Ding Dong Dead

25

Terry Vascar scans a stack of messages that came in through police dispatch while he was out. He kicks back, feet crossed on his desk. As a member of the Violent Crime Bureau, he collaborates closely with Phoenix PD Laboratory Services, Missing Persons Detail, and the medical examiner, among others.

Today he is reviewing events with Matt Albright. They have collaborated on cases ever since graduating together from the academy.

Their division has more cases to solve than they can handle. The department is short on trained personnel, and they try to prioritize the cases the best that they can. A recent murder takes precedence over old bones in an armoire. Not to mean they are being ignored. Only that Matt will have to count on others to assist with some of it.

That’s where he comes in.

Terry will let Matt know what he finds.

“Allison Thomasia is my most important concern right now,” Matt says. “Along with substantiating evidence to support the investigation.”

“Andy Thomasia is on the run,” Terry says. “It’s only a matter of time before he surfaces. A man like that can’t last for long as a fugitive.”

Matt rubs his face with both hands, as if attempting to rub away exhaustion. “The suspect and the victim were estranged,” he says, “but according to the husband, they were reconciling.”

Rule number one, learned in the first week of the criminal justice program: assume everyone is lying.

“The victim could have changed her mind,” Terry says. “She might have decided to move forward with the divorce. Rage, jealousy, unrequited love. All powerful motives for murder.”

Matt nods, and Terry thinks of his friend’s problems, the former wife’s cunning, her manipulative tactics, would have been enough to make a weaker man consider murder.

Matt’s lucky to be rid of her. Finally.

“The suspect didn’t have an alibi,” Matt says.

“Tough for him.”

Usually a suspect can come up with at least one witness, even if the timing isn’t perfect. But this guy doesn’t have a single one, not a hotel desk clerk or a bartender who can establish an out for him. Never a good sign.

And the suspect was certainly strong enough to crush Allison Thomasia’s skull, given the right weapon.

Andy Thomasia could have had all three-motive, opportunity, and means.

“If only they would locate the murder weapon,” Terry says.

“They will.”

Police have searched the hotel room. Nothing there, but Terry isn’t surprised.

“Blunt force trauma to the back of the head,” Matt says. “Lacerations suggesting an object such as a hammer. But also sharp cuts, three deep incisional wounds. I called the ME. Not a claw hammer, she says. It isn’t sharp enough.”

Terry and Matt go through the different types-sledge, club, ball, brick.

Matt likes the brick hammer idea. “It’s designed for breaking bricks,” he explains. “It has a blunt end, but it also has a sharp end. It’s a possibility as a murder weapon.”

“Is your suspect a bricklayer?” Terry asks.

“No. He’s a mechanical engineer.”

“A handyman type?”

“No idea. Can you put someone on it and start checking hardware stores?”

“At your service,” Terry says.

The Thomasia woman had crawled from one gravestone to another. The perpetrator had attempted to drag her away. Why had he stopped? Fear of discovery? More likely the trail of blood that followed behind the victim canceled out his efforts to move her to a different grave site.

The sharp blows that finished her off were delivered at the second headstone.

No defensive marks on the victim’s knuckles or under her fingernails. The attack was unexpected, but the perpetrator wasn’t. Allison knew her killer.

Matt’s phone rings.

“They found Andy Thomasia’s California driver’s license,” he says when he disconnects, already rising from his chair.

“Where?”

“Under a bush at the entrance to Eternal View Cemetery.”

“That takes care of it then.”

“Maybe.”

Rule number two: assume the possibility that evidence has been planted.

“Something is out of whack,” Matt says.

He doesn’t stick around to explain, but Terry agrees.