2020-05-15 - Aftermath 3 - The Writing on the Page - Josh, Michael, Ryan, Gurshan, Kira

Josh Green sat at his desk sipping his coffee.  He was facing a mess.  An event that would go down in Alexandra history.  The Rose murders.  Right now it was a mass of confusion.  All he knew for sure was that three people were dead and one woman was in his cells tentatively charged with Arson.  Looking at the sheet in front of him, he is starting to think that Kira Delmonaco might not be guilty, but there were still so many unanswered questions.

Looking up he took in Ryan Yamada and Michael Reinhardt, who had spent most of the night investigating the murders, the fire and Kira Delmonaco.  Susan McKinney had spent half the night performing autopsies, one of the reports in his hand now.   And Hank Stanley had turned in his findings on the possibility of arson at three in the morning.  No he looks at his detectives.  “Alright guys.  Give me your reports.”  he orders.

Michael Reinhardt hands Josh a printed out report.  “The short story is …  Ronald Rose was probably killed first.  A stab to the groin, followed by 11 to the chest.  The words ‘You hurt them. You made him’ were then written in the wall.  I am assuming, but the lab will confirm one way or another, that it was Ronald Rose’s blood.  Then Jack Rose was killed.  His throat was slit.  Deeply.  More words on the wall.  ‘Rapist’ this time.  Probably in jack’s blood.”  He sighs.  “Carla Rose was found in the third bedroom.  I guess a young girls room?  She slit her own wrists and wrote ‘I couldn’t save you’.  In her own blood is my guess to be confirmed by the lab.”  he looks over at Ryan.

Ryan listens to Michael gravely and then hands the Chief another printed report  “In the house there were a bunch of bed sheets tied together and run through the hallways. They were doused with gasoline and then set on fire. Chief Stanley confimed that gasoline was the accelerant and that this case is indeed an arson...as well as  murder. “

Josh nods, slowly.  “And …  Reinhardt?”  he wants to hear the entire story and he knows it’s a whale of a tale.

Michael inhales deeply.  “On removing the body of Jack Rose from the house, it was attacked by Kira Delmonaco.”  he swallows, as he had seen it all and it had shaken him, which was not an easy thing to do.  He hands Josh the incident report as well as the arrest report.  “Kira was hysterical.  Screaming like a banshee.  She jumped on the gurney and began stabbing him.  I … didn’t get the count and I haven’t read the arrest report.”

Josh nods.  “I have.”  he tells them, going through the sheets until he finds Jack Rose's autopsy report.  “Cause of death, blood loss caused from a deep cut in the area of the jugular vein.  There were 18 stab wounds to the groin area.  Penis was severed.  Those are clear post-mortem wounds.  When the body was brought in, the knife was still in the groin of the body.”

Michael blows out a breath.  “Yes, Sir.”  he clears his throat.  “Taggart and Lynch attempted to subdue Kira … but in the end had to resort to the tazer.”  and now she was in a cell in the next room.  “My conclusion on the murders is that Carla Rose killed her husband and son, then herself.  The writing on the wall was pretty incriminating.”  he licks his lips.  “However Kira reeked of gasoline and so was arrested and is being held pending charges.”  he clears his throat again.  “Which brings us to the search of Kira’s house….”  he hands yet another printed report to Josh.  “Kira Delmonaco lives in squalor.  No electricity.  No lights.  Her house has noise traps all over it.  Ryan and I spotted at least twenty throughout the house.  It looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in years.  There is a bucket in the dining room that it looks like she’s been using as a toilet.  Probably since we got reconnected to the world, because everyone had water and power before that, right?”

Josh closes his eyes and rubs at his temple.  “Not necessarily.  Kira’s parents, as it turns out, abandoned her in the house.  Kira emerged … more or less the way you know her.”  he looks at his detectives.  “So it’s possible she lost water and power before the Earthquake.  I’d have to check with John Reinhardt to see if literally every house was hooked up with water and power at that time or not.”

Michael blinks.  “So .. sometimes between two months and … possibly … six years?”  he sighs and nods.  “Yes, Sir.”  he coughs.  “Anyway … Chief Stanley is going to check the house to see if it is inhabitable or not .. but there was no evidence found to link her to the fire.  However, I talked to Chuck at the gas station and he said Kira was pumping gas for loose change last night.  Not a lot of cars, but she spilled some on herself which is why she smelled like gas.”  he shrugs.  “She is guilty of desecrating a corpse, but ….  Considering Chief Stanley may have to condemn her house …  jail is the only place she has.”

Ryan listens quietly and looks between Michael and Chief Green. It’s a mess of a case and he’s still wrapping his head around it. He looks like he might be about to interject when there’s a knock at the door. Ryan turns and then looks at Josh for permission to open it.

Dr. Gurshan Singh straightens his tie while he waits for the Chief’s door to open. He had been ushered in by an officer on duty.

Josh looks at Ryan.  “Yamada?”  he nudges.  He hears the door.  Knows who it is, but is waiting for Ryan’s input.

Ryan scoffs “Is there any way we can retroactively charge Kira’s parents with negligence? I feel like her violence, as in most cases, was made not born in her…” He just looks disturbed by it all as a parent himself now as well as an officer.

Gurshan waits patiently and gets engaged by several people passing by as they all know the good doctor. He can be heard giving muted replies “Yes thanks, and you? Oh that is very good to hear…..and nice to see the sun today indeed…”

Josh snorts a laugh, standing and moving to open the door.  “Dr Singh.”  he nods him in, then closes the door.  “I'll say this in front of the doctor, Yamada.  Maybe he’ll tranquilize me.  I wish we could retroactively charge her parents with negligence.”  he blows out a breath.  “Now …  Dr SIngh …  What can you tell us.”

Michael looks at his partner with sympathy.

Ryan smiles a little at Josh’s agreement and then greets the psychologist “Good Morning Doctor Singh.”

Gurshan steps in and greets everyone in turn “Chief Green, Detective Yamada, Detective Reinhardt.” He had read the meeting notes clearly and knew how he was addressing and how and then he smiled “Well thankfully only Dr. McKinney can prescribe so I’d have to refer you to her for tranquilizing.” He sighs “I do agree that if we could address root problems we’d have so much less trauma to unpack later.” He opens his tablet “You want to know my assessment on Kira Delmonaco and how it impacts her capacity for this crime?”

Josh nods.  “I’ll definitely talk to her about it.”  although he looks calm, cool and collected.  “And yes.  Please.  Then I can decide what to charge this woman with … if anything ..”

Michael stands back and clasps his hands behind his back, waiting.

Ryan stands quietly and is quite curious as well.

Gurshan glances at his screen a few times but mostly he just recites from his memory. “Kira Delmonaco was a victim of rape by Jack Rose and then abandoment by her parents, her support system. I diagnosed her at one point with selective mutism, PTSD, depression and hypersexuality. Honestly I could never get her to speak to me because of the mutism so assessment was a challenge. I would say she has suicidal tendencies. You reported she attacked officers here, maybe wishing to be shot?” He clicks at his tablet “Oh that would have been the two of you..” He looks between Michael and Josh.”And Officer Peterson, who is on leave….ok…” He sighs “Most of her violence has been self directed. This attack on Jack Rose was very specific. I don’t believe in my professional opinion that she’s a danger to society. But she does need support...and she shouldn’t be released to go home alone without supervision….her mental state is too vulnerable.”

Michael nods when he’s mentioned.  “She came after me with a knife.  Maybe I’ve gotten soft in my time with small town police or something, but I decided to disable her.”  he considers it.  “No …  I have a couple of scars from where female suspects came after me and I disarmed them.  One bit me .. one stabbed me.  Kira, I was able to disarm.”  he thinks a minute.  “And she hasn’t tried it since.  Like she put me on some list of cops that wouldn’t shoot her unless he had a compelling reason.  She wasn’t holding a hostage or being a threat to anyone else.  When comparing her size to mine, disarming her seemed a viable option.”  he looks at Josh.  “Was it the same with you?”

Joah listens and nods.  “I did report that.  In the last six years she has attacked myself, Chris Peterson and Michael here.  I think she did it in the hopes that we would shoot her .. maybe kill her.  Suicide by cop.  In my case, she came at me with a knife too …  and Peterson as well.  Peterson isn’t as big as Michael and I, but he has had a bit of a temper.  But he disarmed her as well.”  he shrugs then rifles through his sheets.  “She may not be able to go home anyway, Doctor.  Chief Stanley is inspecting her house with Mint Portia and Adam Brate to see if the place is condemnable.”  he pulls out the report from the search of her house so he can see that for himself.

Ryan keeps quiet but his head turns to each speaker. He silently chuckles inwardly at the comment about Peterson’s temper and subconsciously rubs at his nose. Then he tunes back in an focusses fully on the conversation.

Gurshan listens and nods with his encouraging look he gives his patients to urge them to go on and express more. He takes the report on the house and scans it “Oh my goodness..” He exclaims looking horrified and then sighs “I had no idea.” He looks up “Kira is a high school friend of Sajani’s. She ended up coming into our home for a meal and a shower. We should have asked her to stay the night. This is abhorrent…...but at the same time that would cause me a conflict of interest. Perhaps there's a  family that could billet her in town?”

Josh blows out a breath.  “Yea .. none of us did.  When she emerged from the house 6 years ago, everyone was surprised because her parents told anyone who would listen about their daughters brain infection and her erratic behavior.  The plan was to take her to a specialist.  But instead they packed up and left, leaving everything behind, including their kid.”  his jaw tightens.  “When she emerged and we realized she’d been abandoned, I went to the house.  She didn't speak to me.  The place needed a dusting … but now it looks like she hasn't cleaned that place since.  The only reason she can even stay there is because her parents at least signed the house over to her before they abandoned her.”  he cant’s his head.  “This town is full up on generous people that would take her in, Dr Singh, but would that be alright by her?  She’s an adult.”  he clears his throat.  “However … I may have a … temporary solution.  With all of this evidence I can’t charge her with arson.  Jack Rose was already dead when she attacked him, so no murder charges.  However she did desecrate a corpse.  And she hasn’t paid her water or power bills, and I don’t think she has a job … I’ve seen her carrying grocery bags, and she isnt starving .. yet she doesn’t seem to have a job.  I suspect she may …. “  he seems to tense.  “Prostitute herself to some of the men in this town who would do that.  But we can’t arrest her because we don’t have any direct evidence.  But it means she can’t afford bail.  So until she gets her lawyer and assuming she isn’t convicted … she has a place to stay with us.”

Michael nods slowly.  He did not envy the police chief his job.

Ryan exhales.The Chief was right.  It was the most reasonable option for the time being.

Gurshan looks conflicted “I hear what you’re saying Chief Green. I worry about how living in jail, the mentality of a cell will contribute to her mental state as well. I know options are complicated. I would like to try and talk to her again if she’ll see me. Can she have visitors? Could she have music maybe? Outlets to keep her spirits up...maybe some art supplies...nothing sharp…..plants…” He thought of all the therapies that could help “I wonder how she’d respond to your police dog…..” He’s very solution oriented.

Josh considers all of the options.  “Wll, she’ll be allowed out of her cell to shower, of course.  And I would allow you to talk to her.  We can even let you use the interrogation room for privacy.  I give you my word no one will look or listen.”  he strokes his chin.  “We can allow a radio or even a CD player or something brought in if she likes music.”  he arches his brows.  “Daisy?  Sure, she’s a cop too.”  he scoffs.  “But if anyone can calm anyone it would be Henry.”  he is actually joking … he thinks.

Michael listens to the brainstorming.  In small towns it often happened like this,  Not like in the big city here she would have been processed and dumped in someone else's lap as soon as possible.

Ryan jumps on board “What about books? Do you think she would read?” He doesn’t know much about Kira other than the current era science he came here from Cedar Point.

Gurshan looks pleased with all of Josh’s accommodation offerings “Any animal might help….” He perks up at Ryan’s suggestion “Books! Yes she was quite the scholar in school. That might really engage her Detective.”

Michael looks at Ryan and nods.  He hadn’t thought of that.  But he had thought of something else.  “Sir … what about old friends visiting.”  he clears his throat.  “Peterson told us he’d been in the same class with Kira.  Him and his brother.  Maybe he .. or they .. could visit

Josh points at Ryan.  “Command thinking, Yamada.” he praises and then looks at the doctor.  “When you talk to her .. get a list of music, books .. animals.”  he shirts.  “I may have to draw the line at dogs.  Cats i'll wander off whenever they feel like it.  And if Daisy or Henry aren’t the ticket, maybe we can find another.”

Ryan smiles a little, glad he’d made a valued and useful contribution to the options. He nods at Michael “Yeah friends….” He thinks about the fact that Kira’s a rape victim “But maybe female friends.” He looks at Dr Singh. “Your daughter? You said they were school friends…”

Gurshan nods “Yes of course Chief. I may have to get her to write it...may I give her a pen? I’m not sure of the rules….” He smiles at Ryan “She’d be happy to, I’m sure.”

Josh considers it.  “Is she suicidal, doctor?  I have to know that first.  Is she in a state where she might harm herself or anyone else?  If she’s not … sure she can have a pen.  If not … we’ll think of something to help her communicate non verbally.”  He looks at Ryan and Michael.  “Isn’t Sadie Taggart in that age group?  They all graduated together.  I stopped following high school cliques when I was seventeen.”

Michael grins.  He’s not a social person, usually, so the idea had simply not occurred to him.

Ryan  listens again, being still a newcomer in the mix of the more veteran townies.But he does answer about Sadie “Yeah I think she’s what in her mid 20s? Sorry I didn't go to school here Sir.”

Gurshan tilts his head side to side as if he’s measuring something of equal weight  “She could be suicidal but I don’t think she would harm anyone else….Jack was revenge I assume.” He hypothesizes and then frowns “Although strange that she waited all these years…..let’s try the pen under supervision maybe? And yes Sadie Taggart went to school with Sajani and Kira, class of 2014 as well. I sat beside her parents and brother at their convocation. Kira did not attend of course.”

Josh nods.  “Alright.  Pen with supervision.  We’ll put you two in the IR whenever you need it.”  he pauses.  “I want you to tell Kira what’s going on.  It is official no matter who tells her and I can alway just tell her again later.”  he straightens.  “Currently all charges against her are being dropped.  However, she is NOW being charged with desecration of a corpse.  We’ll arrain her, arrange for a lawyer and bail.”  his phone rings and he picks it up, barking into it “Greene!”  he pauses and he nods.  “Thanks Hank.  I appreciate it.”  he hangs up.  “Kira’s house passed inspection.  Barely.  It’s structurally sound.  Hank says there are a bunch of health code violations but …  I’ll figure something out between now and the time Kira goes home … which is she can’t afford bail and is convicted AND gets the maximum sentence could be five or six years from now.”  he shakes his head.  “Anyway.  Reinhardt.  Yamada.  You’re dismissed.”  he stands and heads to the coor in his office that leads to the prisoner cells.  “Talk to her and if you want to move to the IR, knock on this door and I will let you two in there.”  and he opens the door.

<>

Gurshan nods at the two detectives as they go and he moves to the door “Thank you Chief.” He walks softly into the hallways facing the cell and pulls up one of the chairs and quietly sits. Not knowing what to expect he simply begins with “Hello Kira.” in his kindest voice. He’ll get to the charges once she gives him some feedback.

Kira is on the cot bolted to the far wall of the cell.  Her back is in the corner, her knees are pulled up and her arms are wrapped around her legs.  She’s in a ball.  Jailhouse slippers are on the floor, but she is still in the clothes she was arrested in, without her knife and its sheath, of course.  Her head is down but when she hears the voice.  Dr Singh’s voice, she looks up.  She makes eye contact for a second, then drops her eyes.  But after a moment, she raises her hand as if in welcome.

Gurshan observes her carefully and looks hopeful at the hand raising “How are you feeling today Kira?” He explores. He wants to gauge her before delivering either good or bad news because he suspects she may be easily triggered.

Kira looks up at him through her matter hair.  It seems to take great effort to lift her head to look at him.  But she manages.  Her mind flits back to this man's house.  Talking with his daughter.  Once her best friend.  She blinks, but no tears come.  But, remembering how she communicated with Sajani, she moves her right hand,  pointing to her left lower jaw, then moving it in a half circle under her nose to her right lower jaw.  A sad face.

Gurshan watches her and understands her motion “It’s ok to be sad Kira. All the feelings are welcome. I might have some good news. All the charges against you are being dropped. But you are charged with..” He hesitates “desecration of a corpse. You will be arraigned and we’ll arrange for a  lawyer and bail.” He presses back into his chair not knowing how all this will be received.

Kira hears that the charges are dropped and feels … almost nothing.  She is having a hard time caring about anything.  But then she is told these new charges and sighs deeply.  After a moment's thought, she uncurls and moves to the edge of the cot.  Moving her hands to her pockets, she pantomimes pulling them out.  They’re empty.  But then she thinks back to his ords and looks at him.  “I …  “  she swallows.  Her throat hurts from her screaming the night before.  “Kill.”  She looks a little confused because she thought she had killed him.  Finally.  Yet .. he was dead.  Shouldn’t that be enough?

Gurshan’s eyes follow her movements and he hears her “You didn’t kill him. But he is dead. He was dead before you got there Kira.” He says resolutely. He’s hoping she’s lucid enough to understand it all. She seems to be communicating, and more than before. Gurshan is encouraged by this.

Kira barely realizes that she’s spoken to Dr Singh for the first time since she was a happy teen in his house giggling with his daughter.  She blinks again and swallows.  She makes another sad face.  “Want … kill …”  she wanted to kill him.  She's glad he is dead, but she also feels a little robbed.  Had she been able to speak a proper sentence it would have been I wanted to be the one to kill him.

Gurshan nods slowly at her “I know you wanted to, Kira. But if it had been you you might go to jail for a very long time...this way is better. This way is hope…” He looks at her encouragingly and then makes eye contact with the officer guarding her at the end of the hall and pulls a pen from his top pocket as well as a little notepad. He’s thinking the guards have been briefed about the pen. Steps forward but slowly so as not to scare her and sets the pen down outside the bars and then steps back to the chair “I’m very happy you’re finding your words. If there are more words you want to share with me but it’s difficult you can write them.” He offers.

Marcus Lawry stands in the corner of the prisoner holding area.  He’s barely been on the job two months, having come onto the island to check out the mystery of the vanishing island.  His interview was scheduled for Friday March 20, 2020.  However, he wanted to see the island before .. it had been his life’s dream.  Deciding to live dangerously, he booked a night in the Olin Hotel on March 17, 2020 with every intention of taking a tour before his interview, which he expected would go swimmingly.  But when he woke, he realized that the Ferry had stopped running in the early morning hours of March 19th.  Chagrined, he went to speak to Josh Green who, amused, contacted his superior in White Rock.  The man arranged an on the spot transfer. And he was APD now.  He was 5’10 inches tall, black and broad.  Yet he managed to nearly blend into a room.  When the doctor pulls out a pen, Marcus doesn’t move.  Chief Green has murmured the deal into his ear before he vanished back in his office.  So now … he eyes the pen, seeing almost nothing else.

Kira looks at the pen and pad.  It’s nearly a minute before she stands and slowly walks to the cell bars.  She squats.  It would be a very unladylike pose … but she’s in loose jeans so it's okay.  Taking both, she poises to write. She writes quickly .. concentrating on the words .. as if she's new to the act. Then she slides both paper and pen outside her cell bars.  The note reads.  “He kill me.  I want kill him.  Dont matter we both dead.”

Gurshan gingerly retrieves the note and pen with a little nod to the officer. It seems so far she could be trusted. He steps back and sits down to read and then to clarify her feelings he reads it back to Kira. Mirroring was a technique he used often to help people connect or redirect. “He kill me….” He stops and looks at her “I want kill him.” He makes eye contact again if he can his voice gentle “Don’t matter we both dead.” He gives her an encouraging look “Let’s just talk about the first one today if you can…” He takes the pen and puts a little question mark beside the first things she wrote and then as carefully as before he gives her back the pen and paper and sits back down.

Marcus relaxes only slightly at the first back and forth with the pen.  He continues the watch .. ready to intervene if he has to.

Kira reaches for the pad and pen again and thinks before she rights.  “2014.  He raped me.  Ass.  i lived but die. Lost everything.’  she returns the pad and pen

Gurshan retrieves it and reads and there’s a tiny crumble in his professional facade as he swallows at her words. Kira was after all the same age as his daughter. He inhales and recomposes but looks at Kira with absolute compassion. He’s very relieved and honoured that she shared her truth. Based on the type of truth is it, he gives her a choice this time “are you ready to hear these words said out loud?” He won’t push her further as this is already remarkable.

Marcus remains at his post .. blending into the background.  This had been one of his specialties on the mainland.  He used it now.

Kira remains sat on her haunches, like some wise tribesman around a fire.  She looks at the doctor and, even though her heart seems to have stopped beating … nods.

Gurshan pauses for a  moment and then looks down at the notebook “2014.” He looks at her and continues “He raped me. Ass.” He checks in on her again and then reads more “I lived but die.” He just lets his gaze move to her now “Lost everything.” He sighs at her and looks again with compassion “Kira I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

Marcus can hear them just fine, but he is the consummate professional.  He doesn’t move.  Won’t speak.  The information he hears is filed, never to be accessed except by court order … or so wrapped in hypotheticals as to come from a book.

Kira hears the words aloud for the first time ever.  She closes her eyes and one tear escapes.  She looks at him and another falls down her face, but her shoulders lift and fall in a shrug.  It’s done.  She’s dead.  One day the shell of her body will lay down and join the rest.

Gurshan watches her reaction and is glad she’s letting things out. It’s healthy even if it’s awful for her now. He speaks very softly now “Kira, everything you feel is valid. This hurts.” He just states it, naming it and not trying to give it a story. It simply is. He sits quietly with her in her pain and just breathes now. This was work she needed to do. Awful work.

Marcus renaims here he is.  What he feels inside shows nowhere in his stance or demeanor.

Kira shakes her head as he speaks.  She leans forward and rests her head against the bars while she reaches for the pen.  This time she doesnt take it back, but writes on the pad.  “Slut.  Whore.” she then drops the pen onto the pad, grabs the bars and begins to sob.

Gurshan’s heart inwardly breaks for her but he has to keep his professionalism. This was sometimes the worst part of his job. He pulls his chair a little closer to her but doesn’t get right in her face, but he does try to look right into her eyes the next time she opens them “This is not your fault.” is all he can say. He thinks of more but it’s not helpful to try to steer people at this stage so he just repeats his sentence “This is not your fault.” He knew that those words could take years to sink in for people in Kira’s situation.

Kira continues to shake her head as he tells her it  isn't her fault.  Of course it is, although she could not pin down exactly how?  The way she dressed?  Having had sex with a boy she loved? Whatever it was .. it was her fault.

Gurshan looks kindly at her and just gently says the idea again “It’s not your fault. None of it is your fault Kira.” He thinks about the labels she gave herself. They could unpack those another day. Her pain was so raw right now. This was all he figured she could do and he was here to see her through it.

Kira slides to the floor of her cell and curls up into her protective ball again.  She must be raw meat, as she isn't thinking how close to the bars she is, or how anyone can grab her from here she is.  For a few minutes she only sobs, but it grows lighter with each passing second until she is just breathing.  Asleep.

Gurshan was quiet; so quiet that his patient had drifted from her traume into exhaustion and then slept. He closed his eyes in meditation and tried to clear his mind. He inhaled. He exhaled.. Just the breath. To the guard it might look like he was sleeping two but within a moment his eyes were open again and he made a few notes in his tablet about the case Kira Delmonaco has had a breakthrough and has begun to communicate with me by way of gestures and scribing. She has now admitted fully the rape she experienced at teh hands of Jack Rose and is on a path towards healing. The path is slow, long and dark for her but as the police, social services and the town rally with her she will find the light and I hope she will embrace it.