Stolen Innocents (The Shadow Series Book 2) (43 page)

Adam laughed, “It’s about time you guys showed up.”

Immediately DiNolfo started barking orders.
 

“Sumter, go wake up the Captain and tell him that we need all entry points to the mines blocked immediately.”

“Oakman and Burnes, put a police perimeter around the Forest of York.”

“The whole thing?”

“The whole damn thing.”

“Fishel…Parker… This is important.”

“Okay…”

“Go up to Morrow Manor and ask Moira for the box that is on the dining room table. I’ll call her and let her know you’re coming. Bring it back to the station ASAP.”

“Now what?” Adam asked.

“We wait. I need that box.”

***

Dr. Fields watched Liam’s heart monitor as his heart rate began to normalize again. They did it. They removed the bullet, repaired the chest muscle and stitched the skin back together. The operation was a success. Liam’s skin was already beginning to pink again.

“Solid work, folks! Someone please alert the Sergeant and the patient’s father.”

***

As the officers began to disperse from the waiting room, the double doors to the Emergency Room swung open. Dr. Franklin emerged still dressed in his blue scrubs.

“Sergeant DiNolfo?” Dr. Franklin called. Suddenly the officers stopped what they were doing.  DiNolfo held out her hand for the doctor and shook his hand respectfully.

“Do you have a status for me?”

“Indeed. Officer Morrow is out of surgery. We successfully removed the bullet. There were some complications, but he is stabile now.”

The noise that erupted from the waiting room was deafening. The off-duty officers celebrated amongst each other, giving the doctor high fives and patting him on the back. Adam meanwhile felt like he was about to faint from his overwhelming relief. Joe stood up and offered a supporting arm as Adam took in the news.

“Thank you, doctor. Excellent news,” remarked DiNolfo as a broad smile grew over her face.

“Alright, Officers of Elkhart, do me proud. Let’s get this done.”

***

Jack and Cole walked into Tristan’s hospital room quietly. As they took in her unconscious body they felt sick to the bone. She laid there, weak and pale, unaware that she had visitors. The side of her face was badly bruised from the impact of her fall.

“Tristan?” asked Jack.

The nurse encouraged them to talk to Tristan, “She knows you’re here. Talk to her.”

Jack stood by Tristan’s bedside as Cole took the seat on the opposite side. Angus meanwhile continued to talk to the nurse in the hallway. Cole grabbed Tristan’s cold hand, and begged, “Please wake up…”

“Honey, its Dad. We need you to wake.”

Tristan’s chest rose and fell softly. She didn’t respond. Jack and Cole sat quietly for a moment. Suddenly, Tristan’s hand flinched a tiny bit in his own hand. His eyes immediately looked at her face.

“I think she’s waking up,” said Jack.

“I know what will wake her up…” said Cole slyly.

Cole continued, “Geez… Tristan… I can’t take my eyes off of you for a minute.”

Jack looked at Cole as if he was insane.

“What are you doing?”

“Just play along…”

“I told you that you needed me to protect you…”

Tristan’s other hand began to flinch now.

“So stubborn. You’re always saying how you can handle yourself. How you’re fine,” mentioned Jack. It was a long shot, but he hoped he could get a rise out of her.

“You’re a stubborn mule, just like your father and grandfather…” quipped Cole as Jack shot him a dirty look.

Suddenly, a gasp escaped Tristan’s mouth. Jack and Cole looked at her face with excited anxiety. As her eyelids slowly opened, Tristan complained, “I am not.”

“Oh, my God! You’re awake!” yelled Jack as he hugged her.

“Can’t a girl sleep? And Hey! I can handle myself just fine!”

Cole and Jack could do nothing but laugh and breathe sighs of relief. She had them so worried. Jack ran out into the hall to grab the nurse. Tristan glanced over at Cole with a sleepy smile.

“I thought I lost you again…” said Cole sadly as he kissed Tristan on the cheek.

“I think you should know by now that I’m not going anywhere.”

***

“I need to make a phone call,” remarked Adam as he and DiNolfo walked down Mountain Road to the station.

“Now?”

“Yes. It’s urgent. We got a call earlier today from a detective in Seattle. Angie’s husband turned up dead.”

“I saw the file.”

“I just need to let him know that we got her. Then I think we should go to the O’Mara’s house.”

“I need the box first.”

As Adam and Jenna walked into the station, they were immediately agitated by the sheer amount of noise that was sounding from the holding cells in the back of the building.

“Hello????!” Jesse Trafford shouted.

“Is anybody here?!” yelled Hunter McCord.

“What the hell is their problem?” DiNolfo asked Officer Conklin.

“They’ve been yelling just about all damn night. At this point, I’m ignoring them.”

Adam rolled his eyes as he went back to deal with the raucous.

“What’s the problem, boys?” snapped Adam at the two noisiest prisoners.

“Did anybody get my van back?”

“Nope.”

“Well, where the hell is it? Did you at least arrest the person who stole it?!”

“Nope.”

“What the hell?!” Hunter screamed looking like a madman. He punched a wall in anger.

“Hate to break it to you, but where you’re going, you won’t need it…”

“What?!!!” Hunter screamed red faced and belligerent.

“I told you… He’s a complete lunatic. He’s hopped up on something.”

“Damn, dude… Lay off the white stuff.”

“Come on, Adam. We gotta go.”

Adam followed after DiNolfo, but not before grabbing a file folder that was lying on top of his desk.

Chapter              30

June 21, 2000

27 Caribou Road,

Elkhart, PA

6:18 A.M.

The sun rose red and violent over Elkhart as Adam and Jenna arrived at 27 Caribou Road. Adam walked up the garden path that led to the front door while Jenna followed behind with a cardboard box in her hands. With three firm and steady knocks, Adam announced his presence at the O’Mara residence.

***

Roger O’Mara woke with a start. There was someone banging loudly on the front door. He looked at his wrist watch.

Only 6:18… Who would be knocking this early?

Roger pulled on his robe in a hurry as he rushed downstairs to answer the door. As the door swung open, he was alarmed to see the two officers standing on his front steps.

“What’s happened?!” Roger asked with great alarm.

“Roger, may we come in? We need to discuss something with you.” asked Adam professionally.

Roger immediately opened the door for the officers and let them in. Adam could tell he was nervous. Roger’s hands were shaking.

“Is Mrs. O’Mara awake?” asked Jenna as she tried to maintain a calm tone of voice.

“I will get her.”

Roger ran upstairs and bolted into the bedroom that he shared with Gwen. He shook his wife gently.

“Gwen, you have to wake up. The police are downstairs.”

“What?! What’s happened?”

“I don’t know. They want to talk to both of us.”

“Oh, my God. I’m coming.”

Gwen pulled on her yellow silk bathrobe, slipped her feet into a pair of slippers and skidding down the front staircase.

“Jenna, what’s happened?!” asked Gwen in a nervous voice.

“I think we ought to sit down,” suggested Jenna.

Roger and Gwen O’Mara sat down on the couch as Adam and Jenna sat next to them like bookends.

“I’m afraid we are the bearer of more bad news,” said Adam gently.

Roger and Gwen both caught their breath.

“Angie is dead,” said Jenna bluntly.

Roger’s face turned a terrible shade of red.

“What?! How?! When are you going to catch this bastard?!” Roger demanded to know.

It took considerable effort for Jenna not to grimace at Roger’s comment.

“Angie was killed by police fire,” explained Adam.

This was true. Cole’s shot had rendered Angie brain dead, but DiNolfo’s shot to the chest was the one that took her life.

“Police fire… Why?! What is the meaning of this?!” Roger continued to scream.

“Who shot my daughter?!” Gwen demanded to know.

“Angela O’Mara opened fire on three police officers last night and struck one. She confessed to the murders of Tiffany O’Mara, Courtney O’Mara, April Dearing and Jeremy Macklon. She kidnapped Natalie Piedmonte last night and stole Hunter McCord’s van. When Angie fired on Sergeant DiNolfo, she fired back in self-defense.”

Gwen could feel her sanity loosening from her grip.

Did she just say what I think she said…?

“Wait what?!” Roger demanded. “She confessed… There is no way…”

“I don’t understand…” said Gwen in a state of shock.

“She loved her sisters… She was upset when they died!” insisted Roger.

Gwen sobbed hysterically as she spiraled out of control.

“Half of my daughters are dead!”

Roger put his arm around his wife to try to calm her.

“I have something to show you,” said Jenna as she put the cardboard box on the coffee table. She gently pulled the jewelry box out of its container.

“Do you recognize this?”

“Yes! How did you get it?!” Gwen asked angrily.

“I’m asking the questions,” said Jenna bluntly.

“This was my grandmother’s jewelry box. Belinda Elizabeth Kendricks. She left it to Bernard in her will because he had a fascination with it. They also shared the same initials.”

“Open the box.”

Gwen did as she was told and removed a stack of photographs from inside.