Silver's Bones (24 page)

 

Chapter 28

August 24

F
riday morning it was drizzling,
so I took Bullet on a short walk. Since everyone was still dead to the world, I took the opportunity to work out in the department gym. I'd finished my shower and was standing in my shorts when Troy burst into the locker room.

“Red drawers?” he asked.

“So sweet of you notice,” I said, and winked.

“What? Jesus Christ, Sheehan. Anyway, the Dawsons are here demanding to see us.”

I looked at the clock—7:46. “Ellie must've told them about the miscarriage.”

“They look upset,” he said. “I had them shown to the Blue Room. Hurry up.”

 

 

Troy waited outside
the gym
for me.
Ha, my comment got to him.
As we made our way to the Blue Room, so called because it was painted blue, he said, “What are you going to tell them?”

“The truth.”

It was then I realized
he
was uncomfortable disclosing information to families.

Franny and Ray Dawson were seated at the table. The stark room had no taping capability and served mainly as place to counsel or speak with families. After we shook hands, we took seats across from the couple.

Mr. Dawson said, “Ellie told us you have new information about Silver Rae and we didn't want to wait for you to contact us. We need to know
now
, not tomorrow, not next week, or whenever you get around to it.”

Whoa.
“Actually, I suggested she tell you, but obviously she didn't,” I said.

“No,” Mrs. Dawson said. “She said it should come from you, Deputy Sheehan.”

Ellie threw the hot potato to me.
Troy was giving me the
go ahead
look.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dawson, in the course of the investigation we learned information about Silver we believe you may not know, and it could become public at some point.”

“Okay, now you're scaring me,” Franny said.

I forged ahead. “Silver was treated for a miscarriage on August 22, 1996.”

The Dawsons looked as shell-shocked as I've ever seen anyone look.

I continued. “It sounds like she was given a date rape drug at a party out at Odegards' cabin on Round Lake on July 4, 1996. It's our understanding she became pregnant from this encounter and ended up miscarrying. At the time, she told the doctor and Ellie—”

“Ellie knew?” Franny asked.

“Yes. Anyway, Silver had no recollection of the afternoon but later discovered her panties on backwards, stained with semen and blood. A boy in attendance was said to have given her a white pill, which we believe to be Rohypnol—which would explain her lack of memory,” I said.

Mrs. Dawson stared at me blankly, like I was making it all up. She shook her head.

“No, I don't believe it. She would have told me.”

Ray turned toward his wife and said, “You don't
want
to believe it, Franny. We have to come to terms with the fact she wasn't perfect.”

“But she was raped,” I said.

“She was probably drinking. And here I thought you were going to tell us who killed her,” she said.

“We're getting closer,” Troy said.

“Do you have the suspects narrowed down at least?” Mr. Dawson asked.

“Yes,” Troy blurted.

“Are you looking at Parker Gage?” he asked.

“It's not Parker,” Franny said.

“At this point we won't comment on our suspects,” I said.

“In other words, you don't
know
who killed our girl,” she said.

“Not for sure,” I said.

“But you know who gave her the drug?” Ray asked.

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“It may not even be related,” Troy said.

“Was it Parker?” Franny asked.

“No, he wasn't at the party,” I said.

“Someone has to know something! Beat it out of 'em!” Ray said.

“Sometimes we'd like to but that's not how we do business,” I said.

“Who all knew about this miscarriage?” Franny asked.

“I'm not sure. I learned it from the doctor who treated her.”

“Was he with the Riverside Clinic?” Franny asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Then the Gages knew. That's why they didn't like her,” she said.

“There's also something puzzling. Silver missed a few days of school you didn't seem to know about. The secretary said you thought it was a mistake, but she's sure it wasn't.”

“Silver wouldn't skip school. She was an excellent—”

“Franny, stop it! Quit arguing and listen to what they have to say.” Ray said.

We were
all
silent for a short time.

I said, “We can't quite figure where she would've gone on those days. Can you?”

They shook their heads.

“Where do you think she went, Franny?” Ray asked.

“She rode the school bus every day. I know that.”

“Is there anyone she could have been meeting secretly? A boy or man she had a crush on?” Troy asked.

“But Parker . . .” Franny said.

“Forget Parker. They think it was someone other than him, right?” Ray said.

“Right,” I said.

“I can't think of anyone. I'm at a loss,” she said, looking dumbfounded.

“Think about it, and if something or someone comes to mind, call us,” I said.

“Why didn't she come to us if she had problems?” Franny said.

“Because you went on and on about how terrible it was Laurel got pregnant,” Ray said.

Franny shot Ray an angry look. “Me? What about you? You forbid Silver even to see her. I imagine she kept that from us, too.”

“Silver was a good friend to Laurel when no one else would be,” I said. “You should be proud of her. You raised a caring daughter who accepted people even though it wasn't popular. You should know everyone says wonderful things about Silver.”

The Dawsons looked at me, pain in their faces, tears in their eyes.

“I know this is hard stuff to hear, but better from us than the media,” I said.

“Yes, we know,” Franny said. “And thank you. You're right. She did accept everyone.”

“Are you any closer?” Ray asked.

“Yes, and we won't give up,” I said.

“Thank you. And we'll let you men get to the business of finding our daughter's murderer,” Ray said.

We all rose from our chairs. I showed them out. When I returned to the office, Troy said, “Adriana says she has great respect for you, that you always do the right thing. It wasn't easy telling the Dawsons about their daughter, but you said exactly what they needed to hear. We need to get this motherfucker.”

“Yes,” I said, finding his compliments weird.

 

 

When we got back up
to the office, Troy handed me a bag. “Do you like peanut butter cookies? My mom brought them when I was in the hospital.”

“Mmm,” I said. “One of my favorites.” I pulled one out and took a bite.

“Mine too. We have things in common, Sheehan,” he said.

“What? Liking peanut butter cookies?” I said.

“Peanut butter cookies, cinnamon rolls, and Adriana,” he said.

I put my hand up. “Do not go there.”

Thank God Janet Felton called at that moment or I might have thrown his bag of cookies out the window.

She said, “Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but I've been swamped. I just wanted to tell you Silver and Laurel missed the very same days of school. I apologize for not figuring that out in the first place.”

“If you didn't know they were friends, then how would you think to run her absences?”

“I
should
have known.”

“Thanks for calling, Janet.”

“Hope it helps in some way.”

“Me too.”

When I hung up, Troy was looking at me expectantly. “Janet?”

“The high school secretary.” I gave him the update.

“So Silver and Laurel slacked off together.”

“Now that's bothering me. Silver wasn't a slacker. She must have had a really good reason.”

“Only Laurel knows. Ask her.”

I called the Wolfsons' home phone number. No one answered. I left a message for Laurel to call me.

Troy said, “You have to get a hold of her today. By the way, Adriana liked your idea. We're having the Beemer sent to Adam. We attached a note saying ‘Embellishment courtesy of your daughter
.'
”

“Ha. Good one.”

“He's such a jerk.”

“But a rich one with a big reach.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It's not over,” I said. “He's gonna be pissed.”

Later that afternoon Shannon texted me that she forgot to buy ice cream for Luke's birthday party and asked if I could pick some up. When I walked into Save-Rite the first thing I noticed was their floral department and all the bouquets in buckets. I hit my forehead with my palm.
How did I not realize flowers were sold everywhere?

A woman fussing with the location of the potted plants ask if she could help me. Her zebra-print glasses didn't quite go with the dangly fruit earrings.

“Anybody pick up bouquets regularly?” I asked.

She looked confused but said, “I'm sure.”

“These bouquets don't come with ribbon. If a customer wants one tied around a bouquet, you do that for him?”

“Sorry, we don't have ribbon here, but you could buy some at Michael's across the road and next to Walmart.”

“Okay, thanks.”

I found the owner, Jason Campbell. He said there was no way he could track
which
customers bought flowers. When I asked the three clerks working if they remembered any customers who bought bouquets regularly, they looked at me like I was nuts. I went to Michael's to check out their ribbons. I grabbed an employee to cut samples of the one and a half inch wired silver ribbon that looked like the one tied around the bouquet we found.

Then I went back to Save-Rite to buy the ice cream I forgot.

 

 

When I arrived home,
I
asked Shannon how it was going. One look and I knew. She blew air out of slightly parted lips. Her face was flushed and a section of hair hung out of her ponytail, giving her a frazzled appearance.

“Where have you been? I thought you'd be home for the start of the party.”

“How late am I?”

“Thirty-four minutes.”

I glanced at the boys who were using the foam noodles Shannon had purchased as swords and bats rather than float toys. Shannon hollered at the boys in the shallow end who were shoving and dunking each other.

“Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I'll change and be right back.”

“Hurry.”

“Call your parents in for reinforcements.”

“I just did.”

 

 

Every five minutes
it was
something new. One kid found a frog and threw it in the pool while others were doing cannon balls, almost landing on each other. Shannon and I took turns yelling. Man, this was not fun at all. I secretly wished dispatch would call me. I looked at my watch: two and a half hour
s
to go. I glanced up at the neighbors' deck. They had big smiles on their faces as they waved.
Glad someone's having fun.

I grabbed a beach ball and started a volleyball game. It lasted all of ten minutes. Richard and Donna arrived. She organized a game of target shooting with the two supersoakers. Richard and I went inside to order the pizza and have a beer.

“Whose idea was this?” Richard asked.

“Mine.”

“Not your best.”

“No shit.”

When we went back out I asked Shannon, “Can't we call their parents and say to pick them up an hour early?”

“No. Get inventive.”

“The supersoakers look like a hit. How about if I go to Walmart and get them for everyone?”

“I'll go with,” Richard said.

Once in the car, Richard said, “I'm happier than a mosquito at a nudist colony to get out of there.”

When we got back we passed out eight mega squirt guns. There were two left over.

“Did you arrest two of them?” I asked Shannon.

“Luke and Channing are going to the bathroom, but they've been gone a while. Can you make sure they aren't eating the cake?”

“Sure enough,” I said.

The suspects were in standing in the open door of the main floor bathroom trying to hit the toilet with their puny streams of pee.

“What the heck are you guys doing?”

They jumped, and turned to face me. Channing peed on my leg. Urine was now not only pooled just outside the toilet, but across the floor—and on me.

“Okay. The idea of the game is to quit once you
don't
make it to the rim of the toilet. You've flunked long-range peeing and now you've got some clean-up to do,” I said as I headed to the kitchen for the cleaning materials.

They followed but were headed outdoors.