But I Trusted You. Ann Rule's Crime Files Series, Book 14

328 Pages·2009·1.33 MB·English

by  Ann Rule

PRAISE FOR
“AMERICA’S BEST TRUE-CRIME WRITER”
(Kirkus Reviews)
AND HER #1 NEW YORK TIMES
BESTSELLING SERIES
Ann Rule’s Crime Files
Fourteen riveting volumes of true-crime stories
drawn from her personal collection “Chilling cases. … A frightening,
fascinating rogue’s gallery of mercenary murderers.”
—Mystery Guild
“Prolific and talented Rule proves her warranted reputation as one of
true crime’s leading lights. … With a novelist’s skill, Rule brings to life a
rich case.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Spine-tingling … could win a place
in any insomniac’s heart.”
—Barnesandnoble.com
“Fascinating, unsettling tales. … Among the very small group of top-
notch true-crime writers, Rule just may be the best of the bunch.”
—Booklist
“Rule’s ability to depict both criminals and victims as believable human
beings is perfectly embodied in this sad, fascinating account.”
—Library Journal
“Gripping tales. … Fans of true crime know they can rely on Ann Rule to
deliver the dead-level best.”
—The Hartford Courant (CT)
MORE MUST-READ TRUE CRIME
FROM ANN RULE—DON’T MISS THESE
CELEBRATED BESTSELLERS
Ann Rule worked the late-night shift at a suicide
hotline with a handsome, whip-smart psychology
major who became her close friend. Soon the world
would know him: Ted Bundy, one of the most
savage serial killers of our time. …
THE STRANGER BESIDE ME
Now in an updated edition!
“A shattering story … carefully investigated, written with compassion
but also with professional objectivity.”
—Seattle Times
“Overwhelming!”
—Houston Post
“Ann Rule has an extraordinary angle … [on] the most fascinating killer
in modern American history. … As
dramatic and chilling as a bedroom window shattering at midnight.”
—The New York Times
TOO LATE TO SAY GOODBYE
“The quintessential true-crime story. … The mesmerizing tale of how
law enforcement coordinated information from two deaths separated by
nearly a decade to convict Bart Corbin of murder. … Prepare yourself for
a few late nights of reading.”
—Bookreporter.com
GREEN RIVER, RUNNING RED
“[Rule] conveys the emotional truth of the Green River case.”
—Los Angeles Times
“Riveting. … Rule infuses her case study with a personally felt sense of
urgency.” —People
HEART FULL OF LIES
“A convincing portrait of a meticulous criminal mind.”
—The Washington Post
“Fascinating. … The sheer weight of [Rule’s] investigative technique
places her at the forefront of true-crime writers.” —Booklist
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
“Affecting, tense, and smart true crime.”
—Washington Post Book World
“Absolutely riveting … psychologically perceptive.”
—Booklist
…AND NEVER LET HER GO
“Truly creepy. … This portrait of an evil prince needs no
embellishment.”
—People
“[Rule] might have created her masterpiece.”
—The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) “Even crime buffs who followed the case
closely [will] gain new insights.”
—The Orlando Sentinel (FL)
“[Rule] tell[s] the sad story with authority, flair, and pace.”
—The Washington Post
BOOKS BY ANN RULE
Too Late to Say Goodbye
Green River, Running Red
Every Breath You Take
Heart Full of Lies
… And Never Let Her Go
Bitter Harvest
Dead by Sunset
Everything She Ever Wanted
If You Really Loved Me
The Stranger Beside Me
Possession
Small Sacrifices Ann Rule’s Crime Files
Vol. 13: Mortal Danger and Other True Cases Vol. 12: Smoke, Mirrors,
and Murder and Other
True Cases Vol. 11: No Regrets and Other True Cases Vol. 10: Worth
More Dead and Other True Cases Vol. 9: Kiss Me, Kill Me and Other True
Cases Vol. 8: Last Dance, Last Chance and Other True Cases Vol. 7:
Empty Promises and Other True Cases Vol. 6: A Rage to Kill and Other
True Cases Vol. 5: The End of the Dream and Other True Cases Vol. 4: In
the Name of Love and Other True Cases Vol. 3: A Fever in the Heart and
Other True Cases Vol. 2: You Belong to Me and Other True Cases Vol. 1:
A Rose for Her Grave and Other True Cases Without Pity: Ann Rule’s
Most Dangerous Killers The I-5 Killer
The Want-Ad Killer
Lust Killer
ANN RULE
BUT I
TRUSTED YOU
AND OTHER TWO CASES
ANN RULE’S CRIME FILES: Vol. 14
The sale of this book without its cover is unauthorized. If you purchased this book without a
cover, you should be aware that it was reported to the publisher as “unsold and destroyed.”
Neither the author nor the publisher has received payment for the sale of this “stripped book.”
Pocket Books
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The names of some individuals have been changed. Such names are indicated by an asterisk (*)
the first time each appears in the narrative.
Copyright © 2009 by Ann Rule
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First Pocket Books paperback edition December 2009
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Cover illustration by Tom Hallman. Hand lettering by James Wang.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 978-1-4165-4223-0
ISBN 978-1-43916054-1 (ebook)
To the late Sheriff Chris Hansen
of Montcalm County, Michigan, my grandfather.
Our grandfather inspired me and all my cousins
with his ability to talk to almost anyone,
his understanding of human nature, his skill
as an investigator, and his compassion.
Many decades ago, Robert Ripley chose
Chris Hansen for his feature “Believe It or Not”
because he never had to fire his gun during his long
career as a lawman. The Hansen descendants are
spread all over America now, and most of us chose
to be police officers, lawyers, social workers,
prosecutors, parole and probation officers,
teachers, or writers.
We all owe a lot to our grandfather,
a Danish immigrant who settled in Michigan!
Acknowledgments
There are so many cases in But I Trusted You, and so many real people in
each of them, that this will be a long list. I could not possibly have
learned this many details without a great deal of help from detectives,
prosecutors, witnesses, jurors, and victims’ families.
Thank you to Brad Pince and Jim Scharf of the Snohomish County
Sheriff’s Office, Eloise Schumacher and Peyton Whitely of the Seattle
Times, Susan, Lieutenant Frank Chase, Ted Forrester, Rolf Grunden,
Bruce Morrison, Jerry Harris, Mike Gillis, Harlan Bollinger, Len Randall,
Mark Fern, and the late Sam Hicks of the King County Sheriff’s Office.
Billy Baughman, Dick Reed, Ted Fonis, Wayne Dorman, “Bud” Jelberg,
Bob Holter, and John Boatman from the Seattle Police Department, and
to Sergeant L. E. Robinson of the Enumclaw Police Department and Park
Ranger Harry De Lashmutt. Chief of detectives Bill Patterson of the
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office helped me a great deal, and so did
Lieutenant Walt Kezar of the Oregon State Police, the Oregon State
Board of Parole, and special thanks to Rob Romig of the Eugene Register-
Guard.
Thanks to Chuck Wright, Gerry Hay (my first reader, always), Ken
Heide, Donna Anders, Kate Jewell, Shirley Hickman, Marni Campbell,
Mike Hare, and all the Jolly Matrons from Willamette University and the
University of Washington (faded but still lovely): Joan Kelly, Susie
Morrison, Betty May Settecase, Shirley Coffin, Alice Govig, Sue Dreyer,
Tricia Potts, Val Szukavathy, Gail Bronson, and Shirley Jacobs.
To Dawn and Gary Dunn, Matt Parker, Justin Robison, and to the
ARFs (Ann Rule Fans—long may they wave!). And my gratitude to those
readers who haven’t yet become certified ARFs knows no bounds. I
couldn’t have even one book without you.
My thanks to my longtime literary agents—Joan and Joe Foley, my
theatrical agent—Ron Bernstein of ICM, my editor—Mitchell Ivers, and
to Jessica Webb, who helped me every step of the way! My attorney,
Felice
Javits, checks everything I write to be sure it is absolutely factual.
I haven’t forgotten the production crew at Pocket Books, who remind
me graciously about looming deadlines: Carly Sommerstein, Sally
Franklin, Lisa Litwack, and Ayelet Gruenspecht.
Thank you also to Theresa Leonard, Sandy Biscaro, and Reisa Schmidt.