The Needles Point

By R. Appel

At the age of eighteen, Raymond Tyler Prentice was thought of as an outgoing and generous student by his peers. In his spare time he tutored other students and was active in many charitable fundraisers. He was popular and sought out at social events for his wit and charm. His academic achievements left many to believe that greater things lay ahead for this gifted young man.

But there was the hidden and darker side of Raymond Tyler Prentice; that of a greedy calculating killer. Although he was wealthy by way of a family trust fund, his sister and grandfather stood in his way of inheriting all of the family fortune.

As a consequence of that greed, Raymond Tyler Prentice would be convicted of the premeditated killing of three people and condemned to death by lethal injection. After ten years on death row, and with his appeals about to be exhausted, Prentice employs a brilliant attorney to come up with a legal strategy to prevent his execution by demanding that as condemned prisoner he be allowed to donate his organs after the execution.

As the ethical and legal battle ensues, Raymond Tyler Prentice is granted a legal respite from his execution. He uses that time to plot and then orchestrate, from his jail cell, the murder of the police detective who cobbled together the damning evidence which led to his conviction. For Raymond Tyler Prentice, his fourth murder is about to take place.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491863879

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Thirteen years ago

Raymond Tyler Prentice had come from a privileged family. Generations of Prentice’s had amassed a large fortune. His grandfather had raised young Raymond and his older sister Katie after their father had died in an aircraft accident and their mother had been institutionalized for acute alcoholism and schizophrenia. Prentice knew that his widowed grandfather had created a trust for both he and his sister and assured them that they would want for nothing. But Raymond Prentice was greedy and cunning; he wanted all of the family fortune. At sixteen he began plotting how to murder his grandfather and sister without drawing suspicion to himself.

Raymond Prentice was a true sociopath. He had all the evil trappings of a calculating killer, he was charming, glib, very bright and self-centered. In high school his outward persona was that of an energetic, generous and ambitious person. While inward he was cold and utterly ruthless. The young Prentice would allow no one to stand in the way of what he wanted or believed he was entitled to.

Once Prentice decided to murder his family he began to put his long term plan into action. He started by volunteering as a tutor. Then assisting in school fundraisers where he was praised for his innovation, perseverance and the large sums of money that he raised. He received accolades for both his civic works and academics. He needed the goodwill of many in order that should any suspicion be directed towards him, others would rise to his defense.

Prentice’s first fortuitous event to gain the family fortune came when, through his grandfather, he learned that his mother had an incurable liver disease due to her years of heavy drinking and prescription medications. Prentice had been told that her doctors had given her less than six months to live. With her soon departure, that would only leave his grandfather, who was in his late sixties, and his sister who was three years older than him.

The mental exercises that Prentice went through trying to develop a foolproof method of murdering the members of his family were time consuming, but exhilarating. He had given thought to the fake robbery or burglary killing, but had ruled those out since he would have to have an airtight alibi and those types of crimes always seemed to unravel. His first venture outside of his daydreaming came at his high school government class. A police detective had come to talk about modern policing in the new millennia. Detective Robert Hatter had given a short talk on policing and the new sciences being developed and employed to solve crimes.

One of the students had asked about why autopsies were performed. Detective Hatter gave a very brief overview of how and why autopsies were done and what critical evidence could be gathered in a homicide investigation. At the end of the class Prentice had approached Detective Hatter and asked if it were possible to kill someone without leaving traceable evidence. Hatter had been hesitant, and after looking over Prentice, had simply said, No.

Prentice had known enough about reading people’s faces and their body language to know that Hatter’s response simply wasn’t true. He didn’t know where to look or what to look for, but a search of the Internet would no doubt point him in the right direction. At age seventeen, Prentice was looking for unusual murders and couldn’t find anything that would satisfy his ego as well as stimulate his intelligence, both major requirements. An answer came again through his government class.

Each day students were required to read the newspaper or iPad news application and bring one story about government for open discussion. Prentice had the morning newspaper with him. His grandfather was a traditionalist who didn’t trust the electronic media and liked the feel of newsprint between his fingers. When his grandfather was done with the paper young Raymond would take it off the kitchen counter and glance through it between classes.

The inspiration was found in a short news story buried in the back pages of the newspaper. A surgical anesthesiologists had been charged with manslaughter after administrating too much of an epidural anesthesia while allegedly being drunk. The story quoted the doctor’s lawyer as saying that no sustainable evidence could be found in the deceased body to prove negligence. All the State had as proof was a computerized gauge and valve record which indicated that too much of the anesthesia had been administered. The doctor’s lawyer argued that the equipment had not been calibrated correctly by the hospital and the fault lay in the equipment and not the alleged impairment of the doctor.

Over the course of several months Prentice researched how various gases affected the human body. He read several medical articles and limited autopsy reports to know that once a gas had entered the body after a period of time the gas would dissipate and unless you knew what you were looking for, the true cause of death would not be known or could be proven. Although his research showed that some gases could leave a discoloration on certain organs, or caused a chemical burn or imprint, they were excluded from consideration. Once Prentice began eliminating those gases there were other problems. Toxic gases were hard to come by, difficult to handle, and when coupled with the risk of exposure, made their use impracticable.

The solution came shortly after his eighteenth birthday. Prentice’s sister, Katie, had taken him to a college soirée. Next to the beer keg was a helium tank. He watched as one of the college students administered the gas. The tank had been fitted with a face mask which the student would place over their mouth. The student, at the tank, controlled the valve to the helium, and measured out a specific amount. The user would inhale the helium which caused them to become light headed and gave them a cartoon-like voice; much to the amusement of everyone around.

Prentice talked to the student who controlled the tank and asked why there was a specific measurement of the gas. He was told that the helium could be very deadly if not administered properly. He was told that the gas, which was odorless, would dissipated the oxygen in the blood quickly, and within seconds render the user unconscious, and within four minutes after the helium had been introduced, brain death would occur.

This was what Prentice had been looking for. His research verified what he had been told at the party. Further research revealed that it was very easy to purchase helium. The gas was sold in stores that carried party supply products. Since helium was lighter than air it was used for balloons. There was no registration needed to purchase the gas, and only a deposit required on the tank. Helium was not only odorless, but colorless and relatively safe to handle. His extensive research bore what he had hoped, that the gas was impossible to trace once it killed someone. The next problem was how to use the gas on his sister.

Once again fate provided the answer. As the academic year was ending and with the onset of summer parties, Katie had mentioned over dinner that a warning light had appeared in the gauge-pod of her car. She had asked Prentice if she could use his car while hers was being serviced and the warning light problem repaired. At first he had told her that he needed his car for school and the volunteer work he was doing, but later that night while continuing his research he had realized that he might replace the air conditioner gas in her car with the helium. Once he theorized that it might be possible he told Katie that he would change his schedule, she could use his car while he saw to it that her vehicle was repaired.

The following day he took her car to a garage and made friends with the mechanic. With a pleasant demeanor and flattery he made short work of gaining the mechanic’s trust. Prentice told the mechanic that the air conditioner wasn’t working properly and had asked to show him how it operated. As he learned about the refrigerant gas, he found that no special equipment would be needed to undertake his plan. The mechanic showed him where the coolant release valve was and how to safely bleed the system dry and how to introduce the replacement refrigerant.

Prentice knew that all he needed was to get Katie’s car, once he had all the equipment needed to carryout his plan. He had gone on-line and purchased the necessary attachments and connecting tubing needed to make the exchange. Timing would be essential to the success of his crime, any mistakes would foil his plans.

During the late spring and early summer Prentice continued his research and preparation. He had purchased two small tanks of helium, enough for Katie’s car and, if successful, one for his grandfather. He knew that for the best results he would have to cool, or even better, refrigerate the helium. With the helium condensed there would be no problems transferring the gas to her car. He had all the equipment needed and had walked himself through the operation several times. What he had hoped was that both Katie and his grandfather would be dead by Christmas.

CHAPTER TWO

Weeks after the school year had ended in June, Prentice had walked into the kitchen to hear his sister talking on the phone about going to a party over the weekend at the Hidden Springs resort that had opened at the north end of town. He had gathered from the conversation that Katie had most of the day and much of the night planned and that alcohol would be available. This would be the event he needed to set into motion his well planned crime. Prentice had gone to the garage and removed one of the helium tanks from the trunk of his car and placed it into a refrigerator and turned down the temperature. From previous tests the gas worked better when it was between thirty-three to thirty-five degrees.

At around three in the morning Prentice had gotten up and had gone quietly to the garage. He opened the hood to Katie’s car and opened the safety valve which released the air conditioner coolant. He had replaced the safety valve on the air conditioner and had removed the helium tank from the refrigerator. Using the refrigerant equipment he had purchased on-line, the helium was transferred to Katie’s car without any leaks or seepage. He sealed the system, closed the hood, and put away the equipment. Prentice was very pleased with himself, and was back in bed, and asleep by four-thirty.

Breakfast was waiting for him when he went downstairs and found his grandfather reading the morning newspaper. He asked his grandfather for the weather page. The news was better than he had hoped, a heat wave was starting today, temperatures were expected to be in the high nineties. About halfway through breakfast Katie came into the kitchen. She was dressed in a light blouse and shorts. Prentice suddenly asked about what she would be doing for the day. When she asked why Prentice had a moment of brilliance.

I was hoping to borrow your car. Mine has some electrical problems.

Katie said, Sorry, I’ve already made plans for the day, but you can have it tomorrow, if that works.

Prentice smiled and nodded. Katie kissed her grandfather goodbye and went out the door. He continued to eat breakfast as he heard Katie’s car drive out of the garage. If everything worked out as he had planned all he had to do was wait for the late night phone call.

The call came shortly after midnight. The phone rang several times before he heard his grandfather answer it. Oh my God NO! he heard his grandfather yell. Prentice got out of bed and went into his grandfather’s bedroom. The old man was seated on the edge of the bed with tears streaming down his face. He looked up at Prentice and told him that his sister and another girl had been killed in an auto accident. Prentice went over to the bed sat next to his grieving grandfather and hugged him. Prentice was eager to know of the details, but knew had to play the distraught brother.

The two had gone to a hospital where they met an ER doctor, a traffic officer, and Detective Hatter. It took a couple of minutes for Prentice to recognize Hatter and didn’t say anything. The traffic officer said that his sister, who was a passenger, had died along with the driver when their car left the roadway and overturned. The ER doctor believed that both had died of broken necks and other internal injuries. As a matter of police procedure whenever there was a violent death, including traffic accidents, a police detective was always called.

Prentice held onto his grandfather. He wanted to know everything and didn’t want any question or response to get past him. Detective Hatter spoke to the grandfather, Do you know where the two women were tonight?

Prentice’s grandfather told Hatter about the day long trip to the Hidden Springs resort. The old man had tears in his eyes as he talked of Raymond wanting to use his sister’s car that day. And as the old man began to finish his comments to Hatter he began to hyperventilate and complained of chest pains. As others rushed to the old man, Prentice was secretly wondering how great it would be for the old man to die in the ER, but no such luck, he survived.

Autopsies were performed on both Katie Prentice and her friend. Raymond Prentice helped plan the funeral and carried out the service. He assisted his grandfather in the legal papers moving Katie’s trust into the family holdings. Now all there was left to do was rid himself of his grandfather and take control of the family fortune. About three weeks after the funeral Prentice lived in excited terror waiting for the autopsy results. When the tests came back he couldn’t believe his good fortune, his sister had died of a broken neck. Her blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit and the accident report noted that the car appeared to be in working order.

The girlfriend driving the car also had an over the limit blood alcohol level. The traffic crash report concluded that pending any supplemental investigative report of Detective Robert Hatter, the primary cause of the accident would be the intoxicated driver’s impairment in losing control of the car killing both occupants.

Prentice was at first elated. He had gotten away with murder, but he was troubled that Detective Hatter’s report wasn’t included. That issue would have to wait. He was in a hurry to rid himself of his grandfather, who after several visits to his doctor was no longer having chest pains and seemed to be recovering his health. Prentice had to act, he wouldn’t wait years for nature to claim the old man.

It had been three months since his sister’s death when Prentice decided to move ahead with his plans to kill his grandfather. He decided to kill the old man in the early morning hours using the other tank of helium. He began to concoct a story that the old man had been working strenuously and had complained of not feeling well and retiring early. Since the household help left after seven in the evening he knew they would return at six in the morning to begin breakfast. To keep himself removed from as much as possible, he would have the cook find his grandfather’s body.

***

For Robert Hatter there was something about Raymond Prentice that set off alarm bells in him. Although everyone seemed to like and admire him, Robert Hatter knew Prentice’s kind; too friendly, too outgoing, a promising young man, but strip away the thin facade and you were looking at a sewer rat. Hatter’s instincts were rarely wrong. His life experiences gave him a distinct edge in judging character, and Robert Hatter knew there was something deceitfully evil about Raymond Tyler Prentice.

What had gotten Hatter into looking twice at Katie Prentice’s death was Raymond Prentice himself. He had all the answers, and made it a point to have others corroborate his statements or claims. It took some time for Hatter to remember Prentice’s question at the high school about committing the perfect murder. And finally, there was what Hatter would later tell other detectives; Raymond Tyler Prentice, when talking of his sister’s death wore the unseen smile. All the senior detectives in the investigations division knew exactly what Hatter meant.

When the medical call came in of Prentice’s grandfather’s death, presumably by natural causes, Robert Hatter knew no such thing had happened. He arrived after another detective; Sterling Groves was about leave the Prentice residence. The paramedics where packing up their gear when Hatter asked that they stay for a moment. Hatter found Raymond Prentice on the phone to a funeral home as he walked by and into the bedroom of the now deceased grandfather. He heard Raymond Prentice ending the phone call before he walked into his grandfather’s bedroom.

Detective Hatter, Prentice said, why are you here, I thought the other detective and paramedics had finished?

Hatter said nothing.

I’ve called the funeral home to take my grandfather’s remains. And I have spoken to my grandfather’s doctor who said that my grandfather probably died of a heart attack.

Hatter never looked at Prentice, but continued to walk slowly around the bed where the old man lay. Sterling Groves was now in the doorway as well as one of the paramedics.

Hatter turned to Raymond Prentice and said, Mr. Prentice would you leave the room?

Prentice asked Why, what’s wrong?

Hatter looked him straight in the eyes and said, Mr. Prentice a death has occurred and by law it must be investigated.

Prentice responded, I don’t believe you, what are you up to?

Hatter looked at the Sterling Groves who stepped into the room and took young Prentice by the arm and walked him out into the kitchen. Prentice pulled his arm away from the detective and said, I’m calling the family lawyer. Groves said nothing and walked out of the kitchen and back to the bedroom.

Groves could tell that his junior partner knew something he didn’t and was experienced enough not to allow any ego to get in the way of an investigation. Once in the bedroom Hatter motioned for Groves to the right side of the bed.

Hatter said, See the red mark to the right side of the neck? It’s very faint, but it’s there."

Sterling Groves leaned over the bed and looked closer at the deceased neck. He too finally saw the very faint line about two inches down from the right ear. Groves motioned the paramedic over and asked that she look at the mark. The paramedic had to look hard and finally saw the light red mark, very slight, less than an inch long and certainly no wider than an eighth of an inch.

Is there a mark on the other side of the neck? she asked.

Hatter shook his head and said, No, I assume this is the first you’ve seen it.

The paramedic nodded her head and asked, Do you know what caused it?

Hatter responded, I was hoping you could tell me. Did you move the head or in any way place anything on or near the deceased neck?

The paramedic thought for a moment and then said, No.

Hatter asked Groves if he could call out an evidence technician. Groves said he would take care of it and would notify the investigations sergeant that the presumed natural death was now beginning to look like a homicide. He escorted the paramedic out of the bedroom and out the front door. Groves told the emergency crew that he would want a report from each one of them as to what they saw from the time they arrived on the scene to his dismissing them from the call. He explained that the death was suspicious and he would need their observations and activities while on the call.

As Sterling Groves called the investigations sergeant, a large blue European import pulled near the emergency vehicles. Out stepped what Groves guessed was the Prentice family attorney. He was dressed casually and looked irritated that he was either missing tee time on the golf course or a tennis secession.

The attorney, Moss Smith, was a well-known, and well-connected attorney to many of the elite of Atlantic Heights. He walked over to Sterling Groves and extended his hand, introducing himself.

Moss Smith.

Groves shook his hand, Sterling Groves Mr. Smith. I recognize you from numerous photos in the newspaper’s society page.

Moss smiled, The family had asked that I come by the house. As I understand it the senior Prentice has passed away from natural causes. But I’m a bit confused as to why detectives would be at a natural death?

Groves smiled slightly and said, It’s a routine death investigation.

Smith didn’t really believe this, but asked, Do you know where I might find Raymond?

Groves pointed to the house and said, Kitchen.

Smith asked, "Could I enter the house and talk to Raymond?’

Absolutely, but please stay out of the grandfather’s bedroom. There is another detective in there and he is busy taking notes. If there is no interference we should be out of here in about two to three hours.

Smith had a surprised look on his face. Two to three hours doesn’t sound like a routine death caused by a heart attack.

Groves said, We’ll be happy to answer any questions once we have finished up.

Smith knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere with this and went into the Prentice home.

The evidence technician arrived about twenty minutes later and finished in less than two hours.

When everyone was packing up and leaving the residence the coroner’s van arrived. Raymond Prentice was angry. He went to the front door and would not allow the coroner’s personnel entry. When Hatter and Groves heard the loud voice of Raymond Prentice they intervened.

Mr. Prentice, the coroner is here to collect your grandfather. You have to allow them to enter. said Hatter.

Moss Smith said, I have to agree with Raymond, I don’t understand what the need is for the coroner on a natural death.

Hatter never looked at Smith, instead he directed his response to Prentice. Whenever a death has issues that don’t have a clear explanation, by law the coroner must take charge of the remains until those issues have been explained.

What issues? demanded Prentice.

Issues that an autopsy will answer. said Hatter.

Prentice turned to Moss Smith and said, Mr. Smith I have lost my mother, sister, and now my grandfather. I am not going to stand for my grandfather’s dignity being desecrated by having an autopsy.

Smith looked at the two detectives and knew nothing he was going to say would change the outcome. The coroner would take the body and an autopsy would be performed. Smith motioned Prentice to the side of the room and held his hand up towards the coroner personnel. Give me a moment please, I’d like to speak with Raymond.

Prentice moved to Smith. Smith had Prentice facing him. Don’t say anything, just listen. I don’t know what this is all about, but if necessary I will go to court and see about getting any autopsy stopped. Raymond, if you interfere, the detectives will take you to jail. You have to allow them to take your grandfather’s body.

And that was the end of that. The body was removed and the detectives left. True to his word Smith attempted to stop the autopsy, but was unsuccessful.

CHAPTER THREE

The call to the office of the chief of police from the Prentice family attorney took place that afternoon. The complaint had been filed that both Detective Hatter and Detective Groves had seized the remains of the senior Prentice and were denying them the right to maintain the grandfather’s dignity by ordering an autopsy for no discernible reason.

The matter had been passed from the chief’s office to the captain of investigations. The captain of investigations was what cops in the trade called an old salt, meaning he didn’t bow to outside pressures. The captain told the family attorney, that the body would only be released after the autopsy and that short of a court order, the autopsy was moving forward.

When Moss Smith told Raymond Prentice that the law was on the side of the detectives, Raymond Tyler Prentice made a move that had quickly turned the tables on him; he called Detective Hatter and demanded that he be allowed to attend the autopsy. No senior detective nor command staff officer could ever remember any family member wanting to attend an autopsy of a loved one. Now everyone smelled a rat.

When that was refused Prentice wanted a doctor of his choosing to conduct the autopsy. Again, that was refused. Through his attorney Prentice learned the name of the pathologist who would be performing the autopsy. When Hatter learned of this he found that the Prentice family doctor had called the pathologist and told him of the grandfather’s heart condition. Hatter was angry. He reported this information to the captain of detectives and requested that a pathologist of the department’s choosing be selected. Hatter wanted someone who wouldn’t conduct the autopsy until the last minute and would not be given any information regarding the health or medical condition of the deceased. It was the only way, Hatter argued, that the autopsy outcome would not be influenced or tainted. The department agreed.

Sterling Grove and Robert Hatter stood nearby as the autopsy began. Hatter had the presence of mind to have the autopsy video recorded and still photographs of the procedure done as well. Both Groves and Hatter weren’t sure what they were looking for, but the pathologist the department employed was one of the best. Samples of the body organs were taken and of all fluids in the stomach and lungs. The grandfather’s heart had showed signs of scaring, indicative of previous heart ailments. Further, the heart values had a heavy plaque buildup, again signs of a serious heart condition. When the examination turned to the throat area, an indentation to the left side of the windpipe was noted. Although still faintly present, the red mark to the side of the old man’s neck showed no trauma.

After the autopsy had been completed and the pathologist was cleaning up, the captain of investigations came to the coroner’s officer and met with the two detectives. There wasn’t a lot said until the pathologist joined them.

The captain immediately asked, Well doctor, what did you find?

Nothing much, and anticipating your next question, ‘What did the old man die from?’ Well, without the toxicology results I might believe it was just old age.

Hatter was not about to let this go, Can you narrow the cause other than this general old age claim?

The doctor looked at Hatter, What were you hoping to find?

Groves joined in, I’d start with the faint red mark to the side of the neck.

The doctor said, Oh I see, that mark and the slight bruising to the throat, is that what you’re referring to?

Both detectives nodded in agreement.

I can tell you that it’s not natural, and that it didn’t come from anything the paramedics would have done, so it didn’t happen after the death. I don’t know what caused the mark, but I can say that the mark is not the direct cause of death.

The captain looked at his two detectives. He knew these two men and knew that if both believed there was a homicide, that was good enough for him. Okay doctor, I want you to take the deceased heart. I want a complete examination of it and I want it photographed in detail. I want every organ sample carefully examined. I don’t want these two detectives to have to ask you or your office to run anything, I want to emphasize that this is to be a very carefully examined autopsy. And with that he turned and left the office.

Hatter and Groves were pleased. They now had the backing of the department and the pathologist had his marching orders. The only question was when they would get the results back.

The pathologist said, If I understand the captain’s orders you need a full report as soon as possible. I can have it to you in a few days.

Groves was much more diplomatic,