Chapter 30
Ben was bruised and pale when she picked him up, and Lainie felt guilty about asking him to come along.
“You look awful. Maybe I should let you rest,” Lainie said as he settled into the passenger seat.
“My wound is not life threatening. Doctor said no concussion. But who likes to have a needle and thread pulled though their skin? The pain pills are making me loopy.”
“All right, Loopy, I’ll let you rest.”
“Humph.”
A few minutes later a side glance told her he’d closed his eyes.
She concentrated on the road, though she longed to talk to the guy next to her.
After she had called Ben and asked if he wanted to come along, she realized that she truly had no idea what she would or could do at the hospital.
But if this woman really had impersonated her sister, then she was a part of whatever happened to Evie—most likely a big part.
I’d like to confront her, Lainie thought. Shake the truth out of her. Why did she help Stan with his hoax and what else did she help Stan with?
But right now, Benton couldn’t talk. Still, she was the last link to Stan. Lainie was glad she didn’t have to do this alone.
The drive to St. Bernardine took forty minutes, and Ben slept most of the way. He woke up when she exited the freeway. He yawned. “I hope I didn’t snore.”
“No snore, just a little drool.”
“What?” He wiped his face, and she laughed. She was giddy because she was tired.
“Ha, ha.” He stretched. “Seriously, what are we going to do here? She’s in a coma.”
“You’re just asking that now?”
“I’m on pain pills. What’s your excuse?”
The giddiness faded. “I need to find out what happened to Evie. The reason we were certain Evie didn’t die in Hawaii was because of Benton being there. And if Benton is here in this hospital, how could she have been in Hawaii? She also couldn’t have shot anyone at the car wash.”
“The more I thought about it, the more I realized that she could still have been in Hawaii.” Ben rubbed his eyes. “I need to see the collision report and check the times, but she still could have been here. She would have had to leave right after she tried to run you over.”
“And then she got snatched up by Vine?”
“That’s the direction I’m going.”
“I’m not sure that works for me, but I have nothing better. I want to see her and confirm that she’s really seriously injured. If so, then Stan is the only one left to find.”
He nodded and grimaced in pain. “I’ve been praying that we get some answers. Maybe they will all be here.”
“You’re a believer?” Lainie asked, surprising herself with the question. She hadn’t been bold enough to ask such a question in a long time.
“Yes, I am. You?”
She nodded. “I’m kind of a failure at it. But I’m trying.”
“We’re all failures at some level. That’s why we need a Savior.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
“Because it’s true.”
Lainie didn’t have a comeback for that.
She parked the car and respected Ben a little more knowing where he stood spiritually. I am moving back to where I belong, she thought.
They met Shea and Collins in the hospital lobby.
They stood with a third man. Shea introduced him as Detective Gardner, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, accident investigation.
Next to Gardner on a small table was a banker’s box, the kind officers used to store belongings and/or evidence.
“Any change in her condition?” Lainie asked.
“Actually, maybe she’s a little bit better. They’ve begun the process of weaning her off the coma drugs. She hasn’t declined in the last several hours, and the swelling in her brain has decreased.
“We’ve hit dead ends on her next of kin,” Gardner continued. “We were able to contact next of kin for the two men who died in the car. But none of those we’ve interviewed can shed any light on what was going on, why Benton was bound, where the trio had been, and where they were going.”
“Have you been able to contact anyone who knows Benton, say from her work?” Lainie asked.
“No. We’ve left messages. But the address for her place of business is in Long Beach.
I haven’t driven out there yet. I’m hoping you guys will be able to take care of that.
” Gardner gestured to the box. “Here are all the personal belongings collected from the crash, both for Benton and the phones taken from the two deceased individuals. They’re damaged, but maybe they’ll prove useful to you.
Also, the folder on top is the completed accident report. ”
“Thank you,” Shea said.
Collins picked up the box. “Thanks for your help with this, and thanks for the report.”
“No problem. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
Gardner left, and the four of them headed for the elevator.
It was late, past visiting hours. The ride to the Critical Care floor was quiet.
They exited the elevator to the waiting room.
The Critical Care Unit itself was behind two locked double doors.
To access this floor, a visitor would need to be with a doctor or nurse who could open the doors with a magnetic card, or there was an intercom through which a visitor could speak to a nurse on the floor and ask to be buzzed in.
“Her doctor said he’d come talk to us about her condition.” Collins handed Lainie the box. “Maybe you and Ben could rummage through this, check out the report and the nature of the belongings.”
Lainie took the box and set it on a small table in the waiting room.
Collins removed some disposable gloves from his pocket. “I think there are two pairs here. I always like to be prepared.”
Ben took the gloves. “Thanks.” He separated two pairs and handed one to Lainie. She was about to open the box when a doctor stepped off the elevator.
“I’m Dr. Hardin. Which one of you is Detective Shea?”
Shea stepped forward. “That would be me.”
“All of you can’t go in to see her. In fact, I don’t know if anyone should. We’ve been unable to locate next of kin.”
“Detective Gardner indicated that she might be getting better.”
“I’m guardedly optimistic. She’s not getting worse. The swelling in her brain is easing. It’s possible we can try and wake her up tomorrow, but I can’t say for certain. Is it necessary to see her?”
“She’s a suspect we need to speak to regarding an ongoing investigation. I need to document her condition and her status.”
“Okay, I understand. I’ll take you back, Detective Shea, but only you.”
Lainie felt discouragement bite. However, she’d get no satisfaction just seeing a comatose woman lying in a hospital bed. She felt the need to pray for the woman, that she did heal and that she would face justice if she did, in fact, have something to do with Evie’s disappearance.
“Sorry, Lainie.”
“That’s all right, I get it.”
The doctor slid his card and opened the magnetic lock. The two men entered the double doors, and they closed behind them with a whoosh.
“We have the box to go through,” Collins said, donning his own gloves.
The three took seats around the box, Ben next to Lainie, as she removed the lid.
“Let’s start with the accident report.” They began to sift through the file.
Lainie noted that the primary collision factor for the crash was listed as “tire failure,” followed by “excessive speed.” Route 330 went up from the valley floor to the ski areas in the San Bernardino Mountains.
It was steep and winding, and an over-the-edge rollover accident was more likely than not to be fatal.
Especially if the vehicle was traveling too fast.
They passed around the photos, which were graphic. The vehicle was a Chevy Suburban, and it was flattened. It was a miracle anyone survived. The driver and front passenger didn’t.
An old booking photo of the gang member who’d been driving was included in the folder. Hector Rollins was his name.
Lainie studied it. His tats gave him away, but he was not anyone she’d ever seen before. The only photo of the car wash employee, Raphael Diaz, was of his body. She couldn’t say she recognized him either. But then she didn’t ever get her car washed at Stan’s place.
“Here.” Ben pointed to a paragraph near the narrative’s end. Lainie had been concentrating on the pictures. “They recovered three handguns, duct tape, handcuffs, and several knives from the wreckage.”
Lainie looked up at Collins. “What’s up with all the weapons?”
“Rollins was a known gangbanger. Not sure about Diaz. The inventory sheet states that the guns were legal, registered to Diaz, as was the car.” He shook his head.
“My read on this situation is that since Benton was bound, maybe Vine found out she and your brother-in-law were embezzling from him so he ordered her be taken care of,” Ben said. “That’s only speculation. What was going on in that car, we just don’t know.”
Collins nodded. “With the speed the vehicle was traveling, it would not have taken much to make the driver lose control. He obviously could not react correctly when the tire blew. The Suburban is a top-heavy vehicle. The gang member driving didn’t have a valid license.”
“It’s a miracle anyone survived this,” Ben said, as he flipped through more photos. Lainie had to agree.
She continued reading through the accident report.
There was not a lot in the narrative because no one in the vehicle could tell them where they had been or what they had been doing.
And there were no witnesses to the crash.
A motorist some distance behind the vehicle saw the broken guardrail and called the police.
Since there was still a cloud of dust from the crash, he told the officers he thought maybe the crash had just happened.
Toxicology was pending for the two deceased individuals.
“What else is in the box?” Ben asked, reaching for it. “Is there anything in there belonging to Benton?”
“There’s a purse with a wallet and ID according to the inventory sheet,” Lainie said. “Do you think you’ll find something in her belongings?”
“It’s been my experience that women tend to keep a lot of stuff in that bag they call a purse,” he said, and Collins snickered.
“Humph,” Lainie said. “I’d smack you for that, but I happen to agree with you. What specifically do you expect to find?”
“Maybe a clue as to where she’s been. A receipt, something. I do know from our investigation that she does not have any family locally. She hails from Chicago.”
“We’ll figure out next of kin,” Collins said.
Lainie looked up when Shea rejoined them.
“How is she?” Lainie asked.
“There was not a lot that I could see. Benton can’t move, her head is wrapped in bandages, her face is puffy and bruised.”
“She’s a lot better than when she arrived here,” Dr. Hardin said. “She is improving. I will contact you if we proceed with reversing the coma tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” Shea shook the doctor’s hand. “We also want to be notified if anyone tries to visit her.”
“We’ve tried several internet searches to locate family and have had no luck. So unless a family member suddenly appears, I doubt there will be visitors. Maybe you’ll have better luck finding a contact person.” The doctor rang for the elevator and left them in the waiting room.
They all went back to the report and the property. Collins handed the purse to Ben. Lainie noted that it was an expensive and pretty white Coach bag, now stained with dirt and blood.
Ben opened it and Lainie turned her attention to him.
He took out the wallet and handed Lainie the purse.
As he flipped through the wallet, Lainie opened up the purse.
There was expensive makeup, a checkbook, a few pens, and a baggie labeled jewelry.
Curious, Lainie set down the purse and opened the baggie.
A watch, two rings, and a cross necklace fell into her hand.
Lainie’s heart stopped. This was Evie’s jewelry. She’d given the cross to her sister years ago. And she recognized the wedding ring.
Ben held out a business card. “This card is for Vine’s cigar club in Long Beach . . .” He stopped. “What’s wrong?”
Lainie’s pulse pounded. “This is Evie’s jewelry.”
Ben turned toward her. “Serious?”
“Yes. I recognize all of it.”
“Now we know for certain that she had something to do with your sister’s disappearance,” Shea said. “How else would Benton have this? We’ll put it into evidence. And we’ll get a warrant to search her home.”
Shock rocked Lainie like an 8.0 earthquake. She held in her hand almost certain proof that Evie was dead. She would never have parted with these items willingly.
What was Benton doing with her sister’s jewelry?
Every answer Lainie came up with disturbed her to the core.