Mike and Andy agreed that it was just as well the Chapmans weren’t home. “We need to know if this stain is blood and whose it is before we talk to them,” Mike said. “We’ll ask for a rush at the lab, but even then it will take a few days to get the results. I’m going to call the Carters again and emphasize how absolutely important it is that they keep their mouths shut.”
57
The police had insisted Tony Carter say nothing about his statement to them. For a few days he managed to comply. But when word got back to the Carters that someone reported seeing police cars at Marge Chapman’s home, he couldn’t help himself. His mother and father were no better at staying silent.
Tony’s story—“I helped solve Kerry’s murder; Alan Crowley is innocent; Jamie Chapman was the last one to be with Kerry when she was alive”—spread through the town like wildfire.
Instead of being elated, Alan’s reaction surprised his parents. “The police have this all screwed up,” he said matter-of-factly. “I saw Kerry and Jamie together lots of times. There’s no way he killed her any more than I did.”
“I can’t believe you’re not excited and thrilled,” June snapped. “I think we should call Princeton right now.”
“Mom, don’t get too excited about the stuff on Jamie. I’m telling you they’re wrong. When they figure that out, guess who they’re going to come back to?” he said, while pointing at his chest.
Annoyed at her son’s reaction to the stunning news, June stormed out of the room and went upstairs. Her tone of voice exultant, she called Lester Parker and told him about Tony Carter.
Parker said, “June, I was just going to call you. I have just heard the rumor that a neighbor might have been in the pool with Kerry after the party. But let’s not go too fast on this one. My understanding is that the young man who claims he was in the pool with her has a substantial intellectual disability. The police might conclude that his story is a fantasy or a fabrication or just not something they can rely on.”
When June hung up the phone, she felt deflated, but at the same time more optimistic. Despite Lester Parker’s caution, Alan had to realize that the police were looking at another suspect. She was hoping this would lift his mood enough to keep at bay any more thoughts of harming himself.
58
It was lunchtime when several students came over to Aline and excitedly told her about Tony Carter going to the police. Her instinctive reaction was that Jamie would never hurt Kerry. She had started babysitting for him when he was eight years old. Kerry was six at the time. She would often bring Kerry along when she sat at Jamie’s house or, in swimming weather, would bring Jamie to her house.
He was always so gentle in every way, she thought. He loved Kerry so much.
She went directly home after school. The front door was unlocked. “Mom,” Aline called as she walked in.
“Out here” was her mother’s response from the patio in back.
Fran was sitting on one of the lounge chairs near where Steve had laid down Kerry’s lifeless body after he carried her out of the pool. Aline wondered how often her mother sat there and why she would have chosen that spot.
Fran’s first words were “By now I assume you have heard about Tony Carter. I wonder how much the Crowleys paid the Carters to have Tony spread that story. It’s disgusting that they would try to place the blame on someone like Jamie who can’t even defend himself.”
“Mom, why would the Carters do that?”
“I’ll tell you why. It’s because they’re social climbers. I myself have heard June Crowley say that Carl Carter is always pestering Doug to sponsor him to join Ridgewood Country Club. What a trade-off to blame poor, innocent Jamie for a crime their son committed.”
“Mom, you know how much I care about Jamie,” Aline protested, “but I simply cannot believe that the Crowleys got Tony Carter to lie for them.”
“You’ve been defending Alan from day one. I don’t understand you.”
“Mom, you tried and convicted Alan on day one. I don’t understand you!”
“Then we agree to disagree,” Fran said firmly.
“Look, Mom, the last thing I want to do is to have us getting upset with each other. And I can tell you this. Remember Mike Wilson asked you and Dad about whether you knew about the flat tire Kerry had?”
“Yes, and she hadn’t told us about it because Dad had been after her to pick up a new tire.”
“The police still haven’t found the tow truck driver who fixed the flat and wanted to come to the house after everyone had left the party. Alan has been arrested, but I know that Mike won’t be satisfied until they locate this guy and find out where he was the night of the party.”
“So what’s your point?” Fran asked.
“My point is that twenty-four hours ago we didn’t know about Jamie supposedly swimming with Kerry the night of the party. We both are certain he had nothing to do with what happened to Kerry. The police still haven’t found the tow truck driver. My point is there’s still a lot we don’t know. Let’s try to reserve judgment.”
“Okay. Enough on this topic for now. Let’s have a glass of wine.”
When they were in the living room sipping their wine, Fran said, “You told us you were going to a seminar with Scott Kimball and that you might have dinner with him. You got home pretty late, so I’m assuming you went to dinner. How was it?”
“The seminar or the dinner?” Aline asked with a smile.
Fran managed to laugh. “Seminars are all the same. Tell me about the dinner.”
“It was actually very nice. It was an Italian restaurant. The food was delicious. I had—”
Her mother cut her off. “I want to hear about Scott Kimball.”
“Mom, why am I not surprised? I like Scott. He’s a very nice guy, and good-looking as well. He’s intelligent and easy to talk to.”
But as she was speaking, the memory of sitting across the table from Mike Wilson came to mind. I so much more enjoyed his company, she thought. But now is not the time to say that.
Fran said, “Honey, this is very tough for all of us. But if you have a chance to have an enjoyable evening, I want you to take it. Dad and I are finalizing plans to go to Bermuda for a long weekend. A change of scenery will do us both good.”
“I agree. That will be great for both of you.”
59
Mike reviewed the lab report regarding the analysis of the stain the tech had lifted from the back door of the Chapman home. It was blood. The sample had then been compared to Kerry’s DNA, and produced a match. It was definitely Kerry’s blood.
Armed with Tony Carter’s statement that Jamie told him he had gone swimming with Kerry after her party, and having found Kerry’s blood on the back door of the Chapman home, Mike applied for a search warrant. It was granted immediately.
The day had become overcast. The breeze was unusually cool for a September morning. Mike, who loved to go golfing, hoped that this would not be an indication of an early onset of cold weather.
With Andy Nerlino at his side and the search warrant in hand, he rang the front doorbell of the Chapman home. Almost immediately, it was answered. Marge was wearing an apron over a pair of old slacks with bleach marks. She looked startled to see them.
“Mrs. Chapman, you might remember me. My name is Mike Wilson. I’m a detective with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. This is my colleague Detective Andy Nerlino.”
“Of course I remember you. I’m embarrassed. I’m dressed to clean my house. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“It’s all right, Mrs. Chapman,” Mike said. “You’re absolutely fine the way you are. I must inform you that we have obtained a warrant from a judge to search your home. Here’s your copy.”
Stunned as she looked down at the document, Marge said, “I don’t get it. Why on earth would you want to search my home?”
Mike replied, “It’s in connection with our investigation of Kerry Dowling’s murder. And while we’re here, we want to speak to bot
h you and your son Jamie. Is he home?”
Her mouth dry, Marge said, “He’s upstairs in his room watching TV.”
“Detective Nerlino will stay with you here. I’m going upstairs to speak to Jamie.”
“Oh, no,” Marge said. “Jamie might get upset. I think I should be with him when he speaks to you.”
“Your son Jamie is twenty years old. Is that correct?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then he is legally an adult. I’m going to talk to him alone,” Mike said as he headed toward the stairs.
Marge reached out her hand as if to stop him. Then she sighed nervously, and walked to the couch. The vacuum cleaner was on the rug. Her foot brushed against it as she sat down. There was a dust cloth and furniture polish on the table. Almost unconsciously, she picked them up and put them down next to the vacuum.
“You remind me of my mother,” Andy said. “She goes through the house once a week. There isn’t a spot left in it when she’s finished. I can tell you’re like her.”
Marge moistened her lips. “I guess I am. I want to go upstairs and be with Jamie.”
“In a little while Detective Wilson will be finished. I’m sorry, but I have to insist that you stay here.”
• • •
Mike knocked on Jamie’s half-closed door. As he pushed it open, he said, “Hi, Jamie, I’m Mike Wilson. Do you remember me?”
Jamie was sprawled across his bed. The movie Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was playing in the background. “You work in Hackensack,” Jamie said proudly.
“That’s right, Jamie. I’m a detective. My office is in Hackensack. Would it be okay if the TV is off when we’re talking?”
“Sure. It’s a tape. I can watch it whenever I want,” Jamie said as he got up and hit the power button on the TV. He went back to his bed and sat on it.
“I like watching movies,” Mike said. “Do you?”
“Yes, Mom buys tapes and DVDs for my birthday.”
“Your mom is very nice.”
“She loves me, and I love her.”
“Jamie, do you remember the last time I came and talked to you in your room?”
Jamie nodded.
“You told me Kerry had gone to Heaven.”
“She’s there with my dad.”
“And I told you that the police and Kerry’s parents are trying to find out what happened to Kerry before she went to Heaven.”
“I remember.”
“That’s great, Jamie. I’ll bet you’re really good at remembering things.”
Jamie smiled.
“I want you to remember the night Kerry had her party, the night she went to Heaven. I asked if you had seen Kerry in her backyard cleaning up after the party. You know what you told me?”
Mike took out his small notebook and read. You said, “I did not go swimming with Kerry.”
“I’m not allowed to talk about this,” Jamie said, looking down and avoiding eye contact with Mike.
“Why not, Jamie?”
When he didn’t answer, Mike asked, “Who told you you can’t talk about this?”
“My mom said it’s a secret. You’re not supposed to tell secrets.”
Mike paused for a moment. “Jamie, your mom said it was okay for me to come up to your room and talk to you. Do you know what else she said?”
“No,” he answered as he shook his head.
“She said it’s okay for you to tell me the secret. She even told me part of the secret. She said the night of Kerry’s party you didn’t stay in your room. You went outside. She said you can tell me the rest of the secret.”
“Okay,” Jamie said softly. “Kerry lets me go swimming with her. She went swimming after her party. I wanted to go swimming, so I went over her house.”
“Was Kerry in her pool when you went over?”
“Yes.”
“Did you talk to Kerry when you went over?”
“Yes.”
“What did you say?”
“I said, ‘Kerry, it’s Jamie. Let’s go swimming.’ ”
“Jamie, try to remember. This is important. Did Kerry answer you?”
“She said, ‘I can’t.’ ”
“Kerry told you, ‘I can’t go swimming’?”
“She was sleeping in the water.”
“Jamie, did you go in the water with Kerry?”
Jamie started to tear up. “I got my new sneakers and my pants wet.”
“Did you touch Kerry when she was in the pool?”
Jamie held his hand in the air as if shaking someone. “I said ‘Kerry, wake up, wake up.’ ”
“What did Kerry say?”
“She was still sleeping in the water.”
“Jamie, you’re doing a really good job at remembering. I have a few more questions. So Kerry kept sleeping in the pool. What did you do then?”
“My sneakers and pants were all wet. I came home and went up to my room.”
“Where was your mom when you came home?”
“She was sleeping in her chair.”
“Where is her chair?”
“In the living room.”
“Did you talk to your mom?”
“No. She was sleeping.”
“Okay, what did you do when you went to your room?”
“I took off my sneakers and socks and pants. I hid them on the floor of my closet.”
“Why did you hide them?”
“Because they were all wet. My sneakers are new. I’m not supposed to get them wet.”
Mike stopped for a moment. The information provided by Tony Carter appears to be accurate.
“Jamie, do you know what a golf club is?”
“Mr. Dowling has one.”
“The night you went swimming with Kerry after the party, did you see a golf club?”
“I put it on the chair.”
“Jamie,” Mike said while glancing down at his notebook, “when I came to see you last time, you said you weren’t invited to the party. You were older. It was only for the high school kids. Do you remember that?”
“Yes,” he said, while looking down.
“When people don’t get invited to parties, sometimes they get angry. Were you mad at Kerry when she didn’t invite you?”
“I’m her friend.”
“I know that Jamie, and sometimes friends can hurt our feelings. When she didn’t invite you, were you mad at Kerry?”
“I was sad.”
“What do you do when you’re sad?”
“I go to my room and watch tapes and DVDs.”
Mike decided to change course. “Jamie, do you know Alan Crowley?”
“My mom and I saw him on TV. He kissed Kerry and went home.”
“Then what happened, Jamie?”
“Big Guy hit her and pushed her in the pool.”
“Do you know who Big Guy is?”
Jamie smiled broadly. “My dad called me Big Guy.”
“Jamie, did you hit Kerry?”
“No.”
“Did you push her in the pool?”
“No. Big Guy did.”
“Jamie, are you Big Guy?”
“Yes.”
“Are you the Big Guy who hit Kerry and pushed her in the pool?”
“I’m Big Guy. Big Guy hit Kerry and pushed her in the pool.”
“Jamie, you’re a Big Guy. Is there anybody else who’s a Big Guy?”
There were footsteps on the stairs. Marge pushed open the door and came in, with Nerlino trailing behind her. “You have no right to keep me away from my son,” she said.
She went over and sat beside Jamie. “Are you all right, dear?”
“I told him the secret. You said it was all right.”
Marge’s glare at Mike Wilson was steely.
Mike stood up. “Mrs. Chapman, as I told you earlier, we have a warrant to search these premises.” He looked at Jamie’s feet. “Are those your new sneakers, Jamie?”
“Yes. Do you like them?”
“Yes, I do. I’m going to nee
d to borrow them for a few days.”
“That’s okay,” Jamie said. While looking at his mother for approval, he removed his sneakers.
“Jamie, do you remember what clothes you were wearing the night you went swimming with Kerry after her party?”
“Yes, I do. My mom bought the shirt for me.”
“Can I see it?”
“Sure,” Jamie said as he walked over to the dresser and opened and closed two drawers. “Mom bought it in Disneyworld,” he said proudly as he unfolded it and showed it to the detective.
“Do you remember which pants you wore when you went in the pool with Kerry?”
Jamie appeared confused as he looked in his closet. “I have a lot of pants.”
“That’s okay, Jamie. So that’s the shirt you wore in the pool when you went swimming with Kerry?”
“Yes,” he said smiling. “It’s dry now.”
“Did you wash it, Jamie?”
“No, my mom did.”
Tony Carter had said that on the Sunday morning he and Jamie talked at the Acme, Jamie had told him that he wasn’t wearing his new sneakers because they had gotten wet.
“Jamie, this is Detective Nerlino. Would you bring the shirt and sneakers downstairs? He’s going to give you a bag to put them in.”
“Okay,” Jamie said as he followed Nerlino out of the room.
When they were alone, Marge went on the defensive. “You can ask Father Frank. I was planning to call the police and tell them what Jamie saw. The lawyer Father Frank got for Jamie and me is in Atlanta. I was going to talk to you after I spoke to him in two days. Father Frank is going with me to see the lawyer. Then we can talk.”
“Mrs. Chapman, let me be clear. Are you saying that you and Jamie have an attorney?”
“Yes, we have one.”
“It’s your right to have one.”
“I want to talk to him before Jamie or I talk any more to you.”
“Okay. There will be no more questions today, but we will be executing the search warrant.”
Jamie yelled from downstairs. “It was okay to tell them our secret, right, Mom?”
“Yes, Jamie, it was all right,” Marge called back.
Her tone was weary, and she was short of breath as she came down the stairs.