The Devil in Maryvale

by Jackie Griffey

  "The strange man left before Darrell started talking about the orgy, then?"

  "Yes, he wasn't there very long."

  "What did he sound like, this stranger? Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief? Rocket scientist, third shift at the Dairy Queen?"

  Casey laughed, "Definitely not rocket scientist. His voice was kind of low and his grammar wasn't very good. He seemed to want us to get more members and kept telling us to get organized. I hadn't seen him before and I had been to all the meetings but one. It didn't get silly until the last few meetings."

  "Casey, I'm going to call on these two 'officers' of Darrell's and scare the pants off them. Would you be willing to prosecute these jokers if we need to?"

  "I'd rather not. Mom and I don't have anyone to depend on but each other. I don't want any trouble." He looked up at Cas, "But if that's the only way to put a stop to this, I would. Yes."

  Chapter 8

  Cas pulled into the parking lot behind Rhodes.

  He stopped to walk in with him, but waited until they got inside to talk.

  "Hold the calls for a while, Gladys. Rhodes and I need to compare notes on a few things." Cas closed the office door.

  Gladys nodded without looking up, busy typing something.

  Cas put the notes he had taken under the edge of the file which was on the corner of his desk. He turned his attention to Rhodes who was going over some notes of his own.

  "Did you get a chance to talk to Matthew Tinwhistle as well as Caleb Martin?"

  "Yes, I talked to both of them." Rhodes thumbed through the notes he had separated with paper clips. He pulled out the ones he had taken at the Martin place first.

  "From what Caleb said, he's lost a head or two of cattle since the first of the year."

  "Does he know or can he estimate how many, or have any suspicions about who might be taking them?"

  Rhodes shook his head slightly. "He's not sure about the times when he thought only one might be missing but he's going to try to remember as close as he can when he's sure two were taken. He said there were times he thought he was missing one or maybe two. But because they were so scattered, he wasn't sure about it. He wants to talk to a hand he has who comes to help when he needs him. He's a neighbor. I saw your ears prick up at that," Rhodes shook his head.

  "Oh, not a suspect?"

  "He's not under suspicion according to Caleb. They're going to get together and try to get as close a number as they can about how many they think were taken and when they realized they were missing."

  Cas nodded as Rhodes shuffled and went on from his notes.

  "He also told me some of them were not stolen, but killed and mutilated."

  "I'm glad you got that. He brought it up, did he?"

  "Yes, he looked kind of sheepish about it. He said that's the reason he didn't report these thefts before. His wife was really frightened about those mutilations. She didn't want any trouble, whether it's thieves or devil worshippers or what. Says they must be crazy, whoever they are, and liable to do anything. But this last time, Caleb put his foot down and called you about it."

  "It was about time. He should have done it the first time he missed a head or two. This kind of thing isn't going to get better without some help."

  "Yeah, that's about what he told her before he called."

  "If he doesn't suspect the neighbor who comes to help, does he have any idea who might be doing it? Anything or anyone acting suspicious? Hanging around his place? Or were there tracks or anything else found after the cattle were stolen or mutilated?"

  Rhodes looked up from his notes. "We may have got lucky there. There's a track. It's been there since one of the times when a cow was mutilated and he's checked with everyone who's had any reason to be out there. It wasn't made by any of them. I'm going out and make a cast of it."

  "Good. Do it first thing in the morning. How does it happen it's still there? Was it, the mutilation, done recently?"

  "No. It's older than the last time. It's in the edge of the stock pond. The water just got low enough for it to show. It's dried hard now and easy to see. It will be easy to get a good cast of it."

  "Okay. I want to see it as soon as you get it. Keep me posted on anything else you find. I'm going to have a car swing by there more often. Tell him that when you get the cast. It's the best we can do right now. And tell him to report anything suspicious, anyone trespassing, a strange truck or other vehicle in that area. Anything."

  "All right, I'm sure he will be around while I get the cast. I'll tell him."

  "What about Tinwhistle?"

  "I've got the report here for you to look at." Rhodes stood up and put it on Cas's desk. "It's short on anything definite. There's nothing new except what he told us before and it's short on numbers, too. He's going to think about it same as Caleb."

  He turned at the door. "Oh, and the goat? Her name was Gertrude," Rhodes grinned. "The thing that made him the maddest wasn't losing a cow once in a while, it was stealing that goat." He chortled, "They got his goat in more ways than one!"

  Gladys laughed too as Rhode left.

  * * *

  Promptly at five till eight o'clock the next morning Connie parked at the courthouse and opened the trunk of her car to get out her portable typewriter.

  "Mrs. Larkin. Wait a minute. I'll get that for you."

  She turned to see Tim Carpenter coming to meet her. "I've been watching for you."

  He picked up the portable by its handle, appraising its lines. "This is a neat little machine. I guess I thought all of them would be as heavy as the antiques I've seen in some of the offices here."

  "Uh-huh, I like my machine. That's why I decided to use it. I'm used to it and it's easy to take with me." She bit her lip to keep from adding that she could use a computer too if the county budget should ever spring for one for his office. Highly unlikely in the foreseeable future.

  In the small office Tim set the machine on the typewriter shelf of the old desk. "Here's the plug," he unfolded the cord and plugged it in.

  "This is the work in the box." Tim gestured. "And there's letterhead in the middle drawer, along with envelopes. But leave the envelopes till last. I can always manage those."

  "All right. And this is in the order you want it?"

  "Yes, by priority." He looked nervously around as if he must have forgotten something. Or maybe it was that he couldn't believe getting help and getting set up could be this easy.

  "I've got to go to court. If I don't make it back by twelve, will you leave a note on my desk? I'll write you a check as soon as I get back if that's all right with you? But I'll probably make it all right." He smiled on the way out, "Judges like to eat too."

  Connie got out a stack of letterhead to get started. The actual volume of work didn't look so bad and she was relieved to see all of them seemed easy to read.

  "He's definitely in need of help with no secretary, so I'll more than likely be able to work for him quite a bit. He's nice, too," Connie smiled to herself, glad to be able to help him.

  * * *

  Cas looked up from his work as Gladys stopped in the office door. "Janice Cobb is out of the office but will be back soon. I left word for her to call you."

  "Thanks, Gladys. I'm still talking to Denise's friends at school, whenever they're available."

  "Whoever answered sounded young, like a student and said she would be back any minute. So you probably won't have long to wait."

  Cas nodded, glancing over the several lists of names before him. He looked again too at the list of names Casey had given him of students he had seen at the club meetings.

  * * *

  Dana Green caught up with Missy on the way to history class and asked, "Did you see Casey Taylor?"

  "Yes. But I saw him yesterday, when he first came back."

  "He's sure got a lot of bruises. The ones by his eye are yellow and green and he has that cut on his lip." Dana laughed, "He told me to save any good jokes I know for a couple of weeks."

&nbs
p; "I know, it's still easy to see why. When I saw him he started to grin, and put his fingers on his lip to keep it from hurting. But he must be about over it. My mom says those colors in the bruises mean they're nearly well."

  Missy looked serious. "I'm sure sorry it happened, though."

  "Me too, he's nice." Dana glanced sideways at Missy, "I think he kind of likes you, Missy."

  "What makes you think so? We only have one class together. I don't run into him very often and he's never asked me to any of the games or anything at school."

  "Just the same, I think he does. If it weren't for you going practically steady with Chuck he probably would. Ask you out, I mean."

  "Well, in that case," Missy dumped her armload of books onto her desk with a frown. "He may get around to asking me out soon."

  The buzzing of the bell drowned out Dana's next question, but she leaned closer to whisper quickly. "What do you mean, did you and Chuck break up?"

  Missy turned away and sat down without answering and Dana went quickly to her own desk under the watchful eye of the history teacher who was waiting for quiet to settle.

  * * *

  "It's twelve-ten. I made it!"

  Connie carefully replaced the handwritten material Tim Carpenter had given her in the envelope box he had put it in. She had all the priority work finished, laid out on his desk with the envelopes inserted with the letters. It looked nice. She was proud of it.

  She turned with a smile as the door opened and Tim Carpenter hurried in.

  "I got here as fast as I could." He looked pleased at the neat stack of typing as he went around his desk and took out his checkbook.

  "We timed it just right. I was just putting things in order."

  "It looks great, and you managed to get the envelopes done too." He cast a grateful look at her.

  "It's a relief to get these things done. I really appreciate this." He handed her the check for forty dollars made out in his neat handwriting.

  "Thank you, I was glad to have the work. You have my number, if you need anything else. And if you don't mind, would you tell anyone else you know that I'm looking for work? I'm getting some cards printed as I said, and I'll drop a couple of them by here when I get them."

  "Good. I'll keep one right here by my phone and I certainly will recommend you."

  Connie closed the cover on the typewriter.

  "I'll take that out to your car for you." Tim reached for the handle, admiring the compact machine again.

  "Thanks, call me soon as you have some more work I can help you with."

  "I sure will. Thanks again, and drive safely!"

  Amused at the 'drive safely', Connie thought he looked like he might take out a policy of some kind on her. She smiled after him as he hurried back to his office and looked around the parking lot.

  The feeling of accomplishment was so good she wanted to tell someone about her first day's work in Maryvale. "I'll walk over and visit Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme at the flower shop a few minutes."

  At the shop Miss Mayme was busily placing silk flowers in a large arrangement to display in the front window as Connie went in.

  "How pretty," Connie admired the arrangement. "And I see Miss Minnie back there working on a big ledger of some kind. Both of you are doing your thing in this partnership."

  "Yep." Miss Mayme nodded a greeting and held up ribbons in two shades of blue. "Which do you like best? Which will show up best in the window?"

  Connie was giving the problem her careful consideration when Miss Minnie looked up and called from the office.

  "Hallelujah! I'm in need of a coffee break. Connie, drag Mayme out of that pile of flowers and come in here."

  "We'll be there in a minute," Miss Mayme promised. "What do you think, Connie?"

  "I think the royal blue shade."

  "Okay. I'll leave it here before Minnie has a stroke or something. It's coffee time."

  The little office had a shelf with a microwave and other necessities behind a half wall beyond the credenza. There were more shelves yet to be installed.

  "We're making progress as we go," Miss Minnie explained as Connie looked around. "We used up most of our 'fast' before we retired, on fast young'uns and slow red tape."

  "I can understand that, all right. I didn't mean to take you away from your work. I was at the courthouse and wanted to tell someone about my first day's work here in Maryvale. I feel more encouraged about my prospects now."

  "As you should. And we couldn't have gone much longer without a cup of coffee. We both need a break."

  "Tell us about your work, Connie. I want to hear about something that doesn't have to be color coordinated." Miss Mayme pleaded, "It'll rest my ears."

  She stirred an extra spoon of sugar into her coffee. "For energy," she quickly told Miss Minnie who rolled her eyes at such a flimsy justification.

  "I worked half a day for Tim Carpenter. He's got a tiny little office over there at the courthouse, but no one to do his typing for him. It was good luck for both of us when we got together. He had correspondence and some other things piled up. I asked him to tell anyone he knew about me, that I'm in the phone book and looking for work. I'll take him a couple of my cards when I get them."

  Miss Minnie searched a bottom drawer beneath the coffee pot and brought out a box of graham crackers. "Mayme is trying to train me to eat these so she won't be tempted by doughnuts and Danish calories every time we have a break."

  "Hmm," Mayme looked suspiciously at a graham cracker as she took it. "It may help and it may not. Sometimes I wonder." She bit into it, obviously wishing it was something gooey or at least had some frosting on it.

  "These are good for snacks," Connie encouraged her. "We like these at home and the cinnamon ones too. Cas doesn't care for the messy things when he's trying to work, he likes to eat with his fingers too well."

  "But the nice gooey ones are always so 'finger lickin' good!" Miss Mayme groaned.

  "Don't forget when you take Tim some cards to bring one for our bulletin board," Miss Minnie reminded Connie and changed the subject.

  "I will. And I do think it's a good idea to have the bulletin board."

  "Minnie, I would like to go down to Lorenzo's Market and see what he's got on sale. I might get something to put in our crockpot."

  "All right, it won't take long to go down there and see what he's got. Why don't you go with us, Connie? We can use the new sign we bought to show when we'll be back."

  "Another first for today. We haven't used it before." Miss Mayme set down her cup. "I'll finish the windows when I get back."

  "Why not?" Connie was definitely in favor of going. "Here I am with my first day's work done, and I don't have to rush home. But, what sale are you talking about? I haven't seen it in the paper."

  "One of our customers told Mayme about it this morning. It's a one day sale on meat. To get people coming in. I guess that's the idea behind it."

  "I like to get in on the sales and freeze things so I'll always have something to fix in the crockpot when I want to use it. It's a good way to cook something good without too much trouble," Miss Mayme explained. "You just put everything in there, vegetables too, when you want them. Then by the time they get to smelling really good, it's dinner time and all you have to do is take them up."

  "I know what you mean and I can top that," Connie giggled. "I sometimes put in a lot so I can coast the next night on leftovers. It must have been rough before there were microwaves and crockpots. Let's go!"

  "Grab the sign, Minnie." Miss Mayme headed for the door.

  * * *

  When Janice Cobb returned his call Cas asked her about the two boys he wanted to talk to. "And I'd like to speak to John, if he's not too busy."

  "I see him coming down the hall now, if you can wait a second. While you talk I'll locate the boys you want to talk with."

  John Squires, the high school principal, was tall and thin with a rather dry personality. But he was warm hearted and genuinely interested in the well-bei
ng and education of his children as he called his students.

  Cas thanked him for the use of his office. "And I'm calling now to impose on you again. Janice is locating two students I want to talk to. I just wanted to thank you in person. "

  "You're not imposing. You've got my permission to use my office to interview this afternoon or any other time you need to." John chuckled good naturedly. "I'm not in there any more than I can help anyway. If there's anything else I can do to help you, let me know."

  Cas was not looking forward to the confrontation with the two self styled officers of Darrell's club. He hoped by interviewing them together he could either learn more than he had now or could tell by watching them how much of what they told him was true.

  The two boys were waiting in the principal's office when Cas got to the school. The door was open and John Squires came to meet him.

  "Sheriff Larkin," John said formally, "This is Todd Kelly." He pointed to the taller of the two. "And this is Sid Norton. I'll leave you to your talk, but Janice can find me. If you want me for anything, just step out and tell her." He sent a serious glance at the boys as he turned to go. Cas recognized that look as a not too subtle warning to the boys to behave themselves and appreciated the support.

  "Thank you, sir." Cas went in and sat down behind the desk as Janice closed the office door. On the desk he laid out a file folder, writing pad, and some notes he had made. He didn't speak or look up until he had it all arranged to his satisfaction.

  Todd and Sid squirmed uncomfortably in their straight chairs. Both of them looked rebellious and uncooperative. He thought what a satisfying feeling he would get out of going around the desk and just knocking their two hard heads together. Instead, he addressed the taller, fair-haired one.

  "You're Todd Kelly?"

  The boy nodded, his eyes watchful.

  "And you're," Cas deliberately consulted the sheet in front of him, "Sid Norton."

  Norton gave an impatient nod, looking like he resented being called in for this.