No Chance, page 10
She didn't want his life to be consumed by a psychological illness she couldn't control.
Tom was visiting his parents across the country and didn't seem to be in any rush to return home. Valerie's heart ached as she thought about him being away from her for so long.
She took a deep breath, mustered up her courage, and dialed his number. His phone rang several times before finally going to voicemail.
Valerie hung up without leaving a message, unsure if he'd even listen to it anyway. She sighed sadly, feeling like she had just missed an opportunity to bridge the distance between them before it grew too wide for either of them to cross back over again.
"You okay?" a comforting voice said from behind. It was Sheriff Carter. His brown hair ruffled in the winter wind.
"Yeah," she said, but she found it difficult to hide her emotions in the moment.
Sheriff Carter had an unconvinced expression and asked, "Do you need to talk?"
Valerie nodded. She looked into his eyes and said, "Have you ever felt distant from your wife? Like no matter how hard you tried, something was always keeping the two of you apart?"
Sheriff Carter let out a deep sigh. He took off his hat and said, "Yes." His blue eyes were sad as he spoke, but she could see a warmth in them that made her feel better.
He continued, "I remember it being so hard to bridge the gap between us. I was trying so desperately to make things work but nothing seemed to be enough."
Valerie nodded understandingly. Sheriff Carter's gaze softened as he looked at her and said, "But then one day we decided to take a break away together. We went camping near the river and talked all night about our lives, dreams, fears ... everything. And when we returned home afterwards everything had changed for the better."
"I don't know if a night in the woods would fix things between me and Tom," she joked.
"When my wife was sick," Sheriff Carter said. "It was easy to get bogged down by the illness, to make everything about that."
"The solution?"
"To remember," he said as a short gust of icy air washed over them, "that you are in love. To remember that you are a couple first. Before the sickness, and before any problem you have. Put it aside and just enjoy being together like you used to."
Valerie was amazed by how much Carter's words fit her situation. Little did he know that there was an illness—her illness. The same psychiatric illness that had ruined her mother's life and nearly ruined her sister's.
If there was any hope for her and Tom, Valerie knew that she would have to put the illness to the side. At least for a while. She needed to get in touch with him and just tell him how much she cared.
Valerie smiled and said, "Thank you Sheriff Carter. You've given me hope."
Suddenly, Valerie saw something move in the shadows behind him. She blinked her eyes and saw a figure emerge from there—it was an apparition of her mother in an unnatural pose, grinning with a twisted smile on her face.
Valerie gasped and stumbled backwards. Her heart raced as she realized that this was one of her hallucinations.
"What is it?" Sheriff Carter asked worriedly as he stepped forward to investigate what was causing Valerie's distress.
But when he looked in the direction of the shadows, all that remained was dust kicked up in the wind like some kind of ethereal omen.
Valerie shook her head and said, "It's nothing. I'm just tired." She walked back into the police station without looking back, horrified that Sheriff Carter had seen her losing her mind momentarily.
The last thing she needed was for any of her colleagues to think she was going mad. Especially when they were trying to catch a violent killer.
Valerie barely heard Sheriff Carter's radio buzzing into life as she walked away. But it was only moments before he ran up behind her.
"Valerie!" he said loudly. "We've got a hit, a man named Ronald Queen. He got out of prison a few weeks ago, and his parole got him a job here in the County."
"He has previous history?" Valerie asked, trying not to get excited.
"Let's just say, he has a thing for tying up his victims."
She could feel excitement brewing in her veins. This could be it, she thought. This could be the breakthrough we've been waiting for!
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The pain had subsided in Will's arm as he tried to get comfy in the passenger seat.
"Are you sure about this, Will?" Charlie asked, turning on the ignition.
"Yes," he said. "We don't have much time. It's 8 PM, and after tomorrow, Heinlein will shut us down. We can't afford to be a man down."
"All right," said Charlie, looking at the plaster around Will's forearm. "But if the pain gets to be too much, you let me know."
Charlie drove off, following Sheriff Carter's truck.
"I just wish," Will said, "that the broken arm had given us the killer. I really thought Lance Nielsen was the killer."
"He certainly acted like it," Charlie said. "All we can do is keep looking."
"What do we know about this Ronald Queen?" Will inquired. He hated being in the dark, but he'd only just arrived back at the Sheriff's Department as they were leaving to question the man.
The car juddered over a pothole. Will grimaced.
"The guy carried out some burglaries a few years back," Charlie explained. "He tied up anyone he found in the home. And guess what?"
"What?" Will asked automatically.
"He used a sheet bend knot."
"The same one we found on Maggie's body?"
"Bingo."
Will winced as a stabbing pain momentarily ran up his arm. But he hid it as best as he could from Charlie. He was concerned Charlie might overrule him and take him back to the station. Half out of care, half out of experience.
Someone who was in pain was likely to make mistakes.
"Is that all we know?" Will asked, clearing his throat.
"We know that he's dangerous," Charlie said. "But I don't think we'll find out more until we get to his place. He's been living in a motel for the past few weeks. It's not far, according to Sheriff Carter."
The car rattled over the ice and snow-covered roads, its headlights cutting through the darkness as they drove along. The night was cold, and Will could feel the chill through the window.
He watched as the trees on either side of them were briefly illuminated by their headlights before being swallowed up again by the darkness. They passed an old farmhouse surrounded by tall pines, then a deserted gas station with its windows boarded up.
Finally, they pulled into a small parking lot outside of The Maybury Motel. Its roof hung with snow, and most of the windows were dark.
Charlie turned off the engine, and they both stepped out of the car, ready to face whatever was waiting for them inside.
***
Sheriff Carter was an impressive man to Will, his shadow long and wide shouldered under the walkway lighting. Carter took the lead, striding up to room 16 and knocking on the motel door. Charlie stood behind him, Valerie by his side.
There was no response.
Valerie looked to the side and then behind as if checking for any sign of the suspect. She caught Will's eye, turned, and looked over her shoulder.
"It's good to have you back, Will," she whispered as they waited for an answer. "You're just in time."
"Timing isn't always my strong suit," Will whispered back.
"I'm just glad you're here," she said before turning back to face the door.
Will noticed a tiredness in Valerie's voice, and he was worried that the stress of the case was getting to her. But he kept this to himself. He knew she wouldn't want his sympathy, at least not until they'd solved the case and found justice for Maggie.
He glanced around them at the deserted parking lot and broken-down motel, hoping that this would be enough to get them closer to finding the killer. His arm ached like it was filled with broken glass, the pain killers intermittently taking that throbbing away.
Sheriff Carter knocked on the door again, this time with more force. He called out, "Ronald Queen! Open up! This is Sheriff Carter of Kerry County. I'm here to speak with you."
The stillness of the night stretched out around them, and Will was just about to suggest they check with the motel receptionist when he heard someone turn off a television inside.
Charlie nodded to Carter and whispered, "He's in there."
Carter took a deep breath and then shouted, "Ronald Queen! This is your last chance. Open the door now, or I'll be forced to break it down."
But nothing happened.
Charlie held up his fingers: One ... Two .... Three ... He stood back ready to kick the door in.
Will held his breath and waited as he heard the sound of a chain being unhooked from the other side of the door. It pulled slowly open, revealing an unkempt man with pale skin and dark circles under his eyes. His long hair was greasy and wild, and he looked at them with suspicion in his gaze.
"You lot that keen to put me behind bars already?" he said with a thin, sharp voice.
"Are you Ronald Queen?" Valerie asked.
"You know I am," he said, confidently, turning his back on the group and then walking farther into the room.
Will followed the others inside the room and took in the sight. It was dingy, with the walls covered in faded wallpaper and dust. The only furniture was a single bed with a stained mattress, a small table in the corner, and a couch and armchair that didn't match, with burst sponge poking through the surface.
Ronald had already taken a seat at the table, his hands clasped together as if he was about to pray. He motioned for them all to take a seat, which they did.
Carter cleared his throat and began to speak. "Mr. Queen," he said sternly, "we're here regarding your recent release from Tambridge Prison and your previous crimes of burglary."
Ronald smirked and nodded slowly. "I'm familiar with that accusation," he said quietly.
Carter continued, "You were seen entering several homes late at night and tying up your victims before stealing whatever goods you could find." His voice was low but firm as he stared into Ronald's eyes.
Will watched with curiosity. He wondered why the sheriff was taking point when it was Valerie's investigation. It was interesting to see someone else work. He had an imposing way about him but not without charm if needed.
Ronald returned his gaze without flinching, though his hands shook slightly. "Yes, that's true," he said quietly, averting his eyes from Carter's gaze. "But I never hurt anyone during those robberies; I just wanted what little money they had. I served my time."
Valerie leaned forward in her seat and interjected, "Do you like tying people up, Ronald?"
Will felt a chill run down his spine as Ronald looked up at Valerie with a sinister smile, almost like he was enjoying the attention. He said, "I used to have a thing for tying people up. But I'm rehabilitated now."
The room was silent for a moment before Carter began to speak again, "We just want to make sure that you're not going back to your old ways, Mr. Queen," he said.
Ronald nodded and replied, "Don't give me that." His eyes never left Valerie's as he spoke, and Will could feel the tension in the air. "Cops don't do courtesy calls. Not for burglary. Why are you here?"
"When you broke into people's houses," Valerie said, "you didn't always have to tie the people up. They were sleeping. You could have taken what you wanted and left. I wonder why that is."
"Like I said," Ronald said, leaning forward, rubbing yellowed fingers against his lips, longingly. "I used to have a thing for it, but I got that out of my system."
"And what about the itch?" Charlie asked. "Hard to avoid it when you get it. How do we know you haven't dabbled again in the sheet bend knot."
Ronald leaned back in his chair, his eyes widening in surprise. "You know about the sheet bend knot?" he asked, looking over at Charlie with a newfound respect.
Charlie nodded confidently and replied, "Yes. I've had some sailing experience."
Ronald smiled and nodded, leaning back in his chair. He seemed to be impressed by Charlie's knowledge of knots and said, "Well then, it looks like I'm speaking to the right person." He looked around the room at them all before adding, "It feels pretty good when you're working on some rigging and you get that knot nice and tight. Nothing or nobody is moving when it's done right. Don't you think?"
Will shuddered as he heard these words. He had a feeling that Ronald was more dangerous than his laid-back demeanor suggested. He could sense the underlying threat in his voice, and it made him uneasy. He wondered what else Ronald was capable of if he wanted to, and why he seemed so unperturbed by their presence.
He glanced at Carter and Valerie, trying to gauge their reactions, but they were both calm and collected, their faces unreadable masks. They seemed to be considering the man intently, which only made Will feel more unsettled. There was a palpable sense of danger brewing in the back of his mind.
It was clear now that Ronald was an experienced criminal who could hide his true intentions behind an amiable façade. Will wondered if he'd used that tactic to get close to the victims. Many serial killers had done just that before. He would have to keep an eye on him if they were going to get any real answers out of him.
"Where is your wedding ring?" Will asked.
Ronald seemed confused. "I'm not married."
Will nodded and pointed to the hand on Ronald's left hand. "I see a white band of color on your finger, where a wedding ring would have been."
A flicker of anger rippled across Ronald's face momentarily before he regained his composure. He looked away from Will and stared at his hands for a moment, as if trying to remember something. He then muttered under his breath, "It's gone now."
Will was quickly building a profile in his mind, and he was certain that Valerie would be doing the same. That flinch of anger was because Will had uncovered something about the man's life. It told Will that Ronald Queen always wanted to be in control. He always wanted to keep the façade going.
"Was it a woman?" Will asked.
Ronald’s face hardened, and his grip on the arms of the chair tightened. He was angry now, and Will knew he had touched a nerve. He waited for Ronald to answer but all he got was an icy stare in response.
"Tell me, Sheriff Carter," Will turned to his colleague. "Did Ronald here tie up just women or men too?"
"Both," he answered.
"Ah, that makes sense," Will said. But this was only said to get a response.
Ronald's face twisted in rage. "What makes sense?" he spat out. "What kind of sick game are you trying to play? I know you people. I can tell, psychiatrists and psychologists, I can smell them a mile off. Ya think you can figure everyone out." He sneered as he said the word "psychiatrists", and Will could smell the contempt emanating from him.
"You think you can come into my room and ask me questions about my life? You don't know anything about me! Get out!"
Will hoped that Valerie would pick up on his 'good psychiatrist, bad psychiatrist' technique. He was glad that she did.
"Excuse my colleague," Valerie said, gently, moving over and sitting in another chair next to Ronald. "He can be a bit brash. We're here because we want to make sure you haven't hurt anyone, Ronald. Did you tie someone else up?"
Ronald bowed his head and looked guilty. He ran his fingers through his hair, as if trying to think of a way out of the situation. After a few moments, he sighed heavily and looked up at them.
"Yes," he said quietly. "I tied someone up."
Valerie looked at Will and then back to Ronald. "And did it get out of hand?"
Ronald nodded, his confident demeanor now sheepish.
"No one's judging you," Valerie offered. "We get it. Things got out of hand. But doing it once wasn't enough was it?"
Will watched as Ronald shook his head. He could see the wheels turning in Ronald's mind as he tried to find a way to explain.
"I was just ... playing," he said finally, looking up at them with a look of desperation on his face. "It wasn't like I was going to hurt them or anything. I didn't even know who it was most of the time. I just wanted ..." His voice trailed off, and he looked away from them, embarrassed.
Valerie placed her hand gently on his arm, and Will watched as Ronald slowly regained his composure once more.
"You wanted to feel powerful," Valerie finished for him softly. "That's why you tied people up."
"When did you decide to kill them?" Carter said impatiently.
Ronald looked horrified. "What? No! I never killed anyone!" He shook his head and ran a hand over his face. "I just wanted to feel in control, like I was the one making the decisions. That's all. I didn't want to hurt anyone. It was a couple of prostitutes I picked up. I paid them to let me tie them up, then I let them go, that was it."
Will looked at Ronald and wasn't sure what to believe. He had never seen this side of Ronald before, and it was hard to tell if he was telling the truth or not. His story seemed plausible, but all the same, Will couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. Was Ronald really as innocent as he claimed?
"I think we should continue this at the station," Charlie suggested.
"Wait!" Ronald protested. "I haven't done anything!"
"You can either come voluntarily or with persuasion," Sheriff Carter said, his voice like stone. "Which is it?"
Ronald looked around the room, his eyes wide and filled with terror. He was like a cornered animal, and he knew that he had no choice but to comply.
Just then, Valerie stood up and placed herself between Ronald and the police officers. "Ronald," she said softly, her voice full of compassion. "You don't have to do this. You can come with us willingly. We just want to help you."
Ronald looked around the room in desperation, searching for a way out of his situation. He paused for a moment. Will saw it coming a millisecond before it happened. The adrenaline had kicked in. Fight or flight. Fight was Ronald's only option.
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