As the forensic people worked with funereal care the reality hit Kate full force.
Did Vanessa die here?
Anguish swelled in Kates throat as an image came to her:
Vanessa is young and theyre crossing the street. Kates taking her hand; the earth shakes as a huge rig thunders by. Fear rises on Vanessas little face, but she trusts her big sister, loves her, worships her, as her little fingers tighten around Kates.
Needing to be closer to the ruins, Kate reached into her bag for her compact digital camera. It had a high-quality lens and she zoomed in on the jagged black tangles of planks and trestles. With each picture Kate stepped closer, and with each photo her heart broke a little more. Moving in, she scoured the burned rubble, her camera offering more detail the nearer she got. She focused on a series of charred beams jutting from the aftermath. They were tagged, indicating theyd been processed. On patches of the wood that were not burned, Kate saw crude markings scratched into the surface. To see them better she needed to get closer-she needed to do the unthinkable.
Kate lifted the tape to step into the scene but hesitated.
Shed be breaking the law.
But this could be the last thing my sister touched.
Her heart raced.
She might never be this close again.
Kate stepped into the scene, taking more photos. Moving in deeper, she looked beyond the beams, noticing pockets within the devastation that appeared to be gridded, cleared and tagged. She concentrated on those areas, zooming in, taking-
Hey! Keys jingled as a uniformed officer trotted from one of the vehicles. Step out of there now! Youre under arrest!
9
Rampart, New York
Kate could hear her pulse thudding in her ears.
Over that, she heard the police radio dispatches.
She was in the backseat of Rampart Officer Len Reddicks patrol car. He was in the front verifying her Newslead ID, which he held in his hand. She could smell his cologne and peppermint gum. His jaw muscles pumped away, letting her know that he was still pissed.
Thats right, Kate Page, Reddick chawed into his microphone. Page. Poppa Alpha Golf Echo. Employee number seven-two-six-six.
Kates wrists throbbed against the metal handcuffs. The cuffs were an overreaction because Reddick was angry that hed failed to spot her. Shed seen the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition splayed on the front seat when he put her in his car.
Hed seized her camera, her phone and her bag, then read Kate her rights.
As his radio crackled, she looked out the window.
This morning shed kissed Grace goodbye; now she was handcuffed and facing charges. She knew that it was wrong to step into a crime scene, but she was compelled by a raw feeling that her sister had been here.
I can feel it, I can just feel it.
As Reddick pawed through her things she endured the sting of humiliation and, when he found Detective Brennans card, braced for what was to come.
Reddicks inquiries to his dispatcher had launched a train of trouble. Calls were made to Newslead to alert her editors. Brennan was called and was en route. Hed insisted on questioning her, as it was his scene. Reddick meantime had waved over one of the forensic technicians to examine Kates camera and phone to review the pictures Kate had taken.
Kates heart was racing. So far, Reddick hadnt patted her down.
Shed taken precautions to save her photos. The instant Reddick had discovered her inside the crime scene, she immediately removed her cameras stamp-sized memory card, slid it into her sock, then, moving as fast as she could, installed a new card and resumed taking more photos. If the police didnt find her hidden card, she could look at the images later.
At that moment, Reddicks cell phone rang.
Your people in New York.
Kate raised her cuffed hands and Reddick passed his phone to her. He stepped out of the car to show the technician Kates phone, allowing her some privacy.
Its Reeka. Whats happened?
Kates stomach tensed.
I think I should talk to Chuck, Reeka.
He had to go to an emergency meeting in Chicago. Im your supervisor, talk to me.
Didnt Chuck tell you why Im here?
He told me nothing. You shouldve advised me if you were assigned something on your day off. Why are you under arrest in Rampart?
Kate explained everything to Reeka, exposing the fact shed gone over her head to Chuck.
So, from what the police just told me, the temperature of Reekas voice plummeted to a prosecutorial level, and from what youre telling me, you go up there on your time for personal reasons, then present yourself as a Newslead reporter to try to gain access to a crime scene, are refused, then you later breach the scene and are now facing charges.
Kate admitted that was correct.
Youre aware of Newsleads policy on how our reporters are to represent the organization and conduct themselves, especially at crime scenes? Youre aware of that, Kate?
Of course.
Yet, youve clearly violated it.
Kate said nothing.
Ill be discussing your situation with senior management. Until then, I suggest you get yourself an attorney.
The call ended.
This was Kates fault and she chastised herself when she thought of Grace. What would happen to her if she was jailed? Would social services be called?
Why didnt I think this through?
She scanned the scene again, unable to deny its emotional pull. Decades of guilt, of being haunted by Vanessas ghost, had clouded her judgment.
Brennan had arrived and was near the car with Reddick and the technician, huddled over Kates camera and phone, while Reddick continued searching the contents of her bag. Occasionally Reddick pointed to the scene, with the technician nodding, before Brennan approached the car and helped Kate out.
I asked you not to come here, Kate. You know full well we have to protect this scene. Anything and everything is considered evidence. He shook his head. You misrepresented yourself to the state trooper, you breached our scene and tromped though it, contaminating it, or, possibly planting evidence. Youre facing possible interference and criminal trespass charges. I cant understand why you did this.
Why? Adrenaline and fury coursed through her and she let go. I cant believe you have to ask me that! You found my sisters necklace out there in that-that killing ground and shes-
We havent confirmed its hers yet.
You know and I know its hers!
No, we dont. Kate, everything we have to this point is circumstantial. Nothings conclusive.
You found her necklace out there! My God, she was supposed to have drowned twenty years ago in Canada! So you tell me how did it get there?
We dont know and we dont know that its your sisters. You of all people should understand the huge emotional and legal consequences of making assumptions that result in misidentification.
Then tell me why you have contacted Canadian police.
Im not discussing this case with you.
Yeah. Remember, Ed, you called me to help you! Thats why Im here. Ive lived with this for twenty years! I deserve to know the truth! Thats why I did what I did!
A few tense seconds passed.
Did you take, touch or leave anything, Kate?
No, all I took were some pictures with my camera. Thats all.
Brennan returned to the others for another long discussion, then returned with her things and Reddick, who removed her handcuffs.
The technician found no pictures on your phone, so were returning it.
I told you, I didnt take any pictures with my phone.
Were keeping the memory card from your camera and the additional memory cards we found in your bag. The technician tells me that your camera had wireless connectivity but that you didnt send any images anywhere.
I didnt. Are we done? Or are you going to go full-bore cop and strip-search me?
Brennan let her comment pass.
No. I dont have a female officer on duty, for one. Im going to make a judgment call here, but I think weve covered this given the circumstances and the situation.
So I can go?
Not yet. Now, youre going to show us your path into the scene so we can mark it, Brennan said. Then were going to need impressions of your shoes and take your fingerprints. When were done, Officer Reddick will drive you to your car.
Am I being charged?
No, but if you interfere again, well bring the charges back. Understood?
Kate met Brennans stare and she nodded.
I appreciate your help, he said, and what youre going through. Go home, Kate, and let us do our job.
10
Rampart, New York
The grill of Reddicks patrol car filled Kates rearview mirror for several miles after shed left the rest stop.
Driving to town, she bit back on her tears and her anger at Rampart police but mostly at herself. She was churning with rage and an underlying ache, because shed never been this close to Vanessa.
Ive got to think clearly.
Kate looked at the time.
Even with the drive to Syracuse she had a few hours before her early evening return flight. Enough time to check into the other part of the case.
Carl Nelson.
Shed become so consumed by the necklace that shed overlooked his role. She knew nothing about him, the man the local press had named as the second fatality in the fire, the reclusive computer expert. Remembering his long hair and beard from the drivers license photo Brennan had showed her, Kate thought Nelson fit the image of a creepy eccentric. What part did he play in this? What was Vanessas relationship to him? And what about the rumors of a suicide note?
Kate needed to talk to Nelsons family, neighbors and coworkers.
Stopped at a traffic light, she was glad to see Reddick had backed off. Kate concentrated on her GPS and entered Carl Nelsons address, 57 Knox Lane, which shed memorized from his drivers license.
Is going there a smart move after what happened at the scene?
This is a democracy, and people have a right to talk to other people, she thought, searching her mirror for any sign that Reddick was still tailing her.
Nothing.
She headed for Nelsons neighborhood and came upon his home, a modest ranch-style house with a neat yard and a detached garage.
And a Rampart police car parked out front.
Kate cursed to herself and let out a long breath.
She wanted to knock on the door, talk to anyone who was there, and Nelsons neighbors. She wanted to do her own digging for answers, but not with a cop sitting there eyeing the quiet street.