Albatross (13 page)

Again, Andersen saw no movement with his witness. A body found in a trunk of an abandoned car the next street over was also mentioned in the report. While suspicious, the local police never got a chance to complete their own forensics and investigation as “national security types” took everything over and eventually whisked everything away while the local police were relegated to keeping people away from the crime scenes.

Andersen sat quietly, looking at Coleridge. He really didn’t know what to make of this witness to a capital crime. Caulfield or Coleridge or whoever this guy was, he was in the center of this, and he knew a whole lot more than he was telling. Andersen began to rethink his entire approach to the interview. Because of Coleridge’s visual disability, Andersen wondered if he was not pressing as hard as he should have been. Was Andersen’s biased because of Coleridge’s blindness, which kept him from thinking more critically? Was Caulfield not a victim? Was Caulfield responsible for the shooting directly? Andersen had a myriad of thoughts running through his head when Coleridge’s voice brought him back.

“Lieutenant?” Coleridge asked.

Andersen was surprised by the sudden change in demeanor and question. No longer still, Coleridge sat closer to the desk, leaning on his elbows, his hands folded below his chin.

Not waiting for an answer, Coleridge asked, “Would it help our relationship if you started calling me David? You seem distressed.”

Andersen thought that maybe the approach of having Coleridge “take care of him” might get him the answers he needed.

“Maybe,” Andersen answered.

They were both quiet again for only a moment until Andersen started again. “Okay … David,” Andersen emphasized the name to confirm the new name to use when he was addressing Coleridge. That was going to be tough.

“David? How did you survive and your wife get killed?” Andersen had to find this out. This might be the emotional leverage he needed to press David for more. It would also solve a cold case.

Coleridge, now “David,” sat back in his chair again. He was going back in time again. Andersen was getting used to this occurrence.

“Every time I think about that day, I reexperience my wife’s death. Talk about trauma?” David said.

Andersen remained silent, but he moved his chair closer to the desk to take notes. Andersen thought that might convey to David that he was poised to take notes, if David would just start talking.

With a deep sign, David took in some air and then he started, “This could take a while.”

“We got time,” Andersen said as he looked at his watch.

Andersen watched as David sat up straight in his chair. It was obvious to Andersen that David was gathering himself for a very long and confusing story that would hopefully lead up to the events that had happened in that house.

“It wasn’t just a bad day. It was a shitty day on a monumental level,” David began.

Chapter 9

“God! It’s really been
a shitty day,” David said to himself as he finally got in his car to leave. He had spent relatively little quality time with the federal agents. He took his time collecting the notes, files, medical claims, appointments, and scribbling David might have done in the presence of Burns. Just as he was being advised by the federal officers that his cooperation was still required for the future and that “not leaving town” was more than a suggestion, David remembered it was the third Thursday of the month. Jenny was undoubtedly going to call him about getting home to meet Bob and Carol somewhere. Great. David was still wondering what was going on.
Burns remembered something important,
David surmised. David began to obsessively recall the last three sessions to see if there were any signs of suicidal or homicidal ideation or plans.
He’s capable of hurting someone,
David thought.
But he didn’t identify any specific person, and he seemed more distressed by the memories and what they mean as a reflection of who he is
, David continued to think. “And where did the feds come from?” David asked out loud as he drove. David knew that the world had lots of real problems and real conspiracies going on, but David always figured he was a “nobody” in the grander scheme of life. Still, after months of working with Burns, David liked him. He was smart and witty, and he seemed to have great insights. David could see that Burns was hungry to figure things out at any cost. David admired that about him.
With knowledge comes pain,
David pondered. He knew that was a phrase from somewhere but couldn’t place it. David smiled suddenly.
If Burns was here, he would know,
David guessed. David hoped Burns was all right.
Maybe I’ll call the hospital before we go out
, David thought to himself.

The ride home for David was fortunately quiet. David found the radio too distracting when he was driving now, and while he was not a fan of his secluded home in the woods, he was looking forward to simply lying on the couch and watching a mindless show. Maybe a book. Seeing Bob and Carol was definitely not on his list for tonight; drinking expensive beer and playing pool with Bob could work though. Time ticked away as the miles passed, and David could not help but find his mind wandering to what Burns might be remembering and if Samantha was all right. These two people were “survivors,” if there ever was such a word that described overcoming the impossible. David’s mind wandered so much he nearly missed his exit. As he turned on to his street, he saw the familiar homes. His own home had lights on, and the lawn and bushes were finally cut. His home stood in stark contrast to the two houses on either side under construction and the house across the street that was fully gutted and renovated right down to its exterior walls. As David closed the car door, he picked up the pace to get inside to his waiting wife. David was genuinely curious about what he would find on the other side of the door. Would he find a wife who would be happy to see him and want to go out, or would he find a wife who would be annoyed at him and dread going out at all? The front light turned on as he approached. Once the door opened, David deposited his jacket and briefcase in the foyer while he went through the mail. Jenny walked toward him with a smile. She was wearing a new dress with matching shoes and a clutch. She took his keys from his hand and kissed him briefly as she passed by him to get to the car. David noticed the dress had a matching wrap as well. The entire ensemble was very flattering, but it did indicate that they were going out to dinner at a nice place. But for David, it was a win. He was with his happy wife. David dropped the mail he had collected on the way in and followed Jenny to the car. She had the lead on him and went right to the front seat. Still though, David’s mood was suddenly darkening with worry. Going out didn’t seem right. Not because he didn’t want to. There just seemed to be a lot of loose ends. Loose ends bothered David.

“I’ll drive,” Jenny said. And then she added, “You know how Carol gets when we are late, and you drive slowly.” Jenny was right. After a day like today, he really didn’t want to drive. He was not in a rush to see Bob and Carol.

“Oh, please,” Caulfield responded.

David had his hand on the passenger door when he suddenly remembered he had Samantha’s cell phone.
Dammit
, David berated himself.
It’s a good thing covert operations were not his full-time job
, David mused. As he took the cell phone out to make sure he still had it, he wondered where his own phone was. He felt his other pockets and produced his smart phone, but now it became clear he did not have his wallet. David was hit with several thoughts all within a second.
He still had a phone he shouldn’t have, and if the agents find out about it, he could be screwed. Did he already commit a federal offense by omitting the truth about the phone and David’s warning for Samantha? Where is Burns, and is he okay? Why did he think Samantha was in danger? Was she?
David calmed his thoughts for just a moment and began to realize that maybe going out to dinner was not a good idea with all these things happening.
More questions than answers,
David thought. David turned suddenly and started to walk back to the house as he said, “I left my wallet. See what happens when you rush me.” It was the only thing he could think to say so he could come up with an excuse to not go out.
The truth, maybe
, he thought.

Jenny called back, “Don’t worry. I’ve got money. Come on. I’ll buy.”

David thought how adorable that sounded. As he walked back to the car, there was a very loud crash. It startled David, and it must have startled Jenny because she was looking in the direction of the noise. It sounded like a ladder or something had fallen at the house across the street. David stopped in his tracks and peered at the house again and then turned back to Jenny, who was now looking at him. He was in the middle of saying his last words to his wife when David’s eyes were overwhelmed by a bright light. David started to ask, “Was someone working at the Davidian’s house—” when the light hit him. David felt as if he had been lifted off the ground. An enormous explosion of some sort filled David’s ears. For a split second, he wondered if his house had exploded because the sound was so loud. He then felt his stomach turn inside out the way it did on roller coasters. He held onto this sensation until he felt the ground rush up to his back. The next sensation was warmth all over his face and chest. Then the world receded. David knew he was losing consciousness.
Not so bad
, he thought. Maybe he was dying. Maybe he was already dead. Fear suddenly grabbed him.
Where’s Jenny? Is she okay? Why can’t I move?
More thoughts flooded faster than he could process. There was stillness—no sound and no sight, just pressure on his back and a warm liquid on his face and chest … maybe arms and legs too.
Is this really it? Will I see Jenny again? Maybe she made it. Maybe the car protected her. Maybe this is really it
, David thought. A moment later, David had the sensation of someone going through his clothes and then the painful experience of being lifted and laying on his chest in a vertical fashion.
Shit … there’s the pain. Am I sitting up? Is Jenny trying to help me?
David thought. David felt drained and disoriented. David tried speaking, but his mouth felt so tired. He wanted to ask for Jenny. David tried to move his hands to touch her. His limbs seemed lifeless. David experienced his body being moved. The movements he experienced were not smooth. It felt as if he was being carried until finally and thankfully he was laid down on his back on a bed or something. He felt movement again, but it was more even and without pain. He had to be in an ambulance now. Finally, David was lying flat. He could not hear or see, but he could feel burning pins in his body. Then the pain faded again until he thought he heard an echo of an explosion again. This one, though, was somehow muted. Suddenly, David felt really tired, and he felt like drifting off again. David made a conscious effort to make sure his eyes were open so he could at least see where he was. David could swear his eyes were wide open, but he saw nothing. In the darkness, David began to think of Jenny again until he felt so tired he couldn’t stay awake anymore.
Maybe it was all bad dream. Maybe Jenny made it. Maybe the car protected her
, David hoped.

Burns continued driving by David’s street as David continued down his. Burns parked one street over. He had to move fast though. Burns exited the car with his gun and knife but then turned back and took one of the high explosives and triggers. After he made sure the triggering mechanism was locked to keep it from prematurely blowing up, Burns made his way through the sparse woods between neighborhoods and saw four houses. Three were in varying degrees of construction and renovations. One was clearly inhabited and well cared for as indicated by a cut lawn and trimmed bushes.

Burns maneuvered to the closest house next to David’s home while he kept his line of vision on anything near the house. Burns clearly heard his therapist exit his own car, walk up the walkway to the front door, and go inside. The house light flickered on prior his entering the house. As Burns peered out to survey the area around David’s house, he saw something familiar yet out of place. Burns saw the same car that had been parked in front of David’s office, and it was now parked at the house across the street. Burns began to calculate how he would get across without being seen when the front door opened again and a middle-aged woman came out to the car. She was well dressed for an evening out. David came out right behind her and locked the door. Burns heard the woman say, “I’ll drive. You know how Carol gets when we are late, and you drive slowly.”

“Oh, please” was David’s response.

Burns started to carefully scan the area looking for owner of the parked car. Then there was a crash by the house where the target’s car was parked. A ladder had fallen. Burns saw movement. David was now stopped in his tracks. He was turning to say something to the woman in the car when it exploded. Burns found the explosion startling, even though he suspected something like this was going to happen. Burns instinctively shielded his eyes but turned back as quickly as possible to see what had happened and how big the crater was. The force of the explosion shattered the windows of the houses in the neighborhood. David was thrown back several feet in the opposite direction.