The Devil in Maryvale

by Jackie Griffey

  "All right, thank you. You have my card with the office and my home number on it, so call whenever you want to."

  Cas broke the connection and sat eyeing the silent phone. "So, it was something important that called her out that window. Something or someone...?"

  Chapter 5

  At home a few feet into the drive, Cas saw the light in the kitchen window and felt his lips curve up in an expectant smile. He wondered what Connie was fixing for dinner. Whatever nightmares the office held, his worries lifted when he turned into the driveway at home. They lived just far enough out of town for privacy and space, home was his seven acre sanctuary.

  Missy heard his truck and leaned out her bedroom window upstairs to call and wave to him. "Hi, dad!"

  Getting out, Cas beckoned to her to come down. He pointed at the kitchen door. "I need your expert opinion," he called back to her..

  "You're pretty bad off, then!" Missy laughed, wrinkling her nose. "I'll be right down!"

  He hoped she would have time to look at the list he brought home with him while Connie finished dinner. The door knob turned as he reached for it.

  "Hi!" Connie opened the door and gave him a big hug. "Hope you had a good day, welcome home, and all that." She kissed his cheek and snuggled against him.

  "Something smells good." He returned her hug and kissed her forehead. "You do, too," he murmured against her hair.

  "I borrowed some of Missy's bubble bath. The other good smell is peach upside down cake. It's all that brown sugar and butter you're smelling. And it turned out just right." She gently turned him towards the counter.

  Cas was admiring the swirl of peaches and brown sugar when Missy came in.

  "Didn't that turn out great? Mom, you're an artist."

  "Sure, some artist. It's really simple. All in the wrist. Next time if you're here and not too busy with homework you can try turning one out."

  "Well, whatever you did must have been the thing to do," Cas let his admiration show. "Have I got time to show Missy this list of Denise's friends before dinner?"

  "Uh-huh. It will be a little while. Go sit in the den and get comfortable. I'll set the table," she told Missy when she looked back.

  In the den Cas handed Missy the list and turned on the lamp on the end table between them. "You look these over and I'll get some paper to make notes on." He came back with a legal pad and pencil.

  Her eyes on the list, Missy scanned quickly. "I know all these people, dad. Or sort of know them. Do you want to know which ones were particular friends of Denise's or what?"

  "Take them one at a time and tell me whatever you know about them. General description, anything out of the norm. Special friends of Denise's or anything you can think of, including what grade they're in. I don't know what to ask right now. I'm looking for any little hint that might start unraveling things that led up to what happened and why it happened. All I know for sure right now is I'm going to talk to all of them. And as many times as it takes."

  "Okay." Missy took a deep breath. She got settled in her chair and started on the list.

  "The first one is a sophomore like Denise was. She dated him once that I know of. I think it was a basketball game or something."

  There were not many she pointed out as dates and the dates were occasions at school. Plays, games, school activities. They went through the list, Missy telling whatever she knew or thought relevant about each one; which she thought were particularly close friends or other things which came to mind.

  "These names on the first page that start with D's were the ones I saw her with most often. I guess they are the ones her mother thought of first. They're the ones who were at the slumber party, dad. All I can tell you is the ones I saw her with at school and at games and things. We weren't very close."

  "That's what I wanted you to do. Diane and Doris were about the closest friends you know of then?"

  "Yes, and I guess mom told you, they were at the slumber party. Denise was invited too."

  Missy looked up at her dad, her eyes haunted with guilt. "There we were, all of us having a good time. And somewhere out in the dark, Denise was getting killed! It's hard to believe that she's gone! I saw her last Friday at school, standing at her locker in the hall. I guess I'll always remember that's the last time I saw her. And now," she shook her head. "I'm glad you told us she didn't suffer, dad."

  Cas nodded, confirming it. "No, she didn't suffer. It must have been too fast for her to feel much of anything, probably even fright, and it's over now. It's hard for all of us to believe. There's nothing we can do for her now except to find out what happened and keep it from happening to anybody else."

  He gave her the second sheet of names. "These are some more names Mrs. Davis wrote down, said that Denise had mentioned them by name, or they had come once or twice to their house for some reason or occasion. It's the first six she thought to list I'll concentrate on most. The closest ones. I'm not sure about these yet."

  Missy looked over the second sheet and shook her head. "No, I don't think any of these were with her very much that I can remember. But she always ate lunch with a big group in the lunch room, so it's kind of hard to tell."

  "All right." Cas straightened the two sheets. "I wanted to learn what I could before talking to them." He replaced the list in his file and looked up. Missy had a worried look on her face.

  "What is it? Is there something else you thought of?"

  "Dad," Missy said slowly as if she was not sure she should point it out. "Darrell Spruce should be on this list. He dated her. I saw them at the school play. Denise was with Darrell and Doris and Diane and their dates sat with them not far from where Chuck and I were sitting."

  "You're sure it was Darrell?"

  "Oh, yes. The auditorium isn't that big. I noticed because I had seen them having their lunch together a couple of days before that."

  Cas frowned. "I wonder why her mother left his name off the list? Do you know if they ever dated before, or just that once? Maybe it was only once and that's why she left it off." He recalled Muriel Davis's lovely, sad face patiently answering his questions.

  The grim expression that followed denied that one date was a valid excuse to leave a name off the list as another reason crossed his mind.

  "I hope she didn't leave Darrell's name off because he's Judge Spruce's son. Do you remember ever seeing them together before the lunch and the school play?"

  "No. I was surprised too. That's why I remembered it. He's a senior and will be going to college next year. And even if he wasn't, he's always acting like he thinks he's better or smarter or something than the rest of us."

  Cas pounced on it. "He's hateful? A bully?"

  "No, it's not that. Just his superior attitude sometimes." Missy's grin widened. "I was surprised to see him with a lowly sophomore, that's all."

  "I'll ask Mrs. Davis about it next time I talk to her. Thank you for your help."

  "Dad?" Missy started then stopped, undecided.

  "It's okay to tell me if it's something you're not sure about. It will be between us."

  Missy still stood looking a little worried. Cas added ruefully, "You'd be surprised how much guess work there is in being a good detective. You have to explore all possibilities, no matter how far out they may seem at the time. Now, what is it?"

  "There's some kind of group or club I've been hearing about for several months now. I've only heard rumors and snatches of conversations but Darrel has something to do with it, I think. I've seen him look daggers at whoever is talking about it, and they stop talking. Immediately!"

  "Something secret, huh? Can you remember what it was you heard? Or who it was he looked daggers at? What about Denise, since you saw them together. Did he ever look daggers at Denise or actually threaten her or anyone else?"

  "No," Missy shook her head. "I never have heard him threaten anyone. But once, in the crowd when we were waiting to go into the assembly hall at school I saw him look daggers at someone. Like he could, I don't know, just lite
rally wring his neck! I don't remember who it was talking because I didn't pay any attention until I saw the look on Darrell's face. Whoever it was, was saying something about a goat." She shook her head. "It didn't make any sense to me."

  "A goat? You're sure he said a goat, not something that just sounded like goat?"

  "That's all I am sure about, dad. That he said something about a goat, I mean. I hadn't been paying any attention. We were waiting to go into assembly and there was a lot of talking and I heard this boy's voice say something about a goat. I turned around and saw Darrell look at him like that, like he'd gladly strangle him!"

  "Do you know who he was looking at?"

  "No. I just remember looking at Darrell, surprised at how mean he looked. Then the doors opened and the crowd started moving and I couldn't see him anymore."

  "Did Darrell say anything at all when he looked like that, or did you hear anything else? From the other boy or anyone else?"

  "No." Missy shook her head. "It was just the way Darrel looked. There wasn't anything else. The doors were opened then and everyone was moving forward, going in. But I remember when it was. It was not long after someone made that mess at the cemetery." Missy looked at him, "No one ever admitted to that did they?"

  "No, the caretakers cleaned it up and let it drop. Not much real damage was done except the mess. Two of the older tombstones were pushed over and there was a lot of trash thrown around. Most of it from fast food places. There also was blood on one of the stones from a dead chicken we found."

  He winked at Missy as he got up. "No one ever claimed the chicken, either."

  Missy giggled.

  After dinner Cas showed Connie the names Muriel Davis had given him. "This is the list of Denise's friends I showed Missy. Do you recognize any of them or know anything about any of them?"

  She looked it over briefly. "No, not really. The only students I know are the friends who come home with Missy. And Chuck, of course. I see he's not on here."

  "I'll start talking to some of them tomorrow at the school. I've got to cover every possible source of information. We haven't got a thing so far except everybody liked her. But popular or not, someone killed her. There's got to be a reason behind it." Cas's eyes were distant, his mind back in his office.

  "That's tomorrow." Connie said firmly. "You put that away and rest. Get your mind off of it. Want another cup of coffee to wash down your dessert?"

  With the Mom half of her brain she nodded at Missy who pointed upstairs and left.

  "Sounds good, and that cake looks good." He looked up at her, "I guess you've got two more weeks to work in Fort Craig?"

  "That's what I thought when I resigned. But Mr. Allen told me today I've got enough vacation and personal holidays to make tomorrow my last day if I want to. And I want to."

  She flashed him a radiant smile. "I'm getting excited about staying home. Especially, since it won't be any great tragedy if I can't get any work here in Maryvale. And that's verified by the Head of the House, no less!"

  Cas laughed, "I told you I'm glad of it. Take it easy for a while, you might like it." He grinned, happy because she was.

  Connie poured him more coffee. "There may not be any choice, but we'll see. I'll get up bright and early the first day and call on some people and see how it goes."

  * * *

  The morning's mail brought Cas the autopsy report on Denise Davis. He pulled it out of the stack, anxious to see what it looked like in black and white on the proper form.

  It took him a while to read it, impressed at how thorough it was. All the organ weights and things Clint told him about were there.

  Cas took out a pen and paper to jot down the main points without having to wade through all that medical jargon again. He condensed the information in language he could understand to have it readily at hand and because he remembered his notes better after he'd written them down. The main points noted, he wrote a few more notes and questions of his own as he organized the file.

  The bruised ankle and the top of the foot, the left one, he noted. It had happened just before she was killed so it was important to the sequence of events. Must be, if he could just figure out how to get at what led up to the attack. The knife went straight in, with a lot of force. Last meal was fast food, then there was the trace of mild sedative. He went back. Fast food? A young killer? He hurriedly went on.

  Coming to the organ weights he smiled at how careful Clint had been to explain about that. He put his hand written notes on top where he could get to them first. He turned the autopsy form over to scan it again and saw something new. It was on the back and he hadn't noticed it. It was under Scars and Identifying Marks.

  "A star. Done with ink. On her forehead, up under her bangs."

  Cas wonderingly studied the notation like it was some new kind of bug.

  "Now, what is that all about? Why would she have drawn a star on her forehead, and hidden it under her hair if she thought it was ornamental? Or maybe it was hidden on purpose? Kids get funny ideas!"

  He shrugged and reached for the phone.

  "Gladys, I'm going over to the high school and will be there a while if you need me. Yes, I'm going now." He closed the drawer with a curious look at the file, still wondering why Denise had the decoration.

  He checked his watch as he parked in front of the school. It was two o'clock. He planned to look at the files on some of the list and perhaps be able to see the students scheduled for study hall or were free for some other reason to come to the office where he could talk to them.

  At the school he almost bumped into Janice Cobb, who was coming out of the office. Janice was as valuable to the school as Gladys was to Cas. She had married and moved away after college. But when the marriage failed, she came home to work for the Maryvale school system. She was attractive and fortyish and on Cas's list classified as 'good people'. The school was fortunate to have her services.

  "Hi, Cas. What can we do for you today?" Friendly and helpful were also on her list of virtues.

  "I want to look at some files. It's in connection with the Davis case."

  "Okay. Is it all right if I just show you where they are and leave you with it for about an hour? I got drafted to monitor a physical education class whose teacher isn't here. I'll be in the gym next door if you need me for anything. I'll be back in an hour." She smiled, "Less, if I can manage it."

  "That's fine with me. I can take my time looking at the files. Where are they?"

  "In the file cabinets along that wall are the students' files. Over there, faculty. There's an extension at the gym but I don't know whether or not I'd hear it. The number's three-oh-three if you want to try it. But I will definitely be back in an hour, hopefully less."

  "Don't hurry on my account. I'll look and make any notes I need to. I won't need to call. Thank you."

  Janice left and Cas closed the door behind her.

  Having the place to himself was a lucky break and he used it. He could look up anything he wanted to without any interruptions or explanations. He looked at the students' files then while he had the chance, looked up something he had wondered about in the other bank of files.

  Going to the faculty files he pulled Margaret Avery's first in case Janice came back for something. It held the usual statistics and qualifications he assumed most of the rest of the faculty had. A brief look was enough. He crossed back to the students' files.

  Still wondering why his name had been left off the list Muriel gave him he pulled Darrell Spruce's file first, laying his list on the desk behind him.

  He had finished looking at Darrell's and several files on his list and was rereading one of them when Janice got back.

  "Did you find everything you wanted?" Janice was a little out of breath from hurrying.

  "Yes, thank you, I did. I need another favor though."

  He handed her the list of Denise's closest friends as he spoke. "Are any of these students perhaps in a study hall, or gym, or otherwise available to come to the office s
o I can talk to them? I should be able to talk to about three of them before the end of the school day, if there are that many available."

  Janice studied the list. "Yes, this boy and these two girls can come now. If you come back tomorrow, the other three will be in a physical education class at three o'clock. You can see them then. Oh, wait." She frowned.

  "What is it?" He took back the list and eyed the three she had indicated for today. "Is there a problem?"

  "Not with the three for today. I'll get them for you. But, one of the boys left for tomorrow is not here. He's out sick. I can get his home phone number if you want it?"

  "I want it. And get his address, too. I may go by and see him at home."

  Janice wrote the phone number and address at the bottom of his list.

  Cas noted the address was the same street as one on the list Gladys had typed for the file. "Thanks."

  "I'll get the first three for you. Wait in the office there if you want to, I'm acting principal today."

  "I'm impressed, that pay good?"

  "Only in aggravation!" Janice grinned, "All I can handle. I won't be a minute."

  Cas nodded, but waited where he was.

  Entering the office, the two girls and the boy smiled nervously as Janice introduced them.

  "Will you two wait here," Cas gestured. "I want to talk to each of you." He beckoned one of the girls into the principal's office.

  Cas smiled as he sat down, trying to put her more at ease. "Won't you have a seat," he consulted his list, "Marilyn?"

  "Yes, sir?"

  "You knew Denise Davis and were in the same grade she was, isn't that right?"

  "Yes, sir." Marilyn was a slender, polite, and typical looking sophomore and seemed cooperative as she settled in the chair. Cas asked a few more routine things before pressing her with more direct questions.

  "Did you know of any sort of problem or disagreement Denise had with anyone? Anyone who might have been envious or any other kind of problem?"