Irrefutable Page 3

  “Can I help you?” The doctor asked.

  “Yes, is Ms. Dixon going to be released?”

  “And, who are you?” The doctor looked at Alex over the reading glasses perched on the end of his nose.

  “I’m Detective Sergeant Alex Mendez with the Cypress Village PD. I’m investigating the assault.” Alex presented his badge.

  “I’m sorry,” the doctor said, “We just get a lot of people wanting information about patients. HIPPA prohibits us from releasing information without their consent.” He removed the glasses and laid them on the counter. “It’s to protect their privacy, but I think it’s sometimes gets in the way…”

  “I understand what HIPPA is. So, will she be released?”

  Levine took a deep breath. “Well, we’ve drawn blood work and spun her head to …”

  “Spun her head?” Alex raised an eyebrow.

  “A CT scan of her head, to see if there is any brain injury. You see, sometimes a patient can seem fine, only to drop dead after a few hours from a head bleed that was overlooked. Sometimes these bleeds only begin to show signs and symptoms several hours after the injury. By then, it’s often too late. To be perfectly honest, just between you and me, most of the time we do them just to cover our ass, but in this case, I think it was warranted.”

  “So, will she be going home?” Alex was beginning to get frustrated.

  “So far all the tests have been negative. I’m still waiting for a drug screen. With her amnesia about the event, I would suspect a head injury but her CT was normal. It’s possible that she was drugged, but until I have the results, I can’t be sure. She is lucid right now. Any drug she may have been given has long since been metabolized.”

  “Will she be going home?” Alex raised his voice this time.

  The doctor pulled his head back and looked at Alex, eyebrows raised. “Yes, she will.”

  “Thank you.” Alex said, walking away.

  He returned to the other end of the nurse’s station. “Where did they find this guy?”

  “So, now you’ve met Dr. Levine. How did you get away from him so quickly?” Janet laughed. “We all call him Cliff, you know, from Cheers. He is always full of useless, unsolicited information. And, he loves to toot his own horn.”

  Alex just shook his head. “Do you know if Ms. Dixon has anyone here for her, maybe family?”

  “No. We haven’t notified anyone. She asked us not to.”

  “Well, the doctor said she will be released, so I’ll arrange for patrol to give her a ride home.” Alex gathered his notebook, report forms and the evidence kit and turned to leave.

  “You take care now.” Janet said.

  He walked toward the exit and waved over his shoulder without looking back.

  Chapter Three

  There were a handful of people on the track when Alex pulled into the parking lot. He counted four cars. He parked away from the other vehicles and watched the joggers for several minutes before finally getting out of his car. He walked through the lot, writing down the license number of each vehicle on a small spiral pad. He shined his small, keychain flashlight into each car, looking for anything unusual, anything that could be used to restrain a person.

  “Hey! What are you doing?” A man in a jogging suit approached Alex. “I said what the hell are you doing? That’s my car.”

  Without looking at the man, Alex pulled one side of his sport coat open, revealing his badge and the .45 caliber handgun that hung, quite menacingly, in the shoulder harness. The man backed away.

  Alex placed the pad in his shirt pocket and walked to the edge of the track. He stood, hands in his pockets, surveying the scene. The mile long track seemed to go on forever. He could never imagine himself running laps on it. The walk across the infield would be far enough. It wasn’t that he was lazy; he just didn’t have the energy, or the motivation.

  A young man jogging by, acknowledged Alex with a small wave. Alex nodded to the jogger and crossed the track into the grassy infield. Where did you hide? He looked across the field to the far side of the track. Along the tree line, he noticed an area that was dark. Two lights were not working. He scanned the rest of the lights around the track. They were spaced about every fifty feet, all illuminating the ground around them with a round yellowish glow, each blending into the next. All, except for the two along the tree line. That’s where I’d be.

  Alex walked across the field toward the dark area. A bright light appeared from behind him. He looked back toward the parking lot to see headlights, as the man who had confronted him, prepared to leave. Alex turned back toward the far side and continued across the field. He could hear voices in the distance behind him. He turned again to see the remaining joggers standing between the cars in the lot. As the last of the cars drove away, the track was empty, deserted, like it would have been the night before.

  A gentle breeze blew across the field from the water just beyond the trees. Alex could smell a hint of fish as he neared the far side of the track.

  There was no yellow tape, no X marking the spot where the attacker hid, waiting for his prey to come within range.

  It had been nearly twenty four hours. There have been scores of people here, runners, children playing, dogs chasing Frisbees. The chance of finding any evidence at all was slim, but he had to try.

  Alex stood under one of the darkened light poles. There was just enough light for him to see that the bulbs had been shattered. He used the small flashlight to look on the ground around the poles for broken glass. He found only a few small pieces in the grass along the edge of the track. There were no large pieces. The area appeared to have been cleaned up. By who, he had no way of knowing. He walked along the dark area of the track, looking into the trees as he went. It was dark enough to provide cover for anyone who wished to go undetected. On his second pass he noticed a small opening in the trees that he’d missed the first time. It was narrow, but wide enough for a person to get through quickly and quietly.

  Alex stood at the opening. Where did you wait? He slowly entered the trees, looking around for the best place to hide and watch. He turned to face the track. From here the view was obstructed by trees and small bushes. He moved slowly to his right, looking for the best view. He stopped when the space between the trees gave a clear view of the part of the track that leads toward the dark area. From here the attacker could have seen her coming. Is this it? Is this where you watched her?

  He shined the small flashlight along the ground all around him. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he would know it, if he saw it. He took a step back and shined the light at the base of a large tree. He moved it slowly along the roots then he saw it. He almost missed it. It was partially hidden under a dead leaf. But there it was.

  He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a plastic zip lock bag and a pair of tweezers. He moved the leaf and using the tweezers, picked up the small plastic cap.

  It was two inches long and thin, less than a quarter inch in diameter. It looked like a cap from a hypodermic needle.

  Alex held it up in the beam of his light. Inside, he could see a tiny drop of fluid, near the tip. You did drug her. He placed the cap into the bag and sealed it, then placed the bag and tweezers in his pocket and walked back across the field to his car.

  Carmen would still be at the prom and Alex wasn’t in any hurry to get back home, so he drove. He had no particular destination. He just drove.

  The old marina, as it was now known, was the remains of what was once, the most popular recreation spot on Lake Duvall. Until fifteen years ago, the outdoor stage that overlooked the pool was the setting for live music every weekend during the summers.

  Hundreds would gather to eat in the restaurant or have their food and libations delivered by bikini clad waitresses to the poolside tables while they enjoyed the free concerts. Local radio stations often held summer parties here, complete with bikini contests and all the barbeque the partiers could eat.

  Now it was nothing more than an em
pty shell of a building, its crumbling, graffiti covered walls served only as shelter for the occasional squatter. The pool had long since been filled in and the stage was gone. The floating boat slips had moved to their new location, on the other side of the lake. The only other structure that remained was the old, wooden pier, with its Styrofoam pontoons disintegrating into the dirt.

  Alex parked the car in the crumbling lot and walked through the knee deep grass toward the now deserted marina. He wasn’t sure why he came. He didn’t expect to find any evidence here.

  “Remember when we used to come out here late at night and make love on the end of the pier?” Allyson was walking beside him.

  “I remember.” he said.

  “The one time, when we thought we were alone…”

  “And the light came on in that sailboat.” Alex said. They both laughed.

  “You jumped in the water because you were afraid someone would see you naked.” Allyson teased.

  “Yea, and you stayed on the pier, hoping to be seen.”

  He walked slowly to the edge of the pier and stepped up. The weathered boards groaned under his weight.

  “Good times.” he said, softly. He pictured the scene twenty years ago. Cabin cruisers and sailboats rocked gently in their slips, the sound of water lapping at their hulls. He could smell the burgers cooking on charcoal grills. He could hear the partiers, laughing and talking, as they enjoyed the warm summer evenings on the decks of their boats. He thought back to a carefree time when children splashed and played in the water, when he and Allyson talked about getting married and the yacht they would grill burgers on someday.

  Now, the pier rested on the hard, dry ground. The lake had been lowered fifteen years earlier to expose land that would be used to build, what is now, The Cove.

  The shore line, now some fifty yards from the end of the pier, makes the memories of the marina in its heyday, seem even more distant.

  Alex walked to the end of the pier and sat down, still thinking of Allyson and the times they had here. He let his feet dangle off the edge. But now, like Allyson and the dreams they shared, the water was gone. His toes hit only dirt.

  Chapter Four

  The Lady Dragons were up two to nothing in the bottom of the second inning.

  Alex stood outside the fence along the first base line. At nine o’clock the sun was still low enough in the sky that Alex had to use his hand as a visor.

  “Rough night?” Rachel said, startling him.

  “You could say that.” He hadn’t expected to see her today.

  “So, has she spoken to you this morning?”

  “Only to tell me I was going to make her late for the game.” He leaned on the fence and propped his elbows on the top. “So, what brings you here?”

  “Carmen invited me. She said it would be nice to have someone to watch her play.”

  “That’s nice.” Alex said, shaking his head. “I told her I’d be here.”

  “What, you told her as you were walking out the door on her prom night? I guess now you can see her point.”

  Alex let out a sigh. “I suppose I can.” He folded both arms across the top of the chain link fence and leaned forward to stretch his back.

  Rachel rested her arms on top of the fence beside him. “We talked some last night. I think she understands why you have to be gone so much. She doesn’t like it, but she understands.”

  “I can’t control when I’m called. I tried to explain that.”

  “She is a sixteen year old girl who needs her father. You’re all she’s got.” Rachel turned toward Alex. “The teen years are a very emotional time for girls. Trust me, I used to be one. A father is supposed to be there to protect her, to scrutinize her dates and her mother is supposed to be there for support, to act as a buffer between her dad and the boys she brings home. Kids may tell you different, but I think deep down, that’s how they know parents really care.” Rachel looked at Alex for a reaction. “Carmen has neither. She needs to be able to deal with that, to have an emotional outlet. She knows you can’t be there all the time. She just wants you to understand her point of view. That’s all.”

  “I do understand. I just don’t know what to do about it.” He kept his gaze on the field, avoiding eye contact, as she continued her speech. Rachel lost something too when Allyson died. She and Carmen had grown very close, helping each other cope with the loss. Too close for Alex. He was a private person, not one to wear his feelings on his sleeve. He had intentionally kept Rachel at arm’s length. He had withdrawn from life after Allyson’s death, choosing instead to put up walls to keep the world out. It took him two years of therapy to realize that those walls had kept his daughter out, as well.

  “Are you even listening to me?” Rachel was saying.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “She needs a female influence in her life, someone she can talk to about her feelings, things she can’t share with you.”

  Alex stood quietly. He knew she was right. Carmen couldn’t confide in him the way she could a woman. What to do about it was an entirely different question. He wasn’t ready to enter into any kind of relationship.

  “I’m honored that she called me and I’m more than happy to fill that role until you find someone.”

  “What do you mean, until I find someone?”

  “You know what I mean. No one could ever replace Allyson, I’m not saying that. I mean someone to fill that role in the family.”

  “Carmen and I are just fine. Besides, I can’t become involved with anyone. I’m not ready.”

  “Why, because of Allyson?” Rachel waited for a response but received none. “Alex, it’s been two years. Life goes on, if you let it.”

  “Way to swing baby!” Alex shouted. Carmen was at bat. “C’mon baby.”

  Carmen looked toward her father then back at the pitcher. Another pitch and the ball flew between shortstop and third. Carmen ran to first, beating the throw from left field. As she settled onto the bag, she smiled and waved at Rachel, but did not make eye contact with her father.

  “Good job baby, way to run.” Alex cheered.

  “Way to go sweetie.” Rachel shouted to her.

  “She told me she would love to see you start dating.” Rachel turned her attention back to Alex.

  “I told you, I can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Because, it wouldn’t be fair.” Alex realized he was raising his voice.

  “To who?”

  “To the woman, whoever she may be. No one should have to compete with a ghost.” Alex said softly, “She’s still very much a part of me, you know.”

  “She always will be, for Carmen too, but that shouldn’t keep you both from leading a full life. Do you think this is what Allyson would want?”

  “Is that why she called you?”

  “She called me because she didn’t want to be alone on her prom night. And if she calls again, I’ll be there.”

  Alex looked at her. “I know she appreciates it.”

  The ball suddenly flew past Carmen and landed in right field. Carmen headed for second. “Run baby run.” Alex shouted.

  They stood, not speaking for several minutes. Alex didn’t want to seem rude but Rachel was making him very uncomfortable. It wasn’t just the conversation that made him fidget. It was the way the sun glinted off her rich brown hair, accenting the reddish highlight as the breeze gently blew it across her face. Rachel must have noticed. She offered a slight smile and changed the subject.

  “So, on a more serious note,” Rachel smiled, “How much do you know about computers?”

  “Computers? I know just enough to get by at work. Why?”

  “I’ve got this case I’m investigating; a security breech at a car dealership. Someone hacked into their financial files and stole information on everyone who bought a car there for the past six months. There are several prominent people on the list.”

  “How prominent? Alex asked, feigning interest.

  “A few doctors, lawyer
s, some wealthy business people,” Rachel looked at Alex, “a couple of judges and a state senator.”

  “I’m guessing this dealership doesn’t sell Hyundai or Kia.” He was suddenly more interested.

  “Your guess would be correct.” she said, “It’s the Lexus/Mercedes dealer.”

  “And you need to find a computer expert to find out who and how.”

  “I’d like to run it by your guys. Do you think they would be able to help?”

  “Can’t say. You’d have to ask them, but they could at least point you in the right direction.”

  “Thanks, I will.” Rachel paused before changing the subject. “So, Carmen tells me you’re still seeing a therapist.”

  “She does huh? She is just a wealth of information, isn’t she?” Alex looked away toward right field, slightly embarrassed.

  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve been through a lot, and you still have a huge weight on your shoulders.”

  “I guess I really don’t have anyone else to talk to. Besides, it wasn’t my choice. The department ordered it after Allyson died. You remember. I guess I just kept going because it became a routine.”

  “Well, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I don’t charge by the hour.”

  _________

  The drive home after the game was the first time Carmen had smiled at him all day.

  “She likes you, ya know.”

  “She is a friend of your moms, trying to be nice.” Alex looked straight ahead, never taking his eyes off the road.

  “Dad, I see the way she looks at you.” Carmen jabbed him on the shoulder with her finger. “You should take her out.”

  “What do you mean ‘Take her out’?”

  “You know, on a date. Take her for a nice dinner. Go see a movie.”

  “Carmen, I hardly have time for you. I certainly don’t need another woman in my life right now.”

  “What, like us women are too much trouble?”

  “You know what I mean.”