STYLIST: A Psycho-Sexual Thriller Read online

  “No. Not yet. I don’t want to tip my hand.”

  “Okay. Okay. Let me do some research. I’ll need to talk to the boss. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thanks, Mike.”

  Three weeks later Terryfield had a package of records from Southwest Airlines on his desk. He opened the envelope and read Tammy Lenkovsky’s travel history from two weeks in June. She had purchased a two-way ticket from Denver to Detroit and back again. The detective shrugged his shoulders and put the records into his case file.

  Two days later another package arrived, this one from Greyhound Bus Lines. His interest re-piqued, Terryfield tore open the envelope. These records revealed that Tammy had purchased and used a two-way bus ticket from Detroit to Ann Arbor and back to Detroit again – on the same day.

  That’s interesting.

  One day later, Terryfield had a ticket purchase record in his hand from Iberia Airlines. On the same day that she used the two way Greyhound Bus Lines ticket, Tammy Lenkovsky had bought a two way ticket to Lisbon, Portugal at the Iberia desk in the Detroit Wayne County Airport. There was a ten day lapse of time between the departure and return dates.

  Knowing exactly what he was looking for, Terryfield pulled the Estevao da Gama passenger manifest from within the Emma Saunders case folder. This time he was determined not to quit until he’d been through every name on that immense list.

  Four hours later he found what he was searching for.

  Tammy Lenkovsky went aboard the Estevao da Gama on the same day that Emma Saunders had boarded.

  Detective Miles Terryfield had himself a brand new red-hot murder suspect. Jack Saunders’ name temporarily went to the back burner.

  I’ll be damned. I wonder if Sonia is right about Lenkovsky. Wouldn’t that be somethin’?

  He picked up the telephone from his desk and dialed the number for Sonia Lovello’s salon.

  21

  Terryfield and Sonia

  Sonia checked in at the front desk of the sheriff’s office, as she had done the first time. Records Technician Susan Clarke ran her through the same identification routine. Terryfield made his appearance at the same door. Despite how little he’d revealed during their brief afternoon telephone conversation, and his cryptic request for her to come in for another interview, she knew exactly what he wanted to talk about.

  “Hi, Sonia. Thank you so much for coming in. You probably didn’t expect to hear from me, did you.”

  Sonia again took his extended hand.

  “I wasn’t at all surprised.”

  A few minutes later they were seated at the table where Sonia gave her first interview. There was the same tap tapping on the two-way mirror, the standard introductions, and Terryfield began.

  “After our last recorded interview, you mentioned a conversation you had with one of your clients, Tammy Lenkovsky. Will you tell me a little more about that conversation?”

  “Sure. Tammy missed her regular hair appointment while Emma was gone on vacation, something she hasn’t done since she became one of my clients a couple of years ago. She didn’t call me. Nothing. She was just not here.”

  “What did she tell you when you asked her about her missed appointment?”

  “That was after she got home from her vacation. She told me she was at a family reunion in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She said they did a lot of barbeques, picnics, a boat ride. Family stuff.”

  “Did you ask her how long she was in Ann Arbor?”

  “Yes. She told me she was there for ten days.”

  “How would you describe Tammy’s demeanor as she told you about where she’d been?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. She just told me about where she’d been and what she’d done. She said something about it not being a very exciting get-away. Something like that.”

  22

  Tim and Sonia

  Pillow talk between lovers has led to countless betrayals – of people and of nations. During lulls in sex or lovemaking, couples reveal things to each other they may never have told anyone else in their entire lives. It takes deep levels of trust for those kinds of events to happen. Nonetheless, sometimes, if the sexual chemistry is there along with an emotional connection, or perhaps one partner’s emotional neediness is strong enough, very intimate revelations may take place. Such moments have occasionally destroyed the reputations of men or women in great positions of power – and led to the downfalls of governments.

  It was pillow talk time for Sonia Lovello and Tim Travisec. The lovers lay in bed next to each other, face to face – their lust sated for the moment. Later there would be hours’ more frantic coupling, whimpering, sobbing, grunting, desperate whispering, pleading, squeaking of bedsprings and all of the other sounds that one might expect to emanate from ardent lovers’ bedrooms. For now Sonia had her head resting on Tim’s shoulder and chest.

  “Can I tell you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Can I trust you not to tell anyone else what I’m going to say?”

  “Of course. I can keep a secret.”

  “This is important, Tim. I’m really serious about keeping this a secret. I don’t know who else to trust. You’re my lover, my confidante. Can I really trust you?”

  “Yes. You can trust me. What is it?”

  “Okay. I’m swearing you to secrecy.”

  “Okay. I swear I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Well, you know about my client, Emma Saunders? The lady who went to Portugal and disappeared from a cruise ship?”

  “Uh-huh. What about her?”

  “Well, I’ve talked to a Roberts County detective a few times. He interviewed me because Emma was one of my clients.”

  “Really? What’d he want to know?”

  “He wanted to know about Emma’s private life, what was going on. You know. Did she have any troubles? Stuff like that.”

  “Okay. I guess that’s what cops do. But why is he involved in this case? It happened on the ocean. Right? Wasn’t she cruising in the Mediterranean or something?”

  “Yes. Well, the Portuguese Navy is really doing the main investigation. This cop is helping them, trying to gather anything that might help the Portuguese solve the crime.”

  “So, what’s got you so worried?”

  “Well, I told this detective, Terryfield is his name, that another of my clients might be involved in Emma’s murder – or whatever it was.”

  “And you’re worried about telling me that?”

  “I just don’t want anyone else to find out I talked with him. I had to tell someone.”

  “Why? Do you think you might be in some danger?”

  “I don’t know. Probably not. But I suppose anything is possible.”

  “Well, don’t’ worry, honey. I’ll take care of you. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

  “Tim. Really?”

  “Really.”

  “You’d look out for me? You’d protect me? That makes me want to cry.”

  “Sonia. I’ll look out for you and I’ll watch over you. Nothing is ever going to happen to you. Whoever would hurt you would have to get over my dead body to do it.”

  “Thank you. Thank you. Oh, Tim. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

  “Don’t worry, Sonia. You’ll be fine. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  “Hold me, Tim. Will you hold me?”

  He took her in his arms.

  “Yes. I’ll hold you. Don’t be afraid, Sonia.”

  She began to sob. He felt her tears falling on his shoulder.

  Later, as he slept, she looked at his handsome face, at his immense arms and shoulders.

  How did I get so lucky?

  23

  Susan Clarke

  “Hello?”

  “Tammy?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s Susan. I’m on duty.”

  “Okay. What’s up?”

  “Well, you know about the Saunders case.”

  “Emm
a Saunders? Yes. What about it?”

  “Did you know that Emma’s hair stylist is also your stylist?”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “How did you come by that?”

  “I just filed another transcript of one of Terryfield’s interviews.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Quit saying that. I’m serious. Why do you think I’d call you at home from here? You need to know what’s going on.”

  “Okay. What’s going on?”

  “Sonia Lovello told Miles everything you said about your vacation. You know – where you went.”

  “So?”

  “She also dropped a pretty strong hint. She thinks it’s really odd that you didn’t tell her where you were going until you got back from your trip, when she asked you why you’d missed your regular appointment.”

  “I still don’t understand. Why is that important. What are you getting at?”

  “You don’t see it?”

  “No. I don’t see it. What am I supposed to see?”

  “From the looks of this transcript, Sonia thinks you were involved in Emma Saunders’ death.”

  “Did she say that?”

  “Not exactly. I’m reading between the lines.”

  “It doesn’t matter what she thinks. She can think anything she wants to think. That’s ridiculous.”

  “I know it is. But I wanted you to know about it.”

  “I was with my family in Ann Arbor.”

  “I know you were.”

  “How many interviews with Terryfield has she done?”

  “Two.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Susan. I really appreciate your friendship. Have you shared this with anyone else?”

  “No. Why would I do that?”

  “Just curious. Thanks. Don’t worry about it. I’m not gonna worry about it. It’s stupid. Sonia’s stupid. I had no idea she was so nosy. I think I need to find a new stylist.”

  “Good idea. Take care, Tammy. I just wanted you to know.”

  “Thanks, again, Susan. Have a good day there.”

  “’Bye.”

  24

  Crisis

  Garrity Warning

  At this time, I am going to question you about_____________________________.

  This questioning concerns administrative matters relating to the official business of the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office. During the course of this questioning, if you disclose information which indicates that you may be guilty of criminal conduct, neither your self-incriminating statements nor the fruits of any self-incriminating statements you make will be used against you in any criminal legal proceedings. Since this is an administrative matter and any self-incriminating information you may disclose will not be used against you in a court of law, you are required to answer my questions fully and truthfully. This requirement is set forth in our Roberts County Sheriff’s Office Rules and Regulations, Insubordination 427A and Truthfulness 435A and our departmental regulations requiring employees of this department to comply with all lawful orders. You are entitled to all rights and privileges guaranteed by the Constitution and the Laws of the State of Colorado and the Constitution of the United States, including the right to have legal counsel or union representation present with you during this interview. If you refuse to answer all my questions, this in itself is a violation of the rules and procedures of the department, and you will be subject to separate disciplinary action.

  Do you understand what I have just explained to you?______

  Do you have any questions concerning what I have just explained to you?_____

  I, ________________________, by my signature below, affirm that I have been advised of the "Garrity Warning" and have had its meaning explained to me.

  Officer’s Signature____________________________________ Date___________

  Interviewer/Investigator_________________________________

  “So, you want to talk to her without the Garrity warning. Right?”

  “Yes. At first. If you Garritize her and she says something incriminating, we’ll never be able to use it to prosecute her. Am I right about that?”

  “Yes. Exactly.”

  “Okay. I’ll lead, since I have the Portuguese file.”

  “Let’s bring her in.”

  Dressed in her Navy blue deputy sheriff’s uniform, Tammy Lenkovsky sat in a hard straight-backed chair – alone , outside the Internal Affairs Office. The receptionist was nowhere to be seen. Or perhaps there was no receptionist. Tammy’s stomach was turning over. Any cop who has ever received an invitation to this special place in American police lore awaits the interview with trepidation and anxiety.

  In some police departments and sheriff’s offices, Internal Affairs investigators are known among the uniformed working officers as Gestapo. They are the cops who investigate other cops. No one checks up on the Gestapo. Gestapo answers directly to the chief of police or to the sheriff.

  And they always find out what really happened.

  How do they always find out what happened? When standard interrogation techniques fail to extract a confession, the Gestapo always has the box, as it is known to rank and file cops. A more common name for the box is the polygraph.

  The polygraph is a system of electronic sensing devices which operate inside, yes, a metal or wood-framed box.

  Prior to actually hooking up the interviewee to the box for the critical questioning, the polygrapher delivers a very impressive, long, educational lecture concerning involuntary internal human responses to stress – stress which might be induced by giving deceptive answers to questions. The purpose of the grand lecture is to completely convince the interviewee that the box cannot be defeated by any form of deception. That includes deception aided by use of prescription medications, illegal drugs or alcohol – all of which have been used by polygraph subjects from time to time.

  In an unguarded moment, a seasoned polygrapher will truthfully admit that a sociopath, who is a person or criminal without a conscience, can and will pass a polygraph exam with no problem – while lying through his teeth. Of course, the average interviewee – or the average rank and file cop – doesn’t know that. People with consciences tend to believe every word of the terror-inducing preparatory lecture.

  The box sits on or immediately adjacent to the polygrapher’s desk. Atop the box there are several gauges with twitching tachometer-like indicators. Then there are ink-filled needle-like tubes which spasmodically scrawl back and forth across an endless moving sheet of auto-fed graph paper, creating EKG-like patterns as the examination progresses.

  Electronically attached to the box there is a spring loaded tube which encircles the interviewee’s chest, to detect changes in the speed or depth of breathing patterns. A pressurized blood pressure cuff measures any alterations in pulse rate and blood pressure during the questioning. Lastly there are shiny flat electrodes which are lubed up with some sort of K-Y Gel-like liquid, then attached to the subject’s index and ring fingertips. Their purpose is to measure changes in the amount of stress-induced electrolyte-filled perspiration secreted from skin pores as the ordeal goes on.

  Like all recruits, Tammy had undergone a standard pre-employment polygraph examination. She had never been through a polygraph examination during an internal affairs investigation. In fact, she’d never even been the subject of an internal affairs investigation.

  After what seemed like hours of waiting in that uncomfortable chair, the door opened. Tammy was looking into Detective Miles Terryfield’s unblinking eyes.

  “Come in, Tammy.”

  “Thank you.”

  She stood rather stiffly from having been seated for the past half hour. Terryfield stepped backward into the I.A. office. He did not extend his hand in greeting. She walked through the doorway and beheld the interrogation room which had terrified and broken countless cops’ lives to pieces, some justifiably and some not so justifiably.

  “You know Sergeant Glendowich with Internal
Affairs.”

  “Yes, I know him. How are you, Sergeant?”

  “Fine, thank you. Have a seat.”

  Glendowich was a tall, dour, middle-aged, balding man with a greying moustache. He’d been in Internal Affairs for nearly seven years, far longer than the FBI’s recommended time period of eighteen months. Sometimes chiefs of police or sheriffs take a particular liking to their internal affairs men and keep them close-by for longer than normal tenures. The internal affairs sergeant is often the chief’s public spokesperson at press conferences. His is a highly trusted position for upper level ranks of law enforcement.

  Glendowich’s suit coat hung over the back of his over-sized desk chair. His long-sleeved dress shirt and tie were rumpled. His nose was narrow, almost coyote-like. He wore silver-framed glasses.

  Tammy sat down in a chair which by design placed her beneath Glendowich’s eye level. At least this one had a seat cushion and padded arms. She looked around the office. On the wall behind Glendowich hung a full-sized portrait of the Sheriff. To the right of that picture was a photo of the American flag and to the left was a like-sized photo of the flag of the State of Colorado.

  Her eyes drifted right. The box was to Glendowich’s left, resting atop a sturdy table. Another chair sat next to the box. She rested her hands on the plastic-covered cushioned chair arms, hoping that Glendowich and Terryfield wouldn’t notice the perspiration marks her palms were involuntarily about to leave.

  Two stacks of papers and files had been strategically placed on the huge desk. Tammy saw her last name in large block letters printed on the top page of each pile. The tiny butterflies fluttering deep in the pit of her stomach suddenly became humming birds.

  Glendowich rocked his chair backward and looked at Terryfield, who had slid a chair to Tammy’s left and taken the seat. The detective had a notepad in his left hand and a mechanical pencil in his right.

  “Tammy, Sergeant Glendowich and I need to talk with you about a criminal matter. We want to ask you some questions around the disappearance of Emma Saunders. You’re familiar with that case. Correct?”