Echoes of Regret

The sergeant and her detective arrive to find officers talking to the neighbors on the front lawn. They then see the EMT rolling a gurney down the walk. The two follow them to the natatorium in the back.

Stepping through the sliding glass doors, they find a small table directly left of the entryway. A few lounge chairs sit on the opposite side. Looking further out, they see a large pool in the center. A hot tub is off to the right and a sauna to the left. A various assortment of tropical plants is peppered throughout the outdoor carpeted glass room. 

Walking over, the ME says, "My initial cause of death is drowning due to the substantial amount of water in his lungs."

"Who found him?" Toni asks.

A distraught young woman glances up. Dabbing her red eyes, she sniffles and says, "I did, sergeant."

Sitting next to her, Toni pulls out her notebook. "Tell me what you saw."

"I was bringing his supper to him like I do every night and found him face down in the pool." 

"Who was all here?"

"Just Mr. Whitmore and I. The others usually leave around five. I stay until seven to serve the evening meal."

"Does your employer always swim before supper?"

"He either swims, jogs, or works out in his gym, depending on the weather." She dries her eyes as she continues to explain. "He has a heart condition, so he makes sure to exercise every day." She glances around the room and adds, "He always eats his dinner out here, claiming it's his tropical getaway."

"Did anything unusual happen today?"

"I can't think of anything."

"Take me through your day."

"He was already in his office when I arrived, which is typical of him. So I made him his breakfast and brought it to his office. I did the same with his lunch."

"How did he seem when you went in?"

"Tearful, of course. He said he was trying to keep busy to take his mind off things. He didn't eat his breakfast, and he only ate a few bites of lasagna for lunch. The poor thing blames himself for Emily's death. Saying he should've been the one to die and not her."

"Did you hear him argue with anyone today?"

"No."

"Did he have any visitors?"

"A few of his friends stopped by, but he sent them away claiming he wasn't up to seeing anyone today."

"He stayed in his office alone all day?"

 

"Until six, but that's not as unusual as you might think. He seldom leaves his office during the day, and when he does, he hardly speaks to me, a few pleasantries when I serve his meal, but that's about it."

"Can you think of anyone who'd want to hurt them?"

"I can't imagine anyone wanting to harm Emily. Her husband has a few rivals."

"You know this how?"

"I overheard him and Emily talking, but I couldn't give you any specifics. I don't like to eavesdrop."

"Of course not." Toni smiles.

"Maybe one of his business partners could tell you more."

"Well, thank you for your time, and I'm sorry about your loss."

"I've been with Emily since she was born, and he was a young pup when they first met."

"So they've both been a part of your life for a long time."

"They're family, sergeant."

***

The detectives return to the station to find an autopsy report on their desk. Toni picks it up and reads. "According to Bill, Mr. Whitmore died of heart failure. The doctor found troponin in his blood, which is indicative of a heart attack."

"The maid did say he had a heart condition."

Toni glances at the list. "I'm going to check the guest list one last time; only this time, I'm going to ask if anyone has a vendetta against the group as a whole."

"We could split it then regroup at the end of the day."

"Now that sounds like a plan."

***

The dream keeps replaying in Tess's mind throughout the day no matter how hard she tries to push it aside. "Mama should've let them take me. Instead of running the way she did," Tess sighs. 

September 2015

The afternoon sun streams through the dusty west window, leaving the home uncomfortably warm. Tess stands frozen, midway down the hallway, unsure of what she should do.

"You'll never escape me," Ryan takes a step towards her.

Tess retreats the way she came. Unlatching the door, she pulls it open. 

"I don't think so," Ryan slams it closed.

Screaming, Tess runs toward the back door, then remembers her mom boarding it up. She turns to find Ryan a few feet away.

"I told you you couldn't escape." He laughs.

Tess grabs a knife from the chopping block. She grips the knife's wooden handle as tight as she can; she raises it and says, "Get out of my house."

Ryan takes a shaky step back. "I was only playing."

Daggers shoot from Tess's eyes as she walks towards him. "I'm not, so get out now."

"Ok, ok, I'm going." Ryan moves closer to the door. His foot smacks the edge of her skateboard. Losing his balance, Ryan tumbles to the floor. His head smacks the edge of the step when he lands.

"Ryan?" Tess cries, falling to her knees beside him.

Her mother walks in to find Tess kneeling over a lifeless body, blood pooling all around his head. "What did you do, Tess? What did you do?"

There's heavy pounding on the front door. They open to find an officer on their front porch.

"I was scared he was going to do something to me," Tess nervously explains.

A second detective walks into the room. He glares at Tess and says, "I talked to a few of his friends, and they're claiming that you slipped in the mud and that Ryan insisted on helping you to the house." 

"It's a lie. It's a lie. He pushed me. Ryan and his friends have been bullying me for months."

"Can someone verify that? A teacher, or your mama perhaps?" He glances over at the distraught mom shaking her head. 

"I didn't tell anyone because I was scared of what Ryan would do if I did."

"So you expect us to take your word over theirs?"

"My clothes." Running to her room, Tess drags her hamper to the front room.

"What are you doing?" her mother asks.

"You'll see." Dumping it out, Tess sorts through it. She scoops up a torn shirt. "This is what I wore yesterday." She grabs a purple shirt and adds, "This was from two days ago."

"How did I not know about this?"

"I changed before you got home, Mom." She turns to the officers and adds, "Ask any of the kids at school, and they'll tell you Ryan and his friends are bullies."

"We already did. Your classmates said you're the bully, not them."

Tears swell in her eyes again. "What, no. That can't be." 

The detective pats his jacket pocket. "I have it all on tape."

"The kids are scared of what will happen to them if they tell you the truth." 

The detective looks over at Tess's tearful mom and says, "Your daughter needs to come with us."

Present Day

The moment the judge released me, Mom and I ran away, the beginning of the end for her, Tess thinks.

List of Characters
Tess Cadwell, serial Killer
Toni Rodriguez, Sergeant of the Atlanta PD
Jamal Monroe, Detective for the Atlanta PD

Tess's Victims
Steven Cadwell, Tess's Husband
Lisa Moore, Stevens lover
Marsha Whittigar, Steven's Sister
Bill Whittiger, Marsha's Husband
Emily Whitmore, Tess 's Enemy.
Jack Whitmore, Emily's Husband