That brought him to the cause, which had all the indications of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The entrance was the right temple. The wound track was right to left and slightly forward to the left temple, where hed recovered the 9mm round, but there was also a significant skull fracture from blunt trauma. The injury couldve been a result of being struck by debris, such as a large beam, falling from the burning building. The problem for Compton was that given the severity of the damage to the body, he couldnt conclusively determine the order of events. He was leaning to concluding that death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and the skull fracture was postmortem, given the other supporting factors of Carl Nelsons suicide note, his vehicle and his absence from his job.
The phone rang.
Pathologist, Compton.
Dr. Compton, this is Major Robert Ellis with the office of the chief of dental services with the United States Army. Im calling in response to your request, concerning the dental records of Sergeant Pollard.
Yes, Major, thanks for calling. Compton reached for a pen.
We can confirm that the chart you sent for comparison is the chart of Sergeant John Charles Pollard formerly of the US Army Special Forces. He toured Iraq and Afghanistan and was honorably discharged seven years ago.
Youre positive on the chart?
Yes, sir. Its clear regarding the patterns and wear of several large amalgams.
This is one hell of a game changer.
Weve arranged to expedite written confirmation and can provide you with scanned and physical copies of Sergeant Pollards full military records and photographs to assist your investigation.
Thank you, Major Ellis.
Compton hung up.
His breathing had quickened.
He stared at his computers monitor and the charred, twisted dog tag that belonged to the former US Army sergeant. Before Compton made another note, before he called Brennan, he absorbed the new information.
If the body is Pollard, then where is Carl Nelson?
And why would Nelson leave a suicide note seeking forgiveness for what hed done?
What the hell have we got here?
15
Buffalo, New York
Yellowing tape held meal schedules to the walls of the dining hall of the mission in downtown Buffalo.
The rules were up there, too: No weapons, no drugs, no booze and no fighting. We offer: Love, respect, understanding and healing. After reading them Dickson shook his head.
It sickens me that any veteran, after sacrificing everything for our country, comes home to this.
Ed flipped through his notes. The two Rampart detectives were at a table waiting for the mission crew to finish up with breakfast so they could interview people about former Sergeant John Charles Pollard.
That Pollard, not Carl Nelson, had been identified as the male victim took this thing to a whole new level. They needed to determine his connection to Nelson, to Bethany Ann Wynn, to any aspect of the case.
After the pathologist had alerted them yesterday to Pollards ID, Brennan and Dickson pored over his military records, made calls and tracked his last known location to Buffalo.
Pollard, aged thirty-nine, was from Toledo, Ohio, and had enlisted as an artillery man in the US Army in 1998. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment and had several deployments to Iraq and then Afghanistan. By 2009, he was with the US Special Forces in Kandahars Zhari District. Later, at a Forward Operating Base in Paktia province, his unit was pinned down in a firefight that lasted a week. Pollard witnessed the deaths of most of his squad members.
He came home to Toledo, suffering post-traumatic stress and became addicted to alcohol and other drugs. He lost his job as a truck driver, his wife left him. He fell into debt, then drifted across the country, ending up on the streets and finally in this homeless shelter.
Brennan was grateful to Buffalo PD, which had made initial inquiries with local shelters. It cleared the way for him to get up at four this morning and make the four-hour drive to Buffalo with Dickson to continue their investigation. They hadnt released Pollards name yet. They were working with the military to locate his family.
Doesnt it make you sick that vets end up homeless when they should be treated like heroes?
Its a disgrace. Brennan sipped his coffee and over the rim saw Tim Scott, the shelters director, wiping his hands with a towel as he approached them.
Thanks for waiting. Scott joined them at the table, then waved to staff members behind the counter. Sure we cant get you fellas something to eat after your long drive?
Were good with the coffee. Thanks, Brennan said. What can you tell us about John Charles Pollard?
I cant believe hes dead. In a firemaybe he took shelter in the barn?
Maybe.
It always hurts when we lose a client. Scott shook his head. People come to us broken. We give them a meal, a bed and hope in the way of counseling and services. J.C. had been with us for five months and was showing promise. Hed gotten clean and sober. Hed gotten his license again and was ready to apply for driving jobs.
So things were looking up?
Yes, despite all hed faced, he was slowly getting back on his feet. But some guys have their setbacks and they disappear. Thats what I thought mightve happened.
That hed had a setback?
Thats what I was thinking. The other guys who knew him best had been asking about him because he hadnt been around for a week or so. Reggie and Delmar. They bunked with him for a time and were probably the closest he had to friends. Theyre right here.
The first man was in his thirties. His clothes hung loose on his skinny frame. His face bore fresh scrapes, as if hed collided with the sidewalk.
Is it true? J.C.s dead? The man called Reggie sniffed and sat down.
Im afraid so. My condolences.
Reggie nodded sadly.
May I ask what happened? Brennan indicated the mans cuts.
Was drunk, fell on the street.
Reggie, may I get your last name, date of birth and could you show me your Social Security card? Its routine.
Brennan cleared a page in his notebook, took down Reggies information then did the same for Delmar, the taller of the two. Delmar had a full, scraggly Moses beard dotted with crumbs.
Brennan thanked them and said, We ask that you keep our inquiries confidential. Its critical to our investigation.
So he got killed in a fire in Rampart? Delmar looked around the table.
Something like that. Guys, can you recall if John-
Oh, we call him J.C., nobody called him John, Reggie said.
Sorry. Can you recall if J.C. had any connection to Rampart?
The three men shook their heads.
Ohio, mostly, thats where he came from, Reggie said.
Do the names Carl Nelson or Bethany Ann Wynn mean anything to you in relation to J.C.?
Dont think so. Delmar looked to the others, who agreed.
What about Canada? Did he ever talk about it?
More shaking of heads.
Dickson cued up photos on his tablet.
Do you recognize anything in these pictures, any connection at all?
The first were several photos of Bethany Ann Wynn.
None of the photos registered with the men.
Next were photos of Tara Dawn Mae, from her missing persons file from Alberta.
Again, nothing.
Then they showed them enlarged photos of the necklace with the guardian angel charm.
Nothing.
Whats this really about? Scott was clearly troubled. I get the feeling theres something more serious going on. Do you think J.C. had something to do with these people?
At this point, were not sure what to think, Brennan admitted.
Then came photos of Carl Nelson.
That guy. Delmar tapped his finger on Nelsons face.
He used to come around, talk to J.C., Reggie said, nodding.
When did he start coming around? Brennan stared hard at the men.
It started a month or so back, maybe two months, Reggie said. We were in the park, passing a bottle of Thunderbird. J.C. wouldnt take none, he was on the program doin fine without preachin to us. Thats when this guy- Reggie pointed at Nelson -came up and just gave us money. Fifty bucks each. Said he remembered when his family had hard times. We get that sometimes.
Did he give you his name?
Jones, Adam Jones, I think, Reggie said.
Then the guy came around more, Delmar said. Bought us lunches and took an interest in J.C., his military time, telling J.C. how thankful and honored he was. Delmar jabbed his forefinger into the table. I tell you, sir, that meant the goddamn world to J.C. because he was still carrying the ghosts of the men he lost.
Reggie nodded.
J.C. was a true-blue soldier. You know, he still had his dog tags. Put them in his boot so no one would yank them from his neck if he got jumped. I think we were the only ones he told.
Can you recall any other details about the mans interest in J.C.?
He started bringing him clothes, pants, boots, jackets, stuff he said he no longer needed, or never wore, Delmar said.
Yeah, Reggie said. Good stuff, because they were practically the same height, build, age, the same everything. The guy told J.C. the clothes were his and he didnt need them anymore.
Brennan and Dickson exchanged a glance.
Do you recall anything else?
They were getting chummy, Delmar said. I remember, about two weeks before we last saw J.C., he was saying that he might have a lead on a good job but it was across the state.
In Rampart? Brennan asked.
Delmar shook his head. Didnt say, but he sure was feeling good about things, you just saw it on his face and stuff.
Then that was it, Reggie said. We never saw J.C. after that.
Brennan and Dickson shared their theories on the case on the long drive back to Rampart.
What do you think, Ed? Nelson was making bondage, porn movies at the barn, maybe invited Pollard to take part?
Maybe, but look again at what his note said.
Dickson read it aloud. I only wanted someone to love in my life. Its better to end everyones pain. God forgive me for what Ive done. Carl Nelson. Okay, so something else was going on. Where does Pollard fit?
We need to get warrants on Nelsons house, his bank records, credit card and his computer.
Wait, how did Nelson use Pollard?
Look at their physical particulars, both are white males, both are six feet tall. Nelsons in his forties and Pollards thirty-nine, almost the same age and both have the same body type.