Murder Mysteries Series six

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  "Is there anyone who can attest to you being home from 11 am until 2 pm," asked Rory looking at Alan thinking this guy was digging a hole for himself.

  "I did call my office and inform them I was home for a few hours and would be in the office later that afternoon. But other than that, I saw nobody and my car was in the garage. This doesn't look good does it detective?"

  Stacy and Pam Binder had just come back as Alan fell silent with his head hanging. Rory said, "You, Alan Binder, are in deep financial difficulties and with the death of your wife's father, could possibly benefit from his death. That's what we call motive and as the victim died around noon or thereabouts, gives you opportunity. That motive and opportunity goes for the both of you. Neither one of you have an alibi for the time of death.

  "I didn't kill my father-in-law. Also, you've no proof that I did. Can anyone place me at the crime scene? If not then either charge me or us, or let us go," Alan said showing a little backbone in front of his wife.

  Ben, just before that last round of questions, had taken the phone number for Betty Stanley and discovered there wasn't such a number. His next call was to see if there was such a person as Betty Stanley residing in Reedsport. While they were checking that end of things, he called the North Bend State Police for a drivers license. He waited and the first call came back from Reedsport that no such person was listed or known about in the town. The next call from the State Police revealed a Betty Stanley living in Klamath Falls.

  Ben wrote the information down and handed it to Stacy, who in return, showed it to Rory. Stacy gave Rory the nod. "Hey Alan we just discovered a few new things about your future customer and it would seem that nobody by that name lives in Reedsport. That phone number is bogus as well. However, a Betty Stanley does live in K-Falls. Now what do you say to that Alan?"

  Alan's mouth was hanging open and Pam was staring at him with the same curiosity as the folks asking the questions. He looked at his wife and then to Rory with a look of bewilderment. He said, after licking his dry lips. "I swear that was her name and she gave me the number I wrote down. This is most strange indeed. I met her at the Umpqua Restaurant. Maybe the waitress there would remember me or us."

  "I'll take your picture Alan and then fax it to the local police. They can pay a visit to the restaurant and let's see if anyone remembers you or the person Betty Stanley."

  Stacy said, "Ms. Binder, the clinic where you mother is needs your permission to move her to Portland for further evaluation and tests. I suggest you call and give them the go ahead. I'll verify it's you talking."

  "I'll do it but I'd rather just let the old bag sleep so she wouldn't bug me about grandkids," she said while squirming in her chair. Alan gave her a look of disbelief, then shook his head. He was smart enough to realize they were in deep trouble.

  "Because you present a risk of flight, we're going to confiscate your passports and drivers license. Also we're going to impound your cars. If you've a problem with that, we can book you for murder in the first degree and let your lawyer take it from there. If you need a ride to work, have one of your employees give you a ride."

  Rory could almost see Pam's blood boiling. Contrary was her husband who sat there rather passively without expression. It seemed to him that Alan Binder had given up and was content to let it develop. It was either that or was content to accept the fact both were going to jail very soon. Maybe he even thought it a relief?

  The both put their key rings on the table and Pam said, "My passport it at home and so is Alan's."

  You can give them to Sergeant Bilkes and would you give us permission to search your house for any weapons; or do we need a search warrant," asked Stacy with a dead serious look on her face.

  "I give you permission," said Alan Binder without a glance at his fuming wife. Inwardly, he vowed to, if and when this nightmare ended, to divorce and move on. It was true he'd met Betty Stanley in Reedsport as he'd stated, but what he didn't tell them was she had taken the place of his present wife. He'd relate the story of Betty being his new girlfriend when he had the opportunity to be alone and in private with the detectives.

  "Let's make the call Ms. Binder to the clinic," said Stacy standing up indicating the interview was over.

  18

  After the Binders were carted off to Coos Bay, Chief Ray came in for a briefing. He sat down rather heavily and blew a lungful of air at the same time. He looked around and finally settled on his daughter. Stacy said, "Here's the story Chief: Both have no alibi for the time of death. Both have lied and both are deeply in debt. I have to put them at the top of our suspect list. I didn't charge them yet, but need to discuss with the prosecutor what has transpired so far. It appears they're guilty but for some reason I'm not totally comfortable with either or them or both being guilty." She looked at Ben and said, "Ben what do you think so far?"

  "Something doesn't feel right about this case. I wasn't with you at the Rawlings interviews, but from what I gather, the son's might be highly considered as leading suspects. The Binder's are prime suspects indeed. I'm still wondering about the woman friend of our victim."

  "Rory what do you have to say about our case so far?"

  "Stacy, I'm leaning towards the Binders being the perpetrators to the crime committed. Cody is – well – mostly a blow hard and I doubt he's wherewithal to murder his father. What I'm worried about is neither of the kids benefit as long as the mother lives."

  "I agree," said Chief Ray. "That is unless she was the one who killed him."

  The table and room went silent. Rory saw Stacy smile and a brief nod of the head. The major problem was that as long as she was in a coma, nobody could talk to her. "We need to keep her under guard and let's make sure nobody does her harm," said Stacy. However, 'sometimes, shit happens,' she added under her breath.

  At the clinic Dr. Winfried was on the phone to a hospital in Portland. In the hallway where the Sheriff's deputy was stationed, was empty as Nurse Gail Kent walked by wondering, but not alarmed, where the deputy was. He's probably in the rest room, she concluded as she went about her business.

  Inside Agnes Keystone's room, a silent figure climbed upon the bed, straddled the patient, took her pillow and placed it over her face. Two minutes later she quit moving and lay quietly. The killer quickly went to the door, peeked out, saw nobody in the hallway, and left the way it came.

  Dr. Winfried sent for Nurse Kent to inform her that Agnes Keystone would be transported by ambulance to Portland. When told that Agnes Keystone would be leaving the next morning, she thought it prudent to stop by and make sure all was in order: her clothes in case she recovered from the coma and her personal articles. Walking to her room, she greeted the Sheriff's deputy who sat upon a metal chair next to the door and entered the room. At first Nurse Kent didn't notice anything unusual and thought she appeared pretty much as before. However, upon a closer look saw the pillow was not properly placed and wondered why the pillow was askew.

  After she straightened the pillow, Nurse Kent automatically checked the patients pulse. Less than a minute later she hurried to the door and then asked the deputy if anyone had entered the room or was seen leaving the room?

  The deputy said, "Nobody has entered or left the room that I'm aware of."

  "I came by awhile ago and you were missing. Where were you?"

  "I had need of the restroom. I was gone perhaps ten minutes or so. Why do you ask," he said while starting to wonder why she was questioning him. "Is there something wrong or something I should know about?"

  "The patient or Agnes Keystone is dead and it appears she was murdered deputy," she said hurrying off to see and report to Dr. Winfried.

  Dr. Winfried had just hung up after speaking with Stacy informing her of the plans to move Agnes to Portland when Nurse Kent burst through the door with a wild look in her eyes. She said, "I think Agnes Keystone has been killed Doctor. She's dead and I'd guess she was smothered by her pillow as it was or had been moved from where I last put it under her head."
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br />   "Oh lord no. This can't happen to us. Where or what does the deputy have to say about who came or what?"

  "He was absent for about ten minutes to the restroom, he reported to me."

  "I'll call Marshall Foreham and make sure the guard remains in place until they come."

  In less than fifteen minutes Stacy and et al were at the clinic inside the room where Agnes Keystone lay dead as if sleeping. Sheriff's Deputy Roscoe Williams sat inside the room on a visitors chair staring straight ahead as if in a daze. Rory woke him up asking, "Deputy, what happened here?"

  "I went to the restroom and was not gone any longer than ten minutes. I've a touch of diarrhea. Perhaps I should have asked someone to replace me but it seemed okay to run to the restroom," he said almost breaking down with his voice cracking a little.

  "Did you see anyone suspicious today or at anytime you were on shift," asked Ben who had joined the questioning. Stacy was standing by listening, wondering how or who had slipped into the room. Waited for the guard to leave, enter the room, smoother the victim and leave never knowing when the guard might return. How could that be, she thought. Unless – the perp knew the guard had diarrhea. And how would the prep know the guard needed a sit down in the restroom?

  "Excuse me deputy, but who in this clinic knew you had diarrhea today?"

  "I told Marcia this morning I'd bad case of stomach cramps. Other than her I don't know about anyone else," he said growing a little stronger as the time passed by.

  Stacy gave a nod to Ben to see Marcia about the deputy's loose bowels. Rory went inside the room and took a look around while Stacy asked additional questions. She asked, "Have you seen anyone around that looked suspicious or did anyone else who were guarding the patient report any unusual person that might look out of place?"

  "Not that I know of Marshall. It would seem to me that how would this perp know I'd be gone for the time necessary to murder the victim. Someone must have heard me talking to Marcia."

  "Who else was around or did you see anyone who was hanging nearby?"

  She saw him look away and was thinking hard about who might have been listening. He said, "No Marcia was the only one around when I relieved the deputy at 8 am this morning. We're working twelve hour shifts. One thing I've noticed around here is there's a lot of visitors coming and going with only a few patients. It seems like a meeting place for old people."

  "Let's go see Marcia and see what she has to offer in the way of what comes and goes around this hub of activity." The deputy followed Stacy to the front desk when a nervous looking receptionist stood behind the counter talking to Ben.

  Stacy waited for Ben to fill him in as she gazed around seeing few people about the area. It was late afternoon and this was probably the time when a lot of folks were leaving after visiting in the afternoon. Ben said, "Marcia told me she doesn't remember telling anyone about the deputy's condition. However, there were people coming and going so she can't be sure if anyone over heard him telling her about his problem."

  "Okay," Stacy said, while looking at a very nervous Marcia who was biting her bottom lip. "Tell me Marcia, did you see anyone that might have been a stranger here today?" Marcia looked up at Stacy with her almost black dark brown eyes and said:

  "Actually I did see someone who wasn't what we call a regular around here come in this morning. She went down the hallway towards the patient rooms and then I got a little busy. I never saw her leave, but then just about two hours ago, a party of visitors came in and I thought I'd seen her before. The other three ladies are regulars here. The regulars were talking and this person had a grim look on her face. I went back to what I was doing and forgot about it until Nurse Kent told us Mrs. Keystone was dead."

  Ben saw tears flowing and like most males don't like to see women crying. He nodded to Stacy and went back to the room where Rory was on his hands and knees looking for clues. "Find anything down there Caltex?"

  "Hey, I thought I'd get a jump on you and maybe get lucky finding a clue that links to the killer." He stood up and asked, "What did you find out from upfront?"

  "It's possible that a person of interest came in this afternoon. Marcia thinks she was a stranger here rather than a regular. I'm sure Stacy is getting a description while we wait for the pathologist. This murder surely directs the focus on the two offspring, but those two were being transported back to Coos Bay when this crime was committed. This case partner has some real twists and turns in it.

  "But that doesn't let either of them off the hook for Cliff's killing," said Rory. "What we have here is more complex than first meets the eye. What was the motive to murder Cliff?"

  "Well, it had to be someone he knew and was comfortable with. Also, I haven't ruled out that this victim here didn't kill him. Maybe she found out or discovered something that made her furious. She confronted him, he responded, she picks up the pipe clamp and when his back is turned, hits him over the head."

  "Okay, I got that Ben, but what about what is lying in the bed smothered and appears murdered. Are these two separate crimes with two killers or are we haywire in our premise?

  "I think we've one primary killer, but maybe he or she has an accomplice. This could be a team of two working together. But that is just a theory and not much of a basis of fact to support it. I'd guess we must assume that this murder was committed by a female. From what I gather is few males visit here at anytime. This place is like a sewing circle of old ladies."

  "Have a seat Ben and I'm going to snoop around a little while we wait for the coroner to show up. That'll give you time to find a clue or two," said Rory with a chuckle as he went out the door.

  Stacy stood talking to both Marcia and Dr. Winfried. Stacy asked, "I'm not laying any blame on anyone here for lack of duty. It seems like a lot of folks come and go around here. Now Marcia, because you've had some time to think about this possible stranger that came in, perhaps you could describe that person to me."

  "She was younger that the other three, that I remember. She had rather short dark brown hair and her face was long and narrow. Also she was on the thin side too. Probably medium in height and her dress was rather causal."

  "How about her age Marcia?"

  "I'm not good with peoples ages Stacy, but I'd say around fifty or so."

  "Thanks and deputy do you recall anyone of that description wandering around the halls today?"

  "Maybe I did Marshall. If I remember right this woman was looking at each room number as she went up and then down the hallway. She never looked at me and at the time I thought that rather strange as others around here think I'm a curiosity."

  "Let's get an artist on this job and see if we can get anyone to ID her. Ah, here comes the pathologist now.

  "Here we go again Marshall? I say all was quiet until you decided to take a break to the coast," Dr. Spencer said with a big smile.

  "Very funny Doctor. However, my boss back east said the same thing! Maybe I need a career change at the this point in time," She said with an equally big smile.

  "Where is the victim so we can get to work. It appears dinner will be late tonight and the forecast is for a big storm coming in. Nasty weather and nasty business is murder."

  19

  After leaving the clinic, they went to the restaurant near the police station. It would have been nice to eat at Fran and Rays place, but without a reservation, no such luck. Besides, Rory would probably put a giant dent into the main course, leaving paying customers wanting with only a salad. Stacy smiled thinking about it.

  This pathologist was right as they were getting out of their cars; it started to rain in earnest. The rain came straight down and that was fairly typical of a late spring rain without any or much wind.

  Inside, after sitting down, Rory was rubbing his hands in anticipation of filling a large hole in his empty midsection. Both Ben and Stacy were more interested in the crimes than eating. Rory on the other hand was hell bent for doing what he loved to do: eat and eat a lot of whatever struck his fancy. After eatin
g he would be back on track and he had told Stacy on one occasion, that his brain needed a short break once in awhile. Eating was the fuel and break he needed.

  After dinner they went across the street to the police station to summarize the day's activities. The station was empty save the new nightshift dispatcher. Stacy introduced her team and found out that Marilin Specks was the daughter of one of her father's best friends. "James told me to be sure and have some green tea for you Marshall and what about the rest of you," she asked looking at Rory and ignoring Ben. Ben gave off a slight head shake knowing this young lady was drooling over Rory; as most women did when first meeting him.

  "Thanks Marilin, but for tonight we'll just skip your nice offer. We won't be long," as they walked on to her office and to her, as of now, empty whiteboard.

  However, that 'won't be long' turned into an after midnight session.

  Ben and Rory sat down at the conference table with their notes in front of them ready to participate in classifying suspects. As usual, Stacy had three columns: on the left side of the board was 'Prime'. In the middle was: 'Subprime' and the last column was 'Doubtful'. Both Ben and Rory realized that she's changed the classifications from before. After looking at each other both shrugged their shoulders and waited for a suspect named. "Pam Binder," she said. "What do you think fellow sleuths?"

  "Prime," said Rory. "Even though she's not a suspected, at least directly, in her mothers' death, I think she's on our Prime list for her father's death."

  Stacy wrote in Pam's name for her father's murder. Ben said, "I agree and let's add her husband Alan to that list. It's possible they're both in on it. So, at this point, let's leave the Agnes Keystone murder for later."

  "Okay, now let's move to the Rawlings family. First let's take the husband and wife, Walt and Bonnie. I realize Ben you weren't there to personally interview the family, but take a shot at it from what you've heard about them."

  "I understand Walt is not so healthy, but his wife is both mentally and physically strong enough to have murdered Cliff. However, at this time I think we can only place the two of them in the Subprime column."