meticulously maintained not by their owners, but by a
lawn service that the owners paid dearly for.
The VanBurens lived in a classic Colonial two-story brick home with a
wrought-iron fence that separated it from the neighbors’ property. The fence
was in a style no longer available, and Don figured this type of fencing had
been expensive to install even by today’s standards. Don pulled up to the
three-car garage and parked the squad. Raven definitely came from a well-to-do
family. He wondered now why she even chose to work for a living when it was
clear there was no need to. Usually young socialites, once they had their
coming out party, married some young up-and-coming yuppie. Their goal in life
was to produce offspring to put credence on the myth that they were a loving
family.
Don turned to Fred. “Did you have time to check out the father?” he
asked.
“Just that he was chief of surgery at Inova Fairfax in Falls Church,
but I think he’s retired now.”
Don quickly got out of the squad and hurried up the path to the front
door before Fred could say more. He rubbed his temple as he rang the doorbell.
He half expected a butler to answer, but instead the lady of the house opened
the door. Don knew now where Raven got the deep, intense eyes and olive
complexion. Mrs. VanBuren was an older version of her daughter and every bit as
beautiful. Don just stood there with his mouth open, and for the longest time
he was unable to speak.
Don could tell the woman had been crying, and his heart went out to
her and the pain she must be enduring with losing her only child in such a
violent act. Once the introductions were made, Don and Fred were led into the
study, where they waited for Dr. VanBuren, who was busy upstairs talking on the
phone they were told. Don assumed he was making arrangements for their
daughter’s funeral, but then it hadn’t been officially confirmed yet.
Mrs. VanBuren sat on the sofa and then glanced up, as if remembering
her manners.
“Could I get you something to drink? A coffee, tea, or soda?” she
asked politely.
Don would have loved to have said yes but knew that would only prolong
their time there. Being there was a formality. He had a few questions for
Raven’s parents before going to the coroner’s lab to get the official report on
cause of death.
“No, thank you,” Don said as he walked over to the mantel and stared
at the pictures that were displayed. He didn’t care what was on her answering
machine. Deep down he wanted to believe that Raven was not the type of person
to sleep around with another woman’s husband.
There were a couple pictures of Dr. VanBuren with a stethoscope around
his neck and Raven at his side. As with the portrait at Raven’s house, Don was
mesmerized by the vision of her. Even as a young girl in her teens, she was
strikingly beautiful. Don wondered why she never married, because she had to be
almost in her early thirties by now. It was a question he would have liked to
ask Raven’s mother but didn’t dare.
Fred continued to watch Don. He didn’t know what to make of this new
development in his investigation skills.
Don turned to Mrs. VanBuren. “Your husband’s a doctor?”
Fred appeared puzzled, as this was a fact that he already knew.
“Yes.”
Fred stepped forward between Don and Mrs. VanBuren, more as a way to
sidetrack Don and what he was doing. Fred turned to Mrs. VanBuren and quickly
asked.
“Did you know she had been getting threatening calls?”
All she did was shrug her shoulders. “She may have mentioned it.”
Don turned suddenly and stared at Raven’s mother for the longest time.
“Let me get this straight,” Don said, looking at her as if not believing what
the woman had just said. “Your daughter tells you someone was threatening her
and you don’t advise her to report it to the police?”
Fred glanced over at Don, surprised at his sudden outburst. He no
longer was engrossed with the pictures on the mantel.
“Raven
lawn service that the owners paid dearly for.
The VanBurens lived in a classic Colonial two-story brick home with a
wrought-iron fence that separated it from the neighbors’ property. The fence
was in a style no longer available, and Don figured this type of fencing had
been expensive to install even by today’s standards. Don pulled up to the
three-car garage and parked the squad. Raven definitely came from a well-to-do
family. He wondered now why she even chose to work for a living when it was
clear there was no need to. Usually young socialites, once they had their
coming out party, married some young up-and-coming yuppie. Their goal in life
was to produce offspring to put credence on the myth that they were a loving
family.
Don turned to Fred. “Did you have time to check out the father?” he
asked.
“Just that he was chief of surgery at Inova Fairfax in Falls Church,
but I think he’s retired now.”
Don quickly got out of the squad and hurried up the path to the front
door before Fred could say more. He rubbed his temple as he rang the doorbell.
He half expected a butler to answer, but instead the lady of the house opened
the door. Don knew now where Raven got the deep, intense eyes and olive
complexion. Mrs. VanBuren was an older version of her daughter and every bit as
beautiful. Don just stood there with his mouth open, and for the longest time
he was unable to speak.
Don could tell the woman had been crying, and his heart went out to
her and the pain she must be enduring with losing her only child in such a
violent act. Once the introductions were made, Don and Fred were led into the
study, where they waited for Dr. VanBuren, who was busy upstairs talking on the
phone they were told. Don assumed he was making arrangements for their
daughter’s funeral, but then it hadn’t been officially confirmed yet.
Mrs. VanBuren sat on the sofa and then glanced up, as if remembering
her manners.
“Could I get you something to drink? A coffee, tea, or soda?” she
asked politely.
Don would have loved to have said yes but knew that would only prolong
their time there. Being there was a formality. He had a few questions for
Raven’s parents before going to the coroner’s lab to get the official report on
cause of death.
“No, thank you,” Don said as he walked over to the mantel and stared
at the pictures that were displayed. He didn’t care what was on her answering
machine. Deep down he wanted to believe that Raven was not the type of person
to sleep around with another woman’s husband.
There were a couple pictures of Dr. VanBuren with a stethoscope around
his neck and Raven at his side. As with the portrait at Raven’s house, Don was
mesmerized by the vision of her. Even as a young girl in her teens, she was
strikingly beautiful. Don wondered why she never married, because she had to be
almost in her early thirties by now. It was a question he would have liked to
ask Raven’s mother but didn’t dare.
Fred continued to watch Don. He didn’t know what to make of this new
development in his investigation skills.
Don turned to Mrs. VanBuren. “Your husband’s a doctor?”
Fred appeared puzzled, as this was a fact that he already knew.
“Yes.”
Fred stepped forward between Don and Mrs. VanBuren, more as a way to
sidetrack Don and what he was doing. Fred turned to Mrs. VanBuren and quickly
asked.
“Did you know she had been getting threatening calls?”
All she did was shrug her shoulders. “She may have mentioned it.”
Don turned suddenly and stared at Raven’s mother for the longest time.
“Let me get this straight,” Don said, looking at her as if not believing what
the woman had just said. “Your daughter tells you someone was threatening her
and you don’t advise her to report it to the police?”
Fred glanced over at Don, surprised at his sudden outburst. He no
longer was engrossed with the pictures on the mantel.
“Raven
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