Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 03 - Thrilled to Death (32 page)
Read Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 03 - Thrilled to Death Online
Authors: L. J. Sellers
Tags: #Mystery, #Murder, #Thriller, #Eugene OR, #Detective Wade jackson
Jackson struggled to keep his voice neutral. “What happened next?”
“I took her cell phone so no one would know she e-mailed me. Then I drove away and tossed it in a dumpster.” Brooke’s speech seemed slower, more slurred than before.
Oh shit
. “Brooke, did you take something when you were in your mother’s room?”
“I’m just tired. So let’s finish up.”
Jackson didn’t believe her. “What did you take?”
“One little pain pill. To make this easier. Can you blame me? What else do you want to know?”
Jackson wanted to hear every piece of her confession, but what was the protocol here? For one little pain pill, there was nothing he could or should do. She was not the first suspect to come into this room under the influence.
“Did you plan to kill Courtney when you emptied her inhaler?” Evans asked, filling the silence.
“Of course.” Brooke sighed. “It was Elias’ idea. As soon as he heard my mother was dying, he started thinking about the money. We all did. Courtney would have wasted her half of it.” Brooke’s head fell forward, but she caught herself and pulled back. “I didn’t know until I got down there if I could go through with it. But I did.” Brooke closed her eyes. “Now I’m sorry cuz I’ve got no one left.”
“Brooke!” Jackson raised his voice.
She popped her eyes back open. “I’m fine. I want to tell you about Daddy too.”
“Your father? Dean Durham?”
“I killed him, you know.”
Jackson’s heart missed a beat. He’d been so clueless. He glanced up at the camera, grateful the city had finally approved the expenditure. “You took more than one pill, didn’t you?”
She gave him a sloppy smile, like only a drunk or a druggie could. “Yep.”
“What was it and how many did you take?”
Brooke struggled to get the words out. “Ox-y-contin. I took three at home. And…three more…here.”
Jackson leaped up. “Call an ambulance.”
He rushed around the table as Evans dialed 911. Jackson grabbed Brooke by the hair and tried to get his hand into her mouth. He thought he would stick a finger down her throat and make her puke. He didn’t know what else to do.
Brooke bit him hard and he instinctively pulled his hand back. “Help me hold her mouth open.”
“Daddy… molested… us. For years. Courtney…and… me.” Brooke was still trying to get everything said. “No… one…ever…knew.”
Evans rushed to their side of the table. “That’ll never work. We just have to keep her up and moving until the paramedics get here.” She put her arm around Brooke’s shoulder.
Jackson took the other side. “We might as well walk her out to the street.”
They shuffled down the hall, though the empty detective’s area, and toward the front.
“Need any help?” the desk officer called out as they passed.
“Not unless you’ve got a stomach pump.”
Out the door and down the covered walkway. On a Saturday, city hall was quiet and no one was around to witness the trauma. At intervals, Jackson grabbed Brooke’s chin and shook her head, trying to keep her conscious. It was a losing battle. By the time the ambulance pulled up in front of the wide cement stairs, Brooke was no longer breathing.
Chapter 30
Quiche and fried sausage aroma filled the air. Jackson’s stomach growled as he kissed Kera in the kitchen and held her close. “Oh man, that smells good. I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”
The night before, he’d gone from the hospital to Elle Durham’s house to tell her about Brooke’s suicide. He’d found Elle dead too. Jackson had come home to Kera’s, drank a beer, then crawled into bed and slept like the dead for twelve hours.
This morning he’d woke to the sound of women laughing in the kitchen. A joyful noise that filled his heavy heart. He’d stayed in bed, listening for as long as he could. The smell of coffee and sausage had finally driven him into the kitchen. This would be his last meal before his surgery the next morning.
“I’ve missed you,” Kera whispered.
Jackson squeezed her again, too choked up to speak. It was so easy to lose people. Often without any warning. “The best thing about this surgery is that I’ll get to see you every day for a while.”
Kera stepped back and put her hands on her hips. “Are you and Katie going to stay here with me, or do I have run back and forth for three weeks?”
Jackson poured himself a cup of coffee. Kera sat, waiting for an answer. “Don’t tell me you don’t need my help.”
“I won’t need help for that long, but it would be easier for Katie if you stayed with us.” Jackson looked around. He could smell the food but not see it. Maybe it was in the oven staying warm.
Katie stuck her head into the kitchen. “Morning, Dad. It’s about time. “ To Kera, she said, “Where are Danette and the baby?”
“In the guest bedroom getting changed.”
His daughter grabbed a cinnamon roll off the counter. “I wouldn’t mind staying here. I’ve been here since Thursday already.” Katie popped back out of the kitchen.
Kera and Jackson stared at each other in disbelief. “That’s quite a change of heart,” Kera said, stepping in close.
“Maybe we should move in together.” It came out in an unplanned rush.
Kera chewed her lip.
“Forget it. I’m rushing this. I’m sorry.”
“No. Don’t be.” She kissed him on the mouth. “I’ve wanted you to move in here since our second date. It’s just that I told Danette she could stay with me. I don’t want her to go back to that duplex and be alone. Not yet. Not after what she’s been through. Her mother can’t handle having the baby around all time, so Danette can’t go back to Corvallis.”
“You’re a wonderful person.” Jackson loved her generosity. The two of them would get their time together eventually.
“I’m not saying you can’t move in too. I just wanted you to know that it will be a full house.” Kera grinned. “It could be fun.”
“Let’s see how it goes. Still up for our trip to Florence this afternoon?” They were planning to see Schak, who was out of intensive care, still weak but recovering from his heart attack.
“Oh yes. I’ve reserved a hotel room for afterward.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You and I are going to be naked and alone for an hour while we have a chance. I’m already deprived, and once you have surgery…”
“I like the way you think.”
Jackson’s cell phone rang and he silently cursed it. “I have to get this.”
Kera made a face and left the kitchen so he could talk in private.
He flipped open the phone. It was Evans. “What have you got?”
“Two things. There’s a rumor that Lammers is thinking of suspending you for letting Brooke see her mother. I think it’s only an ass-covering formality since you’ll be on medical leave anyway. More important, Goodbe is conscious and recovering well enough to be questioned. Do you want to meet me at North McKenzie?”
“I’m having breakfast with my family right now, but I’ll see you there in an hour.”
“How’s Danette doing?”
“She’s okay. You know what? We should go talk to Seth Valder again first. Tell him we have Goodbe in custody and see if Valder wants to make a deal in exchange for testimony against Goodbe. I want to bust his sex slave ring wide open. We’ll never convict him of plotting to kill Courtney.”
Jackson looked up to see Kera standing in the doorway. Her disappointment was palpable. He assessed his situation and made a decision. “Change of plans, Evans. Take McCray with you. I’m having surgery tomorrow, and I’m under doctor’s orders to rest.”
“That’s right. Don’t worry, we’ll handle it. Good luck tomorrow. I’ll call you in a couple days and update you.”
“Thanks.” Jackson hung up the phone, feeling relieved.
“Good man,” Kera said, coming in for another hug.
“I’m learning.”
About the Author
L.J. Sellers
is an award-winning journalist and the author of the bestselling Detective Jackson mystery/suspense series:
Secrets to Die For
Thrilled to Death
Passions of the Dead
Dying for Justice
Liars, Cheaters & Thieves
She also has four standalone thrillers:
The Sex Club
The Baby Thief
The Arranger
The Suicide Effect
When not plotting murders, L.J. enjoys performing standup comedy, cycling, social networking, and attending mystery conferences. She’s also been known to jump out of airplanes.
Thanks for reading my novel. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review or rating online. Find out more about my work at ljsellers.com, where you can sign up to hear about new releases. —L.J.
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