This story is part of an ongoing series.
The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman's biography.
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, racism, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
***
Part 26 - Crime or Coincidence? (continued)
"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Channel Two News!" shouted the redheaded MILF reporterette from the KXTC studios anchor desk. "Let's go to our reporter Amber Harris for a massive breaking story! Amber!"
"
That's right,
Bettina!" said the athletic blonde reporterette from across the street from the clock tower that was the symbolic entrance to the University. "Channel Two News has learned that Dr. Lionel Carmela has filed a formal ethics complaint with the University, and a criminal complaint with the SBI and the State Medical Board, charging Dr. Laura Fredricson with running a male prostitution ring out of her office on Campus!"
Amber: "Carl Ryder, who was run off the Bypass and murdered a week ago, was allegedly part of a ring of young men that called themselves 'The Babymakers', who inseminated married women by the natural method in exchange for money, which is legally male prostitution. The Town & County Police
are
aware of this ring, and have questioned several of the young men involved in the ring, but have made no arrests."
Amber: "
Sources
tell Channel Two News that every married woman who paid to be inseminated by the Babymaker ring first had gynecological exams by Dr. Laura Fredricson, and that all of the men in the ring first had virility tests performed by Dr. Fredricson. Additionally, one of the young men allegedly in the ring is a student of Dr. Fredricson, and Dr. Fredricson's husband, TCPD Commander Donald Troy, is the first cousin of Carl Ryder's employer, Cindy Ross of Town Fitness Centers. Despite these close connections with his cousin and, of course, his wife, Commander Troy has not recused himself from the Carl Ryder murder investigation. Neither Commander Troy nor the Town & County Police have responded to multiple requests by KXTC for comment on these important issues."
Amber: "Dr. Lionel Carmela has brought ethics complaints against Dr. Laura Fredricson in the past. The State Medical Board has investigated Dr. Fredricson on multiple occasions, and suspended her license on one of those occasions." (
Author's note: 'Ethical Dilemmas'; 'Believer'.
) "And now let's go to Pat Stellum with a special guest. Pat!"
"
That's right,
Amber!" said Stellum as he came onto the screen. "I'm here with
respected
Professor Lionel Carmela, Head of the Political Science Department here at the University." The camera panned out to show Carmela standing next to Stellum, and the location was under some huge trees near the Political Science building on Campus... and KXTC reporters were not supposed to be on Campus.
Stellum: "Dr. Carmela, what is the basis and evidence behind your complaints about Dr. Fredricson?"
Carmela: "Pat, we're going to show the Ethics Board, the SBI, and the State Medical Board the facts that show Dr. Laura Fredricson's connection to this male prostitution ring, and that one of the males involved is one of her graduate students. Dr. Fredricson has long flouted both ethics and the law, and she studies and teaches sexual deviancy to our students."
Carmela: "And this time, Pat, there's the murder of one of the young men in this prostitution ring. The links between him and his murder and Dr. Fredricson's involvement in this male prostitution ring needs to be investigated by the SBI if not the FBI, because the TCPD is led by Dr. Fredricson's husband, Commander Donald Troy, and neither he nor his Police Force can be trusted to fairly and honestly investigate the potential crimes and other medical ethics violations committed by Dr. Fredricson."
Pat Stellum's big lips were happily smiling as he said "And there you have it, folks...
credible
claims of ethics violations by the Police Commander's wife, and possible links between her and the Carl Ryder murder. Back to you, Bettina."
"Thank you for that excellent interview, Pat!" Bettina said, also smiling brightly. "And we're delighted to have our colleague Amber Harris back with us. Welcome back, Amber!"
"Thank you, Bettina!" Amber said happily "It's great to be back, free of the oppression of the TCPD! And I'm ready to bring our viewers the news and the truth about Donald Troy and Cindy Ross that they have the right to know!..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Amber's back." said Lt. Commander Teresa Croyle, with the prodigious power of understatement, as she, the Sheriff, the Chief, me, Captain Tanya Muscone, and ADA Paulina Patterson drank coffee in the Chief's Conference Room.
"I didn't even realize she was gone." said Tanya. "Where was she?"
"In prison." I said. "Midvale Minimum Security Prison, to be precise."
Paulina added: "Katherine Woodburn exercised State Senatorial influence to get Judge Harry Nance to let Amber go back to prison, and then get out October 1st for good behavior with no parole afterwards. Ergo, we have no hold over her anymore."
"And she's just as dishonest as she was before." said Tanya. "Laura's medical license was suspended, but then restored. And that bastard Carmela's previous allegations against her were dismissed."
I said "And KXTC very carefully constructed their phrases to not directly accuse Laura of any crimes, but just state facts in a way that appear damning. I mean, Laura's a gynecologist. Women go to her for checkups before attempting to become pregnant. Duh!"
"But the way those dishonest Press bastards worded it," growled Sheriff Griswold, "they made it sound like she'd done something wrong. But you're right, Crowbar, they were
very
careful about the way they parsed their words."
"But Carmela was not." observed the Chief. "Mister Crowbarrrr, do you think your wife can sue him?"
"Can?" I said, a bit flippantly, I'll admit. "More like... she
will.
Get ready for an all-out war with that bastard."
Just then there was a knock on the door. The Duty Desk Officer opened the door and said "A package just arrived for Commander Troy via a military courier. Commander, you have to sign for it yourself."
"Thank you, Patrolman." I said as I got up. I went into the anteroom and signed for the package from the courier, then went back into the Chief's Conference Room.
"What is that, Mister Crowbarrrr?" asked the Chief.
"I am hoping..." I said, "... that it's the solution to the murders of Carl Ryder and David Rose Flanders. If you'll excuse me, I need to go check this out in my office..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General McFarland had come through. The package contained papers that I'd requested, and also a DNA profile that had been stored in the Department of Defense's database, which contained the DNA profiles of every military service member going back at least four decades.
There was a knock on my door as I looked at the files, as Helena wasn't here yet. The door opened to reveal Lieutenant Rudistan. I waved him on in and he closed the door behind him, then said "Sir, I think we've got a bead on the two guys you're looking for. That black muscle car
was