The Secrets of Ethan Falls

by J. W. Lucas

  “Okay, Okay, I get it. The recorder is in the back office! Who are these two geeks?” he asked pointing to Pat and Frank.

  “They’re undercover FBI agents. I’m sure you don’t want them hanging around out front here, do you?” Merrill asked with a grin. The whiz kids smiled at each other and we went into the back office. “Nice system,” said Frank as he sat down and started typing on the keyboard. He looked up at the manager and said, “You know, your username and password shouldn’t be ADMIN/ADMIN. I’ll fix that for you before we leave. Okay, gentlemen, what’s the date and time of the shooting?”

  Jack Merrill checked his notebook and gave the info to Frank. He changed the screen to bring up only the two cameras closest to the building, and I found that I was right. One of them had a clear but distant view of the entrance to the police substation. Frank moved the video frames in fast forward mode until we caught a glimpse of someone walking toward the front door.

  “I think that’s it,” Jack Merrill exclaimed “That could be Mark Savage. Can you zoom in a little?”

  Frank looked over and smiled. “Piece of cake,” he said, and I watched the enlarged image clearly showing Mark Savage walking to the door. He wasn’t wearing a jacket, and he wasn’t carrying a rifle. Merrill and I exchanged looks but didn’t speak.

  Frank took a pen and wrote down the time stamp on the back of his hand. He looked up at Merrill and me and said, “WHAT? Not everyone carries a notebook you know.”

  He manipulated the video slowly through the next seven minutes of video. At that point we saw a male quickly walk out of the front door and go over to a car parked in a side driveway.

  He opened and closed the trunk and quickly walked back into the Sheriff’s department. Frank stopped the video at a frame that had a good three-quarter view of the man’s face as he looked around as if to see if anyone was watching. He was clutching a rifle close to the side of his body. Frank increased the image size just to the point of distortion, but we could clearly see it was a rifle.

  “Is that John Carpa?” I asked Merrill. “Yeah, that’s Captain Carpa,” the station manager interrupted. “He’s a customer here, all the Sheriffs are. What’s the big deal with that?” he asked.

  Captain Jack Merrill and I didn’t respond. Frank Paris spoke up, “I see that you don’t have a printer,” he said to the manager. “Pat, you have a USB drive in your bag of tricks?”

  Pat Collins reached into his pants pocket and pulled out about a half dozen removable USB drives, in varying colors. “Use the blue one,” he said as he handed it to Frank. “Blue is easy for me to remember which one the data’s on.”

  Merrill and I looked at each other and both us fought off the urge to laugh. Like I said, these guys were a trip.

  Frank became serious as he quickly worked, explaining that he was copying the entire seven minutes of video, and then a series of still frames showing Savage’s arrival and Carpa going out to the car without the rifle and coming back in with it. The whole process took him less than fifteen minutes. They were an odd couple, but Frank and Pat obviously knew their stuff.

  When Frank finished, he turned to Captain Merrill and said, “Write down your email address, you too Mr. Richardson and I’ll email the data to you tonight.” Turning to the station manager he said, “The bad news is that I have to seize your computer’s hard drive, the good news is that this is a Dell and we have a larger new hard drive in our car. It will make your computer work much better and faster and I’ll replace it for you for free.” The manager obviously didn’t know what to say, finally, he muttered, “Thanks.”

  Captain Merrill drove Pat and me back to the Courthouse lot. When we got there, I looked at my watch and told Merrill that we needed to interview Billy Barnum, but I needed to get to the Medical Center and take possession of the bullets.

  A few of Merrill’s men were in the lot, along with some FBI agents. He spoke with them and he assigned one of the agents to head down to the Medical Center with me to execute the warrant. He said he needed to touch base with Jon Michaels to see how the evidence collection and clean up at Dr. Greene’s place was going.

  Turning to Pat Collins he said, “Pat, go back and change out the gas station hard drive. Get the owner to sign this consent to search his computer. I don’t care what you tell him, I just need his signature. Then I’ll need you and Frank back here.”

  “Piece of cake!” Pat said. “If he balks I’ll ask him what all the porn is doing on his computer.” Merrill looked at me and I shrugged. “Don’t ask.”

  Merrill said that he and his men would interview Billy Barnum and see if we can get consent to search his house. Turning to Pat he said, when you’re finished at the gas station I want you and your partner to check out Barnum’s electronic equipment.”

  “Cool, I love ham radio stuff. Piece of cake, we’ll be back in a flash,” he said and sprinted back to his car.

  Captain Merrill shook his head and said, “Daryl, got a minute?” and motioned me away from the rest of his team.

  “The video we saw is clear. Savage never had a rifle when he went to the office. Carpa and Manning murdered him and then tried to frame him for Susan’s murder and the hit on the judge,” he said.

  “Yeah,” I responded, “and I think we’ll find that the rifle will test out to be the one used to shoot the Judge. Now we need to find Carpa and Manning and we need Manning’s gun.”

  “Agreed,” he said, “and I have to get a reading from the US Attorney to see who will file the murder charges.”

  “Wow Jack, you have a lot on your plate,” I said.

  “Yeah, but I left something out when we talked before. We’re raiding the survivalist camp tomorrow morning at six AM. I want you to be there. We’re going to stage here at the Courthouse at five. Get some rest tonight, this could get messy tomorrow.”

  I nodded, and we shook hands. I waved to the FBI agent he had assigned to me and we headed down to the Bellington Medical Center.

  On the drive down, I called Kaitlyn Mason and told her that I was on my way. She told me to ask for her at the Reception Desk when I got there. I called Mandy and was just getting ready to disconnect after five rings when she answered.

  “Daryl! Thank God you called. I’ve been praying for you. Are you all right?”

  “Yeah Hon, I’m fine, it’s just been a crazy day up here, and this is the first chance I’ve had to call you.”

  “Daryl, we’ve been sitting here watching the news. Every local station has a special report. You’ve arrested Sheriff Hunter and Warren Donnelly? And Farhan? And you found bombs and drugs? My God, I’ve been going out of my mind with worry. Daryl, this is killing me,” and I heard her start crying.

  “Mandy,” I said with no response from her. “Mandy?” “Daryl, its Lindsey. Mandy’s okay she’s just wrought with anxiety over you. She’s safe with us; we’ll take care of her. Just give her a few minutes.”

  “Oh, thanks, Lindsey. I was afraid of this,” I answered in gratitude “Daryl, all of this is on the news now. They’re showing satellite trucks and crowds of reporters pouring into the village. Daryl, this will destroy our little town!” she said.

  “It’s almost over Lindsey. One more day and I think I can come home and explain to you who murdered Susan and shot your husband. Ethan Falls will survive and come back stronger. And we will too.” “Okay, I’m worried, but I believe you. Here’s Mandy.”

  “Oh Daryl, I’m so sorry that I broke down on you. I’ve been fighting off crying all day long but with everything on TV I couldn’t take any more.”

  “It’s okay sweetie, It looks like I’ll be home tomorrow afternoon. My work here is almost over.”

  “I hope so. I’m praying for you. We all are. I know you’re busy, but can you call me tonight?”

  “Yes, I’ll call around seven. Is that okay?”

  “Of course, I’ll be waiting. I love you Daryl Richardson. Good bye.”

  After I arrived at the Medical Center, my FBI Agent partner introdu
ced himself as Paul Sanders. We went to the Information Desk and in a few minutes, Kaitlyn Mason and Security Manager Tom Hines met with us. Agent Sanders produced his ID and presented Kaitlyn with a copy of the search warrant. She studied both documents and handed him his ID. Turning to Tom she said, “This is all good Tom, you can release the evidence.”

  As Tom opened the safe Kaitlyn motioned me aside. “We’ve been glued to the TV in our break room. The news coverage is all regional special reports. It sounds like you’re taking Ethan Falls apart. Bombs, drugs, the Sherriff and County Executive arrested? Is it over Daryl?”

  “One more day Kaitlyn, and I think I’ll be able to prove who killed Susan Peterson and shot Judge Moran.

  She leaned over and gave me a hug. “Daryl, please be careful, we’re all praying for your safety.”

  “Thank You, Kaitlyn” I said and turned to watch Agent Sanders documenting what he was seizing before he turned it over to me. I signed the chain of custody form for him and bid my hospital friends goodbye.

  Out in the garage Agent Sanders and I shook hands, and he said he’d file the warrant return in the morning. As he walked to his car, I couldn’t help but think that Agent Tommy Barden could learn a lot from this man.

  I locked the bullets in the trunk of my car and drove back to the hotel. I freshened up in my room and went down to the lounge for a beer.

  I was surprised to see Mandy’s bartender friend Davey behind the bar. True to form, he was providing drinks and entertainment to two comely coed types sitting at the bar.

  “Hey!” he greeted me with his hand outstretched.

  “Mandy’s friend. I’m sorry but I never got your name.” I shook his hand and replied, “Daryl.”

  I ordered a light beer and took a stool distant from his girlfriends.

  When he brought my drink he said, “We haven’t heard from Mandy. Is she okay? I heard she took a leave of absence. We’re all worried about her.”

  I told him that she was fine. She was away for a while but was safe and coming to terms with what had happened with Deputy Savage. I thanked him for stepping in and helping her when the fight broke out. He looked embarrassed and said it was just the right thing to do. He said he heard that Savage had been killed and that he was the one who murdered Susan Peterson and shot a judge. I told him that I too had heard that but didn’t elaborate. He leaned over and spoke quietly, so his girlfriends couldn’t hear.

  “Mandy told me that she really likes you. Do you know how many guys have hit on her at the bar? She’s turned them all down, and never talked about any one of them, only you.” I sensed he was fishing, so I just smiled.

  “When you talk to her, please tell her I miss her.” I told him that I would, and he went back to his friends. I finished my beer and left a five-dollar bill on the bar. I went up to my room, changed into jeans and set my alarm for six-forty-five so that I wouldn’t miss my seven-pm call to Mandy. I was lying on the bed dozing on and off when I heard my phone vibrating on the table. It was Captain Jack Merrill.

  “Daryl, I want to fill you in on our interview with Billy Barnum. He told us quite a story.”

  Merrill went on to say that Billy was approached by Abbott Sheriffs Carpa and Donovan who told him that they were doing a secret investigation of County Attorney Dan Petrone. He said they told him Petrone was taking bribes and that they had a secret warrant to tap his phone. He said he told them he didn’t believe them, and they called the County Exec and he emailed Billy an order to cooperate with the secret investigation.

  Merrill said he thought Billy was out of his mind and lying, but he went to his computer and brought up Donnelly’s email to him. It was true.

  I sat upright on the bed as Merrill continued. He said when they asked Billy about leasing the survivalist camp he told them that he did sign a lease with Donnelly and Sheriff Hunter for them to establish a wildlife refuge, a park, and a sportsman’s center in memory of his family. He thought that the people living up there were clearing the land and making hiking trails. He said he hadn’t been up there for over a year, but Donnelly had told him that the whole plan would take a year or two to finish the park. He denied ever signing the property deed over to anyone.

  He said he had the office building constructed on land his family owned, and he had enough cash saved over the years not to have a mortgage. He said he signed an agreement with Donnelly to manage the building for him, and the office rents would cover the taxes and insurance and the excess would be applied to the development of the park. He adamantly denied signing the property over to Donnelly for one dollar.

  I interrupted Merrill and said, “Captain, are you telling me that the Abbot Sheriffs and Donnelly engaged in wiretapping, and secretly converted Billy Barnum’s property to themselves?

  “That’s what Barnum told us, and I have to admit, I think he’s telling the truth.”

  “But Jack,” I asked, “what about the wiretaps being transmitted to Billy’s house?”

  “Your techies did an electronics’ sweep of Petrone’s and the Judge’s offices with some kind of gadget they had. They found the phones were tapped, and each office had a tiny microphone wired into the desk lamps. Your boys said the work was almost as good as theirs is. Professional they said.”

  “Barnum signed a consent to search, and we went to his house with the geek brothers. They were blown away by his ham radio station, gushing about how much equipment he had. Anyway, Barnum said that he didn’t install the antenna between the house and Court, he’s too old to climb the tower.”

  “Then who did?” I asked.

  “He said Detective Roger Manning showed up one Sunday morning with an Arab guy who climbed the tower like a monkey and installed the antenna and a computer in his ham radio room. Want to take a guess who we think the installer was?”

  “Electrical engineer Farhan Hussein,” I answered.

  “Bingo my friend! Barnum said Manning never introduced the guy and never called him by name while he was working. As soon as we can get a booking photo of Hussein we’ll show Barnum a photo lineup to see if he can pick him out.”

  “But, who was getting the audio recordings and how?” I asked

  “Barnum said Manning instructed him to download the data onto a USB drive twice a week and email it to Warren Donnelly! The last three weeks they wanted the downloads every night. Your geek boys hacked into the recording computer and found a download file.”

  “They said it’s all there, just like Barnum said it was. And Barnum saved the sent emails.”

  I was standing up next to the bed at this point and told Merrill I couldn’t believe that these Abbot guys and Donnelly were so stupid.

  “Daryl, we’re cops, we think these guys were stupid. But your geek boys, they were impressed. Sweet they said. They were salivating as they were working on the system. They’re really good, but where in hell did you find these guys?”

  “This is the new FBI Jack. You and I are dinosaurs I guess.”

  “Okay, switch gears. Did you get the bullets from the Medical Center?”

  “I did, they’re locked in the trunk of my car with Susan Peterson’s medical record and the rape evidence kit.”

  “Okay. I want to get the bullets and rape kit up to our Forensics Unit tonight. I have a Trooper ready to drive up there. Okay if I tell him where you’re staying and give him your cell number? I’ll have him swing by and pick up the evidence.”

  “Sure. Just have him call me from the hotel lobby and I’ll take him out to my car. Make sure he has a chain of custody form for us to sign.”

  “Will do. And Daryl, try to get some sleep. We have an early morning appointment.

  At seven I called Mandy as promised. She sounded better than she did earlier, and I answered the dozens of questions that she had from watching the news. I answered them as best I could and eventually steered our conversation to her. She had called her parents, and they said they were glued to the TV coverage of the events in Ethan Falls. They were pressuring her to go u
p to Stowe and stay with them until things settled down, but she held fast to her decision to stay in Stockbridge.

  She said Judge Moran started physical therapy, and she thought that he was looking stronger every day. I told her that I had to be up early in the morning and I needed some sleep. We ended the call with my feeling that she had worked through her fears and would be waiting for me to come home.

  About a half hour later I received a call from the Vermont Trooper who was in the lobby. I transferred the evidence to him and went back to my room and went to bed. Tomorrow was going to be my make or break day.

  Chapter Nineteen

  On Wednesday morning I was up, showered, shaved and dressed by four-thirty am. I strapped my weapon and ammo clips onto my belt and grabbed the Federal Officer windbreaker from my garment bag. I didn’t want to be wearing it when I went down to the lobby, but as I passed the registration desk, the clerk barely glanced at me. I opened the trunk of the Challenger pulled out my bulletproof vest from an attaché case and put it in the back seat.

  There was almost no traffic as I headed north out of Bellington but after a few minutes, I came upon four Trooper cars and a van ahead of me. We formed a convoy and pulled into the Ethan Falls court parking lot a few minutes after five. As soon as I pulled in I realized that Captain Jack Merrill wasn’t taking any chances. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that there were at least thirty uniformed and plainclothes officers gathered by the picnic table, and I saw that he was setting up a map on an easel.

  A few minutes later I saw a Vermont State Police Emergency Services truck and two private ambulance service units, and a paramedic car q uietly arrive. Merrill gave a short but thorough briefing. He believed that there were between six and ten men staying at the camp, and they were to be considered armed and dangerous.