Behind The Lies by Mark Beckner (the chimp paradox .txt) 📗

“So, this really upset you?” asks Walker.

“Of course, I was afraid that might happen. That’s why I didn’t go to school yesterday. I was too embarrassed and didn’t want to see her or my friends,” explains Aaron.

“Is that why you grabbed her around the neck?” Walker asks as he leans in closer to Aaron.

“No! I told you I wasn’t there! I would never hurt Wendy or anyone else.”

“But you just told us you went there with Brad,” reminds Baker.

“Yes, but not to the meetup. I waited in the car.”

“Aaron would never hurt anyone,” interrupts Mrs. Livingston. “You need to talk to whoever Brad is.”

“Oh, we will, and his story better match,” advises Walker. He then holds up a small plastic bag containing a gold ring. “Is this your ring Aaron?”

“Yes.”

“We found this near Wendy’s body. Can you explain that?”

“Brad said I should give it to her as a show of sincerity or something like that.”

“So, you gave her the ring Thursday night near the creek, right?” asks Walker.

“No, no, Brad must have given it to her,” says Aaron in frustration.

“How could he have given her your ring Aaron?”

“I don’t, I don’t know…..maybe….maybe he took it with him,” stutters Aaron.

“And how could he have done that?”

“I told you I don’t know; it was in my car, maybe he took it.” Aaron guesses.

“Your story is sounding pretty far-fetched Aaron,” says Walker.

“Okay,” interrupts Baker, “You are telling us you sent all these texts to Wendy and set up a meeting with the help of Brad McGivens. There were a lot of texts Aaron. Then you drove to the school to meet Wendy Thursday night and Brad was with you, and it was him, not you, who went to meet Wendy while you waited in the car. This was after you spent over a week trying to get her to meet with you. You don’t know what happened to Wendy, but your ring was at the scene. How does this make sense Aaron?”

“I’m telling the truth!” exclaims Aaron. “It was Brad who met her, not me.”

“Did you ask Brad what happened?” inquires Baker.

“He just came back, got in the car, and said she decided not to see me. It was embarrassing, and I just wanted to go home.”

“Tell us what happened to Wendy’s shoe.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“She was missing a shoe, Aaron. I doubt she went to school with one shoe on.”

“Will we find the shoe in your car Aaron?” asks Walker.

“No, of course not,” replies Aaron.

“And the yellow scarf, you texted that you had her yellow scarf, is that true?”

“I did,” answers Aaron, “Brad gave it to me to give to Wendy.”

“Wait a minute,” says Walker, “I thought you texted that you found it?”

“Yeah, but Brad told me to say that.”

“Where is the scarf now?”

“I’m not sure, I think Brad may still have it.”

“This is a wild story you’re telling us, Aaron. I hope Brad can confirm all this,” warns Baker.

“Alright detectives,” Mrs. Livingston interrupts, “I think Aaron has told you all he knows, and he is obviously terribly upset over all this. He didn’t kill that girl. I know my son and he would never do anything like that! You need to talk to this Brad fellow.”

“We will,” Walker again assures her, “and thank you for answering our questions Aaron. Now, we have search warrants for Aaron’s cell phone and the Toyota RAV4 parked out front. Here are the warrants. Aaron, you need to give us your cell phone now and Mrs. Livingston, we are going to tow your vehicle to the police department for a search and processing.”

The detectives collect and bag Aaron’s cell phone and a tow truck takes the silver Toyota RAV4 to the police department. The detectives give both Aaron and his mother their business cards and tell them to call if they have or remember anything else.

As they are walking back to their cars, Baker asks Walker, “what do you think Don?”

“His story sounds too incredible to be true. And did you see how nervous he was? I think he was so embarrassed and humiliated by Wendy’s rejection he just lost it.”

By 9:20 am, both detectives are back at the station searching the suspect vehicle. On the floorboard of the back seat, the detectives find a pair of black leather gloves and a female’s yellow scarf.

“Well look at this Don,” says Baker as he holds up a light blue, New Balance right foot tennis shoe he finds wrapped in the yellow scarf.

“That could be the smoking gun right there,” responds Walker. “I’ll bet he took it as a trophy to remember her by.”

A cursory search of Aaron’s cell phone confirms that the messages to Wendy Spire had come from his phone. There is no question Aaron had suggested and agreed to a meeting with Wendy Thursday night behind the school.

“Okay,” says Baker, “let’s get these items to the lab today for processing early next week. I’ll bet we find the victim’s DNA on these black gloves.”

By the time the detectives finish processing the vehicle and getting evidence labeled and bagged, it is almost noon. Walker gives the Chief a call to update her on the case.

“The Chief is pleased with our progress on the case,” says Walker. “I get the impression she would like to see Livingston arrested as soon as possible to bring some calm to the community. But she also agrees we need to first talk to McGivens.”

“Yeah, let’s wrap it up here and go find McGivens,” replies Baker.

The administrations of both Lincoln and Ford high schools decide to proceed with the championship game on Saturday night. The Michigan High School Athletic Association allowed the school administrators to make the decision, but did advise them that logistically, the high school playoffs cannot be postponed the following week. Both schools have hopes of making the state playoffs with a win this Saturday, thus it is important to play the game. The game will be played at 6:00 this evening. Brad is