Pretty Broken Dolls by Jennifer Chase

Chapter Three

Monday 0745 hours

Walking through the forensic division of the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department, Katie felt refreshed from the relaxing weekend and ready for the week. She saw McGaven’s truck in the parking lot and knew that he was already perusing the top tier of the cold case files.

Katie and McGaven used one of the empty forensic offices due to the lack of room upstairs in the detective division. It suited them. The area was quiet and secure, giving them the sufficient space they needed to work through mounds of evidence and paperwork. It was an added bonus that the forensic evidence department wasn’t far away.

Pushing the door open, she wasn’t surprised to see her partner already hard at work.

“How do you always get here before me?” she said, shedding her jacket.

“It’s a gift.”

“I think it’s the fact that you love this job.”

“Maybe.”

Katie’s cell phone rang. “Scott.”

“You here? McGaven, too?” the sheriff said in his gruff business voice.

“Just got here. And yes, Gav is here too.”

“Good.”

“What’s up?” she asked, sensing he had something important to tell them.

“Can you come to my office?”

“Okay. We’ll be there in five.”

The connection ended abruptly.

“Well…” She slowly put her phone down.

“What’s up?” asked McGaven.

“The sheriff has asked for us to meet with him—now. Well, actually, he ordered.”

McGaven stood up, his height making him tower over Katie. “Let’s go.” He put his suit jacket on.

“Let’s see what’s so important.”

* * *

Katie and McGaven reached the sheriff’s office. Katie hesitated at the door, taking a breath to steady her nerves before knocking twice. There was always that terrifying thought that the cold case unit could be cut due to budget costs.

“Come in,” came her uncle’s voice.

Katie glanced at McGaven, whose expression was stoic and difficult to read. She opened the door and they stepped inside.

The sheriff wasn’t alone.

“You!” said Katie, referring to the man sitting across from the sheriff. “Who are you?” She was shocked.

McGaven quietly closed the door, confused and not understanding Katie’s reaction.

“I saw you at the Stanton residence. Who are you?” she insisted.

He was the man that had been watching the Stanton crime scene.

“Just take it easy,” said the sheriff. “It will all be explained.”

Katie stared at him and knew better than to say anything that she might regret.

McGaven took a chair but Katie remained standing.

“This is Special Agent Dane Campbell with the California High Crimes Task Force,” the sheriff began.

Katie was surprised but still didn’t trust the man, based on the way he’d so quickly left the crime scene as she approached him.

“He works high profile and serial murder cases, based out of Sacramento. Special Agent Campbell, this is Detective Katie Scott and Deputy Sean McGaven.”

Campbell nodded. “Nice to meet you both.” He smiled broadly at Katie.

McGaven gave his solemn nod in greeting.

“Special Agent Campbell,” she said. “Can you please explain to me why you were at the crime scene on Friday?”

The sheriff looked directly at Campbell, waiting for an answer.

Campbell chuckled and calmly explained. “I was just briefing Sheriff Scott about everything.”

“That’s it?”

“Detective Scott, take a seat,” said the sheriff.

Katie was about to say something, but dutifully, she took a chair and waited.

“I will let Agent Campbell explain.”

The room became quiet with an uneasy silence. Campbell waited a few extra seconds before he began—as if he wanted to build more tension.

Katie kept her eyes directly on him, trying to get a read on him.

“We’ve been working on three homicides that we suspect are linked,” he began, opening one of three files before him on the desk. The folder contained several photographs and reports. “Victim number one: Nancy Day, thirty-four years old, single, she taught Administration of Justice at a junior college in Placer County. She was found on a bench on the school grounds three years ago, throat cut, body posed, and her charm bracelet hanging in one of the trees like an ornament.” He passed Katie a few of the photos.

She slowly thumbed through them, immediately noticing that the body position was indeed posed, reminding her of a doll or a character in a play. There was dramatic makeup in dark reds drawn around the victim’s lips and eyes. Her long dark hair appeared combed and styled. It was clear that the killer wanted to express a message. But what?

“Who found her?” Katie asked.

“The first person who drove into Littleton College, who was the security officer by the name of Maynard Brighton. Luckily, after he called the police they were able to stop the students and faculty from seeing the crime scene. He has since been cleared of any possible involvement.”

“Administration of Justice. That would be mostly people wanting to become police officers or paralegals, lawyers…” she said.

“Yes. Also county and state jobs as well.”

Katie was intrigued by the crime scene and the potential motive of the killer. She looked at all the photos again—pausing on a close-up of the neck wound.

“Victim number two, Gwen Sanderson, thirty-one years old, she owned a small restaurant/deli called Gwen’s Place, had a boyfriend in Sierra County, and was well liked by the community.” He handed Katie the photos.

Katie passed McGaven the pictures of victim Nancy Day.

“Gwen Sanderson’s body was found two years ago at a Western resort, Roy’s Bed and Breakfast Dude Ranch, which was being remodeled and was closed for the winter,” explained Campbell.

Katie examined the photos of the body attached to a wooden fence at the entrance to the ranch. The body was also posed like a broken doll, with dramatic makeup drawn on her face. Bruises were prominent. Her body was bloodier than the first victim’s. Her throat was also cut, revealing a gaping hole.

Katie finally looked at Campbell and said, “What piece of jewelry was found? A ring?” She had seen the significant damage to her fingers, as if there had been a struggle.

“Very astute, Detective. Yes, it was an antique diamond ring her grandmother had given her on her twenty-first birthday. It was tied with a piece of red ribbon on the post next to her.” He handed her the photo of the ring.

Katie saw that the ribbon was tied nicely and evenly.

“I’m familiar with how you and McGaven operate, retracing the crime scenes from the beginning,” said Campbell.

“What do these cases have to do with us?” Katie looked at the sheriff. “These counties aren’t our jurisdiction.” She continued to study the crime scene characteristics.

“Do we have a cold case that is linked?” asked McGaven. He was clearly intrigued by the cases as he studied them.

Agent Campbell opened another file. “Third victim, Jeanine Trenton, twenty-seven years old, health care specialist, found impaled in her backyard in Raven Woods, in your Sequoia County, by her best friend, about a year ago.”

Katie looked at the agent.

“Why wasn’t she in the cold case files? I don’t recall the name or case.”

“Her case was tagged a couple of weeks after her murder investigation by the California Task Force as possibly linked to the other cases,” said the sheriff. “The case had been put on hold after we had exhausted every avenue available. The case was transferred to the California Task Force.”

Katie looked surprised.

“This case was before you came home,” the sheriff said.

“I see,” she said, handing back the crime scene photos. “I still don’t see what this has to do with me and Gav. I’m sure that Special Agent Campbell has an entire team of investigators to work on these cases.”

Sheriff Scott glanced at Campbell and said, “They’ve exhausted every avenue and have come to us for assistance. He has been impressed by our cold case closure rate and success—”

Campbell interrupted, “I’ve been authorized to recruit who I see fit and you, Detective Scott and Deputy McGaven, are who I’ve chosen to work these cases.”

Katie’s initial anger about how Campbell had presented himself had slowly dissipated, but she was still skeptical about his motives. Something seemed amiss about the entire situation, but she couldn’t pinpoint what bothered her. Glancing at McGaven, he gave her a positive look, meaning that he was game.

“Wait a minute. Please forgive me for a moment. I assume I can speak candidly,” she said.

“Of course,” said the sheriff.

“What are the dates of the murders again? They are a year apart?”

Campbell nodded, watching her closely.

“I see. So you’ve reached the point where you’ve exhausted every avenue, have no new leads and now they are cold cases—but you’re hypothesizing that the killer is going to kill again,” she said. “By my quick calculation it could be anytime now. Is that about right?”

“Yes.”

Katie looked to her uncle and it was difficult to read him. She sighed, making sure her pulse remained steady and calm. “My first loyalty is to the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department working our cold cases. It’s Sheriff Scott’s decision, not mine.”

The sheriff smiled for the first time since the start of the meeting. “I agree with Agent Campbell and I will not stand in the way of these cases. The third victim is in our jurisdiction and is our cold case. That would be where you would start.”

“Who will we be working for?” she asked.

“You will still report to me as usual,” said the sheriff. “And Agent Campbell will be kept up to speed every step of the way. He will give you anything you need.”

“Are we allowed to investigate our way? We will need everything you have on the cases—every note, photo, interview, speculation—everything.”

“Of course.”

“As with any investigation, we cannot guarantee the—”

“Of course, Detective, I’m well aware of that,” he interrupted. “I wouldn’t be here if I had another choice. But I have every confidence in you.”

“Okay, this is settled, then, right?” said Sheriff Scott, looking directly at Katie.

“Can I use Cisco?”

“Of course.”

“Who’s Cisco?” the agent asked.

“My army K9.”

Campbell smiled.

Katie looked to McGaven who subtly nodded. Looking at the photos now scattered across the sheriff’s desk, she captured Campbell’s gaze. “It’s settled.”