Rick Wade Investigations: The Case for Sarah

RICK WADE

INVESTIGATIONS:

THE CASE FOR SARAH

Written by Bill Howard and published at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Bill Howard. All rights reserved

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way without prior permission of the author.

This novel is a work of fiction. All names of characters bear no resemblance to actual people. The incidents included in the story are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events and entities is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design and eBook formatting by Tanya Provines

Table Of Contents

DEDICATION

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

EPILOGUE

About the Author

DEDICATION

Once again this work could not have been completed without the continued encouragement and loyal support of my wife Juanita who gets me back on track in times of doubt. To our extended family who have rooted for my work.

PROLOGUE

Higher, Daddy, higher, Sarah gleefully giggled as David was pushing the swing harder each time it came back to him. This morning was a special time for him and his little daughter, time alone for just the two of them. It didn’t happen real often because the activities of the family usually involved the entire family. Scheduling family time was, at best, somewhat hit and miss because much time was devoted to David’s work as a minister. There were classes to prepare and sermons to fine tune before Sunday worship service. Hospital visits were almost a daily necessity. Members of the church would oftentimes drop by unexpectedly for various reasons. Even when time for the family was on the agenda, a need would arise and plans would have to be set aside. David had learned to always expect the unexpected in his calling as a minister. This was Tuesday, the day he tried to set aside as a personal day; today would be different. Hannah would be going to her ladies book club meeting. Paul was almost always away somewhere with a ball game or chumming with some of his pals. He would often be gone for hours riding his bicycle with other boys from his group. This time it was just he and Sarah, and they went to her favorite place: the park across and down the street from their home. Higher Daddy, higher, push me harder. I want to go as high as I can. She was laughing joyously as she badgered her dad to do more. Sarah was having a great time being at the park with her dad; she was the center of attention, and she loved it. David watched his daughter and felt a great sense of pride. She was a pretty little girl, her blond hair in the usual long curls that Hannah always tended with great care. Her little pink pedal pushers, the white summer blouse with the big pink dots and her white tennis shoes all made her look like a little doll.

***

David was thinking of Sarah as she skipped along on the sidewalk. Hard to realize it is summer of 1947 and she is already five, time passes so quickly, he thought to himself. As soon as they had entered the park, she went directly to the monkey bars. This was always the first stop. She loved to climb back and forth on them, walk hand over hand from the inside and then drop down into the sand below.  This consumed a good bit of time before she tired of that. After the monkey bars it was always on to the swings. Sarah’s request to her father was always that he should try to push her harder and higher. Having her fill of the swings for the moment, she called to her father, Let’s go do the teeter totter now; I love to play on that with you. Crossing the grass, they climbed onto the teeter totter. David had to control the movement as she was too light to make it go down. Let’s do it as fast as we can daddy and do it hard and bounce on the ground; I like that, she laughingly requested. When she had enjoyed a good bit of time doing this she jumped off and headed for the merry-go-round. Of all the equipment, David liked this one the least. It made him dizzy trying to get it going as fast as possible. Let’s go fast, Daddy, I can hold on real tight, she told him. She giggled as David ran as fast as he could.  He stepped away and watched as the merry-go-round spun out the energy and came to a halt, and Sarah climbed off. I’m dizzy, Daddy, that made me drunk, she tittered. Sweetie, let’s not use that word; it doesn’t sound very nice for a little girl to say things like that, OK, he said. David took her hand, and they went to one of the picnic tables by the sand box. They unwrapped the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, opened the cartons of milk and had their lunch. The still cold milk was tasty and the buttery consistency of the sandwiches was enjoyable and filling. Sitting and relaxing for a bit, David looked about the park and watched as other children played. Some with a parent, others looked to be there by themselves. He looked across the table at Sarah, what a sweet child she is. Paul was at the stage now that he preferred to be with his friends, but Sarah was truly a daddy’s girl. Times such as this were very special to David. Throwing the wrappers and milk cartons in the trash, he said, I think we probably should go home, your mother will be back by now. Oh, Daddy, let’s go swing just one more time, and then we can go home. Ignoring her father’s protests, she went running back to the swings. She climbed on the hard board seat, and when he caught up with her, David began to push her. This time I want to go as high as the swing will go, can you make me go higher?  OK, you hold on real tight, and we will see if we can go high enough to make you happy. He was pushing the swing with all his strength, and Sarah was giggling happily. He stepped back to watch her, and in an instant, she was out of the swing, hurtling through the air. Dear God don’t let her get hurt, he whispered to himself. She was headed in a direct path to hit the monkey bars. Sarah, Sarah, he screamed as he ran. He was terrified as she flew through the air. He watched in horror as her little body crashed into the steel bars head first. He agonized as her body crumpled, and the gash on her head spurted blood.  He was awakened by Hannah; she had her arms around him and was rocking him gently. David, you have had a bad dream. He came to himself slowly, and said, No, it wasn’t a dream Hannah, it was a terrible nightmare.  Sarah and I were at the park and she had a dreadful accident; I wasn’t taking care of her as I should. He was silent for a moment rethinking the horrible dream. This is a recurring dream I have had for years Hannah. I have always been dubious about being capable of parenting. Honey, you’re doing a good job of taking care of her; we’re doing a good job. She’s thirteen now and is being reared by two loving parents. She is doing well in school, she has good friends from school and church, you need not concern yourself so; she is a happy teenager. Paul is finishing high school and preparing for college, they are both great kids. They talked for a few moments and prepared to get back to sleep. David, I am having those pains again in my side and stomach.  I believe I will call Doctor Helm tomorrow and make an appointment for a checkup; I can’t imagine why it keeps coming back.  I’m sorry you are not feeling well Hannah; we need to get you in to see the doctor as quickly as possible. You make the appointment, and I will take you, he replied, is there anything I can do for you now? No, I’ll be alright; maybe it’s just some kind of bug that will go away. Well, we won’t gamble on that; we will go have you checked out.  If you are ready, let’s see if we can get some rest. As he lay back down one nightmare was fading away; another was rearing its ugly head.

***

It is a bitter cold day on January 2, l959. As she walked down the hallway her thoughts were troubled. She was vexed at the questions that nagged her. Do I really want to do this?  Is this a huge mistake? She pondered these issues in her mind. It’s too late now, I am already committed she thought to herself. With stealthy movements like a cat burglar trying to escape observation, she silently and quickly made her way out of the old building. Wondering why she was being so edgy, after all it is 3:30 in the morning. Who in their right mind would be out this time of day? Retracing her steps down the long hallway, she peered through the glass door for another look toward the street. As she stepped out the front door, the blast of the bone chilling north wind buffeted her body. There was an icy-cold mist beginning to fall. Turning her head away from the wind, she went to the waiting motorcycle and climbed on. Did you get it done? her partner asked. Yes, I did it, she replied. Do you have the money? he questioned. I have it, now let’s get out of here; it is beginning to snow. He kicked the engine of the motorcycle to life as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Only a few minutes into the ride she realized her coat was not sufficient to keep her warm. In her suitcase strapped to the carrier behind her, she had a heavy sweater. The first chance to stop she would get it and add it under her coat for more warmth. Aren’t we going the wrong way? she questioned getting her mouth close to his ear. Nah, we gotta go to the City before we head out, he yelled back to her. The steady hum of the engine was the only sound she heard as she pondered the course on which they had set themselves. There was a good bit of trepidation in her mind already as they raced along toward the glowing lights of the City. As if the sky had opened up instantly to dump its entire load, the snow began to fall more heavily. The large snowflakes driven by the fierce wind were creating blizzard-like conditions rapidly. She leaned close to his left ear and said, We are not going to be able to ride this thing much longer; we need to find a place to get out of this storm. She couldn’t make out his reply, but she knew he would have to find someplace for them to get off the road soon.

CHAPTER 1

David had begun his day with his usual daily routine: reading from the text, the morning prayers, enjoying the two cups of coffee and a bagel with strawberry jam. He was a creature of habit; his patterns seldom changed. Perhaps his resolute ways could have some bearing on the present difficulties with his daughter. Maybe he could be a little more open, more adventurous, more discerning of all that was going on around him. He totally devoted himself to his work as a minister. Didn’t that require certain regimens, absolute modes of living, character without blemish? Yes, without doubt, and he had compartmentalized and structured himself and his family to meet the expectations of others. David Holmes was a man of virtue, beyond reproach, a true pillar in the church and community. He expected the same of his family. Finishing his breakfast he turned on the radio to the news broadcast. City Police Report Homicide on City’s West Side the announcer stated. "An anonymous call was received at police headquarters early this morning. The caller said they heard what sounded like gunfire in the vicinity of Claremont and sixteenth. Officers were dispatched to the area and found the body of a male in the doorway of an abandoned grocery building on Claremont Street. Detective Sgt. Fitzgerald, on initial examination, indicated the body showed signs of at least two bullet wounds. He stated that no further information would be released at this time, citing the ongoing investigation. A reporter for this station was at the scene, and said there was a massive amount of blood at the location indicating the murder took place where the body was found. More details to follow as they are released