Murder in the Suburbs Part II

It was 10:00 am the next morning and Bill Ramsey arrived at Sunny Dale Nursing home to speak to the Administrator, Laura Davis. Last night he spoke with the victims husband and the story remained the same. Husband came home from work, was surprised his wife's car was still in the driveway and came across the horrific scene. The husband was staying with his brother-in-law in Nappa Valley, about five miles away preparing funeral arrangements.

Detective Ramsey got out of his car to view the nursing home. It was very large, two floors. The outside lawn well maintained, but the building was old. He walked into a large foyer and spoke with the receptionist. "I'm Detective Ramsey I have an appointment with Ms. Laura Davis." "Have a seat Mr. Ramsey, she's been expecting you" said the older woman behind the desk.

Bill heard from the ME's office who had nothing more to offer. CSU found no knife and no knife was missing from the home. There were no fingerprints beside the victims and her husbands. The husband wrote down all the valuables they owned that were in the house, nothing was taken. This was personal Ramsey felt.

Laura Davis came out to greet him and introduced herself. She was a tall, thin woman who looked to be in her forties. Short black hair, dark brown eyes and she wore a black pinstripe suit with three inch heels. "Please let us go to my office". She led the way down a hallway to the first office on the right. She shut the door and motioned for him to sit down in the chair across from her desk. "This is such a tragedy, our staff are very upset. We have not said at word to the residents here, we don't want to upset them." "I understand, Ms. Davis I need to ask you some questions." "Anyway I can help of course".

"Was Lucinda well liked here? Did she have any enemies, problems with her job?." "Absolutely not! She was a well liked nurse, highly respected and even voted by her own peers employee of the month two months ago." "There were no arguments with other staff, unhappy family members, any problems with her work performance?" "No, she was a model nurse and I know of no one that would do what they did to her."

"Honestly Detective I do not know how I can help, this is so horrific and unimaginable." "Did you know her husband Robert?" "Not personally, but we meet several times at previous Christmas parties." "What was their relationship like? Did Lucinda ever talk about him?" "They seemed very happy at the parties and no she never talked about her private life, she was all business."

They spoke for about an hour and all Ms. Davis could say was how liked Lucinda was. Detective Ramsey knew he was getting nowhere. He left the nursing home and was headed to the hospital where the husband worked to talk to the Administrator there.

So far this case was leading nowhere.

As Detective Ramsey took the drive to the hospital which was 45 minutes away he got a phone call from his two lead detectives working on the case. Bill Watkins and Mike Sullivan. "What you got for me Bill?" "The ME called and said the stab wound on the victims body came from a butcher knife". "Butcher knife huh and none missing in the home?" "Nope", said Watkins. "Also Bill", Mike was on the other line. We found the husband and wife both has a life insurance policy". "Oh really" Detective Ramsey said as he sat at a red light. "How much was the wife's?" "One million dollars" said Sullivan. "That's a lot of money for two nurses salary" said Ramsey. When was the policy signed?" "Six months ago" said Sullivan. "Is the husbands the same amount?" Ramsey asked. "Yes" said Watkins. Interesting Ramsey thought, why would two nurses need such a large amount of insurance. "And Ramsey", Watkins commented, it pays off if it wasn't a suicide". "Well clearly it wasn't" said Ramsey. "Good job guys, keep digging" Ramsey said as he hung up his cell.

Now the case was getting more interesting Ramsey thought. Why would two nurses need such a large policy. Ramsey pulled into the hospital parking lot. Time to verify the husband's alibi. Now the husband was clearly a person of interest.

As Detective Ramsey entered the hospital he got another call. "Ramsey here". It was Watkins again. "Ramsey I just got a phone call from a nurse that works with the victim". She said she'd seen you leaving the Administrator's office and has some information for you, her names Linda Jones". "Oh really, well when will she be coming in?" "After her shift at work, she said she'd be here at 4:00 pm." "Good, let me go verify the husband's alibi and I'll be there". Ramsey said as he announced himself to the receptionist in the hospital. Ramsey waited in the lobby for the Administrator and thought of the last twenty-four hours. Butcher knife, life insurance policy and now a fellow co-worker who has some information. Now this case is getting somewhere he thought.

Author's Note

Stay tuned for Murder in the Suburbs Part III. Detective Ramsey finds a twist to the case.