The Mystery of Jessica Benson (19 page)

He found Karen outside, leaning against a parking meter.
She was lighting a cigarette. “Hey, woman, what’s with you?
You haven’t smoked in two years.”

“So let that be your first clue as to just how pissed I am,
huh Will?”
He squinted at her and as asked, “What’d I do, babe? I
say something wrong? It wasn’t intentional, whatever it was, I
swear it.”
Karen inhaled deeply and let the smoke slowly out. She
then pulled herself up to her full height and spat, “Wasn’t
intentional? You sorry son of a bitch. You’ve been talking
behind my back. How
dare
you, Will? How fucking dare you?
Putting my career in jeopardy because you have a bug up your
ass about me and a murder suspect! How can you even look me
in the eye?”
“Aw, come on Karen, honey. I was just talking. You
know, doing my thing, talking the talk. Honest, I swear it.
You’re making too much out of this. I mean, it’s not as though
anyone took me seriously.”
Karen looked hard at him. She had taken every
precaution to avoid doing anything that might arouse suspicion
about her and Kyle. But damn, Will would not back off. Her
feelings for Kyle had only driven her to work harder at finding
who the real murderer was. She never once let her bias affect her
skills. Yet now here she was, defending herself against gossip
spread by her own partner.
But how could she protest too hard. How could she
protest at all? It was the truth. Kyle Sands had taken her breath
away, along with all her good sense. She had been so careful to
not let her emotions affect her handling of the case. She had
taken each and every clue and treated it with the utmost respect.
There was always an element of gut instinct in an investigation,
and she couldn’t help but follow hers in this one.
Of course she was over-rationalizing her outrageous
behavior, and Will was not a stupid man. In fact, his accusations
were not just close to the truth, they were right on the bulls-eye.
Regardless, it had ripped her wide open with surprise that he
would rat her out to the other detectives without any warning to
her. She never would have done it to him, and Will had to know
it.
“
Karen
?” Will snapped his fingers then waved his hands
in an attempt to get her attention. “You in there?” She looked at
him for a moment before she found her voice and was able to
speak.
“I don’t know you anymore, Will. From the beginning
of this case you’ve been a different person. I do know we’re both
believers in gut instinct, but it’s more than that here. It was as
though the moment we entered Kyle Sand’s building that first
day, you were out to get him. You’ve been wired up with
accusations and haven’t even given a thought to anyone else as
the killer.
“But the worst part is you’ve turned on me. All the nasty
remarks about my infatuation with the suspect, the snickers, the
attitude. I could take it so long as it was directed at me, but going
behind my back in the Department. God! Never mind the
humiliation; it’s the lack of respect. You put me out there and
now the tongues are wagging. I’m on the fucking block! What if
it gets to the brass? Did you even
think
about that? What happens
to me
then
? I’d be a leper around here. Have to turn in my badge
because no one would ever want to work with me again.”
A crackle of thunder sounded, and Will looked up, but
he remained quiet. The sky had darkened and the smell of rain
was in the air. Lightening streaked angrily across the black
thunderheads that had appeared from nowhere. Finally, he
looked toward Karen and said, “Looks like it’s gonna rain, huh?”
She was stunned. It was as though he hadn’t heard a
word.
“Did you hear
anything
I said? Do you not care in the
least that you’ve put my career in jeopardy? I don’t deserve this,
Will. I don’t get it and I don’t deserve it.” She paused, waiting
for a response.
Will, however, looked away from her. He seemed to be
studying a meter maid who was writing a ticket. “Looks like
she’s gonna ticket that Mercedes,” he said to no one in
particular.
“Goddammit, Will!” Karen hissed. “If it’s going to be
this way, then when this case is over,
if
I’ve still got a job, I’m
asking for a new partner.
Whatever
happens,
whoever
turns out
to be the dirtball that killed Jessica Benson, I won’t work with
you again.” She dropped her cigarette and ground the butt into
the sidewalk with her heel.
“Whatever, babe. We all have to keep things in
perspective, and to tell you the truth, I think you’re so infatuated
with that jock, you
should
be off this case. You stand there
reaming me out like your pretty little nose is so clean. Well, I’m
not buying into your bullshit either, doll. So how about we agree
to disagree for now. Once we’ve wrapped this up — and I’m
feeling like we’re getting real close — we can deal with our
personal shit. Meanwhile, I gotta go take a piss. See you
upstairs.”

B
efore instituting the dual search at Dr. Joe Fraga’s home and
office, it was determined that the doctor left the Demons’
compound early in the day claiming to be ill. As a result,
Detectives Benjamin and Grant were heading up a team to search
the office, while Karen and Will were set to investigate his
residence. They did not expect to find much of anything at the
office and in fact, suspected the big chance to recover any
evidence would be at the house. Because it was their case, they
wanted to be the ones at that venue.

“The good doctor’s feeling ‘ill.’ We’re about to make
him downright sick,” Will chuckled.
The muscles in Karen’s jaw twitched as she listened to
Will wax on as though that incident at the station had never
taken place. Finally, hoping to end his running stream of chit
chat, she droned back at him, “I just want to get it over with. I
guess I don’t have the same thirst for the kill as you.”
“Come now, woman. We’ve got way too much to
accomplish today for you to hold a grudge, don’t you think? So
how about let’s put our little spat behind us and get on with
business as usual.”
She was fed-up with Will and had lost any desire to
maintain the pretense of a partnership. As far as Karen was
concerned, she was through with him, not only as a partner but
also as a friend. There was no question she was in the wrong, but
he had done the unspeakable. He had put her out to her
colleagues and left her to dry. Feeling as though she couldn’t
listen to another moment of his bullshit and no longer caring
whether she pissed him off, she reluctantly said what she
surmised would be the final nail in her career coffin.
“It wasn’t a
little spat
Will. Business between us will
never be
as usual
again. I meant what I said before. When this
gig is over, you and I are going our separate ways.”
Will grunted, but said nothing further. In fact, he did not
look her way again and they rode the rest of the trip in a vacuum.
Finally, he turned the car onto a side street, not far from
Mazie Rose’s house. But where Mazie’s home was stately, the
doctor’s house was a horror show on steroids. It was a castle,
literally, a castle, complete with a mote and a spiked concrete
wall surrounding it. The chic elegance of the entire street was
destroyed by the bizarre structure — a true study in bad taste.
His neighbors must hate him
, Karen thought.
“Well, looky here,” Will bubbled. “The doctor’s home is
his castle, literally.”
Karen was so overwhelmed by the sight of it, she forgot
how angry she was and asked him, “What would possess
someone to build something like this? it’s a nightmare! What
could he have been thinking?”
“Hell, if I know. Ate too many of his own drugs, I guess.
But I can tell you this... Even if there are sharks in that pool,
we’re going in!”
Frank Garcia pulled up behind them in the crime scene
van. He parked and walked over to their car. Will opened his
door and stepped out.
Garcia was shaking his head and pointing at the
aberration that was Joe Fraga’s house. “Is this guy kidding? This
place has gotta be a joke, and if it’s not, then I’m thinking he’s
got a helluva shot at an insanity plea.”
“No accounting for people’s taste, or should I say lack of
it,” Will responded.
“I suppose. You ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. You think the asshole is gonna
open that gate without a problem, or are we gonna have to get a
battering ram and SWAT team?”
“Shit, I hope so.”
Karen, who had been over at the gate trying to appraise
the situation inside, came over and joined the men. “Hey Frank.”
“Hey, Karen. You feeling lucky?”
“Yeah, . That’s the word all right. I don’t guess
standing here being stupefied over the view is getting us
anywhere, so why don’t we just get moving and take care of
business.”
“Well, .” Garcia laughed and ruffled her hair.
“You’re mighty feisty today. So go ahead, Wonderwoman, lead
the way.”
She cocked her head toward the house and said, “Okay.
Follow me, boys.” At the gate she pushed a button under the
speaker.
It was close to two minutes before anyone answered.
“
Buenos Dias
. May I help you, please?” The voice was
soft and timid.
Will spoke up. “Police. We’re here to see Dr. Fraga.”
“I am sorry,
el doctoro
is not well. He is seeing no
visitors today.”
“Please advise
el doctoro
that he has detectives from the
Miami Beach Police Department out here waiting to speak to
him. We’re sure he’d rather talk to us here at his home than
down at the station where I promise him, he will feel a lot worse.
Comprehende
?
“And, uh, by the way, m’am, I assume your green card is
handy?” He turned and winked at Karen and Garcia.
The buzzer sounded immediately, and the maid told
them to come in. The three of them entered and began
negotiating through the maze of trees and paths.
Garcia asked, “What’s with you and the attitude, Will?
We aren’t INS. You didn’t have to hassle her about papers. It’s
not as though it’s her fault her boss is a piece of shit.”
Will glared at him and said, “Hey, we’re in, aren’t we?”
Karen stopped walking as they came to a wooden bridge
over the mote. “Guys, look! We’re dealing with someone who’s
certifiable. There are sharks in there!
Garcia took a quick step backward. “Damn! You’re
right! This one’s as crazy as they come. We’ll be doing the
world a service putting
this
freak behind bars.”
The housekeeper was standing by the open front door.
She was a coffee brown caricature of the average paperless
refugee. Karen figured her to be in her mid- to late thirties. Her
eyes were tired and reflected the soul of a woman resigned to a
lifetime of servitude.
“I am Lupe. The doctor has asked please you are to wait
in the living room for him. He will be downstairs very quickly.”
She paused for a moment, frightened eyes peering from detective
to detective. “I will have trouble from you? You wish to make
me leave your country?”
Karen moved toward her and touched her arm. “Lupe,
this is not your problem. Our business is with the doctor. You
understand?” The little woman averted Karen’s eyes, and said,
“Yes, thank you missus. You are very kind. You will not send
me back to my country today?”
“No. No, we won’t do that.”
“
Ay, gracias, muchas gracias, senora
. I will show you
where you are to wait.”
She led them to a massive high-ceilinged room. It was as
dark and as uninviting as a place could possibly be. Small,
lightless windows gave Karen the sensation of being closed in —
suffocating — regardless of the enormity of the space. It shouted
medieval and oozed depression.
There were no sofas, but rather, oversized high-backed
chairs constructed with very dark wood and upholstered in
charcoal crushed velvet. A stone fireplace dominated an entire
wall, with suits of armor guarding either side. Lupe indicated
toward the chairs, and said, “To be comfortable,” then turned
and left them to gawk.
Will whistled the theme from Twilight Zone. “Man, I
knew this guy was some kind of strange, but this is way over the
edge.”
“I think this is going to be fun, actually,” Garcia smiled.
A few minutes passed before Joe Fraga entered the
room. His usual impeccable grooming was replaced by a
disheveled, wilted blob. Bloodshot eyes betrayed either a late
night or too much drugs and liquor, or both. Or perhaps they had
just awakened him.
The doctor, in what appeared an attempt to look more
presentable when he saw the three detectives, pulled himself to
his full height, threw his shoulders back and cleared his throat.
He hesitated for just a moment and then started towards them,
ranting loudly.
“What’s so important that you must bust into my home
like this? My maid said you had to see me
immediately
. Well, I
think that’s a bunch of horse nipples, and I suggest you remove
yourselves from the premises. You may call my secretary at the
office to schedule a time more convenient to me if you have
something you wish to discuss with me.” His voice, usually
smooth and practiced, was gravelly.
Will looked at the doctor as though he’d just found him
under a rock.
“Late night, doc? You’re looking a little wobbly there,
huh? Tough luck, asshole, but we won’t be postponing
anything.” He walked over to Fraga and handed him the search
warrant. “We don’t plan on leaving any time soon, doc. So why
don’t you just talk amongst yourself, hm? I’ll give you a topic.
‘You’re fucked.’”
Fraga glanced over the document and snapped, “A
search warrant. What in the hell is this all about? You break into
my home...”
“Calm down, doc,” Karen interrupted. “We have reason
to believe that you have illegal drugs both here and at the
Demons’ compound. Detectives are searching your office there
as we speak.
“If you cooperate, we can move quickly. If you choose
not to, this could turn into a very long and humiliating afternoon
for you.”
“Drugs? Of
course
I have drugs around. I’m a
doctor
for
Christ’s sake.”
He took a small cell phone out of the pocket in his robe
and waved it at the group. “I am calling my attorney right now.
You do
not
have my permission to go through my house and if
you touch one thing, I will have your badges and then I shall sue
you for everything you have and see that you never search
anyone or anything again!”
Will smiled, showing lots of teeth. “You’re a big man,
doc. Some heady threats you’re throwing our way, sounds like
you been watching a lot of television lately. And hey, I’m real
sorry you feel that way, doc, ’cause we’re going ahead with this
with or without your permission. That’s what a search warrant is
all about. Oh, and as far as calling your attorney, don’t let us stop
you. We’d actually love to meet him because we’re gonna be
having a little discussion with you when we’re finished, anyway,
and I’m betting you’re gonna want to have him close at hand.”
Will punctuated his words with a sharp crunch of his
teeth. Then he looked over at his team and asked, “Shall we get
started, ladies and gentlemen?”
“I’ll take downstairs, you two can head on up and see
what’s there.” Garcia said, already on his way.
Fraga was pacing the room, whining into his phone and
looking delirious. He was doing a lot of huffing and puffing and
plenty of gesturing. When he clicked off he shouted, “My
attorney is on his way! I order you to stop what you are doing
immediately.”
Will stepped into the man’s space and leaned into his
face.
“You aren’t in charge here, you filthy fuck. We are. You
can cry and stamp your feet all you want. If I have to, I’ll cuff
you to one of those big ugly chairs in your living room. So back
off now while you still can. Meanwhile, give us a shout when
your lawyer shows up, huh?” He turned and started up the stone
staircase, Karen trailing behind him.
“He’s losing it, Will.”
“Hell yes, he’s losing it, and that’s all good for us!”