Chapter 11
Teller didn’t have any problem chasing down answers as to why a teen had felt so trapped he’d committed suicide, but only after they found the person bent on terrorizing Sachie.
Whoever it was must have known about the teen’s suicide and was tapping into her inevitable nightmares to scare her even more.
But why?
He hoped to get the answers soon. With Swede working the internet, he might be able to learn more about the people who’d publicly threatened Sachie at some point. But while they waited for word from him, they’d do some of their own sleuthing.
Sachie gave him directions to the Hawaii Police Department.
When they walked in, she asked to see Detective Mahalawai. The desk sergeant made a call. Moments later, they were shown into the inner sanctum of the department, weaving between desks to an office in the corner.
Though the door was closed, Sachie knocked on the doorframe.
A man in uniform swiveled in his desk chair and glanced up. “Sachie, come in, come in.” He rose and greeted her with a hug. “How are you?” His brow furrowed as he stared down at Sachie.
“I’m okay,” she said.
Teller wanted to tell the man that was a lie. She was being stalked and had almost been killed. In Teller’s books, that wasn’t okay. But he held his tongue. This was her sandbox, and people she knew and had worked with.
Sachie turned to Teller. “Jim, this is Teller Osgood. He works with the Brotherhood Protectors, an organization based on the Big Island. He’s prior service Army Delta Force, and he’s helping me with an investigation.”
“I’ve heard of them, but you’re the first one I’ve met.” He held out his hand to Teller. “Nice to meet you and thank you for your service.”
“Nice to meet you,” Teller said..
After the detective released Teller’s hand, he turned back to Sachie. “I’d heard you’d moved to the Big Island. What brings you back so soon?”
“The same reason I left,” she responded. “I thought I’d get away from whoever broke into my apartment in Honolulu by moving to the Big Island.”
Jim’s lips thinned. “Didn’t work, did it?”
“I don’t know if you get the reports from Hilo, but someone broke into my house the night before last. He was armed and fired at least three rounds.”
“Damn, Sachie.” The detective ran his gaze over her. “Are you all right? You weren’t hit, were you?”
She shook her head. “No, but Teller was while protecting me.”
Detective Mahalawai’s eyes rounded, his glance shifting to Teller.
Teller raised a hand. “Only a flesh wound.”
“Did you get a look at the perpetrator. Could you identify him?”
Sachie shook her head again. “No. And he didn’t stop at breaking into my house. My office in Hilo burned to the ground in the early hours of yesterday morning, and I was attacked by a drone while staying with a friend at Parkman Ranch. I need to find out who’s doing this and end it.”
The detective nodded. “Were they able to lift prints? Were any clues or messages left behind on any of those attacks?”
“No prints, just like at my apartment here. But yes, on messages. I had a voicemail on my cell phone from an Unknown number stating, You failed me. Now you will pay. And You Failed Me keyed into the side of Teller’s SUV while we were dealing with the fire.”
“Have you done anything to anyone lately that would make them want to hurt you?” His lips twisted.
“I’m sure there’s a long list of angry parents when you removed their children from their abusive homes.
I’ll need names. And what about the kid who committed suicide?
Did he have family or friends who might blame you?
I’ll need their names as well. Have you had a breakup with an obsessive boyfriend who might be angry at being dumped? ”
Sachie snorted. “No, on the boyfriend.” She handed the detective the names of the two people she’d noted from Dr. Janek’s patient database. “These two were parents of small children who’d been physically abused and moved into child protective services. They each swore they would get me.”
“But the message stating You Failed Me sounds more personal,” the detective said. “It’s more personal, like from someone you were counseling who didn’t benefit from your work with them.”
Sachie’s brow furrowed.
Teller could almost guess who Sachie thought of first. She didn’t need someone to tell her she’d failed Luke.
But he was dead. He couldn’t be sending those messages.
If the harassment was revenge for allowing Luke to go through with the suicide, they had to find someone who had cared enough about the teen to blame the last person who saw him alive for allowing him to successfully kill himself.
All the more reason to dig into Luke’s family and friends.
Teller’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket.
While Sachie briefed the detective on her reasons for pulling the names she had, Teller checked his text messages.
Swede had already gotten a hit on those names Teller had given him.
When Teller clicked on the link, he landed on a video of a woman screaming in a courtroom as a man was led out in a prison uniform and handcuffs.
The man glared at the woman and glanced over his shoulder at someone else, who was out of range of the camera.
He shouted something that sounded like, I’ll make you pay for this.
The woman, her hair in disarray, dark circles under her eyes, her face pale and gaunt like those poor souls who were strung out on drugs, screamed at the judge until he slammed down his gavel and called for order.
She had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom by the bailiff.
The article accompanying the video clip reported that the man, Travis Finkel, had been sentenced to two years in prison for child abuse.
The woman, Candice Franklin, had her child officially remanded into the custody of Child Protective Services, as Ms. Franklin had been accused of neglect and endangering her child.
She’d been determined unfit to care for the girl. The report was dated six months ago.
A moment later, another link appeared in a text message from Swede.
It was a link to a news article from a Hawaiian online news source, reporting the same woman, Candice Franklin, had been rushed to the hospital after her boyfriend, fresh out of prison after only serving six months of a two-year sentence for child abuse, had violated his parole, brutally attacked her and then disappeared.
The police had issued an All-Points Bulletin for Travis Finkel, warning the public he was dangerous.
The article was dated two weeks ago—around the same time Luke had shot himself and Sachie’s troubles had begun.
A man fresh out of prison might be interested in dishing out some payback for the ones responsible for putting him there, especially if he’d promised to do just that during his hearing.
Swede also sent the name, address and phone number of Finkel’s parole officer and the man’s grandmother, who lived on the opposite side of the island.
“We’ll check into these people,” the detective said.
Teller glanced up. “My contact says Travis Finkel was released from prison two weeks ago and has since put Candice Franklin in the hospital. You’ll have to find him before you can ask if he’s the one who has been targeting Ms. Moore because he’s since disappeared.”
The detective frowned. “I hadn’t heard, but I’ll be sure to let you know when we find him.”
Teller’s eyes narrowed. “Hopefully, before he finds Ms. Moore.”
Detective Mahalawai looked from Teller to Sachie. “Will you two be staying on Oahu?”
Sachie’s gaze met Teller’s. “We’ll be here until we determine who’s stalking me.”
Teller added, “And put a stop to his terror campaign against Ms. Moore.”
Mahalawai nodded. “I take it you’ll be looking into the potential suspects as well?”
Teller nodded.
“I’ll let you know what we find,” the detective said. “Please keep us informed on anything you uncover or names of other people you might suspect.”
“We will.” Sachie slipped her hand into the crook of Teller’s elbow. “Thank you for your time, Detective Mahalawai.”
Teller led Sachie back through the maze of desks to the exit.
Before they reached the exit, a police officer waved at them from across the room. “Sachie Moore, is that you?”
Sachie smiled and waited while the man made his way toward them. “Officer Roland, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, it has.” He shook her hand. “What was it? The case with the teen runaway who was reported missing?”
She nodded. “I think that was the one. What was it, almost two years ago?”
Roland nodded. “It’s good to see you. Are you still consulting for the Child Protective Services?”
Sachie shook her head. “No. I moved to another island. I’m only on Oahu for a brief stay.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure they miss you with all the work you did helping get kids out of bad situations.”
The officer frowned. “Did your move have anything to do with the teen who committed suicide?” The man shook his head. “That had to have been a traumatic experience.”
Sachie nodded, but didn’t respond.
“What makes a kid do something like that?” the officer asked. “Did he tell you what was bothering him?”
“He was a troubled you man. I thought he was on his way to getting his life together and then—” she waved her hand. “I was shocked.”
Roland touched her arm. “I’m sure you were. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“I’m sorry it happened to him.” Sachie gave the officer a stiff smile. “I need to go. It was good to see you again.”
She turned and hurried toward the exit.
Once they were in the rental car, Teller reached across the console and took her hand without saying a word.