Ghostly hostage, p.12
Ghostly Hostage, page 12
"What will happen to Reggie now?" Tim asked.
Sam gave him a weak smile. "We'll keep him here until we get all the test results back, then if we don't need to investigate anything else, we'll release him to the mortuary you've picked for burial."
"Will they let us go to his funeral?" Shawnee asked.
"I don't know. It's something you and your lawyer can ask for. I know there have been some cases where the family can attend, but you'll be escorted by an officer. It's really out of my range of knowledge." Sam glanced at Lance. "Do you know?"
Lance shook his head. "I have no idea." He tried to imagine being a parent and not being allowed to attend a child's funeral. Still, Tim and Shawnee should have thought about all of this before they decided to take the morgue hostage. While he had sympathy for them, he wouldn't forget the trauma they'd caused holding everyone here at gunpoint. He wasn't sure Kathy would ever recover. They'd all be affected by this for a long time.
"Do you have family who can handle things for you once you're arrested?" Brayden asked.
"My sister. We left everything she needs on our kitchen table. Police can contact her. She's got a key to our home and will be able to take care everything. We knew we'd be arrested." Tim glanced at his wife. "We got our answers. They did what we asked them to. Now we've got to let them go."
She nodded but started to cry even harder.
Tim glanced at Sam. "Make the call and let's figure out how to do this."
Relieved to hear that they weren't going to be held longer, Lance relaxed. This was far from over, but at least he wouldn't be facing down a gun all day again.
Sam reached for the phone that sat on the table.
"Wait." Shawnee looked up. "Can I see Reggie one more time before we leave?"
Lance wanted to scream no, but he knew Sam well enough to know he'd allow it. Lance would have advised against it. While they'd stitched him back up, he was hardly presentable for a mother to view. The mortuary had makeup artists who knew how to make someone look good after an autopsy. Seeing him the way he looked now was a memory he wouldn't want to give any parents.
"Of course." Sam pocketed the phone and stood.
Lance did as well, surprised that Tim hadn't demanded Sam hand him the phone. Maybe this really was over. They'd let the parents see Reggie, then be able to walk out of here unharmed. He glanced at the ghosts and hoped one of them would leave to go tell someone what was going on. He wasn't even sure if anyone who could speak to ghosts was out there yet.
Brayden stood, giving Lance a nervous glance. It was obvious he didn't think this was a good idea either. Still, if Sam told the parents no, they could easily insist on it. They were the ones with guns.
"Go ahead." Tim gestured to the three of them to lead the way back into the autopsy room where the body was being held.
Lance followed Sam and Brayden into the room, then stood aside as Brayden went to the drawer that held Reggie and slowly pulled it open.
"Are you sure you want to see him this way?" Brayden asked.
Shawnee nodded. "I need to."
Brayden sighed, but when Tim nodded, he pulled back the sheet that had covered the body, lowering it just to below the neck.
It was impossible to hide the signs of the autopsy. They'd had to look at the brain and parts of the throat. Even with only exposing the head, it was obvious Reggie had been through a full autopsy.
Shawnee gasped and started to cry harder as she threw herself over Reggie's body. "My baby. My baby," she sobbed over and over again.
Tears fell down Tim's cheeks as he watched his wife hold their son. The hand he held the gun with shook, and an emotion Lance couldn't read crossed the man's face. "I can't. I can't do this. I don't want to live without him. We should be with him."
Shawnee clung to the body and Lance wondered how they were going to get her to let it go. Maybe they wouldn't be out of here as quickly as he'd hoped. Still, he stood quiet, watching the emotions play over Tim's face as he took in his wife crying over their son.
"It's not right." Tim's voice broke. "It was never supposed to be this way." He touched Shawnee's back. "I'm sorry, Shawn, but we should be with him." Without any warning, Tim put the gun to the back of Shawnee's head and pulled the trigger, then just as quickly turned the gun on himself.
"No!" Brayden screamed as he tried to reach out to stop Tim, but his foot caught on something and he went down, hitting his head hard on the corner of one of the supply carts.
The echo of the gun filled the room again as Tim shot himself through the head and crumpled to the ground.
For a moment Lance just stood there, stunned at what had happened. Then training kicked in and he rushed Shawnee's body as it lay over her son's, her feet barely touching the floor as blood dripped from her head wound, pooling around Reggie's body before dripping to the floor. He paused as he saw her ghost for a brief moment, almost like a flicker, and then it was gone. He glanced at Tim's body, looking for his ghost, but he saw nothing.
Brayden sat up, blood running down his forehead and over his eye. He scooted back, away from Tim's body on the floor as he reached for a towel off one of the supply carts to press to his head. "I'm okay," he managed with a shaky voice.
Sam shook his head as he checked Tim for signs of life. "He's gone."
"So is she." Lance stepped back.
The three of them stared at each other for a moment, then Sam seemed to get it together before Lance could. "Leave them exactly that way. Police will deal with it." He took a step back.
Lance kneeled beside Brayden. "Let me look."
"I'm fine. I'll probably need a few stitches." He removed the towel so Lance could see. The wound still bled despite the pressure Brayden put on it.
"Agreed. Let's get you help." Lance carefully helped him up, making sure Brayden wasn't dizzy while also trying to avoid the blood and other matter that now covered the floor thanks to Tim Meyer taking his and his wife's lives.
"Let's get out of here." Sam sighed. "You two okay other than Brayden's head?"
"Yeah, I'm good." Lance stayed beside Brayden as he walked. "We just going to walk out of here?"
"Did you want to stay?" Sam raised a brow.
"God no," Brayden groaned. "Let me out of here. I need a hot shower."
"After the hospital." Lance smiled. "And probably hours' worth of questions from the police."
"Shit, seriously?" Brayden sighed.
"Probably. They'll want us each to give a statement." Lance doubted he could stay awake long enough to give one. Every step toward the main doors felt like he was lifting lead shoes to get there. He was sure the others were just as tired. None of them had slept in over twenty-four hours.
As they walked through the front office, he thought about Kathy and hoped she was doing okay and that she'd once again smile up at him from her desk when he walked in to work every morning. He feared the hostage situation might have been more than she could handle, and for that reason alone, he found it hard to feel sorry that Tim and Shawnee were gone. It would take time for the morgue to feel safe again, and for some of the others, it might never feel that way again.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Angus took the breakfast sandwich and fresh cup of coffee his mother handed him. "Thanks, I'm starving." He set the coffee on top of his car while he unwrapped the sandwich. "Betty here?"
Lizzy set her own coffee down on the hood of Angus's car. "She went inside to see what was going on. You guys are sure this was a murder?"
"Looks that way. There's no reason that drug should have been in his system." Angus nodded to Franks as he approached.
"Your coffee and breakfast are on the front seat," Lizzy told him.
"You're the best. I'll grab it in a minute." Franks leaned in to kiss Lizzy on the cheek before turning to Angus. "Just talked to the captain. He's about ready to place the call inside. Figured you'd want to be there."
Angus rewrapped his sandwich and handed it to his mother. "Sorry, I need to hear this call."
"Go. By the time you get back, Betty will have an update for us." She took his sandwich and set it beside his coffee.
"Thanks." Angus started to walk with Franks to the Command Center, but his mother's shout stopped him.
"Wait. They shot themselves!" Lizzy called.
Angus turned back, confused. "What?"
"The parents. The man shot his wife and then himself. The others are fine. They're headed out." Lizzy looked in shock. "Betty says everyone else is okay, but the Meyers are dead."
The captain who had been standing near the Command Center walked over. "What is she going on about?"
Angus turned and ran toward the morgue's main door. Behind him, he heard Franks and the captain running. Then he slowed as he realized his mother was with them.
"It was a murder-suicide. Mr. Meyer shot his wife, then himself. Said they needed to be with their son. Your medical examiners are on their way out. Brayden has a cut where he hit his head, but other than that, they're okay." Lizzy placed a hand on Angus's shoulder as he stopped by the door.
Angus tried the door, praying it was unlocked. "Who has the key?"
"Detective Young, explain yourself." Captain Marshall glared at him.
"You heard her. They're on their way out." Angus cupped his hands to try and see inside.
"And just how does she know this?" Captain Marshall asked.
Lizzy huffed. "I already told you, but you thought I was crazy. I speak with the dead. There are ghosts who have been giving me updates through this whole thing. They just told me that Tim Meyers shot his wife and then himself. Both are dead."
The captain rolled his eyes. "Detectives, let's go make that phone call and see if we can negotiate a release."
Franks shook his head. "If she says they're coming out, they are." He gripped Lizzy's shoulder. "You're sure they're both dead?"
"Betty said that Lance and Sam checked them. Both are deceased. She says the autopsy room is a mess." Lizzy glared at the captain.
"I don't know what kind of joke you are trying to play, but it's not funny." The captain glared right back at Lizzy.
"I'm not joking," Lizzy told him just as the door to the Medical Examiner's Office opened and Brayden stepped out, a bloody towel against his head.
"Lance." Angus looked him up and down, making sure he wasn't injured.
"I'm okay." Lance stepped into Angus's arms. "We're all okay. Tim Meyers shot his wife, then himself. They're both dead. Exam room two." Lance stepped back, but Angus couldn't let him go. He kept one hand on Lance's arm, needing to feel him there by his side. The relief at seeing him was almost too much as the exhaustion hit him as well.
"Who's left inside?" Franks asked.
"No one alive." Sam sighed, leaning on the open door.
"Detective Franks, get a few men and go in," Captain Marshall told him. "The rest of you get to the Command Center."
Lizzy leaned in and kissed Lance on the cheek. "Glad you're safe."
"Me too. Thanks for all your help." Lance smiled weakly. "You helped more than you know."
Sam raised a brow at Lance, but Angus wasn't about to explain. If Lance ever wanted Sam to know the truth about him seeing ghosts, it would be Lance's place to tell him.
As they walked away, Angus didn't miss the odd look Captain Marshall gave his mother, and he had to fight back a chuckle at the smirk she gave him back. Angus had no clue how he'd explain his mother if asked how she knew things. He'd probably go with the truth, but that would cause issues he didn't need.
Angus stared into Lance's eyes. "You're really okay?"
"Tired and a little shaken, but I'm fine." Lance smiled. "Thanks for the lasagna."
"I hoped you'd know that was me." Angus kissed him softly. "Let's get you inside the motorhome. You have to be exhausted." He wanted to take him home, help him wash, and tuck him into bed.
"How's Kyle?" Lance asked as they watched Lizzy take Brayden's arm and escort him to the Command Center.
"He'll be fine. They may release him today. They wanted to run some tests first." Angus led Lance down the sidewalk.
"Good. Glad it wasn't serious. How about Carrie and Kathy?" Sam asked from beside them.
"Kathy is at her sister's place in California for a few days. She got a flight out late last night. Carrie is with Pete. She left me Pete's cell phone number to give to you since her phone is still inside," Angus told them.
Lizzy stepped aside as they all walked into the motorhome. She gripped Angus's arm. "I'm headed home. Call me later and let me know how things are going." She leaned in and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks, Mom. Thank Betty and the others as well," Angus told her, aware the captain was listening to everything.
Lizzy grinned. "You just did. Now go make sure my son-in-law is okay."
"Don't rush things, Mom." Angus laughed.
She just waved as she walked away.
"You going to explain all that to me?" Captain Marshall asked.
"I'm not sure you'd believe it if I told you." Angus shrugged.
"Probably not." The captain shook his head. "Go on in. I want to know what happened."
Angus went in to find Lance and Sam on the long couch. Brayden sat at the small round table across from the couch as Christine Matthews looked at his head.
"Morning, Christine." Angus hadn't known she'd arrived already.
"Morning. Give me a few to finish up here and I'll sit down and tell you what I know about succinylcholine." She focused on cleaning the blood from Brayden's forehead.
"Need an ambulance?" Captain Marshall asked.
"No, but only because I'm headed to the hospital from here and will give him a ride. I can give him a ride home once I finish my business there and head back to my office." She frowned at Brayden. "Not usually how I like to meet people." She offered her hand to Brayden. "I'm Doctor Christine Matthews."
"The doctor we called from inside." Brayden cringed as Christine padded the cut with the towel.
"That's me. Now, how did this happen?" Christine asked.
Angus turned away from them to focus on Lance. "Tell me you didn't see it all happen."
Lance grimaced. "We all saw it. We were standing feet from them. My ears are still ringing from the sound of the gun going off." He took Angus's hand. "It's nothing I haven't seen before. We get cases like that all the time."
"True, but I don't like that you had to witness it happen." Angus looked at Sam. "You okay?"
"Yeah, a bit nervous, but I'm fine. Just glad it's over." Sam glanced at Captain Marshall. "How long before we can go home?"
"Once we get your statements, you can go. I'll have an officer drive you," Captain Marshall said.
"I can drive," Sam argued.
"Not today. Have someone come back later and get your car. I'm not letting any of you drive after being up all night in such a stressful situation," the captain insisted.
"I'll drop him off when I take Lance home," Angus offered.
"That will work, but once you get them home, I want you back here. I'm putting you as lead on this case." The captain nodded to one of the other officers standing by them. "Get statements. I'm going to go see what Franks is dealing with inside."
Angus was glad when the captain left. He gripped Lance's hand tighter. "It was all I could do not to rush in there and save you."
"I'm glad you didn't. That's how Kyle got shot. He tried to play hero. The Meyers were fine as long as we were calm and did what they asked of us. They were even talking about going to jail and how they'd planned ahead for his sister to handle everything once they'd been arrested. I don't think suicide was on their minds until the moment he did it." Lance sighed.
"That was my fault. I should have never let them see their son after the autopsy. We all knew how bad he'd look." Sam brushed his bangs back from his face. "I thought they'd be okay. That I'd give them one last moment with their son, but it was too much for Tim to handle. Shawnee never even saw it coming. She was lying over Reggie's body when he just put the gun to the back of her head." Sam shivered as he remembered it all. "Brayden tried to stop Tim but tripped and that's when he hit his head."
"What did you hit your head on?" Christine asked Brayden.
"The corner of one of the aluminum carts. I was reaching to grab the gun before Tim shot himself." Brayden glanced at Sam. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't have a choice but to let them see Reggie one last time. Shawnee wasn't going to leave until she did. She was facing years in prison and had no guarantee they'd let her out for his funeral. I think Tim realized that once they left the morgue and turned themselves in, their lives were over. Once they were arrested, they wouldn't see each other again for years. He must have figured this way they might all be together."
"I'm just glad it's over. Of all the jobs in the world, I thought mine was safe. You work at a bank, you know you might get robbed. The same with a store. But the morgue? I would never have thought someone would come in and hold us hostage." Lance leaned against Angus. "I'm ready to go home."
"Just a bit longer and I'll get you there. You need to give your statements. I'm going to step out and let these officers speak to each of you. I'll be back in a few minutes to get you home." He kissed Lance softly, wanting so badly to pull him into his arms and assure them both that this was really over. It took all he had to stand up and move away from Lance. "You're seriously okay?"
Lance nodded. "I really am."
"Good. I'll be back in a few." He quickly left the motorhome, knowing that if he didn't, he would end up pulling Lance close again and he might not ever let go. He'd forced back his worry over the last day because he was trained to do so, but now that Lance was free, the wave of relief that swept through him almost took him to his knees. He had to take a minute to just breathe once he was outside. Things could have ended so much worse. Once he'd gathered his emotions and locked them away, he headed for the morgue.
It was strange entering without Kathy sitting at the front desk to greet him. He stared at her desk for a moment, wondering if she'd be back. He sure hoped so. She'd worked the front office for as long as he'd been a police officer. How many times had he signed in with her to witness an autopsy or talk to one of the medical examiners about a case? She had to come back. It wouldn't be the same without her.
