Altered Fates - Only the Strong Can Forgive - 3
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Altered Fates - Only the strong can forgive - 3
By Danielle J
"Thanks Sally," Dan said.
"Glad to have been able to help." Sally replied back. Then Dan and Bill
left the lab.
"I'm going to check with DMV."
"Dan I'll do that if you want."
"Thanks Bill. I appreciate it."
"Who needs to sleep anyway?"
As soon as Dan got back to his desk, he placed another call to Adam
Hauser. The officer wasn't in, so Dan left a message.
Dan then began to collect his phone messages. The first one was from
Sue Linton
*****
Tom Metzger took over from his wife Julie at 7 a.m. that morning. Loc's
status still hadn't changed.
As asked, Tom brought the albums and photos Julie had asked him to
bring. The father placed them in a drawer next to Loc's bed.
There was one other photo Tom brought. It was one of Nu Metzger, Loc's
birthmom. Tom would spend most of the day talking to Loc about her
mother.
"That was a good idea," Julie told her husband after seeing the
additional photo he brought. "I'm glad you thought of it. Talk to you
later.
Tom got himself settled in for what would be a long day. Julie was
right, Loc shouldn't be left alone till she woke up.
"I love you Princess," Tom Metzger said as he held Loc's hand. "Please
get well for me."
*****
Elizabeth Hamilton was also a busy woman that Saturday morning. She was
packing some of her belongings before leaving for Raleigh North
Carolina. There she would spend a few days with her son Robert, his
wife Jodi, and their newborn daughter Marilyn.
Like Dan Compton, Elizabeth saw the front page article on the Shoals
Road crash. The mother was already feeling sorry for what her son Drew
had caused to happen. Elizabeth could only imagine how the Metzgers and
Lockwoods were feeling right then.
There was one small part of the Star-News article that most interested
Elizabeth. NCNB had set up a fund for both Loc Metzger and Jeff
Lockwood's families, in case anyone wanted to donate to the families.
Elizabeth Hamilton left her Wilmington home a few minutes past 10 a.m.
that morning. Before setting off for Raleigh, the mother went to the
closest NCNB branch to her home.
There Elizabeth Hamilton donated $5,000 to each family. It was the
least the mother could do at that point in time.
Whereas his mother was off to Raleigh, Drew was still staying home as
his father ordered. He did invite a few friends over on Saturday
evening, all of them playing pool together on a billiards table the
Hamiltons had. Drew didn't have his heart in the game. His conscience
was still deeply bothered by what he had caused to happen.
*****
The fingerprint report was Dan's second good lead. After talking with
Sue, Dan got in contact with Galen Kennedy's probation officer.
"As far as I know Galen has been staying out of trouble," John Curtis
told Dan over the phone. "What are you looking for Galen for?"
"I need to ask him a few questions for an investigation I'm working
on."
"I got two addresses for him. Both are in Wilmington. Do you want to
grab a pen so to write them down?"
Dan got his pen and wrote down both the addresses he was given. The
first was supposedly where Galen's parents lived. It was a ten minute
drive from Dan's location. That would be where Dan went first.
*****
Leaving Myrtle Beach, Mike Maynard drove west in the direction of
Florence. If it had been a weekday, Mike would have checked out that
town's auto shops also. Unfortunately it wasn't.
Mike had another destination in mind. It lay just past Conway on Rt.
501. It was Ernie's Towing and Salvage.
Upon arrival, Mike went to the front gate of Ernie's Towing. It was
locked and there was no sign of human life. There was other life, two
very aggressive mongrel dogs. Mike had no intention of going inside
uninvited.
Mike waited around for another hour. He again tried calling Ernie's but
no one was picking up the phone. After a fourth call wasn't answered,
Mike decided to drive off towards Florence. Maybe he could still find a
shop there.
*****
Robert and Greta Kennedy were home when Dan Compton came knocking on
their door. They immediately let the detective into their house.
"Has Galen done something wrong?" Greta Kennedy asked after finding out
Dan Compton was there asking the whereabouts of her son.
"No Mrs. Kennedy, I just wanted to ask him some questions involving an
investigation I'm doing. I can assure you, Galen isn't in trouble."
"Galen doesn't live at home right now," Robert Kennedy replied back.
Dan Compton was about to ask for Galen's current address when Fiona
Kennedy came down the stairs.
"Fiona sweetheart," Greta Kennedy called out to her daughter. "You
wouldn't happen to know where Galen is right now?"
The first thing Dan noticed about Fiona Kennedy was that see looked
very nervous. The twenty-year-old hadn't been told Dan was a detective.
"No Mom, I don't."
Dan studied Fiona. The answer didn't ring true. "I was given another
address for Galen."
Robert Kennedy listened to Dan as he recited the address. "Yes that's
where Galen lives."
"Is Galen employed?" Dan asked.
"He does odd jobs, but nothing regular."
Fiona Kennedy was still in the room but not taking part in the
conversation. "Mom, Dad, I'm going out."
"All right dear," Greta Kennedy said to her daughter.
"Does your son own a Camaro?" Dan asked after watching Fiona Kennedy
leave the room The detective's intuition told him that Galen's sister
knew more than she was saying.
"No he doesn't."
Dan had only a few more questions for Galen's parents. A few seconds
after Dan got up to say goodbye, his beeper went off. "Can I use your
phone?"
"Certainly." Robert Kennedy showed Dan to the kitchen. A few minutes
later the detective was out of the house and on the way to Cape Fear
Community College.
Barry Christiansen was the person who had beeped Dan. The Community
College Professor may have discovered something from the convenience
store video tape.
"There was a car in the 7-11 parking lot during the time frame you gave
me," Barry explained to Dan. Also present were CFCC students Rachel
Collum and Jim Barnes. "To get out of the parking lot, a car backed up
close enough to the store that it was caught on video."
The video was played for Dan. As soon as the car inched its way into
the picture frame, Barry hit the pause button.
"Can you magnify that?" Dan asked.
"Sure can." Rachel Collum pressed a few buttons and the video then
zoomed into the car's license plate.
The image was murky but three letters could be made out on the plate.
Z, 9, and Q.
Dan studied the image for over a minute. While he was doing that, Jim
Barnes made prints of that particular point in the video for the
detective.
"Do you think that car could be a Camaro?"
Barry Christiansen took a moment away from puffing on his pipe to
answer. "Sure can. If I was a betting man, that's the make of the car
in the video."
Dan got the video back from Barry and then thanked the college
professor for his help. The next stop for Dan was the second address he
was given for Galen Kennedy.
It was a flophouse in one of the seedier parts of Wilmington. Dan went
to the second floor apartment and knocked on the door. No one answered.
Dan then sought out the apartment house manager. Cliff Brown wasn't
much help.
"I don't know where that kid is."
"Do you know where he went?"
"Who do you think I am? His fucking mother.
Dan went from the apartment back to his office. Bill Fischer was
waiting for him with the list of Camaro Z28s registered in North
Carolina. Before that, Dan had a call to place.
"Adam I need a favor," Dan asked Adam Hauser.
"What is it?"
"I need a stake out on an apartment in Wilmington." Dan then explained
to Adam what the surveillance was for.
"You got it Dan. Is this connected to the Shoals case?"
"Yes it is." Dan explained to Adam a little further what Galen's
possible connection was. The detective's intuition based on Fiona
Kennedy's body language earlier in the day was telling Dan that Galen
was somehow connected to the accident.
"I'll inform you as soon as we sight him."
"Thanks Adam. I'm off tomorrow. Call me at home if Galen Kennedy shows
up."
"Will do."
As soon as Dan hung up the phone, his attention turned to Bill Fischer.
"What do you have for me?"
"There were over 200 Camaro Z28s registered in North Carolina this
year."
"That's not much help."
"Dan, it's better. Only three are listed in the Wilmington area," Bill
said pointing to the computer printout. The ones locally owned all
marked with a yellow highlighter. "Look at who #2 is."
"Old man Hamilton?"
"You got it," Bill replied back. "But if I were a betting man, it is
one of his son's cars."
A check of the license plate number on the video with the one
registered in Claude Hamilton's name, showed the cars to both have the
same license plate numbers. Dan now had another lead on the Shoals
accident but a pretty flimsy one. The video and tire tracks didn't
positively prove it was the Hamilton car at the crash. The evidence was
still circumstantial.
An investigation of a Hamilton family member would have to be done
cautiously. Claude Hamilton III was a powerful and influential man.
With Bill Fischer's help, Dan still went and checked on the other two
Camaro Z28 owners in the Wilmington area. Both were home as were their
cars. Neither vehicle had been in a recent auto accident.
As Bill and Dan left the second house, the detective had a question.
"How many kids does Claude Hamilton have?"
"Five or six," Bill replied. "My nephew Doug went to school with one of
the boys. The one Hamilton kid I met was all right if slightly
spoiled."
Dan went home shortly afterwards. The Hamilton connection to the Shoals
accident was tenuous at best. Dan would need a lot more before he'd go
knocking on Claude Hamilton's front door.
*****
Tom and Julie Metzger traded places around 7:30 that evening at New
Hanover Regional Medical Center. Loc was reacting more to her parent's
touch but was still in a coma.
Loc's father had one message to relay to his wife. "Jeff's father
called.. The funeral is Tuesday morning."
"I think we should all go."
"Agreed." Tom Metzger replied. He had always liked Jeff Lockwood. Tom
wondered what Loc's reaction would be when she heard her boyfriend
died. But first Loc would have to wake up.
*****
Mike Maynard's trip to Florence came up with nothing. There were no
auto shops still open by the time Mike arrived there.
After checking into a hotel for the night, Mike placed a phone call to
his boss. Claude Hamilton was not happy with the lack of results.
"Find a shop, and get rid of that car at once."
"Yes sir."
*****
Tom Metzger got to New Hanover at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. The
father bringing the Sunday paper with him.
"You should see today's paper." Tom said to his wife but not before
kissing Loc. Loc was still comatose.
"What about it?" Julie asked as she gathered her things. The mother had
managed some sleep the previous night.
Tom pointed to a front page Star-News article. "They made at least four
mistakes about us and Loc."
The Star-News that day ran another lengthy article about Jeff Lockwood,
Loc Metzger and what had happened on the night of their high school
graduation. Since neither teen's parents wanted to talk to the press,
the newspaper learned as much about Jeff and Loc as possible by talking
to other family members and their friends.
One family member that spoke to the Star-News was Jeff's Uncle Rick. He
was co-owner of the three Lockwood Brothers Auto Repair shops with his
brother David.
In actuality all Rick Lockwood did was issue a short statement. Mostly
thanking the people of Wilmington who had shown support and kindness in
the aftermath of his nephew's death and to ask for prayers for both
Jeff Lockwood and most especially Loc Metzger. Other than that, no
immediate Lockwood or Metzger family member spoke to the press.
Unable to learn anything from the Metzgers or the Lockwoods, three
Star-News reporters spoke to the family's friends instead. This was how
the information for the article was compiled.
The mistakes Tom was pointing to were things like when he married Nu,
where he grew up, and other bits of info. Julie considered all of this
trivial.
"Tom, lets not worry about that. Our main concern right now is Loc."
"You're right," Tom told his wife. After a brief kiss with her husband,
Julie Metzger left the room.
The first thing Tom Metzger did before settling in was to give Loc
another kiss. "Princess, I love you so much. Please wake up."
*****
Mike Maynard parked himself outside of Ernie's salvage shortly after 9
a.m. Sunday morning. There was still no sign of proprietor.
Right then Mike had little choice but to wait. Claude Hamilton's
insistence on someone being found to dispose of the Camaro gave his
hatchet man little choice. The only other salvage dealer Mike could
find was in Sumter and that one wasn't answering his phone either. If
Ernie didn't show up by mid afternoon, Mike would go elsewhere.
It was a few minutes short of two thirty in the afternoon when Mike saw
him. Ernie Jones looked to be in mid thirties and of medium height but
at least fifty pounds over weight and slovenly in his appearance. In
Mike's eyes, Ernie looked like the perfect caricature of a tow truck
operator.
Mike reached the tow truck driver just before he let himself in the
salvage yard. "Are you Ernie?"
"Yup, I am," Ernie Jones replied back. The two dogs in the yard were
back and one was jumping up on Ernie while the other eyed Mike
cautiously. "Down boy! Down!"
"I'd like to talk business."
Ernie waved Mike into the yard and then closed and locked the fence
behind him. "Come with me."
The office of Ernie's Salvage was as disorganized as its owner was
sloppy in his appearance. Mike was shown a seat that looked ready to
break in two if sat on in just the right fashion.
"What are you here for?" Ernie asked as he sat down.
"I got a car I'd like you to pick up."
"Ok." Ernie replied back as he carefully studied Mike. "Where's this
car?"
"North Carolina. Wilmington."
"Ok."
"I need it picked up right away."
Ernie nodded. "I can pick it up tomorrow night."
"Why not today?"
"I got plans."
*****
Dan Compton was at home doing yard work when his wife Roberta said Adam
Hauser was on the phone. The Detective immediately came inside the
house.
"Galen Kennedy is back."
"Keep him under surveillance. I'll be right there." Dan said before
hanging up the phone. Thirty minutes later Dan and Adam met up outside
of Galen Kennedy's apartment house.
"I sent someone around back just in case he bolts." Adam told Dan as
they went into the building.
Galen Kennedy did try to bolt. Two knocks on the door and after being
told there were police there, sent the nineteen-year-old into a panic.
Without looking, Galen jumped out of his second story window to the
street below. Two Wilmington policemen were waiting for just that
eventuality.
A few minutes later Galen was returned to the apartment. Adam and Dan
were there waiting for him.
"Galen, why did you run?"
"I don't know," Galen said nervously.
A quick search of Galen's apartment came up with the cause of the
teen's nervousness. Three marijuana joints were found in a shoe box
under Galen's bed.
"Galen, this is a violation of your probation," Adam began saying. "I'm
willing to forget about it but my colleague Dan here has some questions
for you. You co-operate with him, and we'll forget about the marijuana
we found."
"Yeah ok."
"Galen, have you ever been up to Shoals Road?" Dan asked
Dan didn't get an answer. Galen instead got more fidgety and nervous
than he was already.
"Were up on Shoals road last Wednesday night or Thursday morning?"
"Why are you asking?"
Adam was about to play bad cop to Dan's good cop when Fiona Kennedy
walked into the room. As soon as she saw Dan there, Galen's sister
tried to make a run for it.
Like her brother, Fiona didn't get far. She was brought back to the
room by one of the policeman who caught Galen. Fiona was then seated
next to her brother. Now that the Kennedy siblings were reunited, the
answers to Dan's questions started flowing like a river at flood stage.
"Yes I was up at Shoals," Galen replied.
"What were you doing there?
"There was a race."
"What type of race?"
"A street race man. Fiona's boyfriend was one of the drivers."
Dan turned his attention to Fiona. "Who's your boyfriend?"
"Jason Percy."
'Bingo,' Adam and Dan thought almost simultaneously.
"But he wasn't the one who caused the crash." Fiona said.
"Who was?"
"Drew Hamilton." Fiona Kennedy replied. "It was his Camaro that caused
those kids to go off the cliff."
Dan and Adam conferred for a minute before speaking again. Now they
knew the identity of the other driver but they'd need statements from
both Kennedys. "Both of you will need to come downtown with us for
further questioning."
*****
"One thousand dollars. In cash. Half now and half after you pick up the
car."
Ernie was slow with his answer. "Fifteen hundred. One thousand now."
Ernie and Mike haggled for a few minutes before settling on the terms
of $1,500, half down and other half after Ernie picked up the Camaro.
Mike couldn't help feel he just made a deal with the devil. Claude
Hamilton's executive assistant hoped this didn't come back and bite him
on the ass.
"I don't care what you do with the car when you get it. Just make sure
no one ever sees it again.
"Yep, will do."
"It has to be done by tomorrow night. No later." Mike said handing
Ernie the keys and printed out directions from Myrtle Beach to the
garage. "I'll be in contact again with you Tuesday."
Mike and Ernie worked out a few more details. Then the tow truck driver
got up. "We're set then, I better let you out or Butkus and Rocky may
have you for dogmeat."
Ernie let Mike out of the salvage yard a few minutes later. Mike then
got in his car and headed back to Wilmington.
*****
The wake for Jeff Lockwood was scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. Sunday
evening but the Lockwoods began to gather at the funeral home shortly
after five thirty. Family members from six states were there that day.
Jeff's body was in a mahogany colored coffin. It's lid open and Jeff
looking like he was asleep. David, Carol and Tabitha Lockwood were the
first to kneel in front of it.
All three Lockwoods made a sign of the cross and then began to silently
pray. When they were done, Carol began to rise. She hadn't cried at the
funeral home up till then but right then the tears started to pour as
the mother became wobbly and started to scream.
"Jeff, Jeff, Jeff......." David Lockwood with the help of Tabitha led
Carol over to a nearby seat. Jeff's mother was hysterical and asking
the world why her son had to die.
The wake lasted two hours that night. Many people visited to pay the
Lockwoods condolences. After her initial outburst, Carol regained her
composure. She thanked each and every person who came to say hello that
night.
Before the wake finished, Tabby Lockwood went back up to pray again. As
she kneeled, she quietly whispered.
"Jeff is that really you?"
Ever since the previous day, Tabby had been thinking of the necklace.
Wondering if Jeff and Loc had used it. The more Tabitha thought, the
more the girl began to question if it was really her brother in the
coffin that night.
There were two things that made Tabby skeptical. They both involved
Jeff acting oddly in the days between his coming back from the trip to
Virginia and the graduation ceremony. The first was when Jeff ate
oatmeal one morning. Oatmeal Tabby usually only ate. She could never
remember Jeff doing that.
The second involved the bathroom she and Jeff added. The seat for the
toilet was always down those last couple of days. Tabby used to give
her brother grief on a regular basis about not putting it down after he
used it. Based on this observation, either Jeff was having incredible
bladder endurance or.......
"Or are you really Loc?" Tabby didn't have an answer She was praying
hard Loc would soon wake up. Jeff's sister figured if Jeff and Loc had
played switcheroo, then everyone would soon be hearing about it.
*****
By 7:30 p.m. Dan Compton had signed statements from Fiona and Galen
Kennedy. Both fingered Drew Hamilton as the driver of the second car, a
1993 Camaro Z28.
Dan still needed more proof before seeking out a arrest warrant. No New
Hanover County Judge would issue a warrant for Hamilton family member
without solid proof.
The next piece of puzzle was Jason Percy. Fiona gave Dan her
boyfriend's home address. Jason wasn't home yet, but Fiona said he was
away with his parents and expected home some time Sunday night.
Dan and Adam set up their vigil outside the Percy home shortly after 8
p.m. They wouldn't leave till Jason Percy showed up, then they'd take
him in for questioning.
"Do you know who Percy's old man is?" Adam asked Dan.
For a moment Dan was clueless. "No I don't."
"Ray Percy. I wonder what his reaction will be when he sees us."
*****
Mike Maynard ate dinner with his family after arriving home. When the
meal was over, Mike called his boss.
"Make sure that car is disposed of. I don't want any traces."
"It will be done as you said."
"Keep me informed." Claude Hamilton then hung up the phone.
*****
Jason Percy and his family arrived home shortly before 10:30 p.m.
Sunday evening. The young man's father was surprised to see police
outside his home.
"I'll handle this," Raymond Percy told his wife and three children.
Dan watched Jason Percy plus his mother and two sisters go into the
house. "Ray, I need to talk to your son."
Raymond Percy was well known to almost everyone in New Hanover County
law enforcement. Ray had once been a Wilmington policeman till 1987
when while off-duty he was involved in a shootout outside a bank. It
was there Ray took down three male perps who had taken a pregnant bank
teller hostage as they tried to escape. The teller was unharmed, but
Ray was badly wounded and subsequently retired out of the Wilmington
police on disability.
Since then Ray made his living selling insurance, but was still a
Wilmington reserve police officer. Dan had only met Ray three brief
times in the past , but knew the man's reputation and respected him.
"What do you need to see Jason about?" Ray asked Dan and the Detective
told him. "It's late Dan, we just got back from Charleston. Can this
wait till tomorrow morning? I guarantee you, Jason will come to your
office."
Dan thought for a moment. Ray was a fellow law enforcement officer,
whose word was good as gold to Dan. He felt safe in showing Ray some
professional courtesy, Jason Percy would certainly come in if
instructed to do so by his father.
Then the detective gave Ray one of his business cards. "Tell Jason to
be at my office at ten sharp tomorrow morning."
*****
"You must be Mrs. Metzger a man in a doctor's coat. He had just walked
into Loc's room. It was almost 11 p.m. on Sunday night.
"Yes I am."
The doctor shook Julie's hand. "My name is Alan Morehead. I'm the chief
administrator of the SICU."
"Hello Doctor," Julie replied back.
Dr. Morehead spent a few minutes studying Loc's chart. The
administrator had just come back from vacation that day and was making
rounds in the SICU.
"Your daughter seems stable."
"Loc hasn't come out of her coma yet."
Dr. Morehead asked Julie if she had any questions. She had a few, and
Dr. Morehead answered them the best he could.
"Thank you for allowing my family to stay with Loc around the clock. We
want to be hear when she wakes up."
New Hanover's SICU visiting hours were from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, but the
hospital was flexible with patient families. As long as relatives
weren't disruptive, the hospital allowed them to come and go at any
hour of the day.
"It's the least we can do, Mrs. Metzger. Anything else you want to
ask?"
"No doctor." Dr. Morehead left the room a minute later. After he did,
Julie checked on Loc one last time, kissed her daughter and then sat
back down. Julie fell asleep a few minutes later.
*****
Jason Percy showed up at New Hanover County Police Headquarters as
promised Monday. The only thing Dan Compton didn't count on was the
young man bringing an attorney along.
"Before we discuss what happened last week, my client wants immunity,"
said David Kintz, Jason Percy's attorney.
Dan's interrogation of Jason Percy was put on hold while a call was put
in to the District Attorney's office. An Asst. DA in New Hanover
County's DA office came over immediately.
"Mr. Percy you will receive immunity but only if your story checks
out," the Asst. DA said.
Jason conferred with his lawyer. "Where do you want me to start?"
"From the beginning," Dan Compton said as he started a tape recorder.
Over the next hour Jason Percy re-told the events of the prior
Wednesday night/Thursday morning. The twenty-year-old giving lots of
details in addition to names and addresses of people present at the
street race.
*****
The condition of Jeff Lockwood hadn't changed on Monday. He was still
in a coma.
Tom Metzger returned to work on Monday, so his mother took over the
daytime vigils by Loc Metzger's bed. The family continued to pray hard
that Loc would wake up and be all right.
Across town the Lockwoods had their wake for Jeffrey again. Hundreds of
Wilmington High students came to express their condolences to the young
man's family.
Carol and David Lockwood were holding up about as well as could be
expected. They were still in the shock phase that follows a loved one's
death.
Tom, Julie plus the rest of the Metzger family didn't go to either
night's wake. Instead they would attend Tuesday's funeral.
*****
By Monday night Detectives working on the Shoals Road crash had five
sworn statements placing Drew Hamilton at the crash and driving the car
that caused the collision. In addition to this, there was the
preliminary crash evidence and the store video.
Not an open and shut case, but good enough for Dan to go to a Judge on
Tuesday to ask for an arrest warrant for Drew Hamilton. The Detective
didn't want to waste any time, for it was still possible the Camaro
could be found. If Dan was a betting man, he'd wager that the Hamilton
boy or his family had already disposed of the wrecked car.
*****
Claude Hamilton was ready for bed but not asleep yet when his private
phone began to ring. It was Mike Maynard on the line.
"My source says the police are about to make an arrest in last week's
accident."
"Any idea when?"
"No, but it will be soon."
Claude thought for a few seconds. "Have my private jet prepared for a
flight to the Caribbean."
Mike Maynard had already thought of this. "The plane is undergoing
maintenance at present. It won't be ready before....."
"I don't care! Have them finish the work and have the plane ready to
leave by tomorrow night."
"Yes sir," Mike Maynard replied back before hanging up the telephone.
Claude Hamilton began to think. His wife was still in Raleigh visiting
with their son Robert and his wife. She wasn't expected back till the
next afternoon. If Elizabeth was home, Claude would put Drew on a
commercial flight to Miami first thing the next day. The boy was in
imminent danger of arrest but Elizabeth Hamilton would want to see her
son first.
It was a gamble, but Claude loved his wife too much not to allow her a
chance to say goodbye to Drew. Who knew when the next time their son
would be allowed to come to North Carolina.
*****
Mike Maynard's deal with Ernie Jones to dispose of the Camaro on Monday
night didn't go off as planned. Wet roads after a day long rain,
combined with too much speed by motorists, produced a twelve car pileup
along the Interstate 95 between Florence and Dillion South Carolina.
To clear the road, South Carolina state police called in local towers.
Ernie Jones was one of them. Instead of picking up the Camaro that
night, Ernie was towing away a badly damaged Toyota Pathfinder.
Afterwards, Ernie went to a friend's house rather the salvage yard.
There he had a few beers before going to sleep at the same location.
On discovering the Camaro was still at the garage Tuesday morning, Mike
Maynard tried to contact and locate Ernie James. Claude Hamilton's
hatchet man almost getting ready to find another person to dispose of
the car. Finally at around 5 p.m., Mike was able to get a hold of
Ernie.
"What happened yesterday?" Mike asked the tow truck driver. "You were
supposed to pick the car up."
"I'm sorry sir but the State called. You can't really tell them no."
"I don't give a fuck about the state, I paid you to get that car."
"Yes I will, I will. Tonight I'll do it."
"You better, that's all I say." Mike Maynard then hung up the phone.
*****
Jeffrey Lockwood's funeral took place at St. Jude's Catholic Church. If
a guess was made, it was that there were 800 to 1,000 people were in
attendance. No one took a count.
Many of those present were Wilmington High grads of 1993, plus some of
the school's underclassmen. Members of the School choir sang 'Amazing
Grace' at the mass. Others present were friends of the Lockwood family.
Julie, Tom, Dan, Kathy and Kevin Metzger were there. Only Loc's
grandmother Mary remained at New Hanover in case the teen woke up.
Drew Hamilton wanted to attend the funeral, but his father forbid it.
Instead Todd Hamilton and his fiancee Pamela Ryder were there.
Last but not least were Jeff's family. Cousins had flown in as far as
California and Rhode Island. In the first pew of the church sat David
Lockwood, his wife Carol and their daughter Tabitha.
Carol cried loudly throughout the service. David wrapping an arm around
his wife. Tabitha just sat there quietly, staring blankly at the coffin
just a few feet away.
When the mass was over, the coffin was wheeled to a waiting hearse. The
next stop would be the cemetery. Most of those who came to mass would
also be making the trip there.
The Metzgers wouldn't be among those going to the funeral. Tom had
work, Julie needed sleep, etc. Outside the church the two mothers
hugged.
"It is all right we understand," David told Tom. The father barely able
to keep his emotions in check.
"How about Loc? Carol Lockwood asked Julie.
"Still no change."
A lot of the students at the mass walked up to the Metzgers inquiring
about their former classmate. Tom and Julie were grateful for all of
this support.
The Metzgers waited till the procession left for the cemetery. Then the
couple walked back to their own cars.
At the request of Jeffrey Lockwood's parents, the funeral procession
passed the Lockwood house on the way to the cemetery. That was so the
body of Carol and David Lockwood's only son could go home one last
time.
At the cemetery, the burial service was done. David Lockwood tried to
say a few words but broke down crying. The father was torn apart
emotionally by the death of his only son.
It was a beautiful June day. Too good a day to be burying an eighteen-
year-old. Is there ever a good one?
*****
That afternoon Dan Compton met with Judge Wallace Heard. The Detective
presenting the case so far against Drew Hamilton. Also there was Asst.
DA Donna Weibring.
Judge Heard was a tough judge, but that went both ways. For both police
and the guilty. He had questions for the detective.
"You have five sworn statements saying Hamilton was racing a car on
Shoals Road?"
"Yes your honor."
Judge Heard was looking at the statements. "Jason Percy was the other
driver in the race?"
"Yes your honor," Donna Weibring said. She had promised Percy immunity
if he testified. The Asst. DA would admit this to Judge Heard if asked.
The Judge didn't need to ask. He knew the answer already. Judge Heard
looked at the other physical evidence so far produced by Dan Compton
and the other investigators on the case. It was sketchy so far.
Dan knew that but the police had to make a move. "We fear Hamilton
could flee the jurisdiction."
"Any proof for this?"
"The Hamiltons have a private plane at Wilmington Airport. We've seen
people working on it this morning. One appeared to be a pilot."
"Does this plane have sufficient range to reach say....the Caribbean?"
"Yes your honor. South America and parts of Western Europe also.
Without refueling."
Judge Heard grunted as he looked down at the warrant. Then he signed
it.
Donna spoke to Dan on the way out of Judge Heard's chambers. "When will
you make the arrest?"
Dan looked at his watch. Before an arrest was done, preparations needed
to be made. It was almost 3:30 p.m. "Tonight, I'd say in about two to
three hours."
*****
Someone doesn't wake from a coma as if it was a normal sleep. Rather
consciousness returns in stages.
The first thing Jeff felt was the pain. It wasn't in one location but
almost throughout his entire body. As of yet Jeff didn't know the full
extent of his injuries.
Or the fact that it was now five days after the car crash. Jeff's
injuries and the surgery required to make him well again had put the
young man out of it for almost 136 hours.
Now Jeff was awakening and it was a slow process. It had actually begun
a day earlier. Jeff began reacting more to outside stimuli. He could
move some of his limbs but not all. It hurt to do so too, instead Jeff
tried opening his eyes. It was about the only body part that wasn't
hurting.
The first thing he saw was the ceiling, for Jeff was laying on his
back. The teenager just stared at it for a few moments as Jeff let his
eyes try to focus. For the moment his vision appeared to be a bit
blurry.
'Where am I?' Jeff asked himself. The surroundings didn't look
familiar. The last thing Jeff remembered was the party at the Nelson
house. 'Why am I in bed too?'
While Jeff's sight returned to normal, his other senses were also
kicking into gear. His hearing appeared normal, Jeff had just heard
some voice that were far away but not talking to him. So again, where
was he?
Jeff's sense of taste was working. His mouth tasted terrible and he was
very thirsty too. Right then Jeff would have done anything for a drink
of water but his body felt both weak and not right. The need of a drink
was almost as bad as the pain at present, so Jeff turned his head to
one side in an effort to learn exactly where he was . Maybe some water
was close by.
There was somebody else in the room. She was elderly and reading a book
at the moment. Jeff recognized the woman, but the coma had left parts
of his memory like a jigsaw puzzle.
"I'm thirsty," Jeff said.
*****
Mary Metzger immediately looked up from her book. 'Thanks be to heaven.
My granddaughter is alive!'
"I'll be right back," Mary told Loc, temporarily ignoring her request
for something to drink. Instead the grandmother got up and left the
room. A few minutes later a nurse came into the room with Mary Metzger.
"My name is Beth and I'm your nurse. How are you feeling?" Beth
Radomskyj asked Jeff as she began to take the teenager's vitals.
"I hurt all over," Jeff said with a groan.
Mary Metzger was busy getting Jeff a cup of water. "Will the doctor be
here soon?
"He's on the floor Ma'am," Beth told the grandmother. Her focus now
being on Loc not the repetitive questions from Mary Metzger. "Your bp
is 100 over 60."
"Is that good?" Jeff asked.
Beth nodded. Her patient was doing wonderful for someone in a coma for
almost six days. Many formerly comatose patients need to learn to talk
again. "Yes. On a scale of 1 to 5, how do you rate your pain?"
"Five. Can I get something?"
"Yes you can," Beth Radomskyj answered back.
Mary Metzger came over to the bed with a cup of water. She asked the
nurse if it was alright for Loc to drink it. Beth said yes.
"I'm so thirsty," Jeff said as Loc's grandmother began to give her the
water. After taking a few sips with the help of a straw, Jeff laid his
head back down again. A few moments later he was back to sleep.
Mary Metzger knew what she had to do next. She picked up the phone in
the room and then dialed a local number. "Kathy, could you please put
your mother on the line."
******
Julie Metzger arrived in her daughter's room twenty minutes later. The
mother coming as soon as she got the news. Tom Metzger got there twenty
minutes later after that. Loc's father making a hasty exit from work.
When Tom arrived, Doctor Melby one of Loc's many doctors was just
leaving the room. The father asked for an update on his daughter. "It's
a good sign Loc woke up?"
"Yes it is," Dr. Melby replied. Loc was doing excellent in reality. The
teen was acting more like she had come out of a deep sleep than a coma.
"Your daughter is young and very strong. Her chances for a full
recovery are excellent."
Tom looked over at Loc who lay asleep in her bed. Flanking her, one on
each side, were Julie and Mary Metzger.
Right then Jeff moaned but didn't become conscious. Tom had another
question for the doctor. "Is it normal for her to still be sleepy?"
"Yes, the pain medications will make her drowsy."
Tom had more questions. About Loc's long term prognosis, what she could
eat and drink, how much longer she would be in the SICU and more. Dr.
Melby filled the father in the best he could.
After Dr. Melby left the room, Tom went over to the bed and took Loc's
hand. Tears filled his eyes as he bent down to kiss his daughter.
"I'm going to stay here all night," Julie Metzger announced. She wanted
to be there for the next time Loc woke up.
Tom looked at his wife. "No problem."
*****
Jeff heard nothing of the conversation going on in the room. His body
hurt too much to concentrate on anything but the pain which came in
waves.
After a few minutes Jeff opened his eyes again. He saw that there were
three people in the room now.
"You're awake sweetheart," Julie Metzger said as she held Jeff's left
hand.
"I hurt," Jeff replied as he began to note his surroundings again. He
was in a hospital room. "Water?"
This time the Metzgers were prepared. Julie held the cup as Jeff took a
few sips. The bad taste in his mouth was starting to go away.
Jeff's level of consciousness like his awareness was slowly increasing.
He was feeling two other bodily needs then. The first was hunger and he
told that to Julie.
"Be patient sweetheart," Julie told the girl she believed was her
daughter. At the time Jeff was getting an IV for fluids and nutrients.
Dr. Melby had said he wanted to wait a little longer before allowing
his patient something more solid.
"I'm hungry and need to go pee." Jeff could feel the tubes and other
hospital equipment that were attached to him.
"Just go dear," Julie told Jeff. She explained about a catheter that
was in place just for what Jeff needed to do now.
Not knowing what else to do, Jeff did as told and urinated. It felt
very strange. Then he began to get sleepy again. Before closing his
eyes, Jeff realized something.
'Why are Loc's parents in my room? Where are Mom and Dad?'
*****
Claude Hamilton saw the cars coming up his home's driveway. The CEO had
just gotten home from work. Claude knew the police were there for Drew.
Still the father acted like he knew nothing. "How may I help you?
"Is Drew Christian Hamilton home?"
"Yes, may I ask why?"
Dan took a warrant out of his pocket. "We have a warrant for your son."
Drew was in the Hamilton family living room sitting with his mother.
For the first time,
Elizabeth was hearing directly from her son's mouth what happened.
"Drew, you were very foolish."
"I know that Mom. What I did is tearing me apart. I knew Jeff and Loc,
and it makes it feel even worse."
"You knew them?"
Drew explained to his mother how he knew Jeff and Loc. "Loc is a really
sweet girl. I liked her so much I asked her to be my date at the senior
prom. It will kill me if she dies."
It was right at that moment Dan Compton and two Wilmington policemen
arrived in the living room. Drew and Elizabeth Hamilton knew this was
bound to happen but it was still a bit of a shock to their systems.
"Are you Drew Christian Hamilton?" Dan Compton asked.
"I am," Drew said as he got out of his seat and went over to kiss his
mother. While afraid of jail, in a way Drew was relieved. His
conscience was troubling him just too much. "Mom, I'll be fine."
"Drew Christian Hamilton we have a warrant for your arrest....."
Elizabeth Hamilton then spoke. "Can't this wait. We were about to eat
dinner."
"No Ma'am, it can't," Dan replied. A New Hanover policeman then slapped
the cuffs on Drew.
On the way out of the house, Claude had one last reminder for his son.
"Don't talk to the police. Me and Mr. Hadden will have you out of jail
tonight."
'In your dreams,' Dan thought as he pushed Drew Hamilton into a waiting
patrol car. As soon as everyone was inside, the car drove off.
*****
Jeff dozed on and off for the rest of the night. Every part of his body
still hurt even with the medications he was getting.
During the evening Jeff got his very first food. It was only pudding
but he devoured it. When finished he tried talking. "Where's Loc?"
By then only Julie Metzger was in the room. Tom and his mother had gone
home. Now that Loc was awake, the mother still planned on staying at
the hospital. Someone would be with Loc twenty-four hours a day.
"Hi sweetheart," Julie said to her daughter. The doctors had warned the
Metzgers that their daughter may be confused when she first woke up.
People coming out of a coma were always like that.
Jeff still didn't know why Loc's mother was there. "Where are my
parents?"
"Your father went home. I'll be staying with you tonight."
Still in the fog from the coma, Jeff's questions took time. "Where's
Loc?"
Julie Metzger didn't answer. "Would you like some more pudding?"
"Yes."
Julie was already prepared. She spent the next few minutes feeding her
daughter. The mother was going to do everything and anything needed to
make Loc well again.
Jeff was becoming a little more conscious of his surroundings. "Why am
I here?"
"You were in an accident sweetheart. The doctors say you'll be
alright."
"I'm in the hospital?"
"Yes you are."
"When do I go home?" Jeff was beginning to get tired again.
"Soon sweetheart. You must get your strength back first."
Jeff was too tired to ask more questions. Like where Loc was and why
Mrs. Metzger was in his room. There was a remote control in his bed. He
reached for it.
In doing so, Jeff saw his right hand. It looked different. Maybe it had
been hurt, but he was able to pick up the remote. The boy decided to
watch a little bit of television.
Jeff was only able to watch for a few minutes before dozing off. Mrs.
Metzger would turn the television off for him. Questions were starting
to pile up in Jeff's mind. .
'Why are my finger nails long?' Jeff asked himself just before he dozed
off.
*****
Dean Hadden got to the New Hanover County Correctional Center within an
hour of Claude Hamilton's phone call. The father was waiting on the 2nd
floor for the attorney.
"My son is in there," Claude said pointing to a room down the hall.
"They wouldn't let me in."
"Did you remind Drew not to speak to police till I arrived?"
"Yes I did."
Before they got to the room, Dan Compton stepped out first instead. He
knew who Dean Hadden was, and was already guessing the attorney had
been hired to represent Drew Hamilton.
"Too late counselor. Your client just confessed."
*****
A nephrologist came in to see Loc for a short visit. The teenager was
still dozing on and off.
"How is she?" Julie asked the kidney doctor.
Loc in addition to her spleen injury, had suffered some bleeding in the
kidney area. This doctor was keeping a close eye on Loc's kidney
functions through daily bloodwork.
"Your daughter's kidney functions are in the normal range. We'll
continue to monitor, but I think she is safe. Loc may be transferred to
the floor tomorrow. I'm also going to change her diet.
"Thank you. Doctor, can I ask some advise?"
"Yes you can."
"My daughter, Loc, lost her boyfriend the night of the crash. Do you
feel it is safe to tell her?"
Psychology and grief counseling weren't the nephrologist's field of
expertise. "You're daughter is out of danger. Telling her wouldn't
cause her any physical harm. You could have her talk to a counselor,
but its usually best if family breaks the news."
Julie knew that telling Loc about Jeff would upset and hurt the girl.
Like all good mothers, this was the last thing Julie wanted to do. It
just couldn't be avoided much longer.
*****
The first thing Ernie Jones heard was the siren. Then came the sounds
of police.
"Put your hands up and get out of the vehicle!" Said a Wilmington City
policeman. The officer was pointing a revolver at Ernie after opening
the driver's side door of the man's tow truck.
While Ernie was being handcuffed, Dan Compton and Bill Fischer walked
into the garage. The Camaro Z28 was still there.
"Paydirt," Dan said looking at vehicle.
"Sure is," Bill replied back.
"Take this back to the lab and tear if apart," Dan told Bill before
going back outside.
"Will do chief," Bill said in reply. Between locating the car involved
in last week's fatal accident and having Drew Hamilton's confession,
the case Bill was working on was setting up nicely.
Slam dunk prosecutions were always the surest way to put someone behind
bars.
*****
Jeff slept off and on that night. As he did, the teen had some very
active dreams. It was during these he came to know he was in Loc's
body.
It wasn't one dream, but many. All involving Loc, but always with the
two of them changing places. One in particular, that ended with Jeff
and Loc kissing each other, was vividly seared into Jeff's
consciousness as he woke up around 2:30 in the morning.
'So I'm Loc. She must be me then. How did we get like this?' Jeff asked
himself as he looked around the semi-dark hospital room. Julie Metzger
was sleeping in a chair alongside the bed she thought her daughter was
in.
Now things started to make sense to Jeff. He was his girlfriend, that
was why the Metzgers were here when he woke up.
What Jeff couldn't remember yet was how he and Loc traded bodies. The
answer was somewhere in the eighteen-year-old's mind. Jeff was certain
he would remember it soon enough.
Right then Jeff was feeling a little thirsty again. The call button for
the nurse was next to his right hand. Jeff pushed it.
A tall bearded man in his forties came into the room a minute later.
"What can I do for you?"
"Can I have some water?" Jeff asked. The tray table wasn't close enough
for him to reach.
Right then Julie Metzger woke up. "You're awake."
Jeff knew Loc's mother saw her as her daughter, not Loc's boyfriend.
For the time being, he'd have to play along. Jeff would have to pretend
to be Loc.
"Hi Mom." Jeff/Loc said just before the nurse gave her a cup of water.
She drank every last drop.
"Anything else?" the nurse asked.
"No," Loc replied back. Then the nurse left the room.
Loc was feeling pretty wide awake right then. Maybe it was time to ask
Mrs. Metzger some questions.
"Have I been asleep for a while?"
"Yes sweetheart. For five days."
Across from Loc's bed was a chalkboard. Her memory had gaps in it, but
the teen knew the day was strange when she saw it earlier.
Loc, really Jeff Lockwood, had to act to act like her girlfriend for at
least the time being. So Loc asked some questions about her condition,
what had happened etc.
Julie filled Loc in. "The accident was on your graduation night. You
and Jeff were driving home."
"I don't remember anything after leaving Shelly Nelson's house."
"That's all right sweetheart."
"How long will I be in the hospital?"
Julie tried to smile. "A while sweetheart. You were badly hurt."
"But I'll be all right?"
"Yes you will."
Loc felt a little better mentally on hearing that. She and Jeff could
switch back. If he remembered how they got this way.
"How's Jeff?"
Julie didn't answer for about ten seconds. "He's asleep sweetheart."
Something didn't ring true to Loc about Mrs. Metzger's answer. "Mom is
Jeff hurt?"
"Yes sweetheart."
Right then Loc got hit by a wave of pain. It was sharp and lasted for
over a minute. It caused Loc to cry.
Julie saw this. She would have done anything to take her daughter's
pain away.
Loc tried asking some more questions about Jeff but Julie remained
evasive. Feeling fairly awake, Loc turned on the television. There was
some rodeo being broadcast on ESPN. She watched that for an hour before
falling back to sleep.
*****
Tom and Mary Metzger arrived at New Hanover at 7:30 the next morning.
Mary would be staying the day with Loc while Julie went home to get
some sleep.
"What's happening at the house?"
"Quite a bit," Tom told his wife. "The phone don't stop ringing."
"Loc's friends?"
"Yes, people from the church, just about everyone you can think of."
Sleeping at home wasn't going to be much easier for Julie than it was
at the hospital.
"How is she?"
"Loc woke up during the night," Julie explained to Tom. "She was asking
about Jeff."
"We're going to have to tell her."
"Yes but I thought we would get some help." Julie had called a grief
counselor at New Hanover and left a message.
Tom took a look at his watch. "I better get going to work. I'd really
like to stay but...."
Julie gave her a husband a quick kiss. "Tom I understand. You need to
work."
"Yes to pay the bills. Loc's treatment won't be cheap. That I'm certain
of." The medical bills would be covered under the auto policy for the
Volare. In addition the Metzgers had medical insurance. How much these
two coverages would pay, was totally unknown at this point as would be
the total for Loc's recovery. It would certainly be a big amount.
Tom Metzger left a few moments later. Julie was going to head out
herself but then two things happened.
First breakfast came, at the same time Loc woke up. Julie decided to
stay at New Hanover a little longer.
Julie fed her daughter breakfast. Loc ate the food, scrambled eggs,
toast, a slice of orange plus juice.
"They have no taste," Loc said referring to the eggs Julie had just fed
her.
Hospital food was like that. "I'll get you something better tomorrow."
Then the neurologist came in. He examined Loc and asked her a few
questions. This was like a test.
"What's your name?"
"Loc Mary Metzger." Tom Metzger had once told his daughter she was
named after her grandmothers.
"Your birthday?
Loc tried thinking but the date didn't pop into her head. "I'm 18."
"Where do you live?"
"North Carolina."
"Do you have any brothers and sisters?"
"Yes."
"What are their name or names?"
Loc was about to say Tabitha but corrected herself. "Kevin and Kathy."
The neurologist asked a few more simple questions of Loc. She answered
all she could.
"Your daughter is doing much better than we could have hoped for," Dr.
Schulte told Julie Metzger in the hallway.
"She has forgotten a few things."
"Comatose patients do that. Your daughter's memory loss seems small but
I'll have more tests ordered."
"Will she get back her memory?"
"Hard to say. Some people do, some don't."
Julie was grateful just to have Loc awake and out of danger. The memory
loss was a minor issue compared to the teen's other injuries.
"Loc doesn't remember the crash that evening. Is that normal?"
"Yes. People who suffer traumatic injuries often forget the cause on a
conscious level." Dr. Schulte explained. Then the doctor imparted some
good news. "I believe your daughter is well enough now to be
transferred to the hospital floor some time later today. She should be
out of danger now."
Julie was back in the room a few minutes later. Mary Metzger was
talking to her granddaughter, but Loc wasn't saying a whole lot.
"I'll be back later sweetheart," Julie told Loc before kissing her.
Mary Metzger had brought the morning copy of the Star-News to read.
Fully awake, and with nothing else to do, Loc turned on the television.
'I hope Loc didn't die,' Jeff Lockwood thought to herself as she began
to surf channels.
*****
Drew Hamilton's bail hearing didn't come till 1 p.m. the day after his
arrest. Having to spend a night in prison was a very unsettling
experience.
Judge Reuben Isidore presided over the short session. There were
another twenty-three men and women that day who had to appear before
the judge.
"What does the defendant plead?"
"Not guilty," Drew replied back. It was the exact reverse of how the
young man felt at present.
"Bail?"
The Prosecuting attorney in the case of North Carolina vs. Drew
Hamilton was thirty-three-year-old Donna Weibring. She had been working
in The New Hanover County District Attorney's office since graduating
University of North Carolina law school. In seven years of prosecuting,
Donna had an impressive record of convictions.
"The state requests remand your honor."
Dean Hadden then spoke. "My defendant has no prior record and has deep
roots in this community."
"He also has a rich father who owns a private jet."
Judge Isidore let Donna Weibring and Dean Hadden go tit for tat for
another minute. "Bail is set at one million dollars. The defendant is
also ordered to turn over his passport."
All the Hamiltons present, Claude, Elizabeth, Todd and Drew in
particular, breathed a sigh of relief. However Drew Hamilton's legal
problems were far from over.
Drew was bailed out of jail about two hours later. He rode back with
his parents and brother to the Hamilton house.
When they were home, Claude gave Drew an order. "You're not to step out
of this house without my prior permission. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Your mother and I have never felt so ashamed in our lives." Claude
Hamilton said before stalking off. The father would have slapped his
son, except for his wife Elizabeth's presence. That meant in no way
Drew Hamilton was off the hook. His father would make Drew pay dearly
in the days ahead for the disgrace he had brought to his family.
*****
Loc was transferred out of the SICU just after lunch. She had just
finished eating a grilled cheese sandwich. One thing was certain, Loc
had an appetite.
Room 304, Loc's new room, was in New Hanover's surgical section. The
room wasn't much different. A hospital room was a hospital room and Loc
was still being monitored but not as intensely.
Mary Metzger made the move along with her granddaughter. As soon as she
was settled, Loc turned on the television again. She hadn't watched the
noon news, if Loc had, she would have learned of Drew Hamilton's arrest
and the death of who everyone believed was Jeff Lockwood.
Afternoon television doesn't appeal to most teens, and Loc was no
different. She had little else to do. Mary Metzger would talk to her
quite a bit, but Loc didn't feel like talking. She liked the woman, but
Mary wasn't Jeff's grandmother.
Mary was reading the newspaper again around 2 p.m. "Excuse me Lucky,
I'll be back in a few moments."
Loc watched as Mary got up. Before heading to the bathroom, the
grandmother placed that day's newspaper in the bed alongside Loc.
For no other reason than because she felt bored, Loc picked up the
Star-News. She soon saw the article at the bottom of page one.
*****
Arrest made in crash that killed Grad
By Nancy Yates
Star-News Staff writer
Yesterday evening, police made an arrest in the case of last
Wednesday's fatal automobile crash that killed one Wilmington teen and
left another in serious condition.
Drew Hamilton, 20, of Wilmington was arrested shortly after 6 p.m. at
his family home....
*****
Loc's memory was still in recovery mode but she recalled who Drew
Hamilton was. The article was continued on page 12A,
*****
Wednesday night's crash killed Jeffrey Lockwood, 18, of Wilmington. His
girlfriend Loc Metzger, also 18 was injured in the crash and is listed
in serious condition at New Hanover Medical Center. The two teens were
on the way home from a graduation night party when the crash occurred.
Also a funeral service was held today for Jeffrey Lockwood......
*****
Loc immediately dropped the newspaper and began to cry. "Loc."
Mary Metzger then came out of the bathroom. She saw her granddaughter
crying and tried to ask what was wrong. Loc wouldn't answer.
It only took a minute for Mary to discover what happened. The
grandmother seeing where the newspaper was open to. Feeling guilty of
what she had caused to happen, Mary too began to cry.
"Oh Lucky, I'm so sorry."
Mary gathered herself quickly. The grandmother not knowing what to do
next, picked up the phone in the room and dialed a seven digit number.
"Julie," Mary said after the phone was picked up on the fourth ring.
"I'm sorry to disturb your sleep. Loc just found out....."
*****
Julie Metzger got to the hospital as quickly as she could. Loc was
still distraught and crying almost non-stop.
The hurt Loc was feeling for her dead girlfriend was almost as bad as
the teen's physical pain. Loc and Jeff had been friends since they were
both ten. They had done many things together, had so many memories,
been each other's only love. Now it would be no more.
Loc also knew she could be stuck in the body she was in now. This
wasn't as heavy on Loc's mind as the loss of her girlfriend but was
also causing the teen to cry. What would happen to her?
"I wish I had died," Loc said out loud between sobs. She felt guilty
for still being alive.
Julie immediately sat down next to her daughter's bed, and took Loc's
right and undamaged hand. "Don't talk like that. We love you."
While Loc continued to cry, Mary Metzger talked to her daughter-in-law.
"It's my fault. I left the newspaper on the bed."
"No Mom, don't blame yourself. I could have told Loc earlier. What
happened was an accident."
"I gave Loc, the picture of Jeffrey. I didn't know what else to do."
Loc was clutching one of the photos the Metzgers had brought to the
hospital close to her chest. It was a picture of Loc and Jeff taken
sometime in 1992.
Right then Loc began to think if she should tell the Metzgers who she
was. Then the trouble was, Jeff didn't even remember why he was in his
girlfriend's body in the first place. All the teen knew was they had
switched sometime before graduation night.
If Loc told the Metzgers, they couldn't do anything for Jeff. That is
if they even believed him. So Loc said nothing. She'd have to wait
before doing anything.
"When will Tom get here?"
Tom Metzger was in Lumberton that day. "Not till around six."
Julie and all the Metzgers were handling two tough assignments at the
time. Normal every day life, plus seeing to their injured daughter in
the hospital. It was a tough juggling act, and one that made it easy to
overlook something.
For then Julie realized there was one family in particular that was
asking about Loc. So Julie picked up the phone.
*****
"Thanks for telling us," Carol Lockwood told Julie over the phone.
"We'll continue praying for Loc's recovery."
"Thanks Carol. How are you?"
"Still numb. It's been a week and I still expect to see Jeff walk in
the door."
Carol and Julie talked a little more. As they did, Tabitha Lockwood
returned home.
Tabitha sat at the dining table as her mother finished talking to Julie
Metzger. It wasn't till Carol hung up, that Tabby asked her question.
"Was that about Loc?"
"Yes sweetheart. Her mother called to say Loc is out of both the coma
and intensive care."
"That's good news?"
"Yes very. Loc should get better the doctors say."
Tabby gave her mother a hug right then. The eleven-year-old knew her
mother needed it. They had all been so shaken by what happened to Jeff.
"Is Loc talking?"
"Yes. Her mom said Loc asked about us."
"That's good." Tabby replied back. The hug had ended earlier and both
the girl and her mother were still in the kitchen. Maybe Tabitha's
suspicion that Loc and Jeff had traded places was unfounded.
It had to be. Her big brother didn't want to be a girl. No way and if
Jeff was Loc, then why hadn't he said anything after waking up?
That meant Tabby's brother Jeff was dead. She would miss her brother
very much.
*****
Tom Metzger got to the hospital around 6:15 p.m. He had picked up his
daughter Kathy on the way there.
Loc was doing a little better, but hadn't much appetite at dinner time.
She would still sometimes cry but not as strongly as before.
"Lucky, I'm so glad you woke up," Kathy Metzger told her big sister.
Loc wasn't feeling much like talking. The pain, both physical and
emotional were just too overwhelming right then.
A New Hanover grief counselor had come an hour earlier. Loc talked a
little then, but it had hurt to do so.
"When you get well Lucky, I want you to teach me how to play the
flute." Kathy said.
'Not much chance of that.' Loc thought. Jeff had no idea how to play
that musical instrument, and Loc who did, was dead. Kathy would have to
get a lesson from someone else.
"How are you feeling Princess?" Tom Metzger asked.
"Not too good."
Tom tried to cheer Loc up by telling her of a funny story from his
driving that day. Loc wasn't feeling much like laughing right then.
There wasn't much to laugh about if you're a boy trapped in your dead
girlfriend's body.
*****
It was would be sometime before Loc remembered why she was who she was.
In the meantime, Loc was in for an ordeal.
Loc's body still hurt almost entirely from head to toe. The crash
bruising her just about everywhere. To help with the pain, Loc was
given painkillers. These medicines helped but never made the pain
totally go away.
Other things Loc had to endure were boredom and being bedridden.
Teenagers don't for the most part want to be cooped up and immobile
twenty four hours a day. Because of Loc's injuries, which she was just
learning how severe they were, she would be just that. The only things
Loc could do to pass the time of day were to read, watch television,
talk to whatever Metzger family was there and sleep. Not exactly a
thrilling life.
Loc's catheter was removed the same night that Kathy Metzger came to
say hello to her sister. Not long afterwards, Loc told her mother she
had to go pee.
Julie Metzger gave Loc a bedpan. 'This is going to be fun' Loc thought
as she and her mother slid the thing under her butt.
Going poop was no different. Loc hated having to go like this, and
sometimes would barely eat her food so to avoid going. Except Mrs.
Metzger would insist on her daughter eating. So Loc could regain her
strength.
Even eating was a chore. With her left wrist in a cast, Loc needed help
to cut food. In the first few days after awakening from the coma, Loc's
co-ordination was even off. The Metzgers needing to feed their teenage
daughter as if she was a baby.
Loc hated all of this. Including being trapped like she was in the
wrong body. She began feeling sorry for herself and Loc would say she
wanted to be dead.
When she said this, various Metzger family members would tell her not
to say it and usually Loc would just shut up. But inside, that's how
she felt. Jeff Lockwood was trapped in Loc's body, hurting both
emotionally and physically plus being bored to tears. What was there to
look forward to?
Not helping Loc's state of mind was that she had to act like the real
Loc. Or should she just come out and tell his girlfriend's parents the
truth? A few times Loc came very close to doing this but stepped back
each time. She knew the news would hurt the Metzgers.
The first Saturday after waking up, Tom Metzger spent the whole day
with Loc. After feeding his daughter breakfast, Tom began reading that
day's newspaper. With little else to do, Loc turned on the television.
It wasn't more than a few minutes before Dan Compton arrived in Loc's
room. He introduced himself and asked if Loc was up to answering a few
questions.
"Yes I can but I really don't remember anything."
Dan asked Loc some gentle questions. Loc had little to tell. The whole
night was a black out from the time she and Jeff left the party.
"We didn't drink. Mr. Nelson didn't allow any alcohol."
Tom Metzger then spoke. "My daughter is a good girl, so was the
Lockwood boy. If Loc says they didn't drink, they didn't."
Dan Compton looked at his notepad. The detective's instincts said the
girl was being truthful but Dan would have to wait for toxicology.
Right at that moment, alcohol didn't look to be a factor in the crash.
"Get well young lady." Dan told Loc before saying goodbye and leaving
the room.
Loc turned the television set back on. There wasn't much on. Cartoons,
women's programming and old westerns.
If this continued for long, Loc would go nuts.
"Princess are you all right?"
"I'm bored Daddy," Loc replied back. She had to continue acting like
the real Loc. Did the Metzgers suspect anything at all being odd about
their daughter.
"Princess I'm thankful to God you're alive. We were so worried."
"How are Jeff's Mom and Dad?"
"Not too good. Would you like to talk to them? They've been asking
about you."
Loc didn't want to talk to her real parents till she was ready to say
she was really their son. That wouldn't come till Loc knew how she got
this way and how she'd switch back.
Right then Loc began to cry. Her Mom and Dad and even Tabitha had to be
suffering right then.
Tom Metzger took his daughter's hand and tried to console her. Loc had
to cry, and get the tears out of her system. One day her parents would
see their son again. At least Loc hoped so.
"Would you like me to tell about your Mom again?"
The Loc at New Hanover Regional Medical Center wasn't Nu Metzger's real
daughter. Right now the current Loc thought of how the mother and
daughter were now re-united again in heaven.
"Princess, you always remind me of your mother."
There wasn't anything on television and the news didn't interest Loc
much either. "Tell me about Mom."
The first thing Tom Metzger did was give Loc the picture of Nu Metzger
that was in the room. Loc studied it carefully.
Nu Metzger had been an attractive woman, no question about it. Loc also
looked very much like her mother. The offspring of Tom and Nu Metzger
looking more Asian than white in appearance.
Tom Metzger began talking. "Your mother and I met in April 1973. I had
only been in Saigon three weeks....."
*****
While Loc Metzger recovered from her injuries, the wheels of justice
were slowly coming to life in the case of North Carolina vs Drew
Hamilton.
Dean Hadden, waved Drew Hamilton's right to a preliminary hearing. Once
that was done, Judge Franklin Castle was assigned to the case.
Almost immediately motions were filed. Including those asking for the
confession to be thrown out, and evidence disallowed such as the
wrecked Camaro. Judge Castle didn't rule immediately but when he did,
it was not good for Drew Hamilton. The car and confession were
admissible.
Carol and David Lockwood began attending almost all the court hearings.
At least one of them always being present.
Both Carol and David had gotten over the initial shock phase in regards
to their son's death. At first they blamed themselves. Like David being
angry at how he got mad at his son for not helping at the shop the last
few days before his death. Or for the father's first reaction on the
night of the crash. That Jeff had locked himself out of the house.
David Lockwood would never again get angry at Jeff if he could just
have his son alive again.
Now the Lockwoods focused their anger at Drew Hamilton and were
demanding justice. They wanted to see the young man do a long stint in
jail and both parents freely told the print and television press just
that.
In July the Lockwoods filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Drew
and Claude Hamilton. A few days later, the Metzgers also filed suit
against the Hamiltons. They were seeking damages plus compensation for
the accumulating medical bills Loc Metzger and her family were already
incurring.
The police found the wrecked Camaro a treasure trove of evidence. When
matched with the wrecked Volare and debris found at the top of Shoals
Road, there was no question this was the second car involved in the
crash.
The toxicology and autopsy reports on the body of Jeffrey Lockwood came
in. Alcohol was eliminated as a cause of the crash. The eighteen-year-
old was stone sober that night.
Under North Carolina law, the police had to divulge what evidence they
had to the defense through discovery filings. By this process Dean
Hadden was already getting a clear picture of the prosecution case. He
told this to Drew Hamilton and his father.
"Is the DA offering any plea deal?" Claude Hamilton asked Dean Hadden
one July afternoon. Drew was also there, but was still racked with
guilt for what he had caused to happen. The young man's confession to
police had only slightly absolved his soul.
"Yes ten years," Dean Hadden answered back.
"Unacceptable. What's Plan B?" Claude asked.
"We go to trial. I have to warn you, Drew could go to prison for up to
thirty years."
Claude knew that already and didn't need the reminder. After a minute's
thought, the CEO had a question. "Is there any way of weakening the
prosecution's case?"
"It's pretty strong Claude."
"My son is not going to jail. How about them teenagers?"
"What about them?"
"Is there any way of us placing the blame on these children?
Discrediting them?"
Dean knew what Hamilton meant. The Defense attorney had a job to do,
but trying to put the blame on two innocent parties was disgusting in
Dean's mind.
"Claude, they aren't at fault. The autopsy and toxicology tests were
clear on that point."
"My son isn't going to jail."
Dean looked across at Drew Hamilton. The young man looked dejected.
What did Drew Hamilton want, Dean probably should have been asking.
"There is one possibility. It is a longshot."
"Tell me about it," Claude Hamilton replied back.
*****
Monotony and pain. That summed up Jeff Lockwood's life as Loc Metzger
at New Hanover Medical Center.
Watching television gets boring fast. The only other things Loc could
do were to read, and talk to the Metzgers.(One time the Metzgers
brought Loc her laptop. Loc tried using it but found it next to
impossible with only one good hand) She had nothing against the people
she was calling Mom and Dad, they just weren't her parents
The Metzgers continued to stay with Loc almost twenty-four hours a day.
New Hanover hospital policy didn't allow this, but the staff bent the
rules for Loc's family. Mostly because Tom, Julie, Mary and even Kathy
Metzger, took care of Loc when they were with her. This meant less work
for the nurses at New Hanover .
Kathy Metzger spent two days at the Hospital with her sister over
summer vacation. Either watching television, talking, or one day
playing checkers with Loc. Normally ten-year-olds would have to be
accompanied by a parent when at New Hanover , but again the rules were
bent or broken for the Metzgers.
Within days Loc had the television schedule memorized except for
sporting events. A local channel showed mostly old television detective
dramas. 'The Streets of San Francisco', 'Magnum PI' and 'Barnaby Jones'
to name three. With her only other choices being talk shows or soap
operas, Loc picked the detective dramas. After a while they all started
looking oh so familiar. The same plots recycled, just the locations
changed.
Loc began to read voraciously, often getting 150-200 pages done a day.
The Metzgers bringing books from home for their daughter to read. Tom
Metzger liked to read history and current events. Some of these books
were brought for Loc, but she also managed to read James Clavell's
Shogun and King Rat also.
Two weeks to the day since the car crash, Loc was operated on a second
time. Her ankle hadn't just been broken but shattered. The second
operation's purpose was mainly to clear out bone chips and other debris
left from the fractures. Loc would need several more operations.
Carol Lockwood paid a visit to Loc the night after the operation. Loc
was so tempted to say she was really Jeff but didn't do it. She still
didn't know how she had become the way she was or if Loc could ever get
back to being Jeff.
Loc's pain, which naturally increased after her second operation,
wasn't all over her body any more like it had been when first admitted
to the hospital. Now most of it came from the waist down. Loc wondered
when she would be pain free again?
Two days after her second operation, was when Loc finally remembered
how she became this way. She dreamed of the necklace and how Jeff and
Loc used it. After waking up, the memory was back. So now Loc knew how
she could become Jeff again and knew where the necklace was.
That left the problem of how to become Jeff again? Ask the Metzgers to
bring the thing and Jeff's shirt? Tell them what really happened, and
that the girl they were looking at wasn't their daughter. Would the
Metzgers believe her?
Loc thought no. What was her other option then? She could call Tabitha
Lockwood and ask for help. She would convince the girl she was actually
talking to her brother.
That seemed workable enough. Then how would Tabitha get her hands on
the necklace? Also how about when and where would Loc change back to
Jeff? The Metzgers were with the teen almost twenty-four hours a day.
So Loc see sawed between waiting and doing something immediately. The
later would be tough to accomplish and Loc wondered if it would even be
possible as long as she was at New Hanover. In the end she decided to
stay who she was. Till she could go home and do it without help.
The Metzgers were there every day for Loc. To feed her, clean her, dump
the bedpan, and just keep her company. Loc was appreciative of this. If
she had been alone, Loc didn't know how she would have ever coped.
Coping was about all Loc could do as her seventh week at New Hanover
began. Her or Jeff Lockwood's future looking just as unclear as it had
since the moment she woke up five days after the crash.
*****
Monotony and pain(emotional not physical) also summed up Drew
Hamilton's life. The young man would have happily places with Loc
Metzger if it was possible. If he only known of the medallion.
Drew was still confined to his house by his father. In addition the
young man was being shunned by friends, and still feeling guilty for
what he caused to happen. His own stupidity and selfishness had caused
Jeff Lockwood to die and put Loc Metzger in the hospital. Drew wanted
to pay for it.
Drew had confessed to police to relieve his conscience, but it was only
a half measure. The Emory University student still had to pay much more
for the life he had taken. Jail scared Drew, but so did hell. That's
where the young man believed he was destined for when his life came to
an end.
Drew wanted to reach out to the Metzgers and Lockwoods and apologize.
Give them every penny his trust fund had, apologize and then go to
jail. Only his mother's love was holding Drew back from changing his
plead to guilty. Drew would hurt his mother to by his going to jail.
Right then Drew Hamilton's eventual incarceration looked inevitable.
The young man was ready to accept whatever sentence was handed down
against him.
*****
Loc's third operation was a week away and she was already not looking
forward to it. When would she ever get out of the hospital? When would
she walk again? When would the pain end? Better yet, when would she get
a chance to use the necklace and become Jeff Lockwood again?
Being stuck both as a female and confined to bed, was driving Jeff
Lockwood up the wall. She just wanted to scream, but what good would it
do?
Once or twice found Jeff cursing the real Loc for doing the switcheroo
on her boyfriend. Then Jeff would remember she was alive and her
girlfriend was dead. Blaming her dead girlfriend for what happened
wasn't right.
Blaming Drew Hamilton was easier for Loc. She kept up with the
newspaper and television accounts of the criminal case against the
twenty-year-old. Loc hoping Drew would spend a long time in jail for
what he did.
On the last Friday in July, Loc got a surprise visitor. It was Reverend
Swan.
"Hello Loc, how are you feeling?"
"All right I guess."
Julie Metzger was in the room at the time. Loc's mother getting up out
of her chair as soon as the Lutheran Minister entered the room. "I'll
go get a snack. Be back in a few minutes."
"Bye Mom."
Reverend Swan talked to Loc about the church. Many people were asking
about her. The youth choir members in particular.
"Loc, I hope when you're well again that you'll join the adult choir."
If Jeff Lockwood realized anything in her time at New Hanover , it was
that she was only alive because of God. By every account she should
have died that night too. Only a miracle had prevented it. From now on
Jeff vowed to take his/her faith more seriously.
"I'll try," Loc replied back. "Why did I live when Jeff died?"
Reverend Swan was quick with an answer "Do you recall what Jeremiah
29:11 says?"
"No I don't." Jeff was betting the real Loc Metzger would have known
the answer.
Reverend Swan opened the bible he had brought with him. Then he began
reading. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future."
Loc thought for a few moments. "I think I understand."
"God has plans for all of us. Jeff went to be with God that night. That
was the Lord's plan."
Reverend Swan and Loc talked for about a half an hour. Loc went to bed
that night wondering about the quotation and what it could mean for
her. Was it God's plan that Jeff Lockwood live the rest of her life as
Loc Metzger?
*****
"Tom dear, is everything all right?" Mary Metzger asked her son.
"Yes Mom," Tom replied as he sat at the desk in the downstairs living
room. Loc's father was looking through some of the recent mail the
family had received.
"I'm going to bed. Good night."
"Good night Mom."
Everything was far from all right so far as Tom Metzger was concerned.
The father was feeling a great amount of stress right at that moment.
All because of what happened to his daughter Loc.
Tom was grateful Loc was alive, he thanked God every day for that
miracle. His daughter was on the road to recovery and while it would be
a long road, Loc would be back to normal by sometime in early 1994 at
worst.
If Loc was on the road to physical recovery, her family right then was
on another road. One to financial ruin including bankruptcy. The bills
from Loc's hospitalization were piling up and there was no end in
sight.
Insurance should cover most of the present bills but the trouble was,
which insurance company? The insurance the Volare had or was it
supposed to be paid by the Hamilton's insurance company. Loc was also
covered under a family plan her father got through his work. You'd
think between these three insurance plans, the bills would get paid.
But they weren't. The auto insurance had a cap. The Hamiltons weren't
admitting guilt and their insurance company was dragging their feet. As
for Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Metzger's health insurance provider,
they said it was the auto insurers who had to pay. The Metzgers were
finding themselves in the middle of an insurance nightmare.
Tom was spending more time arguing with the insurers than with Loc some
days. His daughter was hurt through no fault of her own, and now the
whole Metzger family was being made to hurt again, Loc included. Where
would they get the money to pay for the mounting medical bills?
The fund raised at NCNB had long since dried up. Tom and Julie were
grateful for the many kind people in Wilmington who donated a little
over $23,000 to help with Loc's medical expenses. Unfortunately all
that money had been spent by now.
The Metzgers had filed suit against Drew Hamilton and his father in
order to recoup the money the Metzgers were paying for Loc's care.
Gerald Lozman was a very fine attorney, but he even said a settlement
could take years. What would the Metzgers do in the meantime?
The Metzgers had money saved, but most of it was in college education
plans for their children. If Tom dipped into these, how would he send
Loc to Duke when she was totally recovered? Loc had lost her boyfriend,
but now her college dreams were in jeopardy too. The world was so
unfair, Tom often thought to himself or sometimes confided to his wife.
Tom had put off dipping into the college funds so far, but that would
be ending soon. Loc would soon leave the hospital and have to go to a
rehab facility for several months. This wouldn't be cheap at all as the
Metzgers were already finding out.
There were two facilities that could care for Loc in the part of North
Carolina the Metzgers lived in. One was in Wilmington, the other in
Fayetteville. Earlier that week, Tom and Julie had gone to inspect both
centers.
Wilmington would have been the preferred choice, not just because of
location but cost. The George McKay Rehabilitation center wanted $4,000
a month in return for Loc staying there. Where as the Shields
Rehabilitation and Nursing home in Fayetteville wanted almost $10,000 a
month. The choice should have been easy.
That was till Julie and Tom saw the cockroaches at McKay. At least a
half dozen in their one hour tour. The building also smelled of mildew.
This was no place for Loc(or anyone else) to be spending two to three
months.
Shields on the other hand was brand new, opening in 1991, and sparkling
clean. Also from a brief chat with a teenage girl who lost a leg to
bone cancer and her mother plus two other patients, the people who had
to live and stay there thought the care was excellent. Loc would go to
Shields as soon as the doctors discharged her from New Hanover .
For Loc to go to Shields, the Metzgers would have to pay $19,380 in
advance.(Two months rent. The first being nonrefundable. All subsequent
months were pro-rated. If the patient didn't stay the entire month,
they would be returned some of the money they paid out) Insurance may
reimburse the family, eventually. In the mean time, Tom Metzger would
have to come up with the money. Unless the Metzgers took a mortgage,
that meant dipping into Loc and the twin's college education funds.
There were other costs. Julie would continue to stay with Loc. There
was no direct charge for the mother to stay at Shields, but it still
cost money. The cost of food and clothing for Julie, plus her inability
to work. Normally Loc's mother was a New Hanover County substitute
teacher who also earned money tutoring children on the side. With Julie
busy caring for Loc full-time, this additional Metzger income had dried
up entirely.
In addition with Julie not home, work around the Metzger house like
cleaning was piling up and or delayed in getting done. Neither the
father or mother had the time for it. The yard if not for the volunteer
help of neighbors and church volunteers, would be like a jungle now.
Loc's hospitalization was an immense strain on the whole Metzger family
and at times it was overwhelming for Tom and Julie. Then the
alternative was worse. Loc could also be buried in a Wilmington
cemetery just like Jeff Lockwood.
Tom looked at the bills one last time and grunted. Then he placed the
folder in the top left desk drawer and got up to go to the bedroom. He
was almost there when the father heard a familiar sound.
"Meow."
It was Loc's pet cat, Horatio. The Silver Tabby was over eleven years
old, and had been a member of the Metzger household since being brought
home as a kitten by Loc just before Christmas 1982. Tom had since long
forgotten why his daughter named the cat what she did. Horatio was
waiting by the master bedroom door.
Ten years had passed, but Tom could still remember the day Loc brought
Horatio home. It wasn't long after Kathy and Kevin Metzger had been
born. Tom and Julie had enough on their hands with newborn twins, a
kitten seemed like too much of an additional hassle but Loc wanted the
animal for a pet and her parents relented.
Tom bent down and scratched behind the cat's ears. "Hey little fella. I
know you miss Loc. She'll be home soon."
A half hour later Tom Metzger was drifting off to sleep. Horatio was a
reminder to the father of how much he loved his oldest daughter and how
he always wanted to do anything for her. Loc wanted to go to college,
but would her parents still be able to afford it?
*****
David Lee and his associates arrived in Wilmington the last Sunday in
July. They went to work on the Shoals road accident the next day. This
was part of the longshot strategy Dean Hadden had mentioned to Drew
Hamilton earlier that month.
Professor Lee, who was forty-three-years-old but looked at least five
years younger, had been investigating auto accidents for ten years in
addition to teaching at San Diego State University. A structural
engineer by training, Lee was arguably the best auto accident
investigator in the US who didn't work for a branch of law enforcement.
Hired by Claude Hamilton to work on his son Drew's defense, David and
his team would be in Wilmington for nine days. There they would
meticulously examine the cars involved in the crash and the accident
scene. Once done all the data would be brought to California and
reassembled. Using computer software specifically designed for auto
accidents, Professor Lee would then re-create the accident in order to
determine what happened that June night.
*****
Loc's latest operation took place the same day Professor Lee began his
investigation. At first Loc was doing well after the operation.
Then on Wednesday morning, Loc began running a fever. Bloodwork was
done immediately, and it was discovered Loc's white blood count was way
up. Loc had a post-op infection in her right leg.
For the first time since the days immediately after the crash, doctors
and Loc's family grew concerned for the teenager. Not just because the
infection sapped Loc's energy and could cause her right leg to need
being amputated but also the life threatening dangers the infection
posed. Sepsis being one threat, a blood infection that could spread to
the rest of Loc's body. There also was the danger of blood clots
forming in the leg and going to Loc's lungs. That could result in a
pulmonary embolism. On the Thursday after her third operation, Loc had
to be moved back into intensive care for parts of three days.
Loc pulled through, mostly due to massive quantities of antibiotics
being given to her, but the infection was a major setback. It delayed
Loc's discharge from New Hanover and her eventual return to the Metzger
home by at least two weeks.
This and the high fevers resulting from the infection made Loc very
irritable. She started asking again why she had to suffer.
"I wish I was dead," Loc said one night in the ICU. Tom and Julie
Metzger were both there.
"Princess don't say that," Tom Metzger told his daughter.
"Jeff is dead and I wouldn't be in all this pain."
Julie took Loc's hand. "Sweetheart, you have to beat this if not for
yourself, do it for us. We love you."
Loc continued to cry. Wouldn't it just be better if her suffering
ended? She wouldn't have to be like this anymore.
"Kathy is home and asking for you. She keeps asking when her sister
will come home," Julie said.
"Princess we love you."
"Jeff is dead."
"Yes sweetheart," Julie said. Maybe it was time for the mother to give
Loc some tough love. "But you're alive, and you'll only not get well if
you give up. You have to fight."
Loc looked at the Metzgers. She wanted to live. But not as a painful
cripple stuck in a hospital bed.
Nor did she want to be a girl anymore. She wanted to be Jeff Lockwood.
Looking at the Metzgers, Loc could see how much they loved her. Loved
HER. They thought she was their daughter. Loc wasn't oblivious to the
fact of all what the Metzgers had done for her in the last two months.
How do you tell them you aren't their daughter? That she's dead and
buried in a cemetery.
Loc knew she had a big problem. One with no easy solution and that was
just one reason she was so upset. She would have to hurt Loc's parents
one day and did the Metzgers deserve that?
*****
Claude Hamilton still hadn't given up the idea of spiriting Drew out of
the country. He had sent his hatchet man Mike Maynard out to check on
just that possibility.
The plan drawn up by Mike Maynard looked feasible. Drew would fly via
Miami to the US Virgin Islands. These islands are in close proximity to
their British counterparts. The Hamiltons would then hire a boat
captain to slip Drew from St. John's to Tortola or perhaps one of the
lesser islands that make up the British Virgin Island chain. Drew would
then live in those islands for an indefinite length of time.
A passport wasn't needed to fly to the US Virgin Islands. Plus Drew
could go by car to Miami in order not to be noticed by local police.
He'd fly under an alias. This made the escape plan look likely to work.
Five or more years in the British Virgin Islands looked a whole lot
better than a thirty-year jail sentence in Claude's mind. He would have
already sent Drew away except for the protestations of his wife
Elizabeth. There was also the Lee investigation. If that could throw
some cold water on the prosecution theory, then maybe Drew didn't have
to face time in jail.
"I don't want Drew to go away," Elizabeth Hamilton told her husband.
"Sugar we may have no choice. It is that or jail."
"If Drew leaves, how long would he be gone?"
"Five years at least," Claude replied back. The reality was if Drew
became a fugitive he may never be able to re-enter the United States.
Elizabeth Hamilton then told Claude she preferred Drew not to flee. She
would miss her son too much. Claude knew in the end the Hamiltons may
have no other choice.
In the meantime, Drew was allowed to go to Columbia South Carolina the
first weekend in August. That was when Todd Hamilton married Pamela
Ryder. In order for Drew to make the trip, an additional bail had to be
posted by the Hamilton family.
*****
Even after Loc was transferred back to the surgical floor, her moods
continued to swing. She didn't feel as much sorry for herself, as she
was just plain irritable. It made Loc want to scream at times.
One morning Loc got a chance to vent her feelings. It was at one of
nurse's aides at New Hanover, her name was Mabel.
It was the day the cast had finally came off Loc's left wrist. With her
hand free, Loc could do more things for herself. Especially being able
to feed herself without help.
Mabel was Loc's nurse's aide that day. Just after the cast was removed,
Mabel remarked. "Now miss you can feed yourself without the help of
your step Mom."
Whether it was the term Step Mom, which the real Loc hated when used in
reference to her mother, or whether it was Mabel's condescending tone
of voice that ticked Loc off, the teen didn't remember. Loc was pissed
"Don't ever call my Mom Step Mom! She is MY MOM!!"
Mabel was stunned by Loc's reply. "I'm sorry but...."
"She is MY MOM, MY MOM, MY MOM! Get that through your thick head!"
The nurse's aide quickly left the room. Julie Metzger who was in the
room at the time, just stared at her daughter.
"Sweetheart, don't get upset like that. It doesn't do you any good."
"I don't like it when they call you that word."
Julie smiled. "It's alright. I'm used to it."
Loc wasn't used to it. She thought it was an insult towards the woman
who had done so much for her over the last two months. Whether she
admitted it or not, the former Jeff Lockwood was bonding with the
Metzgers. Julie Metzger in particular.
The following day Loc's family came to visit. Not just her parents but
Kathy Metzger too.
While the family was talking to Loc about her upcoming transfer to
Shields, a nurse entered the room. "This is your big day young lady."
"What do you mean?" Loc asked.
"We're going to get you up to walk."
For two months Loc had been almost totally confined to her bed. That in
order for her fractured pelvis to heal. Only during the last three
weeks had Loc been allowed up out of bed to use a commode in order to
go potty.
"My leg is painful."
"You still have to get up young lady," the nurse told Loc as she began
to lower the bedrail.
Loc tried protesting but to no avail. The sofa like chair in the room
was being set up for Loc. This was where she'd have to walk to.
It was maybe fifteen steps away. To Loc it looked like a million miles.
After Loc managed to swing herself to the bed's edge, the nurse and Tom
Metzger came up on both sides of Loc. They then helped Loc gently put
her feet on the floor.
"Now start walking young lady. We're here to help."
Loc began moving her feet. They were like baby steps. Painful baby
steps. Each more so than the last. If not for the nurse and Tom
Metzger, Loc would have fallen.
"It hurts," Loc said out loud.
"Princess, you're doing great," Tom Metzger told his daughter.
Kathy Metzger was also encouraging her sister. "Come on Lucky, you can
do it."
Loc kept walking. The chair getting closer. Finally Loc made it. When
she did, Kathy Metzger began applauding.
"You did it! Lucky, you did it!"
"I guess I did," Loc said from the comfort of the chair. The nurse and
Loc's father now placing pillows under her back and leg to make Loc
comfortable. The chair had a leg rest which allowed Loc's leg to remain
elevated.
The nurse then re-connected Loc's IV line. Apparently Loc would be
sitting in the chair for a while.
"Sweetheart you did great," Julie Metzger said to her daughter.
Loc had a question. The nurse was getting ready to leave the room.
"When can I take a shower?"
Since Loc had been bedridden, she had been unable to take a shower.
Instead a nursing aide, or usually one of the Metzgers would wash her
daily with a wash cloth. This wasn't a satisfactory method if one
wanted to be fresh. After two months of no showering, Loc smelled
awful.
"The nurse's aide will be in to give you one later."
"Yeah I'm going to get a bath."
"Princess, you have something to look forward to," Tom Metzger said
with a smile.
"When do I leave here?" Loc asked.
"Next week," Julie Metzger told her daughter. "You'll be going to a
rehabilitation center in Fayetteville."
"Not here in Wilmington? Why not home?"
"Princess, the doctors say you still need care. This is a good place,
you'll like it there."
Loc wanted to go home and look for the medallion. Was it still where
she had left it?
"Mom, Dad, can I stay with Lucky today?" Kathy Metzger asked.
Kathy Metzger was still on summer vacation. Tom and Julie had things to
do, mostly in preparation for Loc's transfer to Fayetteville.
"Yes you can sweetheart," Julie answered.
Tom Metzger bent down to kiss Loc. "Princess, I'll be back in the
afternoon. I love you."
"Love you too Daddy."
Once Tom and Julie Metzger were gone, Kathy asked a question. "Want to
play checkers?"
Loc knew what time it was. Television was pretty pathetic at that hour
of the day. One had a choice of either Jerry Springer, A cooking show,
ESPN Sportscenter, (Which Loc had already seen that day) The Golden
Girls, or The Streets of San Francisco.
"Yes if you want to."
Kathy went and got the checker set and began setting it up on Loc's
tray table. As she did, Loc studied her hands and nails.
"All I want for my birthday in October is to have is my sister Lucky
home," Kathy said before the game started. "That would be the best
present I can get. You can teach me how to play the flute when you're
home."
Loc smiled. Kathy Metzger really idolized her. "Kathy, I don't remember
how to play the flute anymore."
Kathy frowned for a second but a smile soon returned to her face.
"That's ok, I just want you to be home. I always tell my friends I have
the best sister."
As the game began Loc wondered what Kathy would think if she knew who
the person she was playing checkers with really was. Then what would be
the reaction of everyone who knew Loc Metzger and Jeff Lockwood?
"Are you still going to Duke?" Kathy Metzger asked after the first game
of checkers ended. Loc had won.
"Not this year," Loc replied back. 'Maybe never. Where will I be and
who will I be next year?' Loc asked herself.
Two nights later, Loc had a dream. She was graduating from college and
the whole Metzger family was there and they were congratulating her.
Then Jeff came up, or rather Loc as Jeff. She congratulating her former
boyfriend on graduating from school.
"Look how happy my parents are," Loc said.
Loc was getting very mixed signals. She wanted to be a boy, The
Metzgers wanted their daughter healthy again. Then came this dream, and
its not so subtle message. Some how Loc was going to have to resolve
the situation she was in.
*****
Carol Lockwood was home alone. Not just physically but emotionally. Her
son Jeff had been gone two months and the mother was still barely
coping.
All of the Lockwoods were hurting but Carol hurt the worst. She had
raised her son, grew him in her womb, and when that life is then taken
from you, a mother feels like a piece of herself has been torn away.
That creates a wound that will never totally heal.
David and Tabitha Lockwood also felt pain from Jeff's death but it was
different. They also had things to preoccupy them. Jeff's Dad with his
business, Tabby with her friends. Carol on the other hand found herself
alone much too often.
It was around 3:00 in the afternoon on the same day Loc took her first
steps in two months, that the front doorbell rang at the Lockwood
house. Carol came from the kitchen to answer it.
Three friends of Jeff Lockwood (and Loc Metzger)were at the door. Bill
Yi, Shelly Nelson and Luis Cruz.
"Hello Mrs. Lockwood, can we come in?" Shelly Nelson asked. Carol
Lockwood said of course.
"We came to bring you Jeff's memorial," Bill Yi said, once he Shelly
and Luis were in the Lockwood house. "That storm could be coming here,
and we didn't want it to blow away."
Wilmington North Carolina is just south of Cape Hatteras, an area
frequently hit by hurricanes. Right now a storm was brewing in the
Atlantic and some weather forecasters felt it could be striking North
Carolina in 72 hours.
There was another reason to take down the memorial. Bill, Luis and
Shelly, who had been the Wilmington high grads most responsible for
maintaining it, were all leaving for college in two weeks. Fall and
winter would soon be coming, and the memorial to Jeff Lockwood's memory
may not have survived it.
So Jeff's three friends packed up the cards, notes and other gifts left
in front of the Metzger home. They were placed in a box to be given to
Mr. and Mrs. Metzger. A wreath was still out on the front lawn plus a
few candles.
Mrs. Lockwood thanked the students and took the box. Then she let Luis,
Bill and Shelly out of the house.
When done, Carol took the box up to Jeff's room. The room remaining the
same since that fateful night in June. Carol appreciated the
thoughtfulness of her son's classmates, she just didn't have the heart
to look at the cards and notes. If she did, Carol was sure to break
down crying.
A little over two months had passed and Carol Lockwood's heart was
still breaking. At the same time the mother was angry and determined.
That Drew Hamilton would pay for what he had caused to happen to her
son, Jeffrey Lockwood.
*****
August 21st 1993 was moving day. After seventy-five days at New Hanover
Regional Medical Center, Loc Metzger was finally leaving.
To get Loc from New Hanover to Fayetteville, both Tom and Metzger had
come to the hospital in addition to their children Kathy and Kevin.
Both family cars would be used to move Loc and her belongings.
For Loc's first journey out of the hospital, her mother brought the
girl her makeup. "I thought you'd like to use this."
The real Loc had given Jeff some makeup tips in order to pass as his
girlfriend. That was over two months ago. Loc was now clueless as what
to do with the things other than the lipstick her Mom had brought.
"Mom, I don't remember."
Julie Metzger understood. Her daughter had lost some of her memory due
to the crash and the resulting coma. Loc's injuries and memory loss
could have been far worse than forgetting how to do her makeup. "I'll
have to teach you again once we're settled in at Shields."
Once the discharge paperwork was done, and copies of Loc's records
provided to her parents, the teen was ready to be moved. Dressed in a
loose fitting peach colored dress, underwear, and slippers, Loc was
helped into a wheelchair and taken out of the hospital.
Before going, Loc said goodbye to some of the nurses on the third
floor. She was grateful for the care they had given her over the last
two months.
One person Loc wanted to see in particular was the nurse's aide, Mabel.
"I'm sorry for the other day."
Mabel accepted Loc's apology. "Good luck Miss Metzger."
The first things Loc noticed on exiting the hospital were the sunlight
and fresh air. They felt invigorating as Tom Metzger wheeled his
daughter out to the curbside.
"I'm so happy to be out of there," Loc said out loud. She was well
aware her hospital time wasn't over. Her right ankle was still in need
of more reconstructive surgery. The good news- Loc would probably be in
the hospital for only 2-3 days at a time for any future operations.
"Princess, we're glad too," Tom Metzger told his daughter.
Julie Metzger had the mini-van by the curbside already. With her
parents help, Loc was boosted into the vehicle. She then sat down
lengthwise on the minivan's back seat.
"Are you comfortable?" Julie Metzger asked.
"Yes Mom."
Tom and Kathy Metzger then got in the mini-van and they all drove off.
Julie and Kevin would be following in the other family car.
Loc seemed to feel every bump in the road on the way to Fayetteville.
By the time the mini-van got there, Loc was in quite a bit of pain. It
was good she wouldn't have to make many of these long trips.
The staff of the Shields Rehabilitation Center were expecting Loc and
her family. Tom Metzger was given a key to Loc's room and told a nurse
and administrator would be down shortly.
Loc's room at Shields was nothing like New Hanover. It was like a small
apartment, just minus a kitchen area. The room had a hospital bed, a
sitting area with two chairs and a sofa(which had a pull out bed where
Loc's Mom would sleep), a television and VCR plus a small refrigerator
alongside which was a sink. The room also had its own private bathroom.
Maybe the best part of the room was the small patio area that was
connected to by a door. Loc could get lots of fresh air and sunlight
there.
Once Loc was in the room, her parents got their daughter out of the
wheelchair and seated on one of the room's sofa chairs. Loc was already
planning to spend as little time in bed as possible. She had enough of
that during her stay at New Hanover .
"We'll go get Loc's stuff," Tom Metzger said referring to himself plus
Kathy and Kevin.
"I'll stay here," Julie replied back.
As she watched her father and siblings leave the room, Loc asked a
question. "How long will I be here?"
"We don't know sweetheart. It will depend on what the doctors say. Do
you like it so far?"
"Yes."
While Loc's things were brought in, first a Shields administrator Ms.
Ryan then a nurse named Cathy came to the room. There were questions to
be asked of Loc and vice versa by her and Julie Metzger. The mother
also gave Loc's current medications to the nurse. Loc would be brought
them by a member of Shields' nursing staff.
Loc watched and listened. She was praying her stay at Shields wouldn't
be long.
Later on Loc and her parents went down to the cafeteria for lunch.
Unlike the hospital, Loc would have both a choice in meals and in
addition to not having to always eat in her room.
Most of Loc's first day at Shields was spent getting settled in. Julie
Metzger tried to make the room look homey for her daughter. She
accomplished this by placing family pictures around the room, plus some
of the stuffed animals from Loc's bedroom back in Wilmington.
The following day was Loc's first day of physical therapy. With a 10:00
appointment scheduled, Loc was wheeled down to the PT room by her
mother about five minutes early.
Loc was in the room only a couple of minutes when her therapist
arrived. She was African-American and looked to be in her mid thirties.
"You must be Lock Metzger. Am I right?"
"Yes but you pronounce it like Luck."
The nurse smiled. "Ok Loc. My name is Regina and you'll be working with
me five days a week."
"Hi Regina."
Regina had a few quick questions to ask of her patient. "On a scale of
1 to 10, how is your pain right now?"
"Six."
"Six only? You shouldn't be here but home young lady!"
"I want to go home," Loc replied back with a slight smile. She was
already beginning to like Regina. Loc had so little to smile about in
the last two months.