Home Fires

by W L Ripley

  Her face softened. “We both made mistakes, Jake.”

  Maybe they really could wipe the slate clean.

  “Anyway, I’m leaving and wanted you to forgive me and you can go with me.”

  “What if choose to stay?” she said.

  “Then I’ll ask to part friends. I want to retain the memories, good memories, of our time together without having to know I damaged you since I returned.”

  She searched his face. Her arms uncrossed and she tilted her head to one side considering him. She was beautiful. She reached out and touched his arm. “Oh, Jake, it could be so different.” Pulling him in. He could feel his throat drying up, his resolve inching away.

  She was good, really good. He needed to keep in mind that Pam Kellogg was the Master of social manipulation, could play any part. Remembering that she had shot and killed her father-in-law in cold blood then set up another man to take the weight. Still, a part of him wanted to believe she was sincere, and perhaps she was sincere.

  Another possibility was she knew what had transpired with her father at the cabin and was playing Jake.

  “Where do we go from here?” she said.

  “I go back to Texas. You can go with me or won’t see me again. But at least we’ll be friends.”

  “Always.”

  Jake sighed and said, “One last kiss before we part?”

  Eyeing him warily, she said, “Okay.”

  Jake kissed her, long and deep. Her body relaxed and then pressed against his, giving the kiss back, her lips warm, inviting. He was faltering, felt the stirring of desire. They broke the embrace and Jake smiled at her.

  Pam saying now, “What is this about Noah?”

  Good. Getting to it. Her broaching the subject was a key.

  “I found Haller and turned him over to your Dad. Doc gave me some information I didn’t have before. What I can piece together is Haller has been trying to frame you for Vernon’s homicide.”

  “How? He did it.”

  Bailed Haller out, proclaimed Haller was innocent but ready to quickly assert Haller was the killer, thought Jake. Who was she? Always Pam Kellogg like Leo the Lion said, always the girl-most-likely, the girl who could get away with it.

  “Here’s the way I understand it,” Jake said, looking around as if searching for anyone listening. “Haller’s story is you sent him to do a chore, but he didn’t go and saw you cross the street with a gun.”

  “What?” That got her attention and Pam lost her usual unruffled demeanor for a brief moment.

  “I interviewed Haller with his attorney present before he skipped, and he mentioned that. I didn’t believe him at the time, but the troopers might. I’m afraid the accusations will muddy the waters. Together we can blunt him. I have a decent rapport with the trooper took him into custody. He’ll listen to me. But, for your part, Pam, you have to be honest with me. One hundred percent. It’s the only way I can protect you.”

  He could feel her retreating from him. The wall between them back up again. Pam would be tough to break down.

  “I know,” Jake said, holding up a hand his index finger up. “Hold on. You have no reason to trust me. I broke that trust. I don’t like Vernon. I think he had something to do with Dad’s death which I’ll never be able to prove, and probably had Gage killed. I’m happy the son-of-a-bitch is dead. Don’t even want anything else for Christmas. I hope Haller gets away with it and if you had done it, I would do whatever I could to get you free of it.”

  “What could you do?”

  “I have experience as an investigator and could steer things away from you.”

  She was pondering things again. “What about your mention of that person, McKee?”

  “That’s what I need to tell you and need honesty from you. Christine McKee is Alex’s half-sister. Did you know about that?”

  “No.”

  “Pam?” He leaned into her. “This is what I’m talking about.”

  She chewed the corner of her lip. “Okay. I knew.”

  “Does Alex?”

  “No.”

  “Did Vernon know you had this information?”

  “I told him.”

  “What was his reaction?”

  “He denied it and was angry. Made threats but knew he couldn’t act upon them. Vernon is a controlling bully. Look at his boys. Vernon doesn’t like anyone having something over him.”

  Good stuff so far. Wondering how hard he could push this line.

  “Well, he’s dead and we don’t want Haller accusing you.”

  “I’ll testify against him,” Pam said. “I’ll say Vernon was going to fire him. That I had just warned Noah about that and Noah said he was going to talk to Vernon about that. He was angry but I told him not to talk to Vernon while he was worked up, but I don’t think he listened. Usually, Noah listens to me.”

  Yes, he does, Pam. He surely does.

  “There’s a couple of other things Haller is telling that are problematic for us.”

  “What things? There’s nothing he can say. Dad isn’t going to listen to that, anyway.”

  “Well, here’s the problem. There is a conflict of interest, since he’s your father. Your dad tried to make them understand Haller was blowing smoke, but the state guys said they had to pursue it.”

  “That fat ass is a liar. He shot at you once.”

  “Really?” Jake said, giving it a subtle ‘you’re-kidding’ emphasis. “When?”

  “Apparently you were out hunting, and he and Tommy followed you. Tommy stole your truck and did something to it. I heard them laughing about it.”

  “Figured it was Tommy.”

  So far, what he had was ‘he said, she said’ hearsay and none of it would stand up in court. But, as an investigator, the more information he could glean from a possible killer the better for the end result.

  Go with the rest of it. Do it now.

  “Pam,” Jake said. “Listen to me now. This is important. I don’t like telling you this, but... ” He reached out and held her arms in his hands, softly. “It appears they’re going to take you into custody.”

  “Why?”

  “First as a material witness and if they’re not satisfied, they will charge you with Vernon’s homicide.” Knowing they might bring her in as a witness, but a charge of homicide was wishful thinking. “They’re giving credence to Haller’s story. Apparently, there is more forensic evidence that you did it and not Haller. That’s why I called before they could find you.” Throw it in now. “The bullet trajectory suggests Haller couldn’t have been the shooter. It’s why I wanted to meet you besides getting things straight between us. You have to trust me.”

  Pam, usually unflappable, chewed a thumb nail and then rubbed the back of her neck with both hands. “All right.”

  “Between the three of us, you, me and Doc, we can blunt this. Otherwise this could go south. We need the facts. All of them so we can bend them the way we want. They’re going to say they can prove a case against you. If you shot Vernon, I need to know that.”

  “What?”

  “If you shot Vernon, I need to know how you did it so we can cover your tracks.”

  “I didn’t shoot Vernon.”

  “Pam,” Jake said. “Sorry, I’ve seen the forensics and know you did. They’ve got you. Maybe you can talk your way out of it, but they’ll still run you around. You have to trust me.”

  She turned away. Jake hoping the microphone would pick up their voices. Had to be now. The next few moments would be crucial. Would she trust him? Would she stonewall him? She was at an impasse. So was Jake.

  She turned back in his direction. “How do I know you’re being honest with me?”

  “Wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. But it’s time to trust someone and I’m your best bet. Otherwise they’re coming for you. If you shot him, I don’t care. Going forward we have to trust each other.”

  Pam looked away, considering the horizon past the football field. Several moments passed. Jake could see the tension in
her jawline as she thought. Finally, she traced a lock of hair from her face and said, “Jake, do you love me?”

  This wasn’t going to sound good on tape.

  He didn’t want to answer. He didn’t want to lie, and he didn’t want to undo his investigation. If he lied where did that leave him on the integrity scale? How far was he willing to go as a law enforcement investigator in order to trap his prey? Was professing love, knowing it was a lie and the damage it would do, acceptable.

  He thought about it. So, she killed Vernon. He was truthful when he said he didn’t like the man. She didn’t kill Gage but perhaps supplied the spark that led to his murder. Still, what was to be gained from destroying this woman, a woman he once loved? More specifically, he had loved a girl named Pam Kellogg, that girl long gone and evolving into the woman in front of him. They were both changed and was a chasm with no bridge strong enough to span that time, their differences. He was a cop and he had responsibilities, taken an oath in front of witnesses, to uphold the law.

  “I think I can, again,” he said, settling on that compromise. “We can try.”

  She set her perfect teeth in a straight line. “Okay. Yes,” she said. “I shot him. I shot the bastard. He was going to cut me out of the business if I told Alex about his sister.”

  “Why’d you have to shoot him? Sounds like you had him by the short hairs.”

  “Threatened me. Offered me a severance package. Told me to divorce Alex and leave town. If I stayed married to Alex, I’d never see another cent. Jake, I made the Mitchell Empire. Without me they wouldn’t have what they’ve accumulated. It ticked me off. He said I couldn’t prove anything about the sister, and it had already been tried and that person was gone.”

  “Gage.”

  She nodded, which wasn’t going to be heard on the cell phone recorder.

  “So, what do we do?” she asked.

  “Nothing right now,” Jake said. “Wish you hadn’t dropped the weapon at the scene.”

  “No problem. I had Noah shoot it before I used it. His fingerprints are on it.”

  “Smart girl. Pack your things and be ready to go once we get you clear of this. That is if you want to.”

  He kissed her again and she gave herself to him. He felt the same stirring he had always felt with her. He broke the embrace and hugged her to him. A wave of conflicting emotions broke over him. He felt the urgency of her spinning in his head and the ignominy of his imminent betrayal.

  “We shouldn’t be seen together anymore until this is over,” he said. “Leave here in different directions. Don’t let Alex know about this.”

  They walked back to their vehicles and he kissed her again. He still enjoyed kissing her. Damn, he still liked it, half wishing things could be different.

  She turned and smiled at him as she opened her car door before driving away.

  For the last time. No more of what they once had, and he felt it in the pit of his stomach but knowing it was nostalgia punching away.

  Jake clicked off the recorder, rewound it and listened. It was good. He had her on tape confessing to the murder of Vernon Mitchell.

  He felt no joy about it.

  Alex was right. You really are a bastard, Morgan.

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Pam learned of Jake’s subterfuge the hard way.

  Deputy Sheriff Bailey and Trooper Ridley showed at the bank the next morning with a warrant for her arrest, Jake with them. It would not be fun, but he had to see it through.

  By this time Pam had heard her father had been arrested, realizing Jake had conned her into a confession.

  Pam stood at her desk as the trio entered her office. All the certificates and photos of movers and shakers stared at her from the wall. Her assistant Naomi was in shock.

  “Pam Mitchell, you’re under arrest,” said Ridley. “For the homicide of Vernon Mitchell. You have the right to remain silent...”

  Pam heard the rest of the Miranda warning in a fog of shock.

  “Tommy raped me,” Pam said, as Bailey cuffed her. “You know that. I’ve done nothing. This is a joke. I’ll walk away from this. Naomi, call Langley. Get him here. Now.”

  Never gives up, thought Jake. Still commanding even now, with the walls crashing down. One hell of a woman. What a waste.

  “You’ll get the chance to tell your side,” said Ridley.

  “Jake,” Pam said. “Help me, please.”

  “Sorry,” Jake said, his face hard. “Can’t. Won’t.”

  Realization in her face now. “How...how can you let this happen? I thought you cared for me?”

  “I cared about Gage. You should have and we wouldn’t be here.”

  Her face a mask of fury now, she spat at him, the spittle striking him on the side of his neck. “Jake Morgan, you total bastard. You fucking snake. You played me. You’re scum. I wish I’d never met you.”

  “Really got a way with women, Tex,” said Ridley.

  “I guess.”

  Ridley and Bailey escorted her out in full view of her employees.

  Jake wiped the saliva from his neck. He dropped his head and followed them out the door. It was a long walk for such a short distance.

  Doc Kellogg was indicted for obstruction of justice. Steve Barb was in critical condition at County Memorial.

  Robby Warner and his court appointed attorney sat in a large room at the courthouse with Jake, Chief Cal Bannister, Prosecutor Darcy Hillman and Highway Patrol Lt. Sam Browne. Warner sought a plea deal proposed by his attorney to turn state’s evidence.

  “Mister Warner,” said P.A. Hillman. “For me to accept a plea deal I will require a full and truthful allocution.”

  “What is allocution?”

  “You tell everything you know without holding back. You talk now and I believe what you say, or we proceed with the full homicide indictment and I’ll go for all of it. Life without parole.”

  “What are you offering if my client allocutes to your satisfaction?” asked Warner’s attorney, a prematurely balding thirtyish man, young but effective. He had maneuvered Warner into a good position not afforded Kellogg and Barb.

  “Fifteen to twenty-five with possibility of parole after five,” said PA Hillman. “Otherwise, we go for all of it.”

  Warner’s attorney nodded at Warner. “Take it. She’s being more than fair.”

  Warner shared evidence at warp speed. Telling them Steve Barb had lost it at the elevator over Hanna Stanislaus and wouldn’t stop even after he, Gage, was unconscious.

  “We thought he was dead, so we called Vernon and he said to load him up in Burnell’s car and take him out to the old bridge on HH.”

  “Why call Mister Mitchell?” asked Hillman.

  “Vernon was happy he was dead. Been telling us to do it. Steve just went crazy and Mitchell told us how to take care of it, said he’d make sure Tommy and Fat Boy didn’t talk.”

  Vernon hadn’t counted on Pam throwing a wrench in his plans.

  “Did Vernon meet you at the bridge?” asked Ridley.

  “Yes.”

  “What about Alex?”

  “Alex didn’t know.”

  “Tommy?” Jake said.

  Warner chewed on that for a moment before saying, “No. He knew what was going down but he didn’t help us move Gage. He and Fat Boy just took off. If only that asshole hadn’t taken Gage’s dog this would never have happened.”

  “Who drowned Burnell?” asked Lt. Browne.

  “Steve did that. We were just going to leave Burnell and make it look like an accident, thinking he was dead, I mean, man, he wasn’t moving when we took him out there, but he got out of the car. Barb grabbed him and drug him down to the water and Steve held his head under until he stopped moving. Gage was too beat up to fight it.”

  “Why did Gage have to be killed?” asked Lt. Browne.

  “Vernon didn’t say. We figured it was because Burnell was fucking his son’s wife.”

  Jake saying now, “Did this have anything to do with the disappearance
of the Yoders forty years ago?”

  Warner confused. “Don’t know nothing about that.” Warner took a deep breath.

  “Why did you go along with this?”

  “Years ago,” said Warner. “Right after high school, Steve and I got froggy and robbed a bank in a little town in Arkansas. That bank’s gone now. We didn’t get much but nobody came after us. Two young guys liquored up doing stupid things. Vernon learned about it and hired us on. Vernon likes to have shit on people. He kept that over our heads, so we had to do what he said. I never liked it. Steve? Steve liked being a shit kicker. Thought it made him a tough guy. He was my buddy, but man got me in so much shit and now he’s dead. Vernon told us Burnell learned about the bank job and was going to the FBI.”

  “You realize he was lying about that?” Jake said.

  “Well,” said Warner, shrugging, “now I do.”

  Pam lawyered up and stuck to her story that Haller killed Vernon and was attempting to frame her. Lawyer Langley disputed the taped confession as ‘coerced’ and perhaps edited. She tried to drag Jake into it claiming he was trying to cover up his “aiding and abetting a fugitive” as her attorney, Langley, phrased it and only taped her confession at the stadium to clear himself. No matter the odds or the situation, Pam Kellogg never stopped fighting.

  Alex grudgingly assisted the investigation, his world irrevocably altered and the woman he loved on trial. He moved like a zombie through the proceedings. His testimony affirmed Vernon suspected Pam of cheating on Alex with Gage and again with Jake and was planning on cutting Pam out of the family business.

  County Prosecutor, Darcy Hillman, indicted her cousin, Pam Mitchell, then recused herself and changed the venue to a different county.

  Due the turmoil at the county sheriff’s office, the judge remanded Pam to Paradise Police lock-up in lieu of bail set at $500,000 prior to transfer to another county.

  Jake was drained of emotion. It was finally over, and Jake would make it back to Texas in time to resume his duties. It would be good to have a return to normal.

  Jake was wrong again.