Read Online Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark - Free Book Online
Authors: Mindy Starns Clark
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me, Ms. Jensen.”
“Why? That was in a different state, and it happened a long time ago.”
“Still, considering the situation, knowing you have a police record might have helped.”
Pulse surging, I felt a sudden rage build in my chest. When I spoke again, my words were even and firm.
“If you bothered to read that record, Detective Hernandez, you’d see that I was a juvenile when it happened. I got house arrest and probation. It’s not as though I went to prison.”
“Maybe not, but someone who tends to…omit…pertinent information and misrepresent themselves makes me nervous.”
I rested my forehead in my hands and took a deep breath, feeling that old familiar rush of despair and claustrophobia that always came upon me when yet another person wouldn’t give me the benefit of the doubt. It was hard enough to deal with the guilt I heaped upon myself, but I really didn’t need other people adding to it—especially when they filtered in the press’s ridiculous version of the events that occurred that fateful night so long ago.
“If you bothered to read any of the details of my arrest, you’d know I was not involved in a malicious criminal act. We were just a bunch of kids who were caught up in a terrible tragedy.” He didn’t reply, so I continued. “I was only seventeen when it all happened, but the minute I turned eighteen a month later and the press could legally reveal my name and image, I was done for. The press coverage was brutal and unrelenting. When that news van showed up at the house this morning, it felt like history was about to repeat itself. It’s just my poor fortune that some random intruder chose my house to invade. The present situation has nothing to do with the past, and I was in no way obligated to tell you I had a record. Keep in mind, Detective, that this time I’m the victim here, not the criminal.”
My face was burning hot by the time I finished my little speech, and I was surprised at the venom I heard in my own voice. I had worked hard to let the anger and resentment go, but now, when I was challenged, it was obvious there was still more angst buried deep inside. I wondered if I could ever rid myself of those old feelings entirely.
At least the detective backed off a bit after that, the tone of his voice growing less suspicious. Finally, I was able to get to the first reason I was calling, to find out where the situation stood with the intruder. Detective Hernandez said that the man had gone through surgery around noon and was currently resting. The doctors thought he would be kept there for a day or two, at which point, barring any medical complications, he would be released into police custody.
“Were you able to question him? Did you find out more about why he did it and what he wanted?”
“We ran his prints, but they didn’t tell us anything. As far as questioning him, we’ve asked the questions, yes, but he’s not answering. He knows he has the right to remain silent, and that’s exactly what he’s doing, fornow at least. We’ll be in a better position to interrogate him once he’s in our custody.”
“You should have talked to him when he was under anesthesia.”
“Yeah, right. Try taking that into a courtroom.”
I needed to go, and I wanted to end this call. For now I chose not to give Hernandez the news about my missing brother. Though Bobby’s disappearance and my intruder might somehow be connected, I wanted Detective Hernandez to concentrate on my break-in as a single, isolated crime without unnecessarily clouding the issue. Considering his attitude about my police record, as soon as he heard that Bobby may in some way be involved, I knew he would jump to all the wrong conclusions.
Instead of mentioning Bobby, I just asked if the house was still a crime scene or if I would be allowed to straighten up and pack.
“We’re all finished there—though you might see some yellow caution tape around the back porch because of the hole. You’ll
“Why? That was in a different state, and it happened a long time ago.”
“Still, considering the situation, knowing you have a police record might have helped.”
Pulse surging, I felt a sudden rage build in my chest. When I spoke again, my words were even and firm.
“If you bothered to read that record, Detective Hernandez, you’d see that I was a juvenile when it happened. I got house arrest and probation. It’s not as though I went to prison.”
“Maybe not, but someone who tends to…omit…pertinent information and misrepresent themselves makes me nervous.”
I rested my forehead in my hands and took a deep breath, feeling that old familiar rush of despair and claustrophobia that always came upon me when yet another person wouldn’t give me the benefit of the doubt. It was hard enough to deal with the guilt I heaped upon myself, but I really didn’t need other people adding to it—especially when they filtered in the press’s ridiculous version of the events that occurred that fateful night so long ago.
“If you bothered to read any of the details of my arrest, you’d know I was not involved in a malicious criminal act. We were just a bunch of kids who were caught up in a terrible tragedy.” He didn’t reply, so I continued. “I was only seventeen when it all happened, but the minute I turned eighteen a month later and the press could legally reveal my name and image, I was done for. The press coverage was brutal and unrelenting. When that news van showed up at the house this morning, it felt like history was about to repeat itself. It’s just my poor fortune that some random intruder chose my house to invade. The present situation has nothing to do with the past, and I was in no way obligated to tell you I had a record. Keep in mind, Detective, that this time I’m the victim here, not the criminal.”
My face was burning hot by the time I finished my little speech, and I was surprised at the venom I heard in my own voice. I had worked hard to let the anger and resentment go, but now, when I was challenged, it was obvious there was still more angst buried deep inside. I wondered if I could ever rid myself of those old feelings entirely.
At least the detective backed off a bit after that, the tone of his voice growing less suspicious. Finally, I was able to get to the first reason I was calling, to find out where the situation stood with the intruder. Detective Hernandez said that the man had gone through surgery around noon and was currently resting. The doctors thought he would be kept there for a day or two, at which point, barring any medical complications, he would be released into police custody.
“Were you able to question him? Did you find out more about why he did it and what he wanted?”
“We ran his prints, but they didn’t tell us anything. As far as questioning him, we’ve asked the questions, yes, but he’s not answering. He knows he has the right to remain silent, and that’s exactly what he’s doing, fornow at least. We’ll be in a better position to interrogate him once he’s in our custody.”
“You should have talked to him when he was under anesthesia.”
“Yeah, right. Try taking that into a courtroom.”
I needed to go, and I wanted to end this call. For now I chose not to give Hernandez the news about my missing brother. Though Bobby’s disappearance and my intruder might somehow be connected, I wanted Detective Hernandez to concentrate on my break-in as a single, isolated crime without unnecessarily clouding the issue. Considering his attitude about my police record, as soon as he heard that Bobby may in some way be involved, I knew he would jump to all the wrong conclusions.
Instead of mentioning Bobby, I just asked if the house was still a crime scene or if I would be allowed to straighten up and pack.
“We’re all finished there—though you might see some yellow caution tape around the back porch because of the hole. You’ll
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