Chapter 36
Dana broke down into sobs. “How could I have been so wrong about this?”
“I think a lot of people were wrong about Ray for a long time,” I said. “Tell me about Stephen Pike.”
“Chris put us in touch,” she said, wiping her eyes.
“He told me about his sister, about the horrible things that were done to her. After what Chris had shared with me, I despised Ray. I was convinced he was a killer.” She paused.
“I don’t know how the idea first came about.
I spoke to Stephen on a regular basis. Truth be told, I grew quite fond of our conversations.
They weren’t all about horrible things. One night, he said he could take care of the problem.
I knew what he meant.” Tears filled her eyes again.
“He told me to just say the word, and he would serve justice.
I think he wanted my permission. I didn't want anything to happen around the kids or near the house.
When Ray went out on the house call, I let Stephen know.
I gave him the address, and that was it.
" The tears spilled over, and she broke down into sobs again.
"I need you to come down to the station and repeat what you just told me," I said.
She nodded.
"I’m going to take you into custody. Stand up, turn around, and place your hands behind your back."
Panic filled her eyes. "What about my kids? They’ll be out of school soon.”
"Is there someone you can call to look after them?”
She nodded. "I can call Tricia."
"I'll let you call her from the station," I said. “DCF will be notified.”
Dana complied, and I slapped the cuffs around her wrists. “You have the right to remain silent…”
Denise called for a patrol unit, and I escorted Dana to the curb when the squad car arrived.
A few curious neighbors peered through blinds. She’d be the talk of the neighborhood before long.
I stuffed Dana into the back of the patrol car, and she was taken to the station, processed, and printed.
Denise and I returned, filled out after-action reports, then I paid Dana a visit. She repeated her statement for the camera, then I filled out an application for a warrant.
Judge Echols signed off on it.
I called Jack. “Hey, we’re going to pop the guy who killed Ray.”
“What!?”
I told him the story.
“I don’t want to miss out on this.”
“Bring Madelyn to the station. She’ll be safe here.”
“Let me see if she’s agreeable.” Jack said he’d call me back and ended the call.
“I want in on this,” Denise said.
“No.”
“Yes!”
“You’re still recovering.”
“I’m fine.”
I gave her a concerned look.
“I’ll be fine. We’re just picking up a perp.”
“Who’s armed and dangerous?”
She gave me a flat look. “He’s not that dangerous.”
“He killed a man.”
She wasn’t taking no for an answer.
I raised my hands in surrender. “Clear it with the sheriff.”
Denise grinned and darted off to find him.
Jack brought Madelyn to the station. Dressed in a new outfit, she looked delightful.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I said. “This won’t take long.”
“No problem. JD was kind enough to chauffeur me around all day. I’ll just get some work done. Is there somewhere out of the way I can set up?”
I escorted her to the conference room. Madelyn pulled a laptop from a bag and set it on the table. “Stay safe out there.”
“Always,” I replied.
“I’m kinda screwed if you guys get taken out.”
“We’ll be careful,” Jack assured.
Before long, we had a tactical team at Stephen’s workplace. He was an account executive at First Oceanic Bank on North Beach Boulevard.
We entered the bank, and I flashed my badge discreetly to the security guard. “Looking for Stephen Pike?”
With a concerned expression, the guard pointed to a cubicle in the back.
The teller windows were to the left upon entrance. In the center, a series of open mahogany cubicles. Along the far wall were private offices. The vault and the restrooms were located to the right.
The tac team moved along the far side of the cubicles and surrounded Stephen Pike's office. He was with a customer at the moment. A young brunette woman filled out some kind of application.
Stephen looked at us with concern and said, "I'll be with you in a moment.”
I flashed my badge and said, "Your moment is up.”
Panic filled his eyes.
"Turnaround and put your hands behind your back.”
"I don't understand. What's going on?”
"You're under arrest for the murder of Ray Coleman.”
Stephen swallowed hard, thought about his options for a moment, then decided his best course of action was to comply.
His client’s eyes rounded.
Stephen stood up and assumed the position.
I slapped the cuffs around his wrists. "You have the right to remain silent…”
I escorted him out of the cubicle and through the bank.
Curious patrons stared.
I walked him through the foyer and down the steps to a patrol car and stuffed him in the back.
Deputies searched his desk, but didn't find a weapon.
Deputy Clark drove the perp to the station.
We left the bank and searched Stephen’s apartment in the Trident Tower. In the nightstand by the bed, we found a .22 Ruger with a suppressor attached to the threaded barrel. There was no doubt in my mind the ballistics would match. The lab had already ruled out Bobby Boyd’s gun.
At the station, we filled out after-action reports, then paid Stephen a visit in the interrogation room. With a somber look on his face, he knew he wasn't getting out of this one.
I set his empty pistol on the table in an evidence bag.
Stephen’s eyes fixated on it for a moment, and he swallowed hard.
It was tragic. I almost felt bad for him. What happened to his sister was horrible.
"I don't think there's really anything to discuss at this point," I said. "You killed Ray Coleman. You thought he was responsible for your sister's death.”
The muscles in his jaw flexed. "He is responsible for my sister's death.”
I shook my head and told him the truth.
He didn't believe me.
"No,” he said. “That's not possible. Ray Corbin was the Bay Strangler.”
I showed him a picture of Earl Maddox. "That's the Bay Strangler."
Stephen looked at it for a moment. "Who's that?”
"That's the man who killed your sister. Not Ray Coleman.”
A look of dread filled his eyes, and his skin went pale. Mists of sweat sprouted on his forehead, and he swallowed. "I want an attorney."
It wasn't going to do him any good at this point.
JD and I pushed away from the table and walked to the door. A guard buzzed us out, and we joined the sheriff in the hallway.
Daniels had a grim look on his face. "We’ve got a little problem.”
I groaned. "What is it now?”
"Mendoza lost Earl.”
An exasperated look flashed on my face. “What!?”
Daniels shrugged. "It happens.”
I knew all too well that sometimes a suspect could prove elusive.
"We’ll pick him up,” Daniels assured. “I’ve got a BOLO out on him.”
“Let me know the minute you get eyes on him.”
The sheriff nodded.
I found Denise at her desk and thanked her for the assist.
"Any time," she said with a smile. "That was fun!”
It was always satisfying to close a case, but this was far from over.
JD and I found Madelyn in the conference room. She frantically typed away on the keys, hyper-focused on a project.
"Are you ready to go?" I asked.
With a few more taps of the keys, she finished her thought, closed the lid of the laptop, and smiled. "I sure am. Everything work out okay?"
"Mission accomplished," Jack said.
JD escorted her out of the station and back to the Wild Fury van. I hopped on my bike and followed them back to the marina at Diver Down.
My phone buzzed with a call from Teagan when I climbed off the bike. "Hey, I just saw you pull into the parking lot. Can you come in here? This guy is really creeping me out.”
"What's he doing?”
"Just get in here.”
I told JD we had a situation and to take Madelyn back to the boat. He did, and I stepped into Diver Down and knew right away what the problem was.