A KILLER’S MASQUERADE

An investigative crime story with a twist.

A KILLER’S MASQUERADE

"I never thought carnage like this could happen in Hawthorne Village."  

Detective Steven Thompson - Rookie 1977

"The murder of Joleen Richards still haunts me with deep regret.”  Detective 

Steven Thompson - Retired 1997

The summer of 1977 forever stood out in my mind.  Why?  I could tell you why.  This community was a quiet suburban town of only 5,000 people.  I never thought carnage like this could happen in Hawthorne Village after I saw Joleen Richard’s mutilated body in a barren field on the outskirts of Vaughn City, located near Richmond, Kansas off Exit 9.  I became a rookie homicide detective in Hawthorne

at the age of thirty.    

Throughout 1977, Richmond was the police district headquarters for every town within the jurisdiction of Regal County.  Regal County was made up of Hawthorne Village, Vaughn City, and Richmond, Kansas.  News of Joleen Richards’ brutal murder had spread fast.   I wasn’t working alone.  My partner, Claire Knight, had worked for Richmond's homicide squad since 1972.  

 Claire was promoted to lieutenant in 1977 by Chief Dan Garrison.  Chief Garrison was 59 in 1977 and nearing retirement within a year.  Starting out as a patrolman in 1938, Chief Garrison became Chief of Police in 1970 for Richmond’s district headquarters.  Making Lieutenant Claire my partner for Joleen’s case was a smart move; Chief Garrison had known and witnessed Lieutenant Claire’s expert training skills with new detectives who joined Richmond’s homicide squad since 1974.  

The atmosphere at the crime scene was pure bedlam.  Lieutenant Claire 

was there when I arrived.

 “Brace yourself detective, this murder looked downright gruesome,” she said. 

“By the way, welcome to homicide.”  Lieutenant Claire extended a welcoming 

handshake.  

“Thanks Lieutenant,” Detective Thompson said.  “What was our victim’s 

name?”

“Our victim's name was Joleen Richards, who was twenty years old.  I found 

Joleen's decomposed torso near an oak tree in this barren field.  This engraved 

bracelet was recovered near Joleen’s torso, alongside two severed ankles, one from 

each leg.”

“A decomposed torso, two severed ankles...  Damn this wasn't in training class!”

“I warned you this crime scene was gruesome, detective.”

“Yeah, yeah... you were saying.”

“As I was saying, detective, on the inside of Joleen’s bracelet were the 

engraved initials JR followed by a message.”

“Message?  What engraved message?”

“Joleen �" You're the one true love that got away.”

“Sounds like a friendship bracelet.”

“Maybe, but the message may have implied more than friendship.”

“I'd be jealous too, if “the one true love that got away” settled for only a 

friendship bracelet.

“Jealous enough to kill, detective?”  Lieutenant Claire had an inquisitive glare 

in her eye.

“Only if my heart had been broken.”  Detective Thompson said.

“Not bad, Detective Thompson, you've profiled the mindset of Joleen’s killer 

on your very first case.”  Lieutenant Claire said.

 

“In what way, Lieutenant?”

“A very suspicious one.”  

“Are you saying I’d join Hawthorne’s homicide squad just to solve a murder I 

may have committed?  Lieutenant Claire, you’re nuts.”

“Haven’t you ever heard this phrase:  Everyone's a suspect until proved 

innocent, including homicide.”  Lieutenant Claire then started to jokingly smile.

“Lieutenant Claire, why have you stalled this investigation?  I’ve got no time 

for hazing jokes”   

“Sure, Thompson.”

“Lieutenant Claire please… can I be called Steven or just Detective Thompson 

from now on?  

“Ok, fine.  Just wanted to haze you a bit, but don't take it personal.  Anyway, 

Joleen's empty purse was recovered near the crime scene along with two bloody one-

dollar bills.”

“These one-dollar bills need to be collected as evidence before heading back 

to the station.”  Detective Stephenson rushed to collect evidence without wearing 

rubber gloves at the crime scene. Lieutenant Claire’s forearm nudged Detective 

Thompson. 

 “I wasn't done briefing you yet about this crime scene, Detective!”

“Sorry Lieutenant… you were saying.”

“Joleen’s clothing was scattered across this barren field and burned 

with gasoline.  A red gasoline can was placed near Joleen's body. Joleen was dead 

for a week due to rigor mortis."      

 “Damn... at least a week?  By the way, Lieutenant Claire, you were being way 

too decisive and nutty again.  No one ever died from rigor mortis!

“Good thing you caught that one detective,” said Lieutenant Claire.  “I figured 

you were being sharp and were on top of this case.  And yes, detective, Joleen was 

dead for at least a week.  Our suspect wanted more than just vengeance towards 

Joleen for sure.”

“Had you contacted any of Joleen’s family members, Lieutenant?” Detective 

Thompson asked.

 

“I talked with Joleen’s mother, Sharon Richards.  Ms. Richards will need to be 

assisted with identifying Joleen’s body at the Regal County morgue after our 

investigation.”  

“I’d feel the same way too if my only child were killed like this,” Detective 

Thompson said.

“How did you know Joleen was an only child, detective?”  Lieutenant Claire 

asked.

“A lucky guess... I guess.  Why do you ask, Lieutenant?”

“Just curious.  You’ve been a sharp rookie up until this point.  Just stay 

focused and avoid  getting ahead of yourself.   I’m headed back to the station and 

the county morgue to help Joleen’s mother Sharon identify Joleen’s dismembered 

body.  I’ve also got to follow up with Joel Mitchell, our lone witness, plus catch up 

on some paperwork.  This crime scene became yours a few hours ago Detective 

Thompson.  Any other questions?”

“No, not at all”

“Okay.  I’ll see you later back at headquarters.”  

Lieutenant Claire headed back to Richmond’s district police headquarters to follow up with a passerby witness named Joel Mitchell.  Joel, the lone witness in this case, couldn’t help to identity Joleen’s killer or provide more useful detailed information about the killer’s whereabouts.  The case then went cold for the next twenty years with no new leads or evidence.  Until one sunny afternoon on Sunday June 12, 1997 when Lieutenant Claire received a breaking lead.

Phone rang.  

“Hello.  Is this Lieutenant Claire?”

“Speaking.”  

 

“Are you still working the Joleen Richards murder case with Detective 

Thompson?” a voice asked.  “I got some info.” 

“No. Detective Thompson retired.”  

“I'm surprised you don't recognize my voice.  We were friends back in high 

school, Claire, or should I say now, Lieutenant Claire.”  

“Wait a minute... Is this Christine Lawson from the volleyball team at Triston 

Academy?”

“Claire, you’re still awesome after all these years.”

“How have you been, Christine?”

“Got married had a couple kids, went back to school for Forensic Science and  

worked as a Forensic Science Technician ever since.”

“Sounds like a happy life.  What’s on your mind?” 

“I've been following this case on my own for a little while.  The nature of clues 

left behind by Joleen’s killer related to someone who worked as a cop before.”

“Are you sure, Christine?”

“The fingerprints found on Joleen's severed bloody fingers never had a match 

in your homicide department’s database.  I’m quite sure your suspect had to have 

known Joleen during some part of her short life.  Bloody fingerprints were found on 

each of those one-dollar bills.”

“What about them?”

“Never had a match either in your homicide department’s database.”

“Christine you’ve pointed out concise coincidences.  Your curiosity trail was 

supposed to lead us where? 

 “My God, Claire, after all these years!  Can't you see?” Christine’s voice grew 

louder and louder.  

“Quit the dramatics, Christine.  What was your point?” asked Claire.

“My point was that big red flags should had gone off inside you guys' heads.  No 

damn fingerprint matches were found in your department’s criminal database.  If 

there were no damn fingerprint matches, an inside job by one of your own was 

possible.” Christine said.

“That was a far stretch for my imagination, Christine.  Making false claims 

while wasting our time has stalled us with catching Joleen’s killer.”

“Claire, have you thought about this for a hot second?  I'm sure you had that 

aha! moment, but you couldn't put your finger on it.”

“I do recall Detective Thompson made strange jokes as if he were Joleen's 

killer twenty years ago.  How could I link Detective Thompson to Joleen’s murder?  

Claire thought to herself.  “Hey Christine.  Can you do me a favor?” she asked.

“What is it, Claire?” Christine asked.

“Make sure you’ve dug up and researched more information about Joleen's past.”

“Sure, no problem… bye, Claire.”  

“Thanks Christine.”   Lieutenant Claire quickly hung up her office phone.

Lieutenant Claire began thinking…  “Christine always liked to talk way too much, 

but why now after all these years regarding Joleen's murder.  Wait a minute... The 

$10,000 dollar reward for Joleen’s cold case just aired on tv the other day.  I've just 

been too busy to notice.  No wonder Christine was so eager to solve this case.”

A few days later the phone rang in Lieutenant Claire's office around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday June 14, 1997.

  “Hey Claire, I got new info,” Christine said.

“Great Christine.  What you got?”

“I know how to connect Joleen's murder to Detective Thompson.  Check for 

yourself after you’ve heard me out though.”

“Okay, go ahead,” Claire said.

“The audio recording found at the crime scene.”

“What about it?” Claire asked.

 

“Claire!  Was it tested?”

“My department listened to that scrambled tape so many times over the 

years.  Nothing concrete came from it.”

“Then test it again Claire.  You needed to tape Detective Thompson’s voice in 

a conversation.  His voice needed to be compared with that crime scene audio

tape.  A matching audio sample could be solidified as evidence to obtain a 

warrant,”  Christine said.

“That was ingenious Christine.  My department dismissed that tape eons ago.  

A voice scrambler was used and the audio quality was poor.   Back then my 

department didn't have t right technology so it could be analyzed, but nowadays it 

could be done.”

“Exactly... I found out Detective Thompson used to be in business with Joleen's 

father before he joined Hawthorne homicide.”  Christine said.

“What type of business?”  Claire asked.

“Joleen's father, Charles Richards, used to run a cattle ranch just south of 

Richmond and Detective Thompson was his silent partner.   Charles sold the business 

but never paid Detective Thompson his fair share of the profits.  

“Where was this info found?”  Claire asked.

 “I had to do some article digging at the library, and I found an article about this shady business deal dating back to January 15, 1970 in the Lawndale Gazette.  I found another article too in the Lawndale Gazette dated a month later in February on that same day.  The article stated Detective Thompson went to a psychiatric hospital after this shady business deal with Joleen's father went down.  The profits owed to Detective Thompson were never paid.  Detective Thompson suffered a nervous breakdown due to stress and financial issues.  Detective Thompson 

then stated in the February Lawndale Gazette article that he began hearing voices in his head saying “Kill Joleen” after being short-changed in the cattle business,” Christine said.

“You’re right Christine, Lawndale is just south of Richmond,” said Claire.  

Detective Thompson never bothered to add any medical information on his 

application profile before working in homicide.  Hey Christine, I just had that aha! 

moment about Detective Thompson’s application profile.  Would it be okay if I 

called you back in thirty minutes?” asked Claire.

“Sure… but, why Claire?”  asked Christine.

“Detective Thompson’s personnel records must be found.  It must be proved 

that Detective Thompson failed to add his medical information on his application 

profile,” Claire said.

Lieutenant Claire called Christine back thirty minutes later.  

Christine’s phone rang.  

Christine answered.

“Hello?” Christine asked.

“Hi Christine, Lieutenant Claire here.”

  “Hey Claire, you found something?”

“I found Detective Thompson’s personnel records in our headquarters database 

archive.  

How Detective Thompson got by with this was quite a mystery,” said Claire.  “Can 

you come by headquarters soon with those articles?”

“Sure, I'll be there in a bit,” Christine said.  

“Thanks Christine.”

Christine arrived at the station an hour later and gave Lieutenant Claire a big hug.

“Great to see you Christine!”

“You too, Claire.”

“Come on in ... Welcome to my office.”  

“Ok, Christine, let's see what you’ve got.”

“Here are those articles, but I wanted to suggest something else.”  Christine 

said.

  “Like what?”

“Do you have Detective Thompson’s fingerprints on file?  Those fingerprints 

need to be compared with the bloody one-dollar bills.”

“Some digging will be done.  Not a problem,” said Claire.

As Christine and Lieutenant Claire further discussed how to solve Joleen's cold case.  Detective John Harris, a loyal and former colleague of Detective Thompson, couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation while passing by Lieutenant Claire’s office.   

“I can't believe they’ve declared Detective Thompson as a suspect in Joleen's 

murder.  I'd better give Detective Thompson a call,” Detective Harris whispered.  

Detective Harris went to his squad car in the parking lot to call Detective Thompson.

The phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Detective Thompson.  How’s the retired life?”  Detective Harris asked.

“Who's this?”  Detective Thompson said.

“Man, time’s really flown by.  I'm surprised you don’t recognize my voice.”

“Who are you again?”

“It's Detective John Harris.  We were partners back in the day for Hawthorne 

homicide.”

“Oh... Ok... Detective Harris.  Damn I’m a bit embarrassed.  How’ve you been 

man?

“I’m alright.  Was ready to quit the force, a year ago though.  I haven’t found 

the right time to get out yet.”

“Twenty years of serving your community should be enough time for any man 

to volunteer.  That milestone will be reached by you, soon.  Hey John, what was the 

reason you called now after all these years?”

“Listen Detective Thompson... I've got some shocking news.  Lieutenant Claire 

has been getting leads from a high school friend named Christine Lawson.  They’ve 

been trying to pin Joleen Richards’ murder on you.”  Detective Harris said.

“What?  Where did you hear that from?”

  “I was just inside Richmond police headquarters eavesdropping by Lieutenant 

Claire's office.  I got Christine Lawson's number.  You got a pen?

“Wait… ok, now go ahead”

  “316-339-6734...”

“316-339-6734… Got it John, great thing you warned me.  Little Ms. Christine 

will be dealt with real soon.” 

“You'd better hurry.  They’ve planned on getting a search warrant for you,” 

Detective Harris said.

“Thanks man!  You were always a loyal partner in homicide.”

“No problem.  Take care of yourself, Detective Thompson.  I believed you were 

innocent from day one.”

“Don't worry, John, it’ll be handled from here,” Detective Thompson said.

“You bet.  Bye.”

Both men hung up.

Meanwhile… Back in Lieutenant Claire's office.

 

“Ok Christine, this new evidence was great, I've already stepped ahead of you 

though.”

“What are you up to, Claire?” her friend asked.“I've arranged for Detective 

Thompson's former partner, Detective John Harris, to tip him off about our discussion

right now.  Claire said.  

“You serious?”

“Very serious.  This case could’ve never been solved without you.”

“Damn Claire…you're amazing!”  Christine said.

“You’ll be called by Detective Thompson very soon.  I know Detective Thompson took the verbal bait from Detective Harris.   I’ll be wearing a wire when Detective Thompson has been arrested.   The S.W.A.T. unit and I will be staked outside Detective Thompson’s home while recording both of you on the phone.  This recorded conversation and my wire recording during the arrest will seal the deal for a warrant and a conviction.  You've got to go home soon, Christine, so we can get everything in place.  You ready to be called a hero Christine?”

“Hell yeah.   I'll be home in fifteen minutes!”  Christine said.

“Good.  Text me the word a.s.a.p. when you get home, so I’ll know Detective 

Thompson hasn’t called you yet.”

“Sure.  See ya.”   Christine and Lieutenant Claire both left Richmond’s District 

Headquarters to stage the sting operation. 

Christine arrived home in fifteen minutes, texted Lieutenant Claire, and waited for  phone to ring. 

Phone rang.

  “Hello?”

“Christine Lawson your days are numbered.”  A scrambled voice spoke.  

“Any last words?  Your meddling must be ended today.  You know who I am!”

“No, I don’t know you or why you called.  You sound like a sicko who’s 

committed murder though.”

As their conversation continued Lieutenant Claire and Richmond’s S.W.A.T. 

unit were waiting to enter Detective Thompson's home.  

“Wait... Before we go barging in there, check the back door to see if it’s

unlocked.”Detective Claire muttered then tried the back doorknob. 

The S.W.A.T. unit tiptoed in.  They saw Detective Thompson threatening Christine hysterically over the phone.  The S.W.A.T. unit surrounded every inch of the living room. Detective Claire came right behind Detective Thompson where he sat in a lounge chair with phone in hand.  

Lieutenant Claire pointed a gun at the back of Detective Thompson’s head, 

then yelled, “Freeze!  Don’t you move!  Get on the floor now!  I’ve waited twenty 

years for this, sicko!”  Thompson dropped the phone, put his hands on his head, then

knelt to the ground.

“You've been placed under arrest for the murder of Joleen Richard,” Detective 

Claire recited his Miranda rights.

“Detective Claire, what a surprise!  What brought you by?   You do know you’ve

trespassed on my private property, don’t you!”

“Shut up, Thompson!”

“Your scrambled voice sealed the deal for a warrant.”

“What?  What scrambled voice you talking about?  How in the hell are you going

to send me to prison anyway?  I'm retired.  What judge will convict me of murder 

for a case I worked on twenty years ago.”  

“I only have one question, Detective Thompson.  Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“Cut the crap, we know about you and Joleen.”  Lieutenant Claire's wire 

started recording.  

“Alright Lieutenant, I'll admit I had a past relationship with Joleen.  Joleen was

a thorn in my side back then.  Joleen's father resented my love for Joleen as a 

boyfriend.  I wasn’t paid a fair cut either for being a silent partner in our cattle 

business.  I joined Hawthorne’s police force to make an example out of those who 

humiliated me in life, period.”

“Detective Thompson, you do realize Joleen was thirteen years old at that 

time,” Claire said.  

“I know and I’m not a monster.  Our relationship was platonic and not sexual.  

The murder of Joleen Richards still haunts me with deep regret.  It's a shame it only 

took twenty years before you found me though…  Ha, Ha.”

“You’re a sick you know what.  Look who got the last laugh now, sicko!”

“You were such an amateur this whole time.”

“Shut up sicko!   Your days of getting away with diabolical murder were 

eventually coming to end anyway.”  

“Detective Lake, take Mr. Sicko here into custody.”  

“Gotcha Lieutenant.”  Detective Lake put handcuffs on former Detective 

Thompson while shaking his head in disbelief.

Lieutenant Claire meet with Christine back at Richmond’s district headquarters after the sting operation and offered Christine a $10,000 reward check.  Lieutenant Claire released this statement to the public about her views on Joleen’s cold case, on June 21, 1997, a week after the arrest and conviction of former Detective Steven Thompson. After twenty years, the spirit of Joleen Richards can now rest in peace.  The identity and apprehension of Joleen’s killer was confirmed on June 14, 1997.  I uncovered the truth regarding 

the involvement of my ex-partner Detective Steven Thompson in this crime.  This case would have remained cold if not for my longtime high school friend Christine Lawson.  Christine’s persistence and key leads helped solve a twenty- year mystery.  The beautiful bond of friendship can heal all wounds regardless of their statute of limitations.  I’m now announcing my retirement from the Richmond, Kansas Homicide Department on June 30, 1997.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Author's Note

A crime story I finished for a writing course I'm completing and will be graduating from in a month or two. A little lengthy but easy to read. All reviews welcome. :)
Also visit Originsofthelostpoeticarchives.godaddysites.com for the latest B-poet books. Thanks.