Sergeant Tyler, a ten year veteran of the Fairfield Virginia Police, drove slowly down Evergreen Boulevard in his new cruiser. The Department had just received two new patrol cars and he was fortunate to be in one of them. It even had the new car smell. It was just after 8 P.M.
Sgt. Tyler was suddenly startled by his long silent radio coming to life and blaring out an all cars message. A report of shots fired at the Sunshine Motel, on Evergreen Boulevard got his immediate full attention.
As Sgt. Tyler pulled into the Motel’s parking lot he was immediately met by a frantic Carlos, the Motel night manager. “Quickly,” Carlos said. “The shot came from room 120, I think. Tyler had already called for back up, but didn’t want to wait. He approached the door cautiously with his gun drawn. The door handle turned easily and he kicked the door open as he stepped aside. No sound came from the room so he quickly stepped inside, and then to the side so he wouldn’t be framed in the doorway.
In a quick glance Tyler saw a body on the floor, a man standing by the bed and someone or something on the bed. He recognized the only possible danger would be from the man standing by the bed and he immediately yelled, “Hands up, Police.” The man immediately complied and Tyler spun him around and forced him down on the bed. He carefully holstered his weapon and put handcuffs on the man. The man said, “I have a concealed carry permit. I just shot this man in self defense. He was coming at me with a knife.”
Detective Sampson showed up at the Sunshine Motel shortly after the police arrived. Greg was already in handcuffs and Sgt Tyler had taken Greg’s gun from his shoulder holster. Sheila was sitting on the bed holding a bloody sheet against her side. Her screaming had stopped and she was completely silent. The detective said, “lady, an ambulance is on the way. Can you tell me what happened here?” She remained silent and just stared ahead. He found her purse on the floor and found her Virginia drivers license, issued to Sheila Graham. “Sgt. Tyler,” the detective said, “Do you know her? She is Sheila Graham, the wife of Sam Graham?” He spoke as if Sheila wasn’t even there and in fact, she really wasn’t. “No” said Tyler. “I don’t know her.”
Detective Sampson then turned to Greg who had been handcuffed and was sitting on a chair. “And who are you young man,” he asked. “My name is Gregory McGregor and I shot that man on the floor in self defense, as he charged me with a knife. He was trying to kill that lady on the bed. He knocked me out when I entered the room and I came to just in time to see his raised knife. I yelled and it must have caused him to only strike a glancing blow. He then turned towards me with a loud curse. I shot him as he came down on me.”
Greg then explained the lady on the bed had a blindfold and a gag over her mouth. He untied the blindfold and the gag. She was both screaming and sobbing, then became silent. I knew she was going into shock and gathered some bed clothes to hold against her side and to keep her warm. I tried to call 911 but couldn’t get an outside line. I went back to the bed to try to comfort her. Just then the policeman came in and cuffed me.
“That’s quite a story,” the detective said. “Do you know who these people are?”
“I don’t have a clue.” He responded. “But the lady, I believe is the one that called me to meet her here at 8 o clock for some temporary work. On the phone she said she was Mrs. Jones.”
“And the man on the floor that you shot?” asked the detective.
“I don’t know him. He must have hit me on the head when I came in but I was only stunned and came to just as he raised his knife to stab the lady. Come to think of it, I believe he did say something like, “Sorry but a job’s a job.” Or something like that.”
Sheila was driven off in an ambulance and only a few minutes later Greg was put in the back of Sgt. Tyler’s cruiser and taken to the Fairfield city jail. Detective Sampson waited for the forensic crew and briefed them on everything he knew and left them to do their job. He knew Rudy’s body wouldn’t be taken to the morgue until after their investigation.
The detective drove back to the station, filled out a brief report, turned the gun and knife into the evidence room, and turned in for the night. He figured everything else could wait until tomorrow. But then Sam Graham showed up looking for the detective that investigated the shooting at the Sunshine Motel.
Sam had secretly, in his mind, thought through several ways he could remove Sheila without a costly divorce. He realized that any accident would result in him being the prime suspect. While he had loyal men that were sworn to support him in any effort he might attempt, he still had not come up with what he considered a completely safe way to eliminate Sheila. The only action he had taken was to bug Sheila’s phone, hoping to get some kind of evidence he could use against her.