PART II Chapter Eighteen
Megan wasn’t home when Kate returned because she was back in classes at college. Kate was glad she had started back even though they hadn’t solved Megan’s case. Kate hadn’t told Megan about the girl who had come forth and told them about being drugged at a party. She would have to tell Megan that Abby James had identified Jason Brinkley as the person who drugged her at the party.
She would tell Megan what Abby told her about waking up in a place where they were recording and thinking something may have happened to her when she was unconscious and she would tell Megan that Abby described the place she woke up good enough that a police artist drew the scene and it matched the photos that the forensics team took of the scene where Megan was also taken.
It was clear to Kate that Jason Brinkley was the person who had drugged Abby and also Megan and he was not acting alone. His job was to procure the girls and others used the girls to make the videos. It was clear to Kate that Jason Brinkley was killed to keep him silent and that there were probably big names involved in the operation.
Kate considered publishing the photos of the area they took the photos along with Jason’s photo to see if anyone else stepped forward with information. She called Cindy and asked her to call their contact in the media and to try to get that information out in the public. Cindy promised she would get it done and Kate hung up just as Megan was getting back from class.
Kate asked how her day went and told her she wanted to give her some information. Kate didn’t hold back, she gave Megan the whole story and she told her they were publishing the photos from the area along with Jason’s photo in hopes of getting someone else to step forward.
Megan was upset and she asked, “Do you think they did something to me that I don’t remember and the doctor couldn’t find.?”
Kate replied, “The doctor found no evidence of any sexual activity with you. I think you got away before they had any chance to do anything except those photos they took. I don’t think they touched you physically.”
Megan said, “I just feel strange about the whole thing. I can’t believe I let myself get in that situation.”
Kate replied, “You were trying to have fun with your friends, you didn’t do anything wrong except maybe be too trusting. These people count on girls being unaware, that is how they operate.”
Megan said, “Someday I will be able to help you track these guys down. I am working hard to learn what I need to know.”
Kate replied, “I know you are and I am proud that you wanted to go into forensics science. The lab investigations are very important to us. Without that evidence we could not prosecute most of our cases. Forensics can make or break a case.”
Megan asked, “How is your murder case of the old guy going?”
Kate replied, “It has taken a lot of strange turns and our original motive of jealousy has been replaced by robbery. He owned gold coins and stocks that have disappeared. We are concentrating on the coins, nobody owns actual stock certificates anymore. It is all electronic data now and the information is kept at the brokerage.”
Megan asked, “Why can’t you check with William’s broker to see if anyone has tried to sell his stock?”
Kate replied, “The research department is working on that, along with trying to find the name of his former partner.”
Megan replied, “I figured you had that working. Most of my studies are in physical evidence, blood, DNA, fingerprints, and gun shot residue. Plant and animal material on the body and stomach contents.”
Kate replied, “Stomach contents is how we figured William had gone for a nice meal shortly before he died. Speaking of stomach contents, I am thinking we should go out somewhere to eat. We could celebrate you starting back in classes.”
Megan replied, “That sounds good. Should we invite Cindy to join us?”
Kate replied, “I will call her. Where do you want to go? I was thinking ‘Abe & Louie's’”.
Megan replied, “Holy crap, you must have gotten a raise.”
Kate replied, “No, I just thought we would celebrate your return to school.”
Kate picked up her phone and called Cindy. When Cindy answered Kate asked if she wanted to join them for dinner and then she told her they were going to “Abe & Louie's”.
Cindy replied, “Wow, of course. I can meet you guys there. We had another person come in with a story about Jason Brinkley and the photos of the place where the videos were shot. This person is male however and he wants to give us evidence but is afraid. He is afraid he will wind up like Jason so he has been hiding out.”
Kate asked, “How did he contact you?”
Cindy replied, “He called from a pay phone and no, I didn’t know they still existed either.. He said he was afraid they were taping his cell phone.”
Kate replied, “Well he could be right. We have evidence that they do indeed bug phones. When is he going to come in?”
Cindy said, “He doesn’t want to be seen coming to the police station or to be seen with us. He suggested we meet at Fenway park at a SOX game. We buy the tickets and forward him his electronic ticket so we will all be seated together.”
Kate said, “Sounds like that might work, I assume you got the info to send the ticket. Now, let’s go eat.”
Kate hung up her phone but Megan heard the conversation with Cindy. She walked over to her mother with a puzzled look on her face.
Megan asked, “What do you think he knows?”
Kate replied, “I don’t really know, but I certainly want to find out. These are dangerous people we are dealing with and I hope this young man is able to stay hidden until we get a chance to talk with him.”
Kate and Megan left their house to join Cindy for steaks. Kate had called and got a reservation and they were set for the evening. Cindy was in the parking lot when Kate and Megan pulled in.”
The three women walked in together and Kate gave her name to be seated. They had a table quickly and Kate ordered a bottle of wine to start them off. All three ordered steaks and Kate asked them to bring out cheese sticks while they waited.
Cindy said, “The research department finally found the brokerage house that sold William his stock and they said the stocks were still there. They haven’t been touched.”
Kate said, “I wonder why the granddaughter hasn’t cashed them in yet. She has the power of attorney.”
Cindy replied, “Unlike the bank, her name was not on the stocks. The estate will be going into probate so I am sure Elizabeth’s lawyer had advised her that she would have to wait for probate before she could get the stocks.”
Kate replied, “It is pretty clear that we will need to have another discussion with Elizabeth.”
Cindy said, “The research department is still working. I was told they were getting closer to finding who William’s partner was.”
Megan was listening to all of the details of the cases. Since she had begun her studies in “Criminology and Forensics Investigation”, she had become even more interested in her mother’s cases. The facts about her own abduction and the events after just heightened her curiosity about the cases.
The appetizer was about gone when the salads were brought to the table. Kate had opened and poured the wine and that included a glass for Megan. Kate would work her up to having a glass of Jameson before bed.
The three were having a good time and Megan felt like she was among friends, not her mom. She had gotten closer since she started college and Kate felt the change. Her daughter was growing up and she knew their relationship would be forever changed. She would have to view her daughter as an equal and not as a little girl.