Chapter Seven

"What do you have for us, Bernie?" Mike inquired.

"I will know more once I have her back at the morgue, but my guess is besides being strangled she was beaten to death. She appeared to be in her early thirties. Steve, there was I.D. found on the body. From the grapevine the girl was a friend of yours or at least used to be."

Steve steeled himself for the rest of what Bernie was trying to say as he felt a cold feeling wash all over and through him. Mike glanced at him to make sure he was going to be okay and realized why Bernie had moved where Steve could not see the victim.

"Who is it, Bernie?"

"Meg Sawyer was what the driver's license had on it, Mike. I'm sorry, Steve."

Mike held Steve back a few seconds as he tried to start toward where Meg's body was laying. When he was sure Steve had time to compose himself, not that he needed to, they went toward the victim. Steve did his job methodically without showing any emotion whatsoever but Mike still kept a close eye on him. Once they were finished at the scene, Mike tried to get Steve to release any feelings he might have as they drove.

"Mike, honest I am fine. I mean when I heard who it was I admit I was surprised but I am not upset about it. She made some parts of life hell for me but I wouldn't wish that on her. I really am fine though, I promise."

"All right, buddy boy just make sure you know if you need some time I understand."

Steve thanked him as they worked the case that day. They got access to her apartment and searched for any clues as well as talked to people. They would not rule out the possibility she was killed where she had been found, but their thought was she was killed in a different location and dumped behind the North Beach shop.

As they were out they received a radio call of being needed at Olsen's office. Mike groaned, thinking it had something to do with the meeting that morning. He ascertained through radio contact the call was for both him and Steve and that made him a bit curious. Steve sped back to Bryant Street and they immediately headed up to Olsen's office taking the stairs. They were met by a grim faced Rudy Olsen who informed his secretary to hold all calls.

"I will come right to the point. Keller, you knew a Meg Sawyer?"

"Yes sir, I did we used to be acquaintances at one time."

"What is this about, Rudy?"

"Can you account for your whereabouts yesterday Keller?"

Steve looked at Olsen surprised then at Mike who was glaring at Olsen. Steve truly thought it sounded as though he was a suspect from Olsen's question. It was not a feeling he liked having

"Now you just hold on right there, Rudy! You ask that as though Steve was some kind of suspect."

"Mike calm down, I have a reason for asking. One I will make very clear in just a minute. He is not a suspect, at least not officially. I do need him to clear up where he was yesterday, but I will go on record right now and state in my eyes he is not a suspect officially or unofficially. His answering can only help him, Mike."

"I had plans with Jeannie and another couple for dinner. I was late picking up Jeannie because Meg Sawyer came by and we had a discussion outside my apartment. After Jeannie and I had dinner that evening I was keyed up still from the earlier encounter with Meg. I took Jeannie home and went for a drive. While I was out for the drive my brakes totally went out, I had to walk to call for help. I am sure Jeannie will verify I was with her yesterday evening and Ted Palmer of Palmer's Auto World can verify about my car and that he came to pick me and it up."

"I just had to hear it from you. Just be careful and try not to worry. The reason I asked as well is because I received this cassette by a walk in. All Alice could tell me was the envelope was handed to her by a young boy and it was to be delivered to me you both might want to sit down."

They both looked curiously at Olsen and each other as they sat in chairs in front of Olsen's desk. He pushed the play button on the tape player sitting on his desk and they heard a female voice speaking. The voice sounded as though she was in pain but managing to record this to help stop her killer. OR at least that was what someone wanted others to think.

"Steven Keller did this to me."

Steve's eyes went wide and he came up out of his chair staring at the cassette player as he recognized Meg Sawyer's voice. Mike was up beside him in an instant as Steve shook his head.

"Rudy, Steve would never hurt anyone without a reason especially a woman."

"From what I have heard he had reason to hurt this woman, Mike," Olsen uttered and saw Mike's annoyance. "Now hear me out; I am not saying Keller did hurt her, I am just saying he had reason and besides you haven't heard all of this tape yet. I was all ready to hand Keller a suspension and possible review I admit but while I was dialling the chief I had let this player stay running. After a couple more minutes listen to what you hear."

Captain Olsen lifted the pause button and all waited to hear what was next. Steve was anxious as to what Olsen had heard. He was starting to speak thinking Olsen was putting him and Mike on when a little over two minutes they heard a sound other than silence.

"Forgive me, Steve. They made me say that you hurt me it wasn't..."

The next sound was something crashing to the floor and a scream and then just the sound of silence. Mike and Olsen exchanged glances. Steve sank back into his chair, not sure what to say.

"I will keep this tape under lock and key in my office. I just wanted both of you aware of it. If that tape had not kept playing I would have definitely jumped to the wrong conclusion and I apologize for that, Keller."

"That's alright, I just am glad you heard the rest. I wonder who they were that she mentioned though."

"That will be something we need to find out, buddy boy."

After talking a little while longer Mike and Steve left after seeing Olsen locking the tape securely away. Mike was still very disturbed by Olsen's questions of Steve and determined to tell him off when the opportunity presented itself. When they got to homicide Steve found a phone message on his desk and he dialled the number before even sitting down. The phone was answered on the third ring by a professional sounding lady who Steve recognized as Ted Palmer's wife.

"Palmer's Auto World, how may I help you?"

"Resa this is Steve Keller returning Ted's call. Is he available?"

"Hi, Steve just a second he will be right with you."

"Thanks, Resa and hi back," Steve responded then waited as he heard her paging Ted.

Less than a minute later he heard Ted's voice. "Ted I was told you called while I was out."

"Yeah, Steve look I got to your car sooner than I thought I would. I wondered who you have hacked off lately."

"What do you mean, Ted? Nobody as far as I know, well other than an ex."

"Your brake line was cut, Steve. I checked it thoroughly and there was no way it was accidental. Do you want me to hold off repairing the brake line and the cosmetic damage or should I go ahead and hold onto the damaged brake line?"

"Go ahead with the repair and hold onto the parts for me just in case they are needed, Ted, thanks."

"All right, will get right on it but I can't promise it will be ready today or tomorrow although tomorrow is possible. I will give you a call when it is ready to be picked up."

"Thanks, Ted, I appreciate all you are doing. Talk to you soon, take care." Steve hung up and headed to Mike's office where he closed the door. "You got a minute, Mike?"