Mindfield (Sideways Eight Book 1) (36 page)

“He’s one ugly woman.”

“I wear unfeminine clothes. Do I look like a man?”

Murphy chuckled. “If you’re trying to, you’re failing.”

“Good.” Charley blushed. “This must be Dr. Vega’s brother. It has to be.”

“I agree. Let’s go have a talk with the lying doctor.”

Murphy stood, offered his hand, and helped Charley to her feet. She winced, giving him a slight smile. Murphy sidled next to her, placed his arm around her waist. “You, okay?” Charley nodded as he assisted her. A green flannel blanket laid across the foot of the mattress. A cheap, metal tray sat next to the bed with a plate of half-eaten meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and a glass of milk.

Murphy pointed at the food. “Delaney’s favorite meal?”

“No doubt.” Charley pulled away from his grasp, canvassing the room. Push-pinned to the wall, opposite of the bed five identical ultrasound photos, each had a girl’s name written on the bottom, starting with Robin and ending with Lydia. Charley examined the images and studied them. She focused on the floor. “Five months, and it’s a girl.”

“Who’s baby?”

“No clue. The date-stamp says October of last year.” She paced, fondling her mouth. “Tonight was Delaney’s night.”

His voice cracked. “Yeah.”

Charley stepped to the far left corner where the dead body lay slumped next to a closet. With her foot, she moved the dead person’s leg and opened the closet door. Inside, plastic tubing attached to a helium tank with an oxygen mask, and to the left was a gallon of distilled water.

“First Responders are here,” Greg yelled.

Charley motioned for Murphy.

“You okay?” Murphy said.

“Uhmph,” Charley moaned, twisting her back. “Wow, that hurts.”

“I can carry both of you.”

Charley smiled. “I can walk. It hurts though.”

He motioned for her. “C’mere, I’ll take care of you.” Murphy locked her to his side as they left the bedroom and entered the living room.

Murphy took Delaney from Ethan. “Let’s go home, princess.”

“Please.” Tears streamed the little girl’s cheeks.

“You bet.” Murphy smiled.

As they left the cabin, Murphy carried Delaney with Charley latched to his side. Charley slipped her arm around his waist, clinging tight as they strolled to the ambulance.

∞ ∞ ∞

Doobie paced the floor wringing his hands, awaiting their arrival at the command center. Tense and anxious, he moaned with each step taken. The door clicked, he swung around and cried, “There you are.” Doobie ran to Charley embracing her.

“Oww,” Charley moaned.

Doobie squeezed her tighter.

“Uh, Doobie.” Charley winced. “I’m injured. You’re making it worse.”

Doobie leaned back, to stroke her face. “I’m so proud of you. Greg told me what happened.” He kissed her cheek, released her, and focused on Murphy. “You wanna hug too?”

Murphy jiggled his hand. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Good.” Doobie grinned, before grabbing Murphy, and slapping him on the back. “Good job, son.”

Charley clasped Murphy’s upper arm. “I’ll have a talk with Vega. You with me?”

“Can’t wait.”

“Doobie, do you have what I requested?” she said.

“Yes, hang on, I’ll get it.” Doobie went inside the room next to where Dr. Vega waited. A few moments later, he returned. “Here.”

“Thanks.”

“What is it?”

Charley flipped through the pages. “The list of children on Vega’s therapeutic roster.”

“That’s what the text was all about. A warrant.”

She rolled the document and tapped Murphy on the shoulder. “That’s right.” She opened the door of room two.

Charley strode toward the table where Rochelle Vega sat and slammed the document onto the surface. “You knew.”

Vega flinched, curling away from Charley. “I knew what? Did you find anything at the cabin?”

Charley’s fists pressed the table as she leaned into Vega. “Oh yes, Delaney Ryusaki tied to a bed.”

Vega’s eyes widened, she shrieked, “What?”

“All the girls’ names are on this list, except Delaney’s. Your list.” Charley thumped her fist on the table. “Take a look, Agent Dubuclet highlighted them for you.”

Vega glanced at the document. “That’s privileged. How did you get it?”

“Ever heard of a federal warrant?” Murphy said.

“Yes.”

“Now you know.” Murphy smirked.

Charley sat as Murphy followed.

“I didn’t kidnap and murder the girls,” Vega whimpered.

Charley nodded. “Convince me.”

“How?”

Charley placed her tablet onto the table, tapped the screen three times, and flipped it around for Vega to view. “Recognize him?”

Vegas bellowed as tears coated her cheeks. “Oh, my gawd, Robert.” She captured their eyes. “No way. He wouldn’t do something like this. He’s different, but he’s not a murderer.”

Charley went for the heart of the devil. “Dr. Vega, I want to inform you, your brother, Robert Vega is dead. He kidnapped and murdered five little girls.” She presented three fingers. “Shot me three times. Thank goodness for bullet resistant vests.”

Murphy cocked his head to one side. “He attempted to murder my partner. Rule number one.” Murphy flipped his finger to Vega. “Don’t mess with my partner. It upsets me.”

Vega, close to hyperventilating, screamed inaudible words, her eyes fixed on Charley. “You killed him?”

Murphy leaned across the table and smiled. “No. I did.”

“It was me or him,” Charley said. “I, or should I say, Agent Murphy chose me over a child murderer.”

“Robert is mentally unstable.” Vega’s eyes stared at the table. “He’s been in and out of mental health care since we were kids. Robert’s schizophrenic, bipolar. He has never been violent.”

“How long has he been manic?” Charley said.

Vega crossed her arms on the table. “Since November. This one was the worst.”

“Why would he have ultrasound photos of an unborn child?” Murphy said.

Vega covered her face with her hands. “This is too much.”

Murphy twisted his jaw, his eyebrow arched. Revulsion in his eyes, his voice was stern and direct, a first for Charley’s ears. “Too much? His victims suffered. Answer the question. I’m in a really bad mood. My partner is in pain, we have a traumatized little girl, and five others are dead. Don’t expect any sympathy from me.”

“Answer him, Vega.”

“Robert has fought reality for years. He didn’t want to be a woman. The stigma. He lived a life of confusion. Four years ago, he accepted his differences and got professional advice. Along the way, he met a woman. He loves… loved her. Last summer, even though they were careful, they learned she was pregnant. Robert was so happy. Everything he wanted was happening. The woman he loved. A child he wanted and self-acceptance. Terri’s anger when he admitted the truth to her was unbearable for him.”

“This, Terri, she didn’t know he was transgendered?”

Vega shook her head.

Murphy’s mouth contorted. “How could she not know, she had sex with him?”

“The plumbing still works.” Vega lowered her head with a slight chuckle. “He still had desires.”

“What’s funny?”

Vega straightened her shoulders. “Have you ever heard a man say, he’s a lesbian in a man’s body?”

“Uh… yes.” Murphy glanced at Charley.

“Robert believed he was a woman inside and a man outside.”

Charley drifted over the table and flipped through the photographs from the crime scene. “And these?” She tapped on the image of the ultrasounds hanging on the wall at the cabin.

Tears fell from Vega’s eyes. “His baby girl. He named her, Isabelle.” Rochelle wiped her eyes. “Terri went to Mexico last November and had a late term abortion.”

“Wow, she was angry.” Murphy awaited Charley’s reaction. None.

Vega covered her face with her hands. “Robert killed them?” Vega screamed. “Oh, my gawd. I didn’t know he killed the girls.” Tears streamed heavy over her cheeks. “I swear to you.”

“You knew something was wrong after Olivia’s abduction,” Charley said. “She’s on your list, Vega.”

“There are over one hundred and eighty-six thousand students in Fairfax County. Over thirty-seven thousand are on the list. I counsel none of them. I do resource and development. That’s it.”

“Explain how five of the six girls’ names on the list ended up kidnapped and murdered?” Murphy said.

“I can’t, except…”

“Except, what?”

Vega slapped the sides of her head. “Robert... I mean Bianca had access to my laptop.” She shook her head. “I never could get used to calling him her and Robert, Bianca.”

“Bianca?” Murphy said.

“The name he chose, Bianca Carina.”

“I thought he went by Rogina?”

“I chose Rogina, thought it sounded nice since we are twins. He wanted Bianca. So Bianca it is.”

“Why did he tell Delaney his name was Rogina?”

Vega shook her head. “I don’t know. He hated the name.”

“Rob… Bianca used your laptop?” Charley said.

“Yes.”

“Are you a diabetic?” Murphy said.

“Yes, why?”

“Was Bianca?” Charley said.

“No.” Vega stared at both of them. “I don’t understand.”

“Olivia was diabetic,” Murphy said. “Now we know who provided her with insulin.”

Offended, Vega slammed her fist on the table. “I did no such thing.”

“Forensics will find a vial of your insulin at the cabin,” Charley said.

Vega’s eyes darted back and forth. She plopped her head on the table. “Oh, shit. It was all a lie.”

“What lie?” Murphy said.

“A few months ago, Bianca said she dropped and broke my insulin vial on the floor.”

“When was this?” Charley said.

Vega kept her head down. “It was April or May. I can check with my pharmacy. They’ll have records.”

Charley stood. “I have nothing further to discuss with you.”

“Am I free to go?” Vega said.

“Not my decision. If I can charge you with anything, I will.” The sole of her boot on the edge of the seat, Charley kicked it, slamming it against the wall. Vega recoiled with her arms pressed against her chest. Murphy followed behind Charley, grabbed her sleeve pulling her to the side. He whispered into her ear.

“That’s it,” Charley mumbled.

Murphy nodded and smiled.

Charley whipped around on her heel to face Vega. “Nine white candles. What was your brother’s birth middle name?”

“Theodore.”

Charley stepped closer to Vega. “What is your favorite scented candle?”

“Patchouli. Why?”

“Your favorite color?” Charley said.

“Green.”

“What about flowers?” Murphy said.

“I love all flowers. I have many kinds in my garden. Lilies, carnations, marigolds.”

Charley went to the other side of the room, grabbed the chair and returned to the table. She sat. “Dr. Vega, I understand now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nine white patchouli candles, the human gestation period is nine months. Your brother’s goal was to frame you for these murders. Your favorite scented candle, color, and flowers. The clothing was yours. You liked Disney Princesses didn’t you?”

“Yes. I was nutty about them when I was a child.”

“Was Bianca?” Murphy walked towards the table.

“Yes, but as Robert… he feared ridicule. But why? Why would my brother do this? I’ve taken care of him all these years. He couldn’t work. He was too unstable.”

“Robert didn’t have a constellation,” Charley stood, rubbing her mouth. “Bianca does.”

Vega squeezed her brows. “What? I don’t understand.”

“Dr. Vega, your middle name is Lyra, a constellation. Bianca is a moon of Uranus.” Murphy parked his hip on the edge of the table. “Carina is a constellation in the southern sky. Visible to the naked eye. Bianca won, Dr. Vega. She has a moon and star formation.”

Charley grasped Murphy’s elbow. “Let’s go.”

Rochelle Vega laid her head on the table sobbing. “He killed children because of a stupid constellation?”

Murphy stood. “He didn’t have one. It’s a girl thing.”

Charley and Murphy left the room.

Doobie approached them. “Well?”

“Escort Dr. Vega home,” Charley said. “We have no reason to hold her.”

“Do you think she had anything to do with it?” Doobie scanned their faces.

“I hate to say this, but, no. During Delaney’s kidnapping, she was in Florida. Have the investigators check Dr. Vega’s alibis during the other kidnappings and murders. Make sure they’re concrete.”

“What do you think, Murph?” Doobie said.

Murphy shook his head. “I don’t believe Dr. Vega knew anything. I’d still investigate. Get a warrant for her laptop, hand it over to Scott Grae, see if anything is there.”