Note: See Part 1 for disclaimers.
THE ONLY EASY DAY IS YESTERDAY
"The Journey of Jeremy Keller"
By OldScout
Part 2
The circle of police cars in the mall parking lot grew quickly.
Agent Ropper was the newest arrival. Her car was a plain brown sedan,
and she glided slowly into the circle. Around her, local officials
continued to race up to the scene with sirens blaring and tires sliding on
the damp black top.
Agent Anita Ropper approached the circle of yellow tape and
flashed her badge and ID to an officer. He looked at the credentials then
called his captain over.
"Anita," Captain Jonathan Weller said as soon as he saw her. "To
what do we owe the honor of your company?"
Agent Ropper ducked under the tape, then looked up at the
captain. "Probably the same thing that pulled you out of bed this
miserable morning."
"And what might that be?"
Ropper pointed her gloved hand at the sword laying in the goo of
blood that surrounded the covered body. "Perhaps we both see a
connection to other similar situations."
"Perhaps," Weller answered "but we're both out of luck. Tthis one
wasn't beheaded, like the rest."
"Really?" She pushed through the circle of people around the body
"what was the cause of death?" She then motioned for someone to move
the cover.
The man tending the body hesitated, but the captain nodded his
compliance. The canvas was lifted briefly, giving Anita a complete view
of the body. She swallowed hard but did not turn away.
"Cause of death is very similar." Anita said after turning back to
the captain. "It still may be worth investigating. It's not like swords are
all that common in twentieth century America. Do you have an I.D. on
him yet?"
"Not yet, but we do have this." Weller motioned to an officer who
produced a small plastic evidence bag. In it on a gold chain was a small
high school class ring that read "NorthVille High" on one side and "'97"
on the other. On the inside was the name "Julie Coyle."
"Have you found her yet?"
"Our men should be at the school now." Weller then checked his
watch "Classes don't begin for half an hour. I assume your on way over
there now?"
"Of course."
"I'll give my lead detective a call and tell him your coming."
"Thanks."
As Agent Ropper turned to leave, Captain Weller spoke up
"Anita."
"Yes?"
"About that incident last year...."
"Don't worry about it Jack. I knew you were only doing the
political side of your job." Anita retreated quickly before he could rehash
the disagreement anymore.
Julie Coyle was a stereotypical teenager, long curly blond hair, too
much make up and a short skirt. She said that the boy's name was Greg
Newbury, and they were planning to get married as soon as he finished
college in five years. The girl was extremely upset to hear about Greg's
death but somehow didn't seem surprised.
It also turned out that Greg was an emancipated teenager. His
parents had been killed in an auto accident not long before Julie met him,
and now he lived on his own. Julie was too distraught to tell the
investigators where Greg lived. It turned out she didn't know the address,
just how to get there. The school, of course had, the address and team
was soon its way.
The house was small, in a middle class neighbor hood. As
expected, no one answered their knocks so they let themselves in. The
house was clean and sparsely furnished. A few cheap paintings hung on
the walls, and no knick knacks occupied and table space.
The bedroom was very richly and tastefully furnished. "Well, I
guess this is where he spent most of his time." Agent Ropper said to
herself.
"Are you surprised, Agent Ropper?" Detective Ficsher said from
behind her. Detective Ficsher was a heavy man in his late forties or early
fifties. He had short graying hair except for the bit he kept long to comb
over his widening bald spot. An unlit cigarette constantly dangled from
the man's lips, but Anita had never seen him light it.
"Not at all, Detective. In fact, I would have been surprised if we
had found a standard teenager's room with a single twin bed." She
stepped in to the room, looking around but not touching anything.
"Hello, what's this?" She carefully picked up an envelope from
the motor vehicle department. It was the receipt for the registration of a
1994 Cammero Z28. Was there a Camero at the crime scene? She asked
knowing the answer but wanting to double check.
"No ma'am." Ficsher replied.
Agent Ropper handed the detective the envelope. He immediately
gave it to a uniform and issued some orders.
"There just isn't enough stuff," Anita said as she continued her
slow pace through the house. "Nothing in storage, no boxes no filled
closets, the basement is nearly empty."
"What are you getting at?" Detective Ficsher asked as he made his
own observations in her wake.
"Where is the rest of his stuff? Where are the memories, the
pictures of parents and friends? Where are the school books and old
papers? This looks like a very sterilized movie set. There's no life here."
Ficsher looked around again "Your right; it does look like a
front."
"That's it, a front. Like he was playing the part of a high school
student. I think it's time we initiated a very thorough search of Mr.
Newbury's background. I'd also like to find out where else he used to
spend his time." As she spoke, Agent Ropper pulled a cellular phone out
of a coat pocket and dialed up her own people.
to be continued.......