Altered Fates - Only the Strong Can Forgive 2
View Story Details
Altered Fates - Only the strong can forgive - 2
By Danielle J
Julie bit her lip. "No I don't."
Tom Metzger went straight to the kitchen phone. After looking up a
phone number in the family phone book, the father dialed a seven digit
number.
The phone on the other end of Tom Metzger's phone call rang three times
before an adult male picked it up. "Hello."
"Ben, is that you?" Tom asked. The background noise from the party at
the Nelson house was something fierce.
"Tom?"
"Yes Ben, its me Tom Metzger." Loc's father replied back in a voice
that showed no sign of the increasing worry the man felt. "Is Loc still
over at your place?"
"No, I don't think so," Ben said. "She and the Lockwood boy came to say
goodbye and thank me for the party. That was about an hour ago."
Tom Metzger was more worried than ever now.
"Why isn't Loc home already?"
"No she isn't."
Now even Ben Nelson was worried for the Metzger girl. "Let me check the
house and ask around. I'll call you back in a couple of minutes."
Tom Metzger hung up the phone. The next few minutes were already
looking like the longest of the forty-one-year-old man's life. While
they waited for a return call, Tom and Julie Metzger quickly put some
clothes on.
*****
Jeff Lockwood was in agonizing pain from head to toe but was again
regaining consciousness. Like previously, Jeff tried to yell but only a
low moan came out of his mouth instead. He was still trapped in the
wrecked Volare and unable to move.
"Oh God, I don't want to die. Don't let Loc die. Please God." Jeff
whispered as he struggled to free himself. The boy's efforts were to no
avail, the crumbled Volare had Jeff totally pinned inside it. Loc
Metzger was beside Jeff but still unconscious.
A few moments later, help arrived. Jeff heard the sounds of nearby
movement and sirens from some where nearby. The sounds kept coming
closer to the car and its two teenage occupants.
Jeff tried calling out, but again his voice was of little use.. Then
the teenager heard a voice.
"Hello....Hello."
"Help us," Jeff said to the paramedic as he clung to consciousness.
"My.... girlfriend.... and I are trapped."
"Help is here Miss," the paramedic replied. "We'll have both of you out
real soon."
Jeff heard the sounds of more rescue personnel arriving. They were
talking and checking the car. One female paramedic began asking Jeff
questions.
"What's your name?"
"Jeff. Jeff Lockwood."
"How old are you?"
"I just turned eighteen. I don't want to die," Jeff said with tears
beginning to form in his eyes. He was almost too weak to cry, being
barely conscious at present.
"You're going to be alright. Help is here."
"Please...save my gir....lfriend," Jeff said as fought to remain
conscious.
"Who else is in the car with you?"
"Loc. Her name is Loc Metzger. Pleas...se get us out."
"We'll be cutting you out of there in a minute. Hang in there."
"I will."
The paramedic kept talking to Jeff while at the same time the teenager
could hear others talking and the sound of machinery. Then the voices
were drowned out as a loud buzzing sound filled Jeff's eardrums. Then
the teenager lost consciousness again.
*****
Waiting for Ben Nelson's return phone call was driving Julie Metzger
almost to the point of panic. Her husband Tom was only doing slightly
better, as he paced the floor of the Metzger home. It was over five
minutes before Ben Nelson called back.
"Tom, I asked around. Loc and Jeff left here at least a half hour ago,
probably longer."
'Oh God.' Tom thought as he knees almost began to buckle. His wife
Julie was openly crying now. Both parents feared for the worse, for
they both knew Loc would never stay out late without calling.
Ben broke the silence. "Tom, maybe they stopped somewhere on the way
home. Or the car broke down."
Something in Tom's gut told him otherwise. "Thanks Ben, Julie and I are
going out to look for them."
Before Tom Metzger hung up, Ben had one last thing to say. "I swear to
you Tom, there was no alcohol here."
Tom Metzger had removed his ear from the phone long before Ben was done
talking. Grabbing his car keys, he and Julie raced from the house.
Before jumping in the car, Tom had a question. "Do you know where the
Nelsons live?"
"Outside of town," Julie told her husband as they both climbed in the
car. Tom immediately backed the vehicle out of the driveway. "Go to
route nineteen and then south to Shoals road. I hope I can remember the
rest of the way....."
*****
The rescue personnel successfully used the jaws of life on the Volare
and now the paramedics went to work on Jeff Lockwood and Loc Metzger.
Both were unconscious and bleeding externally. The first step for the
paramedics was to ascertain Jeff and Loc's injuries as quickly as
possible, then stabilize the teens in preparation for transport.
First Jeff was removed from the car, then it was Loc's turn. Both teens
were then placed on stretchers.
******
The Metzgers arrived at the scene of the accident some ten minutes
after leaving home. Their first warning of what happened came seconds
earlier as they approached the bend and saw the flashing lights of
emergency vehicles and police cars. There were four police cars, two
fire trucks and two paramedic vehicles at the scene by this time.
Their car had barely come to a halt, when the Metzgers jumped out of
it. They had been stopped well short of the accident by a police
officer.
"Ma'am there has been....."
Julie Metzger was panicking. Was her baby alive or dead? "Yes, I think
it's my daughter. We need...."
Tom Metzger surveyed the scene the best he could from the vantage point
he had. From this distance it was impossible to see anything.
"Ma'am I can't let you go any further. We have rescue personnel working
an accident just up the road."
"But please...."
The officer, whose name was Ned Steiger, cut Julie off. He sympathized
with the mother and would probably be doing the same as Mrs. Metzger
were their roles reversed. However this couple had to stay put, not
just for their own safety's sake but so rescue personnel could do their
work.
"Ma'am, what's your name?"
"Julie Metzger."
"I'm Tom Metzger." The father said in reply to the officer "We are
looking for our daughter Loc and her boyfriend Jeff Lockwood."
"They're missing?"
Tom Metzger thought this was a dumb question. "Yes, they are missing.
Loc and Jeff were on the way home from a party and were driving this
road. All we want to know is it our daughter down there?"
"What type of car were they in?"
"A blue 1977 Plymouth Volare."
"Can you describe your daughter and her boyfriend to me?"
Julie Metzger did this while Tom tried to inch closer to the accident
scene in order to get a view. Officer Steiger would allow none of this.
*****
Down the hill Loc was still unconscious but Jeff was going in and out
himself. "I hurt....all....over. Don't leeeet me die," Jeff told a
paramedic before losing consciousness again.
While paramedics tended to Loc and Jeff, rescue personnel were
preparing for the tricky process of bringing both teens up the hill to
waiting ambulances. While all this was going on, one police officer was
talking into a walkie talkie.
******
The Metzgers watched and waited for Ned Steiger's walkie talkie
conversation to end. When he was done, the police officer confirmed
Julie and Tom's worst suspicions.
"We have to reason to believe the two occupants of the vehicle are your
daughter and the Lockwood boy."
Julie Metzger knees went wobbly as she came close to fainting "Oh God,
not my baby."
Tom Metzger was only slightly calmer. "Any word on their condition?"
"Both are alive but injured,"
"How bad?" Tom Metzger asked as he wrapped an arm around his wife.
"They don't know yet."
The Metzgers began to barrage Officer Steiger with questions but Ned
had few answers. He had been given little information by the policeman
down at the crash scene.
Ned sympathized with the Metzgers. He was a father to three children
himself. The officer was sure if it was his children at the bottom of
the hill, he'd be as shaken up as the Metzgers were.
"Your daughter and the boy will be taken to the hospital."
"How long....?" Julie began to ask.
"I don't know Ma'am but soon," Ned Steiger replied. "Now if you don't
mind, I need to ask a few questions."
Officer Steiger began by asking about the Lockwood boy. Where he lived
and who were his parents. Ned would have to radio in these details so
the family could be contacted and told of what happened.
Other questions revolved around where Jeff and Loc were going at the
time of the accident, where they had been etc. Officer Steiger already
had been told it was the teen's high school graduation night.
One of the first things that popped into Ned's head was the possibility
of the crash being alcohol related. While the drinking age was twenty-
one in North Carolina, post graduation or prom night parties often saw
teens supplied with beer and other alcohol by adults able to buy it.
Ned didn't mention any of this to the Metzgers. It would only upset the
parents more than they were already. Any way it was just a theory at
this point. Right then Officer Steiger stepped to the side and motioned
for the Metzgers to do the same. Another Wilmington police cruiser had
arrived at the scene.
*****
The cruiser was driven by Lt. Dan Compton, a seventeen year veteran of
the New Hanover County police force. He had been home but not in bed
when he got a call from dispatch. Throwing some clothes on quickly, Dan
was out of his house in less than five minutes.
Dan was New Hanover's senior accident scene investigator. He worked
with a lot of theories but soon turned them to facts. Tonight marked
the third time Dan worked an accident at Deadman's point. The two
previous crashes, both within the last eighteen months, had resulted in
a total of three fatalities. Dan couldn't help but think the turn was
aptly nicknamed.
A quick survey of the scene from the top of the hill showed rescue
personnel still at work. Dan would go down to the wreck but not till
after any victims were removed. The first priority was always to treat
the injured.
Dan recognized one of the patrolman on duty, Milt Stiles was his name.
"Milt, can you tell me what you know so far?"
*****
"Can I go with Loc in the ambulance to the hospital?" Julie asked
Officer Steiger.
"That will be up to the paramedics Ma'am."
Ned only got to ask a few more questions before the gurneys carrying
Jeff and Loc arrived at the top of the hill. Seeing this, Julie Metzger
immediately ran to the side of who she thought was her daughter.
Both teens were still unconscious. Jeff was the first to be loaded into
the waiting ambulance.
"Can I go with her? She's my daughter," Julie said to one of the
paramedics.
"Yes Ma'am," the paramedic answered. "But you'll have to ride up
front."
While his wife was getting in the ambulance, Tom Metzger asked Officer
Steiger what hospital his daughter was being taken to. He was told it
would be New Hanover Regional Medical Center. About two minutes later
the ambulance, with its siren blaring, was on its way with Tom Metzger
following but at a safer speed.
Just as the ambulance was pulling away, a paramedic tending to Loc
suddenly stopped what he was doing to in order to put a stethoscope to
the teen's chest. When he was finished, the paramedic said out loud.
"He's crashing!"
*****
David and Carol Lockwood were both startled by the sound of the front
door bell of their home being rung. It was almost 1:30 a.m. and the
couple wondered who had to be at the front door. Even their daughter
Tabitha had gotten out of bed.
"Where is Jeff?" Carol said to her husband. The boy's bedroom door was
open and there was no sign the teen had come home.
David Lockwood went down the stairs as the doorbell rang for the sixth
time. "I'm coming!" The father called out, he had heard his wife's
statement but not replied to it. The father was already thinking it was
his son. Jeff had probably lost or forgotten his house key. Boy would
David Lockwood chew his son out for waking the entire family up.
But it wasn't Jeff but a female member of the Wilmington police force.
"Is this the Lockwood home?"
"Yes it is," David Lockwood replied. His wife Carol standing beside
him.
"You have a son named Jeffrey?" the officer asked. Immediately Carol
Lockwood gripped her husband's left hand tightly. An officer at this
time of the night couldn't be good news.
"Yes we do."
"Your son was in an automobile accident. He is alive but seriously
injured. At present he is being taken to New Hanover Regional Medical
Center." The officer said giving the bad news. This was one part of her
work the woman just didn't enjoy.
Right then David Lockwood turned pale white at the exact same moment
his wife began to scream hysterically.
*****
Dan Compton made a sign of the cross as the second ambulance left the
accident scene. Then he went back to listening to Patrolman Stiles.
"My guess," Milt said pointing to the destroyed guardrail, "Is the car
was going too fast or the driver was distracted when they got to the
turn, they miscalculated and the car went straight through the
guardrail."
Walking around, Dan was looking for skid marks. There were a set in
road not far from the guard rail.
"That's just my theory. For whatever it is worth."
"Thanks."
"They're teens too, alcohol could be involved."
Something caught Dan's eye. He normally would have technicians there by
then, but the team on duty was working another crash at present. They
weren't expected to arrive at Deadman's for at least a half hour yet.
"If I'm not mistaken," Dan said pointing to the ground. "Those are a
second set of skid marks. There were two cars here."
Milt Stiles looked at the ground for a few seconds. "You could be
right."
"How did we learn about this crash?"
*****
Drew Hamilton was still shaken as he exited the garage. His beloved
Camaro was a wreck and so was he. The twenty-year-old had taken part in
an automobile accident and fled the scene. There was no doubt about it,
Drew was in big ass trouble at present.
Right now Drew had just one goal, to get home. After a night's sleep,
Drew would have to take action. What that action would be, the young
man still didn't know.
Within a few minutes Nash and the Rolls arrived. Before climbing
inside, Drew asked the chauffeur a question.
"Has my father arrived home yet?"
"Yes Mr. Hamilton. Your father arrived home around eleven."
Drew didn't speak a word on the way home. Once he got there, Drew went
straight to his bedroom where he turned on the television.
If Drew was hoping for any news yet on the accident, he would soon be
disappointed. Television news crews would only get out to Deadman's
Point at around 3 a.m. There wouldn't be any television reports till
five.
By that time Drew had fallen asleep. It hadn't been easy for Drew to
get his eyes to close, for his conscience was already beginning to
bother him.
"I hope I didn't kill anyone tonight."
*****
The Lockwoods arrived at New Hanover Regional Medical Center to find
the Metzgers already there. Both sets of parents were told to stay in a
waiting room. A doctor would come out shortly.
All four of them, Tom, David, Carol and Julie were shaken by what had
happened. So far the fathers were holding up better than the mothers.
Tom Metzger paced the waiting room floor. He felt totally hopeless
right now, just like he had that day in Saigon eighteen years earlier
when Nu died.
Carol Lockwood, still in her nightgown having only thrown a coat on to
cover it, was seated next to her husband David. They were calm and
quietly praying to God for their son to be well.
Julie Metzger was seated in another chair and crying at present. Loc
may not have been biologically her child, but the mother felt as
helpless as her father did. Her tears being the way Julie coped in
comparison to Tom's pacing.
Both sets of parents were there for about an hour when a slightly
heavyset man in surgical scrubs came out of the Emergency room. Tom
Metzger immediately noted the grim face, this wasn't going to be good
news.
"Which of you are Jeffrey Lockwood's parents?"
"We are" said David Lockwood as he and Carol got up from their seats.
"I'm sorry, your son just died ten minutes ago." Dr. Valenzuela told
the parents. Carol Lockwood, fainted immediately on getting the news.
A nurse came out to see to Jeffrey's mother. Tom Metzger then asked Dr.
Valenzuela "How is our daughter?"
"Not well, she is being taken to surgery......"
"Oh my God," Julie Metzger exclaimed.
"Your daughter's right ankle was broken in three places. She also
suffered a fractured pelvis, a concussion plus a fractured left wrist.
In addition she has internal bleeding......"
"Can we see her?" Loc's father asked.
"She's unconscious Mr. and Mrs. Metzger." Doctor Valenzuela explained.
"A nurse will bring you both to a surgical waiting room upstairs.
"Doctor, what is Loc's prognosis?" Tom Metzger asked.
The doctor took a deep breath. He couldn't give the parents false hope.
"She's young and strong. If we find the cause of the internal bleeding
and get it under control your daughter stands a good chance of
recovery."
Julie and Tom had a few more questions for the doctor. As they asked
away, a now revived and mostly hysterical Carol Lockwood and her
husband were being led away to a private room. A Catholic priest was
already on the way to the hospital to console the parents.
A few minutes later Tom and Julie were shown to a 2nd floor waiting
room. As soon they got there, Loc's father began pacing again.
"I should have never let her go to that party."
"Sweetheart," Julie said with her emotions temporarily under control.
"Don't blame yourself. We both let Loc go to the party."
"I should have known better."
"We don't even know what happened yet."
"It doesn't matter! I shouldn't have let Loc go!" Tom Metzger said just
before he broke down crying.
******
Bill Fischer and his technicians got to the crash site just before 3
a.m. They immediately went about their work.
Not long after Bill arrived, Dan pointed out the two set of skid marks.
"It could be we had two cars up here." Bill said making a preliminary
conclusion. He'd have the marks photographed and then examined under
magnification before making a definitive decision.
"Were there any witnesses?"
"Not that we know of. One of the car's two occupants died about a half
hour ago."
"Shit," Bill said as he walked around. He was examining the ground by
the side of road "Trying to get identifiable tire tracks is going to be
hard. How many vehicles were up here, one hundred?"
Dan knew Bill was being sarcastic. "Not quite, but a lot."
Bill and Dan talked over a few more things. "I'll leave you to your
work. There are some things I got to check out." Dan said.
"Talk to you later.
Dan then drove to the 7-11. The detective had already found out from
New Hanover County Dispatch that the phone call reporting the accident
had come from that location.
The store clerk, an Indian immigrant Deepak Metha, was a little rattled
by the police coming to the store he worked at.
"I never saw anyone use the payphone."
"Did anyone come in the store in between 12:45 to 1 a.m.?"
"I don't remember."
Dan thought for a few moments. "Do you have a surveillance camera?
"Yes but only inside the store."
"Is it connected to a tape player?
Deepak Metha was still nervous. He was only a recent immigrant to
America. Police and immigration authorities meant almost the same thing
to the young man. Deepak was worried that this police man could have
him deported.
"Yes, but my Uncle takes care of that."
"Can I see it?"
Dan was taken to the back of the store by the Deepak. The storage room
was cluttered and took much squeezing between boxes to walk through.
"My uncle keeps it in here," Deepak said as he tried to open what
looked like the door to a small closet. "The door is locked and I don't
have the key."
"Could you please call your Uncle? Tell him it's important....."
*****
"Tom it isn't your fault," Julie Metzger told her husband. The father
was again pacing the floor of the waiting room. Loc had been in surgery
for an hour already and the parents didn't have any idea when it would
be completed. "We both let Loc go."
"I should have known better."
Julie was also feeling pangs of guilt over what happened to Loc. She
had failed in the most important job a mother had, to protect her
young.
"Should we call anyone?"
"It's still early."
"How about Reverend Swan?" Julie asked, referring to the Minister of
the Lutheran Church the Metzgers attended.
"I don't know." Tom replied. He attended church every Sunday, but it
was his wife and Loc who were more devout in their faith.
Julie got an organizer out of her purse. She had the Swan's home phone
number. "I'm going to give the Reverend a call."
Tom was only half listening. Looking up at the ceiling, he said. "Dear
God, please let my daughter Loc live. I'll do anything you or she
asks."
*****
The owner of the convenience store, Vinod Meetha, didn't arrive for
almost an hour. In the meantime Dan kept busy. First he had the phone
dusted for fingerprints.
"This thing is covered in them," the technician told Dan. "It's very
unlikely we'll get something we can use." Dan told the man to just do
his best .
Dan also went back to the scene of the accident. Bill Fischer's crew
was already hard at work on the accident scene.
"We did find some tire tracks," Bill told Dan. "About 30 yards down the
road. Just before that we found broken glass and other debris."
Bill showed Dan the place where the tire tracks were found. A
technician named Sally was going to take a mold of them.
"What I'm thinking is the two cars collided up there," Bill said
pointing up the road. "The first car went off the cliff. The other came
to a stop here."
At this point, Bill's theory sounded as good as any to Dan. It would be
up to Crime Scene Technicians to find evidence to prove or disprove it.
Dan then returned to the convenience store. By that time the store
owner had arrived. The Detective explained what he needed.
"Come with me," Vinod said to Dan. They then went to the backroom.
As Dan soon found out, the store owner had invested in a high quality
surveillance system. It provided clear video of the goings on in the
store and included a timestamp.
Dan wasn't as much interested in what occurred inside the store as
outside. The clerk had already said he hadn't any customers at the time
of the phone call.
A quick viewing of the video showed this to be true. No one had come in
the store for a seventeen minute period around the time of the 9-11
call.
That didn't mean the video couldn't be of interest. Dan saw one image
that caught his attention. "Can I keep this tape?"
"Of course," the owner said, immediately co-operating with the
detective by stopping the tape player and hitting the eject button.
Vinod wasn't as distrustful of the police as his nephew.
Dan left the convenience store with the video tape in an evidence bag.
The detective knew what he'd do with it, but it was still too early for
that. Noting the time and after a few seconds thought, Dan Compton set
off for New Hanover.
*****
Carol Lockwood was in a room 215 at New Hanover after having to be
sedated a few hours earlier. Jeffrey's mother had suffered a complete
breakdown in the aftermath of her son's death.
Jeff's father was staying in the room with his wife. David Lockwood had
less than three hours sleep that night but was wide awake and unable to
close his eyes.
In the aftermath of a sudden and unexpected death, family members and
friends of the deceased wonder why the person they knew died, and what
the cause was. David Lockwood was no different,.
So when Dan Compton paid a visit to Carol Lockwood's hospital room,
Jeff's father found himself hoping the detective could provide some
answers.
"Mr. Lockwood, let me first express my condolences on the loss of your
son Jeffrey."
David had been pretty calm up to this time. Grief counselors would say
the father was in the shock phase. "It's so unbelievable, my wife and I
only saw Jeff a few hours ago and now he is dead."
"I'm sorry."
"My wife, she fainted on hearing the news. Carol totally went to
pieces."
Dan Compton had three children of his own. He may well have done the
same if he had been in Carol Lockwood's place. "Mr. Lockwood, why I'm
here is I need to ask a few questions. I can come back at another time
but any help you may give me could speed up our investigation."
David didn't have to think it over for more than a few seconds. "We can
do it now. I'd prefer not to have Carol disturbed if we can avoid it."
"I understand." Dan and David then left the room. A short ways down the
hallway was a visitor's waiting room. It was vacant, and that seemed as
good a place as any for Dan to ask his questions.
*****
Peter Swan came to New Hanover as soon as he got the message. The
Lutheran Minister
spending his time talking to Julie Metzger and praying with her.
Tom Metzger continued to pace the floor. He had been awake nearly
twenty-four hours but wasn't feeling tired.
It was a few minutes after 5:30 when a man in surgical scrubs came into
the waiting room. He introduced himself as Dr. Nathan Green.
"How is our daughter?"
"She is stable but still critical," the doctor began listing Loc
Metzger's injuries. Her parents had heard the same downstairs except
for one thing. "We had to remove your daughter's spleen. It was
seriously damaged in the crash."
"Was that the cause of the internal bleeding?" Loc's father asked.
"Mostly. Your daughter's pelvic injury also caused some bleeding."
"What's the prognosis for Loc?"
"We don't believe your daughter suffered any brain injury, but we'll do
more testing. The ankle will need more operations before it will
totally heal. The wrist fracture was simple. As to pelvic injuries,
I've seen much worse."
Tom and Julie listened to Dr. Green. One of Loc's kidneys may have been
injured too, but the doctor said it would need watching. Loc was going
to be hospitalized for quite some time. Then even after that, Loc would
face months of rehab. The girl's parents would have to do many simple
tasks for their daughter in the months ahead. Someone who suffers a
fractured pelvis will be off their feet for months. Then when they are
allowed up, they'll need assistance walking and getting about.
Dr, Green outlined this to the Metzgers. "The most serious issue is
your daughter's loss of blood. We think we got the sources and Loc is
stabilized at the moment but we'll have to monitor her very closely."
"Whatever you have to do doctor. I'll give blood if I have to," Tom
Metzger said.
Julie had a question she needed to ask. "Is Loc going to live?"
Doctor Green hated this question. He had been a surgeon for eleven
years and had long stopped predicting if patients would live or die.
The Doctor had seen men and women live who he thought were sure goners
and also seen the reverse, patients who died who looked like they would
survive.
"Your daughter is young and we have her stabilized. If she doesn't have
any complications, Loc stands a good chance for full recovery."
"Can we see her?"
"Loc is still unconscious. A nurse will take you back shortly, but you
can stay for only a few minutes. She'll be transferred to the SICU
later this morning. Visiting times are longer there."
Tom and Julie thanked the doctor then both went and took a seat.
Reverend Swan was still with them.
"Please pray for our daughter," Julie asked Reverend Swan.
"Of course I will. I'll have the entire congregation praying for Loc's
recovery."
Julie looked at her husband. "I want to stay here with Loc till she
gets well."
"We have the twins They need you too."
"I know but Loc needs me the most right now."
Reverend Swan then spoke. "I can speak to some members of the
congregation. They can probably help your family like they did for Mary
Hastings."
Tom and Julie knew who Mary Hastings was. A Mother of three, Mary spent
most of her fourth pregnancy on hospital bed rest back in 1991. Many
members of the congregation, the Metzgers included, chipped in to help
the family. Loc sometimes babysat the Hastings children as their father
visited his wife in the hospital.
"We need to call Mom and Dad. Ask if they can come down to help out
too," Julie said.
Tom, Julie, and the Reverend spoke for another 20 minutes before a
nurse came out to get Loc's parents. While talking, Tom and Julie
started to form plans. The first things needing to be done were for
phone calls to be made and Tom to go home and change clothes and call
into work.
But first the parents were allowed to see Loc. It was gut wrenching to
see the eighteen-year-old girl all bandaged up with tubes and a
breathing mask connected to her. Julie tried talking to her.
"Loc, your father and I are here. We love you very much. Please get
better."
Jeff Lockwood was in a coma and didn't hear anything Mrs. Metzger said.
*****
"The Volare was in excellent condition," David Lockwood told Dan
Compton. "Yes it's a 1977 with 200,000 miles on it but Jeff or I did
all the maintenance work on the car. The crash couldn't have been due
to mechanical failure.
Dan listened to David Lockwood, and kept notes. The father sometimes
seemed able to guess the Detective's next questions.
"I can show you the maintenance records we have on the car. The
insurance policy is at my house. Do you want these?"
"Yes but you don't have to do it right now."
David nodded his head. "Jeff was a safe driver, there has to be a
reason for the accident. I don't think it could have been his fault."
Dan didn't disclose to the father yet the possibility of another car
being involved in the crash. At present it was an unconfirmed theory.
"You ought to check if a street race was going on up there. That could
have been the cause."
Dan Compton was aware of that activity happening up on Shoals road in
the past. "I assure you, we'll be checking that possibility out."
"This is just so unbelievable. My son is dead....." David Lockwood
broke down right there in front of Dan Compton's eyes.
'God have mercy on Jeffrey Lockwood and his family," Dan Compton
thought as he watched the father cry.
*****
Claude Hamilton III was an early riser. Up at 5:30 a.m. like he did
every weekday morning he was home, the father of five and textile
tycoon got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. Getting
shaved, showered and washed up was always Claude's first activity of
the day.
Once done with this, Claude would join his wife downstairs for
breakfast. On the Thursday after the crash, this took place a few
minutes after six. As soon as he entered the dining room, Claude went
right over and kissed his wife.
"How are you?" Claude asked his wife Elizabeth as she kissed him back.
"How was your day yesterday?"
"Splendid. You?"
Claude then walked around the table to his own seat. He and his wife
were sitting in the informal dining room the family had. It seated at a
maximum ten people, there was another room where forty could all eat at
the same time.
"All right. We have government safety inspectors coming today." Claude
said as he sat down. The family cook Josefa, was already there with her
employer's coffee.
Elizabeth knew her husband was not going to have a good day. Just how
bad, both parents didn't know yet.
As was her custom, Elizabeth had the television in the room on and set
to the local news. Claude always preferred to read the newspaper
instead.
"Last night two teenagers died in an auto crash in suburban
Wilmington," The newscaster began saying. "Now we go to our reporter
Kimberly Bolton."
Elizabeth listened to the report of the deadly accident without
emotion. Her husband Claude paid no attention to the broadcast at all.
There wasn't a story in the newspaper because the accident happened
after the Star-News deadline for publication.
Both parents were unaware of the storm that lay ahead for them and
their son Drew. The twenty-year-old was still asleep upstairs.
Claude left for the Wilmington office of Hamilton Enterprises just
before 7 a.m. He told his wife not to plan dinner for before 7 p.m. It
was going to be a long day.
*****
After interviewing David Lockwood, Dan Compton went looking for the
Metzgers. He found Julie still at the hospital, Tom had gone home to
change clothes and make phone calls.
"I can't really tell you much," Julie told Dan. She had gotten to see
Loc for around ten minutes. Now the mother was waiting for her daughter
to be transferred to the SICU. "Loc and Jeff went to a party at Ben
Nelson's home.
"You wouldn't know the address or phone number for Mr. Nelson?"
Julie knew both and gave them to the detective. "Are you thinking the
party had something to do with the crash?"
"No Ma'am," Dan said. Alcohol hadn't been ruled out and wouldn't be
till the autopsy on Jeff Lockwood was performed. "It's just part of the
routine we do when conducting investigations."
"My daughter doesn't drink and neither did Jeff as far as we know."
Dan Compton asked Julie a few more questions. After that he left. The
detective was going to catch some shut eye before going back to work
that afternoon.
*****
Bill Fischer was still supervising the crash scene investigation.
Shoals Road had been re-opened but reduced to one-lane. Several New
Hanover County patrolmen were busy directing traffic.
Except for the removal of the wrecked vehicle, the investigation at
Shoals was almost done. Getting the car up from the bottom of the hill
would be done at a later time.
Bill was beginning to pack away his team's gear, when one of his crew
came walking up to him. He was holding a few more evidence bags.
"I'm done Bill Rick McKenzie. I just got these last few things."
"Thanks."
"There is one thing you ought to see." Rick then showed his boss one
bag. Inside it was a discarded beer can.
"Where did you find that?"
"In the debris field about ten feet down the hill".
"But not in the car?"
"No it wasn't."
Bill was already hypothesizing that the can had nothing to do with the
crash. It would be an unlikely object to have fallen from the out of
control car as it went down the hill. Nor would the vehicle's occupants
have been likely to toss it out at that time.
So that meant the can was probably just trash, thrown from a passing
car. Still Bill took it from Rick, so it could be checked out.
"Thanks."
*****
"Oh dear," Mary Metzger said to her son Tom over the phone as she sat
in her Petersburg Virginia home. "That poor boy"
"Loc is in bad shape." Tom gave his a mother a rundown of his
daughter's injuries.
That news shook up Mary Metzger greatly. She loved Loc very much as she
did all her grandchildren, but Mary was possibly fondest of the
granddaughter she called 'Lucky'. The grandmother had cared for Loc
when she was young and the two had remained close ever since.
"Lucky is tough dear, she'll make it."
"The doctors aren't so sure," Tom said. "Mom I could use help down
here. Could you and Dad come right away to Wilmington?"
The decision to go to North Carolina wasn't an easy one for Mary and
her husband. Both were in their early 70's, she had recently battled
cancer and was just now regaining her strength. Dan Metzger, Tom's
father, was becoming forgetful and may have early signs of Alzheimer's.
Dan walked into the kitchen right at that precise moment. "Who called?"
"It's Tom. Lucky has been in a car crash."
"Lucky?" Dan asked as he poured himself a second cup of coffee. He had
forgotten the pet name he had given his granddaughter. That was just
one of the many reasons, Mary Metzger and other family members worried
Dan had Alzheimer's.
"Loc."
"Oh I hope she'll be alright." Dan then left the kitchen.
Mary Metzger got back to her son. "Sorry dear for the interruption.
Where is Julie right now?"
"At the hospital, she plans on staying there till Loc wakes up."
"How are Kathy and Kevin?"
"Ok I guess, but Kathy was a bit shaken up by the news." Tom Metzger
told his mother. Ten-year-old Kathleen Metzger idolized her older
sister.
"Yes, she and Loc are close," Mary said thinking of her two
granddaughters. "Of course Tom, your father and I will be coming down.
We'll try to make it by dinner tonight. If we can't, we'll be there by
tomorrow certain."
"Thanks Mom, I can really use your help down here."
"Anything I can do for Loc, I'll do it." Mary said. She and her son
talked a few more minutes before ending the phone conversation.
*****
Dan Compton had just set his alarm clock for 11:45 when a thought
entered his mind. The Detective then picked up his bedside phone and
dialed a local number.
Before going home, Dan had stopped at the Nelson house. Ben co-operated
with the Detective, allowing him and a patrolman total access to his
house and yard. There were still signs of the previous night's party,
but nothing to show any beer or alcohol had been consumed there.
The phone Dan rang was picked up on its second ring. "Detective
Hauser's desk."
"Hi Adam, its Dan."
"Hey Dan, what's up?"
"I had a long night and was just about to get some shut eye for a few
hours."
"Yeah I heard about what happened up at Shoals." Adam Hauser replied
back. He was a colleague of Dan's who also worked in the traffic
department.
"Adam, That's why I was calling," Dan said after yawning. "Could you or
someone else ask around if there was a street race going on last
night?"
"Will do Dan, You think that could have caused the crash?"
"Don't know yet but I just wanted to have that possibility checked
out."
Adam Hauser had some low level informants or snitches as they were
known, in and around Wilmington. He or another officer would put out
feelers to these men and women to see if any knew about a race the
night before.
"I'll get back to you in a day or two."
"Thanks Adam." Dan Compton then hung up the phone. He was fast asleep
two minutes later.
*****
Who everyone thought was Loc Metzger, was transferred from New
Hanover's post-op to the SICU unit just past 9 a.m. Thursday morning.
Julie Metzger accompanied her daughter upstairs.
Not long after Loc was settled in her room, her father arrived. Tom
Metzger had brought a bag of items his wife Julie had requested.
"Has she woken up?"
"No, not yet," Julie told her husband. "The doctor said nothing has
changed."
"I guess that's good then."
While Julie looked through the bag her husband brought, Tom Metzger
walked around to the other side of Loc's bed. He then held his
daughter's undamaged right hand.
"Princess, I love you."
Jeff didn't hear this but his body did react to being touched.
"Loc moved," Tom Metzger said to his wife. "She moved when I touched
her."
"Yes Loc did the same thing when I held her hand before," Julie told
her husband. Tom hadn't brought everything she wanted, but the mother
said nothing. They both were having a rough time because of what
happened to Loc. "The nurses said we should talk to Loc. She can hear
us even while in a coma."
Tom Metzger bent down to kiss his daughter. "Princess, I love you.
Please wake up. I'll do anything you ever wish to have you back healthy
again."
*****
Drew Hamilton did manage a few hours sleep, but much less than the
twenty-year-old was accustomed to. He woke up just before 9:30 Thursday
morning and after dressing came downstairs for breakfast.
In addition to his father leaving for work, Drew's mother wasn't home
by the time he got up. Elizabeth Hamilton had gone into Wilmington to
do some shopping and have lunch with friends.
Drew ate his breakfast while studying the local newspaper and also
checking the television for news. He was checking both the newspaper
and television for anything on last night's crash. There wasn't
anything right now.
'Why isn't it on television now or in the paper?' Drew asked himself.
The twenty-year-old pre-med student clearly didn't understand the news
business. It did not occur to him that newspapers have deadlines in
order to be available in the early a.m. for people getting up in the
morning or that television didn't interrupt regular programming to
report on traffic accidents.
The cause for Drew's obsession with finding out what happened to the
other car's occupants was simple. The young man had a conscience and
right now Drew was being deeply bothered by it.
After finishing breakfast, Drew left the Hamilton home. With the Camaro
out of commission, Drew took the Bentley for the drive into Wilmington.
On the way into town, Drew stopped at an appliance store. There he
bought a small black and white television. That accomplished, the
twenty-year-old continued on his way.
The garage was just as Drew had left it in the wee hours of Thursday
morning. Nothing had changed, the Camaro was still damaged. The car
would be out of commission for some time. Once inside, Drew set up the
television he bought and turned it to the local ABC affiliate. There
was still no word of the previous night's crash.
Drew pondered what to do now. The garage, rented by his brother Todd,
was unknown to his parents. The car was free from discovery here, as
the place was padlocked at all times and only Todd and Drew Hamilton
had keys for the premises.
There was little likelihood of Todd discovering the car. Drew's brother
was in South Carolina with his future in-laws. Todd would be marrying
one Pamela Suzanne Ryder of Columbia South Carolina in less than two
months time.
After some thought, Drew decided to make a phone call.
"Lockwood brothers auto repair, how may I help you?" Spoke the voice of
Terry Biasotti. She was the shop's office manager.
"Is Jeff Lockwood there?" Drew knew his brother Todd had used the boy
to do repairs in the past. Maybe it would be wise not to use his usual
mechanic, Drew thought.
Terry had already been told of last night's events. She had known Jeff
Lockwood for seven years, hearing he had died had greatly upset the
office manager. "He isn't in right now."
"Is his father there?"
"No he isn't," Terry said. "Can I take a message?"
Drew decided not to leave one. "I'll call back another time." Then the
twenty-year-old hung up the phone.
*****
"How long will Loc be in a coma?" Julie asked the neurologist named Don
Schulte. He had just stepped in to examine his new patient.
"It can't be predicted Mrs. Metzger," Dr. Schulte explained to Julie.
"It could be hours, days, or weeks. I don't know."
"But Loc will come out of the coma?" Julie asked as she held Loc's
hand.
"She should. Your daughter suffered a concussion plus shock from blood
loss. I'm thinking this is just a temporary response to the trauma Loc
suffered. I'll order an EEG as a precaution to make certain."
"Anything my daughter needs doctor, do it."
Julie watched as Dr. Schulte left the room. Nurses and doctors seemed
to come check on Loc every half hour at most. This made it next to
impossible for Julie to get some badly needed sleep but she wasn't
complaining.
Tom Metzger was back home fast sleep. Julie sometimes thought men could
sleep through the worst of disasters or happenings. After all who was
Loc's biological parent? Tom was, not Julie. Even if she hadn't grown
Loc in her womb, Julie felt a bond between herself and her adopted
daughter that was just as strong.
Julie had already made a decision. Loc would never be alone till the
time she woke up. Tom had brought clothes for Julie from home and other
possessions, but some weren't what she requested or were missing
entirely. Julie would just do her best.
"I love you sweetheart," Julie told her daughter. The mother would
sacrifice almost anything in order to help Loc recover from the
terrible injuries she had suffered.
*****
Drew Hamilton passed the time away till the noon news. He thought of
calling another auto repair shop, but postponed doing it.
The noon news came on, but before it did, a preview mentioned a
graduation night car crash outside of Wilmington. Was this the accident
involving Drew?
Luckily or unluckily, the Shoals Road crash was the lead story. "Good
Afternoon, This is Steve Ramsey a male television anchor. "And I'm
Cynthia Wu. Welcome to WCET's mid-day news. Our fist story is about a
terrible accident last night that left one Wilmington high school grad
dead and a second in critical condition. Our reporter Dennis Fields is
reporting now from near the crash scene outside of Wilmington......"
"Oh God I killed someone," Drew said as he watched the news. The report
was coming from the corner of Shoals and route nineteen.
If Drew's conscience was bothering him before, now it was worse. He
knew the crash was his fault. Galen Kennedy had blown his job as a
spotter, but it was Drew who was behind the wheel of the car that
killed whoever had died.
Then Drew learned who perished. "Jeffrey Lockwood of Wilmington, age 18
was killed in the crash, his girlfriend Loc Metzger is reported to be
in serious condition at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Police are
asking if anyone.........
Drew turned off the television set, the twenty-year-old had already
heard enough. He was already crying. "Why was I so dumb?"
The pain from what he had caused to happen was even worse for Drew
since he knew the people in the other car. Drew, like all his brothers,
had gone to Wilmington High. He had been a member of the Class of 1991.
Jeff Lockwood, Drew knew of course through the auto work the teen did
for his brother Todd. Todd Hamilton knowing Jeff better of the two
brothers.
As for Loc Metzger, Drew had always thought the girl was both nice and
pretty. So much so, that when Drew broke up with his girlfriend not
long before the 1991 senior prom, he had asked Loc to be his date.
Loc had said no, saying she already had a boyfriend. Drew was
disappointed but didn't hold it against the girl. He hadn't known at
the time that Jeff Lockwood was Loc's boyfriend.
Drew was thinking. The news broadcast had asked if anyone had any
information on the accident to please contact the police. It was
possible the police were already looking for Drew and his Camaro.
The twenty-year-old was very tempted to turn himself in. He felt guilt
from what had happened and wanted to take responsibility. On the other
hand jail scared Drew.
After much thought, Draw decided he had only one choice at the moment.
He'd seek out his father's help and advice.
*****
Dan Compton got into the office at 12:45. He wasn't all that surprised
to see Bill Fischer there.
"Get a good rest? Bill asked.
"Yes I did. Do you ever go home to sleep?"
Bill laughed. "No, don't you know I sleep at the office."
That wasn't all that untrue. Bill was divorced and his kids lived with
his ex-wife. The Accident Team supervisor was a well known workaholic.
"Anything new on the investigation?" Dan asked as he looked at his
phone messages. One he would have to return immediately.
'Not much. Sally says the tires aren't one of the more common types.
She'll have more for us in a day or so."
The tire tracks in the dirt weren't necessarily the 2nd car in the
accident. Still it was better than nothing and at the moment Dan had
exactly that in the Shoals Road investigation.
"I'm going home," Bill said as he got up. "Talk to you again soon."
A minute after Bill was gone Dan made a brief phone call.
"Hello."
"Hi Barry, it's Dan Compton."
"Why hello Dan, long time no hear."
"Sure has. Barry I could be in need of your help."
"My afternoon is totally free today. Want to come over?"
"Is 2 o'clock alright?"
"Yes it is. See you then."
"Bye." Dan then hung up the phone.
*****
"Julie is it all right if we come in?" Asked David Lockwood. He was
pushing his wife Carol who was seated in a wheelchair.
"Absolutely," Julie said as she got up and walked over to Carol. The
two mothers shared a big hug.
"I still can't believe my Jeff is gone."
"Carol I can't either."
"How's Loc?" David asked. Julie then gave the Lockwoods a rundown of
her daughter's medical issues and present condition.
"We'll pray for her," Carol said.
"Thanks. How are you?"
"Numb, Totally numb," Carol said as she began to cry again. Julie gave
the grieving mother another hug.
"Dave, if you need anything let us know."
The father nodded. "I appreciate that Julie, but right now I think
you'll be the one needing help."
"Yes Loc could be here for quite some time."
"Where's Tom?" David Lockwood asked.
"He went home to take a rest. He'll be back in a little while."
"I always liked Loc," Carol said as she continued to weep. "She was
such a good influence on Jeff. I would have loved to have had Loc as my
daughter-in-law."
Carol and David Lockwood stayed a few more minutes with Julie and then
left. Loc was still comatose and showing no sign of waking up.
*****
Later on Jeff wouldn't remember anything between the time he was put in
the ambulance and the time he woke up. The teenager did dream however.
Jeff had many dreams in the days after the crash. Some were vivid,
others very murky. The dreams usually revolved around some aspect of
Jeff's life, real or fantasy.
There were no memories of the crash. Those nightmares would wait for
Jeff when he emerged from the coma.
Since the necklace was a prominent part of Loc and Jeff's life of late,
it featured in some of the teen's dreams. One time where Jeff became
Tabitha and another where he switched with Loc and saw them get
married.
There was certainly nothing wrong with the brain in Loc Metzger's body.
It just wasn't the one that belonged there.
*****
Drew Hamilton got to his father's office at the Hamilton Enterprises
plant just before 1:30. The twenty-year-old was trying hard to conceal
how upset he was.
"Good afternoon Mr. Drew Millicent 'Millie' Eaton, Claude Hamilton's
long-time executive Secretary. She was a few days short of her seventy-
fifth birthday. "What brings you here today?"
"I need to see my father."
"Mr. Hamilton is very busy with some visitors right now."
"Millie I need to see him. It is very important," Drew said in a tone
of voice full of urgency. "Is my father in the office?"
"No Mr. Hamilton is out in the plant right now." Millie told the
youngest Hamilton boy. She had been executive secretary to three
generations of Hamiltons. "He has asked not to be disturbed."
Drew wondered if he should just go and find his father. "Any idea when
he'll be back to the office?"
"None Mr. Drew."
After thanking Millie, Drew took a seat in his father's outer office.
Drew would wait there as long as it was needed in order to see his
father.
*****
Dan Compton's 2 p.m. appointment was at Cape Fear Community College.
The detective was going there to see Barry Christiansen.
Professor Christiansen was head of the College's film and television
department. Most community colleges, if they have such a department, it
is usually small. Not in the case of Cape Fear though. Ten years
previous, a hefty endowment had been left the university by a recently
deceased member of the Wilmington community. There was just one proviso
for how the money was to be spent. It was to be used entirely for a
film and television school.
Cape Fear had a film and television school that could just about match
any in the state. The Community College had both its own television and
radio stations and state of the art facilities to boot.
Being almost summer, the Community College was pretty sleepy. During
the school term, Barry Christiansen would have been hard pressed to
find time for Dan Compton. Not today, The Professor was reading a book
and smoking his pipe when the Detective paid him a visit.
"Hello Dan," Barry Christiansen said as he got up from his chair. He
then walked over and shook the detective's hand. "Take a seat. It's
been a long time."
After a minute or two of pleasant chit chat, Dan got down to why he was
there. He took the convenience store video tape out of a bag he had
brought. "I'd like you to examine this video for me, if you could. It
may be of help in an investigation I'm working on."
Barry Christiansen's office was small and cramped, but there was a
small television and VHS player in one corner of the room. The
Professor took the tape from Dan and put it in the machine.
"Where did this tape come from?" Barry asked as he pressed the play
button.
"A convenience store video camera," Dan told Barry. He hadn't re-wound
the tape since viewing it earlier that morning.
"What are we looking for?"
"A man or woman plus a car."
"Ok." Barry said as he watched the tape.
"Someone used the payphone outside the store between 12:45 and 12:50
this morning. We'd like to identify the person. That's if they appear
in the video."
"No problem. Is that all you need?"
"Yes."
Barry took the video out of the tape player. "I've got a couple of
students who are always looking for extra credit. When do you need this
back by?"
"As soon as you can Barry, if possible."
"I think I can get Rachel and Jim here to work on it tomorrow," Barry
said referring to CFCC students Rachel Collum and Jim Barnes. "We
should be able to tell you something by the weekend."
"Thanks Barry, I appreciate it. Don't lose that tape, it is the only
copy we have."
Barry laughed. "I'll make sure to tell my students not to tape 'The
Simpsons' with it. You can still be found at the usual phone numbers?"
Dan nodded. Barry had helped out the local police in the past.
Something about the Professor losing a family member who was in law
enforcement some time back had always made Barry willing to help out
when asked. "Yes, call me at work or home."
"Will do," Barry told Dan. The two men then said goodbye. Both had work
to be done.
*****
Tabitha Lockwood got home from school at her usual time of 3:15. The
girl had been awake when the police came to tell her parents of Jeff's
accident. Ever since Tabby had been wondering how her brother was
doing.
Her father was on the phone when Tabitha got home. By the look on David
Lockwood's face, Tabby knew something was wrong.
When Tabby got home, her father was talking to a funeral home. David
Lockwood was beginning to make burial arrangements for his son.
"Dad, how's Jeff?"
David Lockwood signaled for Tabitha to wait a moment. "Can I call you
back in a little bit.....thanks." The father then hung up the phone.
"Dad?"
"Tabby, your brother died this morning."
"No, No, No!" Tabitha said as she broke down crying. Her father
immediately hugged his eleven-year-old daughter.
*****
Julie Metzger talked to her husband next around 4 p.m. The father had
just gotten home with the twins, Kevin and Kathy.
"I'm going to leave in a little bit, anything new?"
"No, Loc is still in a coma."
"Kathy is asking if she can come to the hospital."
Julie thought for a few seconds. "Maybe we'll let her come over on the
weekend."
"Ok. I got Ashley to come over and babysit. Mom and Dad are on the way
too. They should be here around dinner time."
"That is good."
"Julie, you should come home tonight. Get some rest, we're going to
need it for when Loc does wake up."
If Tom Metzger had been at New Hanover right then, he would have seen
his wife shaking her head. "No I'm staying. If Mom can come here
tomorrow, I'll come home for a while."
Tom decided not to argue. That would only add to the stress they were
all having to endure. "I'll be over in an hour. See you then. Bye."
"Bye," Julie said as she hung the phone. Then she sat back down at
Loc's bedside and resumed her vigil.
*****
"Good afternoon Millicent," Claude Hamilton III said as he entered his
outer office. "Any messages?"
"Just these Mr. Hamilton." Millie said handing over a small pile of
slips from her phone log. As Claude took them from his secretary, he
finally noted the presence of his son in the office. Drew Hamilton
rarely visited his father at his corporate office.
Claude didn't say anything but thank you to Millie and then went
straight into his office. Drew followed him inside, closing the door
behind them.
"Son, I heard you been here for some time," Claude said pointing to
their surroundings. "I'm very busy right now. Can't this wait till
tonight at home?"
"Dad I killed someone," Drew told his father. Claude Hamilton made no
outward show of reaction.
Claude then pressed an intercom switch on his desk. "Millicent, no
interruptions at all. Thank you."
"Yes Mr. Hamilton," said the voice of Millicent Eaton. "No
interruptions."
Then Claude waved for his son to sit down. The CEO then did the same.
"Now son tell me what happened, from the beginning."
Claude Hamilton listened quietly as his son Drew told the events of the
last twenty-four hours. The CEO of Hamilton Enterprises had been born
fifty four years earlier in rural North Carolina. He was the great
great great grandson of Cotton plantation owners who had sent their
sons to fight for the confederacy. Their way of life in ruins when the
war ended, the Hamilton family wisely adjusted to the new circumstances
of life in the South.
Cotton wasn't the king it was before the war, but it was still North
Carolina's biggest crop and the market for products made from it hadn't
been changed. Instead of exporting it elsewhere, Claude's great great
grandfather struck upon the of producing cotton products right there in
the Carolinas. Henceforth, the birth of Hamilton Mills.
The company was entirely family owned till the 1980's when the company
went public. Still the Hamilton family owned almost 90% of the company
stock. This would enable the company to be run one day by the 6th
generation of Hamiltons which Drew was a part of. Claude had thought
this son was the smartest of his five boys till this day.
Claude and Elizabeth Hamilton had five children, all sons, Claude IV,
Robert, Theodore, Todd and Drew. All but the youngest two were married,
but in Todd's case not for much longer. The five sons had also produced
four grandchildren, which had brought much delight to Claude III and
his wife.
Up till now Claude had never had reason to be disappointed with any of
his children. Yes Claude IV had taken a career path the father hadn't
particularly liked. The young man disdained the family business and
became a journalist of all things. That had even left the father
questioning Claude IV's manhood for some time.
That was in the past now. Claude IV and his wife Camellia, a former
first runner-up Miss South Carolina and a charming Southern Belle, had
produced two fine grandchildren for Claude III and his wife. So the CEO
had put his past notions about the young man in the trash bin, though
the father still didn't think much of Claude IV's current job as a
theater and film critic at a Texas newspaper.
As far as the rest of Claude's boys, the father was very proud of the
offspring he had produced with his wife Elizabeth. Robert and Ted
worked in managerial capacities for Hamilton Enterprises while Todd had
just graduated Georgetown law school and would soon take the bar exam.
Like Ted and Robert, Todd would go into the family business.
Claude always thought his son Drew had the most brains of any of his
children. The father was only slightly disappointed when the young man
declared he wanted to be a doctor rather than go into the family
business. Claude Hamilton held doctors in high regard, never forgetting
the fine heart surgeon who kept his father alive with bypass surgery
after the man almost died of a heart attack. Claude Hamilton II went on
to live another seventeen years after his heart operation before
passing away in 1992.
It was with a very heavy heart that Claude listened to what Drew had
done the night before. Street racing was an act of incredible
foolishness and the boy should have known better. Last night could very
well end up destroying the bright future Drew Hamilton possessed.
Claude knew he was partly at fault. The CEO had indulged the boy, maybe
more than any of his sons, and had gotten him the Camaro for his
birthday less than three months previously. This in spite of Claude
III's being aware his son Todd took part in these dangerous
competitions and that he and his brother Drew were both close and much
alike in their personalities.
Drew was only half through telling his father what happened, when
Claude III noted the time on his watch. "Son, hold on for a moment. I
need to place a phone call."
"Yes father."
Pressing the intercom switch again, Claude III addressed his secretary.
"Millicent, could you please get Emil Hadden on the phone right away
for me."
Emil Hadden was considered Wilmington's finest defense attorney. Claude
Hamilton had only ever had use for this type of lawyer once. When
Robert Hamilton, in an act of foolishness, joined with some friends to
vandalize the home of a student they didn't like. Emil Hadden had
gotten the Hamilton boy off with restitution and fifty hours community
service. (And a whipping from his father but that was handled in
private)
Claude Hamilton hadn't forgotten this while listening to his son Drew.
The CEO would hire the attorney again, but wanted to speak to him
before the day was over. It was already getting close to 5 p.m. and
most law offices closed by that time.
"Sorry Mr. Hamilton the voice of Millicent Eaton. "Emil Hadden died
back in April. His son Dean has taken over the practice, would you like
me to call him instead?"
"Yes Millicent," Claude told his secretary. He had totally forgotten
about Emil's death which he had read of in the newspaper. The CEO had
heard of Dean Hadden, a former New Hanover County prosecutor. "Please
do that. Tell Dean we need to speak immediately, it's quite urgent."
When this was finished, Claude went back to listening to what his son
Drew had to say.
Drew took another five minutes to retell what happened. His father
didn't speak again till his son was finished.
"Son, I can not tell you how disappointed I am in what you have done.
Your mother will feel the same."
"Yes father, I wasn't very smart."
"You are in very serious trouble right now. Where is the Camaro?"
"In a garage I have in Wilmington."
What Drew and Todd Hamilton didn't know was that their father knew
about the garage. There were two ways he knew. First all rental
payments for the garage came from an account that while in his son's
names, Claude Hamilton also got a statement of. Secondly the owner of
the garage had told the father.
"The Camaro is heavily damaged. I was going to get it repaired."
"Don't touch the car till I say otherwise. Understand?"
"Yes father." Then Drew broke down crying. "I didn't know who died in
the accident, I called up the boy I killed this morning asking if he
was around so to fix my car.
Claude watched as his son cried. The father was old school in many
ways, and thought the act of crying a very unmanly act. "Son, get
control of yourself"
"Dad I knew Jeff, and the girl. Her name is Loc. She was such a nice
girl and now Loc may die because of me!"
Right then Claude Hamilton III felt like getting up and slapping some
sense into his son. The only thing that stopped him was the voice of
Millicent on the office intercom.
"Mr Hamilton, Mr. Hadden is on line two."
"Thank you Millicen," Claude said as he reached for the phone but
stopped for a moment. "Millicent can you check on that internet thing
for information about an automobile accident outside of Wilmington
early this morning?"
Claude Hamilton had a computer plus internet service in his private
office The CEO just hadn't the time or inclination to learn the
intricacies of that technology yet.
"Yes Mr. Hamilton, I'll get right on it," said the voice of Millicent
Eaton again. This done, Claude picked up the phone and began talking to
Dean Hadden.
This time Drew did the listening. As he did, the twenty-year-old again
became flooded with guilt over what he had caused to happen. Drew was
giving serious thought to turning himself into the police. Maybe that
would cause the guilt to go away.
While her boss was on the phone, Millicent Eaton entered the room.
Motioning for Claude to move to one side, the secretary then turned on
her bosses' computer. As soon as the machine was finished warming up,
Millie signed the machine onto the internet.
"Claude," Dean Hadden said after hearing a long speech from Drew
Hamilton's father. "I have to hear this from your son's mouth."
"You'll take Drew's case then?"
"Not till I speak to your son in person."
Claude thought for a few moments. "Could you come to my office or home
tonight?"
Dean Hadden had been almost out the door when Claude Hamilton called.
The attorney was a father of two boys, one of whom had a little league
game that night.
"No. How about 10 o'clock tomorrow morning at my office?'
"We'll be there at 10 o'clock then." A few moments later Claude hung up
the phone.
"Mr. Hamilton," Millicent said. "I brought up the news you were asking
for. Plus I printed a hard copy out for you."
"Thank you Millicent. I don't know what I'd do without you," Claude
told his secretary. He had come to realize how important computers were
for his business, but the owner and CEO was personally clueless as to
how to use them.
"You are welcome Mr. Hamilton," Millie said with a broad smile. She
hadn't been computer savvy herself till not long ago. Hamilton
Enterprises paid for the executive secretary to attend classes in how
to use the machines. "Anything else right now?"
"No Millicent, nothing right now. You can go home for the day, I won't
be needing you any more."
*****
"Oh gracious," Mary Metzger exclaimed on entering her granddaughter's
SICU room. Her son Tom and his wife Julie were there. "I didn't realize
Lucky was this badly hurt."
"Hi Mom," Tom said as he went over to greet his mother. "Where's Dad?"
"I dropped him at the house. Your father was a bit tired from the
trip." Mary replied. That was true enough but Mary had also dropped Dan
Metzger off at the home because Loc's grandfather would be more
familiar in those surroundings. "How is she?"
"The same Mom," said Julie. She had remained seated when her mother-in-
law entered the room.
There were only two chairs in the room, so Tom gave one to his mother.
As soon as she sat down, Mary asked. "What happened?"
"It's a long story Mom. Last night......."
*****
Drew Hamilton had managed to keep his emotions in check while his
father's secretary was present. As soon as Millie was gone, the young
man began crying again. This was annoying Claude Hamilton to no end.
It wasn't time yet for Claude to deal with his over emotional son.
Instead he began reading the news story from the internet that his
secretary had been good enough to print off for him.
"You said you know these two children?"
"Yes Dad, I knew Loc and Jeff from school."
"How do you pronounce her name, 'Lock'?"
"No, Loc as in Lucky."
"What kind of name is that?" the father asked looking at the photo of
the two High school grads that came with the article. There was one
certainty, the girl wasn't white.
"Loc is Vietnamese, or Chinese...." Drew told his father. "No, she is
Vietnamese. At least Loc's mother was. She has a step Mom now."
Vietnamese, Chinese or even Japanese, made little or no difference to
Claude Hamilton. The girl injured in the crash was a colored person.
The CEO had some very strong opinions on these people.
Claude Hamilton had grown up in the Deep South. In the 1940's the South
was much the same way it had been ever since the end of reconstruction.
Whites and Blacks lived apart, segregated either by law or by society.
The former holding power over the later and working hard to keep it
that way.
Then court ordered school desegregation came starting in the 1950's.
Voting Rights and Civil Rights legislation soon followed after that..
Society in the south had changed on the surface, but underneath many of
the old attitudes still remained. Claude Hamilton still thought of
black or colored folks as niggers.
To Claude, Loc Metzger was a nigger. Asian or Black, it made no
difference to the CEO. In reality, it may have worse that Loc was
Asian. Claude had read many tales of horror inflicted by the Japanese
during World War II and the Vietnamese during the Vietnam war on
Americans and other white folk. So these people weren't just dumb, but
cruel also. Claude Hamilton if he had his way would have as little to
do as with them as possible.
If only for appearance purposes, not to mention anti-discrimination
laws, Hamilton Enterprises and its subsidiaries had begun hiring
colored (mostly black) people in the early 1970's. A few had risen to
positions of management, which Claude Hamilton's company proudly
proclaimed in press releases at the time of these people's promotions.
Still no blacks had gotten above middle management in the company and
if Claude Hamilton had anything to do with it, none ever would.
Claude's views on blacks also applied to people he called half breeds.
The progeny of these mixed race relations was no better than those who
were all black. As to the white parents of these children, Claude's
views were not printable.
And if Claude heard or understood his son Drew right, this half breed
named Loc had been raised by her white father and white Step Mom. The
father's errors were one thing, but how could this other white woman
ever raise a child who was the product of such a disgraceful racial
intermingling? It was as much a perversion as the relationship that
produced the girl in Claude's opinion.
Claude Hamilton kept his views to himself. He knew the public outcry
that would happen if his opinions were made known. Today was a
politically correct world, one Claude strongly disagreed with, but was
wise enough not to challenge.
The Hamilton boys' race views were very different from those possessed
by their father. Claude knew this and for the most part tolerated it.
All five of his sons at one time had colored friends. Some of them had
been to the Hamilton home, all five sons having high graduation parties
similar to the one Shelly Nelson had, and Claude had again politely
tolerated these folk being at his home.
Claude's son Robert had been a starter on the Wilmington High School
basketball team and had more black friends than any Hamilton boy. To
this day, Robert remained best friends with Andre Johnson, one of his
former teammates. Each being best man at the other's wedding.
Fortunately that was as far as the Hamilton boys had gone till now.
There was a line Claude Hamilton wouldn't let any of his children
cross.
The boy was dead, the girl seriously injured and possibly dying. All
this was the result of Drew Hamilton's foolishness. Claude knew his son
would have to pay for what he did, the father would work hard to keep
the damage as limited as possible.
Monetary damages Claude could handle. The CEO was not naive, if Drew
was identified as the driver, a wrongful death suit would follow. From
his years of experience, Claude knew everyone had a price. A big reward
from a jury was no certainty, and the CEO's offer when the time came
would be generous but not a penny more than necessary.
What Claude needed to prevent was Drew from going to jail. This would
be trickier, but it had to be done. A prison sentence would ruin Drew
Hamilton's bright future.
Drew was rambling on about how he knew the two teens when something he
said struck a nerve with his father.
"I'm so sorry about what I did to Loc. When Cheryl Oxley dumped me
before the senior prom, I asked Loc to be my date."
That came like a sucker punch to Claude Hamilton's gut. What had ever
gotten into Drew's head? He would never allow a son of his to take a
nigger to any dance.
Drew Hamilton began crying again as his father put down the computer
printout. Claude had enough by this point. So he came around the desk
and stood directly in front of his son.
"Boy, get control of yourself!" Claude said as he slapped Drew's face.
The father could barely control himself. "If you don't, you'll be going
to prison. Do you want that??????"
"Father, it is my fault," Drew said as he looked up at his father.
"Maybe I deserve to go to jail."
"No son of mine is ever going to jail. What do you think would happen
to your mother if she saw you carted off like some ordinary thief? Tell
me!"
Drew said nothing. His father returned to the other side of his desk.
"Now go home, you're not to go out of the house nor speak a word of
this to your mother. I'll be the one to tell her. Till I say so, you're
to stay home. Get that?"
"Yes sir."
"Tell your mother I will be late for dinner and go ahead and eat
without me. Now get out of here!"
Claude Hamilton watched as his son made a hasty exit from the office.
After gathering himself, the CEO began to read the phone messages given
to him earlier.
*****
There were no new developments in Dan Compton's investigation of the
Shoals road accident. This was hardly surprising. Unlike television cop
dramas, real-life police work took days or weeks or more of hard work
to resolve a case.
Dan had other open cases besides the Shoals accident. He would work
that day till 7 p.m. before going home for the night.
*****
Loc or Jeff rather, was still in a coma at New Hanover Hospital. At 6
p.m. the girl was wheeled downstairs so an EEG could be done.
"I'm going down to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat." Julie told her
husband and mother-in-law.
"Julie I'll stay with Loc tonight if you want," Mary Metzger said. "You
go home and get some rest."
"Mom, I'll stay tonight."
"Sweetheart you should rest." Tom Metzger told his wife.
"I'll go home in the morning and Mom can stay here then."
"Sounds like a plan then," Tom said. Then he, his wife and his mother
left Loc's room heading towards the nearest elevator.
*****
Drew Hamilton got home just before 7 p.m. On arrival, Drew gave his
mother the message about his father being late for dinner.
"Are you all right son?" Elizabeth Hamilton asked. "You look worried."
"I am just tired Mom. I'm going to stay home and get a good night's
rest," Drew told his mother. A few minutes later dinner was served.
Drew barely ate the spaghetti and meatballs made by Josefa.
After dinner Drew went to his bedroom. He'd stay there for the rest of
the evening.
Claude Hamilton III didn't arrive home till past 9 p.m. After eating
dinner, the business tycoon went to find his wife. Elizabeth Hamilton
was reading a book in the downstairs living room.
"Sugar, we need to talk about Drew."
*****
When Julie Metzger got back to Loc's room after dinner, she found her
daughter was still downstairs for her EEG. It wasn't till another hour
passed before Loc was returned to the room. She was still in a coma.
It wasn't till the next afternoon that Julie and Tom were told the
results of the EEG. The news was good, the EEG was almost normal. Of
course Loc's parents were relieved to hear this, but concerned that
their daughter was still comatose.
The cause of Loc's coma was looking more and more like the case of
shock the teen had suffered as result of the accident. This a result of
the internal bleeding and blood loss Loc had suffered.
Loc should then emerge from the coma. The teen's parents were warned,
Loc would at best be disoriented for some time when she did wake up.
The question was when would Loc come out of the coma? Julie Metzger
would make sure a vigil was kept at the girl's bedside. With her, Loc's
father and her grandmother all taking turns. Mary Metzger would come to
the hospital in the morning, allowing Julie to go home. Then they would
trade places again in the evening.
In the meantime Julie sat at her daughter's bedside. Talking to Loc and
holding her hand. Julie would finally fall asleep that night around
10:30.
*****
Claude and Drew Hamilton spent nearly two hours in Dean Hadden's office
that morning. In the end, the attorney agreed to represent the twenty-
year-old.
The first thing to happen in the office was for Drew to re-tell the
events of the other night. This time the twenty-year-old kept his
emotions in check. His father grateful for this, he would not have
appreciated Drew acting unmanly in front of a stranger.
Dean Hadden kept notes during the entire session. Once Drew was done
talking, the attorney reviewed what he had been told so far.
"From what you're telling me, we have to assume the police will
identify Drew here eventually. There were how many people there at the
race?"
Drew shrugged. "I'm not sure. Fifteen to twenty-five."
"Most of these people know you?"
"Yes, some were Jason Percy's friends but they knew who I was."
Dean asked for the address of Jason Percy. Actually Drew didn't have
it, all he knew was the man's telephone number.
Claude Hamilton was annoyed momentarily with his son's unhelpfulness
till Dean waved it off. "It won't matter."
"I think I got the address at home," Drew said and his father told him
to call Mr. Hadden with that info as soon as he found it.
"If the police suspect my son, what will happen?"
"They'll want to interview him," Dean explained. "I must make this
perfectly clear to you Drew. If the police take you into custody or
begin to question you, you must tell them nothing and immediately ask
to speak to me. Is that understood?'
"Yes Mr. Hadden."
Claude Hamilton then spoke. "What do you think about the case against
Drew? Could my son go to jail?"
Dean Hadden took his eyeglasses off and cleaned them while he talked.
"At present we don't know what kind of case the police are building
against Dean. The evidence could be very weak or very strong. We have
no way of knowing at this time."
"Let's assume the case is strong, Drew here is facing a string of very
serious charges. Vehicular homicide or manslaughter being at the top of
list" Dean listed several other possible charges. One of which was
leaving the scene of an accident.
'You've got yourself in one fine mess boy,' Claude Hamilton thought to
himself as the attorney talked. 'I just pray to God Mr. Hadden can get
you off.'
"What would the maximum charges be for these crimes?"
"Fifteen to thirty years."
"Thirty years?"
"Yes Drew, thirty years. You took a life the other night. The law does
frown on that."
Claude Hamilton and his family were rarely talked to in such a frank
fashion. The CEO considered for just a moment if he should find other
counsel for his son.
Dean Hadden had some other points to address. "You said the car is in a
garage here in Wilmington?"
"Yes sir," Drew said and then told the attorney the garage's address
also. "I haven't done anything to the Camaro since the accident."
"Continue that Drew. Otherwise you could also be charged with tampering
with evidence."
"Yes sir."
Claude Hamilton contemplated disregarding the attorney's admonition to
his son. If the police didn't have the car, they would probably have
little case against Drew. The sentence for tampering with evidence had
to be minuscule compared to a possible thirty-year sentence for
manslaughter or vehicular homicide.
That idea faded for the moment after Dean Hadden's next statement. "If
I find out the car has been tampered with or if it just disappears, I
will refuse to represent Drew. Is that clear?"
"Yes it is," Drew replied back.
"I want copies of the car's title and registration. Can you get these
for me?"
Claude Hamilton spoke. "I'll have them delivered to your office this
afternoon."
"I'll need a $25,000 retainer," Dean told Claude Hamilton. The CEO had
come prepared with a blank check. His son's legal defense wouldn't come
cheap.
Not long afterwards the Hamiltons left the law office. The family
chauffeur Nash driving Drew and his father back to the Hamilton estate.
"You're to stay home Drew till I say otherwise," Claude told his son on
the road. "You've already upset your mother and I very much. We will
not tolerate any more disobedience. Is that understood?"
"Yes father."
"I may send you away for a while till things cool off. To your
grandfather's place in the Virgin Islands."
Drew knew of where his father was speaking. His mother's parents had a
winter home in the British Virgin Islands, on the island of Tortola.
The twenty-year-old had visited there three times in his life. The last
time being in 1990.
He didn't want to run from the law, but Drew knew disobeying his father
wasn't an option. Or was it? "Yes father."
"Pack yourself two suitcases with lots of clothes for the weather down
there."
"Yes father."
"Your mother and I haven't come to a final decision. When we do son,
you're to do as we tell you."
Claude Hamilton might have had his son on the plane to the British
Virgin Islands right then except for two reasons. One being his wife
Elizabeth's strong opposition. She didn't want her son far from home
and knew if Drew left it could be a very long time before he could
return to North Carolina.
The second was that Claude Hamilton didn't trust Drew in the British
Virgin Islands. A lonely young man far away from his family may let his
heart succumb to one of the local young ladies. From his one and only
visit to the British Virgin Islands, Claude knew the islands had plenty
of colored folks. He had even seen a few instances of white boys out
with nigger girls. The CEO wasn't sure he wanted to let Drew have the
opportunity to do the same. Especially after Drew's confession of
liking the Metzger girl.
"I'll do what you and Mom say."
"You better is all I say." Claude said as the Rolls pulled into the
Hamilton property. "I'll need the key to the garage where the car is."
Drew handed the key over to his father as the car pulled up outside the
Hamilton home. As soon as the Rolls came to a stop, Drew stepped out of
the car. "The registration and insurance are in the glove compartment."
Claude Hamilton watched Drew go into the house before telling Nash to
drive off. "Nash, take me to the office."
There was a pile of Hamilton Enterprises related work awaiting Claude
when he got to the office, but first things come first. "Millicent,
have Mike Maynard come to my office right away."
"He may be at lunch right now," the executive secretary told her boss.
"I don't care. Get Maynard in here now." Then Claude Hamilton went into
his office, slamming the door behind him.
Mike Maynard was in Claude Hamilton's office less than five minutes
later. He had been located in the downstairs cafeteria. Lunch would
have to wait for Claude Hamilton's executive assistant.
"I have a couple of jobs that need being done," Claude Hamilton told
Mike.
Mike Maynard had been an employee of Hamilton Enterprises for nineteen
years. A CPA by training, Mike had never worked a day as an accountant.
Instead he was what some call Claude Hamilton's gopher or hatchet man.
Claude first explained what happened the night before. It would be
useless to send his employee out without telling him why.
"I need the car's registration and insurance. Also find me the title to
the car."
Mike wrote down notes to himself on a legal pad. He didn't want to miss
anything his boss was saying.
"Then I want you to find an auto repair shop. One outside of
Wilmington, say in Myrtle Beach or Fayetteville. Someone who can pick
up a car, do repair work on it and then keep their mouth shut. Or
better yet, make the car disappear entirely."
Mike had a dumb question, but someone once said the only dumb question
was the one you didn't ask. "That would be for the Camaro, correct
sir?"
"Yes it would."
"Sir, if I may advise you....."
Claude Hamilton then got angry. "You can advise me nothing. Do what I
tell you to do. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir." Mike Maynard had never broken the law for his boss in the
past, just bent it a few times. He had to do what Mr. Hamilton said,
Mike had a wife and two kids at home to feed.
"Michael, do you still have your contacts in the Wilmington and New
Hanover police?"
"Yes sir, I do."
"Contact them discreetly, use whatever excuse needed but find out if
the police have any leads so far on the car crash."
Mike finished writing the list of projects Mr. Hamilton wanted him to
work on. "Is there anything else?"
"No. Find out what I asked, and then get back to me as soon as
possible," Claude told his underling, who then left the office. As soon
as the CEO was alone, he picked up his desk phone and placed a local
call.
*****
Loc Metzger's condition still hadn't changed. The teen was still
comatose and in New Hanover's SICU.
The only change at New Hanover , was Mary Metzger taking over the vigil
at Loc's bedside from her daughter-in-law. Julie went home and spent
most of Friday getting some badly needed sleep.
Friday was also the day the volunteers Rev. Swan promised came to the
rescue of the Metzger family. Members of the congregation would cook
meals for the family, see to laundry, run errands and provide baby-
sitting for the two younger Metzger children.
Tom Metzger's boss offered him time off, but the father declined it for
the time being. When Loc woke up or when his daughter came home, Tom
would then take his boss up on the offer.
The Metzgers were grateful for all the help. It allowed them to
concentrate on caring for their daughter. From what they heard from the
doctors and nurses, Loc's recovery would take many months. The entire
Metzger family would chip in to seeing that Loc got well again.
Only a few miles away another family would have sacrificed anything for
their son to be well. Instead David Lockwood spent Friday preparing his
son's funeral arrangements. Because a autopsy was done on Jeff
Lockwood, the boy's body hadn't yet been released to the family but
would be soon.
A wake for Jeff Lockwood was tentatively set for Sunday and Monday
evenings from 6-8 p.m. The Catholic funeral mass would take place on
Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
The Wilmington High Class of 93 may have been disbanded, but news
quickly spread to almost all its members. They were all shocked to hear
and read the news reports of their classmates tragic accident. Many of
Jeff and Loc's friends began to pay visits to express either their
condolences for Jeff's or to show support for Loc.
At the Lockwood home, a makeshift memorial was put up by some of Jeff's
classmates. For Loc, small presents and notes were left by a tree in
the Metzger's front yard. Both families were touched by what their
children's friends were doing.
Many Wilmington High students were asking if Loc would recover from the
crash. At this point, only God knew.
*****
Dan Compton had other accidents to investigate besides the Shoals road
crash. He spent most of Friday out of the office doing just that. It
wasn't till a little past 4:30 that Dan got the message from Adam
Hauser asking for the detective to call him back.
"Adam, what do you have for me?"
"Not much, but my sources say a street race took place sometime
Wednesday night or early Thursday morning."
"No witnesses?"
"None so far," Adam told Dan. "I do have one possible lead. A driver
expected to be racing that night is one Jason Percy. I went to the
address where Percy is supposed to be living but he wasn't home. The
landlord said Percy is out but didn't have any idea where."
"Thanks Adam. I appreciate the help."
"No problem. If I find out more, I'll call you."
Adam Hauser's information on Jason Percy was the first break in the
Shoals case. The second came a few hours later.
*****
It was the beer can. There were fingerprints on the can belonging to
Galen Kennedy.
The find of the beer can was one of those lucky breaks. When the can
was examined, fingerprints were taken off it and then checked against
criminal records. A match soon came up. Galen Kennedy had been arrested
twice in his life, once for public urination and the other time for
petty larceny. Kennedy had never served more than a few hours in jail,
in both cases he was bailed out by family shortly after his arrest.
That meant Galen's fingerprints were on file.
Fingerprint technician Deb Linton made the match shortly after 6 p.m.
She then checked to see which investigation the can belonged to.
Finding out it was the Shoals crash and that Det. Compton was the
detective in charge, Deb placed a phone call to Dan.
Dan Compton had just left the office five minutes before his office
phone began to ring. The detective wouldn't get Deb's phone message
till Saturday morning.
******
Claude Hamilton's face was bright red with rage. He was furious, but
for once it was with himself.
As soon as he had been given his tasks by Mr. Hamilton, Mike Maynard
had driven out to the garage where the Camaro was. The first thing Mike
did was scrupulously photograph the car from every angle as his boss
had requested. The car was badly damaged, and the executive assistant
wondered how Drew Hamilton had ever driven it after the crash.
Mike was no auto mechanic, but he suspected the Camaro's frame had been
badly bent out of shape by the accident. It was possible the car was
totaled or beyond being repaired.
That determination would be up to others. Mike opened the Camaro's
glove compartment. The registration and insurance were there as
expected. Mike took the papers out and gave them a glance.
"That can't be right," Mike said as he read the registration again. The
car's registration was still in Claude Hamilton's name. Claude had
bought the car but was supposed to have signed the title over to Drew.
Seeing he had something else to do now, Mike pocketed the registration
and insurance. Then he let himself out of the garage.
The next stop for Mike was the Department of Motor Vehicles. Mike had
come there to check on the car's registration. The executive assistant
swore he had mailed the change of title. A visit to his office could
confirm that but first Mike had to find out who the car properly
belonged to. This was important, because the owner could be held
civilly liable for the crash even if he wasn't behind the wheel.
After an hour's wait in line, Mike got to the counter and handed the
clerk the Camaro's registration.
"Sorry sir, but according to our records the car is registered in the
name of Claude William Hamilton III."
"Are you positive?"
The clerk double-checked. She even allowed Mike to see what it said on
the computer monitor. "Our records show the car belonging to Claude
William Hamilton III."
"Thanks," Mike told the clerk as he took back the registration. The
next stop for Mike was Hamilton Enterprises. The executive assistant
didn't relish having to tell his boss the info he had so far come up
with.
At Hamilton Enterprises, Mike found Mr. Hamilton in his office and
asking not to be disturbed. This was fine with Mike, he had two other
tasks to complete before going to Claude Hamilton with the bad news.
First Mike called his contact at the Wilmington police department.
"Assistant Detective Kazanski, how can I help you?"
"Hi Pete, it's me Mike Maynard. How are you?"
Pete Kazanski knew who Mike worked for. That caused the assistant
detective's curiosity to become piqued. What favor or information was
Claude Hamilton asking for this time?
"Can't complain Mike. So what's going on?"
Mike gave a song and a dance about Wednesday night. How he heard about
the crash and how tragic it was.
Pete was busy, so he cut off Mike after not too long. "Mike what are
you asking from me?"
"How the investigation is going so far? Have the police working on the
case gotten any leads?"
'Why would Claude Hamilton want to know this?' Pete asked himself.
There was one obvious reason. Someone in the Hamilton family was
involved.
"Can you ask around Pete? I'd really appreciate it."
Pete had to think for a few seconds. What Maynard was asking wasn't
illegal, but if it was discovered Pete was giving out details of a
police investigation, the detective would be in serious trouble. This
wasn't exactly a matter of fixing some Hamilton family member's traffic
or parking tickets.
"Pete are you there?"
"Yeah I am here."
"Can you help me out?" Mike asked. The executive knew the seriousness
of what he was asking from Pete Kazanski. So Mike sweetened the pot for
the assistant detective. "I'll double your usual fee, if you can get me
that info within 48 hours."
Pete thought for a few moments before answering. "Can I still get you
at the usual number?"
"I'll give you my home number," Mike then told Pete his number. "You
can call me at that number any time....thanks Pete....take care."
After hanging up the phone, Mike began looking into why the Camaro's
ownership hadn't been changed. Working for a demanding boss required
meticulous work. Mike almost never threw anything out.
The title had been mailed back to the Motor Vehicle department, with
Claude's notarized signature on it. A check of his files showed Mike
had gotten the registered return receipt. from the post office. That
meant the error wasn't on his end.
So Mike left his office and went to see Millie Eaton. Mike immediately
explained the problem he was having.
"Michelle keeps a record of all Mr. Hamilton's incoming mail," Millie
told Mike. Claude Hamilton III had two secretaries, his executive
secretary Millie and a younger woman named Michelle Barclay. "Let me go
check Michelle's log."
At present Michelle Barclay was on maternity leave and a temp was
filling in but had gone home for the day already. Millie went to
Michelle's desk to check the log.
It took a couple of minutes, but sure enough a letter or correspondence
had been received from DMV addressed to Claude Hamilton on April 6th.
Millie showed the log to Mike.
"Right there," Millie said pointing to the entry. "The check mark next
to it means the mail was delivered to Mr. Hamilton. What happened from
there....."
Mike now knew it was time to tell the boss. The information Mike had
uncovered was certain not to please Claude Hamilton III.
"What the....." Claude Hamilton began saying on being told all about
the unchanged car title and registration. The CEO stopping in mid-
sentence only because his secretary was present. There was some
language Claude had been taught long ago, that wasn't to be uttered in
a ladies' presence. "What happened?"
"We don't know sir," Mike told his boss.
Millie spoke up. "Michelle's log shows the letter was given to you."
Claude Hamilton waved his arms. "Do either of you see it around here?"
Neither Mike or Millie saw any obvious sign of the envelope. That meant
the next step was to search their bosses' office and desk. Claude
usually considered his office off limits to employees. It was like a
home to the CEO, but Claude gave in. The mail had to be found.
It was found on the second search of Claude's desk. Deep inside a
folder the CEO kept in a drawer.
Millie had a good guess what had happened. Her boss was known to have
several files open on his desk at the same time. Any experienced
secretary or office worker knows this was a bad habit. Files would get
mixed up and papers lost or misfiled.
In the case of the DMV letter, it got stuck in a file concerning a
recent audit report. Claude had accidentally misfiled the letter
himself. That was why he was so angry.
Claude immediately tore open the letter. Inside was the title that had
been mailed over two months earlier plus a letter.
'Shit, they sent it back just because I didn't date it! What kind of
idiots work at DMV?' Claude thought as he read the letter. Then he
handed it over to Mike. "Thank you Millicent, that's all."
"What should I do with it now?"
Claude knew HE had a legal problem now. With this news, it looked like
Claude had no choice but to dump the car as fast as possible. There was
too much at risk for him plus his son now.
"Use it for toilet paper for all the fuck I care," Claude replied back.
"What did you find out today?"
Mike hadn't gotten much done but the search for the registration. He
did tell his boss about the car's condition plus his phone conversation
with Pete Kazanski.
"Make it priority #1 to find someone to take care of that car. I want
it done as soon as possible."
"I'll make a drive down to Myrtle Beach tomorrow," Mike replied back.
The next day was a Saturday and the type of business Claude was looking
for may not be open on weekends.
"Do that and keep me informed."
*****
Julie was surprised to see Tom and Kathy Metzger come into Loc's
hospital room. The mother had only been expecting her husband.
"Oh no." Kathy Metzger said the moment she saw Loc. The ten-year-old
had been told of her half sister's condition but seeing it in person
was still a shock.
Julie saw Kathy's reaction and how upset she was now. The mother turned
to Tom. "Maybe you shouldn't have brought Kathy."
"Julie she wanted to come. If anything happened to Loc...."
"Don't talk like that," Julie said a little angrily. "Loc is going to
pull through."
Tom didn't argue with Julie. He wanted Loc to pull through too, but the
father had to be realistic too. No one knew what the outcome would be
for Loc.
Kathy began talking to Loc as she held her hand. The youngest Metzger
daughter had always idolized her older sister.
"Wake up Lucky. It's me, Kathy."
"The neurologist came by a little while ago." Julie told Tom.
"What did he have to say?"
"The usual, nothing new. He did tell me that when Loc comes out of the
coma we need to be patient."
"Of course we will."
"Loc could be very forgetful. She may not remember things, even simple
everyday stuff."
"Like what?"
"Tying her shoelaces, doing makeup, anything like that." Julie told Tom
who nodded his head in reply.
Kathy was still talking to Loc. As she held her sister's hand, for a
moment Kathy could feel Loc's hand squeezing back.
"Mom, Loc squeezed my hand."
"That's good sweetheart," Julie told Kathy. "Keep talking to your
sister."
As Kathy did just that, Julie began speaking to her husband again. "The
doctor said Loc may not even recognize us."
"She could lose that much memory?" Tom said to Julie. He was
flabbergasted by the thought his little girl wouldn't even know who her
father was.
"It's possible, the doctors are just trying to prepare us."
'Or scare us half to death,' Tom Metzger felt like adding.
"You're coming back in the morning, right?" Julie asked her husband.
"Yes I was going to stay here during the day." Tom told Julie. The
father had already decided to give his mother a break from the hospital
vigils the family was keeping at Loc's bedside. Tom could handle the
weekends because he was off from work.
"If you could, bring one of the photo albums from home tomorrow and
that photo of all of us from last summer. Just in case we need them
when Loc wakes up. The doctor did say Loc was more reactive. She could
wake up soon."
"Thank God for that," Tom said out loud.
Kathy was still talking to her sister. "Lucky, please wake up. I miss
you at home. Please wake up."
*****
Mike Maynard was a busy man on Saturday. Rising early, he set off for
Myrtle Beach around 6:30 in the morning. The South Carolina coastal
town was a little over seventy miles or an hour and a half drive from
Wilmington.
Since Mike's parents used to live in Myrtle Beach(they had retired to
Florida in 1987), he knew the town well. Sally's Diner off York St. was
Mike's first stop. There the executive assistant got himself breakfast
but also borrowed a yellow pages from the diner. Mike was looking for
auto repair places.
From the start Mike saw three potential problems. First the car not
being present when he spoke to any of these businesses. Without seeing
the vehicle to assess damage, most shop owners would be unlikely to
give an estimate on how much it would cost to fix a car or just get rid
of it either.
Secondly, today was a Saturday. Many auto shops were closed. Of the
first thirteen Mike tried calling on his cellphone, only four were even
open that day.
Mike could have warned Mr. Hamilton about this, but had decided not to.
When the CEO wanted a job done right away, weekends were not an
acceptable excuse for doing nothing.
The third trouble Mike quickly ran into was suspicion. What Mike was
trying to have done for his boss was against the law. Reputable
businessmen don't break the law, just the disreputable ones. The former
can quickly become suspicious and could even call the police on Mike.
The first repair place Mike visited was, Atley's Auto Repair. A quick
check of Atley's back lot showed two police cruisers in for repair.
That meant the owner probably had a cushy relationship with local law
enforcement. Mike quickly scratched this business off his list.
The manager at auto shop number two, B&T Sportscars, began to ask too
many questions.
"I can't tell you anything without seeing the car first," the manager
named Vincente Garcia said to Mike.
"I understand that."
"Where is this car anyway?"
"Not far from here."
"Where's not far?"
Mike couldn't be specific about a location for obvious reasons. "Not
far."
"Is the car drivable?" Garcia asked. Maynard hadn't told him the make
of car.
"I don't think so."
"Then how were you proposing to get it here?"
"I'll have it towed."
"Then I'll need the address."
Mike had already decided to use the separate companies if at all
possible. One to fix or dispose of the Camaro and another to tow the
vehicle. The executive assistant didn't want one company or one person
knowing too much. "I've already got someone to tow the car."
"Why don't you use them for the repairs then?" Vincent asked in a
skeptical tone of voice.
"They don't do repairs. Not on this type of car."
Vincent looked at Maynard for almost a minute. "Mister, I don't know
who you are or what this mystery car is or even where it is. What
you're telling me sounds fishy. I don't need trouble, so get out of
here."
Mike left B&T as ordered. The third shop he called on was Myrtle Beach
Towing and Repair.
"I'm afraid Ralph is out right now," said the pretty receptionist
behind the counter of the repair shop.
"Do you know when he'll be in?"
"No sir, I don't. Ralph could walk in anytime, but I don't really know
when."
Mike looked at his watch. It was already 11 a.m. and this was the third
of the four auto repair places Mike had written down as open on
Saturdays. The fourth, BJ's Auto, was supposedly open but no one was
answering the phone at the business.
After a little bit of thought, Mike decided to wait a while and see if
Ralph showed. During that time Mike either sat quietly or walked around
the businesses' small waiting area.
It was just past 11:30, when the receptionist had a message for Mike.
"Sorry but Ralph won't be back in today."
Mike got up from his chair. "Thanks."
"Ralph will be in Monday. You can see him then," was the last thing the
receptionist said to Mike.
Mike was almost out of the office when he stopped by a bulletin board.
On it were cards about some cars for sale. Other pieces of paper were
advertisements for local businesses, most of them auto related. One of
these drew Mike's attention.
Taking a small notepad out of his pocket, Mike wrote down an address
and telephone number. Then the executive assistant left Myrtle Beach
towing.
*****
"We may have something," Bill Fischer told Dan Compton as soon as the
Detective walked in the door Saturday morning.
A copy of the Star-News lay on Bill's desk. The paper had a front page
story of what happened to Loc Metzger and Jeff Lockwood. Neither family
had talked to reporters, but the press had gleaned what info they could
from other sources. The paper was playing up the grad night or Prom
night tragedy angle. A recent crash in Rocky Mount North Carolina on
the night of a senior prom had left three teenagers dead. Alcohol had
been the cause of the accident.
The Star-News was hinting this was also the cause of The Shoals Road
crash. People in positions of authority around Wilmington and New
Hanover County, would soon be asking how the investigation was going.
Dan Compton would have to be prepared for this.
"What's that?" Dan asked Bill as he began to get settled in at the
desk. The detective had brought a cup of coffee with him to the office
and was slowly sipping from it.
"Sally has identified that set of tire tracks we found near the
accident. Want to see?"
"Absolutely," Dan said rising from the chair he had barely gotten
settled into.
Sally got right to the point. "The tires in question are high
performance, make P235 55 R16's."
"You're positive?"
"One hundred percent. The tires are almost brand new."
"What type of cars use those tires?"
"Just one. Camaro Z28."
"I'd love to own a Z28," Bill Fischer said. He was a big-time car buff.
"Who wouldn't?" Sally asked in reply. She was a bit of a car buff
herself.
Dan Compton, who was pacing the floor, was totally the reverse. The
detective had never been a car buff. To Dan, a car was a car.
"A Camaro would be a good car for street racing?" Dan asked.
"Absolutely," Bill answered. He related to Dan about the Z28 being used
at the just raced Indy 500.
"Adam Hauser told me there was a street race on for Wednesday night."
Bill nodded. "The skid marks, and this is all preliminary, say whatever
car was coming in the opposite direction of the Volare was traveling at
around fifty miles per hour"
"What's the speed limit up there?"
"Thirty but that doesn't mean anything," Bill said. "We all know people
drive too fast. Even at Deadman's."
"True."
"But why would this car stop up there? It is a funny place to park a
car?" Sally asked.
Dan nodded his head as he continued to pace. The tire tracks were
suspicious but didn't prove anything at this point. "There has to be a
couple of hundred of these cars in this part of North Carolina."
"No not really," Bill said. "The Z28 is the new generation of Camaro
and it came out just this year. I doubt there are more than one hundred
in all of North Carolina."