I've Got My Eyes on You(26)

She couldn’t wait to get over to talk to Marge after she finished preparing dinner for the Crowleys.

She was glad to see Marge’s car as she drove up her street. When Marge answered the door and invited her in, she pointed up the stairs. “Brenda, Jamie’s having a really bad day. He’s been crying because he misses Kerry,” she said, her tone weary.

“Oh, Marge, I’m so sorry.”

“It happens every few days. He misses her so much. I think losing Kerry is bringing back his sadness from when Jack died.”

“Of course, he misses Kerry and his father,” Brenda said sympathetically. “But wait till you hear the latest.”

She waited until they were seated at the kitchen table and Marge had put on the kettle for a cup of tea. “Marge,” Brenda began, “you won’t believe me when I tell you what Alan told the Crowleys!”





34




At six-forty-five the next morning, Fran and Steve were awakened by the ringing of the bedside phone. Fran groped for it and sat up straight. It was Mike Wilson telling her that they were on their way to arrest Alan Crowley for Kerry’s murder. He would be brought to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack today and would be arraigned in the next couple days. The arraignment before the judge would be open to the public, and the Dowlings could attend.

Mike added, “Mrs. Dowling, we’ll be there in a few minutes. Do not share this information until I’ve called you back to confirm that Alan was at his house and is in our custody.”

Fran replaced the phone and said, “Steve, fantastic news! It’s just as I’ve been saying. Alan Crowley is being arrested today for killing Kerry.”

Fifteen minutes later, June and Doug Crowley were startled awake by persistent pounding on their front door and the ringing of the doorbell. Instinctively suspecting that the reason for the abrupt intrusion was going to be a problem, June grabbed her robe and raced downstairs.

She yanked open the door and saw two men in plainclothes side by side with a uniformed policeman. She had no way of knowing that another uniformed officer was in the backyard to guard against the possibility that Alan would try to escape.

“Ma’am, I’m Detective Wilson from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. We have a warrant for the arrest of Alan Crowley and a search warrant for the premises,” he told her. “Is he here at this time?”

“My son is represented by counsel, by Lester Parker. Have you spoken to him?”

“Your son has the right to speak to his attorney later. We are here now to arrest him.”

Without being asked, Wilson pushed open the door and stepped past June Crowley into the house. His fellow detective and the officer followed him.

By this time Doug and Alan were tumbling down the stairs in time to hear the word “arrest.” Alan gripped his father’s arm as the words sank in. He was dressed in only a T-shirt and boxers.

He looked at Mike Wilson. “Can I at least get dressed?”

Wilson answered Alan’s question. “Yes, you can get dressed. We’ll follow you to your room.”

He and the other detective climbed the stairs behind Alan and walked down the hallway to his room. Two partially packed suitcases were on the floor by the window. Next to them was an unzipped Nike sports bag with several wooden bats and two baseball gloves inside.

“Are you going someplace, Alan?” Mike asked, although he already knew the answer.

“I’m leaving for college the day after tomorrow,” Alan said. “Can I still go?”

“Let’s see how today goes,” Mike said matter-of-factly.

He watched as Alan went into his closet and pulled out jeans and a pair of running shoes.

“Sorry, Alan. No shoelaces, no belt and no jewelry.”

? ? ?

In her bedroom June was frantically dialing Lester Parker’s office. Filled with frustration at being connected to a recording, she shrieked, “This is June Crowley. The police are here with a warrant for Alan’s arrest. Call me on my cell phone at once.” She reached into her closet and grabbed a running suit.

Doug was quickly pulling on a pair of pants and shirt. They managed to be back downstairs as Alan, a detective on each side of him, was walking out the front door toward the waiting cars.

“Where are you taking him?” June shouted. She gasped as she noticed for the first time that Alan’s hands were cuffed behind his back.

Mike answered, “To the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack.”

June saw two of her neighbors standing in their driveways observing the scene that was unfolding before them.

“Can one of us ride with Alan?” she yelled to Mike Wilson.

“No, but you can follow us to the jail.”

June jogged to catch up to them. She grabbed Alan’s arm as Wilson was opening the back door of his unmarked car. “Alan, I phoned Lester Parker. He’s going to get right back to me. Remember what he told you. Don’t answer any questions unless he is with you.”

There were tears in Alan’s eyes. Before he had a chance to answer her, he felt Wilson’s hand on his head firmly forcing it down as he slid through the opened door. There was a wire grill separating the front and back seats.

June maintained eye contact with Alan for as long as she could as the car began to slowly back down her driveway. As she watched Wilson drive away, her normally steely resolve melted. “My baby, oh my God, my baby,” she sobbed as Doug put his arm around her and helped her toward his car.