Jeff and Kirk pull up to the small tranquil park in the center of town. On either side of its grand entryway sits colorful, fragrant blooms. The winding mile-long path leads visitors through the park's lush greenery. The center of the park sits a quant ivory gazebo offering visitors a quiet, shaded place to rest. A vibrant selection of flowers surrounds the pavilion giving the park its heavenly scent. A small play area occupies the far corner of the lot. A picnic areas is centered between the playground and the road.
On the opposite corner sits Berryville's famous pond, now home to various water fowl. Back in 1879, sickly people from all around flocked into town hoping they'd found their cure. Its healing powers were quickly overshadowed by Eureka Springs true healing springs.
"We're at the crime scene, sarge." Kirk glances around and adds, "There's a lot of people here tonight." Climbing out of the car, he turns the phone toward the crowd. "I believe it's a concert. Part of Eureka Springs festivities perhaps?" The town always seems to have some type of celebration going on which more often than not spills into their quiet town.
Potential witnesses, Rachel thinks, eyeing the growing crowd.
They're over here, an officer says, motioning the two along.
They arrive to find two women sitting in the pavilion. Their bodies were propped up by wire attached to eye hooks screwed into the ceiling. It'd have to take a lot of time and effort to stage this," Jeff says,
Kirk quickly scans the crowd and says, "So someone would have to have seen something."
"Bring the phone closer, Rachel instructs. Good, now follow the wire up to the ceiling. Ok now I need a closeup of the two victims." Kirk does as he's told. "That's good, thanks."
"What do you want us to do, Sarge?"
Jeff, you and Mike start interviewing the crowd to see if they saw anything. Kirk, I want you to take me to Sharon."
, Walking over to the ME Kirk asks, "What can you tell us?"
"Us?" She questions, glancing around.
He points to the phone and says, "Jerry and the Sergeant are on video call."
"You listen to what the doctor says, Rachel, no more sneaking off to the vending machines, you hear me?" Sharon instructs, wagging her finger at the phone.
"Jerry told you, did he?" Rachel asks, glaring at her partner.
"He said you weren't staying in bed, like the doctor said."
"I was starving." She whines.
"I'm sure the nurses will get you something if you ask."
"I don't want to bother them, every time I need to pee or want something to eat. God knows they have enough to do without having to cater to me."
"So you'd rather risk hurting yourself than ask for help?"
"Well I.."
"Either start asking or I'll come babysit you myself. Do I make myself clear, young lady?" Sharon watched Rachel back in the day and is one of the few who can get by with scolding her this way. The reason Jerry mentioned it to her, reasoning that it was for her own good.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Now that's taken care of." Sharon turns toward the victim's and says, "Both women died recently within a couple of hours."
Rachel glances at the clock and thinks, so he must have set it up shortly before he called me. "What's the cause of death?"
Blunt force trauma to the back of the head. Since head wounds bleed excessively and there's minimal blood at the scene, I'd say this one like the others was staged."
Kirk glances around the park and asks, "He managed to stage all of this with everyone around?"
"He's getting more confident, courageous and you know as well as I do that it's his intrepidness that will get him caught."
Rachel's phone rings. Seeing it's coming from her husband she says, "I'll call you right back. Hanging up she answers the second call. "Is everything alright, Joe?"
A dark gritty voice echoes over the phone. "This is your last warning, sergeant. "Come after me again and everyone dies." The call disconnects.
Seeing the color drain from her face, Jerry asks, "Is everything alright?"
"The kidnapper said he'd kill my family if I come after him again." Rachel' glances at the phone and adds. "The call came from Joe's cell." Horrid thoughts race through her mind. Her hands begin to tremble, her heart pounds furiously in her chest. With terror in her eyes, she turns and says, "He's got Joe, Jerry. The killer has Joe."
Taking the phone away, Jerry redials the number. Putting it on speaker, they anxiously wait for the call to connect.
"Are you alright, Joe?" Rachel blurts out before he has time to speak.
"I'm fine, why?"
"Becca and the kids are safe?"
He glances at the computer and says, "They're doing their normal thing. Becca is feeding her baby, Lulu is down for the night and our little guy is running through the house." Rachel breathes a sigh of relief. "What's going on, Rach?"
"I just got a call from the killer saying everyone would die if I didn't back off." Tearing up, she adds, "This is my fault Joe. It's my fault they're still in danger. I should've let them leave with mom and dad instead of insisting they stay."
"Who's to say he wouldn't have hijacked the plane if you had?"
"Maybe I should send them to Aunt Martha's or something, somewhere he doesn't know where they're at."
"Your Aunt Martha's? Where the only police is a county sheriff miles away?" It was true, the town being as small as it was, and with no real crime to speak of, didn't feel a police force was necessary. "Don't worry, honey, they're fine where they're at."
"Are you sure Joe?"
"I have the best of the best keeping everyone safe." He pauses a second then asks, "The guy who threatened you, Is it the same one that's been calling you these past few weeks?"
"No, it's a different one. His voice is a lot deeper, grittier and he didn't have a southern twang."
"Did you try to trace the call?"
"The caller ID says it came from your phone, that's why I was so terrified when I called."
"I bet the call was spoofed."
"Spoofed, of course."
"Kirk ran the picture you sent through facial recognition, but didn't find anything."
"That figures."
"Don't worry Rachel, we'll find them both before long."
"I sure hope so, because I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. The nurse is here, Joe. I need to go."
"Tell Jerr I should be there shortly."
"See you when you get here." Disconnecting the call she hears;
"I'm sorry, sir but visitors aren't allowed on this floor past eight." Tapping on her watch she adds, "And it's nearly nine."
"Call the administrator, she'll tell you it's alright."
"The administrator left hours ago."
"Call her at home then."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, sir."
"I'll call her then." Scooping his phone off the table, he starts to dial her number.
Grabbing a hold of Jerry's arm, the nurse pushes him towards the door. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave until I hear otherwise, hospital rules the way they are and all."
"You don't understand, Rachel will be in grave danger if I go."
"Our own security team is well equipped to handle things that might arise," she says, motioning to the guards.
Grabbing a chair from the room, Jerry moves it to the hall. Plopping down in the seat, he crosses his arms, and says, "I'll stay out here then."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that either."
"Can't or won't?" He asks, springing up from his seat.
Squaring her shoulders, she glares into his eyes and says, "I will not risk my job over this."
"You're going to have to go sir." An officer says, grabbing his arm, he leads him down the hall.
Pulling away, Jerry spins around and says, "I'm family." Jerry lies.
"It's time to go, sir." The guards each grab an arm and lead him down the hall.
"You haven't seen the last of me," Jerry growls as the elevator doors pull too. Dialing a number he waits for the call to connect. " Boss, it's Jerr we have a situation at the hospital." He glances at the two beside him and adds, "I'm being escorted off the floor…" "I did, but the old battle ax said she wasn't aware."
Rachel is watching the scene unfold when an orderly steps into the room. "I need to check your IV." Nervously glancing behind him, he heads toward the machine.