The Cold Case

The Cold Case

The cold case murder of a beautiful teenager is solved with the help of

A Little Black Notebook and a $20K Inheritance.

Chapter One: The Assignment

Detective Lawrence settled into his new office at the police headquarters in downtown Rochester. The office was neither large nor stylish. But it was a step-up from the cubical he had shared with another detective, a young Rookie who was heavy-handed with the cheap cologne. The new office seemed to be more than adequate. After a dozen years on the force, Detective Lawrence had been promoted to the Cold Case Unit.

There was a small window from the second-floor office overlooking a downtown parking lot, pedestrian walkway, and a small locally owned bagel shop. The police were loyal breakfast patrons. Joyce always greeted them with gossipy small talk. No morning staff meeting at Precinct 5C started before Joyce delivered the coffee and freshly baked bagels.

The weather on this day of December 14, 2005 was too cold, even for a native Minnesotan. The cold air seeped through cracks in the window, making his office feel as cold as the case files stacked before him.

Lawrence perused the file boxes, overwhelmed on this first day of the new assignment. Most of the case names were familiar, but one stood out: The notorious tale of Melissa Jean Meyers.

Melissa was murdered on December 14, 1977. It was a chilly evening in 1977, but nothing like the frigid temperatures that hovered over Rochester on this twenty-eighth anniversary of her death. In 1977, after participating in a Christmas production, Melissa went Christmas shopping at Sullivan’s Department Store. She was dressed to the nines, since the Christmas performance was a dressy event.

Melissa was a girly-girl who reveled in fashion. At seventeen, she turned plenty of heads, and never lacked for suitors. Melissa had been popular in school with many friends involved in cheerleading, choir, and pep club.

Detective Lawrence wondered who could have brutally murdered Melissa. Over twenty stabbings… What could be the motive? Lawrence timidly opened the box, as if opening too forcefully might let a clue leak out. The box was full of files, recordings, and crime-scene photos. But the most important of the contents was…

The Little Black Notebook

Chapter Two: The Little Black Notebook

Lawrence slowly opened the 5X7 black leather journal, wondering what it might contain: Perhaps a list of suspects with secret “CCU” codenames. Or simply a “little black book” taken from an old beau during initial interviews in 1977.

It was neither. It was the diary of a teenage girl. Melissa wrote of boys she dated and boys she had crushes on. She wrote of teenage heartbreak, and football games, and faith, hopes and dreams.

But there was something more mysterious about this little black notebook.

Chapter Three: The House

April 7, 2006

Julie clocked out early from her shift at Saint Mary’s Hospital. Her realtor called with a new listing: A lovely ranch style home with large picture windows overlooking a generously sized yard with spring lilac blossoms. Too good to be true turned out to be true this time.

The most enthusiastic of all the movers was four-year-old Lilly Jennifer. Lil’ Jen was especially excited about picking out her own room. The girl was as girly as Melissa had been during her short life. Lil’ Jen decided quickly on the pink room. The room had not been painted since 1977.

Julie and Rick found out quickly from informative nosey neighbors that their new house was the Meyers’ last home. Melissa Meyers was a town legend by now. Many believed the house was haunted. Julie pleaded with the neighbors not to mention a word of this to Lil’ Jen.

Late one evening, Jenny awoke to a noise coming from her closet. She was not a fearful child, but still needed Daddy to look. Rick turned on the light and opened the closet door. Inside he found an old battery-operated pencil sharpener, not ever seen by any of the three. The grinding was just loud enough to sound like a low hum beyond the closet doors. Rick solved that problem swiftly, removing the batteries. Lil’ Jen was a brave girl… She thought nothing of it after Daddy fixed it.

Julie and Rick retreated to the master bedroom, where Rick shared his discovery… The AA batteries removed from the pencil sharpener were a brand that went belly-up in the 1980’s.

Chapter Four: The Haunted Journal

December 14, 2006, 29 years since the murder.

Five-year-old Jenny was attending Kindergarten at Roosevelt Elementary School. RES had been a rock in the community since the 1965. It is well regarded for academics and a friendly environment. The annual fall penny carnival raised funds for the booster club with cake walks and raffle tickets.

The halls of the school echoed with the wind, as the temperature dropped to below zero. Julie was held up at the hospital working overtime. Icy roads stranded most of the evening relief staff. Julie arranged for a neighbor to pick-up Jenny. Jenny was curled up in a blanket watching ‘Barney’ on TV when Rick arrived home.

Julie was able to escape the hospital around 11 pm. Exhausted from a twelve-hour shift, she stripped off her aqua colored scrubs and gray crocks, while thinking once again. ‘Maybe I’ll wear designer suits at my next job.’ Too tired to do anything else, she went to bed without her nightgown, and stroked her husband’s chest.

December 14, 2006, 11:59 PM

Jenny walked into her parents’ room. Her normally deep brown eyes were a brilliant emerald green, flickering as though a candle was shining from beyond. She crawled into bed between Julie and Rick. In an older-sounding voice, she said, “I have a new friend I want you to meet.” Sleepless, Julie and Rick consoled each other with whispers and giggles. Surely, it was just a dream.

December 15, 2006, 7:37 AM

She walks into the kitchen for her breakfast of warm oatmeal and fruit. Her eyes have returned to their usual warm deep brown. As she rubs the sleep out of her eyes, Jenny motions, “Mommy, Come here. I want to tell you a secret.”

Julie and Jenny go back to the girl’s room. Jenny helped pick the décor: Pink and purple with large posters of Barney and Disney Princesses. Against the bright morning sun peeking through the lacy curtains Jenny pleaded, “Mommy… You can’t tell anyone.”

“I love you, my Lil’ Jen. You can tell me anything!”

Jenny continued with her story. “A blonde lady came out of my closet last night. She looks like a teenager, but extra pretty. She asked me to sharpen a pencil, so she could draw in her book. Melissa is my new friend.”

Julie nervously called for Rick. He rolled his eyes as he finished looping his tie, preparing for the morning conference. In Jenny’s room, Rick opened the closet doors, expecting to find nothing except two nutty females behind him giggling over their prank. Instead, next to the grinding pencil sharpener, he found a small black leather notebook. The last entry was dated December 15, 1977, the day after Melissa was killed:

“Jimmy’s still near”.

Chapter Five: The Fund

A week left before Christmas, Detective Lawrence stares at the box that holds the mysterious black journal. He gently lifts out the journal to read the last message: December 15, 2006:

“Jimmy’s still near”.

While struggling to think of a rational explanation, his cell phone beeps. It was an urgent message from his father. Lawrence always loved his father, but they were not close: They bickered over politics and The Vikings vs The Bears. His father was a man of few words, often crass and blunt. An urgent message was not a typical call from Dad.

Lawrence’s father delivered tragic family news. “Your cousin Lloyd passed away last Monday. I didn't call you, because we've been dealing with estate issues. Bottom line: Be here for the funeral next week, and you might get that money Lloyd left you...If you have the decency to shave for the occasion.”

Shocked by the unexpected death and inheritance, Lawrence pleaded with his father for more details… “What happened to Lloyd?” “He was fine at Thanksgiving!” “What money are you talking about?” Nothing from this cryptic phone conversation made sense.

Lloyd’s funeral drew a small crowd. Lloyd had been a quiet man, with few but loyal friends. No one knew that he had a nest-egg saved for retirement. Alas, the money would be of no use to Lloyd after the fatal heart attack.

The family gathered around the hotdishes brought in by the Lutheran church ladies. It wasn’t long before the discussion turned to the odd inheritance. In his will, Lloyd granted twenty thousand dollars to Lawrence with a simple note, “Thank you for working for justice… especially for Melissa.” Lloyd had gone steady with Melissa sophomore year. He always loved her. Over the years, Lloyd had endured more police interviews, DNA tests and stomach- wrenching rumors around Rochester than he could count. It was time for justice.

Drowning out the words being read by a droning attorney; Lawrence’s mind replayed the message from Lloyd. “especially for Melissa”… Lawrence realized he was only the courier delivering this gift to Melissa. This money was for Melissa..

The Cold Case Unit detectives were thrilled with the news. Melissa’s case had been passed around the force for thirty years. Fathers passed the file to sons. Detectives delayed retirement for the case. Still no arrests. The inheritance was the financial breakthrough the case needed. This case was about to blow wide open.

Chapter Six: The Investigation

Twenty-grand opened the doors to the greatest scientists and the most skilled genealogists in the nation. DNA and genealogy had advanced at a pace never matched before in science. The flood of new technology was overwhelming. The Detective felt like Spock, driving The Starship into the next galaxy.

As the scientific evidence was processed at the most sophisticated forensic laboratories in the US, Lawrence was working with the genealogists zeroing in on family trees, narrowing down the branches, eliminating one person at a time. He was fully consumed by Melissa’s case.

The pages on the calendar continued to flip. The trees on the blackboard grew thinner.

It felt surreal staring at the name: James Robert Allen. As though it had happened in that instant, the years of work seemed to vanish.

Jimmy was arrested on December 14, 2007, thirty years to the day after Melissa’s death.

Chapter 7: The Closure

February 10, 2008

The verdict was read late in the afternoon. Detective Lawrence ran out of the courthouse to the front stairs, where he belted out screams of victory. The corner market had fresh yellow roses on display. He bought two.

Walking to Melissa’s grave in ankle deep in snow, he realized he was still wearing his dress shoes. His feet were freezing, and his nose was colder. Lawrence knelt with one knee on Melissa’s gravestone, brushed off the snow, and placed a single yellow rose by her name. The sun was sinking as he thanked Lloyd.

He surprised his wife of twenty-three years with a yellow rose. He asked coyly if she’d like to spend more time together. She responded with hand on hip, “What did you do wrong this time?” Lawrence had accomplished something bigger than himself. It was time to retire.

Packing-up his office that early March morning, savoring a warm croissant and coffee from Joyce, Lawrence held the little black notebook in his hands for the last time. Gently opening the journal to the last entry, it read,

“February 10, 2008. Justice is served.”