother move toward her. Marlena stood and looked down at the sugary blonde one year old that sat in the plastic playpen, toys and blankets surrounded her. Marlena hushed her as she lifted her up and into her arms. Marlena cradled Mina and hummed a Italian lullaby.
“Bambina, you are a special little girl. You are beautiful and no one can tell you otherwise.” Mina subsided her cries and smiled into her mother’s green eyes. The baby’s blue eyes traveled from her mother’s face to the gold star pinned to her shirt. Her small hand played with the gold badge as Marlena smiled. Marlena placed a kiss on the small girl’s forehead as she continued to lull her daughter to sleep.
Marlena drove down the long street to the Archbishop Borders School. She pulled in front of a black F-150 with an Alabama license plate. It was not unusually for relatives to come pick up children from school but Marlena thought it weird to see a Alabama plate all the way north. A bell sound as children in uniforms walked out of the gothic style building. Marlena got out and stood near her car. Her gun and badge visible to all vehicles that passed behind her. She stretched her neck to look through the crowd of children.
“Mina!” She said waving her arm in the air.
“I’ll see you later, Jon.” The little girl looked every much like her mother sans the auburn hair in which she had honey blonde locks. She skipped to the black Corolla and hopped into the back seat. Marlena got back inside and buckled up.
“Hi mom.” The girl said from the back seat, buckled in.
“Hello Mina. Had a good time at school?” The girl nodded. Her strawberry blonde hair was in a ponytail but reached down her back if let flown free. Marlena looked over her left shoulder to check traffic and then looked into her rear view mirror. She saw that a black figure sat in the car as an orange dot glowed inside. She stared on as the dot glowed bright then went dim. She looked over her right shoulder to spot the little boy her daughter was talking to.
“Does Jon have a ride coming?”
“Yeah, he is the mayor’s son.”
“I know.” Marlena said pulling into the street and zooming to their home.
Marlena and her daughter stayed in a nice quiet neighborhood. The kind that her mother would call bourgeois or snobby. The houses were close to each other but gave enough room for each homeowner to have a backyard. She pulled up to a two story tan colored house with a wrought iron fence surrounding it. Marlena hardly kept the fence closed. She only had it closed when her dogs, two Pekinese, were frolicking around the small but applicable front yard. Mina hopped out of the car and raced to the front door as Marlena walked to the mailbox at the end of the drive way. Marlena called this her afternoon workout since she was usually busy in the home or at the station. Marlena walked back inside and place the mail on a side table before going to work in the kitchen. She began to make her worlds’ famous, which is what her daughter called it, lasagna. Hours passed and the lasagna finished. Marlena made a salad to go with it and her great-grandmother’s garlic bread.
“Mina, dinner’s ready!” She called as she wiped her hands on a towel. No answer. She walked to the staircase and called up.
“Wilhelmina Brooks, you have five seconds. Five, four…” The ten-year old raced down the stairs and stopped in front of her mother in oversized t-shirt and a skirt.
“What were you doing?”
“I was on the phone.” Marlena waved her daughter to the dining room when the doorbell rang. She walked to the door and opened it to reveal Adam in a dusty blue button down shirt and black slacks, holding a bottle.
“Am I late?”
“No come in. What is that?” She said pointing to the bottle.
“Sparkling grape juice, since I know you don’t drink.” He said holding up the bottle of red grape juice.
“Adam! Mom, can I show Adam Bat?”
“She has a bat?” Adam asked worried. Marlena took the bottle
“No, Bat. He’s a guinea pig.” She said taking to bottle to the kitchen as Mina dragged Adam to the small library, where Marlena let Bat the guinea pig live.
They soon sat down and began to chow down on the lasagna as Mina talked about her day at school. Marlena finished and stood.
“Mina, you finished your homework?” She said picking up the plates.
“No, ma’am, I’ll go.” Mina excused herself from the table and ran back up the stairs. Marlena placed the plates in the metal sink of her stainless steel kitchen. Adam placed a glass in the sink and placed his and her glass on the counter. He poured in more of the bubbly grape juice and offered the glass to Marlena.
“Thank you.” She said taking a sip.
“So what are you going to do the week we have off?” Marlena said looking out the corner of her eye at Adam who took a long sip.
“Bother the chief.” The two laughed. Marlena placed her glass on the counter between the two of them.
“Marlena, there is something I wanted to say to you.” She looked up into his gleaming blue eyes with her green eyes. They stared into each other in total silence. Marlena slowly leaned in until she heard her daughter.
“Mom, I need your help!” Mina called from upstairs. Marlena exhaled with a laugh.
“Okay, sweetheart.”
“I have to go.” Adam said smiling. He backed away from Marlena and walked out. Marlena looked the ceiling and exhaled once again. She picked up her glass and drunk the rest of the juice that was left in her glass. She locked the front door and went to help her daughter.
The highway lights gleamed as the truck zoomed down the manmade road. Todd Wilkinson sat high in the captain’s chair. He looked over to the passenger seat to see that the little boy had fallen asleep.
“We are almost there, Baby Bear.” He said as they passed the state line of Virginia. Todd’s gray slacks covered his legs in the cold car as the air condition blasted the cold air into the truck. His blonde-brown hair sat on his head, limp. His passenger was covered by a heavy flannel blanket that kept him warm. Todd stared hard into the black night as red dots flew in front of him and bright white lights came up behind him. He looked at his right forearm. The red cut puckered as he flexed. His passenger didn’t kick or scratch but found the blade Todd kept in the truck. One quick cut and Todd watched as his blood slipped down his arm. The searing pain had subsided as the day turned to night. He reached down and clicked on the radio quietly.
“This just in, the mayor of Baltimore’s son is missing. The police are searching all stops around the city and state. His name is Jonathan Mitchell. He was last seen at his school, Archbishop Borders School. He was last seen wearing his uniform, a white polo shirt with flannel pattern shorts. If you have any information please contact the Baltimore Police at…” Todd quickly shut off the radio as the boy moved. He remained asleep.
“They won’t get Baby Bear. They won’t get him until I get Goldilocks. Until I get my Goldilocks.” He continued to stare at the road as his tires went along the road at a rhythmic beat that lulled him into a trance. The thought of his Goldilocks with her long blonde hair and before it was blonde, when it was the dirty brown. The same as the woman he saw outside the school. She was very beautiful, he thought.
“She was almost better than Goldilocks. I would have taken her.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper with numbers and letters scribbled on it.
“First, Goldilocks then Beauty.” He said glancing between the black road and the paper. “Goldilocks then my Beauty.”
Marlena laid sprawled over her white down feather bed. Mina walked in and began to rock her mother.
“Mom. Mom! Mom!”
“Huh? What is it, sweetheart?” Marlena said turning away from her.
“I’m going to be late for school.” Marlena heard her daughter but she wasn’t listening. All she remembered from last night was after Mina had gone to sleep, she went to the locked cabinet in the kitchen and pulled out the old bottle of Pinot Noir and drank a glass. She knew she shouldn’t have but she continued to drink the glass and replace the bottle in the cabinet. Marlena sat up in the bed as her head pounded slightly.
“Alright. Let’s go.” She grabbed a coat from her closet and walked to down the stairs to the front door where Mina stood.
“You are still in your pajamas, Mom.”
“Today is my day off.” She said yawning. She was about to open the door when the phone rang. She hurried to the kitchen to catch it.
“Hello?”
“Marlena, this is Adam. What are you doing?”
“About to take Mina to school. Why?”
“Chief needs us at the station.”
“But it’s our day off.”
“Don’t matter. He needs us. I’ll tell you why when you get here. Also, let Mina stay home until we figure things out.”
“But…” Before she could finish, Adam hung up. She went back to the door where Mina sat in a plush chair.
“Mina, sweetheart. I have to go to the station. You are going to stay home from school.”
“Are you serious? Cool. Wait I’m not sick.”
“I know, but Adam said you need to stay home. So I will go to the station and call your school on the way, okay?”
“Yes ma’am.” Marlena raced up the stair to get dress.
Marlena stepped off the elevator pulling up her black jacket, which matched her black slacks, over her cyan colored shirt.
“What is going on?” She said Adam as they walked to the briefing room.
“Don’t know. Just know that it has to do with the mayor and Mina’s school, Archbishop.” They walked into the room that was only decorated with a long table and twelve chairs. Marlena sat near the end where the chief sat. Adam sat near her.
“Is everyone here?” Brown asked looking at the filled seats.
“All right, here’s what is happening. For those who don’t know, Jonathan Mitchell, the mayor’s son is missing. We think he was kidnapped outside his school. The forensic team is now there to find any evidence that might help. Late at night, at the Mitchell home, a cloth was found at the front stoop with blood. It could possibly be Jonathan’s but we’re hoping not. The mayor is counting on us to bring his son home safe.”
“Sir, my daughter goes to the same school as Jonathan. I saw him outside with other children waiting on a ride.”
“Was there anything else suspicious around, Brooks?” She thought.
“In fact, yes. There was a black F-150 with an Alabama license. There are many different children who go to Archbishop but this was the first I saw of this truck.”
“Did you get its numbers?”
“No sir. I parked in front of him. But I saw that he was smoking. There were cigarette butts outside the truck as if they were there for some time. But I don’t understand, shouldn’t Homicide or Children’s take this case?”
“This is Captain Paul McCourt with Homicide. He is helping us on this case along with you two. Congrats, Adam and you are promoted to Homicide.”
“What?”
“Detectives, in fact. Ok, the forensics should probably find the butts and check them. Does anyone else have any information?” There was silence.
“Let’s try our best to be positive and hope for the best. Dismissed.” Marlena and Adam walked out with the rest of the room filing behind them. Marlena leaned up against the beige wall.
“Marlena, what’s wrong? You should be happy.”
“I am. It’s just how he can promote us like that on this case.”
“He’s the chief and we are the best officers out here. What else could be wrong?”
“Nothing.” She slowly shook her head.
Adam put his arm around her shoulders. McCourt walked out of the room and spotted the two.
“Brooks, Keller, I am calling the mayor in for some questions. I want you two to do it.”
“Yes sir.” Adam said.
“I’ll go call Mina and you go get everything ready.” She turned and left down to her office.
Adam stood outside a small room as Marlena walked up.
“So how is Mina?”
“She’s fine. She says she is watching cartoons and she loves you for convincing me to let her stay home.” They laughed which is what Marlena really needed.
“The mayor is inside.” Marlena entered to find a slim white man in a pinstripe suit as his feathery brown hair moved slightly as the air condition blew. Beside him was a beautiful woman, her hair pulled up in a clip as it fell like waterfall down her head.
“Good afternoon, Mayor Mitchell, Mrs. Mitchell. I am very sorry for your tragedy. We are trying our best to find your son quickly.” Marlena said sitting.
“Thank you both detectives.”
“Mayor, we asked you to come in so that we may ask you a few questions. Did you know of anyone who might want to cause harm to you or your family?” Adam asked sternly.
“No.” He said straightforward.
“Were there any laws that you passed that might have angered a certain group?”
“No.” Marlena looked to Mrs. Mitchell as she sniffled. Marlena handed her tissue.
“Mrs. Mitchell, are you okay?”
“I just want my Jon home.” She said looking into Marlena’s green eyes and smiled. “How is Mina? She looks so much like you.”
“She is fine. We will bring Jonathan home safe.” The couple stood and walked from the room. Adam and Marlena followed suit. Quickly down the hall came a short woman with mousy brown hair in a white lab coat.
“Mouse, what did you find?”
“I hate that name. All because you are with Homicide, don’t mean anything.” She said.
“What did you find, May?”
“We found those cigarette butts you were talking about and ran them along with the blood through CODIS and the DNA on them points to the suspect in the murder of Cassie McLean, a few years back.”
“Why go from murder to kidnapping?” Adam asked.
“What about IAFIS?
“Doing it right now. I doubt I’ll get any off the butts.”
“Thank you.” Marlena said walking to her office. Adam followed.
“Hey you want to go down to Maggie’s?” Adam asked talking about the local watering hole.
“Nah, I am going to go home and rest.”
“Alright. Talk to you later.” She gathered her stuff and walked to her car. Marlena drove slowly down the road into the quiet neighbor hood. The sun began to fade away behind the horizon. She pulled up to her mailbox to find the flag up. Mina told her earlier that there was no mail but how was the flag up. She reached into her glove department to get her cloth gloves that May had given her as a gag gift. Everyone thought that Marlena would have been a great forensic scientist if she hadn’t been a police officer. She first parked her car in it usual spot and returned to the mail box with her gloves and a plastic bag. She lowered the door and pulled out a small envelope. She placed it inside the bag and examined it. She learned this procedure from May and the many “cop dramas” on television. On the front was written Per Bello. She sealed the bag and went inside to take the mysterious envelope in tomorrow.
Marlena walked into the metal lab. May sat at her computer in the same lab coat as yesterday.
“What’s with the medical books, May?”
“I’m going to the medical examiner’s office.”
“You’re going to be the M.E.?”
“I’m trying to work there. Now, what is it that you want?”
“What do I do after I use the gloves?”
“What gloves?” May said still looking at the computer screen. Marlena placed the cloth gloves on the stainless steel table along with the sealed envelope. May glanced over to the items on side of her.
“What’s this?”
“I found this letter in my mailbox yesterday afternoon. Could be evidence for this case.”
“I’ll check it then. I told you that you need to be on the forensics side.” Marlena smiled.
Marlena entered the briefing room and sat in her usual spot next to Adam on the end of the table.
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen. We have new evidence.” A knock came on the door. May walked into with a handful of papers.
“Sorry, but here you go, captain.” She said handing the papers to McCourt.
“Good. Okay, guys, from what we got, the DNA from the butts, blood and the fingerprints on the letter here is from a Todd Wilkinson, a former worker at the Baltimore DMV. Worked there for two months then quit. He’s originally from Alabama.”
“Wasn’t his prints of the envelope?” Adam asked looking to the letter that was projected on the wall.
“That’s just it. Jonathan was printed at a children’s safety fair a few months ago and we got a sample of his DNA from his toothbrush. The DNA and prints on the envelope were from the kid.” May interjected
“He made the kid seal it. Didn’t think about the prints on the letter?” Adam said shaking his head.
“That was a funny letter.” May said looking at the projected letter.
“You can read it?” Marlena asked her even though she remembered a little Italian, the language of the letter.
“Yeah, it was not funny, ha ha, but funny, strange.”
“What do you mean?” McCourt asked looking up at the letter.
“Well, it says L’Orso di Bambino non sarà doluto. Voglio Goldilocks. Il Leone è fatto col Cappuccetto rosso e vuole adesso Goldilocks.”
“And that mean was what Miss Italy?” Adam said. She smiled toward Marlena.
“It means The Baby Bear will not be hurt. I want Goldilocks. The Lion is done with Red Riding Hood and now wants Goldilocks,” The squad looked at her with curiosity. “I am Italian, you know.” Marlena said.
“Yeah, that’s how I translated it. When did we start working with fairy tales?”
“Red Riding Hood? May, didn’t you say the DNA from the McLean case match the butts?” Marlena asked
“Yeah.”
“What color was Cassie’s hair?”
“Reddish-brown. More red than brown.”
“What does Cassie have to do with the mayor’s son?” Adam asked looking toward Marlena.
“We have to look at more evidence, so until then, dismissed,” McCourt announced. Everyone filed out of the room.
Adam sat at his desk, looking through the pile of papers that was stacked high. He scribbled notes on his yellow note that Marlena gave him for his birthday.
“You need this more than me.” She had said handing him the notepad with a red bow on top. Adam began taking notes whenever he could.
He continued his writing until his cell phone began to vibrate on his side.
“Keller.”
“Adam, it’s Marlena. I’m going to Wilkinson’s apartment with Thomas and the forensics. I need you to go by the house and check on Mina. She went to a friend’s house after school but should be home by now. Can you stay until I get there?”
“I’m not a babysitter.” He said as he wrote.
“She really likes when you come by.”
“I’m not a babysitter.”
“Please, Adam” She begged. He heaved a big sigh as he rolled his eyes.
“Fine, I’m leaving now.”
“Thank you. Key’s in the rock hid-a-key.” She said hanging up. Adam shook his head as he finished his work.
Marlena swung the SUV into the apartment complex’s parking lot. She hopped out of the driver’s side with Officer Jim Thomas, a recruit who just joined. They made their way to the manger’s office.
“Baltimore P.D., we need to get into Todd Wilkinson’s apartment.”
“What did he do now? He hasn’t paid his rent in two months.”
“Sir, we don’t need a history. Just get us into the apartment.” Thomas said sternly. His crisp blue uniform gave authority to the man who was a Harvard graduate. The manager grabbed a gold key off of a board and ushered the police to follow him. They walked up three sets of stairs to a dented metal blue door that had gold numbers 3, 5 and, 6 which was written onto the door.
“Todd Wilkinson, this is the Baltimore Police Department. Open up!” Marlena said knocking with her gun drawn. She signaled to the manger to unlock the door. Jim pushed into the apartment, aiming his 9mm around the open area. He moved quickly to the back of the apartment with Marlena behind him and the manger outside.
“Clear!” Jim yelled from the back. Marlena replaced her gun back into its holster as Jim returned to the empty living room.
“Everything is gone.” Jim said. Marlena placed her hands on her hips.
“Is it safe?” The manger said poking his head in.
“Mr…”
“Smith.” He said walking into the apartment. “If I had known he was going to leave, I would have gotten the money first. He had a sort of garage sale one month ago. I asked if he was going to pay his rent. He said it was for something better. I thought better furniture. I just told him he better pay rent.”
“Mr. Smith, can you tell us if you still have Mr. Wilkinson’s apartment application?”
“Yeah, in my office. I keep all of them just in case of legal stuff.” He looked at the two police. “I guess this is legal stuff.”
Adam sped up the driveway to the tan house of Marlena and her daughter. During the day, the sun reflects off the building giving it a large sense and making it feel as if it were a mansion. Pulling into the garage, Adam hopped out and walked to the front door. He looked around the ground for the hid-a-key rock but to help disguise it, Marlena placed many rocks around. Adam reached for one of the rocks, the door swung open. Mina jumped onto the step trying to scare him. He just stared at her as he stood. She laughed with joy.
“Mina, what are doing?”
“We have a camera turns on when someone drives turns into our driveway. I saw your car and decided to do scare you.” She said between laughs. Adam walked past her into the house. He continued to the living room with Mina following him. When he plopped down on the long sofa, she jumped up on the loveseat that was parallel to him. She stared on with a smile.
“What Mina?”
“Do you like my mom?” She asked sitting on her leg.
“We are partners at the station.”
“That’s not an answer to my question. I asked do you like my mom.”
“You ask a lot of questions for a ten year old.”
“I’m thirteen!” She said straightened up to show that she was indeed older. “I know. I was joking. Why do you want to know?”
“Because you are always with her and you like coming over here.”
“You don’t want me over anymore?” He asked.
“No, I mean yes. I mean I like when you come over.”
“I like your mom as a friend. That is all.” Mina smiled.
“Where is your mom’s gym?” He asked standing.
Adam walked down the tan hall way that was a hallway of family portraits of Marlena and Mina. None of her whole family, husband included. Adam never met Marlena’s husband but he knew that if he did there would be trouble.
Inside the home gym were an elliptical machine, free weighs and a punching bag.
“Not much.” He said to himself.
“She barely works out in here. She does sometimes on the weekends.” Mina said standing in the doorway.
“Mina, I thought you were watching television.” Mina thought for a second.
“I was. Bye.” She said scurrying away.
Adam removed his gray t-shirt and sat on the floor. He began his workout with a few sit-ups. He began at a slow pace and soon quick. He went down and as he came up Mina was standing at his feet.
“Mina!” He said stopping in mid-sit-up.
“I wanted to ask you a question.” She said backing to the door.
“What?”
“Let me see your gun.”
“No!” Adam said standing.
“You’re no fun.” Adam reached into his gym bag and bringing out tape and begun to wrap his hands. Adam stood in front of Mina.
“Go watch TV.” Mina stuck out her tongue. Adam reacted the same, making her smirk. She skipped out of the room leaving Adam to his rigorous workout.
Adam furiously jabbed at the punching bag that hung in the workout room. Sweat dripped from his brow and down his barrel chest. He continues to punch out his frustrations until he drops onto the hanging bag. He breathed heavily as he stared into space with the bag swaying.
Adam walked out of the precinct, his gym bag in tow, when he found Marlena in her gray sweats and her hair up in a ponytail sitting on the curb sniffling.
“Brooks, you okay?” Marlena sat up straight, wiping the tears from her eyes. Adam sat down beside her.
“Marlena, are you okay? What’s wrong?” He asked leaning in close.
“Nothing, just my divorce was made final this afternoon.” She said laughing and she tried not to cry. Adam wrapped his arm around her shoulder as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“It’s okay. My parents had a divorce. My mom was better after it. She started a new life and forgot all about my father. It was the best thing that happened to her, she says.”
“My daughter, Mina, was devastated when we first left. She will be heartbroken now.”
“How do you know? She might be like her mother, strong.” Marlena smiled.
“You want me to drive you home?” He asked.
“No, I can drive.”
“Well, let me follow you home. Just to make sure. I don’t want the best police officer to be harm before she’s even an officer.” She giggled.
“Thank you, Adam” She said pulling herself closer to Adam on the curb.
“Sleeping on the job, Adam?” Marlena stood near the bag in a gray fitted suit as Adam opened his eyes.
“No, just thinking.” Adam sat up and opened his arms to hug her.
“Eww, no. Don’t touch me.”
“Sweat’s good for you.” She threw a towel at his chest.
“Here’s what’s happening. Wilkinson had an apartment here in South Baltimore. Went to it, nothing. So we thought we can check the address on the envelope and his apartment application for an Alabama address. Leads us to a P.O. box.”
“What dumb ass gives someone an apartment with a P.O. box? Guess we are at a dead end.” He said mopping the sweat from his body and slipping on a gray t-shirt with the department’s crest.
“Not really. We think we know someone who knows the address.” She said with a smile.
Todd lied back in his recliner and closed his eyes. He envisioned Red Riding Hood or Cassie as Goldilocks called her. He saw her walking through the park. She walked closer in a gray long sleeve t-shirt and blue jeans. Todd quickly pulled the duck tape from the roll. The sound made Cassie stop in her tracks. Todd held his breath as he cut the tape with his pocket knife and placed it back in his pocket. Cassie continued to walk slowly until she reached the spot. The spot where he knew she would stand for her surprise. Todd stood and walked in front of Cassie. She gasped until she realized who it was but her relieved look turned to shock as Todd placed the tape over her mouth and nose, pulling her behind the bushes and pushing her to the ground.
She struggled with him, pulling at his hair, but he pinned her arms to the moist grass as she tried to scream, and breath. He flexed his hands as if they were claws and began to scratch at her. He scratched and clawed at her arms and chest until blood seeped out everywhere. She continued to scream and breathe. Drawing in a quick breathe each time until she inhaled but didn’t exhale. Her eyes were wide as Todd stood. He held his hands up to look at the blood and carnage that was over his hands and under his nails. He looked down at the girl who was now red, red with blood.
Todd opened his eyes with a disturbing smile. The boy in the corner began to whimper like a dog. Todd stood and walked to him He flexed his hand once again and came down upon the Baby Bear’s face. The boy soon began to cry but the tape over his mouth muffled them.
A slender, young woman with a blue and white sorority t-shirt and jeans sat in the small interrogation room. Her blonde hair was swung over one shoulder as she played with it. Marlena walked in carrying a folder and sat across from her.
“Listen, I had two classes today that were really big.” Kelly Mitchell crossed her arms.
“You’ll be fine.” Adam said walking in dressed in a hunter green button down shirt and black slacks as he sat next to Marlena. The woman smiled seductively at Adam.
“Ms. Mitchell, this is Detective Keller and I’m Detective Brooks. I am sorry to bring you here on a terrible occasion.”
“Tell me about it. I have finals next week and…”
“We’re not talking about that. Would you like a lawyer present?”
“No, I didn’t commit any crime. You fly me back here to Baltimore to criticize me?”
“No, Ms. Mitchell. Your brother, Jonathan, was kidnapped. We think that he may be seriously hurt.” Marlena said opening the folder
“Jon? Kidnapped? He is just pulling your leg.”
“He has been missing for a week. We found a piece of cloth with blood on it.”
“What?” She said sounding more worried.
“Ms. Mitchell, do you or did you know a Mr. Todd Wilkinson?” Marlena said sliding a picture of the profile of Todd. Kelly looked at the picture as a frighten look appeared on her face.
“Ms. Mitchell?”
“Promise you won’t tell my parents?” She said looking down at the picture.
“Just tell us the facts.” Kelly swallowed hard.
“Todd and I were dating when I was a junior in high school.”
“It says in his file that he should be 32 right now which means…”Adam said looking a copy of the profile.
“He was 27 and I was 16.”
“You do know that is statutory rape.”
“We didn’t do anything! He wanted to but I said no. I went to spring break with a few of my friends in Jamaica and he said he wanted to spend it with me. So I caught a plane to Alabama and he picked me up. We went to his small house where he said we would spend the rest of our life. I told him no and broke it off with him then and there. He kicked me out and I went back home. That was the last time I saw and heard from him.” Adam scribbled notes as she talked.
“Do you remember the address?” Marlena asked.
“No, we took a whole bunch of back roads into the woods. I walked from the house to the nearest highway and walked like three miles to a diner.”
“What was the name?”
“Pat’s or something. Why would he kidnap Jon? He treated him like a brother.”
“To get revenge on you for breaking up with him. I’ve heard of worse case of unrequited love.” Adam said still scribbling.
“Kelly, tell me. Do you know anything about Baby Bear, Goldilocks, Lion or Red Riding Hood?” Marlena asked leaning in. Kelly looked down to her hands.
“Those were our nicknames. He called Jon, Baby Bear, me, Goldilocks, and himself, Lion. He also called my mom and dad, Papa and Mama Bear. I don’t know who Red Riding Hood is.”
“Why those names?”
“My father, being the mayor, was kind of on guard with my brother and me, like a bear. He called me Goldilocks because of my hair of course, but he didn’t call me that until after I dyed my hair from brown.”
“Why Lion for himself?” Marlena said with no emotion.
“He had a lion tattoo on his left chest.” Adam looked up with a surprised look.
“He showed me. Can I leave?” She said irritated.
“Kelly, one more question. Do you know a Cassie McLean?”
“Yeah, she was my best friend. She died…”Kelly looked at the two detectives.
“Todd’s DNA was found at the crime scene. His DNA didn’t show up in our system then but they do now. Did he work at the DMV after or before you broke up with him?”
“After. After Cassie’s murder.”
“So you lied about talking or seeing him?” Adam said standing.
“No, he wrote to me saying he got the job at the DMV and that with this job he could buy a better home for us. I didn’t write back. My God.” Kelly said placing her head in her hands.
“Thank you, Miss. Mitchell.” Adam opened the door to let in a uniform officer to escort Kelly out.
“Unbelievable.” Marlena said closing the folder.
“I’ve seen worse. Guys killing the girl, so she wouldn’t date anyone else or the girl killing the guy and the other woman.” Adam said as he turned the chair and straddled it.
“You think that his job at the DMV is how he got my address?”
“Possibly.” Adam said resting his elbows on the table. Marlena pulled his notebook to her and look at his notes.
“We better find this Pat’s and find the house before it is too late.”
Adam pressed hard upon the pedal of the black SUV as he sped along the highway with the caravan of police squad cars. None had on their lights but they kept in a line as they passed the civilian cars.
“Sweetheart, I will be home late, ok?” Marlena said into her cell phone.
“Yes, ma’am.” Mina said as she sat at home.
“Talk to you later.” Marlena closed her phone and watched as the two patrol cars ahead of the SUV continued on as one followed. Marlena watched as the speedometer climbed up in numbers. She stared at Adam as he concentrated on the road. Her phone then began to ring again. She noticed the number. It was unknown.
“Unknown. Who is this?” She said to herself. She flipped the phone up.
“Brooks.”
“Detective Brooks? This is Dr. Eugene Davis, the medical examiner of Athens, Tennessee.” Marlena envisioned a tall, lanky, balding man with thick, black frame glasses as he stood in a cold morgue. Marlena looked to Adam.
“Hey, you know the M.E. of Athens?”
“Georgia?” He asked glancing toward her. She shook her head.
“Tennessee.” A confused look came upon his face as he shook his head.
“Yes, Dr. Davis. What is it that you need?”
“I was given your number when a homicide case matched a similar case that happened in Baltimore. A Cassie McLean was found brutally murdered.”
“Yes, sir. What is similar about your case?”
“A small boy, Theodore Dickinson, age 12, was found with duck tape covering his mouth and several claw-like cuts on his abdomen. C.O.D. was asphyxiation. Bones in hands were crushed as if someone was standing or kneeling upon them.” He said rapidly over the phone.
“Was any DNA found?”
“Skin and tissue under the boy’s fingernails. Comes up as a Todd Wilkinson. Same person from your McLean case.”
“Thank you, Dr. Davis.”
“This job gets tough when it comes to kids.”
“I know, Dr. Davis. Thank you.” Marlena closed her phone and placed it on her clip on the opposite of her gun.
“He struck again.”
“What?” Adam said as anger built up inside him.
“12 year old boy with the same markings as McLean. Tape over his mouth caused his asphyxia.”
“What a sick bastard.” Adam said as his knuckles tighten on the steering wheel turning a bright white.
“What sign is he trying to send us?”
“He wants Goldilocks or Baby Bear is next.” Marlena stared off down the manmade highway as Adam pressed a button turning on the siren that sat on the dashboard, which signaled the three other cars to do the same.
Todd sat in a recliner, with a blood stained gauze over his left cheek, watching a cartoon cat fall from the tall cliff in the desert. He never understood cartoons when he was younger. His father called them rubbish and if he watched enough he would have mush for brains. His father forced Todd and his sister to study non stop. If they didn’t study, they were beat. His father also beat his mother and his father’s girlfriends. No female adult stayed in the house for long. They were scared away by his father’s hands or by what his father’s second girlfriend said “the sick sadistic way” of Todd.
He wasn’t sick or sadistic. Red Riding Hood didn’t think he was sadistic or sick. The Lost Boy didn’t think he was sick or sadistic. He remembers Red walking down the street. He grabbed her and pulled her into the woods. She fought back was not strong like the lion as Todd. The Lost Boy was not as strong as Red or him. The Lost Boy could have been a cub if he was like Todd. Todd was born a lion. He was a Leo in the zodiac. His mother believed in the zodiac religiously. One day his read “One day, your beauty will come.” His beauty had come but not to him. Not yet. He was to get his beauty after he got Goldilocks. All the fairy tales his mother told him, he loved The Three Bears and Goldilocks. He loved Goldilocks and imagined her as his friend, growing older as he did until he found her, younger than him but much like he had imagined.
His father hated the fairy tales but would call himself a beast. Todd associated him with Beauty and the Beast. He grew older and saw himself as the beast. He thought of the letter he had sent to his Bello, his Beauty. His mother taught him his Italian. The only respectable thing she did is what his father said. He hated his father. He wanted to be like a Lost Boy and leave home and stay in Neverland. To never grow up but he did. He grew older and became Le Leone, The Lion. He looked in the corner to see the boy had fallen asleep. He remained tied up and gagged. He was a fighter too. I was not sick or sadistic with him. Down Jonathan’s arms were cuts and scratches caused by Todd’s “claws”. The cuts on the boy’s face had begun to heal. Todd waited now for his Goldilocks. He knows she is near. A knock came as Todd’s eyes began to get heavy.
“Todd! Open up!” A voice came from the other side of the door. Goldilocks, he thought. She had returned.
“Todd, I know you are in there. I have changed my mind. I think we’ll have a wonderful life together. Just let Jon go.” There was silence.
“Please, Lion.” Todd’s eyes flashed open. He stood and walked to the wooden door of his small cottage. He slowly opened the door, but was pushed back quickly as a broad man elbowed him to the ground. The large man sat on his chest trying to struggle Todd’s arms down. Much like how Todd struggled with Red Riding Hood and the Lost Boy.
“Get off of me!” Todd ordered the man. He still struggled. Todd got one hand free and clawed the man across his face.
“Adam!” A voice called out. Todd recognized the voice. He looked to the door and saw his beauty pointing a gun to his face.
“Mio Bello.” Todd said looking to the woman pointing the gun. The strong man soon pulled Todd’s upper body up and slammed his head against the hardwood floor. Todd groaned loudly. The man turned Todd over and placed handcuffs on him and lifted him up. Two uniformed police men rushed in and dragged Todd past Goldilocks, who ran to the Baby Bear in the corner and past his Beauty.
“ La Bestia avrà la Bellezza.” He whispered in to her ear.
Adam stood holding his face and walked next to Marlena who stood surprised near the door. She replaced her Sig Sauer back into its holster and looked to Adam.
“Oh, are you okay?” She said touching the bloody wound.
“Yeah, just a flesh wound. What did he say to you?”
“Nothing.” She said with a sigh. She turned to Todd as she translated his promise.
The beast will have beauty; she thought looking as Todd was placed into the patrol car. Todd stared at Marlena until the car pulled off.
“Another sick and sadistic man gone to the big house.” Marlena looked to Adam and then away.
“Come on. Let’s get that fixed.” She escorted Adam to an awaiting ambulance as Jonathan and his sister were loaded into it.
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I think your story flowed well and made sense. You need some transitional sentences, however, to let the reader know that your character is having a flashback or daydreaming. You also need to work on the grammar and your verb tense.
I’m not really into murder mysteries—I tend to read only nonfiction. I tend to find a lot of murder mysteries have what I would term “gratuitous violence.” I suppose for people who are into this, they would like it.
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The first three lines were brilliant examples of establish imagery and forming descriptions. I really saw your scene what you were writing out. There are a couple of grammar stumbles, “She heard muffled footsteps as the door opened a crack as a gold security chain held the door from opening fully. ” can be re-worded the “as the door” and “as a gold” both aren’t needed. The first section was a great introduction to the characters. I understand the idea of a solitaire woman in a boys club and I know there is sexism especially in the police dept but your training story doesn’t ring true. There are a lot of woman on police forces now and in police academy’s the idea that she would be the only one seems out of context for today’s society, also the trainer being blatantly sexist/demeaning seems wrong. I would think that scene should be less obvious. Your transitions are wonderful. The domestic violence scene took me off guard; I didn’t know it was a flashback until to late. You should work on your flow a little bit better. Halfway through the pace seemed to slow down and I had way to much background too soon. The action seemed to disappear, and then pick up by page 15. Perhaps you should have spaced out the flashbacks more.
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“Excuse me, Mrs. Turner?” The beautiful, professional woman said … The narrator is giving an opinion here. The woman’s description should tell the reader that she projects the image of a beautiful professional woman, not the narrator.
but was ignored by woman as she looked down the hallway. ... I think you left out a word here. ‘the’?
“Mom, I was sleep. ...asleep
pulled back in a messy ponytail Stains permeated the shirt … punctuation after ponytail.
When the police read him his rights I believe the narrator goes too long with it, and the policeman should be announced first. ... The powerfully built man escorted Bernard to the Ford Taurus. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be . . .
the main reason she join the force … joined
as the men busted in laughter … burst
as his blonde hair were cut short .. I’m not sure here. ‘was’ cut short? Regardless, it’s incorrect the way it is.
A bell sound as children in uniforms walked … sounded
manmade … man-made
into her glove department to get her … compartment
Todd lied back in his recliner … laid – leaned
If they didn’t study, they were beat … beaten
You have a very good story here and you told it very well. I must say your dialogue is very good. It flows smoothly and I didn’t have to pause and look back. That’s a very good thing and something a lot of writers have problems with. Good job. I hope you post more.
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