Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 09:54:08 EST
From: Aterovis@aol.com
Subject: Chapter 18 of Reap the Whirlwind

RTW is winding down. Only 3 more chapters to go. Visit my website to vote
for my next project. Hope you enjoy Chapter 18!

http://bleedinghearts.nav.to

Email: Aterovis@aol.com


Chapter 18

	After a hectic first half of the week, the second half calmed down
into routine. Not blurting out the news of the wedding turned out to be the
hardest thing I had to do. Finally Friday night rolled around and it was
time for our meeting.

	Killian and Asher arrived with pizza and Gabe and Laura arrived
soon after. Caitlin was the last to get there. I had offered to pick her up
but she's refused, saying she was borrowing a friend's car.

	We crowded into the kitchen with the pizzas in the middle of the
table. A lucky few snagged the chairs around the table but the rest of us
either perched on the counters or stood. Killian opened up the meeting.

	"You all know that Asher and I haven't really been all that
involved with this whole thing as much as I would have liked. Being so far
away and Asher's misgivings have kept me from doing more. We've decided
that this will be the last week we meet with you guys. Ya'll are doing just
fine without us." As he spoke he carefully avoided looking at Asher and I
wondered just who had made the decision.

	"You've been a big help," I protested, "You've given us lots of
ideas, we've just done the leg work."

	"Yeah, well, we're here tonight so let's get to work. Who wants to
report first?"

	"I might as well go first," Gabe said, "I got lucky on both fronts,
when I went by David's house no one was home."

	"I heard he his parents sent him off to rehab," Laura said around a
mouthful of pizza.

	"Whatever, he wasn't there at any rate. But I went around back
anyway and found that anyone could have gotten into or out of the back
yard. There's a door in the fence big as life and it's not even locked."

	"Great, so that means it could have been anyone, not just someone
at the party," Aidan said.

	"That really throws open the field," I added.

	"Not really," Killian said thoughtfully. We all turned to face
him. He finished chewing and swallowed before he went on. "Think about
it. If it was an outside person, let's call him Mr. X..."

	"Mr. X?" Asher laughed.

	Killian shot him a dirty look but kept on speaking without comment,
"How would he know Joey was going to be at this particular party? How'd he
know to find him in the backyard?"

	"He could have followed him," Aidan suggested.

	"Or he could have done what I did and just party hopped until he
found the right party," I said.

	"If he party hopped then he was still at the party, he didn't have
to come in through the back yard."

	"I agree with Killian," Gabe said, "I think it was someone at the
party. I think the gate was an escape route, not an entrance."

	Everyone started to speak at once.

	"Let me explain," Gabe yelled over the din, "Nothing about this
feels planned. It seems like a spur of the moment crime of passion. The
killer didn't check to see if anyone was in the pool house, he left the
necklace, which probably fell off in some sort of struggle, and a pool
isn't exactly the most reliable murder weapon. Chances are he didn't even
mean to kill Joey. I mean what if he had been found before he drowned? Or
what if someone had just happened to look out the window and seen him bop
Joey on the head?"

	"Do we know he was bopped on the head?" Killian asked.

	"Oh yeah, that was the other thing I found out. My sources at the
police station confirmed that Joey did have a head wound but the medical
examiner said it could have been sustained when he fell into the pool if
he'd struck his head on the edge."

	"Sources at the police station?" Aidan repeated.

	"What sources?" asked Killian.

	"A good detective never reveals his sources," Gabe said smugly.

	"His cousin works at the police station, dispatcher," Laura said.

	Gabe shot her a look as Killian picked up the thought, "It could
have been from the pool or it could have been from getting bopped in the
head."

	"Exactly," Gabe said, "While I was in the backyard I looked around
a bit. I found a rock that looked like it had been moved. They have these
rocks that surround their flowerbeds, pretty good-sized rocks, and one
looked out of place. So I looked at it more closely and there's something
on it that may or may not be blood."

	"What did you do with it?" Caitlin asked.

	"I picked it up with my shirt and wrapped it up in a plastic
bag. It's at my house now."

	"Great!" I said, "That's solid evidence we can take to the police!"

	"Not so fast," Aidan said, "we've tampered with evidence by moving
it. They're going to be mightily pissed."

	"Not to mention," Caitlin added, "that they've already made it
clear they don't think Joey was killed. What are we supposed to do? Just
waltz in and plunk this chunk of rock down on their desk and tell that they
are wrong and that we, being the seasoned professionals that we are, have
solved their little mystery for them? I'm sure they'll be ever so
grateful."

	"And what if it's just barbecue sauce?" Laura chipped in.

	I sighed, "You're all right. They already think I'm some crack-head
who's crazy with grief over the death of his best friend."

	"We're not giving up," Aidan said, "We just need to find out some
more facts first. Tell them what we found out this week."

	I filled everyone in, with plenty of help from Aidan and Laura, on
our search of Blake's room, our conversation with Keisha, our trip to the
marina and my conversation with Mr. Taylor.

	"So all we really know is that Blake did see something and that
Mr. Taylor didn't do it," I finished.

	"We don't really know Mr. Taylor didn't do it," Killian said, "but
I agree with you that it isn't all that likely. We need to find this guy
Blake was with."

	"Thank you," Laura said with a self-satisfied smile, "I was waiting
for someone to remember our little lothario. I have his name."

	Everyone froze. I was the first speak, "What? How? Who?"

	"You forgot when and where," Laura said smugly, "I decided that the
only way to do this was the old fashioned way, so last night I just started
calling everyone who I'd heard say they were at the party. It was all
everyone was talking about so it wasn't that hard. And everyone I called
had several more people I could call. I figured someone there had to know
who this guy was. I hit the jackpot on my 23rd phone call. His name is
Robby Meade. He doesn't go to college with us, he goes to the tech school."

	"Have you talked to him yet?" Caitlin asked.

	"No, I haven't had the chance yet. I'm going to look him up
tomorrow."

	"Well let us know as soon as you know something," I said, "This
could be the big break we've been waiting for."

	"Don't worry, you'll be the first person I call," Laura said, "But
right now we've got to get going."

	"Ok, before you go though," Aidan said, "Will and I want to invite
you guys to a special party we're throwing next Friday night, one week from
tonight. We really want you to be here, at 7 o'clock sharp."

	"What's going on?" Laura said suspiciously.

	"You'll find out then," I said with a grin.

	I could tell she was loath to give it up that easily but Gabe
grabbed her by the elbow and started steering her towards the door. They
bundled up and headed out the door. Caitlin left soon after them, after
promising that she would be there next Friday night.

	Killian and Asher stayed for a while and we transferred to the
living room where we could be more comfortable. We weren't there very long
before Asher asked Aidan if he'd help him find something on the internet so
they headed off to our bedroom, leaving me and Killian alone.

	"Are you and Asher ok?" I asked as soon as they were out of
earshot.

	"What do you mean?" Killian said warily.

	"It's just...I haven't caused you guys problems by asking you to
help out have I?"

	Killian sighed, "Actually, yeah. We've done nothing but fight about
this since the day you asked. I really want to help but Asher is scared to
get involved. I thought we had compromised but apparently it wasn't
enough. I finally just decided that my relationship with Asher was way more
important to me than this, as much as I would like to help you and Aidan."

	"No, really, I understand," I assured him, "You made the right
decision. You're relationship is the most important thing."

	"Thanks, Will," Killian said with a small smile, "I needed to hear
that."

	"You and Asher will be here next week too, right?"

	"Like we'd miss it! You've really got my curiosity up. Everybody
seems to be going weird all of a sudden. You guys with your mystery party,
Adam is sneaking around and looking guilty every time we walk into the
room, Asher throwing such a fit about being involved with another murder. I
think I'm the only sane one left in the bunch."

	"That's not saying much," Asher said dryly as him and Aidan
rejoined us. He had caught the tail end of the conversation. He sat down in
Killian's lap.

	"Don't get too comfortable," Killian said, "We need to get back
soon."

	"Do you have to go?" I asked.

	"'Fraid so," Killian said, "Adam has some chores for me to
do. Probably putting up yet more Christmas lights. You should see our house
now, we light up the whole freakin' neighborhood at night."

	After they left I started thinking about this guy, Robbie. It
seemed like he might hold the key to this whole mystery. The more I thought
about it the more uptight I got.

	Finally Aidan said, "Why don't you just call him?"

	"I don't know his number," I said.

	"That's why they invented the telephone book," he shot back.

	"That's right, make fun of the mentally challenged boy," I
grumbled, feeling immensely stupid. I searched for the phone book and after
locating it I discovered that I wasn't sure how to spell Meade. There were
2 Robert Mead's and 3 Robert Meade's, plus one R Meade. I decided to just
call them all until I found the right one. I struck out on the first two
tries. Although both Robert's were perfectly nice, they weren't the guy I
was looking for. I dialed the next number.

	"Are you Robbie Meade?" I asked for the third time when someone
answered.

	"Yeah," said a male voice cautiously.

	"Do you go to tech school?"

	A pause, then, "Yeah."

	"Were you at the party the night Joey Taylor died?"

	The line was perfectly quiet. For a panic-stricken moment I was
afraid he'd hung up. "Hello?" I said.

	"I'm still here," Robbie said quietly, "Who are you and what do you
want?"

	"My name is Will Keegan, I was there too. Joey was my best
friend. Please don't hang up."

	"What do you want?"

	"I don't think it was an accident. I think someone was with Joey
right before he died and I think they killed him."

	"What does that have to do with me?"

	"We talked to Blake," I said and I heard a sharp intake of breath.

	"Look, I'm sorry about your friend but there's nothing I can do to
help you."

	"Wait!" I called, "Please, just answer a few questions. Please!
What can it hurt?"

	"Ask Blake that question, why don't you? Oh wait, you can't. She's
dead. And that's what I'll be if I get involved."

	"You're already involved. You were in the pool house with Blake
that night. What you know could help catch a killer."

	"I don't know anything. I'm telling you, I can't help you. I've
been hiding in my apartment ever since Blake wound up floating in the
river. I'm leaving tomorrow, for good. I'm moving to Maine to live with my
dad."

	"If you're leaving then it can't hurt to tell us what you saw."

	"You're not listening to me. I didn't see anything. Look, if I tell
you what I do know will you leave me alone?"

	"Yes, I promise," I said.

	"I heard something, another person, talking to the guy."

	"Did you recognize the voice?"

	He let out a short burst of nervous laughter, "Hell no. I don't
know anybody at that school except my cousin. That's the only reason I was
even there. I wish I'd never gone. All I know is that they sounded like
they were arguing. The guy was like really mad and he kept yelling. The
other voice was softer, but just as upset. She only raised her voice once."

	"She?" I latched onto the word.

	"Yeah, it was definitely a chick."

	My heart was pounding, "What were they arguing about?"

	"I don't know. I wasn't listening and I was kinda busy, you know?"

	"But you're positive it was a girl?"

	"Yes. Ok now I've told you all I know. My friends are at the
door. They came over to say good-bye. I've got to go."

	"Wait..." I tried, but I heard the click of the phone as he hung up
and then the line went dead.

	I hit the end button on the phone and then stood staring dumbly at
it for several seconds.

	"It was girl?" Aidan asked.

	I nodded.

	"Well, that's finally something we can work with at least."

	"Shelley?" I suggested.

	"I don't know. She didn't seem like all that likely a suspect to
me. At least no more so than any of his other ex's."

	"She was there."

	"So was Caitlin," he shot back.

	"Caitlin? You think Caitlin killed Joey?"

	"No, I don't. I'm just pointing out that being at the party doesn't
automatically make you a suspect. Or at least no more so than anyone else."

	That wasn't the last surprise in store for us. The next morning at
work I was busy in the back room, trying in vain to force some sort of
organization on the mess that had accumulated back there over the
years. Hearing a noise I looked up to find Nikki in the doorway with a
worried expression on her face.

	"Will?" she said, "There's a Detective Patterson here to see you."

	"What?" I said as I dropped the clipboard I had been making an
inventory on.

	Patterson's unpleasant face appeared over Nikki's shoulder.

	"I'll talk to Mr. Keegan right here if that's alright with you,
Ms. Avanti," he said in a manner that made it clear that he was going to
whether it was ok with Nikki or not.

	Nikki looked to me and I gave her a curt nod. She turned and walked
stiffly back to the gallery. Detective Patterson stepped in, letting the
door shut behind him.

	"Mr. Keegan," he said conversationally, "Since we last spoke some
very interesting things have been happening and your name keeps popping up
everywhere I turn."

	"Oh?" I said carefully. I had decided that the less I said the
better.

	"Yes, oh. Do you have anything you'd like to tell me?'

	"Maybe. What things are we talking about?"

	"I think you already know the answer to that. Miss Hammond's
untimely death? You probably heard about that on the news. What you don't
know is that while we officially released a report of suicide, we were
still investigating the whole incident. As you well know, Miss Hammond was
the person who reportedly found your friend, Mr. Taylor. We found her death
just as tad suspicious, especially after you came to me with your
suspicions. We took a second look at Mr. Taylor's death and we found a few
things that took on a different shade in the light of Miss Hammond's
death."

	"Why are you telling me all this now?"

	"Two reasons. Number one, you and your junior detective club have
been royally fucking up our investigation. You're blundering through this
whole thing like the proverbial bull in the china shop. You're destroying
evidence everywhere and where you've not destroyed it you've outright
stolen it."

	"I...we..."

	"We know all about the rock Mr. Maza so kindly kept for us. We
swung by and picked it up on the way here."

	I was starting to feel very foolish. "What's reason number two?" I
asked, even though I didn't really want to know.

	"Number two is simple. For your own protection you need to stop
this foolishness now. This is not a game. You kids are in way over your
heads. You're playing with a cold-blooded killer. They've already killed
three people, I don't want you to end up number four."

	"Three? Joey, Blake and...who?"

	"Last night. It's not even hit the news yet. We're trying to keep a
lid on it as long as possible."

	"Who?" I yelled.

	"Robert Meade, age 19, student at the tech school, attended the
party the night Mr. Taylor died, was with Miss Hammond when she found
Mr. Taylor. But you already knew all that. You talked to him on the phone
last night."

	"What? How...?"

	"We checked his phone records."

	"When was he killed?"

	"Most likely very shortly after you hung up from talking to
him. His friends found him less than 15 minutes after your phone call was
logged in."

	"He...he said someone was at the door. He thought it was his
friends then."

	"Apparently not. It seems it was our killer. He changed MO's on us
this time though. You might be interested to know that he's getting
sloppy...or cocky...or desperate. Of the three that last one is the most
dangerous. Desperate people do stupid things."

	"What do you mean he changed MO's?"

	"He gave up all pretense of making it look like a suicide. Put six
holes in him and left him on the doorstep."

	"He was shot?"

	"Yep, five more times than was needed to kill him."

	"Oh my God," I whispered.

	"Are you scared, Mr. Keegan?"

	I nodded numbly.

	"Good. You should be. You've been poking a beehive and if you don't
stop you're going to get stung. I hope you're scared out of your mind. It's
the only thing that's going to save you. Now, I want you to get out of
police business and stay out."

	A wave of anger suddenly burned through me, "If you'd done your job
in the first place I wouldn't be in police business," I snarled.

	He stopped on his way to the door and turned slowly back to face
me.

	"Maybe you're right, but I'm telling you we're on it now and I want
you out of it." He turned to leave again.

	"Do you even know that it was girl with Joey that night?" I called
out.

	He stopped again and turned sharply on his heel. "What did you
say?"

	"It was a girl, with Joey, right before he died. They were
arguing..."

	"How do you know that?"

	"Robbie told me, on the phone last night. You mean the junior
detectives found something out the big bad policemen didn't know?"

	He crossed the room in two strides and slammed me back against the
wall by my shoulders.

	"Listen kid," he snarled, "I've been nice up to now, but I've just
about had it with you and your little friends. You're damn lucky I'm not
bringing you up on obstruction charges and you're even luckier that you
aren't dead yet. It's because of your fucking around in police business
that that kid is even dead now. Did you think about that? And for that
matter, probably the girl too. And if you keep it up you can bet your sweet
ass that you'll be joining them. Then they can thank you in person for
getting them killed."

	He stared down at me for a few seconds before letting go of me. I
slid to the floor where I started shaking. He stalked to the door then
paused before leaving, "Stay out of this kid. I mean it." And he was gone.

	When Nikki found me a few minutes later I was crying so hard I
couldn't talk. I was still crying when Aidan arrived to take me home.