Little Abode for Children - Chapter 10

 

Another Boy from Chicago

The following day Captain Brown asked, “Are you done with the footage?” 

Nathan replied, “Almost. It’s sure that the van that dropped Ms. Crawford’s body was from Chicago. Its license plate is still in active registration. Only the passengers could not be identified properly because of the face masks. Those weren’t worn to prevent viral contamination of COVID-19. But those were masks used in burglaries, bank robberies.” 

Captain Brown mentioned, “Jack has identified the Meatloaf members, Tony, Timothy and Miranda. From the footage of the gala night. Also, he exclaimed that Ms. Crawford left the party in Ms. LeRoy’s outfit and vice versa. Do you know anything about it, Adams?”

Before Nathan could answer, Lieutenant Kelly interrupted, “Pardon me Captain. Got a call about an abandoned warehouse on Seventy fifth street near Kenosha Business Park, with lots of blood, discovered and reported by the property manager while she was checking it before handing it over to a new tenant. We presume the warehouse being the primary crime scene in Susan Crawford’s murder. We’ve sent the blood samples to the lab. As soon as we get the results, we’ll inform you and Detective Adams.”

Nathan added hurriedly, “From other footage from the library, I saw a female teenager, hanging the gown from the library shelf. I showed a photo of the female to several children. Most of them told that she was asking around about Jack O’hara while in the library. To some of the children, the female identified herself as Miranda.”

In the evening, at Little Abode for Children shelter, Nathan met Jeremy. Nathan knew from the footage of the day that Jeremy did not come to the station by Metra train, like other children. Rather, he came from a motel on seventy fifth street.

Jeremy asked everyone at the center, “Do you know where Jack lives? I miss him. He’s my best friend. I’d like to meet him.”

Nathan replied, “What’s the rush? You’re now going to live here till you graduate from high school and learn a trade. You’ll meet Jack, anyway. This’ a small city.”

Then Nathan texted Captain Brown, “Please ask Jack to make his Facebook page live. Tonight's the night.”

Then he received a text message from Lieutenant Kelly, “The blood sample matches the DNA of Susan Crawford. Also, traces of it match DNA of Timothy Cooke, Anthony Parsons, Jeremy Wilson and Miranda Boyd.”

Later in the night, a police raid led by Lieutenant Kelly on Pine Ridge Motel on seventy fifth street nabbed Timothy Cooke alias Tim, Anthony Parsons alias Tony and Miranda Boyd. Nathan was there.

Around the same time, Captain Brown’s home was invaded by someone. As that person entered the dark bedroom mentioned by Jack on his Facebook, the room was lit up and he found himself surrounded by cops. Captain Brown uttered, “Jeremy Wilson, you’re under arrest for murder of Susan Crawford and attempted murder of Jack O’Hara. You’ve right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”

Later in the year, with the testimony of the four arrested persons, the entire Meatloaf gang was brought down.

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Little Abode for Children - Chapter 9

 

Detective’s Night Adventure

In the evening, Nathan was telling a ghost story to the children at Little Abode for Children shelter. He was trying not to smile. This particular story brought him happiness. It even made his mother happy. He was in love with the story.

He continued, “K and M, two siblings saw a ghost in the library. They were scared. They somehow reached one of the emergency exits of the library building and left. Their exit turned on the library security alarm. They were in the library after its closure and, thus, broke the rules. Hence, they were trying to avoid the police. In the dark of the night, running through Library Park, they simply fall upon Detective D. Detective D was trying to figure out a murder in the park. As K and M told him about the ghost, next night he entered the library by using his police key. Searching all floors Detective D found a bedroll spread on the floor in the attic of the library. No motion sensors were working there. A table lamp was on, by the bedroll, illuminating a stack of books. He started watching the bedroll, book and the lamp stealthily from behind an old mahogany chest of drawers. Suddenly, in the sea of silence, he heard someone breathing on his neck. He was sure that it was not a ghost. Ghosts can’t breathe because they are dead people. When people die, they usually stop breathing.”

At this point, Natalie commented, “Gross.”

Others screamed, “What happened next?”

Nathan continued, “Detective D was swift. As he was turning back, the person behind him kicked on his knees from the back. Adjusting balance to prevent a fall, D turned around completely and received a blow on his nose, by a heavy book. Yet he smiled. For he found someone he was looking for some time. He had seen her photos. He heard a lot of good things about her. Until the blow on the nose he never realized that he fell in love with the missing person. So, he prayed on his knees, ‘Will you marry me?’ The missing person said ‘Yes.’ Then they lived happily ever after.”

Patrick commented, “You’re a terrible storyteller.”

Nathan did not notice Lisa was standing by the door. She came to stay with the children that night. She asked eerily, “Have you found Teressa?”

Nathan was not sure if he blushed. He had uttered a rehearsed answer to this question too many times. Hence, he confidently replied, “Not yet. The investigation is on.”

From Lisa’s countenance he gathered that Lisa was swallowing trails of questions and judgements, like, “Are you in love with the victim in one of your cases?”, “Is that a way to talk about a missing person?”,  “This’ gross, man.”

Later in the evening, Dr. Goodman called Nathan and informed, “DNA is a match. The victim was Ms. Susan Crawford of Chicago.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Little Abode for Children - Chapter 8

 

Chicago or Milwaukee

Nathan was already investigating Ms. LeRoy’s disappearance from the library. Teressa LeRoy was twenty-seven. Now this thirtysomething woman’s dead body, too, appeared in Library Park. Hence, the investigation about the latter woman was assigned to him.

Nathan went to the coroner’s office in the morning. Dr. Goodman was ready with the report. She explained, “It’s murder. The victim was indeed asphyxiated. Absence of ligature marks on her neck though contradicts the fact of asphyxiation… also, the x-rays showing no damage to her windpipe ….. yet .... Her broken rib … especially, rib bones four and seven pierced into her lungs. Both right and left lungs were punctured. Hence, she was asphyxiated.”

Nathan had to know, hence asked, “Disfigurements? Of fingers? And the face?”

Dr. Goodman explained, “From huge blood coagulations around ruptured tissues, it is obvious that disfigurements were caused to her before she died. Pulled out nails, charred fingertips indicate that she was tortured. Then she was killed. The breaking of rib bones was too due to torture. Probably the perpetrators could not fathom that their victim would be dead before they would let her die. Hence, they dumped the body as soon as they could.”

Nathan needed more, “What about the DNA?”

Dr. Goodman smiled and reminded, “Latest by tomorrow .... I’m expecting to get the DNA analysis results later tonight.”

X-ray analysis of the victim induced in Nathan an instinctive rush for obtaining all surveillance footage around Library Park and Metra Station. Hence, his next stop was the District Attorney’s office. 

Nathan was thinking fast. The perpetrators might drive from Chicago to Kenosha to dump the body at Library Park. Otherwise, they might be staying at Kenosha. If perpetrators were aware of Jack living in Kenosha, they would try penetrating into Little Abode for children and would find Jack in the foster children’s network.

Around afternoon he reported everything to Captain Brown. She suggested, “Why are you only looking into Chicago? Why not Milwaukee? Metra Station can be a spot for gathering for anyone living in, coming to Kenosha.”

Nathan shared, “I’ve checked with both the police departments at Chicago and Milwaukee. Chicago PD reported that one Susan Crawford disappeared from Chicago on the same night as Teressa. When I interviewed children from Chicago rescued by Little Abode for Children and living in different foster homes around Kenosha, Jack O’hara mentioned that he had invited Ms. Crawford to the gala.”

Nathan also added, “In the interview Jack reported, ‘Ms. Crawford is a witness in the murder case of my elder brother Joe. The Meatloaf gang was trying to recruit seniors in Joe’s school. They killed our parents to make Joe join them. Sensing the situation, Ms. Crawford tried to ship us brothers off Chicago. She brought me from my school and bought me the ticket to Kenosha and asked me to wait for the city Child Services Department at Metra Station. She learnt about it from the Facebook page of Little Abode for Children. But she couldn’t rescue Joe. To terrorize other kids in the school and to show them how horrific could be a denial to gang recruitment, they hacked Joe to death. Ms. Crawford found Joe’s mangled body at the school football ground.’ Since then Ms. Crawford was living under police protection pending her testimony in the court.”

Next Nathan met the head of the city Child Services department. He explained, “Jack is vulnerable to attack by some criminals. We need to shift him to police custody. Please, allow me to keep him in my home.”

But the department policy was against unmarried men or women below the age of forty fostering children. Nathan explained the situation to Captain Brown. She took custody of Jack. She was married to another detective. Their son was almost the same age as Jack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Little Abode for Children - Chapter 7

 

The Body

Almost a week has passed since the gala night. Captain Brown called Nathan and enquired, “What’s the problem? Haven’t you searched the library thoroughly?”

Nathan replied, “I did Ma’am. In fact, I have found some leads. I mentioned them in detail in my updated report.  We still need to protect certain persons like Jack O’hara till we can make the necessary arrests.”

Captain Brown seemed impatient, “When have you updated your report?

Nathan answered, “Last night.”

Captain seemed to be browsing through the report on the computer screen in front of her.  She tightened her jaws and commented, “Have you filed for permission to access the feeds from surveillance cameras already?”

Nathan became enthusiastic in his response, “Yes, I have copied necessary clips from traffic camera footage. Metra Station footage is about to arrive. Only, Judge Hopkins is waiting for the opinion of Kenosha county officials since they manage Simmons Public Library. The gala was a private event. If the county would have waived its privilege of surveillance over the library premises during the event, then Judge Hopkins may be required to subpoena financial details of donations of the gala night from the organizers, especially, Little Abode for Children, and, also, their video recordings of the event. However, I have asked Little Abode for Children for their guest list for the gala night. They have provided the list.”

Lieutenant Kelly entered the captain's office. He reported, “Captain, we’ve got a mangled body on the steps of the arena around the war memorial in Library Park …”

Captain Brown frowned and murmured, “Due North of the library building.” And asked, “Who’s reported?”

Lieutenant Kelly answered, “A jogger. By a nine one one call.”

Detective Nathan was on his feet already. He asked for permission, “Can I attend the crime scene, Captain, Lieutenant?” 

Obviously, he was permitted.

At the crime scene Coroner Goodman was still in action. She looked up and nodded to Detective Nathan Adams. Nathan smiled and asked, “What does the good doctor have here for me?”

Dr. Goodman reported, “A woman. Mid-thirties. Died primarily of asphyxiation. Dark discoloration of the skin at places, cyanosis …. pointing to asphyxiation. Unless I do the X-rays I can barely tell what has caused the asphyxia. Also, the disfigurement of face and fingers, require me to study a little more to determine if those mangling occurred before her death or after. Time of death is between one to three in the morning today.”

City news mill started brewing if the body belonged to Teressa LeRoy. Captain Brown called the press and announced, “From primary investigations it appears that the bodily remains of a human female found in Library Park does not belong to Ms. LeRoy. At this time, we cannot share any update about any of the ongoing investigations about Ms. LeRoy’s disappearance or about the dead body discovered at Library Park.”

Nathan rushed to meet Teressa LeRoy’s sister Ellen and Aunt Mary. Nathan felt quite familiar to them. He appeased them, “You must trust me. Teressa is well and alive. As soon as we take the person responsible for her disappearance in custody, she will probably be able to call you.”

From looks on their respective faces Nathan guessed that none of them believed Nathan’s statement. Yet he refrained from being more convincing for the sake of the investigation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Little Abode for Children - Chapter 6

 

The Streets

Nathan was walking from Seventh Avenue towards the library building. He was remembering that the library neighborhood used to be one of the safest areas in the city. Yet it appeared to be a high crime area compared to neighborhoods far west from the lake.

These thoughts brought into his mind what he had read once in a police training material. Statistically high crime rates were observed within walking distance from public transit stations. 

From Kenosha Metra Station, the library was just fifteen minutes’ walk along eleventh avenue and sixtieth street, across eighth street. He could not help but blame Metra Station and its link to Chicago for the general high crime rates of the city. Kenosha appeared in several studies for its higher crime rates compared to other cities of similar size and population in the nation.

He walked past the entire Library Park and arrived at the brink of Eighth Avenue. He needed darkness to pursue the ghost in the library. Hence, he ventured to walking to Metra Station and walking back to the library when it was dark. He had also decided to reconnoiter the southwest corner of Library Park. This corner appeared to be the fringe area of high crime zones in the city. 

The pleasant summer breeze brought a shadow of loneliness. It reminded Nathan of his friends. Some of them went back to school in pursuit of advanced business degrees or law degrees. Nathan chose police work, after leaving active service in the military.

Returning from his second tour to Afghanistan he discovered that his mother had become older and frailer. He wished to live near her. She suggested Nathan join the police force like his father. That was five years ago. 

Since then he has become somewhat submerged in work. He barely found time to meet new people outside work. In the past five years, he has not made any friends. Nor did he go on any date.

Around Metra Station, he found a few children loitering about. Some were in hoodies and pretended to walk fast to a defined destination. Nathan walked further North and came back to the station in a while, just to check that children who pretended to walk away were back in the waiting area.

Nathan felt sorry for the children. The evening pleasantness brought by the breeze would turn to chill during the wee hours of the day. The children would suffer in the cold until the child services department would rescue them.

He was thinking of calling the child services department. He was hesitating because the call might shift his focus from the job in hand.

By that time, a colorfully painted van appeared, displaying the name Little Abode for Children, on its flanks. A young woman along with an old woman stepped out of the van. They interacted with the children and all the children boarded the van. Nathan made a note about the event. 

He visited Little Abode for Children the very next day. It was linked to the missing woman, Teressa LeRoy. At the office and shelter of Little Abode for Children Nathan was received by Samantha. She used to volunteer there thrice a week. For a paid job, she used to work at Grand Electricals and Finances based at Milwaukee. Her husband used to be an engineer, with Kenosha City Council. They had three children together. 

Samantha told Nathan, “It was Teressa’s brainchild. She used to be here before going to work for the library five days a week and after her shift at the library is over. She is, was, the heart of the center. First kid she rescued on a wintry night was Melissa. Teressa was herself a student then. Her elder sister, Ellen, works for the city Child Services Department. The two sisters partnered in this endeavor. Later, their entire family and extended family, friends joined hands. We even had a gala ….. Everything has changed that night. The children are still reeling in shock. Jack has stopped stepping outside home. He probably feels guilty.”

The story of creating Little Abode for Children filled Nathan’s heart with warmth. He enrolled to be a volunteer. 

However, Nathan needed to know more about Jack. Hence, he asked Samantha about Jack’s address. Jack was then living with Mrs. Kirk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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