Smoke raised his eyebrows then shrugged. “You could probably convince her of that. I know the guy that owns Rest Assured. They have wireless systems that are easy to install, and if I ask nice enough, I think Will could get it done today. If someone tried to break into her barn, not only would Communications get notified, but she would get a text alert, too.
“How about John Carl and me? Could our numbers be added?”
“I’m sure that’s not a problem. Tell you what, I’ll go visit Kristen at her shop and give her our recommendations,” he said.
“Thank you, Smoke. It’ll be more convincing coming from you.”
I used up most of my lunch break on a long conversation with my grandma. “We should pack up and come home,” she said.
“I know how you feel, but there’s really no need to cut your resort month short. John Carl has started his projects, and a lot of your furniture’s in the shed. We’re fine here. After we get locks on your barn doors and the security system installed in Mother’s barn, I’ll feel a hundred times better.”
“Oh My Heart, there are times like this that you seem to be carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
My voice caught in my throat, and it took me a few seconds to free it. “Not quite the whole world, Grandma. Blackwood Township is heavy enough.”
“I wholeheartedly agree, so you take good care,” she said.
“I love you, Grandma.”
“I love you more, My Heart.” I’d decided many years before to let Grandma have the last words, and it was always those six.
I was on the road to Emerald Lake when Smoke phoned. I pulled onto the shoulder to answer. “A few things you should know. First off, your mother acquiesced after I promised we’d have the security system removed as soon as we caught the firesetter,” Smoke said.
“She can be stubborn about the dumbest things sometimes. As safety minded as she is, you’d think installing an alarm system would be a no-brainer under the circumstances.”
“You’d think. But at least she agreed, and Will is going to install it this afternoon. John Carl will be there to meet him.”
“Nice. My computer-expert brother will be all over that.”
“The other thing is, the ME’s office just called to tell us one of the toxicology screens just came back on the blood alcohol level. Our victim’s BAC was point-two-five,” he said.
“Oh my gosh. Over three times the legal limit.”
“He was blitzed, all right. The poor guy didn’t have much of a chance.”
“No. He was probably too impaired to escape,” I said.
“Chances are he was sleeping then woke up choking from the smoke, was overcome, and went face down like we found him.”
“The look on his face will haunt me to my dying day.”
“I’m sure that’s true for all of us. Oh, and another thing. I’ve got Bob Edberg calling dentists in both Oak Lea and Chaska, Ross Warren’s two known cities of residence, trying to find one who treated him. I was hoping we could get an ID from dental records.” Edberg was long-time deputy.
“And we’re running his DNA, right?”
“That’ll be next if we don’t score with a dentist, or if it turns out our victim isn’t Warren. If he’s not in the database, getting a relative to give us a sample might be challenging. And they’re working on the latents from the steering wheel to compare to his fingerprints.”
“Speaking of fingerprints, anything back on the one from the Zippo?” I said.
“No. I’ll make a note to check on it, see if we can speed it along.”
“There are days we have way too much fun. I’m on my way to Emerald Lake to see if any of the business people recognize Warren, if they know anything about him.”
“Good. And I’m about to track down Damon Backstrom,” Smoke said.
“For your Come-to Jesus meeting?”
“That’s the one. I’m holding onto the belief that he’d rather give up the secret than spend the night in the Winnebago County Jail.”
Getting a hold of Damon Backstrom proved more difficult than Smoke had hoped.
I hit pay dirt at the second gas station when I showed Ross Warren’s photo to Harry, the clerk at the checkout counter. “Yeah, I know that guy. He drives an old green Jeep. And he looks different now than he used to. He looked rough when I saw him a few days ago, like he needed a haircut and a shave and a bath. But it could be he was doing some yard work, or other dirty work.”
“So you’ve seen him in here before?” I said.
“Oh sure thing, Sergeant. Off and on for the last few months.” Months? “Since around Easter, maybe. He’s not the most talkative guy, but he’s been coming in for gas for several years now. When I mentioned that I hadn’t seen him for a while, he said he just got back from where he winters in Arizona,” Harry said.
Several years? Like three years, about the time he moved away from Chaska? “Do you know his name?”
“The first time he came in he was wearing an old work shirt with the name Buzz on the pocket.”
My heart started beating so fast I needed to catch my breath. I lifted my arm and coughed into my sleeve instead. “Buzz?”
“That’s right. I remember things like names better when I read them.”
I nodded. “Did Buzz happen to mention where he lives, when he’s not in Arizona?”
“No, and I never asked him. Like I said, he’s not what you’d call outgoing. I thought maybe he was lonely so I’d try to draw him out a little, you know, be nice to the guy, make him feel a little better. I always kind of wondered what his story was.”
I’d thought the same thing on the traffic stop. “Everyone’s got a story.” And it seemed his had ended tragically. “How did he pay for his gas?”
“Always cash. That’s why he paid inside instead of at the pump. Otherwise, I might not have remembered him,” he said.
“Right.”
Harry leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “Why are you asking about him, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“It’s about a case we’re working on.”
“Okay. Well you be sure to let me know if you need anything else.” His face brightened like he was proud to be doing his part by helping me out on a case.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll do that,” I said.
My next stop was the liquor store. Gidget, a body double of Rosanne in her early days, was arranging wine bottles. I’d gotten to know her in my years on the job. “Greetings, Sergeant. Or did you make detective by now, seeing how you’re not wearing your uniform.”
“Hello, Gidget. No, I haven’t made detective. But every once in a while they let me play one.”
Her belly jiggled when she laughed. “Good one. So what can I do you for?”
I pulled out Ross Warren’s photo and handed it to her. “Wondering if you recognize this man?”
“Oh sure. This must be an old picture, huh? He looks pretty good there.” Few people made that comment about anyone’s driver license photo. Mine looked like a mug shot.
“Do you know his name?” I said.
“Sure. He told me it was Ross. I think so I wouldn’t call him sweetie. Don’t remember if he gave me his last name.”
“So he’s been coming in here a while?”
“For the last two, three years now, I’d say. From spring until fall. And he comes in spurts. Like not every week, and then he might come in twice, even three times in the same week,” she said.
“Did you ever ask him where he works, where he lives?”
“I tried to, believe you me. You know how nosy I am.” She laughed again when I smiled. “He’s one of those private guys who doesn’t have much to say. All I know is that he works for a friend over the summer—but I don’t know who that friend is—and then he goes south for the winter.”
“What does he buy here?”
“Vodka mostly. And gin. Cheap stuff.” She screwed up her face like she had taken a bitter pill. I doubted she displayed that same lo
ok when she rang up Warren’s purchases.
“How did he pay, credit card, cash?”
“Always cash. Why? Is he in trouble with the law?” she said.
“We’re working on something he may be involved with.”
Gidget frowned and nodded. “Wouldn’t surprise me one little bit if he was up to something.”
33
It was after two o’clock when I pulled into the sheriff’s parking lot. I sat for a moment wondering when all the balls we had up in the air were going to land. And how. It was the seventh and last day of my work stretch, and I needed to get my squad car to the night shift sergeant, per our rotation schedule. I sent him a text asking when and where he’d like to pick it up, and then headed into the office to write reports on the day’s happenings. Smoke was waiting for me in the corridor.
“Edberg’s had zero luck locating a dentist in Chaska, Oak Lea, or the surrounding areas. I’m sure there have been retirements in the twenty years since he lived here. And he may not have gone to the dentist in Chaska,” Smoke said.
“True, maybe he had one in another city.”
“I haven’t been able to reach Damon Backstrom either. They checked out of the hotel and are most likely on their way back to Wisconsin. I got their address and home phone number, but he’s not answering. I’d drive over if I knew he’d be there.”
“Have you checked with his daughter?” I said.
“I tried her cell. I’m guessing she’s at work and will call me after.”
“Man, the time we can spend tracking people down. Well I had a couple of intriguing visits at businesses in Emerald Lake.”
“Do tell.”
“Both clerks I talked to said Ross Warren has been a seasonal customer for the last few years,” I said.
“Seasonal?”
“As in a Snow Bird. One knew him as Ross and the other knew him as Buzz.”
Smoke’s eyes widened. “Unbelievable. No one else we checked with had a clue who Buzz was. If we’d only known who to ask in the first place.”
“I know.”
“What do you think? Could that person back by your trees have been Ross Warren?”
“I’ve been pondering that since Harry at the gas station told me he was wearing a shirt with Buzz on the pocket. And the answer? All I can say is that it’s possible. Ross wasn’t a very big guy, but since I only saw him sitting in the Jeep, I don’t know how he moved, if he was as quick as the one back there.”
“And you didn’t get much of a look,” he said.
“No, I didn’t.”
“If Warren was part of a fire-setting team, he can’t tell us about it now.”
“Not if he was the victim in the barn he can’t.” I swung the arm holding my briefcase. “I better get my reports written up and turned in.”
Smoke nodded. “Catch you later.”
At 3:35 I got a text message from the night sergeant asking about our shared squad car. I let him know it was in the parking lot and I’d gotten my things out of it, so he was welcome to pick it up any time. I’d find a ride home when I was ready.
By the time I distributed my reports my brain was fried. Smoke was stepping out of the chief deputy’s office as I dropped the last of my reports in the plastic box holder outside his door. “I wondered if you were still here. I saw Hughes drive off with your squad car a while ago,” he said.
“I’m done, and I’m done in.”
“Long day.”
“Longer week,” I said.
“No doubt. You need a ride home?”
“If you’re going my way.”
“I am.”
“I’ll get my briefcase and meet you outside.” When I turned around I caught several administrative assistants eyeing us with interest. I knew the question raised by staff from time to time around the water cooler was, “Are they or aren’t they?” Involved or not? I smiled at the group and said, “See you Friday.” Several of them smiled back.
Smoke was in his vehicle when I climbed into the passenger seat. “Is it still Monday?” I said.
He snickered. “The good thing about the long stretch you’ve had is you can look forward to three days off.”
“Unless something else happens in Blackwood Township,” I said.
“Let’s try for some optimism.”
“Whatever.”
He reached over and patted my arm. “You want to stop at Kristen’s house, see how they’re coming along on the alarm system?”
“I would, thanks.”
When we pulled into my mother’s driveway, John Carl was helping Will load equipment into his van. They acted like a team. A team of techies.
“All set, Will?” Smoke asked when we were out of the car.
He nodded. “It was a dream job. Went off without a hitch,” Will said and then zeroed in on me. “Are you Corky?”
“I am.”
“Okay then. Your number is programmed in, and you’ll get an alert if someone tries to enter the barn without the code,” he said.
“Good deal.”
Will raised a hand as a wave. “I’m off to finish a job I started earlier, but I wanted to be sure I got this one done.”
“We appreciate you taking care of this so fast,” I said.
“Not a problem. Old Elton here has helped me out a time or two.” Will gave Smoke a pat on the back.
Smoke’s eyebrows lifted. “Old? That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”
Will laughed, and it sounded like he was wearing a body mic the way it reverberated. Maybe he was. “Catch you all next time.” He jumped in his van and off he went.
“He’s on the jolly side,” I said.
“Yep, always the same. Accommodating. Easy to work with.”
“Someone you’d like to have a beer with, Corky,” John Carl said.
“Me?” I crossed my eyes, stuck my tongue between my teeth, and wiggled my head a little. A face we’d all learned to make in kindergarten. He shook his head back at me.
“How are you and Mother doing after the shocker this morning?” I said.
“Okay, I guess. I’m thinking of staying at the grandparents’ tonight.”
“And leave Mom alone? Maybe that’s not such a good idea.”
“She’s lived alone for ten years,” he said.
“I meant because of all the weird stuff going on.”
“I suppose.”
Smoke lifted his hand. “I talked to Chief Deputy Kenner, and he’s posting a deputy at the Alecksons’ house tonight. Actually, there’ll be five deputies doing two-hour shifts.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” I said.
“I was focused on Kristen’s alarm system, and it slipped my mind.” Smoke hadn’t gotten nearly enough sleep for a number of nights.
I pulled out my phone. “I’ll send him a thank-you text before I forget.”
“Touche´. Let’s take a look at the system before we leave.”
John Carl walked us through it, pointing out technical details I didn’t need to know because he did. “It looks good. We can all sleep a little easier now, huh?” Smoke said.
Smoke dropped me off at home, and tired though I was, I was more restless than anything. A cloud cover cooled the later afternoon air, and with Queenie having more kennel time than usual, I thought a longer, slower run was in order for both her and me. We’d go to County Road 35 then stop at Gramps’ on the way back. After I’d changed and was ready, we were off. When we reached the county road, I saw a familiar figure heading east, toward us. I stopped, slipped Queenie’s leash on her collar, and told her to sit.
We were all but blocking Sybil Harding’s way, so she came to a stop on her bike and planted her feet on the ground, but kept her butt on the seat. Queenie tugged on her leash trying to reach Sybil, but I held her back. Barely. Sybil jerked back a bit. “Hi Sybil, sorry if she scared you. My dog loves people.”
“Oh, okay.”
Queenie kept tugging and stretching her nose as far as possible, sniffing a
t Sybil. “Queenie, be polite.” But she ignored me and let out a persistent-sounding bark that startled both Sybil and me.
“Well, I better go,” she said.
I stepped back pulling Queenie with me. “I apologize again for my dog’s behavior.”
“It’s all right.” She pedaled away before I had a chance to find out how things were going and if there was any special reason that brought her to her grandparents’ house on a Monday.
“Queenie, what in the world is the matter?” She looked at me and whined then moved her head back and forth. “What? Do you sense something’s off with her, too?”
Queenie barked again, and I read it as, “Yes.” We turned around and ran to Gramps’ house.
Mother was there as well, and the three of us commiserated far too long about the strange fire in my grandparents’ barn. I’d decided not to tell my mother that some of the rocks used for the fire ring had come from my yard. Based on my years of experience as her daughter, I knew that when big things happened, or were in the works, it was best to give her the information in smaller doses over time to ease their digestion.
“Your brother was happy with the work the security man did. Thank Elton for arranging it,” Mother said.
“Sure. Yes, it seems like a great system. And isn’t it nice to know that if someone ever tries to break into your barn the sheriff’s office will know about it right away?” I said.
“I suppose it is.”
Later that evening I needed to do some investigative exploring, so Queenie and I hiked to the tree line on my back property then headed toward my grandparents’ house. The sun was low in the sky and the floor bottom among the trees was darkening minute by minute. Queenie busied herself sniffing the ground and following trails along the way. It was a prime area for deer and smaller creatures to seek shelter and safety, so it shouldn’t have surprised me when a deer darted out for her evening meal of field corn. I smiled at the graceful creature and chided myself for being jumpy. Other evening feeders and nocturnal critters would emerge from their hiding places at any time.
Firesetter in Blackwood Township, a Winnebago County Mystery Page 22