All the Deadly Lies Page 23

  “Did you know Shanna was gay?” Jake asked, watching her closely.

  She stood up, started to pace around the room.

  “Donna, did you?” Jake repeated the question.

  “There’d been some talk. I don’t pay attention to gossip…”

  “And?” Jake questioned.

  “Yes, I did. Shanna had started to question her orientation, experimenting—it confused her. Her friend Meryl is a lesbian and pushy. She didn’t like it when Shanna dated Mark.”

  “Shanna told you this?” Jake understood what Donna wasn’t saying, but he wanted her to say it aloud for the record.

  “Am I going to have to testify about this?” She looked concerned, sat back down, this time on her bed, holding her head in her hands.

  “If it helps close the case, yes,” Jake answered honestly.

  “This would kill my mother if it got out. It’s been a rough year for her. Shanna and I kind of hooked up for a couple of weeks. I’m not gay. We were experimenting. I always wanted to see what it would be like with another woman and…”

  “What happened?”

  “It wasn’t my thing. Shanna understood. She was curious how I could be so sure.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “I wasn’t comfortable being with her as a lover. I wanted to be friends. I’m in love with this guy back home I plan on marrying.”

  “Did Shanna tell Mark she was a lesbian?” Jake asked.

  “Yes, she did. She gave it as the reason for the break-up. She felt he’d leave her alone if she didn’t play on his team.”

  “She told you that?” Louie asked, taking over the questioning.

  “Yes. One night when we went for pizza, she needed someone to talk to. I asked her what was wrong. Shanna pointed to the other side of the street. The creep sat outside in his car and watched us for hours. Shanna stressed to me never to be alone or go anywhere with him.”

  “Did she think he’d hurt you?” Jake asked.

  “She never said. When I asked her, she said she told him she was gay. She didn’t want him to get the impression that I was her girlfriend.”

  “Do you have any other information that might help us to catch her killer, Donna?” Jake scribbled in his notebook.

  “No.”

  “Thanks for your time,” Jake said, giving her his number as he turned to leave the room.

  “I will. Shanna was a great person, though a little confused. Meryl and Mark weren’t helping any with all the pressure they put on her. Shanna would’ve been better off getting away from both of them,” Donna said sadly, as she stood. “Did you find her diary?”

  “Diary?” Jake turned back.

  “Yes. Shanna kept one in her purse. She wouldn’t leave it in her room because she was afraid someone would read it. She put all her thoughts and feelings down in it.”

  “No, we didn’t find one. Who else knew about it?” Jake asked.

  “Basically, everyone on our floor, her sister, and her friend Meryl.”

  “Did Mark know?”

  “I’d say yes, though Shanna wouldn’t write in it in front of him. She said he was a snoop.”

  “When did she tell you that?” Jake asked.

  “About a week before she died. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble, but if he killed her I want him dead.”

  “Thanks for your insight. Good-bye,” Jake said as they walked out.

  Outside the dorm, Jake turned to Louie. “It’s amazing none of this came out sooner.”

  “Yeah, it is. Every time we think we have a suspect pinned, it turns around. Do you think we have one or two killers?” Louie scratched his chin.

  “Not sure but we’re going back and asking all three of them, Meryl, Mark, and Chloe, about the diary,” Jake said, frustrated. “Cavilla’s a good actor. He fooled me.”

  “He fooled me too. I think his ego’s in denial. Not admitting it—in fact, lying about no knowledge of her preference—put him at the top of my list. I can see him for it.”

  “I hate liars.”

  “Jake, would you tell someone if the girl you were dating turned out to be a lesbian? I mean, being dumped by a woman for another man is one thing. Being dumped by a woman for another woman? Man, that’s the ultimate insult,” Louie said.

  “I don’t see where it would make any difference. Dumped is dumped.”

  “Oh, come on. It wouldn’t bother you?”

  “No, it wouldn’t. I’m secure in who I am,” Jake said.

  “Well, once it got out I think the ridicule would be worse. Don’t you think?”

  “It could be, depending on what type of person the guy is. If someone insulted me or carried on, I’d probably punch him out.”

  “See, it would bother you.” Louie laughed.

  “It would bother you more.”

  “Yeah, it would. It’s the Italian macho thing, which I think Cavilla has going on too,” Louie said, his tone turning serious.

  “I agree. I can’t wait to question the bastard, see how he reacts.”

  They re-interviewed all the girls from the dorm. Donna turned out to be the only new witness.

  Next on the list would be tracking down Meryl Drake’s friends. Before subjecting himself to Meryl’s anger, Jake decided to try the Wagners. He wanted to see if they knew who she hung out with. Jake climbed in the driver’s seat and dialed Chloe’s cell phone before pulling out of the parking lot.

  She answered on the third ring. “What do you want?”

  “Chloe, who besides your sister did Meryl hang out with?”

  “I can’t tell you, we don’t go to the same bars. You know—straight, lesbo,” she said sarcastically.

  “Did Shanna keep a diary?” Jake asked.

  “Yes. You didn’t find it.?”

  “No, it only came to light today. Why didn’t you mention it before?”

  “I assumed you had it, she always kept it in her purse.”

  “We didn’t recover her purse. What did she do with the old ones?” Jake hoped Chloe had them.

  “She kept them under a floor board in her room. She thought no one knew about it. Why?”

  “Are you home?” Jake asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Can you check to see if her diaries are still there?”

  “Hold on.”

  Jake figured Chloe put her phone down to go check. After a few minutes, she started talking. “They’re all here, except for the current one she would have had with her.”

  “When’s the last entry in the diaries you have there?” he asked, excitement building.

  “About a month before she disappeared,” Chloe said.

  “Can I pick them up, or do I need a warrant?”

  “Come get them. I’ll be home for another hour.” She hung up without another word.

  “Did she have the diary?” Louie asked

  “Chloe has the old ones. The one current to Shanna’s death is missing. She’s going to give them to us without a warrant.”

  “Were you expecting her to confide in you if she still had the current one?” Louie smirked.

  “No.”

  “Then we’ll do it the old-fashioned way, with feet on the pavement detecting until we find the last one.”

  “First, we’re going through every gay bar in the city tonight.”

  “It’ll be a reminder to you that not every woman is after you.” Louie gave him a toothy grin.

  “You’re right. It’ll do my ego good. Tonight, I’ll read the diaries and makes notes for you, unless of course you want to read them too,” Jake said.

  “No, reading a young girl’s inner thoughts would drive me crazy. Boy, I hate this drive,” Louie said switching topics as Jake started to drive back to Wilkesbury.

  “I like it this time of day. It�
�s a quiet and scenic trip when the sun’s out. It’s also good thinking time. Put your seat back, take a nap.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Louie hit the release switch. His seat glided back into a reclining position.

  “Nighty night, sweetheart,” Jake teased.

  In no time at all, Louie fell asleep, giving Jake some thinking time. He rearranged all the new pieces of the evidence, mixing them up with the others they had, hoping for a clear suspect to emerge. He and Louie had originally thought it would be the motive that solved this case. Right now, there were too many of them and nothing supporting them.

  He started arranging each person’s reason to commit the crime in his head while Louie snored away. Chloe’s would be the ring, valued at fifty thousand dollars. Meryl felt threatened when Shanna dated Mark, thinking she was changing sides. Mark Cavilla, shot down because after spending time with him, Shanna preferred the company of women. A damaged ego would be a strong, powerful motive—one that pointed right at Mark. Cavilla’s lie moved him to the top of the list. A question popped into Jake’s head. He’d need to interview the head of the accounting firm, see if everyone knew about Shanna’s sexual orientation.

  They’d been on the road for about fifty minutes when Louie stirred.

  “Well, good morning, darling. Did you sleep well?”

  Louie cleared his head, looked around. “Where are we?”

  “We’re coming into Southington.”

  “Wow, I slept the whole way?”

  “Yep, and Louie, your beauty sleep didn’t help.” Jake laughed.

  “Cute. You should be half as handsome as me, you’d be a star. Did your quiet time pay off, or did you spend it all thinking about Mia?” Louie asked.

  “No, I spent it working the case.” At Louie’s mention of Mia, his thoughts diverged toward her.

  “Oh, is the mighty Jake pulling back?”

  “No, we need to close this case and move on.”

  * * * *

  Jake’s cell phone rang. Looking down, he recognized his friend Dave’s number from the Woodbury Police Department. He answered and listened to Dave talk. The lab reports had come back on Mia’s package. The skin cells on the package Mia had received didn’t match the sample Jake gave them.

  “Thanks, Dave. Can you email me a copy of the report?”

  “Sure, I’ll get it to you in five minutes. Oh Jake, she’s one hot woman,” Guerrera said.

  “And she’s all mine. Remember that.” Was she his? Time would tell.

  “Maybe,” he said, laughing. “Bye.”

  “Asshole,” Jake muttered.

  “Who’s Dave?” Louie asked, as he hung up.

  “Dave Guerrera from the Woodbury PD.”

  “What’s going on there?” Louie asked.

  “I told you about the package on Mia’s doorstep Thursday night. Dave called with the lab results.”

  “No, you didn’t say anything about a package,” Louie said. “What was in it?”

  “Someone left a package at her front door. It contained a dead skunk with its throat slit.”

  “Oh, is that all? And you didn’t think to mention this?” Louie asked, miffed. Jake knew he hated to be left out.

  “I thought I did. So much has happened this week, my mind’s reeling.”

  “What sample did you give them?” Louie asked.

  “I gave them Chloe’s DNA sample, but it didn’t match,” Jake said.

  “Well, that makes sense. Wasn’t she in Hartford the day the restraining order was issued? Mia doesn’t have clue who’s leaving them?”

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  Switching up the conversation, Louie asked, “You’re not seeing her tonight?”

  “No, she’s packing for her trip. I’ll see her tomorrow night. But I’ll find out if someone who could be doing this popped in her head.”

  They stopped at the Wagner’s house. Chloe had packed the diaries in a box and made him sign a receipt.

  “Thanks, Chloe,” Jake said.

  “I want them back. It’s like talking to her, so make sure nothing happens to them.”

  “We’ll keep them locked up.” He took a minute and studied her. It appeared she hadn’t slept in days.

  “Are you any closer, Jake?” Chloe looked at him with hope in her eyes.

  “I want to think we are.”

  Chapter 24

  They left the Wagners’ and headed to the station. On the way, Louie started in on him again about Brigh. Jake brushed him off. He didn’t bother to tell him he’d already called the vet with a few questions. Though he knew owning a dog wasn’t practical at this stage in his life, he couldn’t get Brigh off his mind.

  After parking the car, they parted ways. Louie went to his desk. Jake went to the coffee machine in his office where Detective Brown caught up with him.

  “Lieutenant,” Brown said.

  “What’s up, Kirk?”

  “The body shop turned out to be a solid lead on the hit-and-run case. I have an arrest warrant. Lanoue and I are on our way to execute it now. It’s a shame. The kid got scared, left the scene, and screwed up his life. He’s seventeen.” Jake heard the sympathy in Brown’s voice.

  “Pick him up. If you need anything from me, give me a call. I’m tied up on my cases, but I’ll make whatever time you need.” Jake turned away, though Kirk kept talking.

  “Lieutenant, we still don’t have anything on the school shooting. And we still haven’t turned up anything that would’ve gotten the kid killed, but he’s still dead,” Kirk said.

  “I liked your idea to bring everyone in here with their parents. It’s tough to turn kids, but I’ve found intimidation works. Hopefully bringing them in will get the students and their parents to cooperate. Keep me informed. If you need me in any of the interviews put it on my calendar,” Jake said.

  “Will do, sir.”

  Jake took his coffee to his desk then updated the Wagner murder book with the new information. Then he put his feet up on his desk and closed his eyes. He let the information on the Wagner case roll around and rearrange itself. It was going in too many directions. He needed to rein it in.

  * * * *

  Louie settled into his chair, stalling for a few minutes before calling Meryl Drake. On Saturday, she’d displayed some animosity toward Jake. So, he got the chore of calling her.

  “Meryl Drake?” Louie asked as the call connected.

  “Who’s asking?” she replied snottily.

  “It’s De…” He caught himself, “This is Sergeant Romanelli, Ms. Drake.”

  “What do you want?”

  “We have a couple of follow-up questions for you. I need to inform you this call’s being recorded.”

  “Well, I told you to talk to my lawyer, not me,” Meryl said.

  “Okay, Ms. Drake. Give me your lawyer’s information for the record, and I’ll give him a call.”

  Silence.

  “Ms. Drake, are you still there?” Louie asked.

  “Yes, what questions?”

  “You pulled out the lawyer card so I can’t speak with you. I need his or her name and number.” Louie held his breath while he waited for her reply.

  “I don’t have a damn lawyer. They cost too much money.”

  “For the record, you’ll now speak with me without a lawyer? You do understand your rights, if you can’t afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you,” Louie said, wanting to make sure he covered his ass.

  “Yes, ask your questions. I didn’t kill Shanna. I loved her.”

  Louie’s silence hung in the air for a few moments. Call him old-fashioned but he didn’t have a reply.

  He went right into his questions. “Ms. Drake, I’ll need all your friends’ names and phone numbers, anyone who hung out with you and Shanna. I’ll also need the name of the place you
worked back when Shanna disappeared, including all your bosses’ information.”

  “Why?”

  “These are follow-up questions to your interview. It could be pertinent to the investigation,” Louie said, surprised when he started to feel sorry for her.

  “It’s a long list, Sergeant. Give me your email address and I’ll send it to you.”

  “Fax it, please.” Louie gave her the number, then hung up and got a cup of coffee while he waited for it to come through. Faxes gave him a number connecting the information to the sender. Email addresses took more time to trace. So whenever he could, he had people fax him.

  * * * *

  Before he started in on the diaries, Jake looked over the lab reports Dave had emailed over from Woodbury. The DNA turned out to be male, not female, so definitely not Chloe’s. He wondered whose it could be. He reached for the phone and dialed Mia’s cell number. She answered immediately.

  “Hey.”

  “Are you all packed?”

  “Not quite. I’m still choosing my wardrobe, but I’m almost there.” She laughed.

  “Mia, I need to ask you some questions. I got the lab report back on your…package. It’s not female DNA. The sample came back—it belongs to a male. Have you ever met a Mark Cavilla? Is there anybody who’s angry at you?” He threw out Mark’s name hoping for a hit.

  “No, who is Mark Cavilla?”

  “Seriously, Mia, has anybody been threatening you? Have you gotten any unusual phone calls or someone hanging up when you answer? Has anyone been following you?” He bombarded her with questions, ignoring hers.

  “No, no, and no, Jake. I’ve been in contact with you, my friend Piper, and the people at work.”

  “Okay, make sure your doors are locked when you’re home.”

  “They always are, Jake. I’m a New Yorker. It’s one of the major life lessons you learn growing up in the city.”

  “Okay, if you think of anyone, even a minor player in your life, give me a call right away and I’ll go talk to him.”

  “What are you going to do, beat him up?” Mia asked.

  “No, there are ways you can scare someone without beating him up, or leaving any marks.”

  “You’re scary, Jake. I’ll take your word for it. Right now, I need to get back to this.”