You Can Run but You Can’t Hide by Miguel Sanchez

You Can Run
but
You Can’t Hide
by: Miguel Sanchez

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

I paid Tim for his services even though he said it wasn’t necessary then we all left and headed back home. When we got inside, the light on the answering machine was blinking. “Lee, it’s Capt. Blair. I’ve faxed over a bunch of information on Dr. Fred Nesbit. I think you’ll find it all interesting reading. Let me know when your court date is too, I’ll be glad to testify on your behalf.”

Chapter 27

I called David and let him know the boys had received exams by the doctor who was supposed to do it. He then told me the hearing was scheduled for Wednesday at 10 am and to be prepared for a long hearing.

The boys were ecstatic at the news however the tone in David’s voice was one that had me a little worried. He told me that he would notify Tom so that he would be there also. I called Capt. Blair and told him when the hearing was and he said he’d be there with bells on.

That night I took the family out to dinner. We finished our sumptuous dinner and with our hunger sated, we got back into the Hummer and were heading home when a call from Dispatch came over the radio.

"Anyone in the area of Clifford and Andrews, respond." I was on call and we were only two blocks away.

I responded, "1828 here, I’m two blocks from Clifford and Andrews. Can I have the scenario please?"

"A suspected child predator, Lieutenant," the dispatcher responded. "Considered armed and dangerous, holed up in a house at 756 Andrews Street. Not responding to his call out at the site. The officer at the scene is asking for back-up."

"I’m on my way," I confirmed.

My first thought right after I said that - Hans, Sonny Kevin, and Jamie and the danger they may be exposed to. As I pulled up behind the SA Cruiser, I proclaimed in the sternest voice possible. "You are to stay in this vehicle with the windows closed and the doors locked. Do not come out for any reason until I come back!"

In a small voice, Hans said, "One word: vest. Please be careful. I can't count."

I grinned for an instant at Hans' comment and felt the love in his words as I left the Hummer, closed the door, opened the rear door and retrieved my vest, then locked all the doors to the Hummer with the remote. While putting on the vest, I approached the uniformed officer.

"Officer...?"

"Brandford, Lieutenant....?"

"Jennings," I replied, "What's the quick background?"

"Briefly, we got a phone call from one of the neighbors that observed the man in this house with a small preteen girl. He had been observed before, but never anyone with him. Background check determined that he should be living alone. Preliminary database check shows no previous offense around here. The neighbor reported that the girl was holding hands with the man and wasn't sure if it was a forced action. His name is John Roberts. I was dispatched here two hours after the phone call by the neighbor. I knocked on the door and his response was, 'Fuck off or I'll blow yer fuckin' head off.' That was... five minutes ago. No missing child reports in the last two hours."

As he was telling me the details, another SA cruiser pulled up behind the Hummer. It was the canine unit. I chuckled to myself wondering what value 'the puppy patrol', (our affectionate catch phrase for the canine units), could provide for this situation.

"Brandford, get two more units in here to block off the street and I need you to go to the neighbors across the street and tell them to stay at the back of their property. I doubt we have time to evacuate the area. Get me a bull horn and for God's sake, get your vest on!"

"Right, I’m on it Lieutenant."

From our vantage point at the corner of the property, the officer from the canine unit approached. "Thompson, Lieutenant," he announced as he approached. "I heard the call and I was only a mile away, thought I should respond. Anything I can do?"

Brandford handed me his bull horn and said that the units were on there way. I watched as he crossed the road to the first house.

"Not at the moment, Thompson, but stay close. First we have to get the neighbors informed and block the street off. It appears that he's angry and armed."

I listened while we heard sirens approaching from the east. One continued past our vantage point. I received a call over my portable radio. "Units in place, street blocked, last neighbor informed."

"Good work Brandford, return to the vehicles, but stay on the other side of the street, out of range." I replied.

As I watched Brandford reach the safety of our vantage point, I picked up the bull horn.

"JOHN... JOHN ROBERTS," I started. Fuck that thing was loud. I swear the sound must have carried a mile away. "JOHN, THIS IS THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO COME OUT OF THE PREMISES WITH YOUR HANDS HELD HIGH."

From a strong, husky, slurring voice inside the house, we heard, "Noo fuuckin' waay are you gettin' anywhere near me. Thish is my property an' ya can all fuuck offf."

"Lieutenant... a suggestion." Thompson said quietly.

"Go ahead, I'm open to anything." I replied.

"It seems he's going to have to be provoked to come out of there. If we can get him out the front door and he's got a weapon probably in his right hand, I can have the dog positioned on the far side of the door, crouched, and with the command, he'll grab the right wrist and he'll hang on until I give him the command to stop. Dory can be very convincing."

"OK Thompson, get your vest on and you and your dog get into position. I'll do my best to get him out the front door." I said with as much confidence as I could, but really at that moment I had no idea what would be the best way to get Roberts out the front door.

I watched as Thompson crouched and he and his dog scurried under the window sills at the front of the house to the far side of the entrance. Once he was confident with his position, Thompson gave me an affirmative nod.

"Brandford, I want you ten paces back of me and ten paces to my right. You're my back-up." I said hoping there were enough of us to do the task at hand.

"You got it Lieutenant." he replied quietly.

I picked up the bull horn and started walking along the sidewalk until I was lined up with the front door. I turned, took a quick glance towards Brandford at my right and Thompson at the left of the entrance. I picked up the bullhorn in my left hand, pulled my weapon from my holster and took three steps up the walk towards the front door.

"JOHN... JOHN.... JOHN... JOHN... JOHN... JOHN... JOHN... JOHN... JOHN..." I continued to repeat as I moved slowly forward another five feet and stopped, keeping my eyes focused on the front door. "JOHN... JOHN... JOHN... JOHN.... JOHN... JOHN... JOHN... JOHN..." I continued to chant into the bullhorn that magnified my voice twenty fold. "JOHN...." The front door started to move quickly, and equally quick, I dropped the bull horn, dropped to one knee, steadied my left hand on the gun in my right hand, all before the door was fully opened. I wanted to focus on a knee, but was he armed?

"YOU FUCK..." was all he said before the police dog's mouth touched his wrist and in that instant he fired, but not a perfect aim. As the dog's jaw clamped on Roberts' wrist, I heard a loud whistling come directly for me. I fired my shot just before I heard a ripping sound and my shoulder getting jerked out of position, somewhat like someone had just banged against me in a crowd.

I stood and maintained my aim at the fallen Mr. Roberts, walking carefully towards him, listening to the dog snarl and growl, as he held tight to the wrist, ripping the man's shirt sleeve in the process. Thompson moved slowly over to Roberts, maintaining his weapon's aim at Roberts. He retrieved Roberts’ gun from the ground and backed away a few feet.

"Klindotknee!" Thompson commanded. Immediately, the dog released Roberts’ wrist and jumped forcibly with his front paws onto the man's chest, barking and snarling with bared teeth just inches from Robert's throat. "Ease back Dory," Thompson said above the screams of the stricken man.

I gestured for Brandford to come up to the scene. Roberts was screaming blue, bloody murder from the pain of his wrist, the bullet wound in his left thigh, and now the fear of what else this dog may do to him as his snarling, bared teeth approached his crotch area.

"Medics are on their way Lieutenant," Brandford said quickly, "Are you all right sir?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. You'd better put the cuffs on him gently while the dog has him under control." I suggested. I maintained my aim on Roberts, while Brandford cuffed his hands. "Roberts, I said firmly, quit your whining, it's just a couple of flesh wounds."

"Dory... Keedreeda," Thompson commanded.

Immediately, the dog's attitude changed from vicious to friendly as he jumped off Roberts panting, tail wagging and returned to his master's side.

"OK, let's get the girl," I said as I approached the front door.

It wasn't a big house. I was facing a dinette area with a kitchen to the right and living room area to the left - each of minimal size for its purpose. A preliminary scan of the area didn't reveal any space big enough for any small child to conceal themselves in. With Brandford following, I proceeded slowly down the hallway that exited from the kitchen. The first room was a bathroom. A concentrated scan revealed nothing but the dirt and odor that seemed to permeate the whole interior of the abode. The next door revealed a small cupboard. I opened the door, but it was empty except for a few towels. Next we came to a small bedroom. As I glanced inside the door, I heard a high squeaking moan, but it wasn't coming from this room. I walked towards the sound to find another bedroom and the shock of my life. Together we entered the room when Brandford gasped in horror. “Brandford, go to the Hummer. Tell Hans you need the camera from the glove box and RUN.”

I approached the bed and knelt down to the young girls face and spoke in a voice as calm as I could. "It's OK sweetheart. You're safe now. No one is going to hurt you, I promise. I'm going to get you out of here as soon as I can. You're safe now. Just try to relax darling, I’m going to get you out of here.

She continued to squeal and moan through the gag that was tied around her head and mouth and I continued to murmur calming words, but with the emotions of the pain before me, I was near tears. I put on a pair of rubber gloves then undid the gag in her mouth. I heard a soft sigh then I quickly undid the blindfold.

I was about to cut her free when Brandford returned. "I need three quick pictures from the foot of the bed. One from the left corner, one from the right corner and a centre shot."

He quickly took his spot to the left and clicked the digital, then to the right, another click - then last, but not least, a closer shot of the child's totally inflamed, enlarged vulva. There was no doubt - it was the rape of a minor.

"Done, they're good," Brandford said solemnly.

The paramedics arrived. I grabbed the sheet off the gurney covering her then knelt down again by the girl's head. I talked calmly telling her that she was safe now then started to untie the ropes from her arms, then I went to the foot of the bed that held her in a spread eagle position. Finally I asked, "Sweetheart, what's your name?"

Between sobs, she said, "Evelyn Conreese."

While they examined her wrists and ankles, I asked Evelyn, "Where do you live Evelyn?"

Again, between sobs, she replied, "6-9-5 Cliff...ford Avenue. I... I... want my Mommy."

She then broke into gut wrenching sobs. The medics quickly moved her off the bed and onto the stretcher. One look at Brandford, and he said, "I'm on my way." He looked at one of the medics and asked quietly, "Where to?"

"County," was the only reply necessary.

The female medic that had already seen the evidence under the sheet and was now explaining to Evelyn that she was going to stay with her and that her Mom would be at the hospital. That brought a wave of relief over me, but now, another worry about Hans and the boys was emerging.

I went over to the Hummer but before I could get there, I was surrounded by my family. “What happened?”

I thought long and hard. I stepped back and told them what I had just seen. The boys stood there speechless then I heard them start to cry. “How could anyone be such an animal?"

"Hans, now is not the time to think about the beast, we have the boys to think about and be thankful that they're safe from this type of brutality."

The medics came from the house carrying little Evelyn on a stretcher towards the waiting ambulance. Another ambulance was approaching from the east. John Roberts was still writhing on the ground eliciting many verbal abuses to the officers guarding him. Together with the help of the officers, the second team of medics loaded Roberts onto the stretcher, strapped him down securely and loaded him into the back of the ambulance.

"Lieutenant," one of the other officers said, "I can't thank you enough for coming to the rescue of this little girl. We'd have been dead meat without your help. You've done enough around here, so why don't you scoot. Forensics is going to be here to collect all the evidence they can and then we'll lock it up."

I nodded my acceptance as Hans and I tended to the boys. Hans and I were calming them down then I heard. "Papa Lee, are you all right?"

"Of course, I'm fine son."

"But Papa, look at your shoulder!" He said with a concerned look.

I looked at my shoulder and remembered the bullet that whisked by me - only it hadn't. I looked and thankfully the bullet had whisked by my neck, hit the padding of the vest and ripped a patch of threads from the shoulder of my vest. I took off the vest and examined it with Thompson, Hans and the boys.

Hans smiled, "I'm glad I used that one word!"

"You're a blabber mouth," I laughed. "One word be damned." I looked over at Thompson who was putting Dory in the back of his cruiser. "Thompson, that's one great dog. One thing though, I didn't understand some of the commands you were giving him."

"Lieutenant, in all honesty I do hope you don't remember those commands. We're very careful that when we have a dog of this nature, that it responds violently only to obscure commands that are non-English, French, Spanish, and most Chinese. That way the dog won't respond to words that may be heard in common conversations."

"Well all I can say is, he sure saved my life today or that bullet may have been quite fatal instead of just a rip to the vest's shoulder fabric."

Thompson smiled, "All in a day's work for Dory, Lieutenant."

We bid Thompson a good night as we climbed into the Hummer. "OK my family," I began. "Now comes the tough part. We have to go to the hospital and make sure that the victim and her family will be OK. It's all part of the job. I'm just sorry that you had to witness any of it."

"Well now that it's over it was kind of exciting,” Kevin started. “I was really scared when I heard the gun shots, but when I saw that you weren't shot, I was still scared, but relieved."

"Yeah, but then when Officer Brandford came bangin' on the window," Sonny continued, "I got seriously petrified again! What was that all about Dad?"

"I had to have some pictures right away and all I could think of was the camera that Hans keeps in here." I replied. "How'd they turn out anyway Babe?"

Hans held the digital up to my eye level and flashed the pictures onto the preview screen. Suddenly there was a deep gasp that became a heart wrenching sob from the back seat.

"D... D... ad! DAD! She's just a little girl!" Jamie sobbed. "Wh... wh.... why would... anyone do that?"

Hans and I both turned in our seats and faced the back of the Hummer with our knees on the seats. The boys were huddled together sobbing quietly.

"Jamie, Kevin, Sonny this is the worst part of my job, a part of my job that I hoped, would never be a part of your life. You weren't supposed to see those pictures. That young girl was probably just innocently playing outdoors or maybe on an errand for her mom. That man that we took down grabbed her from the street and now her life, the lives of her mom and dad, our lives and possibly countless others have been changed forever. Now I have the responsibility to carry through and make sure that the girl is going to be OK sometime in the future and that maybe her parents and her get the professional help that's going to be needed to overcome this heinous crime. Also, I'll have to ask the parents and the doctors some questions, probably at the worst time to ask them, because of how upset they might be. The little girl is an innocent victim here and the best we can do for her is to be happy that she's in safe hands."

I held out my hand hoping that the boys would respond, which they did. Both Hans and I held the boys, which was awkward, considering we had a seat back between us and the boys.

Hans had overcome the emotion of seeing the girl lying in the bed and remained very calm. He spoke calmly to them. "Boys, these types of things happen all over the world and we don't pay any attention to them in passing. It's a shame that anyone should have that happen to them or that anyone should witness such a crime. Most people would just turn the other way and pretend that it didn't happen. We aren't in a position to do that. This crime touched us, just as that night your dads were murdered. We don't know what will happen to this little girl, but we have to do whatever we can to help her feel good about herself. Right now, our hearts are hurting for what that little girl had to go through, but we have to do what we can to make her and her parents deal calmly with the reality. Let's see what we can do to make them feel better about the future that lies ahead for them. Do you think we can do that?"

In one voice, the boys responded with a quiet “yes,” Jamie continued, "It is sad, but somehow I think we could help to make it better for her and her parents."

"Do you think we'll be able to see her if we go to the hospital?" Kevin asked.

"Probably not boys," I said. "I'd imagine that only the doctors, the medical team and her parents will be able to see her tonight. However I do have my job to do and that is to question the parents and if the doctors will let me, Evelyn as well."

"You're right Dad," Jamie said with a small smile on his face. "Let's go." Kevin was eagerly nodding his head.

"OK then, buckle up boys, we're on our way to the hospital."

Hans and I returned to our seating position and we were on our way. It was approaching 9:00 PM as we entered the Emergency Room, I ushered the boys and Hans to the waiting room. It seemed odd that the emergency wing wasn't too crowded at the moment. I flashed my badge as I approached the nurse at the desk. Her response was immediate.

"Yes sir..."

"Lieutenant Jennings, San Antonio Police. A little girl, Evelyn Conreese was brought in a short time ago. I was wondering about her condition and are her parents here?"

"Sir we've put her in an enclosed exam room at the end of that corridor to the right. A police officer and her father are waiting outside the room. The mother and doctor are with her now."

"Thank you, and can you tell me anything about John Roberts?" For the first time in a long time I found a nurse who was informative and cooperative. There was none of the officious, holier-than-thou crap about this lady.

"He's in the OR at the moment with another officer nearby, Lieutenant.” Then she continued in a very low voice. "Whoever shot him had a poor aim... a little higher and to the right would have been just fine by me."

I had to grin at her comment. "I'll bear that in mind next time." I said as I walked down the corridor she had indicated.

There before me was Officer Brandford and what I assumed were Evelyn's very distraught father. Mr. Conreese was sitting on of the two available chairs. As I approached, Branford acknowledged me as a woman came out. "Lieutenant, this is Evelyn's parents. Mr. and Mrs. Conreese, this is Lieutenant Jennings of Juvenile Division. He headed the team that rescued Evelyn."

Mrs. Conreese sat down and glanced up from her bowed head, her eyes all puffed with tears flowing down her cheeks. I looked at Mr. Conreese and I saw the anger, the tenseness of his clenched jaw as facial muscles pulsated with the tighter and tighter clenching of his teeth.

As he stared at me he growled angrily through gritted teeth, "Why didn't you kill the son-of-a-bitch?"

"Sir, I'm truly sorry for what happened to Evelyn. When I aimed my weapon, I had a split second decision to make. If I aimed for his head and the bullet happened to ricochet into the house, it may have struck your daughter, because I didn't know where she was inside. If I aimed for the heart, I may have hit one of the officers nearby, mainly the very valuable canine unit that had his jaw on Roberts’ wrist. My only clear shot was his leg which successfully brought him to the ground."

Mr. Conreese nodded in agreement as his anger ebbed slightly. "Then you should have blown out his crotch." He said quietly.

I nodded with a slight grin. "So I've already been told."

He bowed his head and his shoulders slumped and started to sob, his chest heaving with each breath. "She's only nine years old. I've lost my little baby girl," he choked out between sobs.

I reached over and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Mr. Conreese, look at me." I demanded with a firm voice. As he raised his head and looked into my eyes, I continued, "Sir, you HAVE NOT lost your little baby girl. She will always BE your little baby girl, even after she's married and had children of her own. Right now she has to know that you are both the parents that you always have been - a loving, caring and understanding mommy and daddy. Right now she needs to know how brave and strong she's been to have survived such a terrible ordeal... AND she has to know from you how proud you are of her and how much you care about her and that she can talk to either of you at any time about her feelings. Otherwise, without the confidence that only both of you can give her, she will continue to grow up with insurmountable feelings of guilt."

Mrs. Conreese rose up and stood up beside her husband, wrapping her hand around his waist and then rested her head against his shoulder. I could see the love between them and had a strong feeling that Evelyn was going to survive this attack.

"Mrs. Conreese inquired, "You seem to speak from a great deal of experience Lieutenant."

I explained to them about how Hans and I had come to foster Jamie and Kevin. They were a bit shocked when I superficially told them about how their fathers had been murdered before their eyes. I went on to explain how it was that they were present when this episode with Evelyn had occurred. I also told them that my family was out in the waiting room and that the boys hoped they would be able to visit with Evelyn sometime. They agreed that it might help Evelyn with her recovery. I agreed that it may, but we should first listen to what the professionals had to say about the matter. Now that I had them calmed down, it was time to ask some important questions.

I started to ask a few questions. “Where was Evelyn going at the time?”

Mrs. Conreese looked at her husband then back to me. “Two blocks over to play with another girl her age. She's done it many times without incident.”

I was about to ask another question when the doctor came out from the exam room. “I just finished the pelvic portion of the exam. She’s badly bruised and her vulva is swollen but I don’t see any damage that is permanent. I’ve given her a sedative and written admission orders for her to be admitted to the pediatric unit. Tomorrow a gynecologist will examine her again just to be sure I didn’t miss anything. You can go in with her now.”

Before they left I put my hands on their shoulders. “I’ll leave you to be with your daughter now. Tomorrow, I’ll have a female officer from my division come over to finish talking with you and talk with Evelyn. She is very good and will be easy on your daughter. I know it will be a little hard on her but the questions need to be asked.”

Mr. Conreese took my hand. “Thank you Lt. Jennings. You saved our baby’s life.”

To be continued...

Posted: 05/30/08