“Jason left Oklahoma during the middle of the night Friday, August 14-15, in a black SUV was normally driven by his wife. He drove west into Arkansas, stopping in Fayetteville to steal a license plate on Saturday night. It was discovered on Sunday and reported, but it wasn’t spotted because it wasn’t being used yet. Jason then drove to Elkton, bringing the plate with him.”
The direction of the events was now dawning on Perri, but Nick was still out of the loop. “Why did he go to Elkton?”
Sarah proceeded, “Because his family still owned a house there. The house was originally owned by Jonathan’s mother, Judith, and has been passed down every generation since she died in 1901.”
“Good grief, they hold on to things, don’t they?” asked Nick.
“Yes, they do, including their money. Joseph started grooming his successor early, not just in running the company. The house in Elkton isn’t the only rental property they have. Once he was old enough, Joseph took Jason with him on his rounds of the properties they owned. Because of that, Jason had been to the house numerous times. He knew there had always been an old car parked in a carport behind the house and it was still there. It wasn’t in working order but he spent three days and paid a substantial amount of money to a mechanic to get the car in running order and to keep his mouth shut about it.”
“Jason wore gloves when he was in the car, but the mechanic left his prints all over it. Jason didn’t think about that. Mr. Andrew Kratz admitted to being paid very handsomely by Jason Blackwell to expedite repair of the car, although he wasn’t told why. Jason also paid Mr. Kratz to deliver his car to him in Kentucky when, as Jason told him, the Chrysler broke down. The tenants living in the rental house knew the car was gone, but they hadn’t been home when it was removed; they just assumed the owner had it towed off and that it wasn’t really their business.”
“What happened next is something we tragically misinterpreted, until now. Patricia died near midnight on Wednesday, August 19, when she drove over a concrete culvert and down an embankment while intoxicated; her blood alcohol concentration was more than double the legal limit. There were no indications that she had been forced off the road. Jason had spent the first part of the week here, in Russellville, watching Patricia. She wasn’t hard to find since he had her real name and her address was available in the internet directories.”
“Jason had gone through Patricia’s apartment before she died. He saw her in the Rogue. She looked settled in for an evening of drinking, so he went to her apartment. Burglary wasn’t his normal line of work. He was probably afraid of being caught and wasn’t very thorough. He didn’t take all of Patricia’s notes, just the documents he thought were relevant, those that listed his family’s names and relationship to Patricia. We don’t know if she kept the information in separate places or if he simply didn’t realize until after Patricia was dead that Amy Barrow had been helping her. Patricia didn’t report a theft; she probably hadn’t noticed. She had found the information she needed and may not have referred back to it once she began calling the Blackwells. Jason spent a lot of his time here sitting in local bars, that’s where he picked up a stockpile of information. He didn’t talk to people directly, but listened closely.”
Nick sat up quickly in his chair, “I knew I’d seen him before! He was in the Rogue when you came in town yesterday, Perri! Remember, he was sitting a few stools down from you?”
“Oh yeah, he was staring at you and you asked him if he wanted anything else.”
“Right. Oh God…right before I asked you what room you were in? That’s how he found out how to find you!”
Sarah held up both hands, “Before you get all worked up about it, Nick, he would have found out anyway. All he had to do was follow her out of the tavern and back to her hotel. You asking for her room number made no difference. He already knew who she was. He was also in the Rogue the night Rodney came in and made a big scene over Perri and Nina filing a complaint against Milton. So, it wasn’t you.” Nick’s face was twisted with remorse, but he tried to let that go and listen to the rest of what Sarah had to say.
When the car was ready, on Wednesday afternoon, Jason went to Elkton, left his car parked behind the mechanic’s shop, and drove the Chrysler to Russellville with the Arkansas plate on it. There are a lot of older model vehicles around here; no one paid any attention. He never had to make contact with Patricia’s car to run her off the road; we would have caught that. She was impaired enough, and her reactions were probably exaggerated enough, that he was able to force her off the road by intimidation. There were no markings on the car, no skid marks, nothing. And with Patricia’s history, it looked like what it was meant to, an accident.”
Sarah got up to get a glass of water and took a drink. “Now, instead of being able to go home, Jason decides he has to take care of Amy too. It takes him another week, but he kills Amy in the cemetery with one of the guns he brought from home. Jason is a gun lover and has a sizeable collection; both the rifle and the pistol were his own.”
“Amy is now dead, but Jason has wrecked the Chrysler enough that he can’t drive it back to Elkton. The radiator was leaking from the impact, not enough to disable it on the spot, but it wouldn’t have made it back to Elkton. He drives it north for a few miles and ditches it and calls Andrew Kratz to bring his car to him. Andrew was sitting in the passenger seat while Jason worked out the deal with Rodney Sauer. He paid Rodney $1,000.00 to hide the car and tell no one. His choice of Rodney for that job was a major mistake.
“Jason drove Mr. Kratz back to Elkton and returned to Russellville. Because there were a lot of cars from other states in town that weekend because of the car show out at the fairgrounds, he didn’t stand out. He hadn’t counted on Rodney being too lazy to get rid of the car. Instead, Rodney just parked it in Alex Freighley’s old barn right next to the Sauer property. He told his Dad about it, but when Milton got suspicious and wouldn’t stop asking him about the extra money, he told him the real story.”
“That’s where you and Nina come in, Perri. You came into town on Friday and did your own research at the Clerk’s office. You ate at the Rogue Friday night, right?” Perri nodded. “You heard the story about Amy’s death not only while you were in the Clerk’s office, but in the bar from Emily, our dispatcher. On Saturday, you went to several different cemeteries, even stopped by Whippoorwill at the start of the day. By the time you were in the cemetery on Mr. Freighley’s property, Milton knew about the car in the barn. He was all worked up about it and scared Rodney would go to jail. You spooked him and he threatened you with the shotgun.”
“I learned about your experience in doing that type of research when you made the police report about Milton early Saturday evening and it came up again later that night after Rodney threatened you in the bar. I managed to involve you further when I visited you at The Crow’s Rest on Sunday and asked you to help me out by doing research on Patricia’s family at the Clerk’s office on Monday, August 31. You found enough information there to warrant me asking you to continue in Todd County on Tuesday, September 1.”
“In the meantime, Rodney’s body was discovered, hanged, up at Lake Inola. Rodney was too visible, shooting off his mouth and threatening people in public. Jason realized then he had made a bad choice and had to get rid of Rodney.”
“I let you know about Rodney when I called to ask if you could continue researching in Todd County the next day. It sent Jason over the edge when he saw you heading for Elkton. He could tell where you were headed, but he didn’t know why. He followed you there. He was relieved when you didn’t go to the rental house, but became agitated when you did go to the Clerk’s office there.”
“Damn.” Nick pursed his lips together.
Perri felt a chill run up her spine. “Nina was right to insist we not walk around town or eat out anywhere. She was unnerved after you called to let us know about Rodney being killed.”
Sarah responded, “Well, she was right to be concerned. I’m glad you two were caut
ious. I certainly had no idea it could lead to this, and I’m sorry for involving you.”
“When you returned from Todd County, you filled me in and that was it, as far as you were concerned. And that probably would have been it. Unfortunately, since Jason did spend a significant amount of time sitting around the Rogue, he heard Nick ask you to return when he called you Tuesday night. He knew when you were returning and that you would stop in at the tavern when you arrived.”
“Me again! I’m an unwitting informant for the criminal and I don’t leave anything out.” Nick shook his head and looked at the floor, exasperated.
“Nick, how would you know that? You were at work when you called her, it was nothing that you would have thought to keep private.” Perri put her hand on Nick’s arm. “It isn’t your fault.”
“Not purposely, but it is my fault.” Nick looked stricken. Perri took his hand and squeezed it.
“You pretty much know how the rest played out, since you were there.”
“What I don’t know is how you knew for sure that it was Jason Blackwell?” Perri asked.
“Honestly, I didn’t know it was Jason until we had him at the hotel. I was a little misled by the fact that Joseph Blackwell hadn’t been seen for a month. Yesterday, I received an image of Joseph and Jason from the PD in Guthrie, so I knew what they looked like. The first time I saw Jason was after he attacked you, and that’s when I knew it was him.
It took time to connect all the pieces of the puzzle. What helped put me on the right track was talking to the last registered owner of the Chrysler. He told me he rented the house in Elkton when he graduated high school in 1996 and purchased the car from the owner of the house at the time. He left the car when he moved to California. I got confirmation that the property belonged to Joseph Blackwell from the property deed information and this was another link from the car to the Blackwells. Jason knew the car had been abandoned there and wanted to use it, thinking it would be untraceable to him since the registration was in someone else’s name and the plate was from a different state.”
“Blanche Blackwell, Jason’s mother, has also been arrested as an accomplice. She knew what Jason came here to do, and he kept her up to date. She encouraged him to get rid of anyone else who might sully their name. They are a cut-throat family; Jason didn’t hesitate to explain her part. Joseph Blackwell’s prognosis is not good. Jason wanted the title of CEO and an unblemished image so badly that he was willing to murder someone to make sure he got it.
Perri said sadly, “All of this killing and general mayhem was for fear of losing their public image. What a mess it turned out to be. In the end, they lose not only their image, but their freedom too. What’s wrong with people?”
Nick answered her question, “Money and social status can make people do some strange things.”
“You’re right. It does.” Sarah agreed. “Well Perri, again I thank you and Nina both for your help with all this. I regret it put you in danger though. Between us, I’m still a little new at being a detective and…I should have known better.”
“Sarah, I will say that while I’d rather not have been wrapped up like a burrito and half drowned, I don’t blame you at all. I’m glad you and Nick popped in when you did,” she smiled.
Sarah gathered her papers and said, “One more thing, I nearly forgot. Alice Wooldridge called me this morning, from the B&B you and Nina stayed in?”
“Oh yeah, Alice.” Perri said.
“She heard about the goings on and wanted to know if you were ok. I told her that you were pretty shaken and banged up, but doing alright. I wanted to let you know she was concerned.”
“Thanks, Sarah, that was nice of Alice.” She and Nick stood up, “I guess we’ll be on our way. We can have our Friday night date tonight maybe.”
“Have fun!” Sarah shook their hands and escorted them to the lobby. They said goodnight and walked out into the sunshine.
Nick and Perri walked back through the downtown area, music was playing and there were more people than before. “I think there is a watermelon seed spitting contest,” Nick laughed, “You wanting to hang around for that?”
“I’ll pass, thank you. What I’d like is to have that date we didn’t have last night.”
“That’s what I was hoping you would say.”
Chapter 39
Nick drove Perri back to the parking lot of the hotel. He put her duffel in the trunk of the Cooper. “I’m really glad you came back for the weekend. Friday night was a nightmare but Saturday and this morning were awesome. That’s silly, they were fabulous, amazing.”
Perri giggled. “I know, it’s hard to say it without sounding like a line from a bodice-ripper, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. But you know what I mean.”
“I do know, Nick. Thank you for rescuing me and for making the rest of my weekend awesome and fabulous and amazing.”
Nick slipped his tanned and tattooed arms around Perri and pulled her into his chest, his t-shirt smelled of sun and warmth, like it had been hung on a clothes line. He kissed her, long and lusciously. “You will call as soon as you get home, won’t you?”
“That I will do.” Perri held up two fingers, “Girl Scout’s Honor.”
“You were a Girl Scout?”
“Don’t say that so disbelieving. Of course I was. I didn’t say I was a good one. You are coming up to Vailsburg in a couple weeks?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Nick assured her.
“Goody! I better get going.”
Nick kissed her again. “Ok, be careful and call me!” Perri kissed him back and got in the Cooper. She looked back at Nick in the rearview mirror as she drove away, he waved.
***
Perri wanted to make one stop before she headed for the interstate that would take her home. As she drove the now familiar county road 102, she called Nina to let her know she was on the way. Perri pulled into driveway of The Crow’s Rest and parked in the same spot she had eleven days before. Alice opened the door as she climbed the stairs. “Perri, my stars, I heard what happened to you. Sarah Vines told me about it. I can’t believe all this murder.”
Perri walked into the cool interior of the house. Alice invited, “Come on in to the parlor and sit down. You want something to drink?”
“No Alice, I just wanted to stop by and say thanks. Sarah told me you called to check on me. Nina and I really enjoyed staying here. I’m heading home now.”
“Well, maybe you’ll be back to the area sometime, I hear you have made a new friend here.” Alice tried to sound innocent.
Perri laughed, “Word does get around in a small town, doesn’t it?”
“You bet it does.” Alice got up and said, “Hold on just a minute. There’s something I want to show you.”
“Ok, Alice, sure.” Perri leaned back on the brocade settee and looked out the window at the swaying willow trees.
Alice was back shortly with a photo frame in her hand. She sat on the settee next to Perri. “Like I said, Sarah told me the gist of the saga of the Blackwell family and what led up to all this. I thought it might interest you to look at this photo again. I know you admired the old photos on the wall upstairs when you stayed here.” She handed Perri the frame photo of the men standing in front of the Rogue’s Harbor tavern.
“Yes, I did.” Perri studied the faces of the men captured in that moment more than one hundred years ago. “This place really was a Rogue’s Harbor, wasn’t it?”
“More than you realize.” Alice pointed, one at a time, to three of the people in the photo. “This one, the man holding the shotgun, that’s James Blackwell, Jonathan Blackwell’s younger brother. This woman, the one half in and half out of the doorway, that’s Emma Crawford Blackwell, James’s wife.”
“Oh, my gosh, Alice, how incredible that you have a photo of them. How interesting!”
“Perri, that’s not the most interesting part. This one,” Alice indicated the frowning man, the man James was pointing his shotgun toward,
“This is Jonathan Blackwell.”
“Oh, wow. So…that’s the scoundrel!”
“Yes, but what makes this photo important is that this was taken in March of 1889.”
“How do you know that?”
Alice turned the frame over and took the photo out. She held it out to Perri.
“Their names and the date are on written on the back.”
Perri took the photo carefully, “They sure are. Wait, March of 1889. Jonathan Blackwell ran off in 1887. He did come back once!”
“He did. And I think that’s why James is laughing, because someone was taking a photo and Jonathan didn’t like it. It’s probably the same reason Emma has such a disapproving expression.”
“The court documents I read did say there had been some ‘proof’ submitted that Jonathan hadn’t died after he ran off.”
“Yes, and this may be it. But even that isn’t the best part. This was in a box of old photos we were given when an older home was being cleared out, remember I said that’s how we got a lot of them?”
“Yes, I do.”
The name of the person who took the photo, and who recorded the names of the people in the photo, is on the back too. Look in the lower right corner, after the list of names.
Perri turned it over again. She read the name cramped beneath the other writing. She looked at Alice, then back at the name, “Zachariah Silver!” She looked at Alice.
“That’s one of Nick’s grandpas. Some of the photos we were given came from the Silver’s old place. I thought you’d be interested.”
“I am! I’m glad you showed me this.” Perri reached out to hand the photograph back to Alice.
Alice gently refused, lightly pushing Perri’s arm away, “You should keep that photo.”
“Oh Alice, I couldn’t.”
“Yes, you can. Take it. I want you to. And you show that to Nick, ok?”
“Thank you, Alice, I will.”
***
The Cooper zoomed down the interstate, the top down, Perri’s hair blowing and whipping wildly in the wind. Despite her bumps and bruises, she felt sunny and hopeful. “I knew this family tree stuff would be a good diversion.” She smiled bigger than she had in ages and turned up the radio.
Poison Branches Page 21