CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHARLIE
I wake to the beep, beep, beep of someone’s car alarm. Oh the joys of city living. Groaning, I try to rub the sleep from my face and get up to prepare myself for a weekend alone. After showering and throwing my copper mane into a top knot, I make my way to the kitchen to make myself the most girl breakfast imaginable. Coffee. Once I have a warm mug in my hands, I make my way to my couch, drape my fluffy throw blanket over my lap, grab my laptop, and turn on the news.
Logging into my email and socials, I do a quick scan for any messages or comments from friends. The news has been pretty boring these last few days. I hear the weather report as I type a response to a friend on Instagram. Then, I hear the high pitch introduction that usually means there’s breaking news.
Naomi Patterson, the anchor for Chicago 9 News is suddenly on the screen, “Just last night there was another shooting in Washington Park”. I lean in toward the television, my interest is piqued. “This is the third shooting in just over a month. Police say they have no leads at this time. We tried to get a statement from lead Detective Missy Graves, who said they have no comment at this time.”
I have a not-so-out-of-the-box feeling this is the turf war Olivia was talking about. After the brief, unsatisfying report, I decide to do some research on the area where the shooting occurred while I finish watching the news. I notice a pattern of these “attacks”. They appear to be two to three men against one, and the locations are all within a three mile radius of the same park. The one on the news this morning, Washington Park, plus each attack, and or murder, was twelve days after the previous. There is a rotation these guys are following. Someone must have caught it by now. That's why they stopped for a few months in the winter!
I need to go there and investigate, maybe ask some questions. See if I am on the right track. I get ready to leave the house and make sure my bag is packed with all the essentials. Then, making sure my address was saved in my maps, I get ready to take a short drive to the south side.
It took me thirty minutes to find parking anywhere near the park. I made sure to pack some food, a notebook, and my laptop just in case. I had to walk three blocks to get to the scene, red and blue lights still flashing. Since the shooting happened just last night, police were still clearing the scene. I can see yellow crime-scene-do-not-cross tape stretched across one section of the park. I make my way toward a couple of officers and try to wave them down.
“Hey, excuse me! Officer!” One of the men finally looks my way, and I give a hesitant wave and a soft smile as he makes his way over to where I’m standing. There aren’t many people near the crime scene, which I find a bit odd. I’m not sure what I was expecting, seeing as I’ve never been to a crime scene in a big city before, but I thought there’d be more people around.
“Sorry ma’am, it's been a busy morning and this is an active crime scene! I am going to have to ask you to step back and follow the detour signs around the park.” I had a feeling this might happen. Thankfully I grabbed my press badge before leaving the apartment. I take it out of my bag and show it to the officer.
“Sorry, I just have a couple of questions. Maybe you can help me, officer…?” I say dragging the last word out hoping he takes the hint. I can see his name badge, but I choose to let him introduce himself to me.
“Keenly, Officer Keenly, and I am sorry I can’t really help you. As I said, this is an active crime scene and an ongoing investigation, and to be honest, Miss, we are just here to make sure people don’t walk in or mess with anything. The detective in charge would be better suited to answer any questions you have.”
He’s actually kind of cute, if you like cops, maybe six feet tall with dark, wavy chocolate brown hair styled short. The light blue t-shirt of his uniform hugs tightly against his biceps and his golden brown skin.
“I totally understand. Would you be able to point me in the detective’s direction? My boss just wants at least a couple quotes for Monday’s edition,” I say looking up at him with pleading eyes and a bright smile hoping he will throw me a bone here. He sighs and a smile tugs the corner of his mouth.
“Okay, I will tell you, but you have to give me your name first.”
I begin to beam knowing I now have an in with Officer Keenly and introduce myself, “My name is Charlotte.” I let a genuine smile cross my face and reach out my hand to shake his. His smile is beautiful, bright and makes me feel at ease.
“Charlotte, well it is nice to meet you. If you follow this path around the curve you’ll see a fountain. It’s huge. You can’t miss it. Detective Missy Graves is who you are looking for, and she should be over there.”
“Missy Graves. Got it! Thank you very much Officer Keenly. I appreciate your help and hope to see you around.”
I quickly pull out a notepad and jot down Officer Keenly’s name and the detective’s name so I won’t forget. On the news this morning, the anchor mentioned Missy Graves, but I didn’t think to jot her name down. Missy Graves isn’t a very common name, but it sounded familiar. I start thinking about where I might have heard that name before as I make my way toward the fountain Keenly pointed out to me.
I should have known it would be a bust to try and talk to a detective at a crime scene, but I had to try. I was able to get some pictures and scope out the park. It really is a beautiful park. There are tall, luscious bur oak trees, beautifully designed fountains, and gorgeous statues smack dab in the middle of a concrete jungle.
I introduced myself to a few more local PD, but there was no sign of detective Missy Graves. It took some effort to find anything worth taking note of for this case. As I was browsing, I noticed some officers talking just as I was passing the Fountain of Time. I slowed my pace and focused on the intricate details of the fountain while listening in on their conversation.
A tall, blonde cop said, “Detective Graves didn’t seem too interested.” He was skinny, like a bean pole, and his hair flipped up under his cap. He sounded fairly young.
“I know! It seemed like she wanted this to be a serial killer, but as soon as she figured it was ‘just more gang violence’ she left,” A second cop said with a touch of aggravation. He actually used finger quotes when he talked about gang violence. I notice he’s tall and large, like a bear in a police uniform. Not only is he big like a bear, but he’s hairy too. He has a black mustache with a long, matching beard that is streaked with a bit of grey. His voice is kind for him being so large.
“It’s like she doesn’t think gang violence is important,” The blonde cop sighed, “This was a violent crime. Did you see the one guy's face?” the young cop said exasperated.
“Yea. I don’t know much about serial killers, but I’m pretty sure they don’t beat their victims to a pulp and then shoot them several times,” the older cop said. “This seems too personal to me, but like I said, what do I know? I’m only a beat cop with twenty-five year’s experience. Who would listen to me?” He continued, frustrated.
These men sound like they know more about what goes on in this city that any detective would.
The young, blond cop lifted his shoulders as if to say I don’t know and then asked, “Should we keep canvasing the park and see if there’s anyone around who is willing to talk to us?”
The bear of a cop chuckled in a low baritone, “You know no one around here is going to fess up to seeing anything last night. They’re too scared.”
Both cops started walking the opposite direction from where I’m standing, so I take the time to jot down a few notes. Now I really want to find this Missy Graves and talk with her. I have more questions than answers at this point. Who doesn’t care about gang violence in the city? I guess when you’re a detective, you have more high profile cases to deal with. It’s frustrating though. I really hoped to get some answers tonight.
It was a little after five by the time I got home, so I decided to order take out from the Chinese place down the block. Sitting on the couch with my legs crossed like a pretzel, I eat my Chinese and turn on the TV. After finishing my Kung Pao chicken topped with peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers, I take out my laptop and start scouring the internet for Missy Graves. There’s plenty of information about all the awards she’s won for closing cases quickly and even rescuing a handful of women from a sex trafficking ring, but there are no images of her anywhere. How odd!
I will have to ask around about her at the office on Monday. I close my laptop and uncross my legs. After I stand up and stretch out the aches in my arms and legs, I put the leftover Kun Pao in the fridge and make my way to the bathroom to get ready for bed when I hear my phone ping with a new text notification.
Dominic: Hey CC! How goes it?
Charlie: Hey D! Long time no talk. How’s Italy?
It’s been a bit since I have heard about his European adventure. So I set my phone up on my bathroom counter while starting my nightly skincare routine. Waiting patiently for storytime with Dom to start.
Dominic: It’s alright, I have news you’re gonna love!
Scrubbing my face with my exfoliant I roll my eyes wondering what shenanigans he got up to now.
Charlie: I dont know about that, but shoot. What’s the news?
Dominic: Guess who’s coming home early?
I almost drop my phone while reading his news! I am both excited and concerned! Excited because I will actually have a friend in the city I can attempt to make plans with and concerned because, what if something bad happened?
Charlie: SHUT UP! Why? Did something bad happen? Not that I’m not excited to see you or anything because trust me I am.
Dominic: Would you believe me if I said it’s because I miss your face.
I literally roll my eyes and face palm at that ridiculousness. Almost forgetting I applied my face mask and I really don't want that goo all over my phone.
Charlie: Haha no way! When are you going to be back.
Dominic: Kinda up in the air right now, but I will let you know as soon as I do.
Charlie: Sounds like a plan. I’m headed to bed. Have a good night and see you when you get home!
I rinse my face and tuck into bed right as I get his last text.
Dominic: Good night, CC! See you soon!