The chronological order of my stories to read is:
Todd & Melina series, Interludes 1-5, Sperm Wars series, Russian Roulette series, Case of the Murdered Lovers series, Case of the Murdered Chessplayer series, Case of the Executed Evangelist series, The Swap series, Interludes 6-10.
The Murdered Football Player, Ch. 01
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, nor cults, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
Part 13 - Re-Insertion
"Don, there is an assistant football coach sleeping on our couch." Laura said, waking me up. "Why is there an assistant football coach sleeping on our couch?" Her voice was a falsetto, and dripping with sarcasm.
We were on the back deck of The Cabin. It was now Tuesday morning. I had brought Coach Marshall home with me and let him sleep on the couch. I went to the back deck and lay down on the long patio lounge chair, covering myself with a blanket as I thought about the case and my plans. I had allowed myself to fall asleep; I often liked to doze out here on the deck at night during the warm summer months.
"That would be because I haven't been able to get him back into his house yet without the SBI seeing him." I said as I woke up and stretched. "What time is it?"
"Almost five." Laura said. "Wanna wake Carole up before I feed her?"
"Sure." I said. Going upstairs to the bedroom, I picked Carole up out of her crib. She woke up as I talked to her, telling her what a pretty baby she was. She cooed for a couple of minutes, moving her arms and legs like the little fussbudget she was upon being awakened. Then she realized it was breakfast-time, and the "hungry cry" started.
"I'll feed her up here." Laura said. "You get ready and get the Coach back home."
"I'll tell you more about this later." I said, answering her silent wondering as I handed the baby to her.
I did not bother to shower or change clothes; I would do that at the Station. I woke Marshall up and snuck him into the SUV. It was still dark and the gloaming dawn was not quite yet threatening us.
I picked up Cindy at her apartment and we headed north to the subdivision where Coach Marshall lived. Driving up Pine Street, upon which the coach lived, I told him what to do when I distracted the SBI... whose car I could see parked across the street from his house. I pulled up right alongside, seeing Agent Ferrell in the car, and someone else lying asleep in the backseat that I could not identify.
*Woop WOOP!! Woop WOOP!!*
The noise of my police SUV siren blasted through the air for a second as I shined my searchlight into the face of Agent Ferrell.
"Rise and shine, Ferrell! Let's go, up and at 'em!" I shouted. "It's a whole new day!"
"Turn that god-damned light out of my eyes, you son of a bitch." Ferrell gasped as the noises and light hit him all at once.
"C'mon Ferrell, let's go!" I said joyfully. "We're burning daylight, time to make hay as the sun starts shinin'!!"
"Go fuck yourself, dickhead." Ferrell said. "Get the fuck out of here before I shoot your ass."
"I wish you'd try, Ferrell." I said, my voice low and cold as I turned off the searchlight. "I'd love the chance to blow your ass away." I drove on off, leaving the stunned asshole agent blinking.
Steven Ikea sat up in the backseat. "Jesus what a fucking prick he is. God's judgment upon him will surely be severe."
"Yeah..." Ferrell said. He looked up and saw Coach Marshall getting into his car and cranking it. "Shit, Marshall's on the move. He got out the door to his car." Cranking his car, the Agent moved into the street to follow the coach as he drove back to the practice fields.
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"That was a nice trick." Cindy said as we drove to Headquarters. "While you were shining that light in Ferrell's face, the coach slipped out the door on my side and ran to the backyard of his house, came out the other side and got in his car. Won't those guys realize what happened?"
"Not immediately." I said. "Ferrell is an idiot. Did you see who was in the backseat?"
"Couldn't tell... kept his face down." Cindy replied.
"Hmmm...." I said.
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The Chief came into the MCD room at 6:30, and the reception for him was rather cool, as the Detectives present only murmured a "good morning" in reply to his. I could tell that this affected him as he silently signaled for me to follow him into his office.
"First, Captain Malone has gone to the funeral of Jefferson Jackson and is helping out the poor kid's parents with arrangements and such. So you're in charge of all Detectives while he's gone." the Chief said. "Don't let all that power go to your head."
"Darn, you never let me have any fun, Chief." I said, smiling.
"Yeah right. In fact, I heard you had some fun last night." the Chief said. "I don't know what the fuck you're doing, but lighting up the SBI car that was watching the gym is not exactly what I'd call professional behavior."
"Yes sir." I said, and then was unable to stop myself: I added, "Chief, is it professional behavior for the SBI to be watching us, the local police, instead of working on the Jackson case like they're supposed to be doing?" Now THAT question was unprofessional, and I expected the Chief to let me have it in no uncertain terms.
Chief Griswold did glare at me, but answered "No, it is not, and I'm already sorry I turned the case over to them. You'd think the media would be happy I did that, but I'm hearing that they're going to run a hit piece... on me. On ME, Lieutenant."
"May I speak freely, sir?" I asked. The chief blinked. To ask to speak freely meant that I wanted to say something improper for the protocol of our respective ranks, and that if he allowed me to say it there would be no repercussions. This was something I did only on the most rare of occasions.
"By all means." the Chief said, sitting back in his chair.
"You're going to be even more upset in a few minutes, sir." I said. "I'm expecting the news report to tell the world that the SBI lab found no drugs or alcohol in Jackson's system, which of course is not what our lab..." I placed the file folder on the chief's desk ..." nor the University's lab found. They're whitewashing it, Chief, and yes, the Press is eagerly going to try to slam you as being responsible for letting the SBI whitewash it."
The chief looked at the University report until I said, "Let's go watch the news, sir." We headed to MCD, which was full of detectives as well as Tanya and Pete.
Of course, 7:00am brought the morning newscast, and I could not wait to see Bettina!
"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Channel Two News!" said the lovely redhead reporterette. She was looking especially pretty today, practically glowing. I wondered if she'd lightened her hair color just a bit.
"Channel Two News has learned that the preliminary toxicology report and preliminary autopsy performed by the SBI Crime Lab shows that there were no drugs and no alcohol in Jeff Jackson's system at the time of his unfortunate death. The SBI's medical examiner has issued a statement that he is prepared to rule Jackson's death as being due to natural causes, that Jackson suffered a heart attack sometime late Friday night."
Eyes turned to the Chief, who was red-faced as he gaped at the TV set. Bettina continued: "When asked by Channel Two News reporters how Mr. Jackson ended up in a culvert at the southern County Line, SBI Public Relations Director Michael Horner said the SBI was continuing to look into the case, but that they believe Jackson was partying with friends when he had a heart attack, and that his friends panicked and left him in that ditch. The SBI says that after interviewing the football players and coaches, they do not believe any players were involved in the placement of the body in the culvert. We now go to Tim Dawdle, Channel Two Sports. What have you got, Tim?"
Tim Dawdle came onto the screen, his curly black hair looking oily above his thick black-rimmed glasses, looking like the worthless young "millennial" punk that he was. "This is Tim Dawdle, KXTC Channel Two Sports. As the SBI successfully closes the case of the unfortunate death of Jeff Jackson, many questions remain. Did Jeff Jackson have a heart condition that led to his heart failure? If so, did Head Coach Brian Harlan know about this condition, but concealed it in order to have the star player on the field? Did the coach put this boy's life in danger just to win a few football games?"
"That son of a--" Detective Angela Harlan said, her face as red as the chief's. I patted her shoulder to quieten her down.
"In addition, we have to wonder here at KXTC Channel Two Sports why Town & County Police Chief Griswold turned jurisdiction of this case over to the SBI. While we can certainly agree that the SBI is much better equipped and their agents much more competent in solving criminal cases, we have to wonder if Chief Griswold caved in to pressure from University officials and other...
politicians
... to give up jurisdiction of the case. Certainly the football program is a huge money-making machine for the University and for the County, but does Chief Griswold not have the spine to investigate a case like this himself? We will continue to follow this important case as the football team prepares to take the field and play in memory of their fallen comrade, Jeff Jackson."
"I think I'm going to puke." said Martin Nash, his face almost green with sickness.
"That son of a bitch." the Chief said under his breath. "I'll show that pajama-boy punk what a spine is about." He left the room and we heard him shouting in the hallway. "Martha, get me Dexter Robinson on the phone!"
"Don, are you okay?" Cindy asked. I was smiling and fist-pumping.
"Guys....don't you see?" I asked, genuinely surprised that they did not realize what was about to happen. "This is the best thing that could possibly have happened!" When I could see that none of them had a clue, I just said "Okay, you'll see as events unfold. Meantime, load up on coffee, get your paperwork done..." I headed out the door, but turned back.
