When Joanie Dies

Most of our big cases usually begin on a Monday...Not a Friday Morning...and believe me...At the moment...I wasn't thinking about law enforcement... I am ADA Keith Wallace and I was in a small Latin Diner getting ready to eat something called a Friatta..Something my wife, Detective Carlotta Rodriguez-Wallace had told me tastes "Amazing"...Especially the way they make them here at this diner...

It certainly looked and smelled good...Tomatoes, peppers,eggs, sausage and spices.....

Carlotta looked at me and smiled ,while I ate.....

I looked up at her....She wasn't lying...This was amazing...Amazingly good...I continued to eat....

"You like Papi?" she asked...

"Baby you weren't lying...This is incredible." I said.

She said something in spanish to the cook.....Who laughed and clapped his hands...

"Tego...you have outdone yourself..." she said

"Gracias Carlotta." he said- "Glad to see you again."he said.

We were on the other side of town..About a block from where Carlotta used to live, before we got married...Someone else was already in her old apartment...

Carlotta had woke up this morning a little homesick for the old neighborhood...So I said..

"Hey..Let's go to that diner you used to take me to when I'd spend the night with you."

"Good,I want you to try a Friatta." she said.

"A what?" I said...

"Just come...Put your clothes on and come with me." she said.

I paid Tego and left a hefty tip.....

Just then Carlotta's phone rang... it was Tyriq.

"Hola Rico" she said.


"Sorry to disturb your breakfast Top...But you need to come to this address and check this out....It's a real weird one.. If your hubby is with you, bring him along too." he said.

"Okay...I'm on my way...Did you call Jimmy?" she asked...

"He's here."said Tyriq..

"I'm there." she said.

"I've got to change out of this dress papi..I got a case..." she said.

"Damn,I like that dress.." I said.

"I knowwwww papi...but I gotta go to work...I'll model it for you tonight at home...in the bedroom." she said and smiled and winked....I laughed...So did Tego!

She got a change of clothes out of the trunk and quickly changed...

We took her new car...The Mustang...

I had to admit...It drove good and Carlotta could handle a car as well as any race car driver...

II-

Carlotta and I met Tyriq, Sissy and Jimmy at Barnie's Bargain Beds ,shortly after we had talked...

 Three uniformed officers led us to the grisly scene..... A shapely and buxom young white woman, mid twenties was lying on top of one of the beds....Clad in white polka dot bikini panties and a matching bra... a white sheer babydoll and a blonde wig... She looked like someone had used every bit of lipstick in the container on her lips....Next to her was a computer typed card that read- "Joanie"

Jimmy and Tyriq had on latex gloves...They were examining the body...Carlotta put on a pair and kneeled down to look at the body...

"Wow..We got a weird one here, look at all this lip stick..." said Carlotta...

"Look how she's posed..."said Jimmy...

"Seems like we've seen this before."said Sissy ,observing....

"That Kenny Dennard fella from last year..."I said.

''Where's Hazel?" I asked.

"She's on her way..I called her..."said Jimmy.

Just then, Hazel and Duke walked in followed by crime scene investigators and photographers...

''Hey Guys..Sorry I got here late." said Hazel as she leaned down and looked at the body...

"Damn Rico...way to ruin my perfect Friday..."joked Detective "Edwin "Duke"Baylor.. Who had just closed a big case with Carlotta as his partner the week before and was poised to relax a little..

"Heyyy Duke"said Carlotta..

"Hey Top...Tell your partner to stop picking up the phone on Fridays." he joked..
She laughed..."I know right? We just closed a case together."

''Well Why should you have all the fun...I need Top to help ME close a case."joked Tyriq.

Sissy smiled...then asked Hazel...

" Settle down children...What do we have Hazel?" she asked.

"Judging by Body temperature...She's been dead for at least 9 to 10 hours...I put her time of death at sometime after midnight last night.. Cause of death...manual strangulation..." she said.

"Looks like our killer took his time and dressed her and posed her...." said Tyriq..

"He also left a trace of himself here."said Carlotta pointing at a puddle of what looked like dried seminal fluid on the floor by the bed..

"Ohhh wow...Is that freak Kenny Dennard out of jail?" asked Jimmy laughing...Remembering an earlier case where the suspect left semen everywhere...on the kitchen floor, the bathroom floor,out in the hallway...et al..

"What's with this "Joanie" on this card...Is this her name?" asked Duke...

"No...her name is Barbara Montgomery....A uniform found her purse in the dumpster outside...We identified her by her drivers license photo." said Jimmy..

"Okay...You guys got uniforms canvasing the neighborhood and around?" asked Sissy.

"Yeah Lou...and Jimmy and I are already calling her husband ,family and friends and checking her last known movemants."said Tyriq.

"What about the surviellience cameras?" asked Carlotta..

''A bust...The perp disabled them and beat the security system." said Jimmy.

"I'm going to go by Special Victims Unit and Robbery Homicide and see if they have any perps with this kind of M.O. -Breaking and entering and sex crimes and cross check them in the database. Then ,Rico and Jimmy, I'll help you guys interview Family,friends and associates of the victim."said Carlotta..

"I guess I can help you guys out..."joked Duke..."I'll check out her financials...Credit cards, Debit cards, bank account and last movements..

"Who knows...Maybe we can close this one fast." said Sissy...

I gave her the side eye....

"Wishful thinking Sissy?"  I doubt that....This looks like one of those confusing and difficult ones."I said.

Sissy looked at me and smiled...

"You got a date?" she said smiling wryly...

I grabbed Carlotta and hugged her...

''As a matter of fact...I do." I laughed.

Carlotta giggled.....Sissy laughed..

"Most of you guys are together...Me...I actually HAD a date..."she said...

"I'm finished here...Who is the primary?" asked Hazel...

"That would be Top?" laughed Tyriq..

"What?" said Carlotta...

"Just kidding Hazel...I'm the Primary."said Tyriq...

We all laughed...but nothing was funny about a dead woman and a possible murderous freak on the loose in the streets.

We all watched as the slain woman's body was removed and put in the M.E.'s wagon...

III-

Hazel's phone went off just as she was going to her car....

"Wait guys....it's Sirena!!!" she said.

"Hello...said Hazel...

"Dr. Hunter...You could come to this address...Hop and I caught a weird one..."said Sirena...

"It can't be weirder than this one,Tyriq,Carlotta and Jimmy have...woman  found in a bed store..in lingerie with lipstick all over her and semen in a puddle near the bed.." laughed Hazel...

"You gotta be kiddin...that's what we have...We are at Sleepwell's Bed Emporium up on the avenue." she said.

"Oh My God...Guys...everybody...Before you go...maybe you want to see Sirena's case...it's identical to yours."said Hazel...

I looked at Sissy...

"I told you this was a weird one...You thought it might be simple?" I said.

"Well...there goes my date!" said Sissy...

IV-

While the body of our first victim was headed to the M.E.'s office...We all headed to Sleepwell's Bed Emporium..

Hop greeted us as we all arrived...He had uniforms canvassing the neighborhood...Other uniforms holding the crowd back and crime scene investigators and photographers already on the job...

He was taking the statements of the employees and other bystanders....

"Hey guys...The perp disabaled the alarm system and the cameras...We didn't find any fingerprints...but we got a shoe smudge and he left a puddle of semen near the crime scene....Sirena is inside...She'll show you." he said..

Sirena led us to the crime scene...a crime scene that was eerily familiar to the one we'd just seen...Another shapely and buxom young white woman, mid twenties was lying on top of one of the beds....Clad in white sheer bikini panties and a matching white sheer bra... a white sheer babydoll and a blonde wig... She looked like someone had used every bit of lipstick in the container on her lips too....Next to her was a computer typed card that read- "Joanie"

"This is exactly like our victim." said Carlotta...

"Looks like we got a nut on the loose.."said Tyriq...

"The press is going to run wild with this and two in one day...Holy mackrel."said Jimmy,looking at the body...

Sissy looked down at the side of the bed... "Look....semen...on the floor , on the side of the bed...on the wall, oh my goodness..." she said...

"You know...there is a joke here...but I'm going to leave it alone..."said Duke...

"Thank You!"said Carlotta,Sissy ,Sirena and Hazel in unison.....obviously disgusted by what they saw...

I couldn't help but laugh......Tyriq was outside assisting Hop and the uniform officers in their canvas of the neighborhood..

They both came in wearing latex gloves and holding a pocket book....

"We found it in the dumpster....Judging from the photo on the drivers license...Her name is Nancy Akers...She's 29, married and doesn't live that far from here...." said Tyriq...

''Just like ours...We are looking at the same killer." said Jimmy..

''Well,let's order some pizza...Looks like it's going to be a long night guys." said Carlotta..

"Wow...This would happen tonight..Eddie C. and I had planned a little quiet time." said Sissy.

"Boss Lady...Go on home then..We got this...Stop by in the morning." said Duke..

"Yeah, we can handle it.."I said.

"You guys sure?" said Sissy..

"Boss Lady...We got your back...You and Eddie C. Go have your "me" time." said Carlotta...

"Yeah...Go on Sissy...We'll hold down the fort." I said.

V-

Carlotta drove me to my SUV...She took her car an joined Jimmy and Tyriq... Sirena and Hop followed other leads..while Duke and Hazel went over to the M.E.'s office...


Two dead women...The name "Joanie" written on a card near them...Another one of the weird ones.... Seemed like ,I liked the weird ones.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

And Lo....A Child Is born

 Our daughter was born a little after midnight!!  It was funny....Sepia and I had both drifted off to sleep....

When I woke up...I was in a chair and about 30 Doctors and Nurses were in the room...They were oblivious to my even being there...

They were talking and barking orders and running around and passing each other instruments...

I peered at Sepia...Her legs were wide open and she was being instructed to push...

"I am pushing..."she said.  This went on for what seemed like an hour!

''Come on baby...you got it..you got it...here we go...Here we goooooooo." I said....

And then just like that....I heard them all go..

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW, LOOK AT THAT...

IT'S A BABY GIRL!!!....  CONGRATULATIONS MOMMY!"  it seemed like they all said..

They clapped and they cheered....She was 7 pounds, three ounces!

"Okay, Okay, get her over on the table...Cut that umbilical cord... Clean this up..Wash her off.."

"Great job, Great job...Okay you crazy guys...Get the hell out of here...Great job guys!"said the Doctor who appeared to be in charge...

I peered over at my new daughter and the tears rolled down my cheeks....I looked over at Sepia...She just beamed with pride...

"I did it lover.."she said.

''You certainly did babes!!..You did it.." I said and I hugged her and kissed her passionately...

"Can I hold her Doc?" I said.

"Of course.."he said...

He dressed the baby and wrapped her in her blanket and passed her to me....I sat on the side of the bed with Sepia...

I passed her to Sepia...

"Hello Kimberly...Kimberly Siselia Morris..." said Sepia...

''Siselia..??" I said.

"Yes...Next to me...Sissy has been the woman closest to you...She's had your back on those streets all these years...I asked her what her real name was weeks ago and when she told me,I thought that  that was a beautiful name...So I made that her middle name."said Sepia.

''Wowww..Did you tell Sissy?" I asked.

"No...I didn't...I want you to tell her ,when you ask her to be the godmother of our child."said Sepia..

"Wow...That should make her smile..."I thought...

"Hey babes...I was going to make Walter the godfather..."I said.

"That's perfect." she said. "Kool Kat, a godfather....Somehow I think he'll like that." she said smiling...She never called Walter by his nickname...I was surprised..

"I love you Sepia..."I said.

"I love you too Kevin."she said.

We sat quietly and held our baby....Soon the room was empty and it was just us..

Just us....

II-

In another part of the hospital....Richard Bauer was straightening his trousers and his shirt... A pretty young nurse walked out of an empty room with him...She fixed her hair and her make up...

''Richard...dab a little water on your collar...my lipstick is on it." she said.

He laughed...

"I will." he said.

"Walk back into that room until you've uh calmed down....You still have an erection.."she said...

"Oh thanks...heh,heh,heh..." he laughed sheepishly...

"Oh it'll go down once he hears what we have to tell him!" came the voice of Detective Carlotta Rodriguez-Wallace.

Detective Carlotta Rodriguez-Wallace and Lt.Sissy Van Buren walked up on him...They had three uniformed policemen with them...

"Dr. Richard Bauer...You're under arrest."said Sissy.

He looked Sissy and Carlotta up and down and smiled...

"Damn, both of you are hot! I've never had a Black woman or a Puerto Rican, but I could start with either one of you two...Damnnnnn" he said laughing and practically drooling...

"You are under arrest papi"said Carlotta..

"I think not and for what?" he said cooley...

"Two counts of sexual assault for starters...."said Sissy...

"Really??  You've got nothing."he snarled..

Sissy smiled and then looked at him...

'' What I've got is two women who say they've been assaulted in the past 48 hours...a condom with your fingerprints on them as well as your DNA and one of the complaintants and a pair of panties with your DNA and the same woman's DNA....and no reason why the two should be a match, plus spermicide and other fun things.....and an eye witness...That enough?" said Sissy...

Richard Bauer hung his head....

Then another man walked up...

"I don't know who your other eyewitness is...but now you've got two ...I saw him assault Brenda Hollerson...and I should have said something, but I didn't...I was afraid...but I can't live with this on my conscience...I'll testify against him."said Dr. Reginald Lucas..

"Reggie, you sellout...You coward!!!...You know you're fired.. You're through...You won't push a broom in a department store when my dad gets through with you..My dad will-" he snarled..

"I'll do nothing of the sort...Richard...You disgust me!!!!...Dr. Lucas came to me and told me how you've been carrying on with these women....I covered for you in Atlanta and I covered for you in San-Francisco...I see you are up to your old tricks...I'm not going to cover for you anymore...You're through."said Richard Bauer Sr.

"Dad...Dad???  Come onnnnnn...I was just gettin a little trim,I wasn't hurtin anybody...It was all fun..Dad, come on...COME ONNNNN!!!" he screamed...

Carlotta handcuffed him, read him his rights and along with the three uniformed policemen, walked him out to the police car...

"Awwwwwww COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNN!  I was just bein a man...They was nobody...Just a couple of tricks...Come On...COME ONNNNNNNNNNN!" he screamed and stomped his foot and carried on as the three policemen had to drag him to the paddy wagon...The hospital staff all gathered around the front lobby and watched him being dragged out..A lot of them laughed...Some clapped!

"Awww come on, you guys aren't really doing this to me are you? This is a joke right...You guys are actors, Strippers right?? Awww Come Onnn...COME ONNNNNNNN!" he screamed as they tucked him in and drove off....He was still screaming to the top of his lungs!

Sissy walked up to our room...

III-

She knocked lightly on the door...

"Can I come in?" she said..

"Come on in Sissy." I said.

Sissy's eyes lit up.....Sepia passed her our daughter...

"Oh my God...She's adorable you two."said Sissy.....

"Her name is Kimberly Siselia Morris..."said Sepia...and my husband has something to ask you."said Sepia..

Sissy looked at me...

''Oh My God....Is that why you asked me what my real name was?" she asked,looking at Sepia..

"Yes...I wanted to name my daughter after you!"said Sepia..."Thanks for having my husband's back out there on those streets all these years." she said.

"He's had mine too."said Sissy.

"Sissy...We would like for you to be the godmother of our daughter." I said.

Tears were streaming from Sissy's eyes.....

"Oh My God...Yess...Yesss..Of course...." she said..

I hugged her...Sepia hugged her too...

Carlotta walked into our room...

"Ayyye Mios Dios...Such a beautiful baby..." she said as Sepia passed her our daughter...

"Her name is Kimberly Siselia Morris."I said.

Carlotta smiled...

"After Boss Lady..That is soo sweet.." she said.

I smiled..

"We got Bauer...He won't be raping anybody else...Thanks to you..."said Sissy..

I patted Sissy on the arm and rubbed Carlotta's arm...

"My girls..."I said.

They both smiled ...

"Okay...We are going to go..Let you two be alone...Let us know when you are coming home...We all have gifts for you and the baby." said Sissy...

"Ohhh thanks guys."said Sepia...

''Congratulations Kevin and Sepia."said Carlotta...

They both left...

EPILOUGE:

Dr. Richard Bauer was convicted of two counts of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison...He was also sued by both women and had to pay a hefty fee to both women which put them in a new tax bracket...Even though I didn't charge her anything, Denise sent me a nice healthy chunk of her settlement for helping to put Bauer behind bars...That was mighty nice of her...She wrote -

"Thank you so much Kevin...I hope this token of my appreciation for what you did will help you and your wife and the new baby out."  Indeed it would!

Sepia and I returned home within a few days....with our baby girl...The nursery had already been set up...and I moved our study,computers and all to the basement, which was finished....

I stood and watched Sepia as she watched the baby sleeping...Seems like all this baby does is sleep...Clerow and Corbeth, Chess and Rell and Tyriq and Sirena Pile told us  to enjoy that while we can...

Waterbreak

"You gone get me fired Mr. Kevin" said the receptionist named Keisha ,who had been helping me...She was a pretty thing, brown skinned, petite ..couldn't be more than 20 years old if she was that old...She reminded me of my suragate daughter, Josie Boyd, who I kind of looked out for after the death of her father, a former client of mine...

"I'm telling you...You'll be just fine...Nobody will know what you did..."I said as she passed me the file...

"Did you make a copy?" I asked.

"That's the copy in your hands..."she said.

"Good Girl...and you put the original back right?" I said..

"Of course.." she said.

"Good Girl." I said and I peeled off some 50's and put it in her hand..

"For my troubles right?" she said with a smirk..

"Of course."I said-"Now go on back to work...I don't want anyone to see you out here in this parking lot talking to me."I said.

"Okay...Good Luck."she said as she went back inside..

The file she gave me was the results of the rape kit that had been done on Denise Reynolds.. They found Spermicide....Proof that a condom had been used...I had the condom and her panties...Enough to prove that this creep had had sex with her...

It was time to call Sissy.

II-

Sissy was Lt.Sissy Van Buren of the Criminal Investigative Unit,Philadelphia Police department...My friend of many years...

"Hello." I said...

"Kevin is that you?" came the melodic voice of Lt.Sissy Van Buren...

"Hey girl..Yeah it's me..."I said.

"Don't tell me ,let me guess, Sepia has had the baby."she said.

"No,not yet, but she's having contractions...Her water hasn't broke yet.."I said.

''Awww, you sound like the nervous daddy....It'll be alright." she said.

"Sis, there's another reason I called you...I need your help."I said.

"Ohhhh, What's going on? I  can hear it in your voice."she said.

"Sissy,there's a monster here in this hospital....He's an anesthesiologist....He puts women under and then he sexually assaults them...I saw him do this with my own eyes...I was walking down the hall and I heard him..then I peeped in the room and I saw him do this...and it's not just one...He's done this to at least two women Sissy, he's got to be stopped.!!!"I said.

"Alright, okay Kevin, You are sure this is what you saw?" she asked.

"Yes..and not only that...I have the condom that he used and the panties his last victim, Ms. Denise Reynolds was wearing when the assault took place...I have them in a box in my car...I'm going to email you the file I've compiled on this guy and you need to send somebody down here to pick up this evidence..."I said.

There was a pause, then I heard Sissy laughing...

"Kevin you are.....You are a trip...Your wife is having a baby and you are simultaneously doing an investigation..." she said laughing...

"Yeah....You know me Sissy, Always on the job...Heh, Heh...Will you at least look into it Sissy?" I asked.

"How can I say no to you Kevin?" she said.

"Thanks friend. Denise Reynolds will talk to you, but she was unconscious most of the time...She woke up nude.." I said.

"And you know this how?" asked Sissy chuckling...

"I witnessed some of it....Stop laughing.....She complained to the hospital and they did a rape examination...but they found no semen...They wouldn't...He used a condom...but if this condom has her DNA and his on it as well as her panties...We got him cold." I said.

"Okay...what about the other woman?" asked Sissy....

"Her name is Brenda Hollerson....I witnessed that assault too....I have her address and her phone number....I'm emailing all of that to you...She complained, but she couldn't identify anybody...She came to see her Doctor...Not Bauer and the next thing she knew ,she was asleep...When she woke up,her panties were on the floor, her blouse was undone and her bra was unfastened and there was no good reason for her to be in that shape...She complained to the hospital staff about him also...She may talk to you." I said.

"Well if your evidence  checks out and we can get both of these women to talk...We have a case..."said Sissy....

"Okay Sissy...I'll get this stuff to you."I said.

"Kevin is one of these women a client of yours?" she asked.

"Yes..Ms. Reynolds is..No one else would take her seriously."I said.

"And you got her to give you her panties?" she asked...chuckling...

''Well uh yes."I said.

"Only you....You need to write a book...Some guys can't get in a woman's panties and they're in the bedroom with her..."she said laughing....

We both busted out laughing....God Bless Sissy....I loved her wicked sense of humor! It was the first time I'd laughed like this in a long time..

"Okay...I think I'd better get back to my wife..."I said.

"That's a good idea...I'll call you and let you know when someone is on the way.It'll more than likely be Chica." she said.

"That'll work...I'll send you this stuff right away.Tell Carlotta to look for a receptionist named Keisha....She'll know where to find me." I said.

"Okay...and Kevin?" she said.

''Be Easy babes..relax...You're about to be a father." she said.

"I will Sissy, I promise....And Sissy......Thank you..You're a good friend."I said.

There was a pause...then Sissy said-

''So have you friend...So have you." she said and hung up...



III-

After awhile I went back to Sepia's room..She was sitting up ,smiling...She was watching television...

"Heyy Lover" she said.

''Heyy Babes.."I said.

"You having any more contractions..?" I asked.

"Yeah and this epidermal is wearing off , call the nurse." she said..

"Okay...Okay...Hold on....Hold on..."I said.

I ran down the hall ,looking for a doctor...

I found several and they came with me to the room...They had Sepia hooked up to monitors and were checking her stomach....

They were all looking at each other and talking....Ignoring me....I might as well have not been there...

I looked at Sepia...I tried to smile...She wasn't smiling ...she seamed to be in pain...and then just like that....She eased up on one arm...

The doctors all began pouring out of the room...

"She's dialating...Not much longer now."said one..

"Where are you going?" I asked..

"We'll be back..."

"Oh my God...Oh My God...My water is breaking!!!" said Sepia...

"Hey where are you guys going?" I said.

Several Nurses came in....

"We'll take care of that...She's just about ready now Mr. Morris...Would you step outside ,and give us some privacy?" said another....

I stepped outside the room....

Just then, I saw two familliar figures...Keisha...My receptionist friend and Detective Carlotta Rodriguez-Wallace...

"Heyyy papi.."said Carlotta upon seeing me..."Your little friend showed me where you were.."she said.

I hugged her and gave her my car keys....

"What you want is in a box in the trunk of my car." I said.

"Is she having the baby?" asked Carlotta...

"Her water broke...She's having contractions..."I said.

Carlotta's eyes got as large as saucers...

"Oh My God!! She's having the baby!!!...Don't worry about this...We got this from here...Okay?? You stay with your wife!" she said...

"I plan to...There isn't anything else I can do." I said.

"Ohhhhh..I've got to call Boss Lady!!" she said..."I'll be right back!!" she said as she and Keisha left me in the hallway...

The door swung open...

"Okay Mr. Morris, you can come in now.." said a nurse...

"Did she...Did she have the baby?" I asked.

"No..Not yet...but she's close...very close." said another nurse..

I sat next to Sepia. She had on a clean hospital gown and there were dry sheets on her bed...

I held her hand...She held mine...

Carlotta returned with my car keys...

"Hola Sepia..." she said.

"Hi Carlotta."said Sepia smiling...

"How are you?" she asked.

"I'm excited, just ready for this to be over..."said Sepia...

"I can imagine...Your husband is a nervous wreck, he can't sit still."she said.

"I know right?....you'd think he was physically having the baby."said Sepia.

I laughed out loud...Carlotta passed me my car keys....she smiled at me very sweetly...

"Now relax...Stay with your wifey...We got this..."she said.

"Gracias" I said...

''God Bless You two." said Carlotta..

"Oh Thank you Carlotta."said Sepia...They hugged each other...

"We all are coming up to see you when the baby comes."she said as she left...

Sepia looked at me and smiled..

"Case?" she asked.

''I can't lie to you...Yeah...Some doctor is in here raping women...after he puts them under...I saw it...I had to do something about it."I said.

"That's why I love you Kevin...That's why I married you...You care about people...You take care of everybody....Now let me take care of you.."she said.

"How you gonna do that?" I asked..

She took my hand in hers...I sat on the side of the bed...She rubbed my hand softly and kissed me on the cheek....

"Just let me.."she said. quietly and rubbed my back gently....

And I sat there with Sepia, holding her hand and watching her until she drifted off to sleep!

(CONCLUSION NEXT)